27.

Timor-Leste
Having given birth to twins the day before,
things suddenly took a turn for the worse for 28year-old Isabelle. She began convulsing and
the nurses quickly realised that Isabelle had
developed eclampsia. A life-saving blood
transfusion was vital, but bags of blood are a
rarity in the clinic in Baucau, Timor Leste, so
Isabelle urgently needed to reach the hospital in
Dili. Isabelle got the help she needed because
she was evacuated to hospital by plane and
was later happily reunited with her twins. But
many people die every year in countries like
Timor-Leste because they are too far from a
hospital when they become critically ill or
injured. Pray for better healthcare and safer
roads so that people can reach the help they
need in time. (Mission Aviation Fellowship)
28. China
The best current estimate suggests that more
than 60 million children are growing up in the
Chinese countryside while their parents live and
work away from home. That's one fifth of all the
children in China! More than two million of those
left behind children are thought to be living
alone, without the support of a close relative. I
know it is hard for mum and dad to earn
money, one young boy told the BBC, but I
miss them so much, it is very painful. China's
household registration system means that
although people can work wherever they
choose, they and their children can only
exercise their welfare rights - including access
to health care and education - in their home
village. Please pray for these left behind
children. (Chinese Church Support Ministries)
29. North Korea
Work among North Koreans remains difficult. At
the end of April, a Chinese - Korean pastor was
stabbed to death in China. He was known to be
actively helping North Korean refugees.

Christian activity along the Chinese/Korean

border has suffered serious attacks over the
last two years, with many arrested, some jailed,
others have disappeared, and still others have
been killed. Ask the Lord to bring comfort to
those suffering loss. Pray for the pastors wife
and two children. And pray, please, for courage
and safety for those ministering in this difficult
region. (AsiaLink)
30. Japan

July August 2016

It is common for Christians in Japan to believe

that radical discipleship is only for those who
decide to be especially committed (kenshinsha)
and who would then be expected to go on to be
pastors or missionaries. Please pray that as
people hear Jesus call to follow him, they
would respond wholeheartedly and choose to
live their lives no longer for themselves, but for
him who loved them and gave himself for them
(2 Cor 5:14-15). Pray also that many, who may
have been Christians for a long time, would
hear the voice of Jesus calling them to total
commitment to him within their own life
circumstances and spheres of influence. (Japan
Christian Link)
31. Burma (Myanmar)
When Mimi graduates from her studies, her
hope is to return to her village in Chin State and
teach high school science. As only one of three
students in a class of 90 to graduate from grade
10, Mimi, is sadly, one of very few to do well,
despite the disadvantages she has suffered.
My life was very, very hard. Early morning, Id
wake up and go to the river to get water. After
that we had our breakfast and ran up to the
school. Im the eldest in the family so I also had
to cook for my brother and sister. Praise God
that Mimi has overcome many disadvantages of
growing up in a remote area. Pray for
opportunities so that those in remote villages
can thrive and reach their fullest potential.
(Mission Aviation Fellowship)

www.globalconnections.org.uk/prayer
worldprayernews
@worldprayernews

Praying Through Walls

Throughout my years of ministry to the more
vulnerable in society, there has been a common
reccurring problem. When reaching out to
homeless men, and women in prostitution, I
have always asked at some point during the
conversation; What would you like me to pray
for? Almost every person has something they
would like prayer for, be that health, food,
safety, or shelter. And then I ask; May I pray
with you now? This is where I hit a wall.
Although many could list requests to the point
that its impossible to remember them all, its so
incredibly rare that someone will let me pray for
them then and there in the flesh so to speak.
I began to question why, many responding with
comments such as Ill get too emotional, or I
just dont want to go there. These people know
the power of prayer, and this is why their walls
go up.
When Jesus approaches the woman at the well
in the Gospel of John he tells her things about
herself that she doesnt want to hear. There are
so many things you can unpack from this story
in chapter 4, but I am always amazed at the
way Jesus uses a dance of power and
vulnerability to communicate his love. He
speaks into her weakness, into her sinfulness
and her bad reputation, and as He brings love

Vol 61 No 4

22. Nepal (1)

as a balm to these painful truths, she becomes

aware of his power and declares; Come, see a
man who told me everything I ever did. Could
this be the Messiah? (v29). There is no
escaping the power in the name of Jesus.
Working through this prayer diary you will find
countless tragedies and exploitations. You will
also find stories of hope and points of praise as
we rejoice in the fruit of Gods power. All these
prayers have in common two things: one, that
they are borne from the vulnerability of man and
our desperate need for God, and two, that they
can be answered because Jesus himself
became in the flesh, God incarnate.
I may not ever get to pray beside some of the
men and women I work with. You may never
meet the people in this prayer guide or even step
foot in the countries that youre praying for. But
there is power in the name of Jesus. Ask God to
meet those you are praying for in their
vulnerability. Dare to believe that prayer breaks
through walls and crosses boundaries that we
cant.

