27.

Brazil At the end of August, the Kaiw people of Brazil celebrated the launch of the complete Kaiw Bible. Its been 27 years since the New Testament was completed. But its still not the end. Pray that the Kaiw people wouldnt just celebrate the Bible, but would continue to be transformed in their innermost by the word. Also give thanks that after recent difficulties, training at the Kaiw Bible Institute has now resumed. Pray for the new director. Although hes not a Kaiw speaker, hes convinced that the Kaiw people need to use the Scriptures in their own language, not Portuguese, which many dont really understand. 80% of students this year are Kaiw which is greatly significant! (Wycliffe Bible Translators). 28. Honduras Most parents in Honduras desire the best education for their children. Unfortunately, those who do not make much money are unable to pay for school supplies and fees, and often need their children to help with chores around the house or send them out to find jobs. According to Honduras National Statistics Institute, only 5.3% of the population has reached undergraduate education. For the majority of children who drop out of school, opportunities become more and more limited. Pray for the ministry of a girls home, within our Honduras network, that is working hard to address this issue by giving the girls support for their education, the opportunity to gain work experience and life skills lessons. (Viva) 29. Guatemala La Linea (The Line) is in Zone One of Guatemala City where a railway line used to be. Now it is abandoned, along with all the trains, and filled with dirt and just some metal in the road. The purpose of La Linea is no longer trains, but prostitution. It is estimated that at

least 300 woman work there. In other parts of Zone One groups of men live in very poor conditions spending most of their time drinking and fighting. Teams of Christians are working with both groups of people - pray that those living in such difficult situations would experience the love of Christ. (YWAM) 30. Peru Many people from the High Sierra or from some of the new shanty developments on the coast can only dream of a holiday. Valle Azul (Blue Valley), which opened in November 2007, is a place where families can get a break, at very little cost, and enjoy Christian fellowship and great fun. The site covers an area of 20,000 square meters and includes sports facilities, accommodation for 120 people, dining facilities to cater for over 300 people and conference rooms for the varying needs of visiting groups. Valle Azul welcomes a range of groups throughout the year as well as hosting Camps during the summer months. Pray that the centre can continue to fulfill its vision by sharing Christ with compassion. (Baptist Missions, Ireland) 31. Nicaragua The Peace and Hope Trust work by making direct investment into community projects, schools, clinics, hurricane shelters etc. In response to an increasingly desperate need for the most basic of housing in the rubbish tip and rock breaking communities, they are now funding the piloting a new building module based on bamboo, which can be erected quickly and economically by local staff. The aim is for priority to be assessed within the community according to need, and that over time many of these shacks can be replaced by something much more durable. Please pray for the pilot project currently underway and also for funding to become available and help expand this new initiative. (Peace and Hope)

September - October 2013

Alert Always
A few thoughts based on 'be... alert to be able to pray' (1 Peter 4:7, Colossians 4:2, Ephesians 6:18, 1 Thessalonians 5:17) Alert as preparedness, ready for anything: Jesus' example shows us that this is produced through deep intimacy with God, which is nurtured particularly in silence and solitude. Jesus drew apart alone to pray and instructed his disciples to do likewise. Being in close relationship with God, we are prepared in any circumstance. Alert as vigilant attentiveness: This encompasses listening, observing and thinking; to God, and with God to each person we interact with, our environment and society, and also ourselves. Again Jesus is our example - his perceptive listening (the rich young ruler, the woman at the well); use of local culture and environment in his teaching and parables ('look at the birds'... a sower went out to sow...); deep understanding of issues of justice, law, health; sensitivity (when the woman touched his garment); awareness and expression in prayer of his own emotion and struggle in Gethsemane. Alert as energised, responsive: Having been vigilantly attentive and prepared, it is then more possible, with God's constant presence to respond and act with wisdom and relevance. Jesus is the greatest at this! Look at his insight beyond the spoken words when he interacts with the people above, and in his responses to many trick questions about issues of the day. Always: Jesus states "...you will realise that I am in my Father and you are in me, and I am in you" (John 14:20) What an intimate relationship he offers. Let us be alert to his constant presence every moment of our lives; at work, at home, in the community; in the mundane and the sacred; in trouble and in joy..... Alert and always with Jesus: When I wander up my street and am surprised by a burst of joy as I see a laughing child bouncing with glee on her Daddy's shoulders. Our joy, Jesus' and mine because we're together. When at the office I sense the acute defensiveness of a colleague during a discussion. An insight of fear and anger lying behind this reaction. This given by the Holy Spirit as we listen together. When busy with the mundane task of making up beds for guests, the blessing on these his children because Jesus is here too. Whats your story? Karen Warne The Leprosy Mission International

