A humanitarian organization serving in Afghanistan has asked that we pray for this desperate situation.

“Please pray for us for the sister that was kidnapped three months ago on May, 20^th.  On May 21^st, the kidnappers killed a German lady and the guard in connection with the abduction. In the meanwhile we received two videos that were published by the captivators where the sister pleaded for her release. 

In her first video our sister pleaded for her life and asked the government of her home country to meet the demands of her kidnappers. But since then quite some time passed on and the kidnappers seem to get impatient. 
 
In the second video she speaks about her disappointment that her home country is not helping her and is pleading again for her life. She seems to be under great pressure and has been forced to share about other like-minded rganizations in the country and to make some statements that can be dangerous for her.

We are very concerned about our young sister and our hearts were moved when we saw this video. She is in the hands of very cruel people and this is a very hard situation for her, especially as she feels being abandoned by her government and others and with not much hope to be freed.
 
- Let’s pray that she would soon be released unharmed 
- Please pray also her organization and the government who have to make tough decisions. 
- Pray also that our and other like-minded organizations in the country will not be endangered by information she might be forced to share.”

Pray for God’s protection over others serving in this troubled and embattled nation. Intercede for the overthrow of spiritual powers of darkness and destruction that control the Taliban and ISIS who continue to sow terror and death over wide swaths of the nation’s territory.

This helpful article from The Weekly will help you to understand the situation in North Korea and how we ought to pray about this very threatening situation:

“Here are five facts you should know about North Korea, the world’s most repressive regime:

1. North Korea was created after the Korean peninsula was divided in the aftermath of World War II. Following the surrender of Japanese forces in 1945, Gen. Douglas MacArthur, supreme commander for the Allied powers, issuedGeneral Order No. 1. In this order, the Japanese empire was required to surrender all portions of Korea north of 38 north latitude to the Soviet Union and all of Korea south of that marker to the United States (thearbitrary choice of the dividing line, which has affected international relations for more than 70 years, was “recommended by two tired colonels working late at night”). That December, the Soviets installed a communist guerrilla leader named Kim Il-sung as the chairman of the North Korean branch of the Korean Communist Party. When the DPRK was formed in September 1948, the Soviets recognized Kim Il-sung as the leader of Korea, both North and South. The autocratic Kim family—Kim Il-sung, his son Kim Jong-il, and grandson Kim Jong-un—have ruled the country every since.
   
2. Soon after taking control of his country, Kim Il-sung developed such a strong personality cult that under the DPRK constitution he remains, even in death, the “eternal President of the Republic.” Within a year of being appointed premier, Kim Il-sung was referring to himself as “The Great Leader” and erecting statues of himself (the country now has more than 500 statues of him). His birthday is a national holiday known as the “Day of the Sun”, and in 1997 Kim Il-sung even created a new calendar that recalculated time from the year 1912, when he “came to earth from Heaven.”
   
3. In 1972, after he surrendered his Soviet premiership and became President of North Korea, Kim Il-sung instituted the ideology known asJuche, a form of hyper-nationalistic self-reliance. As theDPRK explains, “The Juche idea means, in a nutshell, that the masters of the revolution and construction are the masses of the people and that they are also the motive force of the revolution and construction. The Juche idea is based on the philosophical principle that man is the master of everything and decides everything.” Writing in the Stanford Journal of East Asian Affairs, Grace Lee explains how this official autarkic state ideology is used to keep the North Korean population under control:

The Kim Il Sung regime instructed the North Korean people in the juche ideology using an analogy drawn from human anatomy. The Great Leader is the brain that makes decisions and issues orders, the Party is the nervous system that channels information, and the people are the bone and muscle that physically execute the orders. This belief system, inculcated in North Koreans since early childhood, made them docile and loyal to Kim Il Sung even in the face of famines and energy crises that have devastated the country.

4. Knowledge of the outside world is limited for most North Korean citizens. All legal televisions aretuned to state-controlled domestic programming, and outside of a closed domestic network, there is no internet access. The state maintains a network of informants who monitor and report to the authorities fellow citizens they suspect of criminal or subversive behavior,USA Today notes, and unauthorized access to non-state radio or TV broadcasts is severely punished.
   
