PRAY FOR AMERICA: THANK GOD for His many blessings on America throughout it's history. May we then ask that AMERICA once again be a blessing TO GOD, by once again submitting to HIS will in our affairs - both personal and national - that He may truly "heal our land." (2 Chron. 7:14)
SIGN A PETITION TO THE UN FOR THE PROTECTION OF CHRISTIANS :" The church in Syria has shone brightly for 2,000 years. But today violence and persecution threatens its survival. Thanks to an incredible response, Open Doors is helping 8,000 families in Syria survive each month. We believe the signatures and prayers of 500,000 people will encourage the UN to act and protect the rights and lives of all Syrians, especially the vulnerable Christian community." Go to: http://lp.opendoorsusa.org/emails/nov-13-action/save-syria.html?utm_source=action&utm_medium=email&utm_content=button&utm_campaign=november
WORLD-WDE PRAYER REQUESTS:
April 22 - LATEST SAHEED NEWS! "Saeed Sends Easter Message from Hospital Bed" - CBNNews.com, ; http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/world/2014/April/Saeed-Sends-Easter-Message-from-Hospital-Bed/ "Sometimes we want to experience the glory and resurrection with Jesus without experiencing death with Him," Abedini wrote. "We do not realize that unless we pass through the path of death with Christ, we are not able to experience resurrection with Christ."Abedini signed the message from a "prisoner of darkness in Iran, but free for the kingdom and light."
We need to continue to pray for Pastor Saeed - that his health will improve and that he will be re-united with his wife and two young children who live in the United States. We also remain hopeful that in addition to getting the medical care he so desperately needs, that Iranian officials display the kind of humanitarian treatment that often accompanies the start of the Iranian New Year which began on March 21st. This is the time of year when the Iranian government frequently offers clemency to prisoners of conscience. [If you have not yet, please sign the petition for his clemency- http://beheardproject.com/saeed#sign]
PRAY ALSO : - For comfort and peace for Saeed’s wife and children here in the U.S.\
- For a strong witness and testimony from Pastor Abedini in the prison where God has placed him
- For Christians around the world who are being persecuted for their faith in Christ
- For leadership from the White House and State Department in defending the freedoms of Abedini and other Americans
- GO TO SaveSaeed.org to sign a petition over 600,000 others asking for his immediate release
The U.S. State Department believes the Russian army is now prepared to launch an invasion of eastern Ukraine if President Vladimir Putin decides to pull the trigger, according to a senior Administration official."At this point, they are amassed and they could go at a moment’s notice if Putin gave the go ahead," the official said...Top Ukrainian security officials said Thursday that Russia now has 100,000 troops on its side of the Russia-Ukraine border.(Sources: CBS News, Washington Post, Huffington Post, Daily Beast)
As the Lord leads, please pray:
*For God to suppress President Putin’s ambitions to "restore" the Soviet empire.
*For the people of Ukrainen [esp. for the church 'to be THE church'] as they wait to see if the Russian troops will advance.
*About President Obama and to use wisdom in crafting our foreign policy, and wisdom for his advisers.
NEWS/PRAYER ALERT!"Kim Jong-un Calls for Execution of 33 Christians" - 3/7/2014; http://www.presidentialprayerteam.com/Prayerwatch?pw=3651 "North Korea tyrant Kim Jong-un has reportedly ordered that 33 Christians believed to be working alongside South Korean Baptist missionary Kim Jung-wook be put to death. The South Korean missionary - who was arrested last year - and his accomplices have reportedly started 500 or so underground churches..."[PRAY that the plans for execution would be rescinded, and these believers released.] [Che\ck out: They'll Be Dead By Morning (What Difference Will It Make) http://loristanleyroeleveld.blogspot.com/2014/03/theyll-be-dead-by-morning-what.html
NEWS ALERT/PRAISE! "Iran Allows Surgery on Ailing, Imprisoned Pastor" - CBNNews.com,March 07, 2014;http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/world/2014/March/Iran-Allows-Dire-Surgery-on-Ailing-Imprisoned-Pastor-/ The Iranian government has finally allowed doctors to perform surgery on imprisoned Pastor Benham Irani.Irani suffered from a herniated disc and bleeding intestines and urgently needed medical care. PRAY for the final release of Pastor Irani and others imprisoned for their faith.
Oct. 23: "Christians Fleeing IRAQ Area Once Considered Safe," - CBNNews.com, http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/world/2013/October/Christians-Fleeing-Iraq-Area-Once-Considered-Safe/ PRAY that believers in Iraq will know God's protection and provision; that believers will know[ whether they are called to flee or remain and persevere; and that their persecutors may come to hear the gospel and come to faith in Christ. - Stan]
Continue to Pray for EGYPT - Continue to pray for the tense situation in Egypt and especially for the Christian believers who are being targeted with violence by Muslim Brotherhood members.]
Update on Kenneth Bae: "US Ready to Bargain with N. Korea for Bae's Release,"- CBNNews.com, Aug 14, 2013 http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/world/2013/August/S-Ready-to-Bargain-with-N-Korea-for-Baes-Release/ - PRAY for 1) God's healing of and presence with Pastor Bae, 2) His earliest release by the North Korean government, and 3) God's comfort for his family and friends.]
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Continue to Pray for EGYPT - Continue to pray for the tense situation in Egypt and especially for the Christian believers who are being targeted with violence by Muslim Brotherhood members.]
Update on Kenneth Bae: "US Ready to Bargain with N. Korea for Bae's Release,"- CBNNews.com, Aug 14, 2013 http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/world/2013/August/S-Ready-to-Bargain-with-N-Korea-for-Baes-Release/ - PRAY for 1) God's healing of and presence with Pastor Bae, 2) His earliest release by the North Korean government, and 3) God's comfort for his family and friends.]
