I am the Door of my sheep

John 10:1-14

Selections: John 10:14 [X] [deselect all]

1 "Let me set this before you as plainly as I can. If a person climbs over or through the fence of a sheep pen instead of going through the gate, you know he's up to no good - a sheep rustler! 2 The shepherd walks right up to the gate. 3 The gatekeeper opens the gate to him and the sheep recognize his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he gets them all out, he leads them and they follow because they are familiar with his voice. 5 They won't follow a stranger's voice but will scatter because they aren't used to the sound of it." 6 Jesus told this simple story, but they had no idea what he was talking about. 7 So he tried again. "I'll be explicit, then. I am the Gate for the sheep. 8 All those others are up to no good - sheep stealers, every one of them. But the sheep didn't listen to them. 9 I am the Gate. Anyone who goes through me will be cared for - will freely go in and out, and find pasture. 10 A thief is only there to steal and kill and destroy. I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of. 11 "I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd puts the sheep before himself, sacrifices himself if necessary. 12 A hired man is not a real shepherd. The sheep mean nothing to him. He sees a wolf come and runs for it, leaving the sheep to be ravaged and scattered by the wolf. 13 He's only in it for the money. The sheep don't matter to him. 14 "I am the Good Shepherd. I know my own sheep and my own sheep know me.

AFWIS Joins Operation World in Prayer for the Republic of Burundi - Africa

Published on Operation World (http://www.operationworld.org)

Home > Mar 23: Burundi

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Mar 23: Burundi

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Burundi

Republic of Burundi

Africa

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Geography

Area: 27,834 sq km
A mountainous, fertile country on the northeast shore of Lake Tanganyika, south of its twin Rwanda.
Population: 8,518,862    Annual Growth: 2.92%
Capital: Bujumbura
Urbanites: 11%
HDI Rank: 174 of 182 (UN Human Development Reports 2009)

Peoples

Peoples: 12 (25% unreached) All peoples
Unreached Peoples Prayer Card

Official language: Kirundi, French. All speak Kirundi. English use widespread    Languages: 4 All languages

Religion

Largest Religion: Christian

Religion		Pop %	Ann Gr
Christians	7,704,984	90.46	3.1
Evangelicals	2,303,387	27.0	3.8

Prayercast

Challenges for Prayer

Leadership for the churches is in short supply; violence caused the closure of Bible schools which in turn cut off the supply of trained leaders. Now, schools are being re-established and new ones opened, but poverty holds back many prospective students from enrolling. Ask the Lord for financial provision for those who wish to equip themselves for the Lord’s service. Pray also for the following, all vital in meeting the urgent need for Christian leaders:
a) Bible schools and theological colleges. These include the Mweya Theological Institute (Free Methodists and WGM), a Pentecostal Bible school, the Matana Institute (Anglican-MAM) and Partners Trust International.
b) Christian universities, a new development in Burundi. Most notable are Hope Africa University (Free Methodists) and the University of Light (Anglican). These seek to provide higher education with a biblical worldview, shaping the future leaders of the nation.
c) Modular training and TEE. Both Great Lakes Outreach and Great Lakes Leadership Training (Friends) offer the former, while several groups, including Mweya, CMS and the LM offer TEE programmes. Emmaus, a Brethren ministry, runs BCCs not just in Burundi but throughout the region.
Peoples and groups of greater spiritual need include:
a) The Twa (Pygmy) who are relatively well evangelized. About 8% are Christian. Their social marginalization and outright oppression is severe, and their education, health and economic status grim.
b) The Burundian refugee population, Africa’s largest in the 1990s, who live mostly in Tanzania. In 1972 about 200,000 fled to Tanzania where they have been ever since, a number that more than doubled in 1994. Over 12% of all Burundians were displaced by the genocide, many for more than five years. The camps are hotbeds of disease, abuse and resentment. Ministry to this group is difficult to sustain, but absolutely vital.
c) Returning refugees and IDPs are a mixed group – some are eager to return, some cautious, some forced against their will to leave their temporary host country. They number more than 300,000 and represent one of the biggest challenges to the nation and the Church. They often lack even basic services (health, education, even shelter) and land. The problem with the lack of land is intensified by returners claiming their old property. Life in camps made them dependent on handouts and lacking in initiative, traits that will spell disappointment and worse in poverty-stricken Burundi. The Anglicans, Lutherans, Tearfund, FIDA and REMA (a local NGO) are just a few of many organizations focusing on this area of great need.
d) The Muslim community has grown dramatically in recent years due to political manipulation by a former party chairman, external investment in Islamization, and the blamelessness of Muslims in the 1993 genocide. Unsubstantiated claims place Islam at 12% of the population. While this is unlikely, the rapid growth of Islam shows no signs of slowing. Most Christians and churches have little idea how to effectively minister to Muslims; pray for outreach training and for Christians to gain a heart for their Muslim neighbours and countrymen.
     For an additional 5 Challenges for Prayer see Operation World book, CD-ROM, or DVD-ROM.

