Displaying items by tag: IPC
5 Days of Prayer for the Khawlan Tribe – 14-18th Feb
The Lord has moved the hearts of workers in Saudi Arabia and Yemen to have a special prayer focus for the Khawlan people, a tribe with their unique Semitic language living in a region that straddles the border between Yemen and Saudi Arabia.
During a special prayer gathering in Saudi Arabia for the Khawlan Tribe in October, those present sensed that God was encouraging a call for the global church to join in a five day prayer focus for these unreached people. Would you join in? We are happy to have people pray at any time, but there will be a special prayer focus for the Khawlan people from February 14-18, 2020.
On the PTAP website, there is a prayer video and a 5-day prayer guide available.
Also, you are free to use the material if you find it useful. PTAP has prepared this material to be used, so please distribute it in any format that suits you and your organization. These materials have been translated into English, Korean and Spanish. Also Arabic, Chinese and Portuguese translations will be available soon.
More information can be found at https://www.pray-ap.info/focus.html
IPC Calendar
2020 a year of evangelism across the UK
Global Gathering of networks engaged in church planting - Thailand - 3-8 February. (Invite only)
5 Days of Prayer for the Khawlan Tribe - 14-18th Feb
Seek God for the City Feb 26–Apr 5, 2020
https://waymakers.org/pray/seek-god/
The World Prayer Centre, Birmingham, UK, National Conference 9-11 March
Watchmen Gathering - Seoul, South Korea, 25th-28th March
North East Asia Prayer Summit, Seoul, South Korea, April 7-9, 2020
Go 2020 – Reaching 1 Billion for Christ - May 2020
4th Caribbean Prayer Summit, Montego Bay, 21st-24th May,
EMAIL: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
10 days Spring - May 21- 31
One God - One Day - One Africa – 31st May 2020
The Graham tour 2020. 9 cities celebrating Billy Graham crusades across the UK
www.billygraham.org.uk/p/coming-in-2020-graham-tour-uk/
17th SEA PRAYER Council in Hanoi, Vietnam - 6-9 October
National Prayer Assembly (USA), Washington, D.C., October 14-15
www.nationalprayerassembly.com
UPRising Events Calendar
UPRISING EUROPE (Battle, UK) – July 6-10, 2020
FB: Uprising Europe
IG: @uprisingeurope
UPRISING AUSTRALIA (Sydney, Australia) -- July 14-18, 2020
FB: UPRising Australia
IG: @uprising.australia
UPRISING NEW ENGLAND (New England, USA)-- Nov 19-21, 2020
FB: United Prayer Rising - New England
- UPRISING MINDANAO (Mindanao, Philippines)-- dates TBA
- UPRISING BUKIDNON (Northern Mindanao)
- UPRISING CARAGA (Butuan, Bislig, and Surigao)
- UPRISING DIGOS (Davao Del Sur)
- UPRISING CENTRAL MINDANAO (South Cotabato, Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani, and General Santos)
FB: United Prayer Rising Mindanao
FB: United Prayer Rising North Mindanao
IG: @uprisingmindanao
The Prayer Covenant for Children
Luke 11 opens with the disciples’ simple request, Lord teach us to pray. Since its first publication in 2014, when Tom Victor invited us to launch this book at the 4/14 Best Practices Conference in NYC, God has used The Prayer Covenant for Children to share the gospel message and disciple the hearts of children while teaching them to pray. As children experience the power of answered prayer, they are excited, their faith is strengthened, and they want to pray more.
Prayer is one of the most important spiritual disciplines we can teach our children because prayer nurtures their relationship with Jesus and produces faith that will last a lifetime. The more time they spend with Jesus, the more they become like Jesus—full of his grace, love, compassion and forgiveness. In becoming more like Jesus, they begin to see the world through his eyes and are burdened for those around them. Daily they are praying, “Use me for your glory and to invite others to follow you.” And Jesus is answering their prayers. It is why we have partnered with Go2020 and are excited to see this untapped harvest force being used by God to reach the world for Christ.
God is using The Prayer Covenant to facilitate a movement of prayer and evangelism among children and youth worldwide. As children embark on this prayer journey, they are experiencing God in powerful ways. They are learning how to obey him and respond to the promptings of his Holy Spirit.
Learning to listen is something children are discovering as they grow in a lifestyle of prayer. Our listening to God is as important as our prayers. He speaks through his Word, and often through the gentle promptings of his Holy Spirit. Young Samuel in the Bible learned to discern his voice and God was able to use him to lead a nation.