Editor: Annie Davies

Annie Davies
Global Connections

Hon. Editor: Martin Lee

The annual cost including postage for copies sent to the same address:
One copy per issue 5.00 UK only
8.00 Europe
12.00 Rest of world
All subscriptions should be addressed to:
Global Connections, Caswell Road, Leamington Spa, CV31 1QD
Telephone: 01926 487755 Email: info@globalconnections.org.uk
Registered in England & Wales as Evangelical Mission Association.
Company number 3886596. Charity number 1081966

Namas story is typical of survivors of the 2015

Nepal Earthquakes. He lost his parents, sister
and home as a landslide buried the community
of Langtang under a huge grey mass of rubble
100 feet deep. More than 150 people were
buriedabout one-third of the population of the
Langtang Valley. Nama no longer guides
trekkers venturing into his picturesque valley
because tourism in Nepal has stopped almost
completely. A year on from the earthquakes
Namas community are slowly rebuilding their
homes, and their lives. Pray that the people of
Nepal arent forgotten as relief efforts end. Pray
also that God would open doors so the most
isolated can receive the essential services they
need. Pray that God would minister his peace
into lives of those suffering the long-term effects
of grief and trauma. (Mission Aviation
Fellowship)
23. Sri Lanka
Three villages were buried by massive
landslides due to the excessive rain which was
triggered by Cyclone Roanu. Over 100 people
have died from flooding across Sri Lanka and
more than 400,000 have been badly affected.
About 185,000 of those who have lost their
homes are being housed in temporary shelters.
Pray for the people of Sri Lanka as they recover
from these awful floods and for the work of BMS
as they seek to provide for the needs of many
vulnerable people throughout the world. (BMS
World Mission)
24. India
The Union of Evangelical Students of India in
Jammu and Kashmir praise God for 47 students
and a graduate who came to faith this academic
year. Give thanks for students from other faith
backgrounds who are accepting Christ and
growing spiritually. Pray also for pioneering
student ministry in several sensitive locations in

South Asia. God is working in amazing ways in

closed countries. Pray for students to be both
bold and wise in their evangelism. (IFES)
25. South Asia
Before I believed in Jesus, my life was a mess.
Whenever I got drunk, I used to beat my
children, and I was always ready to take
revenge on people who upset me. Then after
hearing the Good News at a special meeting in
my village I confessed my sins to Jesus and
accepted him as my Saviour. Why was I open
to the Gospel? Because my sons life had made
such an impact on me after he became a
Christian. I would beat my son, but he never
spoke back at me. I was so impressed by the
transformation I saw that I was ready to give my
life to Jesus too. Now I lead a Sunday service in
my house every week. Also, after seeing the
change in my life, my daughter has come to
faith. Thank God for what He has done in this
family, and pray that they will be used by God
for the spread of the Gospel amongst their
people. (WEC International)
26. Nepal (2)
The earth is shaking, he building swaying,
doors slamming, a roaring noise. All this is
happening as 40 terrified children sit huddled
together in a Nepali church. They cling to their
teacher and she knows that she has to find a
way to be the calm in the midst of this storm. A
week after the earthquake as part of the healing
process, the children were asked to draw a
picture of where they thought God was during
the earthquakes. All of the children drew God
standing next to them or holding them with his
arms around them, says Helen. They all
recognised Gods presence even in the midst of
something very frightening. Praise God that His
love was encountered in disaster, and pray that
these children will cling to Him all their days.
(BMS World Mission)

17. Brazil

20. Bolivia

1. Ramadan

4. Iran

The Propac Centre in guas Formosas, Brazil

was started through the vision and compassion
of a local pastor and his wife. They had seen
and heard that there was a problem with
children suffering from violence and sexual
abuse in their homes and neighbourhood. Their
idea was to have the church host the children
and that is where the day care centre began.
Propac wants to be a refuge for children at risk,
where they are loved, learn more about the
Word of God, have meals, and participate in
training projects like Computers and Sewing.
Please pray for the children who come to the
centre, and their families, that they will
experience God's love and find new
opportunities to improve their lives. (Emmanuel
International)

