Tuesday, August 26, 2014

Pray for Turkey

Week of Aug. 25-31,2014

Thank the Lord for Turkey. Over the past 100 years Turkey has developed as a semi-secular culture. Now, in Christian lands secularism is bad but secularism that moves away from Islam is good.

As we know from the news, a real evil side of Islam is arising in the Middle East. The ISIS, the Hamas and other radical Islam groups are set on “purifying the land” by getting rid of all non-Islamic people groups. They demand conversion to Islam or death by decapitation. Please pray for the Christians in northern Iraq and Syria. For the past 20 years there has been an underground move of God in Iran. People are coming to Jesus by the thousands daily. The government is so Islamic that these Christians can’t openly meet. [see http://www.charismamag.com/spirit/revival/20936-revival-in-iran-i-want-to-be-a-christian

Because Turkey is still considered an Islamic state these persecuted Christians are able to immigrate or escape to Turkey. There are parts of Turkey that is more tolerant to Christians, and these refugees enjoy the freedom to worship.

Prayer Points:
1)    Let us join in thanking the Lord for Turkey. May Turkey be blessed for providing a sanctuary for the persecuted Church.
2)    Let us pray for many homes to be opened for these immigrants coming to Turkey.
3)    Lord, we ask that every Turk that helps a Christian or Jew would be blessed and protected. We pray that they too would become Christians as they hear the testimonies of Your love Lord Jesus.
4)    Let us pray for favor to be extended by the Turkish government towards these refugees to receive immigrant status.
5)    Let us pray for the many unnamed radio and internet broadcasters that are reaching into the Islamic world with the message of the Gospel. Lord, we ask for your protection and an inability of the enemy to jam these broadcast.
6)    The internet is very useful communication tool for those in heavily Islamic influenced areas. Let us pray that the internet would stay open and available for feedback from those that are touched by these broadcast.
7)    May the Lord guide those that receive the letters and emails from the restricted areas. Lord, give them wisdom and Spirit led direction as they share Jesus.

Revelations 20:4 And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.

Personal Note: Thanks for praying for my heart condition. The Croatian doctor told me six months ago that I had a chronic heart condition, I would be on medication until I die and there was not much hope. Today (Aug. 25th) he told me in his broken English, "We don't see this... Your heart is functioning as a normal persons. The heart has shrunk back to its normal size" ... "You can live a normal life" ... "Um...I can't explain how this happened...!" BUT WE CAN! Thanks again for your prayers for my health, God has performed a miracle and I am so grateful.

Tuesday, August 19, 2014

Pray for Slovenia

Week of Aug. 18-24, 2014

In the News: Slovenia Celebrates the Assumption of Mary

Catholics all over the world are celebrating the feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary today. (Aug. 15th)

In Slovenia, masses have been held all over the country. Most people are expected in Mary's pilgrimage sites.

The Assumption of Mary, or Veliki Šmaren as it is called in Slovenia, commemorates the death of Jesus Christ's mother Mary, who has a special place in Christianity. This holiday has been celebrated on Aug 15 since 5th century. Pope Pius XII dogmatically defined this dogma in 1950.

In Slovenia, the worshipping of Mary has become very popular. More than 400 churches and chapels as well as, numerous path signs, are dedicated to her.

Does Mary, mother of Jesus receive greater worship than Jesus? Here in Croatia where we live, Mary was highly honored on August 15th. It was a holiday, with most stores and government offices closed. I spent some time witnessing on the streets of Zagreb and I found the main cathedral packed, with even President Ivo Josipovic in attendance. In the catholic cathedrals, statues and pictures of Mary are either elevated equal with Jesus or located in a highly decorated enclave. According to catholic belief, Catholics should pray to Mary because she has a special position in heaven.

Prayer Points:
1)    With Slovenia being a predominantly Catholic nation let us pray that the misguided Mary worship be refocused on the One who should be worshiped, and He is Jesus.
2)    Let us pray that Slovenes would come to know Jesus, may their eyes are opened to the reality that Jesus is the One who can answer their prayers.
Concerning the Evangelical churches:
3)    Our hearts are burdened for the churches in Slovenia. Let us pray that the Lord visit them with His overwhelming love.
4)    Pray that the Christians would not only honor the Lord but honor one another. My they give themselves to each other so the churches may be strengthened.
5)    Let us pray for a special visitation from the Holy Spirit in the churches, that He may root out sin in the churches and bring forth holiness.
6)    Let there be joy in God’s house. Pray that Slovene Christians would be secure in their salvation and excited about their daily walk in His kingdom. Lord, release a real sense of purpose and a knowing that they are chosen by God for such a time as this.
7)    Pray for the pastors and their families. May they be protected from principalities and powers that would want to hinder their work.
8)    Lord, we ask for a release of wisdom upon the pastors that will result in strategies to win the lost in Slovenia.
9)    Let us give thanks for the many children that were touched through the summer youth camps. May the good news they heard in the camps be forever sealed in their hearts.

