Tatar, Chulym of Russia

Tatar, Chulym of Russia The core part of the Chulym Tatars is descended from the Khants and/or Kets, and was probably influenced from the 6th century on by the Altai and Uighur tribes. In the late 16th century, the Chulym Tatars began to pay tribute to the Tsar in Moscow. In 1621 the fortified settlement of Melotsk was founded on their land and, secured by military footholds; some peasants from European Russia were settled in Siberia. Tribe by tribe, the natives were subjugated by the Russians, although with the Chulym the struggle went on through the whole of the 17th century. In 1720 the Chulym Tatars were forcibly Christianized. Ministry Obstacles The Chulym have probably been somewhat inoculated from a true faith in Christ because of their previous forcible conversion to Christianity. Outreach Ideas Perhaps workers can help the Chulym improve their situation of lack of health care and safe drinking water while pointing them to the Giver of Life. Pray for the followers of Christ There probably are no followers of Jesus among the Chulym people, but pray for those who will soon come to Christ as Savior and Lord. Pray they will not mix animistic beliefs with the purity of the Gospel. Pray for the entire people group Pray this small tribe living in a harsh land will be able to support their families adequately and will have improved medical care. Scripture Focus "And those who lead many to righteousness [will shine] like the stars for ever and ever." Daniel 12:3		People Name: Tatar, Chulym Country: Russia 10/40 Window: No Population: 400 World Population: 400 Language: Chulym Primary Religion: Ethnic Religions Bible: None Online Audio NT: No Jesus Film: No Audio Recordings: No Christ Followers: Few, less than 2% Status: Unreached Progress Level: 1.1

Prayers from Prison

Prayers from Prison: American Pastor Held in Iran Releases Letter

By Jeremy Reynalds
Senior Correspondent for ASSIST News Service
WASHINGTON D.C. (ANS) -- The American pastor jailed in Iran for his Christian faith has managed to get a letter out to his global supporters, thanking them for their prayers while confirming the brutality of his conditions.

Saeed Abedini and his family.

According to a story by Lisa Daftari for Fox News, Saeed Abedini, the 33-year-old Idaho resident serving an eight-year prison term in Tehran's infamous Evin prison, passed the letter to family members who were permitted to visit him after several weeks of isolation. The letter was passed to Abedini's wife, Naghmeh, who is at their Boise-area home with their two children and unable to visit her husband for fear of being arrested herself.
"I heard that the persecution, my arrest and imprisonment has united churches from different denominations, from different cities and countries, that would never come together because of their differences," Fox News reported Abedini wrote.
He added, "You don't know how happy I was in the Lord and rejoiced knowing that in my chains the body of Christ has chained together and is brought to action and prayer."
Fox News said Abedini signed the letter, "With many thanks for your continued and faithful prayers, Servant of our Lord in chains for Jesus Christ, Saeed."
Abedini has been held at the brutal prison for 238 days, enduring long stints in solitary confinement, and, according to his supporters, beatings and torture at the hands of his jailers and fellow inmates.
For months, Fox News reported, he has been suffering from serious injuries, including internal bleeding from beatings with no proper medical attention, according to his family and attorneys.
More than a decade ago, Abedini began working as a Christian leader and community organizer developing Iran's underground home church communities for Christian converts who are forbidden from praying in public churches. He was arrested in 2009, but released after pledging to stop formally organizing house churches in Iran.
Fox News said when he returned to Iran last year to help build a state-run, secular orphanage, Iranian police pulled him off a bus and imprisoned him.
After spending months imprisoned without any notice of charges, Abedini was sentenced in January to eight years in prison, as his family and attorneys continue to press the State Department and other public and private groups to help win his release.
Fox News said the American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ), which represents Abedini and his family in the U.S., last week met with State Department officials after noting the U.S. diplomats had not issued a single press release demanding Abedini's release.
"The fact is with each passing day, Pastor Saeed's health worsens - he's now suffering from internal bleeding," said ACLJ chief counsel Jay Sekulow.
He added, "Time is of the essence."
Fox News said Sekulow noted that Iran in January freed an Iranian Christian pastor, Youcef Nadarkhani, under pressure from the international community - including the State Department and the White House.
"This year, the international community - including the European Union and the U.N. Special Rapporteur on human rights in Iran - have spoken out clearly and directly for Pastor Saeed, but his own adopted nation has done less for him than the EU, less than Australia," Sekul ow said.
Fox News said Sekulow added, "Shouldn't the United States do at least as much for its own citizen as it did for that brave Iranian pastor?"