22. Thailand For the past two years, people who are active in Business as Missions projects have been engaged in a think tank exploring their role in church planting, trafficking prevention and restoration, community development, and many other applications. In April 550 of these gathered in Chiang Mai for an historic Global Congress. Once perceived as solely a vehicle to remain in difficult countries, it is now recognised that business plays a vital role in self-sustaining job creation, promotion of family, and modelling Godly integrity in business. Ask the Lord to raise up voices for high moral standards and well-thought-out development practice through these Asians called to use their business giftings for His Glory. (YWAM) 23. Vietnam Vietnam is one of the few remaining Communist countries today. We receive regular stories of surveillance of Christians, restrictions, arrests and imprisonment. Paradoxically, the churches are growing - both those registered and unregistered, and especially so in rural and mountain regions. There is much to thank the Lord for. It is also interesting to note that the government has permitted increased numbers of Bibles in Vietnamese and in some of the 100+ other languages used today. Pray for our partners who are using this currently open door to print and distribute in as many places as they can. (AsiaLink) 24. Cambodia For many older Cambodians the emotional scars from the Khmer Rouge regime remain. Urban families were often separated during the forced move to the countryside and never discovered whether relatives were alive or dead. A reality TV programme, Its Not a Dream, has been running in Cambodia which reunites long-lost family members in front of a

live TV audience. Some will find the format distasteful but the producers believe the show can play a small role in bringing people together. Pray that old wounds will be healed and for the churches as they play their part in rebuilding the nation. (OMF) 25. Japan The pursuit of comfort and security in work, reputation, wealth or possessions is the day-today religion of many Japanese, especially in urban areas. Yet there is also much fear for the future with long-term economic problems, ongoing concern over the effects of nuclear radiation and the possibility of more big earthquakes. Pray that materialisms emptiness will become apparent and many will seek true meaning. Pray that churches will equip believers to be bold witnesses in the workplace living in the light of eternity. Pray that the glorious riches available in Christ will be of greater desirability to those who don't yet know him and that those governed by fear will be driven to seek the truth of the gospel and experience God's perfect love which drives out all fear. (Japan Christian Link) 26. Australia On 1st July, 350 teens and leaders poured into the University of Queensland, Australia, for five days of fun and discipleship at TeenStreet Australia. With the aim of growing and deepening their relationship with Jesus, Australian teenagers looked at what it means to be holy and victorious in Christ. They also had the opportunity to be Jesus' hands and feet in the local community by showing His love in practical ways. 250 teens and leaders visited nursing homes, painted houses and did gardening, cleaning, prayer walks and barbecue outreaches. Many teens and leaders shared that they had been stretched in their faith and positive responses were received from the community. (OM)

Vol 58 No 5

Editor: Paul Tuckwell

Hon. Editor: Martin Lee

12.00 Rest of world

The annual cost including postage for copies sent to the same address: One copy per issue 5.00 UK only 8.00 Europe All subscriptions should be addressed to: Global Connections, Caswell Road, Leamington Spa, CV31 1QD Telephone: 01926 487755 Email: info@globalconnections.co.uk Registered in England & Wales as Evangelical Mission Association. Company number 3886596. Charity number 1081966

16. Bahrain The island of Bahrain is the most open country in the Gulf region. Give thanks that many of the expatriate churches are now catching the vision of making disciples. There is a renewed devotion for prayer and witnessing in Bahrain. Encouragingly, there is also an increasing hunger for the Word of God and a willingness to hear the hope of the gospel. May the Lord work among Bahraini believers desperate for more of Him. May He build up His Church to be a united and powerful voice in this divided land. (AWM) 17. Egypt So far many hundreds of people have been killed in violent clashes between security forces and the Muslim Brotherhood. Please pray for an end to the violence and the re-establishment of effective rule of law and order. Pray too that Egypt will be governed for the benefit of all its citizens, with people of different persuasions able to live alongside one another peaceably. Finally pray for Egyptian Christians to play an increasingly prominent and effective role in addressing the needs of all Egyptians and helping to bring healing and reconciliation in the country. (SAT-7 Trust) 18. Mauritania The Church in Mauritania needs your prayers. Worshipping groups are often infiltrated by those who would try and destroy the Church. Believers need to be able to trust one another. Pray for the Church to grow in depth, discernment and maturity. As a new wave of workers arrives in Mauritania, pray for the Lord to enable them to build healthy and sustainable patterns of ministry. May the Spirit give workers wisdom to live in a challenging context, and courage to speak for Christ when opportunities arise. May issues related to finances and projects not cause conflict between believers, as it has in the past. (AWM)

