Monday, November 21, 2011
Today We Join With Operation World in Praying for the Togolese Republic, Africa
Togo
Togolese Republic
Africa
See Prayer Information
Geography
Area: 56,785 sq km
The Atlantic coastline is only 56 km long, but the land stretches 540 km northward to the Sahel; wedged between Ghana and Benin.
Population: 6,780,030 Annual Growth: 2.50%
Capital: Lomé
Urbanites: 43.4%
HDI Rank: 159 of 182 (UN Human Development Reports 2009)
Peoples
Official language: French. Only two indigenous languages used in education system: Ewe/Mina and Kabiye Languages: 43 All languages
Religion
Largest Religion: Christian
| Religion | Pop % | Ann Gr | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Christians | 3,076,778 | 45.38 | 3.0 |
| Evangelicals | 722,952 | 10.7 | 4.7 |
Answer to Prayer
Christianity, particularly evangelical and Pentecostal, has grown rapidly since 1990. Evangelicals increased sevenfold from 1990 to 2010, growing from 2.7% to 10.7%. Praise God for the multiplication of Pentecostal and charismatic movements, fuelled by the Holy Spirit and largely driven by West African pastors and evangelists.Challenge for Prayer
Political injustices continue. The illegal appointment (by the army) of the former president’s son, the series of rigged elections and the political system tweaked to serve the ruling party all perpetuate resentment and bitterness between southern and central people clusters. Pray for leaders to emerge who fear God, respect the constitution and serve the people justly. In raising up such leaders, pray that God breaks down walls of enmity between the Guinean and Gur people clusters.For an additional 10 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 Togo.
Psalm 83 (with text - press on more info.)
Psalm 83 (New International Version)
Psalm 83
A song. A psalm of Asaph.
1 O God, do not keep silent; be not quiet, O God, be not still.
2 See how your enemies are astir, how your foes rear their heads.
3 With cunning they conspire against your people; they plot against those you cherish.
4 "Come," they say, "let us destroy them as a nation, that the name of Israel be remembered no more."
5 With one mind they plot together; they form an alliance against you-
6 the tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites, of Moab and the Hagrites,
7 Gebal, [a] Ammon and Amalek, Philistia, with the people of Tyre.
8 Even Assyria has joined them to lend strength to the descendants of Lot. Selah
9 Do to them as you did to Midian, as you did to Sisera and Jabin at the river Kishon,
10 who perished at Endor and became like refuse on the ground.
11 Make their nobles like Oreb and Zeeb, all their princes like Zebah and Zalmunna,
12 who said, "Let us take possession of the pasturelands of God."
13 Make them like tumbleweed, O my God, like chaff before the wind.
14 As fire consumes the forest or a flame sets the mountains ablaze,
15 so pursue them with your tempest and terrify them with your storm.
16 Cover their faces with shame so that men will seek your name, O LORD.
17 May they ever be ashamed and dismayed; may they perish in disgrace.
18 Let them know that you, whose name is the LORD— that you alone are the Most High over all the earth.
Sunday, November 20, 2011
Today We Join With Operation World in Praying for Timor Leste, Asia
Timor Leste
Asia
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Geography
Area: 14,874 sq kmEastern half of Timor and the Ocussi-Ambenu enclave in Indonesian West Timor and Atauro Island.
Population: 1,171,163 Annual Growth: 3.38%
Capital: Dili
Urbanites: 28.1%
HDI Rank: 162 of 182 (UN Human Development Reports 2009)
Peoples
Official language: Portuguese (13.5% understand), Tetum (and its dialects) is understood by 91%. Bahasa Indonesia is also common, understood by 43% Languages: 19All languagesReligion
Largest Religion: Christian| Religion | Pop % | Ann Gr | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Christians | 1,023,479 | 87.39 | 4.1 |
| Evangelicals | 27,119 | 2.3 | 3.6 |
Challenges for Prayer
Timor’s traumatic birth left deep scars. The vindictive destruction and forcible removal of many Timorese by the departing Indonesian military and its Timorese militia allies left a legacy of hatred and trauma that will take decades to heal. Internal tensions – between Eastern and Western, disaffected armed gangs and rival political factions – cause violence and unrest to persist, despite the presence of international (mostly Australian and some Portuguese) peacekeepers. Pray for peace for Timor, that grievances might be laid to rest and that reconciliation might begin to take root.Timor appears caught in a descending spiral of poverty, poor health and illiteracy. It is the poor who suffer most from the violence and destruction wrought by various factions. With a shattered infrastructure and ill-equipped public servants, the nation needs transformation in all spheres of life. Major investments are needed in education, job creation, health care and training of leadership. The oil and gas fields of the Timor Sea will hopefully bring the finances required; pray that Australia will be fair and generous in sharing the revenues, and that the income will be justly and wisely invested into projects that benefit the whole population and not just enrich a few.
