Praying for war-torn lands
24 Dec 2015
Five years ago, Aleppo was a thriving, cosmopolitan place, but everybody has suffered in Syria’s terrible war. The rich have left, the middle classes have become poor, and the poor are miserable. Two months of Russian air strikes twinned with army ground offensives backed by Iranian and Lebanese Hezbollah forces have shored up Syrian president Bashar al-Assad in his western heartland. The situation is desperate in Aleppo. Last month Pope Francis visited the Central African Republic to comfort a nation which is tired of a civil war which has brought nothing but death and destruction. He wanted to remind all who have made themselves richer from the country’s resources of their duty to stand by their country and pay something back through investment in the infrastructure. The list of ongoing conflicts across the nations is enormous. Too much to pray for? Not if we intercede as God leads, in His timing, according to His word in season, during 2016.
Religious persecution at Christmas
24 Dec 2015
Christians in some nations have faced intense persecution over the Christmas period in the past. Pray for protection of Christians and churches from bombings, beatings and imprisonment. Over the Christmas and New Year period of 2014/15 three states in Nigeria experienced bombings, beheadings and beatings by militants, resulting in dozens of Christians being killed. On Christmas day last year in Iran, nine Christians were arrested in a raid on a house, and the next day a prominent Assyrian pastor was arrested at his home, along with about fourteen others present for a Christmas celebration. Pray for Christians in places like North Korea and Saudi Arabia to know that God will strengthen His people there and help them find fellowship.
Missionaries and their families at Christmas
24 Dec 2015
The holidays are a joyful, yet challenging time for many missionaries - full of opportunities to share the gospel with people in their community. But they can also magnify feelings of homesickness for some. Their email newsletters, which take time to put together, are a great way to keep in touch, so let them know you appreciate them by sending a quick reply. Pray that many sending churches will let missionaries know they are not forgotten, by sending Christmas email greetings abroad, or even a care package for the New Year with goodies that aren’t easily available in their country. On the mission field, it can be hard to find ways to grow spiritually, especially in areas without a Christian community. If you find a great blog or book your missionary might enjoy, send it to them and pray that the Lord will use it to encourage them in 2016.
Jesus is making headlines in Jerusalem
24 Dec 2015
Walla! is the second largest internet portal in Israel and is putting Hebrew-language testimonies about Jesus on its front page. 95% of Israelis are hooked into the internet. Walla! is producing a series of 24 live interviews with Messianic Jews about Jesus. A well-known Israeli actress will ask believers questions about faith in Jesus. Topics being discussed are: who are these Messianic Jews? what’s the difference between Messianic Judaism and Christianity? why is the Hebrew New Testament not available in Israeli book stores? and Isaiah 53. Of the multitude of subjects argued and debated in Israel, Jesus is by far the most controversial. Walla! has taken a bold and risky step by promoting interest in Jesus, and Messianic Jews, to their massive audience. There are likely to be repercussions. They’re asking Christians around the world to use their blogs and websites to link to their Walla! Messianic websites to increase exposure and raise their rating on Google’s search engine.
The joy (and pain) of giving at Christmas
24 Dec 2015
In many countries Christmas is filled with festivities of exchanging gifts and sharing meals with friends and family. A Daily Mail survey found that this year each individual in the UK will on average spend £868 on Christmas food, drink, decorations and presents. According to debit card Switch, people living in Scotland are the most generous when buying presents, averaging £413.80, while those in the South will spend £335.43. Many will use a credit card or loan, and 19% of the people admitted they failed to budget for the festive season. Last year almost half of us used credit cards, store cards and overdrafts to cover the cost of Christmas, and are predicted to do the same this year and suffer a financial hangover in 2016.
Matt Kägi, a Christian teacher, writes, ‘My main concern is that Christians who work as teachers will maintain their conviction and their joy for their profession, and will thus remain as contagious Christians in schools. I believe that the message of Christ - real love - is as core nowadays as it always was. Schools need real Christians who know they are not themselves the authors of their love, but that they may and must receive this love from Christ, and they may and must let Him guide them in their behaviour and actions; Christians who not only give a ‘redeemed impression’ but are redeemed with a contagious joy, which does not depend on circumstances.’ Pray particularly for teachers with more than 50% immigrant students in their classes, and for those working as special education teachers.
‘Christians in Entertainment’ encourages a Christian presence in the entertainment scene in Britain by providing a network of emotional and spiritual support to professionals. They engage with Christians and those of little or no faith. They help the church to understand, support and pray for the entertainment business. They also work in association with other arts groups. Pray that the good news of Jesus’s birth will be heard and understood as carols are broadcast in shops and on the air. Pray for the fun and laughter of pantomime; and for those producing and taking part. Pray for all who work behind the scenes in the business. Also pray for all in the arts and entertainment business facing 2016 with uncertainty about their next job, that they may have wisdom on the way forward and will see doors open. May they remain encouraged.
Jesus came and brought light into the darkness, so we can pray that his light will be spread even more powerfully through the media into all aspects of our culture over Christmas and in the coming year. Pray for God’s people working in TV, radio, newspapers, and online as they serve and love people in each area of their ministry. Pray for them to reveal Jesus as they interact with the world and their colleagues. Pray for God to position more of his people in these fields. The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Pray for organisations like Christians in the Media Network who seek to strengthen the existing Christians by Bible teaching and helping cynical shift workers stay Christian. Pray for more small groups to develop and grow, and for outreach to the next generation, all those studying communications on the various university campuses.