For the children who attend, the annual Angel

Tree Camp is special. It may be the only time
they leave the city during the year, or have their
own bed, or have three meals a day: for they all
live in prison with their jailed parent(s). The
camp is run by the Angel Tree Centre, which
provides support for children of people
incarcerated in Oruro prison in Bolivia. The
most recent camp had 41 children aged 413. It
has craft activities, competitions, games,
singing, a film, lots of food, and plenty of
praying and learning about Jesus. Pray that the
seeds sown in the childrens lives take root, and
that the children seek a different path to their
parents. (Latin Link)

Pray for Muslims everywhere as they begin

their month-long fast, a pillar of their faith. As
they earnestly seek God, may they find what
theyre looking for in Christ. May Jesus reveal
himself through dreams, visions, encounters
with Christians, reading Biblical scriptures in
print and through satellite TV and the internet.
(MECO)

As a student in Tehran, Fatimeh had married a

professor, an educated man. He would love her
and treat her with respect and kindness, but
when she gave birth to their first child he sent
her back to her parents. In her heartbreak,
loneliness, and depression, she walked through
the rain to a bridge where she intended to take
her own life. A car approached and an old man
stepped out of it saying, My daughter, what are
you doing standing here in the rain? It is not
right that you make any serious decisions now.
Ask God for help. God loves you. God will never
leave you. He gave her a New Testament, and
later Fatimeh gave her life to Jesus Christ.
Praise God that He sees the desperate, He
sends help, and the New Testament is reaching
Iran. (Elam)

18. The Caribbean

IS/IVCF Guyanas HOPE Suicide Prevention
seminars, running since 2014, have made such
an impact on students that their General
Secretary was invited to a Ministry of Health
event, and is now part of a government working
group. Please thank God for this opportunity to
help bring change. (IFES)
19. Peru (1)
The dry forest of the Peruvian coast is one of
the most highly threatened ecosystems on
earth. The trees capture water, help to prevent
desertification, provide food for human and
livestock consumption, and are habitats for
many unique and endangered birds, mammals
and reptiles. Pray for communities involved in
dry forest conservation through reforestation,
environmental education, and research
activities in northern Peru. (A Rocha
International)

21. Peru (2)

In Peru, if a close relative dies, youre generally
left to get on with it. There are no support
groups. Now, to address this issue,
contextualised bereavement camps mixing
therapy and fun are being held. A pilot camp
was held in December in Pisac, Cusco, with ten
children and four adults, providing a safe
environment for them to come to terms with
their loss. One ten-year-old whose dad had
been murdered told of school friends and
teachers making fun of her. After the camp she
commented, Now I realise I dont need to be
embarrassed or ashamed that my dad was
murdered. It is planned to expand this ministry:
pray for the team as they challenge the
prevalent mindset, train indigenous teams and
provide support to schools and hospitals. (Latin
Link)

2. North Africa
A woman in North Africa who has come to faith
in Christ said: I wish people could see what is
happening here. People are being transformed.
People are transforming their communities. In
the end, if someone knows Christ, everyone
around them is blessed. I know for sure the
prayers of the people around me, the church
and the people I do not know, are the reason
behind where I am in my life. This woman
recognises the power of prayer. Lets pray for
this part of the world and for people there we do
not know, with the knowledge that as we pray
God acts, and lives are changed. (WEC
International)
3. Lebanon
A MECO worker in Lebanon gives MP3 players
with songs and scripture to housebound maids.
One maid who has barely been allowed out of
the apartment in over four years showered me
with tears, prayers, and blessing when she was
able to slip out on a pretext to thank me.
Negotiations are under way for the next
shipment. I can hardly wait to get distributing
them! Pray that these MP3 players will bring
many people to Christ who would otherwise
never hear the gospel. (MECO)

5. Syria
A MECO worker in Syria writes: Qamishil has
been a place of refuge for many. But the town
centre has been recently attacked by a suicide
bomber, car bombs and shooting. We have
links with believers and an active local church
ministering to people from all backgrounds. One
shopkeeper shot and killed was the uncle of our
bookshop manager. Ask for comfort and
protection and for the good news to continue to
be shared in these sad, dark days. (MECO)

6. United Kingdom (1)

9. Turkey

11. Nigeria (1)

14. Malawi

Each day across Britain, 100 people learn that

they are losing their sight. It is not unusual for
people to experience loss of sight as something
like a bereavement. Diminishing sight can make
it hard to get out and about. Loneliness and
depression are a real risk. In response to this
large and growing need Torch Trust has
launched Journeying With, a distinctively
Christian befriending service which brings
Christian volunteers alongside people who are
struggling with sight loss. Torch is currently in
the process of setting up more local schemes
across the nation and prayer for this service
would be greatly appreciated. (Torch Trust)

