We continue to remember Kenneth Jun-Ho Bae who is under arrest and sentenced to death in North Korea. Here is a FaceBook page dedicated to him.
www.facebook.com/RememberKenBaePrisonerInNorthKorea?ref=bf
As we think of Ken Bae, we also remember the growing number of Christians in North Korea, many of whom are in prison camps. Estimates vary as to the number of underground believers in North Korea and the number suffering in prison camps. Sources such as Radio Free Asia (http://www.rfa.org/english/), Cornerstone USA (http://cornerstoneusa.org/), and Open Doors (http://www.opendoorsuk.org/) indicate that there may be between 200,000 and 400,000 secret believers with perhaps 20,000 or so meeting together in small groups of 3 to 5 people for regular prayer and worship. There may be some 70,000 Christians suffering in the labor camps with others suffering severe persecution and death outside the camps. An Open Doors spokesman stated that they believe two Christians were executed earlier this year. In spite of the persecution, it does appear that the number of believers in the country is increasing as defectors who came to faith while in China are returning and sharing the Gospel with family, friends, and others. Some North Koreans travel back and forth to China as traders so that they are able to bring in Bibles and other resources to share the Gospel inside. This is a great peril to their lives.
Life for the ordinary North Korean is not easy either especially as controls under Kim Jong Un increase as does inflation while heavier burdens are being imposed on people to celebrate the great accomplishments like the recent rocket launch and nuclear tests about which more and more people express confusion or complaints. All of this increases the level of tension both domestically and internationally. At the same time, the government is giving out so many awards to people for their participation in the tests that being a "Hero of the Republic" is no longer anything special. There are also reports that North Korean generals and other high officers are getting US dollar cash cards every month to be used any way they want.
While all of this is going on, the central government has issued a series of contradictory orders concerning private farm plots that have farmers confused and fearful.
All of this adds up to a lot of things to pray for. Please keep our longsuffering North Korean brothers and sisters in Christ in frequent prayer. Let’s agree that the powers of darkness that are controlling Kim Jong-un and his government be bound and driven to the feet of Jesus so the nation can be set free from both its human and spiritual oppression.
We continue to remember Kenneth Jun-Ho Bae who is under arrest and sentenced to death in North Korea. Here is a FaceBook page dedicated to him.
Www.facebook.com/RememberKenBaePrisonerInNorthKorea?ref=bf
As we think of Ken Bae, we also remember the growing number of Christians in North Korea, many of whom are in prison camps. Estimates vary as to the number of underground believers in North Korea and the number suffering in prison camps. Sources such as Radio Free Asia (http://www.rfa.org/english/), Cornerstone USA (http://cornerstoneusa.org/), and Open Doors (http://www.opendoorsuk.org/) indicate that there may be between 200,000 and 400,000 secret believers with perhaps 20,000 or so meeting together in small groups of 3 to 5 people for regular prayer and worship. There may be some 70,000 Christians suffering in the labor camps with others suffering severe persecution and death outside the camps. An Open Doors spokesman stated that they believe two Christians were executed earlier this year. In spite of the persecution, it does appear that the number of believers in the country is increasing as defectors who came to faith while in China are returning and sharing the Gospel with family, friends, and others. Some North Koreans travel back and forth to China as traders so that they are able to bring in Bibles and other resources to share the Gospel inside. This is a great peril to their lives.
Life for the ordinary North Korean is not easy either especially as controls under Kim Jong Un increase as does inflation while heavier burdens are being imposed on people to celebrate the great accomplishments like the recent rocket launch and nuclear tests about which more and more people express confusion or complaints. All of this increases the level of tension both domestically and internationally. At the same time, the government is giving out so many awards to people for their participation in the tests that being a "Hero of the Republic" is no longer anything special. There are also reports that North Korean generals and other high officers are getting US dollar cash cards every month to be used any way they want.
While all of this is going on, the central government has issued a series of contradictory orders concerning private farm plots that have farmers confused and fearful.
All of this adds up to a lot of things to pray for. Please keep our longsuffering North Korean brothers and sisters in Christ in frequent prayer. Let’s agree that the powers of darkness that are controlling Kim Jong-un and his government be bound and driven to the feet of Jesus so the nation can be set free from both its human and spiritual oppression.
Here is some great news from Egypt as reported on www.patheos.com!
"While Egyptian Christians face ongoing strife in their Muslim-majority nation, there are signs of encouragement as leaders of five different Christian groups begin meeting for the first time to forge a way forward together. Evangelical, Anglican, Catholic, Greek Orthodox, and Coptic Orthodox leaders met Monday in Cairo for the first gathering of the United Council of Egyptian Churches. Coptic Pope Tawadros II led the group, which was the dream of his predecessor, the late Pope Shenouda III, to promote dialogue and unity."
http://www.patheos.com/blogs/joeljmiller/2013/02/egyptian-christians-seek-unity-amid-ongoing-strife/
From the body of Christ in Turkey, to our brothers and sisters in Christ around the world, grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Greetings from the church in Turkey -- from the land of Noah, of Abraham, of Paul, of Ararat and Harran, of Antioch, Ephesus, Galatia, of the Seven Churches of Revelation...Yet today, the body of Christians in our land is less than 0.1% of the population of 72 million.
