Set Me Free-Casting Crowns *READ VIDEO DISCRPTION FIRST*

he's got the whole world in his hands

Pray Today Sunday August 21st for

Maldives

Republic of Maldives

Asia

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Geography

Area: 298 sq km
1,200 coral islands in 20 administrative groups, 600 km southwest of Sri Lanka in the Indian Ocean. Only 202 islands are inhabited. These have an average size of less than 1 sq km. Average elevation is one metre.
Population: 313,920    Annual Growth: 1.43%
Capital: Malé
Urbanites: 40.5%
HDI Rank: 95 of 182 (UN Human Development Reports 2009)

Peoples

Peoples: 10 (50% unreached) All peoples
Unreached Peoples Prayer Card

Official language: Dhivehi of Sanskrit origin    Languages: 2 All languages

Religion

Largest Religion: Muslim

Religion		Pop %	Ann Gr
Christians	534	0.17	4.0
Evangelicals	235	0.1	4.3
Muslim	310,906	99.04

Challenges for Prayer

The fragile ecosystem of the Maldivesis threatened by rising sea levels that could flood and destroy. Coral mining and rises in sea temperatures have killed much of the coral that is the foundation of these islands. The 2004 tsunami and the 2008-2009 economic downturn demonstrated how fleeting life on these islands could be; pray that this would cause many to seek eternal assurance obtainable only through Christ.
Behind the facade of island paradise lies a darker reality. Freedom of expression and belief is strongly curtailed by powerful societal and regulatory forces. One of the highest divorce rates in the world, rising crime and gang activity, abuse of children and endemic drug use among teens (possibly up to 70%) indicate that all is not well. Beyond Islamic beliefs lies a widespread adherence to pre-Islamic occult practices called fanditha. Pray for the light of the gospel to shine into the lives of Maldivians. Pray against strongholds of pride, fear, duplicity and sensuality.
     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 Maldives.

Your Love (psalm 139), Oslo Gospel Choir

Lifesong - Casting Crowns

Mark 12 (with text - press on more info.)

Proverbs 21 (with text - press on more info.)

All Of Creation - Mercyme

Psalm 142

Psalm 142

New International Version (NIV)

Psalm 142

Psalm 142^[a]

    A maskil^[b] of David. When he was in the cave. A prayer. ¹ I cry aloud to the LORD;
   I lift up my voice to the LORD for mercy.
² I pour out before him my complaint;
   before him I tell my trouble.
 ³ When my spirit grows faint within me,
   it is you who watch over my way.
In the path where I walk
   people have hidden a snare for me.
⁴ Look and see, there is no one at my right hand;
   no one is concerned for me.
I have no refuge;
   no one cares for my life.
 ⁵ I cry to you, LORD;
   I say, “You are my refuge,
   my portion in the land of the living.”
 ⁶ Listen to my cry,
   for I am in desperate need;
rescue me from those who pursue me,
   for they are too strong for me.
⁷ Set me free from my prison,
   that I may praise your name.
Then the righteous will gather about me
   because of your goodness to me.

Footnotes:

1. Psalm 142:1 In Hebrew texts 142:1-7 is numbered 142:2-8.
2. Psalm 142:1 Title: Probably a literary or musical term

Whole World's In His Hands - Tim Hughes - Lyrics

Pray Today August 20th for the Republic of Malawi, Africa

Malawi

Republic of Malawi

Africa

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Geography

Area: 118,484 sq km
Central African state extending along Lake Malawi and its outflow river, the Shire. A landlocked nation whose southern half is virtually an enclave within Mozambique.
Population: 15,691,784    Annual Growth: 2.82%
Capital: Lilongwe
Urbanites: 19.8%
HDI Rank: 160 of 182 (UN Human Development Reports 2009)

Peoples

Peoples: 33 (12% unreached) All peoples
Unreached Peoples Prayer Card

Official language: Chichewa and English    Languages: 24 All languages

Religion

Largest Religion: Christian

Religion		Pop %	Ann Gr
Christians	11,925,756	76.00	3.0
Evangelicals	3,069,243	19.6	2.9

Answer to Prayer

Malawi remains a stable and peaceful land in a region plagued by wars, civil strife and violent politics. This reflects the peaceful and mostly rural nature of the people – despite intensifying pressure from population growth, AIDS and large-scale movements of peoples into, out of and through Malawi. The multiparty democracy is in good health, having a president with a background in economics and a tough anti-corruption stance. Praise God for the peace that allows Christian ministry and national development to continue unhindered.

     For an additional Answer to Prayer see Operation World book, CD-ROM, or DVD-ROM.

Challenge for Prayer

Malawi faces serious challenges in the future, such as the combination of poverty, high population growth and increasing pressure on agricultural land. High levels of national debt, AIDS and unemployment, when added to the aforementioned economic factors, produce challenges that will require wisdom, long-term planning and proactive policies by the government. The grip of poverty hampers development not only in the financial sense but also in terms of education, AIDS prevention, family life and even effective ministry and discipleship. Pray for leaders in Malawi, most of whom are church members, to act with wisdom, humility and long-term planning on biblical principles.
     For an additional 8 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 Malawi.

He Knows My Name by Maranatha Singers

Hear My Prayer - Maranatha Singers

Protector of my Soul - Maranatha Singers

Proverbs 20 (with text - press on more info.)

My Eyes Are Fixed On You by Julie True (Slides by Ira Malone)

Mark 11 (with text - press on more info.)

Psalm 141 New International Version (NIV)

Psalm 141

A psalm of David. ¹ I call to you, LORD, come quickly to me;
   hear me when I call to you.
² May my prayer be set before you like incense;
   may the lifting up of my hands be like the evening sacrifice.
 ³ Set a guard over my mouth, LORD;
   keep watch over the door of my lips.
⁴ Do not let my heart be drawn to what is evil
   so that I take part in wicked deeds
along with those who are evildoers;
   do not let me eat their delicacies.
 ⁵ Let a righteous man strike me—that is a kindness;
   let him rebuke me—that is oil on my head.
My head will not refuse it,
   for my prayer will still be against the deeds of evildoers.
 ⁶ Their rulers will be thrown down from the cliffs,
   and the wicked will learn that my words were well spoken.
⁷ They will say, “As one plows and breaks up the earth,
   so our bones have been scattered at the mouth of the grave.”
 ⁸ But my eyes are fixed on you, Sovereign LORD;
   in you I take refuge—do not give me over to death.
⁹ Keep me safe from the traps set by evildoers,
   from the snares they have laid for me.
¹⁰ Let the wicked fall into their own nets,
   while I pass by in safety.

The Greatest Commandment (Mark 12:28-31 NIV)

One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?”  “The most important one” answered Jesus,

“Is this: ‘Hear, O Israel:

The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’

 The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’

 There is no commandment greater than these.”

Psalm 140 (with text - press on more info.)