Download - Prayer Guide 2011 (2)
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Prayer Guide 2011forEUROPEAN PEOPLES
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Introduction
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One day, Nehemiah received disturbing
news that things were not going well
for the Jewish exiles that had returned
to Jerusalem. The city wall had been
destroyed and the people were in
great trouble. Nehemiah was greatly
burdened; he mourned for several
days, fasted and prayed and then
went to rebuild the city. There he met
with the Israelites and said, Come,
lets rebuild Jerusalems wall The
people responded favorably and were
encouraged to do this good work
(Neh. 1-2, HCSB).
In post-Christian Western Europe and
post-Communist Eastern Europe,
Christianity has all but been destroyed
and desperately needs to be rebuilt.
Europeans show little interest in
traditional religion. The vast majority
has either never heard the gospel or
has rejected it. Although the work of
spreading the Good News among these
people is challenging, there is evidence
that God is at work. Approximately 700
Southern Baptist supported missionaries
are currently living and sharing their
faith among the worlds 817 million
Europeans. Through their efforts,
150,000 Europeans heard the gospel
in 2010 and 6,500 placed their faith in
Christ. 11,000 were baptized, 300 new
outreach groups started, 130 churches
planted, and new work began among
3 unreached people groups. Praise the
Lord for this progress.
With hundreds of thousands of
Europeans continuing to live in
darkness, however, there is much
work still to be done. Will you help to
advance the Kingdom by passionately
interceding that these people will
become hungry for God and receptive
to the gospel? Pray that missionaries
will be encouraged and strengthened as
they do the good work of spreading
the gospel. If the Lord has burdened
your heart for Europeans, please
consider adopting a people group for
which you will commit to pray regularly
and seek to reach, as He leads.
Blessings, Celeste
European Afnity Group Prayer Strategist
mailto://[email protected]://[email protected] -
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NEW BEGINNINGS AMONG THE ROMAi
In May, 2011, more than fty Roma met in Prague. They were not protesting lower
wages, higher unemployment, educational discrimination, or persecution. They were
celebrating Gods love, forgiveness, and mercy. They were singing, praying, and
praising in the Romany/Gypsy language. These Roma are the core group of Cacipen
(Truth) church Prague. The Czech census report indicates that more than 10,000
Roma live in Prague. Until October, 2010, no church targeting the Roma existed in
the city. In the summer of 2010, two families from Poland moved as missionaries to
Prague as a part of the FETE (From Everywhere to Everywhere) Missions program.
During that fall, Janek and Rafal Gil, began visiting Roma neighborhoods . They
distributed more than 800 Jesus videos in eight different Romany dialects and
discovered ve homes willing to host Bible studies. Monthly meetings in a local
conference room were begun and in just a few months, attendance grew from 10 to
40 adults. In February, 2011, Cacipen church began to hold weekly meetings. Kveta,
a Romany lady from the Andel district of Prague said, God is working miracles in
my life as a result of these missionaries, the power of prayer, and His Holy Word. Im
so thankful for their service and sacrice. Sascho, a worker from Bulgaria added,
Ive wanted for so long a Romany church, where I could worship. I am grateful to
God for this new beginning. Sascho, 60-years-old, was baptized along with two
others on Easter Sunday - now thats a new beginning.
Visit the Roma Ministries website (www.romaministries.com).
PRAISE GOD for new beginnings resulting in changed
lives and new groups following the Savior. Thank the Lord
for those who have not only heard the gospel, but who are
also taking the Good News to their own people. Its the
dream of every missionary to see their people taking
the message to a new group yet to hear. Intercede thatthe Lord will bless and multiply these new beginnings.
Roma Peoples
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PASSING ON THE TRUTHi
A member of the Russian Cluster shares, Before our recent stateside assignment,
our Bible study on the book of Genesis was translated from Russian into Latvian.
Zane, a young mother who faithfully attends our Russian-speaking church and Bible
studies, asked if she could use it for herself and another Latvian Christian friend.
Gladly, I answered. She asked me to train her as much as possible before we left,
so that she would understand the main points and we met several times a week.
Then I had no contact with her for almost 4 months. When we returned, she shared
with me that she and her friend had continued to study through Genesis. Zane had
also recently begun to use the material with a non-Christian friend, Daiga, a mother
with 5 young children. It wasnt long before we met Daiga, since she and Zane were
meeting several times a week at our outreach library. The week that we returned,
Daiga came to church services for the rst time, along with her 5 children. A couple
of weeks later, I had a text message from Zane, Thank you for your prayers for
Daiga. Yesterday she prayed a prayer of repentance. Hallelujah!