Assamese of Bhutan

Assamese of Bhutan Although subject to periodic Tibetan invasions from the north, Bhutan has retained continuous autonomy since its founding by the military leader Shabdrung and the Tibetan Lama in the 17th century AD. Under British influence a monarchy was formally established on December 17th, 1907 with Ugyen Wangchuck as the first King of Bhutan. Several guerrilla groups seeking to establish an independent Assamese state in northeast India have more recently set up guerrilla bases in the forests of southern Bhutan from which they launch cross-border attacks on targets in Assam. These are the Assamese. Ministry Obstacles In the past, Bhutan has not been open to any kind of Christian witness or work. Things are improving, but access is still limited. Outreach Ideas There are many Christian believers in northeast India, and also in Nepal. Pray that some will be burdened to carry the good news of Jesus to the Assamese people of Bhutan. Pray for the followers of Christ A few followers of Jesus have been identified among the Assamese of Bhutan. Pray their faith will grow strong, and rest firmly upon Christ and his finished work on the cross. Pray for teachers and pastors for them. Pray also for the many Assamese that will soon join their numbers. Pray for the entire people group Pray the Assamese of Bhutan will desire to live in peace with their neighbors. Pray they will increasingly desire a real solution to the problem of sin. Scripture Focus "Thus it is written, that the Christ would suffer and rise again from the dead the third day, and that repentance for forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in His name to all the nations." Luke 24:46-47		People Name: Assamese Country: Bhutan 10/40 Window: Yes Population: 7,500 World Population: 7,700 Language: Assamese Primary Religion: Hinduism Bible: Complete Online Audio NT: No Jesus Film: Yes Audio Recordings: Yes Christ Followers: Few, less than 2% Status: Unreached Progress Level: 1.2

Trying to Save Saeed

Trying to Save Saeed

By Jeremy Reynalds
Senior Correspondent for ASSIST News Service
BOISE, IDAHO (ANS) -- Saeed Abedini is in a battle for his life.

Saeed Abedini and his family

According to an article by Katy Moeller for the Idaho Statesman, the 32-year-old has languished in Iran's notorious Evin Prison for more than 200 days. He was convicted of "threatening the national security of Iran" for his involvement in Christian home churches from 2000 to 2005.His parents are allowed to visit him weekly, and they say he's enduring beatings and other torture. He has suffered internal bleeding and needs medical treatment, according to the American Center for Law and Justice.
Tiffany N. Barrans, international legal director for the nonprofit advocacy center, said it has petitioned to have the Red Cross come in as a third party to treat him.
"That has not been granted by the Iranian authorities," the Idaho Statesman reported Barrans said.
Saeed, a Boise resident with his wife and two children since 2006, was in Iran doing humanitarian work when he was imprisoned in September. In January, he was sentenced to eight years in prison.
The Idaho Statesman said Saeed has told authorities that if he is freed, he will leave Iran and never return, Barrans said. That didn't help his case.
As hopeless as the situation appears, Barrans said there's reason to be optimistic about his release. A decision on Saeed's appeal is pending.
"It gives the Iranian government an out, to save face," the Idaho Statesman reported Barrans said of the possibility that his sentence will be overturned. "They want to look like a country that is following the rule of law."
It's important to get Saeed released before Iran's elections in June.
"During and around those elections, the Iranian government is not going to want to release anyone who is seen as oppositional," the Idaho Statesman reported Barrans said.
Barrans said the key to Saeed's safe release is pressure from other countries - particularly those that have ties to Iran, including Qatar, Italy, Argentina and Brazil.
The Idaho Statesman said the American Center for Law and Justice is seeking support from those nations, and the group hopes the U.S. State D epartment is doing the same behind the scenes.
One positive new development, Barrans said, is that human rights groups within Iran haven taken up Saeed's cause.
"If there is enough stir in Iran - in their media and social media - it may cause unrest," Barrans said. "They may decide it's not worth the unrest during their elections, if this one man's case could disrupt that peace."
Keeping the Pressure On
The Idaho Statesman said more than half a million people have signed an online petition calling for Saeed's release.
Friends at his church in Boise are doing what they can to help.
"We have a constant flow of letters going to Iran, so they know he's not forgotten," said Rhett Allen, assistant director of children's ministry at Boise's Calvary Chapel.
Some of those letters have been written by children from the church, he said. The church is selling neon yellow "Save Saeed" T-shirts for $20 at its bookstore.
"We're exercising every resource that w e have," the Idaho Statesman reported Allen said. "We serve a good God, and we know he can do miracles."
Saeed's wife, Naghmeh, is doing a lot of public speaking, hoping to keep her husband's plight in the public eye.
The Idaho Statesman said a regular on Fox News, she tries to limit travel outside the state to just once a month so that she's not away from the couple's two children, ages 6 and 5.
Naghmeh said most of the money raised on her family's behalf has gone to others who need it more. She said she's sent it to a group of Christian families - associated with her husband - who fled from Iran to Turkey.
"I feel responsible for them," she said.
Raised in Idaho, Married in Iran
Naghmeh (Panahi) Abedini, 36, was born in Iran but grew up in the Treasure Valley.
The Idaho Statesman said her family fled during the Iran-Iraq War in the 1980s. Today, her father runs a user-interface manufacturing company called PKG User Interface Solutions in Meridian.& nbsp;
Naghmeh graduated from Centennial High School in 1995, and earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Puget Sound. She had her sights set on medical school.
Through Calvary Chapel, the Idaho Statesman said, she did some missionary work in her 20s, including a trip to India, and felt God calling her to do the same in her native Iran.
Her parents were stunned at her decision.
"They felt I was going backward. 'We brought you here so you could flourish as a woman and be a doctor,'" she recalled.
The Idaho Statesman said she comes from a well-educated, high-achieving family. Her twin brother earned a doctorate in quantum physics from the University of Chicago.
Naghmeh went to Iran in late 2001 and met Saeed at a Christian gathering in 2002. They had a Christian wedding in Iran in 2004.
The Idaho Statesman said persecution of Christians intensified after Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was elected president, and they decided in 2005 that it was time to move to Idaho. Naghmeh was pregnant with th eir first child.
The couple live at Naghmeh's parents' house in West Boise. An ordained pastor, Saeed participated in Christian ministry in Iran via Skype.
In 2009, the Idaho Statesman said, Saeed and his family visited Iran. He was detained at the airport on their way home. He was interrogated every day for two months about his activities with the home churches.
The Idaho Statesman said Iranian officials warned him to stop his involvement with the home churches. However, they said he could do nonreligious humanitarian work and continue to travel back and forth between Iran and the U.S., Naghmeh said.
From 2009 to 2012, Naghmeh said, Saeed complied with the Iranian government's demands. Last summer, he was in Iran to build an orphanage on family land in the city of Rasht near the Caspian Sea.
"It was a big surprise when he was arrested," the Idaho statesman reported Naghmeh said.
Wife Warned Not to Go to Iran
Until he was imprisoned, Saeed was able to talk to his wife and children via Skype and telephone.
The Idaho Statesman reported Naghmeh said her first instinct was to go to Iran to be there for her husband. Officials warned her in-laws against that.
"They said, 'If she sets foot in this airport, she's going straight to prison,'" the Idaho Statesman reported Naghmeh said.
That's because she's a Muslim who converted to Christianity and was involved in Christian house churches in Iran with her husband years ago, she said.