5. Religious freedom is nonexistent in the country. The North Korean regime considers Christianity the biggest threat,as the USCIRF says, because it associates that faith with the West, particularly the United States. The North Korean government relentlessly persecutes and punishes religious believers through arrest, torture, imprisonment, and sometimes execution. Once Christians are imprisoned, they are typically sent to political prison camps where they are “treated with extraordinary cruelty.” According to the U.S. State Department, tens of thousands of Christians are in political prison and facing hard labor or execution because of their faith.
   
6. Kim Jong-un’s regime is intent on developing an intercontinental ballistic missile that can strike the U.S. with nuclear warheads. He believes this will help him reach his main strategic goal, whichthe Pentagon identifiesas ensuring “Kim family rule in perpetuity.” The Pentagon also notes that the overarching national security objectives of Kim Jong-un have remained largely consistent: international recognition as a nuclear armed state; maintenance of a viable deterrent capability; the simultaneous development of its economy and nuclear weapons program (i.e., the “byungjin” line); reinforcement of its military-first approach to domestic and foreign affairs (“songun”); tight control over communications, borders, movement, and trade; and reunification of Korea under North Korea’s control.” The Defense Department says North Korea uses reunification with South Korea as a key component of its national identity narrative to validate its strategy and policies, and to justify sacrifices demanded of the populace.”
   
   From: "The Weekly" <This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.>
   Date: Aug 11, 2017 

Please watch and pray over the news from the Korean peninsula. This is the most threatening and dangerous situation the world faces right now and it looks to be worsening. Pray that the North Koreans will back down from their provocative actions and that Kim Jong Un will either change course or be removed by his own government or by Chinese intervention. Pray that a military confrontation that could take the lives of hundreds of thousands or even millions would be averted. Ask that God would give special wisdom and restraint to President Trump, President Xi Jinping of China, President Moon Jae-in of South Korea as well as all other leaders involved in the current crisis that a peaceful solution can be found to ending North Korea’s nuclear threats and weapons program

One expert who participated in the North American Prayer Summit affirmed that “the most dangerous threat to North America and Europe is Islam”. Muslims, he said, are training millions to come into every nation around the world. Their strategy is especially to infiltrate Europe and North America and then later take Israel. They have told him they are “way ahead of schedule”.

He listed ten elements of their strategy to subvert and eventually conquer the non-Muslim world through their multi-faceted jihad:

1 Population growth- marry and have as many kids as possible.

They will then press for the rule of sharia law when they get to 5% of a nation’s population.

2 Lying/Deceit- this is not wrong in Islam and their god Allah encourages it if it advances the jihad. 

3 Education- textbooks in the USA are being bankrolled by Saudi Arabia and Iran- K through 12. Islam is being taught and Christianity is being left out. Some children are being made to repeat Islamic prayers in Florida.

4 Military- get Muslims into the armed services to be ready to mount attacks such as happened at Fort Hood in the USA where a Muslim soldier massacred other soldiers.

5 Media- Hollywood and news- you can’t say anything against Islam since they control major news channels and now are going after Fox News as well.

6 Business- some banks are being taken over and they are sending people to infiltrate. 

7 Government- Muslims have been in the White House since Obama’s time there. Al Qaeda told this presenter: “We will have people in the U.S. government.”

8 Church- the final battle will be with Islam. “We will bring the Church down and turn churches into mosques.” Attacks on churches are occurring and some Christian organizations are being labeled as “hate groups” by Muslim controlled or funded news and advocacy groups. 

9 Family- destroy families. Working through the homosexual agenda- anything to bring down infidels. 

10 Jihad- spiritual war. If a Muslim kills an infidel, he will go to heaven and take his relatives with him. Muslim training centers, mosques, etc. have proliferated in the West. 

