Displaying items by tag: Asia

A power struggle in the Maldives is taking centre stage in a battle for regional influence between India and China. Maldives President Yameen declared a state of emergency after the supreme court ordered him to free political prisoners and opposition politicians he jailed. Security forces then stormed the court and arrested two judges and a former leader. The remaining judges annulled a previous ruling. It is being called an assault on democracy. The political drama sparked concern in India, which issued a strong statement saying it is imperative for the government to adhere to a free trade agreement it made with the Maldives. India views China as a geopolitical foe in Asia and is pushing to maintain geo-strategic supremacy in the Indian Ocean, with backing from the US and Japan. Meanwhile, it has expanded its influence by building ports in Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Djibouti (now home to its first overseas military base). See also

Intercessors have been praying for God’s Kingdom to grow in Hindu-dominant Nepal. Although proselytising has been banned in the country for decades, the church has exploded! Recent reports state that Nepali Christians are now one of the fastest-growing Christian communities in the world! After the 2015 earthquake, Christian groups gave aid to needy Nepalis, and were some of the first and most sustained groups to help. This growth has not come without a price. To curb it, the government will introduce a new criminal code in August, increasing jail sentences for proselytising from three to five years. Convicted foreigners will be deported after serving their time.

Bombings are so frequent, the media hardly notice. Last week's assault on Kabul’s luxury hotel received attention because some westerners were victims. Days later, a car bomb killed 100+; last month a suicide bomber killed 41 and a truck bomb killed 150. Afghans live this reality daily. But the greatest conflict is not terrorism, poverty, or drugs. It is spiritual. 99.9% of the population are Muslim, and 72 people groups do not have the Gospel. A missionary writes, ‘A dear sister was murdered in the Kabul hotel bombing, then two days later the office of an NGO working here for many years was attacked and many were killed. This increase in armed aggression against foreigners and NGOs needs re-evaluation by Christian missions. Please pray for wisdom as to how we can improve the safety of our workers, and for much-needed peace and security in the country. There are serious differences between the governor in a northern province and the president. Tension is rising, and there are fears of a feud within the government. Pray that this will be stopped.’

Police arrested senior members of the Turkish Medical Association, and President Erdogan branded them ‘terrorist lovers’. The association, which represents 80,000 doctors, publicly voiced opposition to the offensive against Syrian Kurdish militia, warning: ‘Every clash, every war, causes physical, psychological, social and environmental health problems, and human tragedy.’ After publishing their statement they were inundated with threats of violence via telephone, email and social media. The New York-based Physicians for Human Rights group condemned the intimidation campaign. ‘It is a bleak commentary on the state of affairs in Turkey that a group of doctors can’t make a peaceful statement without being targeted with physical threats and condemned by the head of state’, said Dr Homer Venters. ‘Medical professionals must have the freedom to call out threats to public health without fear of retribution.’

Members of the IPC Leadership Team joined Pastor Jerome and Mrs Abel Ocampo and the organisers of regional United Prayer Rising events in Jakarta on 23rd and 24th January 2018 for a summit.

The purpose of the meeting was to report back on the recent events and plans for forthcoming gatherings. In particular, the group prayerfully explored the possibility of organizing a Global Uprising event in Jakarta during October 2018. The vision is to see 2,000 Indonesian young people meet up with a further 2,000 youth from the other nations of the world.

Pictured below are all the attendees with Pastor Niko from the Sentul ICC.

A recurring theme during the times of prayer and worship was Isaiah 43: 9-10 - “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.” During a visit to the Sentul International Convention Centre Prayer Tower, the leaders had a sense that something extraordinarily new and exciting was about to happen that would blow our minds!

The group of young leaders agreed to form part of an Indonesia Dream Team that would input to the program planning processes for the Global Uprising. The provisional date of October 24-26 and the venue will be confirmed shortly.

Please pray:

> For protection, wisdom, and for the right doors to continue to open for these young people who have dedicated time, energy and skills to the United Prayer Rising Events.

> For Pastor Andy Tjokro (Jakarta) as he co-ordinates the various planning teams for the Global Uprising.

> For substantial funds to be released to undergird the regional and global events planned for the next few years. (Mal 3:10)

> For the Manilla based team who support and direct the events under the leadership and guidance of Pastor Jerome Ocampo.

I R A N
Since December 28, tens of thousands of Iranians have taken to the streets in huge numbers of towns and cities to demand better economic conditions and freedom from their oppressive religious government and the bad. Prices of basic goods had, in the past year, increased by roughly 40 percent. The protests began over Iran's stagnant economy and the rising cost of living but quickly have developed into a broader outcry against the oppressive government.
These demonstrations have become the most powerful challenge to the Iranian government's authority since mass demonstrations in 2009.

At least 20 people have since been killed in clashes with security forces, and more than a thousand of mostly young people have been arrested.
The head of Iran's Revolutionary Guards said that the anti-government protests were over now as the government very violently cracked down on them.