Druze of Syria

Druze of Syria "Druze" is a word derived from el-Drzi, the name of one of the early propagandists of the Druze religion. The religion of the Druze began in the 9th century AD, as a sect of Islam. Druze hold the Qur'an to be sacred, but look upon it as an outer shell, holding an "inner, esoteric meaning". They can be found in Israel, Lebanon, and Syria, and follow a lifestyle of isolation. Ministry Obstacles The Druze see Jesus as a major prophet, but not the Son of God. Also, their life of isolation makes them resistant to outside influences. Outreach Ideas Christian Arabs may have special rapport with the Druze. Perhaps the Lord will grant a burden for the Druze to some Middle Eastern Christian Arabs, and also to Messianic Jews in Israel. Pray for the followers of Christ Pray for the few believers among the Druze, that the Lord may strengthen them out of his glorious riches so that Christ may dwell in their hearts through faith. Pray these believers will fellowship together, and grow as the body of Christ. Pray for the entire people group Pray each individual in the Druze community will soon become persuaded that Jesus is truly the Son of God, and will place their faith in his finished work on the cross. Pray for multiplying disciples among the Druze. Scripture Focus "All nations you have made will come and worship before you, O Lord, they will bring glory to your name." Psalm 86:9		People Name: Druze Country: Syria 10/40 Window: Yes Population: 482,000 World Population: 868,000 Language: Arabic, North Levantine Spoken Primary Religion: Other / Small Bible: Portions Online Audio NT: No Jesus Film: No Audio Recordings: Yes Christ Followers: Few, less than 2% Status: Unreached Progress Level: 1.1

Join us in Prayer for Spiritual Awakening!

  

Join us in Prayer for Spiritual Awakening!

The OneCry Prayer Summit will be a live, participatory radio event on May 2, 2013, from 8:00 - 10:00 p.m. Eastern. This two-hour event will focus on prayer for revival and spiritual awakening within the North American church, weaving Scripture, meditations, worship, and reflections throughout. Listen online, as well as engaging and participating through live chat and social media.

Hosted by Moody Radio in partnership with many other stations passionate about spiritual awakening, we're excited to bring you this live radio event on the evening of May 2nd.

