30-Days of Prayer

This year Ramadan is August 11 to September 09. Will you join with Christians around the globe praying for the Muslim World?

Find out more at 30-Days of Prayer for the Muslim World. This site has articles, as well as daily prayer requests that you can download or subscribe to by email.

You can also go to 30DaysFire.net for a full multimedia experience or become a fan of 30-Days International on Facebook.

New Covenant will sponsor a special time of prayer late in August. More details coming soon.

Pray, Care, and Share to the Muslim World

It is unfortunate that many live in fear of Muslims. God has not called us to fear, but to live a lifestyle of pray, care, and share. This story I just found is an example of the way we should live:

During a previous Ramadan God permitted a goat in a rural area to be involved in introducing a Muslim couple to the Gospel. The goat arrived at the home of a Christian woman and refused to leave despite repeated and determined efforts to chase it away. After several days the Christian lady decided to look for the family who had lost their goat. While visiting various neighbors she eventually found the goat's Muslim owner. The Muslim woman readily expressed her thanks that the goat had been returned and invited the Christian lady for a meal. A friendship sprang up between the two women and their families. It was in this way that this entire Muslim family received the Gospel (husband, wife and two children).

God often uses the weak things of this world to demonstrate His sovereign power! And, the Christian lady had been praying during Ramadan using the prayer guide called “30-Days of Prayer for the Muslim World.” We believe it is no coincidence that while in prayer for Muslims the Christian women was used so powerfully by God.

This year Ramadan is from August 11 to September 9. It is a time of year – a month – when Muslims fast for 30-days. Coinciding with Ramadan, Christians are also praying. Won’t you join? Who knows whether a goat might not just make it to your home?

To find out how you can pray, participate and proclaim the Good News of Christ Jesus, pick up a copy of 30-Days of Prayer for the Muslim World at the Kingdom Partners table in the church lobby, or go to the 30-Days website or the multimedia version at www.30daysfire.net.

Advent Offering at New Covenant

The Advent Conspiracy series is an opportunity for us to conspire together for a radically different way to experience Christmas – a way that will release us from consumerism to celebration, from weariness to worship. As part of this series, we are raising funds for a special Advent Offering.

To participate, write “Advent Offering” on the check memo or envelope and mail to the church office or put in the offering by Sunday, December 20.

Q. Why are we doing an offering this year?

A. The idea comes directly from our Advent Conspiracy series as we seek to worship fully, spend less, give more, and love all. It is also deeply rooted in our prayer, care, and share culture. Our desire is to tangibly care for our neighbors, both locally and globally.

Q. How will the offering be used?

A. We will use 90% of the offering collected to help provide clean drinking water to children and their families in East India through Compassion International. We will distribute the remaining 10% among our New Covenant Ministry Partners.

Q. Why are we focusing on clean water for this offering?

A. Nearly 90% of all diseases in the world are caused by unsafe drinking water, inadequate sanitation, and poor hygiene. The weakest members of communities are the most vulnerable; every day water-related diseases claim the lives of 5,000 children under the age of five. Providing clean drinking water not only meets an essential need, it also then provides an opportunity to share about Christ, the Living Water.

Q. Why did we choose Compassion International?

A. There are many good organizations that provide clean water. We chose Compassion because they are a child discipleship organization who does all of their work through a local church. We recently volunteered to be part of a pilot project that will soon partner New Covenant with a Compassion church in East India. While this offering will not necessarily go to help our partner church, it will make a difference in the near vicinity. This means our offering is not only providing clean drinking water, it also enables a local church in India to do prayer, care, and share in their own community.

Q. How will the money be used?

A. Compassion has already begun a large scale water project to provide water to 13 needy communities. The cost will vary by site depending on what is needed. They will install a bore well at 13 child development centers. Additionally, seven of the sites will receive rain water harvesting and storage systems to ensure access to clean water during both the rainy and dry seasons.

