January 1^st 2021 marks the launch of the ‘Global Family’ Online 24/7 Prayer initiative that aims to unite nations, denominations and generations in a year of continuous prayer and worship.

Gifted Prayer leaders and worship teams from every continent will be leading the 168 hourly ‘Zoom’ sessions each week in several languages.  The meetings will be accessible to anyone, anywhere with an internet connection.

The project was founded by Dr Jason Hubbard (www.ipcprayer.org) and Jonathan Friz (www.10days.net) in 2020 along with a dedicated, multi-skilled team representing many different ministries and networks from around the world.

Jonathan Friz said "The ability to pray together as the global church in the same space is brand new - for the first time in history we can approximate the sound of that great multitude gathered before the throne from every nation and language, declaring "Salvation belongs to our God, and to the Lamb!""

"We would invite individuals, groups, Churches, ministries, anyone! - who shares our vision to join us, whether it’s for a short while or for many hours each week, in the presence of God, alongside fellow-believers from across the world. "

Launch Service…

The Global Family 24-7-365 will begin January 1st 2021 at 16:00 Jerusalem time, 8 AM CST, 2 PM GMT. The launch will include a two hour special “church” service. The first full hour will be focused on coming together as a Global Family and praying together. The second hour will be a teaching hour. After the church service ends, regular facilitated hourly sessions will begin.

Praying for the Unreached…

One of the primary focuses of the Global Family will be prayers for the unreached.  Jason Hubbard said “We are convinced that the Crux of the Great Commission and the reaching of every person by 2030 in the Go Decade needs to especially focus on the Unreached People Groups.  They are the ethne of Matthew 28, of which there are about 5000 such people groups still separated by language and culture with an average of only one believer per thousand. They need cross-cultural efforts integrated with focused, ongoing prayer to see indigenous gospel movements established in them.”

“As the church worldwide continues to work together to mobilize prayer and targeted mission efforts, it will be possible with the Lord’s supernatural help to see bible based, Christ exalting, Spirit-led churches planted in each one of these people groups by 2030! Let’s Go and Count to Zero!”

Prayer Leader Opportunity…

There are 50 or so hourly sessions available to would-be leaders in the weekly schedule as we go to press, and they are steadily being filled.  Prayer Leaders who would like to find out more about taking part are invited to visit the Leaders page on the website.

"The Father has a plan to answer Jesus' prayer in John 17,” said Jonathan. “ Prayer meetings like this that bring the family together in the presence of the Holy Spirit are a key part of His plan.  When the family comes together to glorify Jesus, the Father loves to pour out His glory on us all. Make no mistake, Jesus gets what He prays for!"

How to join…

To join the Global Family 24-7 Prayer Room, please register HERE.  The meetings are all accessed through an online ticketing system, apart from the launch service which will be also be live-streamed.

More at: http://globalfamily24-7prayer.org/

Sunrise Prayer Relay - New Year's Day 2021

Australia Christian prayer leaders invite their brothers and sisters in Christ, prayer groups, prayer networks and churches to join with them all over the world to pray at sunrise on New Year's Day 2021 at a public location such as a hill, lookout or landmark in your city or town.

This year our focus is to proclaim JESUS IS LORD. Over the last six years we have had registrations from 70 different countries including USA, South Africa, Namibia, Pakistan, Japan, United Kingdom, Fiji, Vanuatu, New Zealand, and Australia.   

Warwick Marsh a prayer & family advocate in Australia said, “Psalm 5:3 says, ‘In the morning, LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly’.

So, in the morning let us pray for revival and transformation for our respective nations according to 2 Chronicles 7:14. Let us all also pray for a great harvest of souls for the Lord Jesus Christ. In the USA there is a strong need to pray for the integrity of the recently held election and a proper process of investigation for all concerned that the truth will be told. Pray that “what has been whispered in secret will be shouted from the housetops,” because as it says in Proverbs 13:34, “Righteousness exalts a nation, But sin is a reproach to any people”.