K U R D I S T A N
We thank the Lord that we can continue to work in Kurdistan and for the family that will soon go there.
The Kurdish Pastor who was for nearly two years imprisoned in Kurdistan and has moved with his family to a neighbouring country, finally after about 5 years got residency for this country.
The strong tensions between the government of Iraq and Kurdistan has not been resolved. The tension is still there and the possibility of fighting breaking out between the Iraq and Kurdistan. Also it seems clear now that the Iraqi government will continue to ban direct flights into Kurdistan (Erbil & Sulaymaniyah).

PLEASE PRAY for

I R A N
• For this difficult situation in Iran. Only God can cause the leadership of this nation and their severe oppression of its people to change.
• That many of them would hear the Good news and that all these difficulties cause even more Iranians to accept the Lord.
• Protection of our brothers and sisters in the country and courage to reach out with wisdom and boldness to the Iranian people.

K U R D I S T A N
• For a good settlement between the Iraqi and Kurdistan governments and that the airports would soon open up again.
• That all the preparations for the couple that plans to move to Kurdistan would be completed soon and that they would be able to move there in the next few weeks and build up our work and ministry in the country.
• For the Kurdish church to grow throughout all the Kurdish regions.
• The Kurdish Kanal Hayat TV Programs to be watched by millions of Kurds! For more presenters for these programs.

Thank you for your prayers for these countries and the challenges they are facing and for believing with us that in the midst of these difficulties God expand His kingdom.

Your ElRock Team

See some of the USA testimonies from Florida, South Dakota and Tennessee.

We are cheating a bit to say 50 countries because Puerto Rico is part of USA but they seem to regard themselves as another country. These countries included in the 50 are Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Burundi, Cameroon, Canada, China, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast), Czech Republic, Denmark, England, Fiji, France, Germany, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Israel, Japan, Liberia, Kenya, Mauritius, Namibia, New Zealand, Nigeria. North Korea, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Rwanda, Russia, Samoa, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Africa, South Korea, Sweden, Switzerland, Tanzania, Thailand, Tonga, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Uganda, USA and Vanuatu.

Check out more testimonies HERE - There are many more still to come!

Suffice to say from small beginnings in 2016 the New Year’s Sunrise Prayer Relay is exploding. There were 23 NATIONS where locations were confirmed in 2017 for the New Year's Day Sunrise Prayer Relay, so we have had a huge multiplication of people, locations, and nations praying in 2018. We believe that when people pray God moves and we are expecting Him to move powerfully in 2018 in EVERY NATION as we continue to pray for awakening, revival, and transformation in the name of Jesus.

This year we had 141 REGISTERED GLOBAL PUBLIC LOCATIONS with hundreds more that are private. This was an increase from around 100 on New Year's Day 2017, we are still going through the global registrations to confirm but at this stage we can say there were over 400 valid registrations worldwide this year, it was very difficult to confirm some of the locations and we are currently looking into more effective ways to register locations globally.

We also know of many locations globally that were not registered, or informed us via email or message that they were praying with us, we did not count these. We believe that the number of unregistered locations is greater than the number of registered locations. We need to simplify to multiply in other nations, and we would love to get prayer networks in nations like USA, UK & South Africa more involved to help with getting the word out and administration in their countries the way National Day of Prayer & Fasting has done for Australia.

The beauty of the New Year’s Day Sunrise Prayer Relay is that it is short (30 MINs),easy to do, easy to promote, requires minimal effort, is organic in nature, rides on an existing established event (New Year’s Day Sunrise) and has a proven track record of encouraging and reproducing more daily, weekly and monthly prayer events.

Warwick Marsh & Pat Steele
Global Coordinators Sunrise Prayer Relay
www.sunriseprayerrelay.org

The situation on the Korean Penninsula remains critical. 

We would highlight the following articles and encourage our prayer partners to continue to mobilise prayer across your networks, into this tense standoff.

See our recent articles HERE

North Korean leader: The launch button is on my desk - Israel National News - Kim Jong Un warns his country has developed the capability to hit the entire U.S. mainland with nuclear weapons.

Kim Jong Un orders up larger missile with re-entry ability:The Asahi Shimbun

Kim Jong-un is 'setting a trap for the US and South Korea' | Daily Mail Online

KIM JONG UN ARMING, TRAINING CHILDREN FOR WORLD WAR 3

'North Korea is very militarized, far beyond any imagination of western powers'

Russia Warns World Faces War Worse Than Any Other In Human History

If you are in prayer ministry and care about the work of the Lord in the Middle East region, this event is for you. You are invited to participate and to contact the organizers at the email or phone below.

Date: Feb 28 - March 3, 2018

Theme: RESET: 'Remaking the Beginning'

Isaiah 12:5 for he has done glorious things; let this be known to all the world.

Yerevan, Armenia
The Ark Hostel

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Thailand is the third largest seafood exporter in the world. The industry relies heavily on trafficked and forced labour on unlicensed vessels. Many victims are from Cambodia, Laos and Burma. Beatings and starvation are commonplace. The Thai government claims it is regulating the fishing industry more tightly, yet slavery persists. The International Justice Mission (IJM) works with other bodies to rescue victims trafficked into Thailand’s fishing industry, and creates individualised care plans to meet survivors’ physical, psychological and emotional needs so that they can thrive in freedom. IJM requests prayer for favour and wisdom as the team builds relationships with police and prosecutors in both Thailand and Cambodia (where many of the traffickers target victims).