Written by Dr Peter Carruthers, from the UK
Europe is a mission field that is “white for harvest”
(John 4: 35). I believe that the Lord is calling
believers from across the world to play a part in praying and working to bring in this harvest. Many have already responded to this call, but ‘the harvest is plentiful and the labourers are still few’.
Friday 1stJune 2018, marks the beginning of a 24-7 Prayer for France initiative. Please read on to find out why and how to share in this.
Taking responsibility
Two years ago, in an article in Prophecy Today, written in the aftermath of the Paris and Brussels terrorist attacks, I urged believers to recognise Europe’s deep and urgent spiritual needs and prioritise intercession and mission for the nations of Europe. This imperative remains and is even more urgent now.
Streams across the Channel
My particular concern here is for France. Many are expecting a significant move of the Holy Spirit in France - perhaps that foreseen in Jean Darnall’s 1967 vision of ‘streams across the Channel’. Some from other European nations and beyond have even relocated to France as missionaries.
Evangelical growth
The evangelical church in France has, in fact, seen remarkable growth in the last decades, from very small beginnings. Between 1970 and 2017, the number of evangelical churches in France went from 840 to 2440, equivalent to one new church every ten days. According to Evangelical Focus, the number of evangelical Christians has increased by 1000% since 1970, and that there are now some 650,000 evangelical Christians in France, about 1% of the population.
David Brown, Chairman of the Evangelism Commission of the French ‘National Council of Evangelicals’, speaking to the Forum of Christian Leaders in 2017, sees this growth as an act of God’s sovereignty, aided by the work of AoG missionaries (1930 - 1960), the charismatic movement (1970 - 1990), immigration of Christians from Africa (1990 - 2010) and the work of French church planters (especially since the mid-90s).
At the same time, the Roman Catholic Church declined markedly. According to Brown, in 1980, 71% of babies born were baptised in the RC church; this declined to 32% in 2017. Over the same years, the number of priests fell from 38,000 to 13,000. Currently, the average age of a Roman Catholic priest in France is 72 years.
Nevertheless, as the New York Times reported, the RC Church has seen something of a resurgence in recent years, driven especially by issues of culture and identity (as is true for many other countries of Europe). There is also a thriving Roman Catholic Charismatic movement.
As well as a vacuum created by the decline in Roman Catholicism, Brown believes that a rising feeling of social despair, mistrust of political leaders and high unemployment (currently 10%) combined with a cultural disposition towards discussion and debate have created conditions conducive for evangelical church growth. Evangelicals are no longer seen as an obscure sect, but are better known and more accepted than previously.
Recent surveys suggest that French people are looking for authenticity and information and are especially open to evangelism centred around approaches that inform and explain (whether ‘lectures’ or one-to-one conversations over coffee) and least receptive to tracts and open-air rallies.
Sharing in the harvest
The above statistics are encouraging, but France still remains among the most secular countries of Europe. The fields may indeed be white for harvest, but much of the harvest is still to be brought in.
How can believers share in this work? Some will be called to ‘go’. But all can pray. As the Lord Jesus enjoins us, “the harvest is plentiful, but the labourers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into His harvest” (Matthew 9: 37).
24-7
One immediate opportunity to join others in prayer for France is provided by Jesus2Europe’s 24-7 ‘Prayer for France’ initiative, starting this Friday 1 June 2018. Jesus2Europe, a new ministry based in Paris, invites intercessors from all over the world to pray for France from 1 to 7 June and, ideally, to sign up for a prayer slot (via contact form on the website or email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. - please mention IPC; if you are not able to book a slot, then please just let us know you are praying). It would be wonderful if many of us from all around the world could show our concern for France’s spiritual well-being by taking part.
Seeds of prayer
The above, I hope, provides some seeds of prayer. Some more prayer pointers below.