Q. How much will this water project cost?

A. The total cost of the project is $46,457. The actual cost per site will vary depending on what is needed, but the average cost is roughly $3,575 for each child development center. A full executive summary is available at the Information Center and church website.

Q. What if we don’t raise $46,457?

A. Compassion will take whatever amount we can raise, and will find other donors to make up the remaining cost.

Q. Why East India?

A. In addition to being the location of our future partner church, India is one of the largest unreached nations in the world today.

Q. What if I would prefer to give my offering to another need?

A. Our goal with the Advent Offering is to encourage us to spend less and give more. If God leads you to give to a different Kingdom opportunity, then we encourage you to follow His leading.

Q. Who are the Ministry Partners receiving the 10% portion of the offering?

A. The Ministry Partners are Aid to Women, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, His Hands Free Medical Clinic, His Women, House of Hope, InterVarsity (at Coe College), Keys to Living, Serve the City, Youth for Christ, Proverbs Ministry, and YoungLife.

The Stark Reality in Myanmar (Burma)

I came across a chilling article that details the horrible conditions that exist in Myanmar (Burma). Take time to read this article and pray for the people in this oppressed country.

Here is the article: Throwing Away the Key in Burma.

New Feature -- Unreached People Group of the Day

In case you did not notice, I have added a new feature to my blog. On the right, you will find information about an unreached people group. A new one will be highlighted each day. May this serve as a reminder that our mandate is to make disciples of every people group. Take time today to pray for the unreached people group listed at the right.

(Thanks, Deborah, for suggesting this addition to the blog!)

The Flood Is Coming

I vividly remember June 10, 2008. It was the day before I left for the Czech Business Camp. At our staff meeting, Kim shared with us a private meeting he had attended where they were predicting the Cedar River would crest above flood level and flood our city. They talked about the urgent need to help those in the 100 year flood plain.

At that time, the prediction was a crest of maybe 24 feet, not the over 30 feet we actually experienced. We could not have imagined the devastation and loss of property that would occur. But we did believe a flood would happen. A number of Serve the City churches including New Covenant mobilized volunteers to help those in danger. They originally went to help people move belongings to a higher level, and later mobilized to get word out about the need to evacuate.

I know that we did not act alone, and I don’t write this to brag or give credit to ourselves. My point is simply this: We were told something would be true, we believed, and we took action on that information.

The Bible clearly teaches that those who do not put their trust in Christ will not have eternal life (John 3:18). It clearly says that people cannot believe unless someone goes and shares the good news with them (Romans 10:14-15). Jesus specifically told us to pray for workers who would go to those who need to hear (Matthew 9:37-38). So why is so little being done to reach and make disciples of every people group (Matthew 28:19-20)?

Perhaps you do not believe the flood is really coming. Yes, you might agree in theory, but you haven’t really driven down by the river and seen how high it has risen. It doesn’t seem real or urgent to you. I challenge you to take the Perspectives on the World Christian Movement class here at New Covenant next January and learn more about the state of the world around us.

Perhaps you don’t know where to start. Consider praying regularly for Myanmar (formerly know as Burma), or join us Monday night, September 15, at 6:45 PM in Room 135 to pray for the Muslim world.

The flood is coming. What are you going to do about it?

(Picture courtesy of Austin Spooner.)

30 Days Muslim Prayer Focus

From the intro to this year's prayer guide:

The 30 Days Muslim Prayer Focus coincides yearly with Ramadan (a holy month of fasting in Islam). This prayer movement calls upon Christians to make a concerted but respectful effort during this time to learn about, pray for and reach out to Muslim neighbors--across the street and around the world.

It is not our intention with this prayer focus to disparage Islam or Muslim sentiments in any way. We recognize that humans and the Muslim world are far too complex to simply or easily condense or explain with a mere booklet. At the same time, as Christians, we long for all the world's people to have an opportunity to understand the grace of God incarnated in Jesus Christ. To this end we inform ourselves, pray for, and support respectful opportunities to make that grace also know among Muslims.