For an additional 3 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 Timor Leste.
Psalm 82 (with text - press on more info.)
Psalm 82 (New International Version)
Psalm 82
A psalm of Asaph.
1 God presides in the great assembly; he gives judgment among the "gods":
2 "How long will you [a] defend the unjust and show partiality to the wicked? Selah
3 Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless; maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed.
4 Rescue the weak and needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked.
5 "They know nothing, they understand nothing. They walk about in darkness; all the foundations of the earth are shaken.
6 "I said, 'You are "gods"; you are all sons of the Most High.'
7 But you will die like mere men; you will fall like every other ruler."
8 Rise up, O God, judge the earth, for all the nations are your inheritance.
Saturday, November 19, 2011
Today We Join With Operation World in Praying for
Thailand
Kingdom of Thailand
Asia
See Prayer Information
Geography
Area: 513,115 sq km
A fertile and well-watered land bordering on Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia and Malaysia.
Population: 68,139,238 Annual Growth: 0.66%
Capital: Bangkok
Urbanites: 34%
HDI Rank: 87 of 182 (UN Human Development Reports 2009)
Peoples
Official language: Thai Languages: 85 All languages
Religion
Largest Religion: Buddhist
| Religion | Pop % | Ann Gr | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Christians | 749,532 | 1.10 | 2.8 |
| Evangelicals | 307,305 | 0.5 | 3.6 |
| Buddhist | 58,136,398 | 85.32 |
Answer to Prayer
The Church in Thailand is growing. Numeric increases have always been modest at best, but of late, they are proportionately more rapid. There is a perception of greater interest in the gospel by many in Thailand. Many church and mission leaders feel Thailand is poised for its greatest – or first – breakthrough of church growth. Already, 65% of ethnic Thai church members are first-generation believers. For an additional 2 Answers to Prayer see Operation World book, CD-ROM, or DVD-ROM.
a) The political upheaval of 2006-2008 revealed deep fault lines among various political parties, the military and the royalty. Protests brought the country to a standstill.
b) The violent insurgency in the southern areas near Malaysia has claimed thousands of lives. It is a result of some discrimination against the predominantly Malay Muslim minority and the radicalization of the same.
c) Tensions with other neighbours, including disputes with Cambodia and more notably Myanmar, from which over a million have fled disaster and persecution into Thailand.
d) Structures of sin and vice continue to prosper, despite increasing efforts to combat them. Corruption allows unscrupulous men – in business, politics, the military and police – to enrich themselves while oppressing others. The moral blights of the sex trade, drug networks, crime syndicates and ecological degradation will remain as long as they are profitable and tolerated. Pray for the breaking of these structures of sin by God’s power.
For an additional 11 Challenges for Prayer see Operation World book, CD-ROM, or DVD-ROM.
Challenge for Prayer
Thailand has been an island of stability and freedom in a troubled region, but “The Land of Smiles” is also awash with difficulties. Pray for these pressing issues and for the wise leadership and reform needed to address them:a) The political upheaval of 2006-2008 revealed deep fault lines among various political parties, the military and the royalty. Protests brought the country to a standstill.
b) The violent insurgency in the southern areas near Malaysia has claimed thousands of lives. It is a result of some discrimination against the predominantly Malay Muslim minority and the radicalization of the same.
c) Tensions with other neighbours, including disputes with Cambodia and more notably Myanmar, from which over a million have fled disaster and persecution into Thailand.
d) Structures of sin and vice continue to prosper, despite increasing efforts to combat them. Corruption allows unscrupulous men – in business, politics, the military and police – to enrich themselves while oppressing others. The moral blights of the sex trade, drug networks, crime syndicates and ecological degradation will remain as long as they are profitable and tolerated. Pray for the breaking of these structures of sin by God’s power.
For an additional 11 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 Thailand.
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