19. Sudan It is two years since South Sudan voted to become independent from the north, yet tensions remain high, particularly in the border regions. Pray for the negotiations between the two states, and ask God to turn the hearts of the leaders towards reconciliation. Following the governments crackdown on churches in December 2012, several mission agencies and churches in Khartoum have been shut down. Pray for unity, boldness and wisdom for Christian leaders, and ask God to provide for those who have lost their jobs. (Open Doors) 20. Syria Nearly 2 million Syrian refugees are struggling to build their lives after escaping their homelands bloody conflict. Pray for our partners in Jordan and Lebanon who are working to help these refugees. Over the winter they provided blankets, mattresses and wood burning stoves, alongside help with accommodation, and over the summer they've been doing food distributions. Many churches are playing an active role providing food, hygiene packages as well as bedding. A worker who recently visited the region, said, Local churches are visiting refugees, seeking to help meet their needs and loving them we saw some wonderful examples of church being church. (Tearfund) 21. Libya Praise God that there are many more teams serving in Libya now than there have been for decades. The unprecedented surge of workers in this North African country is resulting in more gospel conversations with nationals. Please pray for a great harvest in Libya in the midst of their current difficulties. Pray too, for God to sustain and equip believers as they minister to hurting people. May God build his Church as the people rebuild their nation. (AWM)

1. Pakistan (1) According to Pakistans National Disaster Management Authority, severe monsoon floods during August affected around 330,000 people in 770 villages, left more than 100 dead and destroyed 2,400 homes. Punjab was the worst affected province, with hundreds of villages being inundated by the flood waters. Food and water purification supplies are being distributed by Tearfund partners in two of the worst affected provinces. With existing clean water sources, such as boreholes, damaged by the floods, water purification tablets are vital to prevent people drinking from unsafe supplies and therefore being exposed to waterborne diseases. Please pray for these relief efforts and for people rebuilding their lives after the loss of loved ones, homes, crops or livelihoods. (Tearfund) 2. India (1) Persecution in India is increasing - particularly for independent churches in rural areas. It includes physical assault, attacks on churches and Christian property, and harassment of Christian workers and missionaries. The sharp rise in the number of attacks on Christians over the last 15 years has paralleled the rise of Hindutva extremism. Pray that the church will not be fearful: pray rather that it will be refined and strengthened by persecution. (Release Int.) 3. Bangladesh Give thanks for the only reconstructive referral centre in Bangladesh: the Danish-Bangladesh Leprosy Mission hospital which provides specialist leprosy treatment and general medical services for people affected by leprosy. Their emphasis is on supporting children, women and the ultra-poor. An ophthalmologist goes to the hospital every week to treat eye conditions and regular surgical camps also take place. Pray that, in a male dominated society,

where women are particularly vulnerable, they will come forward for treatment and not feel marginalised and lonely. (The Leprosy Mission) 4. India (2) Following devastating flash floods and landslides in the northern state of Uttarakhand during August, there are concerns that children in the region will be more vulnerable to trafficking. With thousands of families facing an uncertain future, opportunistic traffickers, often a distant relative, offer to temporarily take the child to the city to find work. Out of desperation, families accept the offer, without realising that their child - some as young as six years old will be sold into the sex industry or into child labour. Please pray for these vulnerable families and for safety for their children. (Tearfund) 5. Pakistan (2) Three Christians in Gojra have been imprisoned, accused of sending blasphemous texts. Tensions are high in the Punjab community where a blasphemy row sparked violence in August 2009 which left eight Christians dead and many homes destroyed. On 13th July Sajjad Masih Gill, 29, was sentenced to life imprisonment. Shafqat Masih and Shagufta Bibi, a couple with four young children, have been held in jail since their arrest. Police claimed that local hardliners were demanding the death sentence for the couple. Pray that God will be close to Sajjad, Shafqat, Shagufta and their families and that all three will be released soon. Pray for peace for Christians in Gojra: ask God to protect and strengthen them. Pray for wisdom for local officials dealing with these cases and that they will do nothing to inflame the situation further. (Release International)

6. Belgium The Roman Catholic Church has deep roots in Belgium - consequently many Belgians are not unfamiliar with God. Sadly enough, many miss the heart of the message of the gospel, which can be noticed by the exodus taking place from many established churches. Scandals within the Roman Catholic Church caused many Belgians to resign from their membership to the church. Belgium needs the gospel. Pray for the building of loving communities, which transcend the message of the gospel to the many people who live without God. A beautiful example of such a community is the Arabic Church in Brussels. (European Christian Mission) 7. Spain Each year over 40 million tourists enjoy Spains hot sun and sandy beaches. But their cameras do not catch the bleak spiritual landscape that looms just beyond the romance, vistas and castles. Some 8,000 towns and scores of large city neighbourhoods still languish without an evangelical church and scarcely a single believer. The evangelical church is small, struggling, often inward looking, and sometimes divided. Many Spanish Christians are reluctant to take up positions of leadership and responsibility. Nevertheless, amongst the people of Spain there is an apparent hunger for spiritual reality and a willingness to consider the gospel. Pray for churches in Spain to embrace their role as salt and light in their nation and to boldly bear witness to the transforming power of the gospel of Christ. (WEC International) 8. Austria An Austrian is no longer automatically a Roman Catholic - that time has passed. More and more Austrians resign from their church membership and search for happiness in their new found wealth, different forms of 'new spirituality' and occultism. Young people, especially, are