Pray for French believers to be “kept from the evil one”, “sanctified in truth” and united as one (John 17: 15,17,21), to abound in love, knowledge and discernment (Philippians 1: 9) and to share their faith effectively (Philemon 1: 6). Remember, especially, believers within the Roman Catholic church.
Pray that President Macron and all in authority will create conditions for the advancement of the Gospel (1 Timothy 2: 1-4). Remember the police, who face many hard challenges; last year 87 police officers committed suicide.
Pray for Paris, that it will become truly a ‘city of love and light’, where the love of Jesus is known and His light shines. And pray for the many refugees in Paris and other French cities and for those working to share the love of Christ with them in deed and word.
Rural France also needs much prayer. I know of several working in rural areas, seeking to share the Gospel and to plant and nurture churches. As one concerned with rural mission, I am especially aware of the challenges they face (far greater than those we face in the UK).
Thy Kingdom come
Above all, it is our prayer that the Lord of the harvest will send out labourers into His harvest all across France (Matthew 9: 37) and that God’s Kingdom will come and His will be done in France as it is in heaven (Matthew 6: 10).
Dr Peter Carruthers.
May 2018
The young Turks rejecting Islam - BBC News 5/9/18 (Excerpted)
Losing their religion: How some young Turks are turning their backs on Islam
"This is the only thing left that connects me to Islam," says Merve, showing me her bright red headscarf.
Merve teaches religion to elementary school children in Turkey. She used to be a radical believer of Islam. "Until recently, I would not even shake hands with men," she tells me in an Istanbul cafe. "But now I do not know whether there is a God or not, and I really do not care."
In the 16 years that President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's party has been in power, the number of religious high schools across Turkey has increased. The young Turks rejecting Islam more than tenfold.He has repeatedly talked of bringing up a pious generation. But over the past few weeks, politicians and religious clerics here have been discussing whether pious young people have started to move away from religion.
One day, Merve's life changed when, after waking up very depressed, she cried for hours and decided to pray. As she prayed, she realised to her shock that she doubted God's existence. "I thought I would either go crazy or kill myself," she says. "The next day I realised I had lost my faith."
She is not alone. One professor has been quoted as saying that more than a dozen female students wearing headscarves have come up to him to declare they are atheists in the past year or so.
Bekir, theology student
Until recently I was a sympathiser of radical groups such as the Islamic State or Al Qaeda. Today, I am an atheist. I initially wanted to find some logic in Islam, but I could not. Then I started questioning God too. I used to support the Islamist government here. But oppression breeds revolution. They wanted to oppress us and we started to react.
But it is not just atheism that students are embracing. At a workshop in Konya, one of Turkey's most conservative cities, there have been claims that students at religious high schools are moving towards deism because of what they referred to as "the inconsistencies within Islam", according to reports in opposition newspapers. Deism has its roots back in Greek culture. Its followers believe that God exists, but they reject all religions.
While there are no statistics or polls to indicate how widespread this is, anecdotal evidence is enough to worry Turkey's leaders.
Let’s pray that Turkey’s youth will increasingly hear about Jesus Christ and turn to Him.
Pray for those seeking to make Jesus known inside the nation that God will lead them to those who are spiritually empty and are seeking after Him.
Pray also for those Christian workers that have been imprisoned that they will be released ASAP and that religious freedoms will be restored to the nation.
Received by Rick Ridings in Jerusalem 6 March, 2018
During a time of worship in SuccatHallel, I saw in a vision the eyes of the Lord roving over the earth, watching over the nations. His eyes shone like spotlights upon the nations.
The world looked like a giant chessboard, and the government of each nation looked like a “knight” (the horse like figure) on their square of the chessboard. These “knights” (representing national governments) had their backs turned away from Jerusalem and Israel. They were surrounded by intercessors that also had their backs turned away from Jerusalem and Israel.
In certain nations, as the eyes of the “righteous remnant” intercessors were opened to the Scriptures and the Lord’s choice of Jerusalem, Israel as the seat of His Kingdom government upon the earth (see Psalm 2 and Ezekiel 43:1-7), those intercessors turned towards Jerusalem and Israel.