Please leave a Comment or Reaction so we will know you Prayed.

Monday, August 11, 2014

Pray for Serbia

Week of Aug. 11-17, 2014

The following clip is from an older news article, however it still takes us to prayer for the Serbian government.

SERBIA’S political landscape is not the same any more. On March 16th Aleksandar Vucic (pictured), the leader of the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS), won an overwhelming electoral victory, shattered the opposition.

This means the new prime minister, Aleksandar Vucic, will need to work to fulfill his promises to fight corruption, get the economy straight and join the EU by 2020. Regarding Kosovo, Vucic recently said that the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina will continue and that talks are always the best option. He does have a questionable past and more information can be found in Wikipedia. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aleksandar_Vu%C4%8Di%C4%87.

Prayer Points:
1)    Let us pray for the Serbian government. Their recent history has been that of corruption including assassinations. We just simply ask for justice for the people.
2)    Please pray for Vucic and his new government as they transition into power. He ran his campaign on promises to fight corruption; may he be held accountable to those promises.
3)    Mr. Vucic is known to be an acute businessman, let’s pray that the grace from God would flow through him and give him wisdom to help the stagnated Serbian economy.
4)    It is always important when praying for government official to pray for their advisers. Let us pray that Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic will be surrounded by men and women of wisdom.

In the News: Serbia and Bosnia hit by new round of deadly flooding
Thursday, August 7th, 2014 By Tom Revell

Severe flooding in Serbia and Bosnia has killed at least one person, just three months after record-breaking floods killed more than 50 people and displaced thousands.
Heavy rain has caused widespread flooding as rivers burst their banks across the Balkans, with Croatia also affected.

4)    These present floods are not comparable to the floods in May of this year, which was of epic proportions, but we should be reminded to pray for all the victims. Let us ask the Lord for special grace as they rebuild their homes and lives.
5)    The recent flooding has devastated so many lives and has been such a tragic and traumatic event which forever changed the life and wellbeing of many thousands of individuals. Many are battling post traumatic stress disorders, depression, suicide. Pray for a blanket of peace and sound minds to prevail.
6)    In Obrenovac, near the capital of Belgrade, where the May floods did their greatest destruction, a ministry was established to help the victims. This is a pioneering work of the Christian Fellowship - Church in Novi Sad, Serbia.  Far as we know this is the first evangelical work of any kind established in this city. We visited the ministry just a few days after they moved in to their building in Obrenovac and we were very impressed with the work they are doing. Lord, we ask your blessings on this work as they minister to the physical and emotional needs of the people. 
7)    This ministry plans to eventually form an evangelical church for the city. Lord, we ask that in Obrenovac there would arise a church of humble people that know the depth of Your grace of recovery.
Please leave a Comment or Reaction so we will know you Prayed.

Monday, August 04, 2014

Pray for Romania

Week of Aug. 4-10,2014



Romania is so blessed, the blood of the martyrs has called out to God and He has sent grace. A new generation is coming of age that did not experience the hardships of communism and its attacks on Christians.

Prayer Points:
1)    First let us ask the Lord to break the influence of that spirit that builds mistrust between generations.

Deuteronomy 32:7 Remember the days of old,
Consider the years of many generations.
Ask your father, and he will show you;
Your elders, and they will tell you:

2)    Oh Jesus, we ask that honor between the generations take preeminence in the churches.  In the Romanian churches we want to see the youth respecting the elders and the older generation guiding the younger.
3)    The Lord longs to raise up a generation of Romanians that will desire Him above all. Let us pray for the chosen ones of this generation.
4)    Let us pray that the Word planted in them will be rooted in their lives. They are to surpass their elders in devotion, power and ministry. May they hear the Lord’s voice clearly.
5)    They are not only to build up Romania spiritually but to go into all the world. Let us pray for many missionaries to be sent out from the Romanian churches and seminaries.
6)    Romanian Christians will need to know how to send their missionaries. Although many will go as tent-makers, there will need to be financial support from home plus spiritual oversight. Let us pray for the elders of the churches to take proper steps in sending out these missionaries.

Acts 13: 1) Now in the church that was at Antioch there were certain prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.  2) As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, “Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”  3) Then, having fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away.

7)    In Antioch there were certain prophets and teachers…they ministered to the Lord and fasted…and laid hands on them, they sent them away. Let us pray that the prophets and teachers in Romania will seek the Lord, commission, and properly send those that are called.




Please leave a Comment or Reaction so we will know you Prayed.