Marsh continued, “During this Sunrise Prayer Relay we are circling the globe with prayer, praise and worship and surrendering our lives to Jesus Christ for the glory of God. Paul the apostle says in Philippians 2:10,11. “That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Use the prayer resources on the website and social media and register your location at: www.sunriseprayerrelay.com    Our prayer is that with your help, this worldwide Prayer and Praise Relay will go viral.”

Pat Steele, a Youth for Christ missionary in Australia, said, “We encourage you to pray the Lord's Prayer together aloud as the sun rises and make a declaration that Jesus Christ is Lord of your life, your family, your region and your nation.  At your location we encourage you to include praise and worship, prayers, and scripture readings. We suggest 30 minutes, but you can pray for longer. You could even take communion, shine a torch, or light a candle. What you do for your sunrise celebration is up to you.”

Share photos and videos from your location on social media.

Use the hashtag: #sunriseprayerrelay
Website: www.sunriseprayerelay.com  
Facebook: www.facebook.com/sunriseprayerrelay
Instagram: www.instagram.com/sunriseprayerrelay
YouTube:  https://youtu.be/dbLpDBXfY50
Contact: Warwick Marsh 61 418 225212
or Pat Steele by email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

In this video conversation, Dr. Jason Hubbard, IPC’s Director, discusses the development of digital prayer networks.

Following his presentation, the panel poses questions to further develop digital prayer networks.

Greetings!

We are pleased to bring you IPC Connections for December 2020.

In our Editorial article this month, Dr Jason Hubbard brings us an inspiring Advent devotional entitled ‘Rekindling the Glory of Christmas’ which takes us through the greatest love story of all time, when God’s own Son shed his garments of glory to become Bethlehem’s Lamb. It’s a compelling read.  The full eight-part series is available for download HERE.

On 1^st January 2021 we will be launching a Global Family 24/7 - 365 Online Prayer Room in association with several of our partner organisations.  The vision is to host worship-saturated prayer around the throne, around the clock and around the globe for the whole of 2021.  Read more below about the plans and our invitation to Prayer-leaders to join us from around the world to host the 168 hourly slots each week.

We have heard encouraging news of breakthroughs with the development of vaccines for Covid-19 this last few weeks.  The pandemic has now affected 63.5 million people worldwide with 1.47 million now losing their lives.  We bring you up to date information on the situation along with prayer points and links to various resources.  

Let’s continue to be in prayer for the United States as the results of the recent Presidential Elections are finalised.  There are a number of legal challenges to the ballot counting procedures, systems and security that are still going through the courts including allegations of voter fraud.  The results will be ratified by the Electoral College on December 14^th.  Congress will be sworn in on January 3^rd 2021 and will certify the winner of the election on January 6^th. 

This year, November 11^th marked the 400 year anniversary of the signing of the Mayflower Compact, 11-11-1620.  While still aboard the Mayflower, the Pilgrims, risking their lives on a perilous ocean crossing, agreed to foundational principles for the new community they would form when they went ashore. 

This document, which became known as the Mayflower compact, stated that they had come to the new world, ‘for the glory of God’ and to ‘advance the Christian faith.’  They agreed to govern themselves in a ‘civil body politic’ that would frame, ‘just and equal laws’ in the best interest of their community.  May God grant to us mercy to continue in this calling and legacy.  Please pray that God would bring forth justice, expose corruption in every sphere of society, and prepare us for a 3^rd Great Awakening!

John Robb’s Retirement as Chairman

We are sure that you will want to join us in honoring and thanking John Robb as he steps aside as the Chairman of the International Prayer Council at the end of this month.  John is a remarkable man of God who has led us tirelessly over these last nineteen years.  He was one of IPC’s founding members back in 2001.   John shares some of what has been achieved in his ‘Time to move on!’ article below. 

We cannot let John move on quietly!! We will be following this up aptly in the New Year and would welcome receiving your short videos and / or emailed messages of appreciation of John!  

Please send them to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. by 20^th December.  

In the meantime, we all extend our sincere love, prayers and best wishes to John and Lori for a long, happy, healthy and blessed life as they focus on other ministries they are involved with and any future ones the Lord calls them to undertake.