Then those intercessors turned towards their “knight” (their nation’s government) and started prophesying and proclaiming over the “knight”.
In nations where a large portion of the remnant Intercessors did this, the knight turned its face towards Jerusalem and Israel. This indicated that they were aligning with God’s sovereign choice of Jerusalem as the footstool of His throne, of His government upon the earth.
Those “knights” (governments) that turned towards Jerusalem and Israel started morphing into sheep that got whiter and whiter. Horns of strength grew from their heads, indicating the blessing of the Lord on their governments and economies. Those “knights” that did not turn towards Jerusalem and Israel morphed into goats, and their fur turned darker and darker. Horns of evil grew from their heads, indicating the increasing rule of evil over their nations.
Some nations in all the continents turned towards Jerusalem and Israel. Some that turned were even in the Middle East and North Africa. Some that did not turn were also surprising, as in past history they had been more aligned towards Israel.
Then the Lord reached forth His hand, picked up those “knights” that were becoming “sheep”, and made them jump over the goat nations, causing them to quickly move ahead economically, etc
I felt the Lord said: “I am extending a season of mercy for nations to change and no nation is hopeless. Let the righteous remnant Intercessors awaken and turn their hearts towards My choice of Jerusalem as the footstool of My government on earth, and let them cry out and prophesy to their governments. This is a time when nations can be turned around.”
Just after I received this vision, and before I shared it, one of our intercessors read from Revelation 5:9,10: “…with your blood you purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation. You have made them to be a kingdom of priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth.”
Rick Ridings
- A SEASON OF DECISION REGARDING JERUSALEM. A GATE HAS OPENED…UNITED STATES, GUATEMALA, AND PARAGUAY GO THROUGH THE GATES!
One week ago yesterday, May 14, 2018, the 70th Anniversary of the birth of the modern nation of Israel, the United States followed through with its promise and moved its Embassy to the city which President Donald Trump last December 6th memorably declared to be the Capital of that nation, Jerusalem!
That had been a courageous declaration…shortly after it was made, 128 members of the UN General Assembly supported a resolution condemning it and admonishing other states against following its example. And it was a courageous decision to push through with the promise others had failed to keep, bringing it to fruition on this historic date. In a taped message from Washington played at the ceremony, President Trump said:
Exactly 70 years ago the United States under Harry Truman became the first nation to recognize the State of Israel. Today, we officially open the United States embassy in Jerusalem. Congratulations! It’s been a long time coming…Almost immediately after declaring statehood in 1948, Israel designated the city of Jerusalem as its capital, the capital the Jewish people established in ancient times.
So important…Yet for years we failed to acknowledge the obvious, the plain reality that Israel’s capital is Jerusalem…That changed last December 6, when we recognized Jerusalem as Israel’s capital…Today we follow through on this recognition and open our embassy in the historic and sacred land of Jerusalem. And we’re opening it many, many, many years ahead of schedule…We extend a hand in friendship to Israel, the Palestinians and to all of their neighbours. May there be peace. May God bless this embassy. May God bless all who serve there….
We believe that in this event we have witnessed a sacred “passing through” a gateway in the purposes of God for nations during this season. With the US taking the initiative, that gateway is clarified for other nations, and the blessings of the redemptive purposes of God within those nations may be activated. May 14th in Jerusalem was a blessed and sacred, as well as a joyous celebratory occasion!
Yet, even as Mr. Trump was asking God’s blessing the Embassy and those who will work within it, the enemy of nations was raising its false and deceiving banner to turn nations away from that blessing—in fact, to perceive it as a curse.
The violent demonstrations on the Gaza/Israel border against the embassy move, driven by a murderous power which demands Jerusalem and every part of “Palestine” as its own, seized the moment and the imagination of much of the world. By mid-morning, as the Embassy ceremony was taking place in Jerusalem, the death toll of those seeking to breach the walls of the nation already had begun quickly to rise.