seriously searching for fulfillment in their lives. Pray for a fresh appreciation of the relevance of the gospel, that through church planting, church development and youth work, the missionaries try to show the invaluable worth of a life with Christ. (ECM) 9. France Millions of people from Northern and Western Africa have migrated to France in recent years. Some progressively migrate as communities (men coming first, women following), and the African town may replicate itself on French soil. In other cases, individuals migrate and find themselves in mixed communities of African migrants. For them, tribal identity may be replaced by a strengthened allegiance to Islam. Pray for all of these to have loving witnesses of "Isa al Masih"- Jesus the Messiah, and inclusive fellowships which can become new families to them. (YWAM) 10. Germany In eastern Germany, communism and, after that, economic difficulties, have left deep marks in the spiritual lives of the people. The Christian faith has been pushed to the margins of society. Many people don't know what the gospel is all about, oblivious to its message of hope. In the southwest of the country there are a large number of refugees, with several religious backgrounds, trying to build new lives. Pray that while supporting them in tackling the difficulties in their lives, we will help them to find a new life in the gospel that transcends all cultural differences. Our desire is that they will be a shining light, not only for their community, but also for the Germans. (ECM)

11. Democratic Republic of Congo Christian men go into the forest to hunt game or to tend their traps. Before starting they recite words that call upon their ancestors to provide plenty of food for them. They believe the spirits of their ancestors live in the forest and can give them good luck in their hunt. Though they claim they are Christians, they hold onto these practices and pass them on. To address this issue a Pastor has prepared a seminar on the topic of Culture and the Bible: What should we obey? Let's pray for the Christians, that they would know how to live Biblically in their cultural context. (WEC International) 12. Lesotho Lesotho - the Kingdom in the Sky - is a small, mountainous country, surrounded by South Africa. Basotho shepherds are a socially rejected, unreached and semi-nomadic group of men and boys, living high in the mountains. A chief shepherd shared: Ive heard of missionaries going to my home village, but I have always felt left out. But now, youre coming to us, we are very happy!. AIM is placing a team amongst these shepherds. Pray for young men willing to endure these extreme conditions. Praise God for the shepherds eagerness to share their lives with the team. Pray that their hearts are prepared to hear the gospel. In two years, trusting that the fields are ripe for harvest, we aim to plant a church! (AIM Int.) 13. Gambia For many years, work has been going on to translate the Mandinka Bible. The New Testament has been in use for a long time now, but finally the whole Bible has been completed. A dedication ceremony was held at the end of July for the Mandinka Bible. It was a time of celebration. Pray that many Mandinka speakers will take up the Bible in their own language, read it, and respond to the Good News. For the word

of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Hebrews 4:12 (WEC International) 14. Mozambique The Mwani people live on the north coast of Mozambique. Influenced by sea-faring Arab merchants centuries ago, the culture is defined through fishing and folk Islam. Children go to Madrassa schools. They memorize and can recite the Koran, but they dont understand its meaning. Most Mwani are illiterate and speak only a bit of Portuguese. Radio Nuru is a Christian FM radio station in the Kimwani language, well-known and loved in many Mwani villages. The Koti were an unreached people group, violently resistant to the gospel. Since 2003, thousands have come to Christ and Koti missionaries are now reaching the Mwani. While Radio Nuru broadcasts the truth about Jesus, the Koti extend the work and sit with the Mwani under the trees, answer questions and give explanations! (AIM International) 15. Burkina Faso Like most people in the Burkina Faso village of Pissila, Samuel and his family rely on the land for their food. Droughts are always dreaded but the villagers have a back-up when the rains fail - the community grain bank. Last year Samuel was able to buy millet from the grain bank (supported by CREDO) at a reduced rate to help his family through a lean patch when food was in short supply. The grain bank buys food in advance in the years when crop production is low so people dont have to leave to find work or find food. Furthermore, if someone is running out of food they can come and ask to buy food on credit. As rain patterns change and harvests become increasingly vulnerable, give thanks for this vital ministry. (Tearfund)