“A country with 48,000 mosques and not one church building; ranked #3 (behind North Korea and Somalia) on Open Door's World Watch List of countries where Christian persecution is most severe, is listed by Operation World as the country with the second fastest church growth in the world. That country is Afghanistan.

Not to diminish this fact, but one reason the growth rate appears high is because the evangelical population is so small to begin with. Still, this trend is confirmed by all of our ministry partners working with Afghans both inside and outside the country. There is, without a doubt, a significant, identifiable work of God, such as never before, taking place among Afghans today.

Like in the days of the Apostles where Paul, who was zealous for the Law and guilty of killing and imprisoning Christians was shown grace and had a miraculous conversion where the Lord appeared to him, the same God is at work in Afghanistan. There are mullahs who have come to Christ through supernatural means who have hundreds of followers. Some former Taliban members who have found forgiveness and new life in Christ are staring death in the face and sharing the Lord with other Taliban fighters and leaders.

One surprising statistic surfaced from IsikAbla's TV, Internet, and social media ministry at the end of 2017. The #1 city worldwide for her Facebook engagements (reactions, comments, and shares) was Kabul, Afghanistan with 182,781. Kabul also ranked #2 in the list of top cities for Facebook followers (behind Cairo) with 315,840.

This figure is even more suggestive of the hunger for the truth among Afghans in that social media users account for only 9% of Afghanistan's 34 million people, and that access and use of the Internet reaches only about 12% of the population. Eighty percent of users are 18-30 years old.*

Work among Afghan refugees

Our ministry partners also report a significant openness and response to the gospel among Afghan refugees in Iran and Turkey. In an article from Relief Web dated Feb. 7, 2018, it was reported that:

"Four decades of conflict in Afghanistan has led to massive displacement of Afghans across the surrounding sub-region. Iran alone has received around three million Afghan refugees. Close to one million of these have been registered by the government and are thus, afforded protection and are eligible for assistance. However up to two million remain un-documented and therefore have neither formal legal status nor access to assistance. Up to 800,000 of these undocumented refugees are considered to be extremely vulnerable."

Typically, Iranians are highly educated; Afghans are not. Many Iranians look down on Afghans and treat them badly. But in today's Persian-speaking church inside Iran you not only see many Afghans coming to Christ, but incredibly, serving alongside Iranians.

Iranian Christians have sought out these Afghan refugees to care for them. The reason they are coming to Christ, as one Afghan put it, is because "Iranians never cared for us, but you (Iranians) have loved us. That is what attracted us to Christ."

About 70% of the Afghan population speak and understand Afghan Persian (Dari). Thus Iranian believers have also been instrumental in exposing Afghans to modern day, understandable translations of the Scripture that has been a great help in evangelism and discipleship.

Extraordinary results are being seen in Turkey as well, where Iranian refugees have reached out to the Afghan refugees. Some Afghan converts are now pastoring churches and leading many to Christ. One couple alone has led more than 100 people to Christ. Another influence in the move of God inside Afghanistan has been that many of these refugee converts are communicating with their relatives and friends at home. They tell them that they are following the wrong God, then lead them to Christ and disciple them from outside the country.

Major factors influencing the this move of God among Afghans

1. Prayer

For decades there have been Christians and groups from around the world praying for Afghanistan. Finally, we are seeing the stony ground being cleared so that there is soft soil where the seeds of the Word of God are being planted in people's hearts. Fruit is beginning to be seen.

Still, many Afghan converts are fearful and lead dangerous lives. Converts must be careful about sharing their faith to avoid persecution by the Islamists, the police, and even their own family members and neighbors. In the village areas where conversion to Christianity is more noticeable and brings shame to families, converts suffer more persecution than in Kabul or the bigger cities. Continue to pray that the breakthroughs we are seeing increase until a full harvest is reaped.

2. The Blood of Martyrs

Prior to 9/11/2001 many Afghans--tired of war and conflict and fearful of the Taliban who came into power in 1996--fled the country. After 9/11 when the American forces came in and the Taliban were routed and defeated, many Afghans returned with hope and optimism for their country. People believed they had a chance for a new future after decades of war and fighting.

