PL2009-37, 16-Sep-09
Wednesday, 16th September 2009 | No: PL2009-37 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The 'Day' and 'Country' designations below refer to the respective right-hand page(s) in the 2009 edition of the Points for Prayer Handbook, which contains useful background information to these prayer requests.
Click on these links for further information on Countries, Partners and People.
Day 1 – BOARD of MISSION OVERSEAS (BMO)
Next week, the Board’s Leadership Development, Outreach Ministries, World Development and Mission Involvement Committeesmeet. Each has an important part to play in regard to different aspects of the Board’s responsibilities in facilitating our church’s involvement in the global mission of Jesus Christ.
- Pray for God’s wisdom and guidance in all that is discussed and decided upon by each committee; and for a clear focus on what is ‘strategic’ and ‘important’ in God’s purposes.
Day 5 – PORTUGAL
The Portuguese Bible Institute (IBP), located in Lisbon, exists for the purpose of promoting theological education amongst the Portuguese evangelical community. To date the IBP’s involvement in the Algarve has been limited, but they have for some time wanted to establish a more permanent presence in the region to serve the needs of the evangelical churches there. IBP has invited James and Heather Cochrane to help in the development of theological education within the Algarve.
A group of approximately 15 students (from the Faro/Olhăo region) are hoping to begin studying for the first year of their theology degree at the end of this month. A visiting lecturer from Lisbon will teach the first module, while James is currently preparing to teach the second module of the year which will begin on 7th November (and runs for six weeks on Friday evenings from 7.30 am to 11.00 pm). His subject is ‘The Church: its nature, identity and purpose’. Heather is heavily involved in the administration of the project and hopes to become involved in the mentoring of the students, which is an integral part of their course.
This coming Friday evening (18th), there will be a special inaugural service to mark the beginning of the academic year. All students with their families and friends have been invited to attend, as well as churches and pastors throughout the Algarve. Dr Fabiano Fernandes, the Director of the IBP in Lisbon, along with other members of staff will also be present. At the service James and Heather will be presented as the coordinators of the IBP-Algarve.
Prayer Points –
- Give thanks that God has opened up this opportunity for James and Heather to serve with the IBP.
- Pray for the preparation of the module James will teach, the administration of the course and mentoring of the students.
- Pray that the service on Friday (18th) will be an encouragement to the students as they begin their studies and that it would also be an encouragement to the evangelical churches in the region as they hear more of the IBP’s vision to establish a more permanent presence in the Algarve.
Day 8 – UKRAINE
Jenni Wolfe is well settled in Nagybereg School (NBRL). She has a busy programme giving lessons in English conversation and providing pastoral support to the second year pupils. The school has a potential funding crisis looming in 2010 and this is exercising the minds of those responsible for administration.
Prayer Points –
- Give thanks that Jenni is well settled and pray for her and her family’s well-being in the weeks ahead.
- Give thanks for the interest shown by many pupils in Bible Study.
- Pray that the papers giving her permission to remain in Ukraine over 90 days will be sorted with ease.
- Pray for wisdom for those who have to deal with the financial well-being of the school as they have further discussions on potential new arrangements.
- Pray for good fellowship in the new Bible/prayer time Jenni is running with David, one of the supervisory assistants.
Day 11 – PASTORAL CARE
In partnership with the Mission Agencies Partnership (MAP), a Retreat for mission personnel who are home from overseas is taking place this coming weekend (18th to 20th) at Corrymeela in Ballycastle. The devotional sessions will be led by Rev Doug Baker and worship by Helen Killick with Patricia Rollins, Sandra Campbell and Joy Saunderscoordinating the children’s programme.
- Pray that all those who come will be blessed by the experience; and renewed in faith and vision as they look to the future and to what lies ahead in their service for God.
- Remember Helen Johnston, as she finalises the practical arrangements and manages the logistics over the weekend.
- Pray for all who will be helping and leading over the weekend. Pray particularly for spiritual insight and wisdom for Doug Baker and Helen Killick, as they will have a key role in giving focus and direction to the weekend.
Days 12 to 14 – KENYA
The PCEA Peace Desk will be conducting an intercommunity dialogue in Kerugoya, in central Kenya, that will bring together 40 community and religious leaders for two days this Thursday and Friday (17th and 18th).
- Pray for the leaders as they explore their role in national healing, peace and reconciliation after the post election violence.
- Pray for safety for all those who will be travelling to attend this event.
Day 15 – OVERSEAS LEADERS IN TRAINING
Each year the Board of Mission Overseas (BMO) sponsors a number of members of partner churches to undertake a period of study in the UK. Next week, we will be welcoming Rózsa Drabik and Rev Zoltán Les to Belfast. Both are from the Reformed Church in Hungary and each be undertaking a full-time course of research through UTC.