Names have been changed for security
Visit the Engage Russia website (www.engagerussia.org).
Russian Peoples
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PRAISE GOD for faithful men and women, who not
only receive the truth themselves, but pass it on. Please
pray that more of our Christian believers will be brave
enough to invite others to look at Gods Word with
them. Pray that God will send an ethnic Latvian couple
to our mainly Russian city to begin a separate Latvian-
speaking congregation.
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FAITHFULNESS AND OBEDIENCEi
Novaya Triany is a small town that was settled 200 years ago by Bulgarian immigrants
in the Odessa region of Ukraine and was one of the central areas for the Soviet-run
farms. The soil is rich and ideal for grape vineyards, fruit trees and wheat. Sergei* was
the general manager of the government farms and he met every day in the center of
the town with hundreds of local men, assigning them to their duties. He was also a
strongly committed member of the Communist Party. One Sunday after church, one of
our Black Sea Orthodox (BSO) Cluster personnel and the local pastor met with Sergei
in his home. In tears, Sergei prayed, asking God for forgiveness and accepting Christ
as his Savior. Because of the faithfulness of believers in Novaya Triany to pray for
years for Sergei and the obedience of others to go, we have a new brother in Christ.
Sergeis physical health may be poor, but his future is sealed and sure!
In some regions of the BSO Cluster there are fewer than 0.5% evangelical believers.
Pray for workers for the harvest to be called out in each of the 5 countries of the BSO
Cluster. Petition the Father to move in the hearts of His people in Moldova, Ukraine,
Georgia, Armenia, and Belarus to make them passionate and emboldened to share
the Good News of Christ in their homeland and beyond.
*Names have been changed for security
PETITION THE LORDto open doors that no man can
close in each of the countries of the Black Sea Orthodox
(BSO) Cluster. Ask Him to turn the hearts of those in
places and positions of inuence, so that His people will
nd favor to accomplish the work He has for them to do.
INTERCEDE THAT THE LORD will grant His people
wisdom and knowledge of His will and His plan, so thatevery person in the countries of the BSO Cluster will have
the opportunity to hear and respond to Christ. Pray that
His Name will be made known in every village, city, and
country of this cluster.
Black Sea Orthodox Peoples
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TRUE CHRISTIANITYi
In the Western Mediterranean countries, religious symbols, churches, and statues
abound, but true Christianity is difcult to nd. Once God was gloried, but now
money, power, and love of self, rule. They desperately need a personal encounter
with Jesus and consistent time in Gods Word and interacting with His people.
A missionary in Malta shares this story. Would you like to come in for a cup of
tea? my neighbor asked. I immediately said yes, having learned that while Maltese
are extremely friendly people, invitations into their homes are not common. We
spent an hour and a half and I shared some Bible verses and prayed with her. She
showed me the 600-year-old icon that has been passed down through her family
and assured me that she respected my religion, but she had her own. Jesus loves
everyone, but he especially loves those who are good, she said.
The next day, I met a former neighbor. As I shared a concern, she said, You should
pray in Jesus name. We had a heart to heart conversation and I learned that,
although she is still very faithful in the traditional religion, she reads her Bible and
only prays to God through Jesus. I was able to give her a pocket New Testament in
Maltese and encourage her to continue seeking Him.
Visit the Malta Ministries website (www.praymalta.net).
GODS WORD IS POWERFUL! Ask that Maltese and
other Western Mediterranean peoples will have a Spirit-
given desire to read the Bible and apply it to their lives.
PRAY FOR NATIONAL BELIEVERS AND MISSIONARIES
in these countries to walk closely with the Lord so that they
will truly be salt and light. Intercede that spiritual needs
will surface and not be drowned in the worlds pleasuresor entertainment. Pray that the people of the Western
Mediterranean will spend time in Gods Word and that
this will produce changed lives.
Western Mediterranean Peoples
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GODS TAPESTRYi
Leave it to God to bring an Austrian student to Norman, Oklahoma to stir our
hearts to go to Vienna! Thats exactly what HE did, shares a missionary in Austria.