In many news broadcasts around the world (and later newspaper headlines), viewers were being presented with a split-screen—one side showing a smiling Ivanka Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu among other rejoicing, celebrating people—all seemingly oblivious to the faces presented on the other side of the screen of desperate, screaming young Palestinians presumably being gassed or mercilessly shot down by Israeli soldiers.
By the end of the day 61 were reported dead, over a thousand wounded. It didn’t matter that these scenes and many of the people in them had been set up for this very purpose, being seen to the world as victims brutalized by the Zionist regime; or that Israel was simply attempting to defend its borders being overrun by tens of thousands who believe fervently that she has no right to exist. Nor did it really matter that within two days a senior Hamas official would divulge that 50 of the 61 people killed had in fact been Hamas operatives.
The images had made their mark. Around the world Israel was accused of frightfully “disproportionate actions,” of the callous destruction of innocent children, of war crimes. Of, as many of the pictures seemed intended to imply, enjoying a party for the moving of an Embassy which itself was the cause of the Catastrophe taking place on the border with Gaza.
Peoples and nations are being presented with choices related to alignment with what God has said regarding His land, His people and His holy city. One of these choices is a way of truth, the other one of deception. The warfare over these choices is fierce, the deception is subtle. Without the power and authority of God’s Word and the merciful light of revelation of the Holy Spirit among faithful intercessors within those nations, even believers are being deceived.
This revelation was certainly present in what occurred two days later, when President Jimmy Morales arrived in Jerusalem to oversee his nation Guatemala becoming second after the United States in opening its Embassy in Jerusalem! Among his party were a number of believing intercessors. Tiny Guatemala had in fact been the first country to cast its vote in the UN making way for the establishment of Israel in 1947, and second (behind the United States) to recognize the new state after it was born in 1948. Local papers commented on the role evangelical Christians in Guatemala have had in steering it towards the blessing of Israel, recognizing Jerusalem as its capital, and moving its embassy there. And then on Monday, President Horacio Cartes arrived to officiate as Paraguay followed suit, becoming the third country to open its embassy in the capital.
Martin and Norma Sarvis, Jerusalem
Let’s us continue to pray for the peace of Jerusalem and for the surrounding nations in that most volatile area of the world. Pray for Jews and Palestinians to come to faith in Messiah and so be enabled to love one another and share the land together as both children of Abraham and followers of Jesus.
This an invitation to Pastors, Intercessors, Leaders, Young adults & Youth Leaders, Young adults and Youths to UPRISING Canada: Stand on Guard on August 8-11, 2018
It is so evident that Millennials are faced with challenges never before experienced by generations past. They are asleep or lost interest to the calling of Christ; spiritually dead. In North America, churches are aging while attendance is on a steep decline.
Studies by The Pew Research Centre in Washington, D.C. have determined that adults in the US who identify themselves as “Christians” fell from 78% to 71% within a seven year period. In addition, multiple studies highlight that up to 50% of youth group attendees drift from God after they graduate from high school. Regrettably, Canadian statistics exceed this.
There is no longer any time to hit the snooze button - Jesus Christ’s return is soon-approaching! However, before the Coming of the Son of Man, by faith, we believe that this same generation will be used to usher a new global wave of revival - a revival that the world has never seen before, as declared by many prophets of God.
July 2016 in South Korea marked the beginning of a United Prayer Rising (UPRISING) movement by the youth, for all generations. In South Korea the emerging generation from 36 different nations gathered and where the Millennials were challenged to pray at the DMZ boarders of North and South Korea, where they prayed "ONE DAY, ONE KOREA." On February 2018 in the PeyongChang Olympic Winter Games, a divided nation marched under one flag.
The call was clear: “Awake, O sleeper, arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” Ephesians 5:14. Generations past and present - rising from their slumber. They gathered. They prayed. They saw the change in their nation.