Along with those returning came expats, including a number of Christian missionaries. This started in 2002. A number of Christians came in under the umbrella of various aid and medical groups until 2007-2008 when their numbers began to dwindle. By 2014 most had stopped coming.

Many lives had been lost. A conservative estimate is that around 30-40 missionaries, as well as Afghan converts, were martyred. But an indigenous work, springing from the blood of those martyrs began, and is now spreading.

3. Fear, War, and Insecurity

Afghanistan has been a war-torn country for decades that has reduced it to ruin and privation. It has survived under the influence and control of many outside powers, including the British, the Soviet Union, and more recently, Western powers. Though the Taliban (which at one time controlled 90% of the country) were beaten back by U.S. and coalition forces, they, along with ISIS continue to be menacing and threatening forces--killing and terrorizing (sometimes innocent children) just to incite fear, subjugation and compliance. Muslims killing other Muslims has also been a factor contributing to the crumbling respect for Islam and the growing openness to alternative beliefs, such as Christianity.

4. Unemployment

With 40% unemployment, youth and young families see little hope for a future in Afghanistan. Many young men resort to fighting for the Taliban or ISIS just to collect a paycheck. But the depression and despair living in a poor society with little opportunity has made Afghans more open to the good news of a God who loves them, has a purpose for their lives, and can give them hope.

Pray: for this indigenous work of God taking place among the Afghan people.

Pray: Let’s rejoice in the growth of His church and pray for the new believers to be protected, to grow in maturity, and to be effective in outreach to others.

Pray: Also, join our brothers and sisters in Christ in praying for His peace for their war-torn land.

http://www.operationworld.org/country/afgh/owtext.html

The Hajj is coming up in August. Would love to get Christians around the world praying during this Islamic pilgrimage. We have updated the prayer video and guide again:

https://www.pray-ap.info/hajj.html

For the key 3 days 19-21 August 2018, we are asking for 100,000 people from around the world to join us in Prayer and Fasting for the two million Muslims doing the Hajj to Mecca.

The Hajj is one of the five required acts of service for all Muslims. The city of Mecca is in many ways the center of the entire Muslim world, not only for the Hajj but also as the historical center of Islam and the place to where a Muslim directs his daily prayers. Both in the natural world and supernatural world, there are lots of barriers that prevent the gospel from spreading to these people at this time.

However, our God knows no barriers, and so we desire to gather together to fast and pray for this monumental event - for God to do something truly miraculous, something only he can do.

We want you to join us in this effort as well as spread the word about this prayer and fasting event. We leave the details to you of how to fast and with whom to pray and fast with in your local context. Even it it’s just you, individually, we are so excited for you to join the global church in fasting and praying for God to work in a huge way in the lives of these Muslims.

Our website has more details about the Hajj itself as well as helpful prayer guides to further guide you as we bring these wonderful people before the throne of God.

https://www.pray-ap.info/hajj.html

“The advance of the jihad in the West today is thanks to numerous non-Muslims who, for a complex of reasons, have opted to hasten the demise of their own free societies. There are numerous non-Muslim organizations today that are enabling and abetting jihad terror and Sharia oppression by smearing and demonizing those who are calling attention to these threats: the Southern Poverty Law Center, the Anti-Defamation League, Georgetown University’s Bridge Initiative, and more. There are individuals who do this as well: Britain’s Prime Minister Theresa May, British Leftist activist Nick Lowles, “scholars” such as John Esposito and Karen Armstrong, and numerous “journalists” in the UK, such as Lizzie Dearden, and the US, such as Andrew Kaczynski.

The phenomenon of traitors, saboteurs, and opportunists is nothing new. In my forthcoming book The History of Jihad From Muhammad to ISIS, which will be out soon and you can preorder here now, I discuss numerous non-Muslims going back to the beginning of jihad violence who have aided and abetted the advance of the jihad for their own short-sighted ends. In the book, you will meet many of the collaborators of the jihad throughout history, including:

• The Christian count whose thirst for personal revenge led him to enable the Muslim conquest of Spain;
• The Byzantine general who deserted to the Muslims and enabled the jihadis to take the Byzantine commander hostage;
• The Hindu leader who paid tribute to the Muslims to avoid a jihadi invasion — and who converted to Islam when they invaded anyway;
• The Byzantine emperor who married off his daughter to the Ottoman sultan to secure his support in a dynastic dispute — and even gave in to the sultan’s demand that Christian slaves be auctioned off naked in Constantinople;
• The British financing of Saudi Wahhabism in their efforts to weaken the Ottoman Empire.