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"In God We Trusted - The Church Finds A New Home,"By Louis Christensen; http://www.presidentialprayerteam.com/opinion/ [AS I SEE IT:When I was a missionary to Japan over 30 years ago, I was surprised to learn that South Korea had already been sending missionaries TO AMERICA for a number of years. Sadly, with the passage of time and the direction from God I've seen America drift, I am no longer surprised. I even find myself wondering if we pay too little more attention to what is called HOME missions than we do. I will never forget being given an over-the-top introduction at my home church before I left, as though I was more special than other believers because I was going to the "mission" field. I remember stepping up to the pulpit and telling my church family that I was simply called to a mission field that was overseas. I admonished them that THEY were EACH called to the mission field of their circle of influence wherever they lived and worked. I still believe passionately that we are each called to obey God's call on our lives to be SENT wherever we are, with the foreign mission field being no more important to God than the one we are each called to. STAN]
Take a moment and imagine a 206 foot tall cross standing outside a $13 million church that comfortably seats 5,000 churchgoers. Believers flock from nearby towns to worship their Lord, and once church lets out they carry the excitement back to their neighbors. The church is big enough for now, but if the growth continues it will soon be overwhelmed with visitors and in need of expanding. Where is this mega-church? Is it in the suburbs of Houston, Texas…it has to be Charlotte, North Carolina, right? Nope, try Liushi, China; a little village just north of Vietnam.
But what happened to all those heart-wrenching stories you heard years ago on Sunday morning from those brave missionaries that risked their lives in China? Knock three times at the back door to be let into the Underground Church gathering. Did you bring your scrap of New Testament scripture? Did anyone follow you?
What happened to that China? What happened is that all that work those brave missionaries did worked! Isaiah 55:11 says, “So shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.” All that mission work was so fruitful that by 2030 China is projected to have more Christians than any other country in the world…and yes that means the good ol’ USA too. How does one of the communist capitals of the world go from executing Christians in their homes, to building 13 million dollar churches? Someone loved them enough to risk their lives to spread the gospel where it was needed the most.
If you know missionaries, or have heard their sermons on Sunday mornings when they are back in the States, you know that there is something almost thrill seeking about being a missionary. They always seem to be going to dangerous places, telling crazy stories. So, now that China has been tamed…where should all those missionaries go? There is one dangerous country, one place that has been constantly overlooked by the American missionary…the United States.
Sure, you don’t need mosquito nets, or a malaria shot. But, did you know that year in and year out more people died of violent crimes in Chicago alone than in all of Iraq during the Iraqi Conflict? Did you know that the United States is one of the Top Ten countries involved in sex trafficking? Or that of the Top Ten Most Violent Gangs in the world…four of them are in the United States? You want to find a dangerous place to be a missionary? You’re probably only fifteen minutes away.
You might scoff, you might roll your eyes, you might think the U.S. has it all together, but guess which country has the most foreign missionaries in it…that’s right the United States. It seems that the U.S. is the only country that thinks that the U.S. doesn’t need help on the church-front.
While churches may dot every street corner throughout the suburbs and country towns, the United States is by no means a Christian nation. While the coinage may say “In God We Trust,” ironically it seems that the closer you are to freedom, the farther you are from hearing God’s word.
Sunday mornings aren’t enough, hoping your friends and relatives read your inspirational scripture post on Facebook doesn’t work, and voting for that politician who you think has a really solid faith will do nothing. Unless the American Church decides to love the United States the same way it loved China years ago…you will see God chiseled out of every inch of this country’s history.
But it doesn’t need to be the passing of the torch, hopefully the United States will right the ship before 2030, and will run alongside China instead of watching the Light fade off into the distance as they sprint ahead out of sight.
This week pray that the churches in your state will turn their attention inwards. That every church will focus on the city they call home. Pray that all the hurt and hungry people a stone’s throw away from your church walls won’t be forgotten and left behind.
[bold and italics emphasis mine]
Louie Christensen is a Senior at the University of Arizona. In addition to a passion for writing, he also assists with a new church just a few blocks from campus in Tucson, Arizona.
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"The following expressions and comments are from our members and do not necessarily
represent or reflect the biblical or world views or opinions of the Presidential Prayer Team."
Judith says:May 2, 2014 at 2:04 PM
How many of us spend more time gathering “things” and keeping up with the “Jones” and feeding our own selfish desires more than we spend seeking God’s face and praying for the lost in our neighborhood? I am guilty, not so much gathering “things” but spending my time for pleasure or other things. Prayer is first and how many do you see show up for a prayer meeting? not bible study or a sermon or something else but pure prayer only? It is hard work and one must be willing to sacrifice. Without sacrifice there is no gain. Oh that we all would devote ourselves to prayer and the spreading of the gospel to those around us even if it “offends” someone.
Susan Balla says:May 2, 2014 at 5:11 PM
The biggest mission field is right here in our country. We are putting our light under a bushel because we are going away from our first love. Our churches are failing, our ministers are afraid to preach salvation and to come boldly before the Lord. We put on musical shows to keep us entertained in church. We preach feel good messages just for Sunday then the rest of the week we live of the world. We need to come before the Lord and repent and turn back to Him.
DeLena says:May 2, 2014 at 7:28 PM
As one of those “foreign missionaries” I could not agree with you more. For more than 20 years, we have lived in other countries, spreading the Good News of Jesus and salvation, as we feel God has led. However, we have consistently told our family, friends, and supporting churches that the mission of the church in America is no less important. The US is full of the lost, no less so than India or Africa. It is past time for Believers in America to stand up and take up the mission of reaching their families, neighbors, and even fellow church attenders with the truth of salvation, and with the reality of who Jesus is.
[all bold and italics emphasis mine]
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