John Robb, chairman of the International Prayer Council, can testify to the power of transformational prayer in some of the most difficult places in the world. After a personal encounter with God that stopped him in his tracks, he started taking teams of prayer leaders into war zones. ‘We prayed for the healing and transformation of war-torn nations and saw some amazing wonders happen,’ says Robb. The youtube video link herewith gives just a few of the most impacting stories from Cambodia, Bosnia, Afghanistan, Sierra Leone and Mexico. Prayer is awesome and we have been given the authority to make the invisible kingdom visible.

Three years after Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak stepped down in the wake of nationwide protests, Christian workers in Egypt are finding an openness rarely experienced before. Forgiveness, and the non-retaliation of Christians, were both unexpected and unprecedented, but have had a huge impact on many non-Christians. Egyptians are now openly questioning their traditional faith, and expressing doubts aloud, said Patrick Stein, a Christian worker in Egypt and leader of a church-planting team there. To doubt isn't rare, but to openly challenge beliefs is. ‘They are hungry for truth in a way that was not present before,’ said Stein. ‘If I am talking to people at a teashop, people around who are not a part of the conversation will often stop me afterwards and want to know more,’ he said. ‘They will ask me their deep questions that have been troubling their hearts for years.’

Romania has a new President, Mr Klaus Johannis. The new president has a personal relationship with the Lord. (See last week’s Prayer Alert) Thank you for your prayer support. The Lord is setting free the Romanian people after 70 years of the demonic influence of communism. Mr Johannis started the election day worshipping the Lord in his local church in Sibiu. There are many things to be shared about the election, but one is clear for all: around 3:00 pm the people started to vote in huge numbers on behalf of Mr Johannis until the end of the legal time. The difference is almost incredible for the politicians: Mr Johannis won by a margin of over 8%. This was considered as an answer to the prayers of His people and God's intervention in the nation.

Prayer is especially important for those that educate others. The third Tuesday of November every year is Pray Day, when schools across Europe and around the world are the focus of prayer. This year it will be held on Tuesday 18 November, with UK schools taking part. Intercessors and students alike are looking at Colossians 4. While we can't watch our children at every point of the day, we can ask God to protect, care for, and watch over them. Teachers have the often stressful task of moulding children for the future, and many Christian teachers find that prayer helps them do their jobs with more patience and joy. The day is for all types of school from nursery to sixth form, pupils, school staff, governors, parents, church leaders, youth workers and anyone else concerned about young people, anyone who believes that God hears our prayers.

A pastor and Vietnam veteran is on a cross-country march for spiritual awakening in America. Sixty-eight-year-old Chick McGill of Tennessee said God moved him to make the trek from sea to shining sea. Starting in North Carolina, McGill is walking 3,200 miles with an American flag calling attention to the Ten Commandments, the Golden Rule, and his nation's founding principles. While walking, he said he salutes every passing driver along the way. Many people stop to talk with him. He said prayer is the only thing that can change the nation. ‘He (God) approached me three times,’ McGill said. ‘The first two times I thought I was hallucinating. The third time I said, 'This is God talking to me'. 'I can't argue with God,' he added.

North Korea has released American missionary Kenneth Bae, who his family said had been imprisoned for his Christian faith, along with fellow US citizen Matthew Todd Miller. The Office of the Director of National Intelligence (DNI) confirmed that Bae and Miller are on their way back to the United States. Kenneth Bae, 45, had been held since 2012. He was sentenced to 15 years' hard labour on charges of trying ‘to overthrow’ the state. However family members linked the detention of the Korean-American to his Christian work in a nation where devoted Christians are forced to meet underground. Many thousands of Christians are believed to be among those held in prison camps, according to several advocacy groups and other sources. Fellow prisoner Todd, 24, was detained in April after he tore his tourist visa to pieces and shouted that he had come ‘to the DPRK after choosing it as a shelter,’ North Korea said at the time.

One Chadian man’s violent fits were healed by the ceaseless prayers of the Guinebor II Hospital staff. Bousanna Barnabus probably did not expect to be healed with prayer when he came to the BMS World Mission hospital, located outside N'Djamena, Chad. After four days of continuous epileptic fits, Bousanna’s family brought him semi-conscious to the hospital for treatment. The attacks left him mentally and physically exhausted and very afraid. Bousanna had one moment of clarity and he used it to ask for prayer. When he did this it felt as if something amazing was happening. And it was. As Christians, we know that prayer is a powerful thing. We ask for safety, healing, wisdom and more, knowing that God will provide what we need at precisely the right time. In Bousanna’s case this is exactly what happened, and we give thanks.

The mother of Imprisoned American pastor Saeed Abedini went to Iran to support her son and try to secure his release. However, while in Iran she has been facing increasing violent threats against her, and although she did not want to leave Iran and did not want to say goodbye to her son, she had to leave to guarantee her safety. Fox news reported on Wednesday, ‘Saeed's mom is now safely out of the country, we look forward to seeing her soon here in the United States. It has been a difficult time for everyone

European leaders agreed to $1.26 billion in funding to fight Ebola in West Africa by the end of the year at an EU summit in Brussels on Friday. Over the weekend the first $254 million was put at the disposal of international efforts, including almost $30.5 million toward the development of a vaccine. ‘In the case of the Ebola disease, the international community, all of us, underestimated the danger and the extent of the threat,’ said   commissioner-elect for humanitarian aid and crisis management, Christos Stylianides. Stylianides is the EU’s new Ebola response coordinator, a decision that also came out of last Friday’s meeting. As for how the money allocated by EU is being spent, ‘we have sent medical and humanitarian experts to the affected countries and deployed mobile laboratories,’ he said. ‘We are getting vital supplies shipped to the region.’

God is touching hearts in powerful ways, unleashing His Spirit among refugees, their families, and into surrounding communities and nations. ‘There is something happening right now that is unprecedented,’ says Brother Thomas, from All Nations. ‘The spiritual openness is incredible.’ As he toured a ramshackle refugee camp composed of cardboard, wood slats and plastic tarps, he found many who had visions and dreams of Jesus. ‘Almost every family we visited had some kind of experience, either through dreams or someone had given them a New Testament in the medical clinic or prayed for them. There was fear and uncertainty about the future. Because the war is Muslim against Muslim they have a feeling there has to be something better. They are looking for answers. Over and over we saw people who have questions, who want to know more about Jesus.’ Other Christian workers are equally amazed. Some have been there 17-20 years and it is mind boggling for them.