To particpate in this prayer focus, go online to www.30daysfire.net. It will provide stories, information, and daily prayer requests during the month of Ramadan.

Strategic Prayer Focus: Myanmar

Late last year, one of our Kingdom Partners requested we consider joining a special prayer initiative. The suggested country? Myanmar. Little did I dream that it would be front page news when we were ready to launch this strategic prayer focus.

Myanmar, which used to be called Burma, is the largest country by geographical area in mainland Southeast Asia. Located on the Indian Ocean, it is surrounded by Bangladesh, India, China, Laos, and Thailand. It is one of the poorest countries in Southeast Asia, and has been under a strict military rule since 1962. It has a population of 55 million.

One of our desires at New Covenant is to see the Bible become available in every major language. But with much of the remaining translation work being needed in areas of the world that are considered hard to reach, mission agencies have to be especially cautious in their communications and often cannot mention a specific language community (people group). Our prayer focus on Myanmar is a strategic response to this challenge and allows us to recruit committed prayer partners who will stand in the “sensitivity gap” for this nation.

Why did we choose Myanmar? In addition to being specifically asked, New Covenant has seven kingdom partners in Asia, so there is a great deal of overlap with our current efforts. Some labor in restricted countries and their work is sensitive so we often cannot post or publish requests like we can for our other Kingdom Partners. A focus on Myanmar will help us safely inform you about the type of work some of our Kingdom Partners are doing and give you specific requests that would not harm the particular work of our Kingdom Partners.

Please join us in praying for the country of Myanmar on a regular basis. Beginning in June, you will find prayer requests in the bulletin and Missions E-Newsletter, and I will write about the work in Myanmar in this blog.

Myanmar: What Can We Do?

It is a spiritual battle. Make no mistake about it. Any progress – yes, any progress that happens for the sake of the Kingdom comes only because of prayer, not because of our strategies, plans, or activities. Yes, we can and must plan and act, but the success comes from God’s power, not our actions alone. (See Daniel 10:1-14 and Ephesians 6:10-20 for just two of many biblical examples of this truth.)

It is through this lens that we must look at the country of Myanmar (or Burma as it used to be called). They have suffered one of the worst tragedies in recent history. As of today, over 22,000 are known to have perished and many believe the death toll may easily reach 60,000 or even higher. Yet in the midst of such utter devastation, the military government continues to cling to power. They had a two day warning that the cyclone would hit, yet they did virtually nothing to warn or prepare the people. Today as many as 3 million are homeless, yet the government denies visa permits and hinders the swift assistance of international aid for those in need.

What would cause a government to be so willing to let their people suffer? The obvious reason is their desire to maintain power and control over the people. It is why they reacted so violently against the protests last August. But the issue is deeper than that. It is a spiritual darkness that keeps them from showing common human decency and allowing free access to foreign aid during this crisis.

What will change this? Political pressure and world opinion really don’t matter much. Threats don’t hold much weight. The only option that has any true chance for success is prayer.

The problem is we don’t really believe that to be true. If we did, we would spend more time personally and corporately wrestling for the soul of this nation. We would be moved to intercede on behalf of millions of people who are facing disease, starvation, and abject poverty and who have no hope for eternity.

The time to act is now. Pray for Myanmar. Pray for the light of Christ to shine brightly from the highest government official to the poorest person in the land. Pray for those impacted by this natural disaster. Pray for the love of Christ to bring life and hope to those in need. Start there, and in the weeks ahead, I will share more requests about this country that is covered in spiritual darkness.

(Go to this map to see where the cyclone hit and the impact it had on the country.)

Myanmar Disaster Update

When I mention the country of Myanmar to people, I often get a puzzled look on their faces. Many have not heard of it and don't have a clue where it is located. Myanmar is the new name for the country of Burma. It is located in Southeast Asia, more or less between India on the west side and Thailand on the east. Go here for a great map and a short summary of info on the country.

Foreign aid workers fear that as many as 50,000 have or will perish as a direct result of the cyclone. Over a million are homeless.

