The local police tell you to leave immediately; a violent mob of 3,000 people is on its way and you need to flee before they attack. By the next morning your home and church have been burnt to the ground and what little you had is now gone.
We wish we could say this is just a story, but sadly it isn't. It's what happened to one of the poorest Christian communities in Pakistan, when a violent mob went on the rampage.
We really want to stop this happening ever again. That's why we need your help...
Sowing the seeds of hate
The seeds of hate are sown throughout Pakistani society. Whether through the media, in the education system, via social media or public discourse, prejudice is tolerated and bred to such an extent that the environment is ripe for an attack on religious minorities. These expressions of religious hatred, or hate speech, pervade society and are one of the main reasons for the persecution, harassment and violence towards religious minorities, including Christians.
When hate speech erupts with violence
Over 100 Christian homes were torched and destroyed when a violent mob of 3,000 people targeted the Christian community at Joseph Colony in Lahore, in March 2013. The violence was sparked after a young Christian man was accused of blasphemy and local imams openly called for him to be killed. What followed was a devastating attack that left Joseph Colony completely ruined. What little they had was destroyed by hate.
Today, almost two years on, Joseph Colony's Christians still live with the aftermath of the attacks, struggling to rebuild their lives. What of the people who destroyed their homes? Well, they're still freely going about daily life as they did before. The only person in prison is the man whose alleged blasphemy triggered the riots.
The answer: countering prejudice with positive speech
So what's the answer? At CSW we believe that to stop the rising tide of attacks on minorities, we need to get to the root cause and tackle hate speech. Only once we change the culture and mindsets within a society that allow religious hatred and intolerance to breed, can we stop the violence which is devastating minority communities across Pakistan and elsewhere.
CSW is supporting and working with partners in Pakistan who are working directly with religious leaders to help change society at a grassroots level, encouraging them to speak tolerance in place of hatred. We're also calling on Pakistan's government to put into action their promises to protect religious minorities, by implementing the recommendations made last year by their Supreme Court which set out clear steps for creating an environment of religious tolerance. As part of our advocacy, we're looking to help create an unbiased education in Pakistan and working with local organisations to make that a reality.
Christian Solidarity Worldwide, 19/12/2014
Please pray for the overthrow of Pakistan's unjust blasphemy law that is being used to persecute and kill believers in Christ.
Pray also for a series of special prayer initiatives in various cities of the nation this month that Christians of all denominations and their leaders will come together in reconciliation, repentance and united intercession for their troubled nation.
New Year, Feb 19, 2015
I am Chinese, but it took 28 years for that to take on a whole new meaning. I was living in Hong Kong in 1990 when there was a huge gathering in Hong Kong to commemorate the first anniversary of Tian An Men. I wanted to cut across the huge crowd to collect my dry cleaning. As I took in the scene before me I was suddenly hit by the belated realization that these are my people. "I am CHINESE!" Strong emotions came over me and it seemed like in that moment thousands of years of Chinese history became a part of me. I was from an ultra traditional Chinese family, but grew up in a very British- influenced culture and school in post-independent Malaysia. I suppose that can describe a lot of people today, but for me, I know it was an appointed wakeup call of the Lord. It was ordained. We are all ordained. We are where we are and doing what we do as ordained and positioned by our Lord.
About 4 years ago I started reading up on Chinese history in my free time. I can't give you a detailed summary of the history of China here. Perhaps a few quick historical facts:
□ With thousands of years of continuous history, China, or "Middle Kingdom" as it is called in Chinese, is one of the world's oldest civilizations. Its first dynasty was in 2070-1600 BC.
□ Much of Chinese culture, literature and philosophy existed before 1045 BC.
□ Written records of its history can be found from as early as 1200BC.
□ There were 15 dynasties and states since the 1700BC. And since 1949 the "Middle Kingdom" has been known as the People's Republic of China.
□ During the Qing Dynasty, which was the last dynasty that ruled China for 267 years until 1911, it was a capital offence punishable by decapitation to leave the country. Yet starting in the late 1800s many left. That dynasty was coming to an end and political instability provided the great push for emigration.
□ Chinese people have a great awareness of God. But they embraced many counterfeits and integrated those teachings into their culture. The decades under communist rule forbade practice of religion and stopped the practices of idol and ancestral worship, but in the past decade with its economy outperforming most other nations, newfound wealth brought new lifestyles and new idols. There is also a noticeable return to the old ways, the old traditions.