The mission of The Prayer Covenant is our passion: leading children and adults to follow Jesus through the power of the Prayer Covenant. As we are equipping children with this tool, God is miraculously working in and through them in powerful ways. We have reached over 4 million children in 53 countries worldwide— 4 million children following Jesus together! 4 million children learning to hear and obey his voice!
The Prayer Covenant is not just about establishing a lifestyle of prayer, but about raising life-long disciples of Jesus Christ. It is not just a prayer to pray for the sake of praying, it is an active prayer, seeking results in our lives.
Dear heavenly Father,
Thank you for loving me and making me one of your children.
Help me love and obey you.
Help me love others the way you love me.
I am sorry for my sins. Wash me clean.
I will praise you with my whole heart!
Jesus, I want to follow you as my Lord. Change me any way you want.
Fill me with your Holy Spirit. I want to know your plans for me.
Make me a messenger of your grace, truth and justice.
Use me for your glory and to invite others to follow you.
In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
Manjeet Kaur, from North India, is fruit of the Sunday school where she learned about Jesus Christ through The Power of the Prayer Covenant for Children. Our leader there shared:
“Manjeet was born and brought up in a Hindu family. Being Hindu they used to worship idols and believing all rituals. Her father used to drink and always fought with her mother and beat her. Once our coach visited her house and invited her to Sunday school. For one year Manjeet attended regularly and learned about Jesus and received him into her life. She invited her teacher to come to her house and talk with her father. He prayed for her father and said, ‘Jesus will give you living water if you will believe in Him.’ After listening, her Father responded positively and showed interest to know more about Jesus. A few days later her father left his drinking habit and believed in Jesus Christ. His life has changed and is experiencing the true peace only Jesus can give. Their entire family has become Christ followers.”
One generation will commend your works to another; they will tell of your mighty acts. They will speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty…. Psalm 145:4,5
Together let us seize the eternally purposed opportunity to lead our hearts and the hearts of our children directly to all that is true and good: to Christ Himself.
Candy Marballi – IPC Leadership Team
www.theprayercovenant.org/children/index.html
Pray for Zero – Printable Prayer Card
In 2019 over 300 people groups received the Bible in their language for the first time!
Brothers and sisters within the International Prayer Council network this would not have happened without your prayers, thank you!
Pray for ZERO Movement 2020 is partnering with Youth With a Mission, GO2020 and another 120 ministries to mobilize 1 million intercessors for the 2,000 Unreached Bibleless peoples of the world.
Within this flood of prayer we are looking especially for those who would Prayer Walk amongst the Unreached Bibleless.
There are currently 197 countries where the Bibleless currently exist, so there is much opportunity for those willing to partner. In December 800 missionaries were sent to prayer walk amongst 292 Unreached Bibleless peoples!
Please download and pray into the new Pray for ZERO Card 2020 and if you interested in creatively designed prayer walk resources as well as more information about contributing to the goal of 2,020 prayer walks in 2020, then please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Thank you!
Download the Pray for Zero Prayer Card HERE
Adopt an unreached people group. Intercede for the Bibleless. Visit www.prayforzero.com #prayforZERO
Editorial: Desperate Prayer for a ‘Decade of Harvest’
Desperate Prayer for a ‘Decade of Harvest’
Psalm 126:5–6 (ESV), “Those who sow in tears shall reap with shouts of joy! He who goes out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, bringing his sheaves with him.
My wife has been on a long journey of suffering from migraine headaches for the last 20yrs. Often she has to be in a dark space, crying out in pain until it passes. We have struggled over the years asking the questions of “why” and “how long.” We know and trust in the goodness of God and continue to believe God, asking for his healing power! My wife is an amazing woman, godly wife and nurturing mom. I often hear her interceding in the midst of her suffering and pain and I know this touches and moves the heart of God. Often the only thing we are left with is desperate prayer. This kind of prayer is born out of human inability to make anything to happen, where we recognize we can do nothing about the situation… But God!
Throughout history, believers have cried out to God in times of distress. Sometimes after years of desperate praying, a single cry brings direction or deliverance instantly. The promise is clear:
“Call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me” (Psalm 50:15).
Here are some examples of people crying out to the Lord
• A cry of deep distress
“You saw the affliction of our fathers in Egypt, And heard their cry” (Nehemiah 9:9).