Dr Jason  Hubbard’s Appointment as Director

Jason Hubbard will be formally taking on the leadership as our Director from January 2021, along with the Executive Team under the guidance of our newly elected Board.  We will bring some further details to you all in January.

Thank you for continuing to partner with us in mobilising and informing united prayer across nations, denominations, movements, and generations for the fulfilment of the Great Commission.

May we express grateful thanks to Andy Page and the IPC Editorial Team who put this email together each month.

Wishing you and your loved ones His continued blessings at Christmas and for the New Year 2021,

Jason Hubbard - Executive Coordinator
John D Robb – Chairman
International Prayer Connect

Please use this link if you would like to sow into our ministry with a donation

Disclaimer…
The views and opinions expressed in IPC Connections and the articles on our website are those of individuals and our partner organisations. They do not necessarily represent the policies or views of IPC or its individual leaders.
We aim to respect the diversity within the prayer movement and yet embrace our unified calling to mobilise prayer for the nations. (2 Chron 7:14)
If you wish to discuss the appropriateness of any articles, please contact us.

Bethlehem’s Lamb

To rekindle the glory of Christmas is to take a fresh look at the greatest love story of all time, when God’s own Son shed his garments of glory to become Bethlehem’s Lamb. This is the story where the author of the book steps into his own tale. The Word became flesh and dwells among us. He will make himself vulnerable to pain and human suffering. He will discover the feeling of a tear rolling down his cheek. He will lay his life down as a Lamb, conquering sin and death and giving eternal life to all who believe! Oh, it’s the wonder of the ages. The glory of the incarnation, God himself now with human skin! The Creator has become a created being. Staggering! He who made man is made a man. The infinite has become an infant. The Shepherd of eternity has become Bethlehem’s Lamb.

"Your mother is a cause for wonder; the Lord entered her and became a servant; he who is the Word entered her and became silent within her; thunder entered her and made no sound; there entered the Shepherd of all, and in her he became the Lamb, bleating as he came forth. Your mother's womb has reversed the roles; the Establisher of all entered in his richness, but came forth poor; the Exalted one entered her, but came forth meek, the Splendorous One entered her, but came forth having put on a lowly hue. The Mighty One entered, and put on insecurity from her womb, the Provisioner of all entered and experienced hunger, he who gives drink to all, entered and experienced thirst; naked and stripped there came forth from her he who clothes everyone."-Ephrem the Syrian

Why Bethlehem? As the prophet spoke, “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Though you are little among the thousands of Judah, Yet out of you shall come forth to Me The One to be Ruler in 3 Israel, Whose goings forth are from of old, From everlasting.”
(Micah 5:2)

Just seven miles outside of Jerusalem, these were the same hills where David tended his lambs. After God’s announcement came to Mary and Joseph, he sent angels to the shepherds. They were “keeping watch over their flocks by night,” which was only done during the ‘lambing season,’ when the baby lambs were being born in Bethlehem (March/April).

The only people lower than the shepherds at that particular time in Jewish history were lepers. These poor, lowly, unkempt shepherds, the last people on earth you would ever suspect, have seen what no other man on earth was privileged to see. To these lowly men an angel gives them the highest theology! These despised shepherds are the first to receive the announcement of the gospel! These men are the first to learn of “great joy for all the people.”

They understand that the gospel is not just for Israel but for all the nations that all may have this joy that comes,

“through the birth of a Savior, who is Christ-the Messiah, the LORD!” This the only time in the gospels that this phrase is used.

It’s the only time we see these 3 titles of Jesus come together, Savior, Messiah, and LORD! He will save his people from their sins, Jesus is the Christ the promised Messiah to Israel and, most staggering of all, He is Lord, He is God!

The angel not only gives the gospel to the shepherds, he reveals the true identity of Christ!

It seems God believes that high theology should be given to low people!