Our participating expert concluded that “Islam is a major giant that will crush North America unless we use the authority God has given us.” He urged us to pray with Christ’s delegated authority and unity for the overthrow of their plans and that His people will reach out with the Gospel to win them! As we engage, He will give His angels charge over us (Ps 91:11) 

Let’s pray that the Church will wake up and engage in wise and loving outreach to the Muslims in our midst. We have a terrific opportunity to reach them now that they are living among us. Let’s begin to identify and pray for them, then reach out with the love of Jesus Christ so they may be saved. In various parts of the world, hundreds of thousands of Muslims have been coming to Christ so we should be hopeful about winning them. Islam is an empty, oppressive and false religion that has nothing to offer those trapped in its domain. May they experience the salvation and abundant life that only comes through Jesus Christ!

(A presentation given at the North American Prayer Summit, August 21-24, St. John’s, Newfoundland, Canada)

The nature of Mexico’s problems, such as narco-trafficking, worship of dead, etc. go back to its idolatrous and occult roots. At Tepeyac, near Mexico City, sacrifices were made for centuries to Tonantzin, the Aztec serpent goddess who some think continues to be worshipped as the Virgin of Guadalupe since that is where the apparition appeared in 1531. Dec 12 celebrates the birth of this goddess and it is now the patroness of the nation.

Some also think that it was the mass human sacrifice and idolatry in the 15^th century and 16^th  centuries that brought about the invasion of the Spanish conqueror, Hernan Cortez, and through that, God’s judgement on the murderous Aztec civilization. Half the population of that area was rapidly eliminated through disease and over time 97% died off. The current problems they have in Mexico today could be the result of these events. Pray for liberation of the Mexican people from the idolatrous Virgin of Guadalupe cult that has captured "the majority of the population and government officials. It has been said that the flip side" of this cult is the worship of Santa Muerte (Saint Death) that millions of additional Mexicans and increasing numbers in the USA pay obeisance to.

Now there is rampant corruption, drug addiction, youth suicide, vandalism, as well as child abuse, and even infanticide to keep children from such a life of suffering. Nevertheless, there are some hopeful developments such as the governor of Chihuahua who has decided to fight corruption. Pray for those Christian leaders who are working with him. May this become an open door to change the atmosphere and culture of the state.

During October in Michoacan, the “soul of Mexico” where the constitution was written, Pastor Martha Valdoviezo is going to the center of city with other pastors to pray for three days day and nights- a time of repentance for the sin and pain of Morelia. Pray for His strong anointing on her and the other ministry leaders- that God will unite and give them clarity for the transformation of their city and state.

Mexico City is surrounded by three states (8.5 million population but with the surrounding area included there are 24 million living in that area). The mayor opened up to Scientology recently and gave them a permit to locate a central office for Latin America there. They want to build 10 centers now. Pray that this decision will be reversed and that the false teachings of Scientology will be rejected by the government and the people.

In 1976, the Santa Muerte cult began in Mexico City. It is still growing and going after influential people. Pray with His authority and faith for the overthow of these and other false cults and that the Mexican people will serve the one and only Lord.

Mexico’s future economic prospects look hopeful due to the number of youth and children in the population and a good growth curve. Conversely, the USA and Canada may face a future economic downturn since population growth curve is not as good. Pray for the health and growth of the Mexican economy and that the big hindrance of corruption will be dealt with effectively.

The Church needs to have the opportunity to influence Mexico’s children for the Kingdom of God. Pray for real freedom from government control for Christian schools to give children and youth the knowledge of the Lord. 

Mexico’s national election will be held next year. Pray that a man or woman of God will be able to run and win the election. Lopez Obrador, the socialist, currently has lots of support. Pray that he will not get in because his socialist policies would destroy the nation. 

A new movement of prayer has arisen in the country that is connecting the Body of Christ in new ways and has lots of youth involved. Pray for such efforts to prosper in the land and for the real unity of the prayer movement and the leaders of its various streams. 

Pray for the current NAFTA renegotiations- that the USA will undergird Mexico and that each nation will benefit.

Presented by one of the NAPS participants who comes from Mexico City