Neighbor Prayer Update

And again, Isaiah says,
“The Root of Jesse (Isa al Masih) will spring up,
one who will arise to rule over the nations;
the Gentiles (all nations) will hope in him.”
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him,
so that you may overflow with HOPE by the power of the Holy Spirit.
(Romans 15:12-13)

In a climate of fear, mistrust and animosity people often lack the sense of hope that anything can or ever will change. This lack of hope leads to a downward spiral of despair and desperation. It is precisely these places in our world where the Gospel of Hope is needed the most, and where the people of Hope need to be engaged. Today lets pray for those who are working as ambassadors of hope in challenging situations.

1. Praise God that our colleagues have been cleared to move this weekend to their new home and work in a major gateway city in Asia. Their transition had been delayed by recent ethnic violence in that city. However, God has opened the door for them to begin their new jobs this weekend. Pray that that through this couple’s words, deeds, lives, interactions and relationships they will convey (exemplify) the HOPE that is so lacking right now in that city. The dividing walls of hostility have already been broken (Eph. 2:13-17) — it’s just a matter of people’s eyes, hearts and minds being opened to this reality.

2. Pray for the victims and family members of last week’s Jakarta bombings. One of the suicide bombers is believed to have been a 16-17 year old. Pray for his family members and friends too that they will be awakened to the lack of hope that causes a young person to take his life in such a senseless act. Pray too for the church in Indonesia to respond to this tragedy with love, forgiveness and compassion.

3. Lift up a young couple serving in a key location in Indonesia. They will soon be returning to their place of service after attending a recent funeral for a family member. May they return to their host community with a clear testimony of the hope they have in Christ, even in the midst of death. (I Thess. 4:13-14; 2 Thess. 2:16)

4. Ann was not able to meet M last week for their first bible study because M was ill. M’s family has struggled alot in recent months with various types of illnesses. M’s mother K has been especially sick with complications from cancer. All of this is taking it’s toll on the family’s finances and spirits. Pray that Ann is able to encourage M and her family that there is hope in Christ. May M and her family be open to and find an anchor in the “root of Jesse.”

5. From this month’s “Intercede Magazine”, please pray ….

• …for six Egyptian Christians arrested during Ramadan of 2008 for opening their cafe. They have been sentenced to three years in prison. During their time in prison, may they find hope in Christ and be exemplary witnesses for Christ. May the righteousness, joy and peace of Christ be evident in their lives.
• …for continued protections for Christians in Kazakhstan. A highly restrictive religious law was rejected by the Constitutional Council. May believers be prepared in season and out, to share the reason for the hope they have in Christ, regardless of government laws.
• …for an ease of religious restrictions in Sudan. A non-profit aid group was expelled from Darfur after thousands of Bibles were discovered in its office. Pray also that believers would be “wise as serpents and harmless as doves” as they attempt to live their faith.

All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ
and gave us the ministry of reconciliation:
that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ,
not counting men’s sins against them.
And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.
We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors,
as though God were making his appeal through us.
We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.
(2 Corinthians 5)

As Jesus so plainly stated in the Gospels, the world is in great need of peacemakers. Men and women who speak the truth in LOVE…not to win arguments but to develop redemptive relationships.

With unrest, distrust, animosity, accusation so commonplace around the world (in Pakistan, XinJiang, Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran, Palestine, North Korea, Sudan, Mindanao, etc, etc) we need to plead with God to raise up ambassadors of reconciliation. And we need to do everything we can, where we are, to be agents of grace and peace.

1. Pray for those who are currently involved in relation-building, redemptive dialogues amongst neighbors. (To learn more about this method, continue reading at the end of the blog after the prayer requests).

• Last week Ann gave M her first Bible, which she graciously received. Today, Ann is meeting with M for lunch to begin a Bible study with her. Pray that Ann has wisdom to know what Scripture to share with M. Pray that Ann is hungry, open and receptive to the Word of Truth.
• Pray for D as he teaches a monthly course on Christian-Neighbor engagement in a Neighbor-majority nation. For the next five months they will be comparing the two religions, to set the stage for inter-religious dialogue with Neighbor friends.
• Lift up D this Sunday July 19, as he speaks at a mosque in his city. His ustad (Neighbor religious teacher) friend and D will discuss what Christianity and Islam have in common. This will hopefully be the first of many such dialogues in D’s city.
• Pray for a couple who were scheduled to move this week to a major gateway city in Asia, to work amongst the large Neighbor population in that city. They had secured employment, visas, housing and were ready to go….but violence broke out in that city two weeks ago and the situation there remains very delicate. So for now the couple is waiting and seeking God’s timing. During this period of waiting, may God continue to work in the lives of the men and women of peace in that city, whom this couple has already developed relationships with.

2. One of our key couples in Indonesia, who have worked hard to build great relationships with Neighbors in their community, have been hit with a recent death in their family. Pray for them as they travel in the next few weeks to attend her father’s funeral and comfort family members. May this tragedy allow them an open door to express the hope of eternal life when they return to their community.