They saw the heavens roll open as the glory of God exploded through the night sky. They watched thousands of angels in glowing splendor declaring the glory of Christ! As Hughes writes and envisions,

“A heavenly flash and suddenly the bewildered shepherds were surrounded by angels. A great company is literally a

multitude, not 50, not 150, not 1500—but beyond count. I think every one of God’s angels was there because this

was the most amazing event that had ever happened in the entire universe…Job tells us that at the creation of the

world, ‘the morning stars (angels) sang together and all the angels shouted for joy (Job 38:7). Now the angels

again joined voices at the greatest creation of all—the birth of the God-man—perfect sympathizer and Savior”

And they heard the voice of an angel declaring the birth of a Savior. “This will be a sign to you. You will see a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” (Luke 2:12)

These shepherds knew that mangers were used as feeding troughs and were found in shepherd’s caves, the place where baby lambs were born and wrapped in swaddling cloths! I can only imagine as these rugged, scraggly bearded men, approached the cave, they began to tremble and weep like babies as they looked into the face of God! I can imagine these shepherds, those who carry lambs, laying them down one by one as gifts at the foot of the manger.

But these were not just any lambs. These were Bethlehem lambs, born and bred for one purpose; to be sacrificed at the temple. Because the city of David was just outside of Jerusalem, these lambs born in the hills of Bethlehem, were born to be taken to the temple in Jerusalem and slain for sacrifice. A manger, this humble crib for a king, was the perfect place for a Lamb.

Why must he be brought forth among sheep and lambs? Because he is God’s Lamb, and a shepherd’s cave is a fitting place for a lamb. Why must shepherds be first, among all the people on the earth to attend his birth? Because shepherds always attend the birth of lambs. That’s their job. That’s their calling. And most of all why must he be born in the little town of Bethlehem? Lambs set for sacrifice were born in Bethlehem. Even as young lambs were

slain in the temple in Jerusalem, Jesus-the lamb of God- would be taken to Jerusalem to be slain.

That’s why in the greatest love story ever told, Jesus was Bethlehem’s Lamb.

Dr Jason Hubbard – Executive Coordinator
International Prayer Connect

Download the full devotional series: Rekindling the Glory of Christmas

Watch the amazing series of videos of inspiring #teachustopray 15-minute devotionals by Dr Jason Hubbard, documenting ‘The wildest stories of the Praying Church from Acts until 2020’

Brothers and Sisters who have partnered in prayer with the IPC,

It has been a great joy and adventure to be on the same journey with you these 19 years since the IPC’s formation in December, 2001. Thanks for your loving, sweet fellowship in the Lord as members of His eternal family and all that you have done to extend the international prayer movement around the world as partners in IPC.

I have been planning to step aside as chairman for a couple of years now but have wanted to make sure the IPC is in good hands for the future. Jason Hubbard and Andy Page have proven to be very capable and committed colleagues, who have faithfully demonstrated their abilities and provided good leadership along with our executive team. Also, Jason is in the process of forming a non-profit foundation to fund the IPC, so that will be a good step forward to make sure this ministry is well funded for the future. If you would like to provide financial support, it will be effectively used to continue building up the prayer movement around the world.

I will therefore be stepping aside as chairman at the end of this month to focus on other ministries and both family and personal pursuits.

I am essentially an old missionary whom the Lord began to show the power of prayer and the amazing things He can do if we practice “the ministry of availability” to Him.  Starting as a mission activist who gave lip service to the importance of personal and united prayer, I was arrested by God during a personal retreat 30 years ago. As if with a megaphone in my heart, He told me to “get out of His way” and that if I took Him as my “Senior Partner”, I would see His wonders. I must testify that His word has come true in a multitude of wondrous ways as I have been privileged with others to watch Him over and over again do truly extraordinary things. Usually, they have happened when His people come together in special initiatives characterized by desperate humility -- to seek His face, often in the midst of hopeless situations of war or other intractable situations in which horrible wickedness is having its way in their nations. As God promised Solomon in 2 Chronicles 7:14, our prayer facilitation teams have witnessed His staggering breakthroughs in ending wars, bringing about reconciliation among ministry and political leaders, and igniting spiritual revival that has brought about significant healing of their lands. 

