Pray for Our Persecuted Brothers and Sisters

Our country was founded on the concept of religious freedom. So it can be easy to forget that this freedom is the exception, not the rule. Even in countries that offer political freedom, there can be religious oppression. Many more countries make life difficult for or actually persecute those who put their faith in Jesus Christ.

November 13 is an International Day of Prayer for the persecuted church. But my hope is that we remember this need not just on one Sunday, but throughout the year. I find it helpful to have specific things for which I can pray, so here is one situation you can bring before the throne of the true King of the Universe:

Tajikistan (MNN) – The Bible League's Tajikistan director is asking for prayer about a shipment of New Testaments being held in customs.

Officials dispute the need for Scriptures, they are also imposing a huge import fee and they're charging storage fees while the shipment is detained.

In many Central Asian countries like Tajikistan, Christianity is viewed as a western import. Often, family members and others treat it as a cult, and make strenuous efforts to rid the new believer of his faith and make him “come to his senses.”

In many cases, the more outspoken the Christian, the more vigorous the attempts to either stop him from speaking of his faith, or to re-convert him to Islam.

Because of that, high profile attention can exacerbate an already dangerous situation. That's true for the Bible League's director in Tajikistan. With each delay, he grows more concerned that he may become subject to many unpleasant meetings with government officials.

Please pray that God would make a way to get the Scriptures to Christians in Tajikistan. There are also concerns that the situation could extend to harassment of the director's family, and his associates.

(Article distributed by Mission Network News, www.mnnonline.org .)

A Kingdom Perspective

But he answered, "You give them something to eat.”

They said to him, "That would take eight months of a man's wages! Are we to go and spend that much on bread and give it to them to eat?”

"How many loaves do you have?" he asked. "Go and see.”

When they found out, they said, "Five—and two fish.” (Mark 6:37-38, NIV)

It is easy to judge the 12 disciples when we read this story because we know how it will end. But imagine that you are in New Orleans the day after the hurricane. You are sheltering 5,000 people in your church and all you have is one loaf of Wonder Bread and an Oscar Meyer package with 12 slices of turkey. I come to you and tell you to feed everyone. I dare say you would call me a lunatic.

I am very hesitant to ever say that God has told me to do something. But when I returned from the Czech Republic in June, I believed God was asking our church to help the Trinec Church with the purchase of a building they could use for services and outreach. I knew if this was from God, then he would reveal his desire to others. I presented the need to the Project CR Team, the Missions Committee, and finally to the Elders. While there were reasonable concerns and questions, there was almost unanimous agreement that God was leading us to assist the Trinec Church.

It was a step of faith to ask you as a church to donate $30,000 towards this project. And as a church, you have overwhelmingly responded. We have received more than $30,000 towards our goal. No more donations are needed. We have “12 baskets full” left over, a testimony of your generosity and God’s faithfulness.

The point of the miracle is simple. The question is not “How much do we have to give?” The question is “What is God asking us to do?”