Visit Pray! Network at: http://www.praynetwork.org/?xg_source=msg_mes_network

GPN 04-30-2013

GPN 04-30-2013

‘You can preach a better sermon with your life than with your lips.’ (1 Timothy 4:7) Pray this week that God’s presence will be seen in our life. Marga Hooglugt – GPN Please pray for the healing of my mother (85). She has a lump in her breast and the doctor recommends surgery. Mrs. J.M. Please pray for a breakthrough of God for a new visa at the embassy for Mr. and Mrs. R. They want to work in an orphanage. Our family is being attacked by disease. My grandmother has cancer in her head. My mother has problems with her kidneys and pain in her abdomen. My brother has pain in his chest. And I am being attacked spiritually. Please pray that God will heal and deliver us. Mrs. D.d.R. Burma: Persecution is increasing in Burma as more people turn to Jesus Christ. Buddhists who convert to Christianity have difficulty keeping jobs and are often driven from their homes. Two families lost their jobs and homes after coming to faith in Christ last July. One family is living in a hut used for secret worship services, while the other is living in a hut where fish feed is stored. Pray that God will grant grace and strength to believers in Burma. Please pray for my health. I have headache due to tension, sadness and my sleep is disturbed by dreams. Mr. J.M.C. Maldives: Pray for weekly radio broadcasts that bring the gospel to this very closed archipelago nation. Radio programs are one of the best ways to reach Maldivians. Kazakhstan: Seven members of a small Baptist church in Ayagoz, East Kazakhstan Province, were fined recently for holding unregistered religious services. Police raided the group’s prayer service on April 4th, and all seven were fined the equivalent of nearly two months’ average wages. Two of those fined were grandmothers in their late 70s. Although appeals for dismissal of the fines were unsuccessful, media attention has helped the case of another Baptist, Vyacheslav Cherkasov. The court has overturned a previous decision to destroy Bibles that were confiscated from Cherkasov. Under Kazakhstan’s legal code, both ‘Leadership of an unregistered or banned social or religious organization’ and ‘missionary activity without registration’ are illegal. Please pray for a miracle, that my lost wallet, drivers licence and wedding ring will be found or dropped at the police station. Mr. P.M. Mrs. S.V. (78) asks our prayer for God's healing. She has abdominal pain and blood loss. Nepal: Pastor Chedar Nhote Lhomi was arrested and imprisoned after local people accused him of killing a cow. Before his arrest, the local people destroyed his family’s home and possessions. Pastor Lhomi, a husband and father of three young children, has also been accused of spreading the gospel and making Hindus eat beef. He is now facing a prison sentence of 12 years. Help us pray for achieve of Pastor Lhomi’s release from prison and for help for his family. He will not be allowed to receive Christian visitors while in prison. Pastor Lhomi has been working in ministry since 2003 and leads an established church that meets regularly. VOM Contact I am very glad that you always pray for me and for my disabled parents. I hope for more miracles. Pray for healing of my inflamed skin. Ms. R.H. Would you pray for and like to listen to uplifting Christian music? Tune in at MAASBACHRADIO.COM

Marga Hooglugt
Global Prayer Network

Jama Mapun, Bajau Kagayan of Philippines

Jama Mapun, Bajau Kagayan of Philippines The Bajau Kagayan are seafaring people (known as "sea gypsies") and fish in the Sulu Sea by the Philippines and Sulawesi, Indonesia. They are non-aggressive people who usually retreat from trouble. They live on their boats or on the coast in houses that are built over the sea on stilts. Their livelihood comes from the sea through fishing. The Bajau Kagayan are Sunni Muslims. Ministry Obstacles Establishing trust with the Muslim Bajau Kagayan people may be difficult. Outreach Ideas Christians can carry the good news of Jesus to the Bajau Kagayan by telling them stories from Scripture, and by using Gospel films and recordings. Pray for the followers of Christ Pray for the few followers of Jesus among the "sea gypsy" people of the Philippines, that good teachers will be sent to help them grow. Pray they will be firmly established on the truths of Scripture, and will be zealous to study and learn, and be faithful disciples of Christ. Pray for the entire people group Pray the Bajau Kagayan people will be able to provide adequately for their families, and be kept safe as they fish for their livelihood. Scripture Focus "Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; and let them say among the nations, 'The Lord reigns.'" 1 Chronicles 16:31		People Name: Jama Mapun, Bajau Kagayan Country: Philippines 10/40 Window: No Population: 51,000 World Population: 56,000 Language: Mapun Primary Religion: Islam Bible: Portions Online Audio NT: No Jesus Film: Yes Audio Recordings: Yes Christ Followers: Few, less than 2% Status: Unreached Progress Level: 1.1

URGENT PRAYER REQUEST

GPN 04-25-2013

URGENT PRAYER REQUEST:


Mrs. Rita F. has had several surgeries for cancer. She became a Christian in this period. Now, she has been a stroke in a store. Pray for a miracle of deliverance and healing.

Marga Hooglugt
Global Prayer Network

500 Assyrians from Syria Flee to Turkey

500 Assyrians from Syria Flee to Turkey in Last Three Days

By Dan Wooding
Founder of ASSIST Ministries

Syrians help an injured comrade as they flee from Syria after clashes between Syrian rebels and government soldiers in Rasulayn region, a few hundred meters from Turkey's Ceylanpinar (Photo: AAP)

TUR ABDIN, TURKEY (ANS) -- According to the Assyrian International News Agency (www.aina.org) some 500 Assyrians from Syria have crossed the border into Turkey in the past three days, seeking refuge from the war in Syria.
Assyrian church officials in Tur Abdin, Turkey, say that the refugees are now in Gazentap. The Assyrian churches and monasteries in Tur Abdin and its surroundings are at capacity. Church officials are now considering building a tent city to house the refugees.
"Assyrians and other Christians in Syria have been disproportionately affected by the war, and have been targeted by the Muslims rebels," said the AINA story. "The Muslim Jihadists have kidnapped Assyrians for ransom, attacked places of worship and created a climate of fear, forcing many Assyrians to abandon their homes and villages and seek safety in Turkey.