Such astonishing socio-political and spiritual breakthroughs were all His doing since our ministry teams and I felt so much like dependent children, often echoing an overwhelmed King Jehoshaphat in praying: “We don’t know what to do, but our eyes are on You.” Those experiences, much of them before the IPC was formed in 2001, were what convinced those of us who formed the IPC that the Lord wanted to bring about a global network of prayer ministries and networks that would multiply the practice of this kind of transformational prayer. Since that time, with the help of those on our leadership team, both present and past members, as well as that of many thousands of other ministry leaders and intercessors, we have seen that happen through His grace and for His glory. 

Here are just some of the many things that have come about through our joint efforts with the guidance and help of the Holy Spirit:

1. IPC launch in South Africa in Nov. 2002- almost 300 prayer ministry and network leaders from every region of the world came together to connect and further develop the international prayer movement.
2. Prayer summits held and networks formed in virtually every region of the world (some still continuing strongly to this day).
3. National prayer initiatives in countries experiencing civil wars or other serious threats with remarkable breakthroughs in many.
4. Three international prayer initiatives at the United Nations with hundreds of prayer leaders and praying children along with ambassadors, praying for the U.N., its humanitarian development goals as well as other global issues.
5. Children in Prayer international network formed and three global CiP consultations held.
6. IPC Connections, our monthly prayer journal, published to inform and connect the world prayer movement.
7. International prayer alerts to focus prayer on urgent and needy international and national situations.
8. The World Prayer Assembly (2012) conducted by the IPC and the Indonesian prayer movement leaders connected several million within Indonesia and internationally in united prayer. The WPA theme, “For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea” (Hab. 2:14), continues to be felt in various follow-on initiatives made possible by that much anointed and blessed event.
9. Go 2020- the IPC helped coordinate and lead the prayer mobilization that connected hundreds of thousands (both online and offline) during those World Prayer Together calls. Many prayer leaders in every region of the world played a crucial role. This world evangelism initiative which is still ongoing has so far reportedly involved an estimated 50 million believers taking the Gospel to more than 600 million, with over 9 million who have accepted Christ. (Please see the report at Go2020.world)
10. We continue to connect the international prayer movement with the Go Decade (continuation of Go 2020) and other international mission/evangelism efforts towards the goal of reaching every Unreached People Group and every person with the Gospel by 2030. (Please check out www.godecade.world to find out how you can get involved.)

Thanks be to God for all the wonders we in the IPC have been able to have a part in, pooling our meagre efforts (loaves and fish) with many, many other brothers and sisters that the Master has multiplied exceedingly!

The strength of the IPC has been its close and loving relationships, much like a family which indeed we are as members of Jesus’ Body, with Him as our Head and CEO, who gives us one heart and mind as we seek Him together. Let’s pray that the IPC itself, indeed the whole prayer movement, will continue to function that way.  May the best be yet to come! Certainly, “He is able to far more abundantly than all we can ask or imagine” Eph. 3:20.

As long as the Lord gives life and breath, may we all be involved in a “ministry of availability” to serve as He leads.

Personally, I would still like to be one of His watchmen on the wall, trying to discern what God is doing and saying as well as what the dark realm is up to at this crucial time in world history.

Among other things, I will continue to help with the Go Decade prayer and mission effort for a while longer and possibly share articles or prayer concerns in Connections from time to time.

May our gracious Lord guide, encourage, and bless each of you in your lives and ministries and may His best be yet to come for each of you!

Yours in Christ,
John

John D Robb – Chairman
International Prayer Connect

We are excited to announce the launch of a Global Online 24/7 Prayer Room beginning January 1st of 2021! This "Global Family" is a collaboration of many international ministries from all six continents and will be hosted in many languages using Zoom.

We would like to invite YOU to join us. Each hour will be Spirit-led, Bible-based, Worship-fed, and Christ-exalted times of prayer to multiple gospel movements across the earth. We are encouraging facilitators to include a special time each hour on the remaining unreached peoples.

First, we want to invite you (personally, your church, city, organization, network, etc.) to join us when available each week of 2021 to join hands with this collaboration in prayer.

Second, we'd like to invite you (with at least one back up person who could act as room host) to commit to facilitating prayer the same hour each week for the 52 weeks of 2021.