More Information

The Operation World book, CD-ROM, and DVD-ROM provide far more information and fuel for prayer for the people of Burundi.

Proverbs 11 (NIV)

Proverbs 11 (New International Version)

Proverbs 11

1 The LORD abhors dishonest scales, but accurate weights are his delight.

2 When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.

3 The integrity of the upright guides them, but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity.

4 Wealth is worthless in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death.

5 The righteousness of the blameless makes a straight way for them, but the wicked are brought down by their own wickedness.

6 The righteousness of the upright delivers them, but the unfaithful are trapped by evil desires.

7 When a wicked man dies, his hope perishes; all he expected from his power comes to nothing.

8 The righteous man is rescued from trouble, and it comes on the wicked instead.

9 With his mouth the godless destroys his neighbor, but through knowledge the righteous escape.

10 When the righteous prosper, the city rejoices; when the wicked perish, there are shouts of joy.

11 Through the blessing of the upright a city is exalted, but by the mouth of the wicked it is destroyed.

12 A man who lacks judgment derides his neighbor, but a man of understanding holds his tongue.

13 A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy man keeps a secret.

14 For lack of guidance a nation falls, but many advisers make victory sure.

15 He who puts up security for another will surely suffer, but whoever refuses to strike hands in pledge is safe.

16 A kindhearted woman gains respect, but ruthless men gain only wealth.

17 A kind man benefits himself, but a cruel man brings trouble on himself.

18 The wicked man earns deceptive wages, but he who sows righteousness reaps a sure reward.

19 The truly righteous man attains life, but he who pursues evil goes to his death.

20 The LORD detests men of perverse heart but he delights in those whose ways are blameless.

21 Be sure of this: The wicked will not go unpunished, but those who are righteous will go free.

22 Like a gold ring in a pig's snout is a beautiful woman who shows no discretion.

23 The desire of the righteous ends only in good, but the hope of the wicked only in wrath.

24 One man gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty.

25 A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.

26 People curse the man who hoards grain, but blessing crowns him who is willing to sell.

27 He who seeks good finds goodwill, but evil comes to him who searches for it.

28 Whoever trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will thrive like a green leaf.

29 He who brings trouble on his family will inherit only wind, and the fool will be servant to the wise.

30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise.

31 If the righteous receive their due on earth, how much more the ungodly and the sinner!

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2 John 1 NIV

2 John 1 (New International Version, ©2010)

2 John 1

1 The elder, To the lady chosen by God and to her children, whom I love in the truth—and not I only, but also all who know the truth— 2 because of the truth, which lives in us and will be with us forever:

3 Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Father's Son, will be with us in truth and love.

4 It has given me great joy to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as the Father commanded us. 5 And now, dear lady, I am not writing you a new command but one we have had from the beginning. I ask that we love one another. 6 And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love.

7 I say this because many deceivers, who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh, have gone out into the world. Any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist. 8 Watch out that you do not lose what we[a] have worked for, but that you may be rewarded fully. 9 Anyone who runs ahead and does not continue in the teaching of Christ does not have God; whoever continues in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. 10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not take them into your house or welcome them. 11 Anyone who welcomes them shares in their wicked work.

12 I have much to write to you, but I do not want to use paper and ink. Instead, I hope to visit you and talk with you face to face, so that our joy may be complete.

13 The children of your sister, who is chosen by God, send their greetings.

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