The waves keep rolling. A rapid series of global UPRISING movements have since taken place:
- Philippines, September 2017
- South Africa, September 2017
- Malaysia, September 2017
- Mongolia, October 2017
- Bolivia, November 2017
…with waves set to sweep through Chile, Brazil, Europe, India, and the United States in 2019.
“In that day I will raise up the booth of David that is fallen and repair its breaches, and raise up its ruins and rebuild it as in the days of old, that they may possess… all the nations who are called by my Name,” declares the Lord who does this.” Amos 9:11-12
The trumpet has sounded, and Canada has heard the call. WE ARE READY TO “STAND ON GUARD”. We are excited to announce that Canada will host the first United Prayer Rising in North America, and with excitement we say that UPRISING Canada: Stand on Guard will be a historic catalyst event.
UPRISING Canada: Stand on Guard will take place on August 8th to 11th, 2018 at The Catch the Fire Toronto (Attwell Centre) - hosted by various churches across the Greater Toronto Area and The Emerging Generation Ministry. Watch the video: https://youtu.be/rYgXDhqN36o
This will be a 4-day catalytic prayer convergence, for the reversal of the global trend of attack happening among the millennials today. With faith, we will see the re-birth of prayer, missions, and Jesus movements in our nation… as in the days of the well-known Toronto Blessing.
UPRISING Canada will address the Canadian challenges of attacks on this generation. First a three-day destiny conference on August 8-10, 2018 that will have powerful worship sessions, relevant plenary sessions, and empowering breakout prayer sessions. And on August 11, 2018, concluding with a 12 hour united prayer and worship rally for a time of coming to God to face the Generation's spiritual Goliath. For speaker information, please view attached PDF. (August 8-10, 2018 will be a paid conference and August 11, 2018, Solemn Assembly will be free, please visit our website for more details (www.uprisingcanada.com)
Toronto is also known for its vast multi-cultural population. Thus, we will be welcoming participants from all over the world, of those who have heard the call. We are calling forth the emerging generation in Canada and thousands more to rise up! We are expecting thousands to be part of this event.
We ask that you prayerfully consider your participation in UPRISING Canada. It would be a great honour for you to be part of this event, unite the body and the generations for such a time like this. Be involved
in this historic movement. This opportunity is something that we do not want you to miss out on!
For more information or to register for this event, we invite you to visit www.uprisingcanada.com or Facebook: www.facebook.com/UPRISINGCA/ .
This an invitation to Pastors, Intercessors, Leaders, Young adults & Youth Leaders, Young adults and Youths to UPRISING Canada: Stand on Guard on August 8-11, 2018
It is so evident that Millennials are faced with challenges never before experienced by generations past. They are asleep or lost interest to the calling of Christ; spiritually dead. In North America, churches are aging while attendance is on a steep decline.
Studies by The Pew Research Centre in Washington, D.C. have determined that adults in the US who identify themselves as “Christians” fell from 78% to 71% within a seven year period. In addition, multiple studies highlight that up to 50% of youth group attendees drift from God after they graduate from high school. Regrettably, Canadian statistics exceed this.
There is no longer any time to hit the snooze button - Jesus Christ’s return is soon-approaching! However, before the Coming of the Son of Man, by faith, we believe that this same generation will be used to usher a new global wave of revival - a revival that the world has never seen before, as declared by many prophets of God.
July 2016 in South Korea marked the beginning of a United Prayer Rising (UPRISING) movement by the youth, for all generations. In South Korea the emerging generation from 36 different nations gathered and where the Millennials were challenged to pray at the DMZ boarders of North and South Korea, where they prayed "ONE DAY, ONE KOREA." On February 2018 in the PeyongChang Olympic Winter Games, a divided nation marched under one flag.
The call was clear: “Awake, O sleeper, arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” Ephesians 5:14. Generations past and present - rising from their slumber. They gathered. They prayed. They saw the change in their nation.