There will be training and resources available to Hour leaders as we near to the start of the 24/7 Global Family. For more information and how to sign up, visit https://www.globalfamily24-7prayer.org

To Christ be the Glory,

Jonathan Friz, 10Days   |   Dr. Jason Hubbard & John Robb, IPC   |   Dr. Jonathan Armstrong, AQ
Elizabeth Adleta, FPS   |   Soloman Lujan, the Seed Company   |   Jenny Oliphant, Ethne Prayer Team

A December prayer report looking at Progress with developing Vaccines, Covid-19 Hot Spots and some suggested Prayer Pointers with Links to Resources:

As of 1^st December, the total global figure for people infected by Covid-19 stands at 63.5 million according to Johns Hopkins University. In addition to this, the recorded number who have died totals 1,474,643.

Covid-19 hot spots

Here are the 3 most affected countries / regions…

The US continues to be the country with the highest numbers confirmed cases and deaths related to Covid-19 globally with figures at around 13,605,981 and 269,192 respectively. The daily infection rate has increased dramatically over the past month to around 160,000 new cases per day and new deaths are projected at around 1,500 a day (7 day average) according to Worldometer.

India, which reported its first case on January 30, is the second worst-hit country in the world by the pandemic after the United States.  The health ministry's most recent figures reported 31,118 infections and 482 deaths in the past 24 hours - bringing the overall case count above 9.4 million and the death toll to 137,621.

There have been at least 6,335,800 cases of the coronavirus in Brazil, according to data from state governments. As of Tuesday afternoon, 173,120 people had died. President Jair Bolsonaro announced on July 7 that he had tested positive for the virus.

Many nations are approaching or coming out of second spikes of infection cases and deaths.   The economic impact has been vast, with many countries borrowing significant proportions of their GDP at rates not experienced since the second world war.

Vaccine update

Two of the vaccine trials have reported positive results in the last few weeks.  Moderna said Monday that its Covid-19 vaccine continued to deliver strong efficacy results, showing 94% efficacy in the main analysis of its key study. The company said it would immediately seek regulatory clearances in the U.S. and Europe.

The milestone suggests that there could be two vaccines against the SARS-CoV-2 virus before the end of 2020. Pfizer and BioNTech released positive results for a similar vaccine on Nov. 18, and requested an emergency use authorization, or EUA, from the Food and Drug Administration two days later. 

A third one, the Oxford University/AstraZeneca vaccine will undergo a new global trial as critics questioned the claim that it could protect up to 90% of people against coronavirus.

Sir John Bell, Oxford’s regius professor of medicine and the UK government’s life sciences adviser, dismissed suggestions the previous trial had not been properly set up or reported. “We weren’t cooking this up as we went along,” he said, adding that he hoped the full, peer-reviewed data would be published in the Lancet medical journal at the weekend.

In spite of the public excitement generated by the announcement that a third vaccine had been successful – with particular promise for developing countries as it is relatively cheap and can be stored at fridge temperature – AstraZeneca’s share price dropped.

There are currently more than 100 COVID-19 vaccine candidates under development, with a number of these in the human trial phase. WHO is working in collaboration with scientists, business, and global health organizations through the ACT Accelerator to speed up the pandemic response. When a safe and effective vaccine is found, COVAX (led by WHO, GAVI and  CEPI) will facilitate the equitable access and distribution of these vaccines to protect people in all countries. People most at risk will be prioritized.

Over 150 countries equivalent to 64% of the world’s population have pooled efforts and resources to set up the COVID-19 Vaccines Global Access Facility, otherwise known as COVAX. The benefits of this are that all member parties can take advantage of successful vaccines produced from their collective library so that everyone will have access to a working product in the shortest time frame possible. In the event that a country’s own vaccine plans fall through, they will have a backup option in COVAX. Notably absent from this coalition are China and USA.

COVAX have now announced a plan to fairly distribute working vaccines around the world going first to front-line workers and then to those at highest risk. However, funding to provide vaccines to lower income countries is not yet sufficient as only $800 million of the $2 billion required has been raised.