There are various foreign workers in this country in the area where the cyclone hit. Pray for their safety. Pray for opportunities for them to care for others. Pray for wisdom in dealing with the long term effects of this catastrophe.

Here are two articles that give some more details: Times Online and Daily Mail.

Pray for Myanmar (Burma)

The devastation is overwhelming. Myanmar (or Burma as it was formerly called) was hit by a cyclone last Friday and Saturday. Officially the death toll is around 4,000, but it is feared that as many as 10,000 have perished. (See this article and this one for more info.)

The country was in the news last August. Students and Buddhist monks protesting the military government were beaten and even killed. The country faces an important vote in a few weeks, and this disaster may further weaken the military rulers. Whether they finally step down or respond with even greater force remains to be seen.

Pray for this troubled country. Pray especially that they would hear the Gospel. Pray that Bible translations that have been started would be completed, and that new ones would begin. Pray that there would be freedom to distribute the Bibles when they are done.

Kazakh Law Still Moving Forward

Mission Network News has another article about the state-backed religion law in Kazakhstan that would greatly restrict religious freedom. The Prime Minister of the country has endorsed the law. However, if approved, it will still need the signature of the President. Continue to pray for the law to be rejected and for boldness for the believers in the country.

Uncertainty - Part 2

In my last post, I wrote about the uncertain world in which we live. Opportunities that are here today may be gone tomorrow. In future posts I will be making the case that we need to take advantage of every opportunity to take the Gospel to people groups who have never heard, especially in places where there is an open door for us to go. Yes, we can and should continue to support missionaries all over the world. But based on the very fact that missionaries are there already, the opportunity is being addressed. We must never forget Jesus’ command to make disciples of all people groups (Matthew 28:19) and to go to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8). As Paul said, how can they hear if someone doesn’t go and tell them? (See Romans 10:14-17).

The task is not done. It won't happen by accident. God is in control, but he has given us the assignment to reach every people group. My passion is that we make sure we are not like the man who buried his talent in the ground, failing to appropriately use the resources and abilities God has provided. If we fail to think and act strategically, we will fail to be fully obedient in this generation.

He Is Risen!

I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you spiritual wisdom and revelation in your growing knowledge of him, — since the eyes of your heart have been enlightened — so that you may know what is the hope of his calling, what is the wealth of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the incomparable greatness of his power toward us who believe, as displayed in the exercise of his immense strength. This power he exercised in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms far above every rule and authority and power and dominion and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And God put all things under Christ's feet, and he gave him to the church as head over all things. Now the church is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all. (Ephesians 1:17-23 NET Bible, emphasis mine)

This is one of my all time favorite passages of scripture. When I think something is impossible, I just go back and read Ephesians 1. It is a grand affirmation of the power of God. The same power that raised Jesus from the dead is at work building His Kingdom around the world.

When I look at the state of the Gospel around the world, it is exciting. Nearly one third of the world has clearly heard the Gospel. Not all of them are truly saved, but the task of making disciples of those people groups has been advanced. Another third of the world is within reach of the Gospel. They still need to hear, but the task of making disciples has made significant progress.

However, roughly one third of the world, around two billion people still have not heard. They have no active Christian witness. They can live their whole lives without hearing the Good News that Christ is risen – He is risen indeed!

What will it take to reach them? It will take a deliberate effort to go to places that are difficult and dangerous. It will take strategic thinking to do more than just what we are currently doing. It will take us being obedient to Jesus' command to make disciples of all people groups.

If you are in the Cedar Rapids area and want to learn more, make plans to be a part of our Great Commission Weekend, April 4-6, at New Covenant Bible Church and find out.

Muslim Prayer Focus

It is easy to fall into stereotypes about what it means to be a Muslim. Some people ignore them while others demonize them as all being terrorists. As Christians, we are called to love both our neighbor and our enemy, so whatever your view of Islam, our response should be the same. We should love them into the Kingdom.