There are many more. It’s time to stop this appeasement and accommodation. But we can only do that if we’re aware of the devastation it has caused throughout history. Get the whole truth, told nowhere else, in The History of Jihad From Muhammad to ISIS. Preorder here now.

https://www.jihadwatch.org/

An article written by Grant Berry on the Coming Awakening

There is no question that we are in a new day for the Church in the world; that the new wine is being released. For those of us who are connected to the Father’s Heart, we can sense it, we can feel it; and we know the final awakening is drawing near. The final acts of reformation are upon His Church and Messianic bodies:

• The restoration of The One New Man between believing Jews (Remnant of Israel) and believing Gentiles (Gentile Church), through Israel and the Church in the love of God.
• The restoration of our apostolic foundations expressed through the fivefold gifts of the body of Messiah/Christ through the Holy Spirit.
• The reemergence of David’s Tent through 24/7 type worship and prayer, and strategic watchmen intercession; the natural outflow of which is missions and lifestyle witness and evangelism to reach the lost.
• The preparation of the bride for the Lord’s return; that His body would be set apart for the glory of God away from self, and washed clean with the blood of Yeshua/Jesus. A victorious bride readied for His coming!

New days however, call for new strategies and the last great revival will not come upon us as it did during the time of the Gentiles. We can certainly apply many of the principles learned about revival from our past, but because we are in the time of Israel’s awakening this is a new day for His Church, and a renewed perspective is required of us to be able to fully enter into it. The last great harvest of souls and Israel’s spiritual re-birth are now at play. But before these can take place the Church must be realigned to her original identify in and with Israel and the unity between both groups needs to be fully restored.

This is for three reasons:

1. To bring glory and honor to the Father who is a God who keeps His covenants and promises to all of His children (Ezekiel 36)
2. To help bring life back to Israel through prayer and the mercy of God we have received through Jesus (Romans 11:30-31)
3. To prepare the bride to represent a Messianic kingdom upon the earth, which will flow out of Israel to the nations (Rev. 5:9,10)

The Scripture reads, “We are heirs together with Israel” (Ephesians 3:7). To be a co-heir is to share identity and leadership together with Mashiach/Christ and with one another (Romans 8:17).

From the Father’s perspective He has been equitable with individual focuses to both parts of the family:

• 2000 years from the time of Abraham to Yeshua - The time of the Jews. 
• 2000 years from the time of Jesus to this modern day - The time of the Gentiles. 

But now in order to awaken both groups fully to Himself (the fullness of the Gentiles and Israel’s spiritual restoration), we must reconcile in The One New Man. This is foundational to these days and to John 17 unity. It will help to release the fullness of Joy and the Glory of God upon us that the Father is waiting for, as we move into this reconciliation and embrace His end-time plans to awaken Israel and the last great harvest. This will complete the family of God on the Earth and ready the bride for His coming. These happenings are intricately linked and may not have been seen as such up until this time.

We should also recognize that this mystery has been hidden from us during the time of the Gentiles, just like the mystery to establish the Gentiles was hidden from the Jews (Ephesians 3:5). But now, as we enter this time, the Holy Spirit is awakening us to this understanding and the great significance of family unity between the two groups, as there is once again a remnant of Israel to connect with.

We refer to this process as The Reconnection in The One New Man. And it is most probably the most significant spiritual transaction of our day. But it has been unseen up until this time and is also fraught with all kinds of resistances and obstacles in our humanity that need to get broken away from our hearts and minds.

This is why I have written Romans 911 - Time To Sound The Alarm! It is a comprehensive study book on this spiritual Reconnection in The One New Man between Jewish and Gentile believers to unpack many of these issues and help us to move into it. It will release God’s mercy to wash and cleanse us of all past influences on both sides of the family that the enemy has used to keep us apart, and to properly prepare us for this time.