Suad Malki and her three sons (Photo: Jubilee Campaign)

The case of Suad Malki, they are reporting, is a "typical example." In July of 2011 her husband, Dr. Staefo Malki, was sitting in his car, in Hassaka, when two Muslims approached and told him to remove the Holy Cross from his car. He refused. The Muslims shot him. Dr. Malki died later in the hospital. But the trouble for the Malki family was not over. The Muslims telephoned his grief stricken wife and told her that they would kill her three sons if they did not leave. Swedish journalist Nuri Kino, is reporting: "Even though Christians make up more than 10 percent of Syria's population, this amount is not reflected in the UNCHR registered refugees numbers who fled to Turkey, Jordan and Lebanon.
"The mostly ignored tragedy of the Christians in Iraq has convinced Christians of Syria that international authorities will not step up to protect them. While their plight is well known to the western media outlets they still are forgotten by international aid organizations. They are fleeing massively."
Nuri Kino's comprehensive 40-page report is available at www.betweenthebarbedwire.com

---

Dan Wooding, 72, who was born in Nigeria of British missionary parents, is an award winning British journalist now living in Southern California with his wife Norma, to whom he has been married for 49 years. They have two sons, Andrew and Peter, and six grandchildren who all live in the UK. He is the founder and international director of ASSIST (Aid to Special Saints in Strategic Times) and the ASSIST News Service (ANS) and he hosts the weekly "Front Page Radio" show on the KWVE Radio Network in Southern California and which is also carried throughout the United States and around the world. Besides this, Wooding is a host for His Channel Live, which is carried via the Internet to some 192 countries. Dan recently received two top media awards -- the "Passion for the Persecuted" award from Open Doors US, and as one of the top "Newsmakers of 2011" from Plain Truth magazine. He is the author of some 45 books, the latest of which is "Caped Crusader: Rick Wakeman in the 1970s." To order a copy, go to: Caped Crusader - Amazon

KADOS -- Edisi 144 (8 -- 14 April 2013)

Shalom,

Hari-hari ini, kita bisa melihat kejahatan merajalela. Melalui siaran berita di televisi, kita bisa melihat kejahatan mulai dari pencopetan, perampokan, perkosaan, pembunuhan, penipuan, korupsi, memberikan dan menerima suap, sepertinya sudah menjadi pemandangan setiap hari. Namun, pemazmur mengingatkan kita di dalam Mazmur 119:2-3, "Berbahagialah orang-orang yang memegang peringatan-peringatan-Nya, yang mencari Dia dengan segenap hati, yang juga tidak melakukan kejahatan, tetapi yang hidup menurut jalan-jalan yang ditunjukkan-Nya." Pemazmur mengatakan bahwa orang yang mencari Tuhan dengan segenap hati, hidup seturut firman-Nya dan tidak melakukan kejahatan adalah orang yang berbahagia. Mari kita menjadi bagian dari orang-orang yang berbahagia itu. Selamat berdoa.

Pemimpin Redaksi KADOS,
Yusak

 8 April 2013 -- Pengusaha Kristen

Indonesia adalah salah satu negara yang mengalami kemajuan ekonomi yang pesat di Asia. Hal ini didukung oleh kemajuan dunia usaha di Indonesia. Mari kita berdoa untuk para pengusaha Kristen. Kiranya Tuhan Yesus memampukan mereka untuk menjalankan usahanya dengan jujur dan takut akan Tuhan. Biarlah Tuhan memberkati usaha mereka agar mereka pun bisa menjadi berkat bagi banyak orang, salah satunya dengan menyerap lebih banyak tenaga kerja.

9 April 2013 -- Hari TNI AU

Hari ini, kita memperingati hari TNI Angkatan Udara yang ke-67. Usia yang hampir sama dengan usia Negara Kesatuan Republik Indonesia. Sepanjang usianya, TNI AU selalu berusaha menjaga keamanan udara Republik Indonesia dan meningkatkan kinerjanya dengan cara merekrut anggota-anggota baru dan menambah jumlah armada pesawat tempurnya. Mohonlah kepada Tuhan Yesus dalam doa agar personel-personel TNI AU dapat menjalankan tugasnya dengan baik dalam menjaga keamanan udara Indonesia.

10 April 2013 -- Maskapai Penerbangan Nasional

Selain memperingati hari TNI AU, sehari setelahnya, bangsa kita juga memperingati hari Penerbangan Nasional. Peranan angkutan udara saat ini cukup penting bagi masyarakat Indonesia, yang negaranya terdiri dari banyak pulau. Secara khusus, jasa angkutan udara juga cukup memperlancar pelayanan penginjilan ke daerah-daerah yang dahulunya sulit dijangkau. Paling tidak, dengan adanya rute-rute baru ke provinsi-provinsi atau kota-kota tertentu, dapat mempersingkat waktu perjalanan para utusan Injil. Mari kita bersatu dalam doa kepada Tuhan Yesus agar maskapai penerbangan Indonesia semakin dipakai Tuhan untuk memperlancar pekerjaan misi sampai ke pelosok nusantara. Doakan pula agar pelayanan yang diberikan setiap maskapai dapat semakin ditingkatkan guna kenyamanan dan keselamatan penumpangnya.