How will we reach the Muslim world for Christ? Is it even possible? There is no easy answer to the first question, but I do know one element that is essential: Prayer. The Bible is clear that our struggle is not against flesh and blood (Ephesians 6:12). Those who don’t know Christ have been blinded by our true enemy, Satan, and so we must depend on the power of God to remove that veil (2 Corinthians 4:3-6).

Reaching Muslims for Christ is most assuredly possible. It is happening all over the world. And in every story I hear, prayer is what truly made the difference. So let me invite you to make a difference by joining with me in praying from September 13 to October 12 for Muslims around the world.

For the next 3 Sundays, you can pick up a copy of the 30 Days Muslim Prayer Focus from the Kingdom Partners mission table in the lobby at New Covenant (a kid’s version is also available). This prayer guide coincides with the Muslim month of Ramadan. Here is a short explanation from the introduction in the prayer guide: “The goal of this prayer guide (while far from being comprehensive in its portrayal of Islam) is to inspire and guide each reader as s/he pleads for Muslims before the throne of the Almighty. We encourage you to seek further information and to gain a greater understanding of the Islamic world and God’s activities among Muslims, as well as firsthand knowledge by developing friendships with Muslims.”

If you do not attend New Covenant, or if you prefer to use an online prayer guide, the website www.30daysfire.net has videos, photos, and music from the various countries, cities, and people groups cited in the prayer guide. You can order your own copy of the guide by going to http://www.30daysprayer.com/muslim/2007/default.htm.

Emergency Landing Has Landed!

Emergency Landing is safely home! Of course, the return trip had its own challenges. They barely made their connection in Chicago, so their luggage did not arrive. But their families and friends are just happy they are back.

Check back in a week or two for a few more pictures and stories about the trip.

Emergency Landing Week 2 Update

We have just returned from Southern Kyrgyzstan where we played 4 concerts. The first was outdoors and the other 3 were indoors.

So far the people have been quite open and friendly. We had an altar call in Jalalabad and 15-20 people came forward. That was a pretty awesome moment! While in Osh we climbed Solomon Mountain - the Muslims believe that God will hear their prayers when they pray on this mountain. Legend has it that this mountain was part of King Solomon's Kingdom.

We have our final concert tomorrow in a prison. It's hard to believe our time here is almost over. We have learned so much about being dependent on God and of His constant faithfulness. We look forward to sharing with you all when we return.

Emergency Landing Team

Emergency Landing Scheduled Return

I will post any updates I receive in the next few days, including any changes to the return plans for Emergency Landing. So check back often!

Emergency Landing is currently scheduled to return on Thursday, July 26 at 10:05 PM on American Airlines Flight# 4005. Be sure to check the American website or call to make sure the flight is on time before heading down to the airport! :-)

Emergency Landing Update

We have arrived safely in Kyrgyzstan, although a day late due to the flight cancellation. But praise the Lord that we were still able to play our first concert! We've been unable to connect to the internet or call before now so it looks like contact may be rare.

We had our first concert last night in Naryn. It went very well -- good turn out and receptive crowd. Tomorrow we head to the southwest and do four concerts over the next 5 days. Please continue to pray for the people who come to our concerts so that the work that God has already started will continue. God has already done some amazing things in the just the first few days of our journey so we are excited to see what the next week holds.

Thanks!

Angie and Jess for the team

Emergency Landing Rerouted

Every team I train, I try to emphasize the importance of flexibility. Emergency Landing has been a textbook case for why!

When the team arrived in Chicago, they learned their British Airways flight to London had been canceled. On a Saturday night, that is not a great time to find alternative routes. And when you are flying into a place that is not a huge vacation or business destination, there are not a lot of flight options to choose from.

The team spent the night in Chicago and then began the task of researching their options. God opened up an alternative route through Turkey. The last I heard, they were getting on the plane and should now arrive in Bishkek at 3:15 AM on Tuesday. Their instruments and bags are supposed to go with them, and their first gig is Tuesday night. So keep praying! :-)