• To cry out for help
“He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him; He also will hear their cry and save them” (Psalm 145:19).
• To shout a war cry
“Then the men of Judah gave a shout [ruwa]: and as the men of Judah shouted, it came to pass, that God smote Jeroboam and all Israel” (II Chronicles 13:15).
• A cry of deep distress
“When He avenges blood, He remembers them; He does not forget the cry of the humble” (Psalm 9:12).
• To cry out
“But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!” And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him” (Matt 14:30-31).
• To implore with strong voice
“And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily” (Luke 18:7).
Crying out to God often with tears is an act of desperation and total consecration. It is a fervent expression of faith in God and trust in His goodness and power to act on our behalf. As Spurgeon said, “tears are liquid prayer.”
Jeremiah, often described as the weeping prophet, was a man caught up in the heart of the weeping God. As he walked through the streets and alleys of the Holy City and saw nothing but pain, suffering, and destruction in the wake of the Babylonian invasion of 586 BC, he writes,
“Their heart cried out to the Lord, “O wall of the daughter of Zion, Let tears run down like a river day and night; Give yourself no relief; Give your eyes no rest. 19 “Arise, cry out in the night, At the beginning of the watches; Pour out your heart like water before the face of the Lord. Lift your hands toward Him For the life of your young children, Who faint from hunger at the head of every street” (Lam 2:18-19).
Not only do we see believers throughout Scripture crying out to God often with tears, our God is also a ‘weeping God.’ Jesus himself, wept with his grieving friends over Lazarus. Jesus wept over Jerusalem as he rode in on Palm Sunday, and Jesus wept in the agony of prayer at Gethsemane hours before the cross. The author of Hebrews writes,
“In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence” (Hebrews 5:7).
Not only does Jesus weep over the lost and the broken but he also weeps over us with compassion in the midst of our pain and loss. He cares so deeply for each one of us. Only a weeping God can truly wipe away our tears. Think how close Jesus has to be to take his thumb to our face and wipe away the pain, and disappointment in our lives!
It so important for us to slow down, and let our hearts be gripped with the compassionate heart of Jesus. May we take time to watch Jesus weep, crawl under his burden, and cry out for his intervention!
It is this type of intercession, crying out to the Lord that often brings a breakthrough. When Jesus saw Mary weeping over her brother Lazarus, he was moved with compassion and raised him from the dead! God promises that those who ‘weep’ will ‘reap’ a harvest!
“Those who sow in tears shall reap with shouts of joy! 6 He who goes out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, bringing his sheaves with him” (Psalm 126:5-6).
The Bible is utterly unfamiliar with casual praying.
Jesus was clear that those who reject him will spend an eternity in hell, ‘weeping and gnashing their teeth’ (Matt 8:12). May God grip us with the reality of millions walking on the broad road that leads to destruction. May we cry out and weep over them for their salvation!
When Jesus taught us to pray to our Father in heaven, He used the Greek word proseuchomai—the common word for prayer in the New Testament. But in Matthew 9:38 and Lk 10:2, Jesus used the Greek word deomai, a much stronger word meaning to ‘plead desperately.’ Also Jesus didn’t simply tell His disciples to pray for laborers to be sent out to the harvest fields. Jesus used a much stronger word—ekballo, meaning to ‘drive out, or hurl forth!’ This same Greek word ekballo is used in Mt 9:34, 10:1 and 10:8 for casting out demons! In both Matthew 9:38 and Lk 10:2, Jesus commands us to deomai (plead desperately) to the Lord of the Harvest to ekballo laborers (thrust them forcefully) into His harvest!
This year we are partnering with Go2020 to see 100 million united in prayer to see 1 billion come to Christ over this next decade! http://www.go2020.world/prayer
As John Robb writes,
“No one organization or movement can accomplish such a staggering feat, but if we flow together like tributaries in one unstoppable river, this can be achieved! Getting God’s heart of love for the lost through prayer will lead to our sharing Jesus with them in the power and sensitivity of the Holy Spirit just as the early church experienced” -John Robb
It will truly require desperate prayer to see these outcomes come to pass this next decade!
• 100 million Christians inspired and empowered by the Holy Spirit to pray and share the Gospel with as many as possible in their own communities and to the ends of the earth.
• One billion people being reached with the Gospel and millions upon millions getting saved all over the world over the course of this next decade!
