The World Prayer Assembly is a response to God’s movement of prayer around the world. While the WPA will serve as a catalyst for the growth of this movement, we believe that prayer for the WPA and those who are involved in the planning process is absolutely essential. Please join with us in prayer for the World Prayer Assembly as teams work together in several critical areas. We must be united in prayer for the WPA if we are to see God do what only He can do. Keep in mind that the WPA is intended to be a 'new paradigm' 'for an international congress, carried out in Acts 13 style, incorporating listening to God, uniting in prayer and seeking to implement strategically the world-impacting actions that proceed out of our encounter with the Lord and one another.

Pray: that the Holy Spirit will bring unity as the intercessors and delegates seek God to let a ‘New Wave’ of His Glory Fill the Earth! (Jn.17:20)

More: http://www.wpa2012.org/content/call_to_prayer

Amid global euphoria over reforms in Burman-majority parts of Burma, life has changed little for more than 3 million Christians and other minorities left to suffer from one of the world’s longest running civil wars. Headlines around the world hailed the induction on Wednesday (May 2) of opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi into parliament as the beginning of a new era in Burma, officially known as Myanmar. But for the 150,000 Internally Displaced People (IDP) living in eastern Karen state’s 4,000 IDP camps, life is still about landmine blasts, gun and mortar attacks, and the possibility of a final war between armed insurgents and the Burma army. Burmese President Thein Sein, a former military general, has introduced political reforms – the release of hundreds of political prisoners, new laws allowing labour unions and strikes and a gradual easing of media restrictions – and has reportedly ordered troops to stop offensive in ethnic areas, but senior military officials have not heeded his orders.

Pray: that the President’s instructions would be obeyed by the military authorities in respect of the Karen people. (Mt.8:9)

More: http://www.opendoorsuk.org/news/stories/index.php?newsitem=0&date=04may2012

CSW reported Burma's ethnic people are being neglected, highlighting regular use of rape, forced labour, religious persecution, torture and killings in Kachin State where the Army has been waging an offensive against ethnic civilians since breaking a 17-year ceasefire in June. The pastor of a Baptist Church was arrested at 3pm on Nov. 17th while in a store speaking on the phone. Local sources say no reasons were given for his arrest and his whereabouts are unknown. A mother of a 14-month old baby was captured by the Army and forced to work as a porter. She is believed to be held in a camp and repeatedly gang-raped. The Army commander promised her family she would be released by Nov. 2nd but she was not released. An assistant to the pastor of an AoG church died on Nov. 7th a day after severe torture when soldiers attacked and looted the church.

Pray: for the Burmese regime to stop attacking its citizens, and begin a process that will secure peace and protect human rights. (Pr.18:4-5)

More: http://www.christiantelegraph.com/issue14628.html

Christian Solidarity Worldwide reported, ‘Kachin State sent a letter to local churches, ‘concerning Christians conducting cultural training,’ requiring Christians in Phakant Township to submit a request at least 15 days in advance for permission to conduct ‘short-term Bible study, Bible study, Sunday school, reading the Bible, fasting prayer, Seasonal Bible study and Rosary of the Virgin Mary Prayer.’ CSW said a request for permission must be accompanied by recommendations from other departments and submitted to the Township Administration Office. Meanwhile because Burma’s health spending is less than $5 dollars per person the Anglican Church has recruited hundreds of volunteer health workers to be sent to rural communities to provide education particularly pertaining to HIV (a subject that is taboo in Burma.)

Pray: for the Lord to bring about a change amongst Burmese leaders in attitude towards religious minorities. (Pr.21:1)

More: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/new.restrictions.on.religious.activity.in.burmas.kachin.state/28850.htm

There are reports of ‘grave’ human rights violations in the largely Christian Kachin area of Burma. Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) heard first-hand accounts of the killing of unarmed civilians by the Burmese army and instances of torture and abuse. The report was based on interviews with internally displaced people from Kachin State and northern Shah State. It follows a three-week fact-finding visit to Rangoon and Kachin State on the China-Burma border. Witnesses also told of rape and the destruction of homes, churches and villages. CSW concludes in the report that while ‘a window of opportunity for change in Burma after decades of oppression and conflict may have now opened’, the situation in Kachin and northern Shan States illustrate that ‘there is still a very long way to go’. It goes on to outline the measures that need to be taken to ensure a lasting peace process, including a ‘genuine inclusive political process’ involving all ethnic nationalities, the democracy movement and the government.

Pray: for the pressure for real change in Burma to grow and that the political and religious minorities will be kept safe. (Ps.12:7)

More: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/csw.reports.grave.human.rights.violations.in.burma/29312.htm

Christian leaders in Burma are holding peace talks with the country’s central government whih they hope will help to end the 60-year conflict that has exhausted the nation’s civilian population. The rare opportunity for change has resulted in a group of Karen National Union leaders establishing a peace committee in hopes of capitalising on the transformations occurring in their fractured country. The Karen are a predominantly Christian minority group located in eastern and southern regions of the country that have been at war with the government since shortly after Burma gained independence from the UK in 1948. Ryan Morgan, an advocacy officer at International Christian Concern, ‘is hoping these talks are going to produce lasting results. ICC is excited about the possibility of changes and we are watching them closely.' I think it’s important, though, that the international community and other organisations stay aware of the plight of Christians living in Burma,’ he added.

Pray: for the nation of Burma and especially the predominantly Christian Karen minority group as they enter into these peace talks. (Lev.26:6)

More: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/burmas.christians.in.peace.talks.with.government/29151.htm

Burma doesn't seem to have made as many advances as it first appeared in a year of change. This was the conclusion of The Chin Human Rights Organization (CHRO) which released a new report last week. According to their findings, Christian Chin from western Burma are denied religious freedom and face coercion to convert to Buddhism. They're not alone. Dyann Romeijn of Vision Beyond Borders says, ‘The report is specifically about the Chin and the persecution that they face, but we're seeing the same things throughout all the ethnic groups in Burma.’ CHRO exposed a decades-long pattern of religious freedom violations and human rights abuses including forced labour and torture which has led thousands to flee their homeland. Romeijn says ‘along with the abused Chin are members of the Kachin tribes and the Karen. It's bad for everyone. All the same policies that were in place before continue; the Kachin in northern Burma are being highly persecuted.’

Pray: for the protection of God's people against those who persecute them. (Ps.9:13)

More: http://www.mnnonline.org/article/17664

On November 30th as US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton arrived in Burma to support Burma's apparent reforms to discuss minority rights, government troops killed civilians and burned houses 450 miles away in Christian majority state Kachin. Soldiers fired four rounds of mortar shells at civilians killing a woman and injuring six other villagers in Waingmaw Township, a battalion burned down ten homes in Nam Wai village and five in Hpa Ke village. The killing and arson followed two explosions that killed a student and injured another the previous night in Myitkyina. Local residents suspected government agents planted the bombs. The twin blasts rocked the state capital days after an explosion killed seven children and three internally displaced Kachin people and injured 16 children at an orphanage. Two sons and a grandson of a Christian couple who run the orphanage in their home were among those killed, but police arrested the family, alleging they had detonated it.

Pray: for the Burmese authorities to honour their agreement to implement minority rights reforms. (Am.5:24)

More: http://www.compassdirect.org/english/country/burma/article_124091.html