The waves keep rolling. A rapid series of global UPRISING movements have since taken place:
- Philippines, September 2017
- South Africa, September 2017
- Malaysia, September 2017
- Mongolia, October 2017
- Bolivia, November 2017
…with waves set to sweep through Chile, Brazil, Europe, India, and the United States in 2019.
“In that day I will raise up the booth of David that is fallen and repair its breaches, and raise up its ruins and rebuild it as in the days of old, that they may possess… all the nations who are called by my Name,” declares the Lord who does this.” Amos 9:11-12
The trumpet has sounded, and Canada has heard the call. WE ARE READY TO “STAND ON GUARD”. We are excited to announce that Canada will host the first United Prayer Rising in North America, and with excitement we say that UPRISING Canada: Stand on Guard will be a historic catalyst event.
UPRISING Canada: Stand on Guard will take place on August 8th to 11th, 2018 at The Catch the Fire Toronto (Attwell Centre) - hosted by various churches across the Greater Toronto Area and The Emerging Generation Ministry. Watch the video: https://youtu.be/rYgXDhqN36o
This will be a 4-day catalytic prayer convergence, for the reversal of the global trend of attack happening among the millennials today. With faith, we will see the re-birth of prayer, missions, and Jesus movements in our nation… as in the days of the well-known Toronto Blessing.
UPRISING Canada will address the Canadian challenges of attacks on this generation. First a three-day destiny conference on August 8-10, 2018 that will have powerful worship sessions, relevant plenary sessions, and empowering breakout prayer sessions. And on August 11, 2018, concluding with a 12 hour united prayer and worship rally for a time of coming to God to face the Generation's spiritual Goliath. For speaker information, please view attached PDF. (August 8-10, 2018 will be a paid conference and August 11, 2018, Solemn Assembly will be free, please visit our website for more details (www.uprisingcanada.com)
Toronto is also known for its vast multi-cultural population. Thus, we will be welcoming participants from all over the world, of those who have heard the call. We are calling forth the emerging generation in Canada and thousands more to rise up! We are expecting thousands to be part of this event.
We ask that you prayerfully consider your participation in UPRISING Canada. It would be a great honour for you to be part of this event, unite the body and the generations for such a time like this. Be involved
in this historic movement. This opportunity is something that we do not want you to miss out on!
For more information or to register for this event, we invite you to visit www.uprisingcanada.com or Facebook: www.facebook.com/UPRISINGCA/ .
India: Northern India States - National Fellowship 8-10 June 2018
Each year, the members of the National Fellowship Society and Leadership Team from across Northern India gather to evaluate our successes and failures that have occurred during the past year through our ministry in Untouched / Unreached Northern India. It is during this time that we set new goals for the year ahead and beyond. This year again we are all gathering at Baptist missionary Society Guest house, Kolkata.
This is the time when yearly reports from different regions of India will be presented and the leadership will evaluate to find where we have gone wrong and what we have done right.
Each year, we experience a great move of God among us giving us new insight in our missionary efforts and initiatives. Each member cherishes this time of missional fellowship and evaluation.
Kindly pray for all of us gathering for these 3 days and for a great move of God among us showering His blessings and giving us new insights especially in the context of our time today in Northern India.
Annual General Meeting 2018 - Gathering of NF Mission Leaders Across Northern Indian States - Fellowship, Worship, Prayer, Presentation of Reports, Evaluation, Missional Bible Studies and Thought-provoking Messages followed by a time of Fresh Commitment.
More info: www.nationalfellowship.org
Guernsey rejects assisted suicide
25 May 2018
Prayer Alert readers were recently asked to pray against a back door to assisted suicide and euthanasia being opened in the United Kingdom. After a three-day debate, the parliament of Guernsey voted by 24 to 14 to reject the private member’s bill for assisted suicide made by the chief minister, Gavin St Pier. He released a statement expressing his regret that the measure had not passed.