Let’s Pray…

Let us continue to declare that the novel coronavirus is defeated by the blood of Jesus.
We pray for divine intervention and for God's name to be glorified even as each nation and government tries its best to flatten the curve, prevent and lessen the impact of second and third spikes and finally arrest this epidemic.
We release wisdom, skill, and integrity upon our leaders.
We pray for protection, wisdom and strength, for those working to bring treatment and comfort to the sick and their families.
We pray release and healing from mental illnesses as a result of the lock-downs.
We pray special grace and help for the vulnerable and lesser-developed nations.
We pray for refugees and displaced peoples. We pray against domestic violence and other crimes that have become rampant during lockdowns.
We pray for a safe, effective, and affordable vaccine to be released soonest but without including aborted baby cells in its creation or neglecting proper testing protocols.
We pray that the vaccine will be accessible to all nations and plead generosity of spirit from the wealthier economies.
We continue to release faith, hope, and love over the peoples of the world. May the Church seize this opportune time to manifest Jesus our Lord and Savior to those who are seeking answers and peace.

President Ashraf Ghani is holding up a tentative agreement on the talks’ framework, some officials say. His aides say no agreement was near.

President Ashraf Ghani of Afghanistan has refused to let peace talks move forward even though the Taliban and government negotiators have reached a tentative agreement on the talks’ guiding principles, Afghan officials say, further stalling the process despite nearing an apparent breakthrough after months of effort.

The Taliban exposed those fault lines on Saturday when the insurgent group announced on social media that both sides had agreed to the nearly two dozen points under discussion earlier this month — a framework for how talks would go forward, including points of protocol and how issues would be presented.

But some government officials immediately pushed back on that claim, insisting that details still needed to be worked out and that no agreement had been reached. They say the Taliban were pressured by Western officials to signal a breakthrough.

Three Afghan officials with knowledge of the talks said that Mr. Ghani took exception to at least one detail, insisting that the government side be referred to by its formal name, the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, rather than by a more generic reference.

Such details have broken down efforts to negotiate before. The Taliban’s past insistence on being referred to as the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan — the name of their government when they were in power — derailed an effort at talks in 2013 and was a sticking point in the talks between the United States and the Taliban that eventually led to a deal opening the way for a troop withdrawal, officials said.

That the Taliban were not sticking to that title in the guiding framework this month — agreeing to less specific references to the government and insurgent sides, and to other more central points of contention — was seen as an important accomplishment.

Now, the talks have been cast into further doubt by Mr. Ghani’s demand, officials and analysts said.

In a statement on Monday, Sediq Sediqqi, an Afghan presidential spokesman, said that Mr. Ghani was “steadfast in his resolve to make the peace talks succeed and that “some of the views” in this Times article were “unwarranted and baseless,” but he did not elaborate further.

“At this stage the whole process has shifted to both sides’ convincing an international audience that the other side is disingenuous,” said Ibraheem Bahiss, an independent Afghan research analyst. “But long term, it could strengthen the hand of those within the Taliban that advocate for a military solution and view the current process as fruitless.”

American and Western diplomatic officials have not publicly responded to the breakdown. But people with direct knowledge of the talks in Doha, Qatar, have described diplomats as being frustrated with Mr. Ghani’s stance, and have suggested that the government negotiating team has been functionally split between loyalists to Mr. Ghani and other officials who are frustrated with him.

The introductory talks, which opened in hope and spectacle in Qatar in September, have unfolded over months of brutal violence back in Afghanistan. The Taliban have intensified their offensives in crucial provinces, leading the government to accuse the insurgents of holding the talks hostage with their violence.

On Sunday, a stolen Humvee laden with explosives and crewed by a suicide bomber rammed into an Afghan military base in Ghazni Province, killing at least 30 security force members, government officials said.

There may be other crucial reasons that Mr. Ghani and his aides are digging in, as well.

More: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/29/world/asia/afghanistan-taliban-peace-talks.html

Pray that the escalating violence and bombings in Afghanistan will stop
Pray that there will be an end to the impasse so that serious negotiations can begin
Pray for peace in Afghanistan where the people have suffered for too long