Now, over 4 years later, the student we became friends with in Norman, Oklahoma
is our fellow countryman in Austria. John has heard the Gospel. Like many Austrians,
he is living a very nancially secure lifestyle and pursuing his career. He has
everything he needsexcept Jesus. Despite Johns reluctance to embrace faith,
God has expanded our territory through him. in terms of relationships. His parents,
Martin and Beth, are part of a generation that has never heard of the free
gift of salvation through Jesus Christ. Because of our involvement in their sons life
in Oklahoma, they have whole-heartedly embraced us into their own family. Now,
Martin and Beth. invite us regularly to come to their home for weekends and our
family has established a separate relationship with them. Weve been able to speak
of our faith around their kitchen table and share the hope we have in Jesus Christ.
They have been given a German Bible and we hope one day, the reading and
studying of the Word will be part of the activities we share with them.
Names have been changed for security
PRAISE THE LORD for weaving these lives together to
accomplish His purposes. Intercede that John and his
parents will place their faith in the Lord and be instrumental
in leading other Austrians to Christ.
Germanic Peoples
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REFUGEE OUTREACHi
A member of the Balkan Cluster shares, One evening, after we had distributed
groceries to the refugees, I asked Hussein, a physician who had ed an extremist
regime in his country, if he would like for the staff members to pray for his wife,
who was imprisoned in Turkey for not having proper documents. He agreed and we
prayed for the quick and miraculous release of his wife. A few days later, Hussein*
was back at the center with his three daughters. He greeted me with his usual broad
smile, an embrace, and his good news. He described how we had prayed for his
wifes release at 7:00 p.m. and how upon his arrival home, approximately 1 hour
later, he called her cell phone. She had been turned back by the border guards on
5 previous occasions over the last several days, but on this night the guards paid
no attention as she simply walked across unchallenged. We rejoiced and made the
rounds to share the good news with other staff members, who had prayed. This was
truly answered prayer. Hussein has now heard about and experienced God. Instead
of going home each week after receiving his ration of groceries, he sits and listens
to the gospel message provided for those who care to listen.
*Names have been changed for security
To learn more about refugee work in the Balkan Cluster, visit the One Life Project website
(www.onelifematters.org/projects/40465496025).
PRAY FOR THE HOLY SPIRIT to bring Hussein* to the
conviction that the gospel is true and that he needs to
surrender to Jesus Christ. Intercede that the hundreds of
refugees like Hussein who come to the center each week
will also see, know and surrender to the truth of Jesus.
PETITION THE FATHER
to send more workers to comealongside our colleagues and national staff in Athens
reaching out to Afghanis, Iranians, Sudanese and Somalis,
who are seeking that peace that passes all understanding.
Balkan Peoples
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http://www.onelifematters.org/projects/40465496025http://www.onelifematters.org/projects/40465496025http://www.onelifematters.org/projects/40465496025http://www.onelifematters.org/projects/40465496025 -
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I WANT IT NOW!i
A volunteer team member stood outside of a grocery store, distributing invitations
to lectures about families. The husband of one family who received the yer and
attended the lectures was a former leader at a local place of worship for another
major world religion. At the lectures, the family was invited by some members of an
IMB team in Central Europe to an outreach event. After attending this event, the
man called an IMB worker to ask, if he could have coffee with him. The missionary
walked him through the gospel presentation and what it means to know the God of
the Scriptures. The missionary stopped and asked, if the man understood the gospel
message. All he said was, I WANT IT NOW. The missionary asked, What do you
want? The man proclaimed, I want to ask God now for salvation! They prayed
together and he asked Christ into his heart. This man is now involved in a Bible
study group.
This summer, as members of the Central European Cluster have held various
outreach camps and events, others have responded to gospel presentations, like
this man. In just one week, at least 25 professions of faith were made.
PRAY that this former worship leader for another major
religion will grow in his salvation and become a strong
leader for the Lord and His Kingdom!
GIVE PRAISE for the way the Holy Spirit is moving in the
hearts of the people of Central Europe. Intercede thatthe oodgates will be opened in these countries and that
many more will begin a personal relationship with the Son.
Central European Peoples
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MAKING DISCIPLESi
Fred and his family were Congolese citizens displaced from their home by war
raging in their country. They lived in Malawi for over two years in a refugee camp
with 8,000 people, enduring pitiful living conditions and little hope of returning to
their country. In 2008, the Australian government requested a mere ten families from
among those 8,000 to come to Australia, and Freds family was chosen. Incredulous,
Fred praised God for choosing him from among so many people to start a new life
in a new land. In gratitude, he offered himself to God to reach Australians. Upon
reaching the Australian shores, Fred came into the lives of IMB missionaries working
there and shared his story. They immediately saw his potential for reaching the lost
and trained him using a T4T-based (Training for Trainers) method called Reboot. He
began sharing the gospel everywhere and training other disciples. Soon, he made
a commitment to the Lord to share twice a day and ve times on Saturdays - a goal
which he maintains today. He has won many people to the Lord, started a church in
his home, and leads several disciple training groups and outreach groups.