3. From the current issue of Intercede:

• for a Ghanian who is currently imprisoned in Libya. He’d been sentenced in 2001 to 25 years for importing Bibles. May he be a true ambassador of Christ, whether he remains in prison or is released. May many inmates and guards come to know Christ through his life and testimony.
• for increasing numbers of Neighbors to hunger for spiritual truth and the possibility of knowing God personally, being assured of salvation, and having sins forgiven.
• for Christians in Indonesia that they will continue to be Kingdom citizens and peacemakers, in spite of local governments attempts to pass Sharia-inspired laws. Pray for a spirit of boldness, grace and love in the midst of opposition.

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Here are some FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) about dialogue, and one person’s expert opinion of how dialogue should work:

1. What is Christian-Neighbor dialogue?

It is a means of relating to Neighbors based on understanding and discovery rather than preaching and debate. A monologue is one way communication, usually expressed by a sermon or presentation, usually unsolicited.

For religions hostile to Christianity, monologues seldom get an audience. Dialogue, on the other hand, creates a level playing field that reflects the globalisation and transparency of our age.

2. Why should we do this?

Due to the big gap of mutual suspicion between Christianity and Islam, some Christians who feel God’s heart for the nations, have come to realise a need for creating common ground with Neighbors that would lead to genuine friendships.

This is sometimes done through sports, social action or any other avenue of engagement that opens the door for dialogue. But for those who have natural friendships (or have created intentional contacts) with Neighbor intellectuals and religious leaders, dialogue on religious doctrine or theology can be a preferred common ground.

3. How does it work?

It starts with an organised attempt to listen and understand where each other is coming from – our worldviews and our religious differences. As we do this over a period of time, God breaks down prejudices and we become friends. Strong friendships carry the weight of the gospel – who Jesus is and what He has done.

4. How can you help?

• Using your imagination, you can PRAY for those involved in relation-building activities and dialogues with neighbors.
• You can open your eyes and ears to opportunities for relationship with neighbors in your own community (at the store, at school, in the office, next door, on the playing field, at the gym, etc, etc). Be intentional. Be prayerful. Be a student of God’s word. Then Start with your common interests, and allow the Holy Spirit to guide your conversations. You are not out to win a debate, but to win a true friend.

Other resources on Christian-Neighbor Dialogue:

http://www.christianitytoday.com/le/2009/spring/ministrylessonsfromamuslim.html?start=1

“Why do the nations rage…?”
(Acts 4, Psalm 2)

When Peter and John prayed this prayer, in Acts 4, they were quoting the Psalmist.    In both cases (Psalms and Acts), the people of God find themselves in tumultuous times, undergoing persecution.   And in both cases, they resort to PRAYER…allowing us a glimpse of how God responds to the turmoil of nations:   1.) His desire is for the nations to be His treasured possession, living under His rule, experiencing His peace;  2.) His desire is for His people to remain boldly committed to the task of proclaiming and living according to the Kingdom values of love and peace.   Let us too pray, in the midst of all the world’s unrest, that God’s people will continue to to “speak (God’s) word with great boldness.…(and that God would) stretch out (His) hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of (His) holy servant Jesus.”

1.  Pray for peace and reconciliation in the city of Urumqi, in China’s far-west Xinjiang region.   This has been a week of violence caused by ethnic tensions between the Uyghurs and members of China’s Han majority.  Hundreds were killed and wounded, with many others imprisoned.   May believers (from both sides) in this region be effective peacemakers, actively displaying the power of Christ’s love.

2.  Lift up believers in Iran, in the midst of recent political unrest, that they remain focused on their responsibilities as Kingdom citizens.  May they be used as instruments to draw their frustrated, disillusioned countrymen into God’s Kingdom.

3.  Praise God for the current peaceful elections in Indonesia, the world’s largest Muslim majority nation.    Pray for the newly elected leaders that they will be used by God to lead this nation with righteousness and justice, ensuring a climate where believers can boldly express their faith and disciple others to follow Christ.

4.  Praise God also for recent positive reports from workers in a creative area.

• “This month, in 4 different locations, neighbors are turning to the Lord, 4-6 in each place.  Some have just been baptized, some have recently decided to take that step.  Please pray for these new believers.”
• “A neighboring young man, “Mark,” who gives religious teaching to children, is viewed as a blossoming leader in his religious community.  But he is also showing openness to salvation by faith in Christ.”

5.  Pray for Ann and her friend M as they begin to spend more time together discussing faith issues.   M has recently confided in Ann that her boys need some better religious teaching, since they have begun to lie and steal.   M has asked if Ann would lead her boys in a Bible study!   Just today, Ann gave her an appropriate Bible for the boys.  Praise God for this open door.  May God grant wisdom to Ann and her family as they instruct these young boys in God’s Word, and may the boys have a hunger to learn.