Neighbor Prayer Update

“The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind,
to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”
(Jesus the Anointed One, Luke 4:18-19)

** May our prayers today for Neighbors be filled with petitions for their freedom, recovery, and release. May they have ears (and opportunities) to hear the Good News,
and experience the favor of God in their lives. **

1. From “30-Days of Prayer“, for Friday, 5 September, Ramadan 2008. “Loving Muslims Through Prayer” (The Challenge: Winning the Bugis peoples)…….

A Bugis young lady

The vast majority of the Bugis in Indonesia (over 3.5 million) live on the south-western peninsula of Sulawesi Island. For the Bugis people, Islam is part of their ethnic, as well as, their religious identity. They have a reputation of being fanatical with a history of violence against non-believers. In addition to following Islam, many Bugis people are involved in animistic spiritual practices such as seeking power from spirits of the dead, seeking help from dukuns (shamans), and using amulets and charms. Due to their links to dark spiritual forces, the Bugis people present a great challenge for those who seek to reach them with the love and truth of the Gospel of Jesus the Messiah (Isa Al-Masih). Here are some specific ways you can intercede for the Bugis people:

• That the barriers of Islam and occult practices among the Bugis will be overcome by the Holy Spirit.
• That the Good News will spread powerfully and that Jesus will be honoured among the Bugis people.
• For more Indonesian workers who demonstrate great sacrificial faith to build God’s kingdom. May financial matters not become a distraction to their ministries.
• Pray for those Bugis students and migrant workers who have moved to cities on the region for work and studies, that they’ll be open to new TRUTH, and that their colleagues and fellow students will share Christ with them.

2. From colleagues serving in SEAsia: “We recently received a call from a friend, asking if we would come and pray for a baby who was sick. At the hospital I sat down beside the bed and touched Ezekiel’’s head. Just a month earlier he had been a healthy, chubby, and happy first child of his parents. Then he suddenly got very sick. Now, as a five-month-old baby, he was suffering with fluid on his brain and lungs. After praying, I stood up again and was getting ready to leave when suddenly the door opened and in walked the mother and father with several other friends and family. They were happy that I had prayed and they they asked me if I had something to share from the Word of God!

Wow! Praise the Lord! Through acts of love and kindness, God is opening the hearts of Neighbors to His Word. Please join our team there in praying:

• For the physical healing of little Ezekiel, and the spiritual healing of his family.
• Remember our friends and neighbors who are fasting this month, trying to please God and find new spiritual strength, that they would, indeed, find a new and deeper understanding of who God is and the great love He has for them.
• Remember Kasih and Yati’s father as they continue to recover.
• For our colleague’s family — health, adjustment to life and language in this country, guidance for their two kids in local school, and open doors of ministry for the parents as they volunteer this semester at one of the local public universities.

3. From partners serving in the Southern Philippines and South Asia:

Our Bajao ministry is under HUGE spiritual attack and we URGENTLY need your prayers. One of the new Bajao pastors is stirring up dissension amongst the fragile group of believers and the Bible College students.

Bajau Woman

Please pray for these specific needs in this situation:

• That an upcoming meeting with this pastor will be production and redemptive.
• For the Lord’s intervention in the pastor’s heart.
• The need for an audio Bible in their language and the equipment to listen (such as MP3 players).