We are writing to you on behalf of the leaders of the church in Turkey to ask for your prayers. In 2009 we asked the world to join us each year for a 'Global Day of Prayer for Turkey' on April 18, the day in 2007 when 3 of our brothers were tortured and brutally murdered in the town of Malatya. We greatly desire that you would join the small congregations of Turkey along with many churches worldwide to pray for Turkey in your churches and homes on April 18.
Imprisoned for his faith: Pastor Saeed Abedini’s amazing letter from Inside Iran’s Evin Prison. Let’s join in prayer, trusting the Lord for Pastor Saeed’s encouragement, protection, ministry to others in the prison, and his soon release.
Dear Friends and Colleagues,
Last week we held a conference call meeting with the national representatives (Canada, Mexico, USA) and our NHOP representative in Ottawa. Through a time of sharing and discernment, we have decided the above noted June meeting would better served if held fall of 2013 instead of the planned dates. For June we were unable to schedule healthy representation from the USA and Mexico contingents. We are also aware of the need to ensure we have a strong representation from the younger generation including through the planning process. A move to the fall, specifically Oct. 15-18, 2013, would allow for both of these factors to be included.
We are aware of things the Lord is doing in this season and want to be aware that we catch the wind of His spirit for this and continuing similar gatherings. The Lord may be shifting our focus and direction of our continental meetings making the now October meetings critical to future direction and ongoing continental strength and relationship development.
We kindly request that those who have registered please consult your calendar and confirm your attendance at the meeting now planned for Oct 15-18, 2013. We will continue to provide details as they unfold. For those who have not yet registered please advise of your availability for the Oct meeting date.
NOTE – please respond to email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. regarding the registration process.
We trust this change does not cause anyone undue hardship or scheduling difficulties. Our apologies for this if this is the case.
It will be interesting to see how the Lord puts together the October 2013 meeting! In our spirits we believe the change is from the Lord!
Please feel free to forward anything the Lord is speaking to you about this, and we will ensure it is considered.
Many blessings – The North American Prayer Summit Team
The recent Transformed World-IHOPKC Prayer Summit from March 24-27, 2013 has left a deep imprint in the lives of our staff, students and many who are connected to us. I am writing to you to provide a brief snapshot of the scope of the influence this prayer summit.
During the TW2020-ihopkc prayer summit about 200 delegates from various nations of the TW2020 10 geographical regions were represented including pastors from the Kansas City areas and IHOPKC leadership team. Approximately 1000 prayer gathering leaders registered their prayer meeting online specifying their prayer location, prayer focus and prayer time. 60% of these prayer gathering are located within the USA. Reports from the fields in Indonesia and Brazil along with our online analytics revealed the fact these 1000 registered prayer gatherings represented only a fraction of the true numbers of prayer gatherings. Indonesia reported 10,099 prayer gatherings nationwide and additional 528 prayer gatherings internationally. In Brazil, radio station broadcast in 130 cities live and some prayer gatherings were attended by over a thousand intercessors.
Our online analytics revealed the following summary data:
At least 90,000 unique IP connection points engaged with TW2020-ihopkc. (Each IP connecting point could have one or more intercessors)
130 nations connected with TW2020-ihopkc through these 90,000 IP connecting points.
In conclusion, more than 100,000 prayer gatherings or individual intercessors had joined the TW2020-IHOPKC prayer summit globally along with the 2000 intercessors locally in Kansas City that sustained the 70 hour prayer and worship vigil. It is safe to conclude that more than 1 million intercessors in 130 nations have stood in agreement to pray through various aspects of the 7 global challenges, 7 spheres of society, 10 geographical regions, The Back to Jerusalem Mandate, the 4/14 windows Global initiative and the Israel Mandate. We believe a significant birthing of the Transformed World 2020 Global initiatives has taken place within the context 24/7 prayer with worship.
The Global Day of Prayer is coming soon giving your church an opportunity to pray with many others around the world. Pentecost Sunday, May 19, 2013, will be the ninth year that the United States will be participating in the Global Day of Prayer (GDOP). The vision is as simple as it is profound: The glory of Christ and the blessing of all nations.
GDOP is more than a one-day event. It begins with ten days of prayer, guided and focused with biblical prayers from Thursday, May 9, to Saturday, May 18. This follows the example of the ten-day prayer gathering in the upper room before the first Pentecost. A team of international leaders has written the 10-Day Prayer Guide designed to help focus the prayers of people all over the world. Download and print or photocopy all the copies you need.
www.globaldayofprayer.com
On May 19, 2013, Christians will gather to pray and repent with sincere hearts and united hopes. Once again we will be gathering locally but praying globally. This year we will see even more of an emphasis on local churches praying the “Prayer for the World” as part of their normal Pentecost Sunday services.
Please consider participating in one of two ways:
1. Participate as a church. Ask the leadership of your church to join in during your Sunday services on May 19, 2013. With as few as 7 minutes of your morning service, your congregation will be encouraged as they unite with millions around the world by praying though “A Prayer for the World.” www.globaldayofprayer.com
2. Participate as a community or a group of churches. A small, well-organized gathering can be a great catalyst to propel your community forward in the coming months and years. The Global Day Organizer Guide offers some great ideas. www.globaldayofprayer.com
For Christ’s glory. P.S. It’s about six weeks before Pentecost. Find all you need on the website: the downloadable Ten-Day Prayer Guide and resources to help congregations pray the “Prayer for the World.”
http://www.gdopusa.com