Anna, a Christian law student, is under pressure

to pay a bribe to pass her end of year exams.
Who passes is not based on merit but
dependent on who offers the highest donation.
Church is often blocked on a Sunday by
protests or threats yet she clings to Christ.
Through in-depth Bible study and mentorship,
the LCF is supporting students like Anna to
understand how to be deeply rooted in the
Word of God to be a witness within their
community. (Lawyers Christian Fellowship)

Pray for the 40,000 people affected by leprosy

that TLM supports in Nigeria. Pray for the new
people diagnosed with leprosy each year
(approximately 4,000). The number of new
people diagnosed indicates ongoing
transmission within the communities. TLMs
partnerships help to reveal these newly
diagnosed people, helping to reduce the
struggles and consequences of the disease,
such as disability, poverty, and social
exclusion. Please pray that this vital work will
continue and that people affected by leprosy will
feel empowered to come forward for treatment.
(The Leprosy Mission)

The Zambezi Evangelical Church (ZEC) has

been trialling a series of income-generating
schemes to see if they can be used effectively
to support church pastors, to relieve church
members poverty, and help others in their
communities. Unfortunately, when visiting a
potato growing scheme in the north of Malawi,
ZECs leaders found that the cash that had
been gained from the project was less than the
set up cost. Please pray that ZECs leadership
would not be overwhelmed by the problems
they face; please pray that they would know the
Lords wisdom and strength as they work out
what type of project will work in each different
church. (Zambesi Mission)

7. Moldova
Maria was asked to pay a bribe to a judge so
that the outcome of the criminal court case
would be found in favour of her client. She
successfully encouraged her client not to
pursue this option, only for her client to change
his mind a week later. Having no other
Christians lawyer in her home country, the LCF
encourage lawyers like Maria to persevere,
have integrity, stand firm on Gods Word and to
be salt and light within their community.
(Lawyers Christian Fellowship)
8. Hungary
The Bartimaeus Foundation has been set up by
Tibor Mikls, a blind man and a friend of Torch
Trust. This non-profit organisation aims to
support people with sight loss in Hungary
through social integration, training for jobs, and
further practical support, alongside introducing
people to the gospel of Christ and helping them
grow in a relationship with God. Please pray for
Tibor and the continued work of the Bartimaeus
Foundation. (Torch Trust)

10. United Kingdom (2)

At this time of year thousands of international
students will have come to the end of their
studies at UK universities. Please pray for those
that return home at this time; pray that they
transition well especially with the added
pressures of job hunting and return culture
shock. Pray for those international students that
have come into contact with Christians and the
gospel while here, that they would continue on
their journey of faith as they return. Pray for
those that have come to faith in Jesus whilst in
the UK, that they would find Christian
communities to join back home and that their
faith would grow and spread. (Friends
International)

12. Rwanda
Nancy Lambrechts helps to teach and train
women on the Preach the Word training course
in Rwanda. She says she often meets women
who feel ill equipped to disciple or teach other
women. Women have many unique
opportunities to lead each other to the feet of
Jesus, so pray that the work she does would
encourage women and give them the
confidence they need to draw others to listen to
Jesus words. (AIM International)
13. Republic of Congo
As Mama Louise's vision deteriorated, life
became increasingly difficult. She got lost when
she went to her plantations because she could
no longer see. She had to stop going and
people stole everything, so she could no longer
cook for her family. Her daughter had to give up
her job to stay home to look after her and make
sure that she was safe. Now, as a result of a
cataract operation at the Pioneer Christian
Hospital in Congo, Mama Louise can see again,
and her life has improved dramatically. Pray for
the New Sight Eye Clinic at the Pioneer
Hospital, that patients will receive physical and
spiritual sight for the first time. (Reach Beyond)

15. Nigeria (2)

Christian leaders in Nigeria are concerned
about a Religious Regulation Bill proposed by
the state governor of Kaduna which could see
street evangelists fined and pastors sent to jail
for up to two years for so-called offensive
preaching. The Bill would also require clergy to
obtain an annual preaching permit. Church
leaders fear that the legislation is an attempt to
stifle and target Christians under the guise of
tackling extremism. A Release partner in
Nigeria believes the legislation would set a
dangerous precedent. Please pray that the Bill
does not become law. (Release International)
16. Short-term service
AIMs receiving regions in Africa see many
short-termers going through their offices. Pray
for all the regions as they prepare for the
continual influx of new short-termers throughout
the year. Pray also for the short-termers
themselves, that they would adjust quickly to
new cultures, build new relationships and get
involved in the work that the Lord has for them
in their placements. (AIM International)