Sharing in the Sufferings

“If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you” - Jesus (John 15:20).

My heart hurts today for unknown brothers and sisters who have been the victims of a brutal assault. Today militants stormed the offices of World Vision, a U.S.-based Christian NGO, in Pakistan’s Mansehra district. The office is located in the North-West Frontier Province approximately 40 miles north of Islamabad.

Militants opened fire and threw grenades in an attack that killed at least six people and injured at least seven others. World Vision has temporarily suspended its operations in Pakistan as a result of the attack. There was no prior notification given of the attack, which is the most devastating in World Vision’s 60 year history. More at http://www.worldvision.org/.

Seek God on Behalf of Government Leaders

WEDNESDAY MARCH 10 Day 22

SEEK GOD ON BEHALF OF GOVERNMENT LEADERS
I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving 
be made for everyone—for kings and all those in authority. – 1 Timothy 2:1-2 (NIV)

That they will be examples of righteousness to our society; that they will experience God’s wisdom in their deliberations; that they will speak and carry out dealings with truth, free from any corruption. Pray that they may advance God’s justice; that they will be divinely restrained from hindering the service and worship of Jesus Christ; that they will come to know, honor and follow Christ.

PRAYERWALK: Visit a center of city, state or federal government. Pray on or near the site. Leave a short note for a particular official which describes your prayers for God to bless him or her.


SEEK GOD ON BEHALF OF AFRICA
Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius

This is an excerpt from Seek God for the City 2010, published by WayMakers. Used with permission. http://www.waymakers.org/. Hear more at http://bit.ly/bHXQpo.

Seek God on Behalf of Homeless People

TUESDAY MARCH 9 Day 21

SEEK GOD ON BEHALF OF HOMELESS PEOPLE
But He lifted the needy out of their affliction and increased their families like flocks. – Psalm 107:41 (NIV)

That God brings immediate relief, shelter, food and health care; that Christ will restore hope for the future; for wise counsel and trustworthy friendship; for protection from the risks of life on the streets; for employment, housing and restored family life.

PRAYERWALK: Visit a place where homeless people seek shelter or employment. Pray God’s blessing on the people you see who appear to be homeless.


SEEK GOD ON BEHALF OF AFRICA
Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau

This is an excerpt from Seek God for the City 2010, published by WayMakers. Used with permission. http://www.waymakers.org/. Hear more at http://bit.ly/bHXQpo.

Women wear Black on Day of Celebration

Rape has been used as a weapon of war in the ongoing conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo. On February 11, 2010 eight women were attacked, tortured, and raped by soldiers near the town of Mwenga in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Five of the eight women were murdered and three escaped. The three escaped women and their families were taken by women from the National Council of Churches to Panzi Hospital in Bukavu, the capital of South Kivu Province. This hospital specializes in treatment of rape victims.


A group of Protestant women in Bukavu has decided to wear black today on International Women's Day, as a prayer of mourning and a call to peace, in response to this grievous act of violence. Suzanne Lind, a Mennonite Central Committee worker in the DRC, said that March 8 is usually a day of celebration for women in DRC in which they wear bright and festive clothing to celebrate International Women's Day. Dressing in black instead of brightly colored clothing on this day is designed to raise awareness and invite prayer for victims of abuse that continue against women in this volatile area.

Be informed. Care. Intercede. Advocate. We are the presence of Christ.

Word of Hope - Jamie Work

Introduction by Milfred Minatrea

Jamie Work is one of my pastor heroes. Serving Candies Creek Baptist Church outside Cleveland, Tennessee, Jamie has led his congregation in passionate pursuit of authentic discipleship that is expressed in mission engagement. The Candies Creek facility is adorned with flags from various countries and states where the congregation is ministering.

Every week Jamie writes A Word of Hope for members of the church. I asked to be placed on the email list while I was with Candies Creek in a disciple-making emphasis. It is one email that I take time to read, because Jamie has a heart for God and a love for people that clearly comes across in his writing. The following is a recent Word of Hope from Jamie. Enjoy!


"As the deer pants for the water brooks so my soul pants for Thee, O God." (Psalm 42:1)

Each year, one day before the annual NFL Super Bowl, a ministry called Athletes in Action, in partnership with Campus Crusade for Christ, sponsors a prayer breakfast for fans, players and team personnel who desire to attend. This year more than 1,100 people were present at the Super Bowl prayer breakfast and heard Michael Vick's first-ever public declaration of his faith, as he stood beside former Indianapolis Colts Head Coach Tony Dungy.


It seems Coach Dungy has been mentoring Michael Vick since before Vick was released from prison last year after being convicted of bank-rolling a dog fighting ring. Not only did Michael Vick speak publicly for the first time as an adult about his teenage conversion to Christianity, and his subsequent slide away from the faith as his football success emerged, but he also shared for the first time about Coach Dungy's role in his restoration to faith in God.

Michael Vick told the audience, "I was so self-centered, I forgot about the Lord... when I got to prison, I realized I couldn't do it anymore. The one thing I could rely on was my faith in God. I feel that I'm in the back seat now and God is in the front... God has taken it over."

It sounds like Michael is discovering what the Psalmist has been telling us for centuries when the Psalmist cried out that his soul thirsted and longed for God more than for any thing else.

Seek God on Behalf of News Media

MONDAY MARCH 8 Day 20

SEEK GOD ON BEHALF OF NEWS MEDIA
These are the things which you should do: speak the truth to one another; judge with truth and judgment for peace in your gates. – Zechariah 8:16

For people throughout the industries of broadcast and print media to come to know Jesus personally; that attitudes of cynicism will be changed; for those who love Christ to be strengthened in wisdom; for a growing emphasis in their work on that which carries virtue and conveys kingdom values throughout the city.

PRAYERWALK: Visit a media center, a broadcast station or a publisher of print media. Pray for those associated with the enterprise.


SEEK GOD ON BEHALF OF AFRICA
Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Congo-Democratic Republic (Zaire), Cote d’Ivoire, Djibouti

This is an excerpt from Seek God for the City 2010, published by WayMakers. Used with permission. http://www.waymakers.org/. Hear more at http://bit.ly/bHXQpo.

Seek God on Behalf of Business People

SUNDAY MARCH 7 Day 19

SEEK GOD ON BEHALF OF BUSINESS PEOPLE
But remember the LORD your God, for it is He who gives you the ability to produce wealth. – Deuteronomy 8:18 (NIV)

Ask God to bless those who base business practices in righteousness. Pray that God will prosper those who pursue their business as mission for God’s kingdom. Pray for the gospel to spread in the marketplace; for righteous managers and executives; for creative, godly entrepreneurs. Pray that God would frustrate plans which escalate injustice and shake the dominion of mammon and greed.

PRAYERWALK: As you pass through a place of business today, pray for Christ to be followed and for His name to be honored in that setting. Pray for God to bless all 
that expresses His kingdom.


SEEK GOD ON BEHALF OF Africa
Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde Islands

This is an excerpt from Seek God for the City 2010, published by WayMakers. Used with permission. http://www.waymakers.org/. Hear more at http://bit.ly/bHXQpo.