• Unreached people groups hearing the Gospel for the first time and planting new churches among them. We have put together a helpful guide to praying for unreached peoples around the world. Here is the link https://drive.google.com/file/d/1EksUzKPVPfkKg8Ki2bLnDaeaCqFa3UZC/view
• 50 million new believers integrated into existing and new churches.
We praise God for the promise that the “effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much” (James 5:16).
In our desperation we want to encourage people to Pray God’s Word for the Nations! In 2020 believers and organizations across the globe are celebrating the Year of the Bible! The vision is for 2 million people to pray for renewed Scripture engagement - www.yearofthebible.com.
A great resource we recommend for praying God’s word for the nations is Dick Eastman’s book “A Watchman’s Guide to Praying God’s Promises.” You can request your free copy at www.ehc.org/free-books
May we cry out in 2020 to the Lord of the Harvest in fervent, desperate, Bible-based prayer for a coming ‘Decade of Harvest.’ May the Lamb who was slain receive the due reward for his sufferings!
“Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing” – Revelation 5:12
For the Glory of the Lamb,
Jason Hubbard - Executive Co-ordinator
International Prayer Connect
Answered Prayers - Bolivia Elections
Our IPC colleague, Yanira Gonzalez received this good news / answered prayers message from Gabo & Shelly Castro who run 'Talita Cumi', one of the orphanages (kids 0-5 yrs) in Cochabamba, Bolivia. They are part of the Latin America network of Children in Prayer.
I am so pleased to write with GOOD NEWS!!!
Things in Bolivia have improved SIGNIFICANTLY!!! Thank you for praying!
Evo Morales fled the country and has taken asylum in Mexico. The constitutionally empowered interim president (Jeanine Añez), has called for new elections (probably in April 2020) and has done a wonderful job at establishing order.
While there is still protesting and occasional riots (from Evo supporters- wanting him to return to power and pushing to pass a law to give him and all of his highest officials immunity to all criminal charges), the peace has basically been restored.
Family and staff report that public transportation is functioning normally and that, apart from a slight cost elevation, they are able to access everything they need. We are SO THANKFUL and so RELIEVED!!
Despite Evo’s plan to remain in power, the people stood together for freedom and for democracy. I feel honored to have witnessed this incredible historical moment for Bolivia; old men and women pulled out their wooden stools to sit in the streets and support the blockades; young men and women came together to protect the people and freedom for the following generations. When the police sided with the people and were cut off from the government; the nation came together to protect and provide for them; organizing themselves in each neighborhood to make meals for each of the stations. When there were threats that the military was going to attack the police force, entire families made massive human barricades around the stations; telling the military that they would have to kill hundreds of unarmed citizens before they got to the police.
Evo executed his plans, but God’s prevailed!!!
I am so proud of the Bolivian people and the example they now are to so many nations around the world deep in this fight for freedom.
The best part: THE KIDS HAVE NO IDEA!! While I’m sure they knew something was up; not going to school and dynamite going off just blocks from the front door; the staff did an incredible job of protecting their minds and hearts. They played games, watched movies, did their school work at home, and had birthday parties.
I am forever thankful for the tias and their hard work and tangible testimony of Jesus’ love to the children not only in this tumultuous time, but always.
Praise: God for answered prayers – and for this breakthrough that brings a positive window of opportunity for the people of Bolivia.
Praise: God for the way that the people stood arm in arm – in unity, in support of the police.
Pray: that the Bolivian elections are conducted fairly and democratically.
Pray: that men and women of God will be prompted to stand for election.
Pray: that all the misappropriated assets will be recovered and those involved in corrupt activities will be brought to justice.
China Summons U.S. after Uyghur Bill Demands Sanctions
Beijing has summoned a U.S. diplomat after lawmakers in Washington approved legislation that calls for sanctions against senior Chinese officials for human rights violations linked to a crackdown on the country's Muslim minority.
The Uighur (Uyghur) Act of 2019 criticizes Beijing's "gross human rights violations" in the northwestern region of Xinjiang, where about 1 million Uyghurs and other mostly Muslim minorities are held in internment camps.
The measure passed 407 to 1 on December 3 and is a stronger version of the bill that cleared the Senate in September. The two documents must be reconciled into one bill for U.S. President Trump's signature, or veto.
China has defended the existence of the internment camps, which it says are used for "re-education" and has denied mistreating Uyghurs.