Prayer Points –
- Remember Rózsa and Zoltán as they leave family and friends and come to the UK.
- For safe and trouble-free travel and that they will settle in quickly.
- That their studies will go well and be of real benefit when they return to their home countries.
Days 16 to 19 – MALAWI
Una Brownlie has returned safe and well from Tcharo Health Centre, one of the clinics linked to the David Gordon Memorial Hospital(DGMH), where she was working for a couple of weeks.
Una writes, “It was a great experience spending time at Tcharo clinic and realising the commitment of the staff. Imagine walking over four or six hours to reach under-five clinics in the communities. I was able to accompany them to most of the clinics. But it was the emergencies that were so stressful, knowing if only the patient could get to the hospital all would be well, but without communication it was very difficult. One father took his child by canoe to reach the hospital and just made it in time and the child recovered. They travelled about five hours by canoe, then a further two+ hours to reach the hospital.”
Prayer Points –
- Please remember the Synod of Livingstonia Medical Board as they meet on Friday to discuss the future running of the three Synod hospitals, DGMH, Ekwendeni, and Embangweni Hospitals.
- Thank God for the commitment of the staff who work in the remote health centres. Pray that radio communication will soon be restored so the seriously ill patients may reach the hospital in time and get the needed treatment.
- Remember Naomi, a 20 year old mother of two children, who has severe burns of her leg and is unable to walk. Pray that she may make a complete recovery.
Day 23 – PAKISTAN
Yet another church building has been torched by a Muslim crowd and burnt to the ground in Pakistan. This sad incident took place last Friday, 11th September, in a village not more than 15 miles (25km) from Gujranwala in NE Pakistan. Seemingly, an alleged quarrel between a Muslim and a Christian family led to a plot to punish the Christian community.
Reports quickly circulated alleging that Christians had torn up a copy of the Qur’an and that the fragments had been found in front of the church. In response, an angry crowd gathered and set fire to the church building.
Some 30 Christian families worship in the church. All have since fled the village in fear for their lives, seeking refuge elsewhere, and are now deprived of the comfort of their own homes. Thankfully, there was no loss of life, but the fact that the authorities seem unable to protect minority Christian communities in such circumstances is a continuing cause for concern.
Prayer Points –
- For those who have fled due to this incident and due to other similar incidents in recent months.
- For immediate help to be given to all those in need including shelter, food, clothing, etc.
- For longer term assistance to be given, to allow people to rebuild their lives in peace and security.
- For the local and national authorities in Pakistan to deal with this situation justly and adequately.
- For the protection of all Christians living in Pakistan.
Day 24 – NEPAL
Joe Campbell and a group of four Nepali politicians and three senior civil servants arrived safely in Dublin last Saturday 12th, for a week-long sharing and learning visit on peace work. On Monday evening (16th), the Board of Mission Overseas (BMO) hosted a dinner for the Nepali delegation, whose members represent the three main political parties in Nepal [see news & photos]. Tomorrow, they return to Dublin after very good meetings with political leaders in Belfast. The three political parties represented and the Minister of Peace and Reconstruction are all enjoying their visit and were most appreciative of the dinner on Monday evening and of PCI's ongoing commitment to Nepal.
Prayer Points –
- Pray that relationships between individual members of the group will be strengthened; and that there will be good learning and sharing during the week.
- Give thanks for the opportunity provided by the dinner to build good relationships between our Church and the government of Nepal, and that will enable our Nepali guests to see how the Church can help in building peace in Nepal.
- Pray for good meetings in Dublin with the foreign minister and political leaders
All UMN staff will be in Kathmandu for bi-annual learning review from Monday 21st to Wednesday 23rd.
- Pray for safe travel for all the staff and good and inspiring meetings over the three days.
Days 27 to 29 – INDONESIA
Mervyn and Raing McCullagh are back in Ireland following their visit to Sumba for a few weeks for the funeral of Raing’s father who died in April 2008.
- Give thanks for safe travel and that the funeral went well.
OVERSEAS TEAMS
Two teams, from Kilkenny Presbyterian Church, are in Eastern Europe at present. We would encourage you to remember them in prayer.
CROATIA – A team of five people are in Zagreb from 10th to 17th September, working with the Reformed Church there and its pastor, Branimir Bucanovic. The group is leading Sunday services and Bible studies as well as distributing literature, conducting conversational ESL classes and doing some practical work on church premises.
ALBANIA – A team of three people is in Albania from 15th to 22nd September, as part of a WEC Prayer Trek to support WECmission personnel on the ground, encourage local believers and investigate new opportunities.
Prayer Points for these teams –
- Good health, safety, strength and energyfor all the team members and those they are working with.
- The work that each of the teams will be involved in.
- For the Word of God to be explained clearly and for spiritual fruit in the lives of those the teams are going to help or work alongside.
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