For more information about this ministry, visit the AIM Trainers website (www.aimtrainers.org).
Fred has many demands on his life, including full-time
work to support his family. He also often receives abuse
from unreceptive people. PRAYthat Fred will not grow
weary in the wonderful work he is doing.
PRAYfor those whom Fred has reached with the gospel.
Ask that they will grow strong in the Lord and take on the
challenge of passing on what they have learned to make
and train other disciples.
Diaspora Peoples
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LIGHTING THE FIREi
God is at work in Copenhagen, Denmark, a city of 3 million that many believe is
pivotal to all of Europe. It is a creative city full of possibilities and opportunities
and with quirky peoples. It is a city full of humor and hope. It is also a city, where in
the past few churches have sought to reach the lost. But in recent years, God has
directed student ministries and churches across the U.S. to focus on Copenhagen
and two families have followed Gods call to uproot their lives and relocate to this
city. They have invested time learning the language and adapting to this culture and
are now at work in Copenhagen. It is as if He is putting dry wood on the altar, so
that when the match is lit, the power of His re will burn bright and hot.
For more information about Copenhagen and the ministries happening there, visit Commission Stories
(www.commissionstories.com/stories/1311).
INTERCEDE THAT THE LORD will continue to call
workers to Copenhagen. Pray that the people of this city
will discover the hope that is available through a personal
relationship with the Lord.
INTERCEDE THAT A FIRE will be lit in Copenhagen that
will burn brightly and that will draw many to faith.
Calypso North Peoples
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http://www.commissionstories.com/stories/1311http://www.commissionstories.com/stories/1311http://www.commissionstories.com/stories/1311http://www.commissionstories.com/stories/1311 -
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REACHING THE NATIONSi
Many countries vied for the privilege of hosting the 2012 Summer Olympics (July
27 - Aug 12, 2012), but only one site could be chosen. After much consideration,
London, England was the location selected - a decision reached by a committee of
men, but which IMB personnel and local believers see as an incredible opportunity
from God to share the gospel with both Londoners and visitors from around the
world. Londoners are proud and happy to have the Olympic Games come not only
to London, but throughout the country for the rst time in over sixty years. The
excitement is building and is sure to be high by opening day. Game organizers
and athletes are busy preparing, and so are IMB workers, local believers, and U.S.
volunteers. Some volunteers will come before the Olympics to prayerwalk, but the
majority of them probably more than a thousand - are expected to assist local
churches and charities minister to athletes families, tourists and communities during
the Games. Volunteers will engage in community outreach, both in neighborhoods
and at live sites. Sports clinics, camps, coaching activities, tournaments, and
childrens holiday clubs will be held. Community festivals will feature live big screen
broadcasts, childrens activities, barbecues, tea-and-coffee, live music, theater and
creative arts. There will also be more serious ministry related to social justice issues,
such as ending homelessness, human trafcking and prostitution and to promoting
concern for the environment and 50 Days of Peace.
Visit the Adopt London program website (www.adoptlondon.com).
INTERCEDE that these ministries will generate a greateropenness to Christ, lead many to faith, and develop lasting
relationships between local churches and volunteers
through the Adopt London program
(www.adoptlondon.com).
PRAY THAT GOD will lead British churches to take full
advantage of this opportunity for the advance of theGospel. Intercede that both athletes and spectators will
have a spiritual encounter during their time at the Games
and that citizens of the host country will come to know
who God is and how great and loving He truly is.
British Irish Celt Peoples
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Roma Peoples
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VISIT EUROPEANPEOPLES.IMB.ORG
for more information about the peoples of Europe or
the International Mission Boards work in Europe
To receive weekly prayer updates from the European
Peoples Afnity Group, please contact Celeste
Brubaker at [email protected].
| imb.org | europeanpeoples.imb.org
Prayfor European Peoples
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http://europeanpeoples.imb.org/mailto://[email protected]://imb.org/http://europeanpeoples.imb.org/http://europeanpeoples.imb.org/http://imb.org/mailto://[email protected]://europeanpeoples.imb.org/