11 April 2013 -- Perekonomian Hamba Tuhan Perintisan

Hamba Tuhan yang masih merintis bisanya memiliki anggota jemaat yang masih sedikit. Beberapa dari mereka hidup dengan sponsor dari organisasi pusat atau dari sponsor di luar organisasi mereka. Tentu saja, hamba Tuhan menginginkan gereja yang mandiri, dapat mencukupi kebutuhan gereja itu, dan membiayai kebutuhan operasionalnya. Namun, untuk gereja-gereja perintisan, hal tersebut memang masih cukup sulit. Berdoalah kepada Tuhan Yesus untuk setiap hamba Tuhan di tempat-tempat perintisan. Biarlah Tuhan Yesus mencukupkan kebutuhan mereka. Berdoalah juga agar setiap kesulitan yang mereka hadapi tidak membuat mereka patah semangat, namun tetap fokus melayani Tuhan.

12 April 2013 -- Pengguna Kendaraan Bermotor

Korban meninggal karena kecelakaan lalu lintas tahun 2012 mencapai 29.544. Jumlah ini turun 9 persen dari tahun sebelumnya, tetapi angka itu tetaplah tinggi. Bagaimana tidak? Nyawa orang sebanyak itu harus hilang dengan sia-sia. Bisa kita bayangkan bagaimana susahnya keadaan keluarga yang ditinggalkan. Mari kita mendoakan aparat yang berwajib, yaitu kepolisian Indonesia untuk dapat memberikan sosialisasi tentang "safety riding dan driving" kepada masyarakat secara merata, sehingga mereka tahu aturan mengendarai kendaraan secara benar dan aman. Doakan juga agar para pengendara memiliki kedisiplinan dalam menaati aturan lalu lintas.

13 April 2013 -- Pengerjaan AMD yang Dilakukan oleh Tim SABDA

Tim SABDA sedang mengerjakan editing Alkitab Mudah Dibaca (AMD). Alkitab ini ditulis dalam bahasa yang sederhana sehingga dapat dipahami oleh orang-orang yang memiliki pendidikan rendah dan pendidikan tinggi. Walaupun ditulis dalam bahasa yang sederhana, Alkitab ini memiliki keakuratan makna yang baik dengan bahasa asli Alkitab (bahasa Ibrani dan Yunani). Berdoalah kepada Tuhan Yesus agar proses editing dapat berjalan dengan lancar dan selesai tahun ini, paling tidak untuk Perjanjian Baru. Kami rindu AMD dapat dicetak dan didistribusikan sehingga menjadi berkat bagi orang-orang yang membacanya.

14 April 2013 -- Lansia yang Tinggal di Panti Jompo

Orang tua yang sudah lanjut usia, yang tinggal di panti jompo, bukan berarti tidak diperhatikan oleh anak-anak mereka. Ada banyak hal yang mendasari seorang anak menaruh orang tuanya di panti jompo. Salah satunya mungkin orang tua mereka sudah tua dan sendirian di rumah, sedangkan sang anak sibuk dengan pekerjaan mereka. Dengan memasukkan orang tua mereka di panti jompo, mereka berpikir bahwa orang tua mereka tidak akan kesepian karena ada orang-orang tua lain di situ. Selain itu, ada orang yang akan merawat mereka di panti jompo itu. Doakan agar Tuhan memberikan penghiburan dan kekuatan bagi para lansia yang ada di panti jompo. Doakan juga agar Tuhan membuka hati setiap anak yang memiliki orang tua di panti jompo, untuk selalu memperhatikan orang tuanya dengan sering menjenguk dan mencukupi kebutuhan orang tuanya di sana.

Pray for Arab, Moroccan of Morocco

Arab, Moroccan of Morocco In 670 AD, the first Islamic conquest of the North African coastal plain took place, by the Umayyads of Damascus. These men went to what is now Morocco, which they called "Maghreb al Aqsa" or "The Far West". Arabs and Berbers have shared this region since, and at one point ruled most of Northwest Africa. Scholarly advances were made in science, mathematics, astronomy, geography, and medicine. Ministry Obstacles Access to Morocco is limited, and essentially non-existent for Christian missionaries. Outreach Ideas Christian businessmen may develop opportunities to represent Christ to these Arab / Berber peoples, conducting their businesses in exemplary fashion. Pray for the followers of Christ Pray for the believers among the Moroccan Arabs, that they may live a life worthy of the Lord and please Him in every way, bearing fruit in every good work. Pray for teachers and materials that will help them grow in the faith. Pray for the entire people group Pray the Lord will increasingly open the eyes of these people to understand the mercy and grace offered through the finished work of Christ, the free gift of salvation found in no other. Scripture Focus "That all the peoples of the earth may know that the Lord is God; there is no one else." 1 Kings 8:60		People Name: Arab, Moroccan Country: Morocco 10/40 Window: Yes Population: 13,622,000 World Population: 16,162,000 Language: Arabic, Moroccan Spoken Primary Religion: Islam Bible: New Testament Online Audio NT: No Jesus Film: Yes Audio Recordings: Yes Christ Followers: Few, less than 2% Status: Unreached Progress Level: 1.1

