Indonesia: United Prayer Rising 2019
14 Dec 2018
A World Generation Gathering is about to see the Holy Spirit poured out in Jakarta between 23 and 26 January 2019. A similar event in South Korea in 2016 saw a wonderful move of God inspire and anoint all who attended and the ministries and the countries they represented. For an exciting report on that event, click the ‘More’ button. Please pray for all who will be in Jakarta’s prayer and worship celebration to hear God’s wake-up call on their lives. May every follower of Jesus have a heart prepared by the Holy Spirit, so that they share all that God is doing in their life boldly and powerfully in a way that millions more will be inspired to be Christ-followers. Pray for the anointing of intercession to fall on every speaker, musician, and delegate. Pray for all technology to be trouble-free, and for the funding and travel arrangements of all involved. See
Geopolitics of 5G
14 Dec 2018
Although Donald Trump and President Xi recently announced a trade agreement between the US and China, some believe 5G mobile networks might yet spark a further ‘trade war’. These mobile data networks will be rolled out commercially over the next decade, preparing the way for driverless cars and smart cities. Some say 5G technology, 100 times faster than today’s connections, could be a bigger leap forward than the original internet, and countries using it successfully will dominate 21st-century trade and commerce. Whoever builds and controls the new networks will take on huge political and economic importance. The US now wants to stop Chinese technology companies from taking a lead in this field. China is racing to gain a head start in these new technologies, and views 5G as potentially the key to 21st-century superpower status. See also UK article 3.
Christmas: a dangerous season for some
14 Dec 2018
In France the security alert system is at its highest level, after an extremist gunman opened fire at a Christmas market in Strasbourg, killing two people and injuring at least twelve. Christmas can be a dangerous season for many. Last year suicide bombers killed nine and wounded over 50 people attending pre-Christmas church services in Pakistan. In Nigeria, Boko Haram have often carried out Christmas attacks. In the West, Christmas can mean financial strain, pressures, loneliness or simply a time with relatives where old tensions come to the fore and explode, sometimes with devastating results. For example, last year in Canada a father who had custody of his daughters (aged six and four) on Christmas Day killed them both and attempted suicide. Pray for peace to replace turmoil, restraint to replace violence, and harmony to replace disagreement wherever it threatens. Pray that police and other agencies can detect and remove danger from vulnerable community spaces.
China: church leaders and churchgoers detained
14 Dec 2018
In Beijing, police have detained dozens of churchgoers and leaders of Early Rain Church in Chengdu, one of China's most prominent Protestant ‘house’ churches, in the latest government action against unregistered religious groups. Members of the church have been unable to contact pastor Wang Yi, the church's founder, or his wife, and church groups on the instant messaging platform WeChat have also been blocked. China's constitution guarantees religious freedom, but since President Xi Jinping took office six years ago, the government has tightened restrictions on religions seen as a challenge to the authority of the ruling Communist Party. The law requires that all places of worship register and submit to government oversight, but some churches have declined to register, for various reasons.
Egypt: extremist attacks church workers
14 Dec 2018
Wielding an iron bar in one hand and holding a Quran in the other, a 22-year-old Muslim extremist shouting ‘Allahu Akbar - death to the apostates’ broke into an eastern Cairo church in an early morning attack on 11 November. He assaulted staff preparing bread for morning communion. After injuring two people with his weapon, he was overpowered by church members who restrained him until police arrived. He showed no remorse in police custody, shouting, ‘Give me your gun so I may kill them. If you don’t, you’d be an infidel like them.’ Egyptian churches are becoming targeted more frequently. On Palm Sunday 2017, suicide attacks on churches in Tanta and Alexandria claimed the lives of 50 and injured 90. Pray for the protection of all Christians from such attacks, especially at Christmas.
Kenya: end police abuse of power
14 Dec 2018
Hundreds of millions of the poorest people in the developing world are abused by police who extort bribes and brutalise innocent citizens, or are held in abusive pre-trial detention. In many countries, parents teach their children to run from the police to stay safe from harm, rather than running to them for help. Recently IJM received a prayer request from the Kenya team which facilitates dialogues with the family members of victims of extrajudicial killings. These dialogues create an opportunity for communities to share the realities of police abuse, bringing attention to the issue and creating an opportunity for leaders to recognise the need for change and improved policing. Please pray that the stories of these families will inspire leaders to take the necessary steps to ensure that corrupt police no longer abuse their power, but protect the citizens of Kenya.
Pakistan expels Christian charities
14 Dec 2018
After a two-year battle to re-register their work, World Vision has been expelled from Pakistan, along with Catholic Relief Services and 16 other organisations, for ‘deliberately spreading disinformation’ and ‘non-compliance’. World Vision has handed over responsibility for poverty-reduction and health programmes to the state and has complied with a 60-day deadline to leave. They regret the effect that the cessation of their work will have on the vulnerable communities where they worked, but respect the Government's decision as to who may work in the country. They have worked in Pakistan for thirteen years, helping 800,000 youngsters. They are currently discussing the possibility of re-starting work under new legal frameworks which the government may introduce at a later date. Catholic Relief Services, a charitable arm of the US Catholic Church, had been helping provide food, education and clean water in Pakistan since 1954.
At our recent Watch + Pray gathering, we had a strong sense to pray for our prodigals.
Tens of thousands of people have prodigal family members. Christmas can be a hard time. The Dictionary describes a prodigal as someone is profligate, a big spender, and extravagant. It describes the son in the well-known parable – does it also describe the Father – who threw a great extravagant feast and gave presents to his errant son? Was he the prodigal Father? You can probably empathise with this man, who loves his son but has not seen him in many months and is worried about his adventure in the big wide, but often dangerous world.
As a Father, Mother, sibling, child of a prodigal you know the deep ache as you pray for them to come back to Jesus. Expect more from God, prodigals are on His heart. Ask that God will give you the words you need to help open the conversation. Ask for your relationship to strengthen so that you will draw closer together. Hear God’s promptings on when to open things up and when to be silent. Pray for the future.
We are spending a lot of time in Isaiah 61, where the spirit of the Sovereign Lord anoints us to preach the good news. Pray for that anointing with your prodigal. But go beyond this as they hear and respond to the good news the people in Isaiah 61 turned into oaks of righteousness. Such a picture of stability and strength. More than that they move on to Rebuild, Restore and Renew the broken places. It’s our conference focus in 2019. This is our hope and expectation that many of those called to rebuild, restore and renew will be restored and released prodigals on fire for the gospel.
So let’s keep praying. Let’s keep listening to God and let’s expect the goodness of God to breakthrough.
Father God, we pray You will call our prodigals home and give them a clear revelation about Jesus this Christmas. Put a longing in their hearts to come back to You and prepare them to serve You and grow in understanding who You are. Mend and restore broken relationships.
Steve Botham, Director of World Prayer Centre