The Reconnection will help to unlock the end-time power of God upon His Church and open the door to world revival. It is a power key to help ignite the fire of God upon us as we discover the full benefits of this reconciliation. “For if their rejection brought reconciliation to the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?” (Romans 11:15).

Prayer Points:

Pray for Romans 911 that God’s anointing on it would spread to reach the wider body of Messiah/Christ, throughout the nations.                  
Pray for the book to be fully read and studied.
Pray for greater humility in the body to be able to embrace correction, adjustment and change; for both Jewish and Gentile believers.
Pray against resistance to this new revelation and freshened perspective.                                                                                                  Pray for The Reconnection in The One New Man.   Pray for Israel’s spiritual awakening, but also for the Church to be unveiled to this message and to fully embrace her role towards Israel.

For more info on Reconnecting Ministries please click here for our website and to watch one of our introductory videos (3 mins).

Last year the government of Nepal formally criminalized conversion to Christianity. They enacted an "anti-conversion" law that makes it illegal to attempt to convert someone from their faith in the former Hindu Kingdom. Christians make up a small minority of the population, and this move is being seen as one to institutionalize Hinduism and stop the spread of Christianity. According to Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary, the Church in Nepal has been growing at a faster rate than nearly anywhere else in the world.

On August 15th, this new law will be enforced. It has been said that Christian leaders will be targeted for arrest and prosecution. Our people have been told that Hindu forces within the government have already drafted a list of Christian leaders to be immediately jailed, and our top leaders are on the list. In the last decade these men have overseen the planting of thousands of churches. It makes sense that they'd being targeted by forces trying to halt the growth of the Church.

We are calling on all believers to join us for a day of prayer and fasting for the people of Nepal on August 14th. By the time that we have finished our day of prayer and fasting, the sun will rise in Nepal, and we pray that the Lord will be with his people, no matter what trials they face.

Some specific prayer points:

• Pray for courage and the boldness to continue sharing Christ (Acts 4:29-31).
• Pray for provision for their families should these leaders be jailed.
• Pray for favor within the government.
• Pray for unity among Nepali believers; that the Church would be united in their response to persecution.
• Pray for Christian lawyers to find loopholes to keep these folks protected from prosecution. (like Paul, is it lawful to beat a Roman citizen?)
• Pray that the work of sharing the Gospel would continue and even accelerate.
• Pray that this persecution would spark an unstoppable movement that would spill over the borders of Nepal into China, India, and Pakistan.
• Pray for strength and that the Spirit of God would embolden believers in Nepal to continue sharing their faith while operating in wisdom.

Our hearts are heavy for our brothers and sisters in Nepal, concerned for their safety, families, and future; but we know the One who holds them. The One who spoke through the Apostle Paul, while in prison, "There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all." May the Lord strengthen his people and give them grace, one day at a time.

Thank you for joining us in prayer for all the believers in Nepal.

Until He Returns,

David

The Timothy Initiative - http://www.ttionline.org

24:14 Global Coalition: A network of organizations, networks and churches which are all committed to the 24:14 vision of praying and working together to start kingdom movement engagements in every unreached people group with urgency by 2025.

To this end, we, the 24:14 Prayer Task Force are seeking to develop a 24/7 canopy of prayer that will pray into this vision of seeing every U/UPG engaged with a  team focused on seeing a movement of multiplying churches and disciples. We would like to see at leasat 31 organizations, prayer networks from existing movements, networks and churches commit to cover in prayer one day per month every month.

What we’re asking:

• That each partner org, network, etc will commit to cover in prayer one day per month every month. (eg Every 3rd or every 19th etc) (or less if 24 hour is not possible)
• Each partner is free to divide their 24-hour day of prayer as they see fit (usually into 24 one-hour segments or 48 30-minute segments).
• Since partners will vary in size and numbers each may choose to pray more or less hours depending on their ability.
• Each partner is to identify a prayer coordinator.
• The prayer coordinator will receive and pass along 24:14 prayer points for the month.
• The prayer coordinator will develop and pass along prayer points regarding their own org, network, etc as it pertains to the 24:14 vision.
• The prayer coordinator will follow up with these pray-ers to encourage, train/equip, connect and gather.
• They will give guidance on various, creative ways for their groups to pray.
• They will be in regular communication with a member of the 24:14 Prayer Task Force.
• We ask these prayer teams to journal what they are sensing from the Lord as they pray, how they are led to pray and share back with the 24:14 Coalition.