"We urge the U.S. to immediately correct its mistakes, prevent the aforementioned Xinjiang-related bill from becoming law, and stop using the Xinjiang-related issue to interfere in China's internal affairs," a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said in a statement on December 4.
Chinese media later reported that Vice Foreign Minister Qin Gang had summoned William Klein, the charge d'affaires of the US Embassy in China, to lodge "strong protests" against the bill.
"Any attempt to stir up ethnic relations in China, undermine Xinjiang's prosperity and stability, and curb China's development and progress is doomed to fail," Qin said, according to state broadcaster CCTV.
Beijing first denied the existence of the camps, but has since justified its policy as providing valuable vocational training and veering Muslims away from extremism.
Activists and witnesses have instead said China employs torture to forcibly assimilate Uyghurs into the region's Han majority.
Other measures include pressuring Muslims to reject their beliefs such as, giving up prayer and abstaining from eating pork and drinking alcohol.
With reporting by dpa, AFP, AP, and Reuters
Pray: for all those who are being oppressed in China because of their religious beliefs.
Pray: that this proven crackdown on the Uyghur people will stop.
Pray: for broader international support for sanctions along with political intervention.
Pray: for the Christian Church in China which is facing severe persecution.
Europeans Scold Iran For Developing Nuclear-Capable Projectiles
France, Germany, and Britain have voiced concern to the UN's secretary-general that Iran has developed a ballistic-missile system capable of delivering a nuclear weapon in violation of the international body's Security Council resolution.
A letter the three countries circulated widely at the UN on December 4 stated that "Iran's development of nuclear-capable ballistic missiles" was inconsistent with a UN Security Council resolution that endorses a 2015 nuclear deal with Iran, and which urges Tehran not to pursue activity related to such missiles.
The EU countries that drafted the letter are three of the six signatories of the nuclear agreement, along with the United States, Russia, and China.
A flight test of a medium-range missile variant in particular is mentioned in their joint letter: "The Shahab-3 booster used in the test is a Missile Technology Control Regime category-1 system and as such is technically capable of delivering a nuclear weapon."
In a tweet, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif called the letter "a desperate falsehood to cover up" the three European countries' "miserable incompetence" in fulfilling their commitments to the nuclear deal.
If Britain, France, and Germany "want a modicum of global credibility, they can begin by exerting sovereignty rather than bowing to US bullying," Zarif wrote.
Last year in May, President Donald Trump withdrew the United States from the nuclear accord that offered Iran sanctions relief in exchange for curbs on its nuclear program. However, the remaining signatories still support the pact.
Washington has since re-imposed crippling sanctions on the Iranian economy, while Tehran has gradually reduced some of its commitments under the deal.
Citing a UN Security Council resolution on Iran, the three EU countries urged Tehran "not to undertake any activity related to ballistic missiles designed to be capable of delivering nuclear weapons."
Trump wants to force Iran to renegotiate the agreement, arguing that the terms were not tough enough to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons, and agree curbs to its ballistic-missile program.
Iran has refused, insisting that its nuclear program is strictly for civilian energy purposes.
With reporting by AP, Daily Journal, and Bloomberg
Pray: that Iran will stop developing its nuclear potential.
Pray: for fresh negotiations to find a workable way forward that adheres to the UN resolution.
Here are four specific ways you can pray for the church in Iran right now (courtesy of The Voice of the Martyrs):
1. Pray for Christians and all Iranians affected by the economic downturn. Pray for churches and Christian ministries that are seeing expenses skyrocket.
2. Pray for the wisdom and discernment of church leaders amid the upheaval. They are praying that God will give them strategies to use the current unrest to advance His kingdom.
3. Pray that Iranians seeking peace will meet the Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ. Pray for outreach ministries inside the country as well as broadcasting and internet ministries reaching into Iran from outside.
4. Ministry work is very dangerous right now because of heightened alertness from police, religious authorities and others. Pray for the safety and protection of Christian workers.
The Voice of the Martyrs has prepared a special report on the situation for the church in Iran right now. Click the link below to request your copy. https://www.persecution.com/iranreport/
Taliban council agrees to cease-fire in Afghanistan
KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — The Taliban’s ruling council agreed Sunday 29th December to a temporary cease-fire in Afghanistan, providing a window in which a peace agreement with the United States can be signed, officials from the insurgent group said. They didn’t say when it would begin.
A cease-fire had been demanded by Washington before any peace agreement could be signed. A peace deal would allow the U.S. to bring home its troops from Afghanistan and end its 18-year military engagement there, America’s longest.