Death Sentence for our Brother Younis Masih

Pakistani Court Overturns Younis Masih's 'Blasphemy' Conviction, Death Sentence
Beaten and Tortured Christian spent 7.5 years in jail

By Dan Wooding
Founder of ASSIST Ministries
LAHORE, PAKISTAN (ANS) -- Morning Star News (http://morningstarnews.org), is reporting that, according to an advocacy group, a court in Pakistan today (Wednesday, April 3, 2013) overturned the death sentence of a Christian convicted under Pakistan's "blasphemy" laws and ordered him released.

Younis Masih

Younis Masih, who has languished in jail since his arrest on Sept. 10, 2005, was declared innocent by Lahore High Court justices Khaja Amtiaz Ahmed and Khalid Mehmood Khan, according to Legal Evangelical Association Development (LEAD). The justices also overturned a 100,000-rupee (US$1,013) fine against him. Masih had reportedly suffered a heart attack on Jan. 8.
"On Sept. 9, 2005, he left a midnight gathering at a house after Muslims loudly singing a religious song became angry at him for requesting that they sing more quietly," said Morning Star News. "The Muslims incited others against him the next day and beat him unconscious. Islamic leaders later incited mobs to burn Christians' homes, saying Masih had committed blasphemy and uttered derogatory remarks against Muhammad, the prophet of Islam.
"More than 100 Christian families fled their homes. Police filed a blasphemy case against Masih in order to pacify the furious mobs and tortured him in custody."
He was sentenced to death by a judge in Lahore on May 30, 2007. The appeal was filed by the Legal Aid for Destitute and Settlement, and his case was re-opened in September 2012.

Tanzanian attack against Christian

Tanzanian Attacks against Christians Leave Believers Wary over Future

By Dan Wooding
Founder of ASSIST Ministries
SANTA ANA, CA (ANS) -- Three incident of violence against Christian ministers in Tanzania have left believers in the Eastern African nation concerned over the future of religious freedom.

Father Evaristus Mushi

According to a news release from Open Doors USA (www.OpenDoorsUSA.org), on Sunday, Feb. 17, gunmen shot and killed a Catholic priest on the island of Zanzibar. The gunman waited for Father Evaristus Mushi as he parked his car outside the St Joseph's parish, surrounded the car and killed him while he was still in the vehicle. "He was about to celebrate the first Sunday mass of Lent. The attackers fled on a motorcycle. Islanders knew Fr. Mushi as a philanthropist and advocate of interfaith dialogue. Police say they have arrested three suspects in connection with the murder, but their motive remains unknown," said the release.
On Feb. 2, on mainland Tanzania, an Assemblies of God minister, Pastor Mathayo Kachili, was hacked to death in the Geita region when he intervened in an altercation between villagers over the slaughter of an animal. According to sources, there was a group of Muslims who had demanded immediate closure of butcheries owned by Christians.
As far as Open Doors could determine, the demand is based on a longstanding tradition, together with a local government directive, that gave Muslims the sole right to act as butchers. In this incident the church had a non-Muslim butcher prepare meat to be served at a funeral. When the Muslims heard about this, they went on a rampage against the church in which Pastor Kachili was killed.

This sign says it all

The release went on to say that on Dec. 26, 2012, Catholic priest Father Ambrose Mkenda sustained serious injuries when unknown gunmen shot at him. He says he was followed by two men on a motorcycle as he was returning to his parish in Tomondo after work. The attackers shot him as he left his car. He sustained two bullet wounds, one to the cheek and one to the back. The gunmen then ransacked the rectory. Fr. Mkenda was rushed to a nearby hospital, but was later transferred to Dar es Salaam where he underwent surgery to extract the bullets. Father Anthony Makunde, secretary general of the Tanzania Episcopal Conference, told a local newspaper, The Guardian, that the situation signaled a plot to destroy peace in the country.
"The situations on Zanzibar and in the northwestern town of Geita remain tense," added the Open Doors USA release.
Tanzania is ranked No. 24 on the Open Doors World Watch List of the worst persecutors of Christians. The 2013 ranking was released in early January. Previously Tanzania was unranked. Islamic extremism is the main persecution dynamic for the country. Tanzania is a Christian majority country with a very substantial Muslim population. But Zanzibar is 97 percent Muslim.
Prayer points from Open Doors:
1. Peace to prevail in the communities affected by the violence. Pray that the government would take decisive action in resolving issues pertinent to the incidents.
2. Justice to prevail in all of these cases.
3. The wife and several children as they mourn the death of Pastor Kachili. Also pray for his church members to be comforted during this time. Pray that others would be able to stand up and lead the congregation with wisdom.
4. God's comfort to all those affected by the death of Father Mushi.
5. A speedy recovery for Father Mkenda.
For almost 60 years Open Doors has worked in the world's most oppressive and restrictive countries, strengthening Christians to stand strong in the face of persecution and equipping them to shine Christ's light in these places. Open Doors empowers persecuted Christians by supplying Bibles and Christian literature, training Christian leaders, facilitating social/economic projects and uniting believers in the West in prayer for Christians, who are the most persecuted religious group in the world and are oppressed in at least 60 countries. To partner with Open Doors USA, call toll free at 888-5-BIBLE-5 (888-524-2535) or go to their website at www.OpenDoorsUSA.org.
For more information or to set up an interview, contact Open Doors USA Media Relations Director Jerry Dykstra at 616-915-4117 or email JerryD@odusa.org.