What you can expect from us:

• A monthly prayer guide of informed prayer points that are specific, measurable, and Bible-based.
• Regular praise reports in order to encourage groups as they pray.
• Monthly or bi-monthly communication with a member of the 24:14 Prayer Task Force. This will be for the purpose of encouraging, informing, identifying gaps and challenges, etc.

NEXT STEPS: YOUR RESPONSE    

To join the 24:14  Prayer Canopy  please sign up here:  http://inheritthenations.net/2414-coalition-prayer-involvement/

• Let us know the day of the month that you can commit to as an organization and how many hours in that day you are committing to pray and fast.
• Please let us know the name and email of the prayer coordinator. 

Our thanks on behalf of the 24:14 Prayer Task Force.

WWW.2414NOW.NET

Hostility, injustice and violence are a daily reality for millions of Christians across the Horn of Africa. In Somalia the militant Al-Shabaab group frequently kills suspected Christians on the spot, and believers keep their faith completely secret. In Eritrea the government views Christians as agents of the West and will arrest, harass and kill them with impunity. Hundreds are imprisoned in horrific conditions. Ethiopia is a Christian-majority country, but converts from Islam are rejected by their families and communities. In Kenya Al-Shabaab militants cross the border from Somalia. They killed dozens of Kenyan Christians last year. In Djibouti rumours of conversion are often enough for believers to lose their inheritance rights or custody of their children. Imagine living where, because you’re a Christian, you fail your studies, your neighbours beat you up, your home is destroyed, your family is put in prison, your father is killed. Would you lose heart, give up, change your faith? Please pray for those experiencing this daily.

Efforts continue to extract a Thai youth football team (aged 11-16) and their 25-year-old coach from a flooded cave in Thailand.  Water is being pumped out and officials hope the lowered water levels  will mean the boys could keep their heads above water and not rely on scuba apparatus to escape the cave in which they have been trapped for 12 days. Rescuers are battling against the clock to beat monsoon rains expected on 7 July. At the time of writing (5 July) the water levels have reduced by around 40% but parts of the passageway leading to where the boys and coach were found are still flooded all the way to the ceiling - leaving diving out of the cave the only option for survival if the water levels are not reduced quickly. They want to reduce the water enough for them to scramble out, walk and perhaps do a little diving.

88 million Mexicans voted on 1 July for a new president and over 3,400 government positions across all levels. The electorate decided that neither major party had a solution to curb spiraling violence and a plundered economy. Andrés Manuel López Obrador – or Amlo to his fans -  intends to deliver an unyielding assault on the scoundrels he claims have plundered Latin America’s second largest economy and plunged it into becoming a cauldron of thievery, bloodshed and want. The left-wing firebrand, who some journalists compare to Jeremy Corbyn, intends to increase minimum wages without raising taxes. He said it will be funded by stamping out corruption. He also promised to turn the opulent presidential palace into a public park, to sell the president's $300 million 787 Dreamliner jet and to cut his own salary to half of his predecessor's. Pray for his success in turning around environmental degradation, insecurity, extortion and kidnapping.

Few politicians have established such a connection with the millions of underprivileged families in Mexico as Lopez Obrador. He regularly campaigned draped with garlands and gaudy sombreros. Like Trump, the headstrong ‘Amlo’ is the heart and soul of his movement and his presidency could heighten tensions between Mexico and the United States over trade and migration if the two men clash. The prospect of a showdown between the two blunt men over the US-Mexico border and renegotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement has worried many. ‘There’s going to be a clash of vanities and a clash of egos. Who knows where it will end.’ said Juan Jose Rodriguez Prats, a former party colleague of Amlo who has known him for 40 years. President Trump tweeted, ‘I look very much forward (sic) to working with him. There is much to be done that will benefit both the United States and Mexico!’