Neighbor Prayer Update

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.” (Matthew 5:9)

“Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness.” (James 3:18)

1. Pray for the ministry and influence of A. L. , ministering amongst neighbors in South Asia. In a recent newspaper article, he was quoted as promoting extreme love and forgiveness: “This is the kind of ‘Christian extremism’ that the world needs. It’s not enough to just show love and concern to those who are being persecuted but we must also show love and concern to those who persecute them. If we want to live the life that Jesus wants us to live, if you and I want to become Christian extremist then Jesus expects us to have that love. We must have extreme love, extreme forgiveness, extreme concern, and extreme compassion.”

2. This request comes from one of our team members working amongst a major “gateway” people group in a creative access country. He reports: My friend of 6 months has said to me,”I need you to be my friend. I hope you can meet my extended family.” This man of peace is a member of a people group with a population of over 11 million. There are around 200 followers of Christ amongst them.

• Pray that I will have opportunity to share more meals with him when I visit his city in the near future.

• Pray that our conversation will lead toward Christ.

3. Lift up a young couple with two children, serving in a key area amongst neighbors. They are just returning to their place of service from a 3-month furlough. May they return with renewed strength, vision and passion for their work. May they be filled fresh and new with God’s Spirit of love and peace for their neighbors. May they adjust well once again to the climate, food and culture. May they have the ability to resume their language study with renewed energy.

4. Pray for immigrant youth who find themselves caught between cultures — the western influences they find at school and in the media, and their cultural / historical / religious influences they find at home. May the Church reach out to these youth with sensitivity and compassion, to affirm their family heritage, while introducing them to a real, vital relationship with the living God, through Christ, the Prince of Peace. http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/07/21/camp.ayandeh/index.html.

5. Adapted from this week’s “Intercede Magazine” — Please pray:

• for ministry organizations in Afghanistan. After Neighbor clerics protested the presence of Christian organizations, many of these same groups are being denied visas — even if not directly involved in evangelistic work.

• for Tajikistan. Officially a secular country, Neighbor traditions are strong and Tajikistan is experiencing an extremist revival in many cities. As a result, followers of Christ face threats and danger. May they be strong, bold, sensitive, loving and genuine in living out their faith in Christ….as “sheep amongst wolves.”

• for followers of Christ in Jordan. Government officials recently closed down a church, and there is growing pressure against believers in Jordan. May this awaken the church to genuine faith and powerful witness.