Widow's struggle to survive

Widow's Struggle to Survive

Gospel for Asia
For Immediate Release
CARROLLTON, TX (ANS) -- Sarojini had overcome her husband's death, pushed back thoughts of suicide and pressed forward when failure seemed imminent. But the doctor's words shattered her triumphs as if they were nothing. Would her fight end so simply, with a diagnosis she couldn't afford to treat? With her children left as orphans?
She had two days to find out.
Woman Widowed with Two Children

Sarojini agonized over her inability to properly provide for her children

Sarojini's husband, Vaibhav, had died in an accident, giving the mother of two no time to prepare for life as a widow. She had no source of income, and her family could do little to help. Her parents were too old to work and her siblings had hungry families of their own. Her in-laws provided a small house, but paying for food and other daily needs remained an almost impossible challenge for Sarojini. She couldn't find work, and as she and her children struggled for mere survival, her family's emotional support felt increasingly meaningless.
Heartache and loneliness overwhelmed her, and thoughts of suicide flowed easily through her mind. . .
But Sarojini couldn't give in to such thoughts.
When it all seemed too much to bear, she thought of her son and daughter, Yuvraj and Arpita. If not for herself, she would press on for them. She would find some way to provide for her family.
Widow Scrapes by with Factory Job

Sarojini's long days at the factory barely provided for basic needs, and her children had to drop out of school to make ends meet

Sarojini found a job at a factory. It required long hours, but the pay was hardly sufficient for running a household. To stretch the wages further, her children had to drop out of school, ruining any hope Sarojini had of giving them a better life than the one she was living now. As she watched other kids going to school, it broke her heart to think of Yuvraj and Arpita sitting at home, waiting for futures as wage laborers, or worse.
There was nothing she could do about it except continue her work and dream of a promotion or another job opening. But one day on the factory line, she felt a sudden pain, and even her most meager aspirations were thrown into jeopardy.
Medical Emergency Leaves Future Shaky
As Sarojini clutched her abdomen in agony, her co-workers rushed her to the hospital. The doctors ordered a battery of tests she couldn't afford, so her friends pitched in to cover the costs. But there was more bad news on the way.
Sarojini had a dire case of kidney stones, the doctor explained, and she needed to have surgery within two days, or risk permanent damage.
The operation was expensive and Sarojini certainly couldn't pay for it on her own. She left the hospital with the doctor's warning ringing in her ears and headed back to work, toward her only chance for survival.
She desperately explained the situation to her manager and asked for an advance in pay, but the manager offered no mercy. He told Sarojini to go home so he could replace her with someone in better health.
Widow Loses Hope after Losing Job
That evening, Sarojini lay in bed, fighting the pain and wondering what would happen to her children. When there was a knock at the door, her daughter answered it, and soon the girl returned with a small group of women. The leader introduced herself as Manjari.
Seeing Sarojini's condition, the women kindly shared about the love of Jesus. Then they gave her some water and prayed that God would heal her.
After the prayer, Sarojini felt a little better, and Manjari gave her a book about God's power to heal and a phone number Sarojini could call any time. She also invited Sarojini to come to the church her husband pastored and receive more prayer.
The pain returned as the night wore on, so Sarojini asked her daughter to give her more of the water the women had prayed over and to read the book to her. As she drank the water and Arpita read, Sarojini felt as if someone were touching her.
Suddenly, the pain was gone.
Life Restored by Prayer

As Sarojini lay in bed suffering, a group of women came to share Christ's love and pray for her

The next morning, Sarojini called to tell Manjari and her husband about her healing and ask them to come over for more prayer. When they did, they continued to share the love of Christ and Sarojini eagerly embraced Him. Today, Sarojini's kidney problems are gone, and God has lifted her financial burden as well. Looking to Jesus as her provider, she found a job as a maid that meets her needs, and every day, she sees God working to bless her and her children.

Now Sarojini is growing in her faith with the support of other believers

Because Sarojini heard a message of hope in her time of need, she no longer lives in fear of tomorrow because Christ is her assurance for today. Help more widows like Sarojini by sponsoring a woman missionary. If you like to sponsor a woman missionary. Please go to: http://www.gfa.org/women/sponsor/