The White House said it would have no comment.
The U.S. wants any deal to include a promise from the Taliban that Afghanistan would not be used as a base by terrorist groups. The U.S. currently has an estimated 12,000 troops in Afghanistan.
The Taliban chief must approve the cease-fire decision but that was expected. The duration of the cease-fire was not specified but it was suggested it would last for 10 days. It was also not specified when the cease-fire would begin.
Four members of the Taliban negotiating team met for a week with the ruling council before they agreed on the brief cease-fire. The negotiating team returned Sunday to Qatar where the Taliban maintain their political office and where U.S. special peace envoy Zalmay Khalilzad has been holding peace talks with the religious militia since September, 2018.
Talks were suspended in September when both sides seemed on the verge of signing a peace pact. However, a surge in violence in the capital Kabul killed a U.S. soldier, prompting President Donald Trump to declare the deal “dead.” Talks resumed after Trump made a surprise visit to Afghanistan at the end of November announcing the Taliban were ready to talk and agree to a reduction in violence.
Khalilzad returned to Doha at the beginning of December. It was then that he proposed a temporary halt to hostilities to pave the way to an agreement being signed, according to Taliban officials.
A key pillar of the agreement, which the U.S. and Taliban have been hammering out for more than a year, is direct negotiations between Afghans on both sides of the conflict.
Those intra-Afghan talks were expected to be held within two weeks of the signing of a U.S.-Taliban peace deal. They will decide what a post-war Afghanistan will look like.
The first item on the agenda is expected to address how to implement a cease-fire between the Taliban and Afghanistan’s National Security Forces. The negotiations, however, were expected to be prickly and will cover a variety of thorny issues, including rights of women, free speech, and changes to the country’s constitution.
The intra-Afghan talks would also lay out the fate of tens of thousands of Taliban fighters and the heavily armed militias belonging to Afghanistan’s warlords. Those warlords have amassed wealth and power since the Taliban were ousted from power in 2001 by the U.S.-led coalition. They were removed after Osama bin Laden’s al-Qaida carried out the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the United States. The Taliban had harbored bin Laden, although there was no indication they were aware of al-Qaida’s plans to attack the United States.
Last year, Afghanistan was the world’s deadliest conflict.
Reporting by Associated Press: Gannon reported from Islamabad.
More at: https://apnews.com/caa4c5aaf88e982ed0cdb4e132b0d89c
Pray: giving thanks for these renewed talks and the hope that this temporary ceasefire brings.
Pray: for grace and commitment to finding a workable, lasting accord on all sides of this complex situation.
Pray: for peace and an end to these deadly hostilities in Afghanistan.
Australia bushfires: towns devastated and lives lost
Thousands shelter on beaches as fires rip through Victoria and New South Wales
Australia’s bushfire crisis has claimed at least two more lives, authorities confirmed on Tuesday, as dozens of fires tore through several towns on the east coast and forced thousands of people to take shelter on beaches.
Two people – a father and son – died when fire hit the New South Wales town of Cobargo on Tuesday, while emergency services officials held grave fears for a third person, near Narooma, on the state’s south coast.
In Victoria, where more than 200,000ha has burned in the state’s east, at least four people were unaccounted for. The armed forces stand ready to evacuate those sheltering on the state’s beaches if needed.
Eleven people have been confirmed dead across all states in this year’s bushfire season so far.
The NSW Rural Fire Service Commissioner, Shane Fitzsimmons, said it was “absolutely” the state’s worst bushfire season on record as he warned the reality of the damage would become clear only once the fires were under control.
“We need to brace ourselves for a considerable number of properties, a considerable number of homes that are likely to have been damaged and or destroyed right across these eight emergency warning fire areas, given the extraordinary nature of the fire behaviour and fire spread today,” he said.
In his New Year’s message, the prime minister, Scott Morrison, said the fires were having a “devastating impact” and warned that the weeks and months ahead would “continue to be difficult”.
Pray: for those whose lives, livelihoods and homes have been affected by these devastating fires.
Pray: for safety and wisdom for the brave servicemen and volunteers who are fighting the fires.
Pray: that rain will come and the winds will change supernaturally, to stop the fires in their tracks.
Pray: for those helping with the aftermath both with rebuilding neighbourhoods and also caring for the habitat, wildlife and animals.
Pray: for the Church in Australia to rise up and be united amidst controversial legislation being debated in several states.