□ The government sanctioned church in China is the 3 - Self Church. The three principles are self- governance, self-support ( financial independence) and self-propagation (indigenous missionary work). Yet it wasn't the Chinese, or communist government, who created the system, but a western missionary in the 1800s.
The dates are important to me. During my history and Bible classes in grade school I used to ponder the significance of the dates as they superimposed one upon another. Biblical and historical persons in those lessons lived about the same time. I used to wonder, "did they know God?" So as I prepared for the prayer hour for China and the Chinese people, I thought again if they knew God those thousands of years ago! Because I know God knew them.
Key prayer points for Chinese people scattered among the nations:
□ Pray for the church in China and the nations where Chinese people are settled. Pray that they be a blessing to the nations they call theirs.
□ Pray for the leaders to know the Father's heart. "If you love Me feed My sheep." They covert the prayers, support and encouragement of those who will draw alongside them. Whilst they are received by other local church leaders, they remain exclusively confined to pastoring Chinese congregations. They are frequently overworked and their resources overstretched. Like in Scandinavia, most pastors frequently travel to small house churches in the region. Pray that they are refreshed and receive a fresh anointing, a new wineskin.
□ Pray for the harvest - "... the fields are white with the harvest.." New immigrants need comfort and support. The church becomes the source of support and assistance for them and where they gather. Pray that these churches move beyond harvesting Chinese people to harvesting in all nations.
□ Pray for laborers ".. the laborers are few." - These churches and congregations are generally in need of help, support, resources and welcome those who are committed. Pray for the congregation to rise up to the call of God on their lives.
□ Pray for unity within the churches and with other churches.
1. The IPC is strategic in bringing the Body of Christ into the Oneness of unity across the nations.
Never has there been a time in human history that kingdom partnership and unity are so desperately needed. No unity, no authority! Sad to say that the world sometimes knows better than the church the value of the power that we have in agreement with each other (Genesis 11:6). Business people realize that unless their corporations merge together into joint ventures, they can hardly even survive, not to mention expand, in such present times of global shakings, competition and challenges.
Pray that the IPC would seek to see the fulfillment of Jesus' prayer of the Oneness of His followers (John 17:21). Pray that greater and stronger unity would be built up, firstly more within the IPC leadership team and further established between network leaders across the nations. Pray that we can have a new understanding and wisdom at this critical stage of transition.
2. The IPC is instrumental to connect generations together in the global prayer movement.
Deep appreciation to those founders, respectable leaders and all who have sacrificially committed themselves in pioneering this strategic prayer network of IPC since 2001.Their labor and sacrifice would never be in vain, and instead, this is a time of harvest and to bring their vision into reality to fulfill their ancient dreams "to see the knowledge of the glory of the Lord filling the earth as the waters cover the sea" (Habakkuk 2:14). With the increasing focus of the 4/14 window movement, the World Youth Prayer Assembly, and the rising up of youth leaders, the IPC is now very strategic in connecting generations together, especially in prayer, which is the most basic foundation of unity of the Body of Christ.
Four generations, including the elderly, adults, youth and children should be connected in prayers in a new and intimate way, like the four different parts of an arrow (the feather, the rod, the head and the tip respectively) need to be first re-connected in the Spirit for its effectiveness of shooting out as one. Thus, apart from the youth and children, we need to further seek the Father of how to more effectively recognize our previous generations and to include and mobilize them together into this movement, like Moses lifted his hands over the mountain for Joshua to win the battle together in generational partnership (Exodus 17:11). In fact, the world population is increasing in age, especially in China and many countries of Asia.
3. The IPC is also strategic in bridging the gap between the West and the East in preparing the way for the fulfillment of the Great Commission.
Under the precious blessings from the West in the past, the world is now shifting rapidly much more to the East. This is especially crucial for the Body of Christ worldwide to realize that in order to fulfill the Great Commission, possibly in this generation, global networks of prayers, especially in the East, should be kept in pace with global evangelization. This is strategically important especially in Asia, across the Middle East and "Back to Jerusalem" if we want to catch the coming New Wave! So, the question here is: how can IPC further help to develop this global network through the WPA and afterwards to connect quickly and strongly with each other, to cover each continent, especially in Asia, so as to build "highways" and finish the last baton of the race together.
4. The IPC is catalytic in facilitating transformation movements in cities and nations.
To prepare the way for the return of our coming King Jesus, we need not only to finish the Great Commission, but also to see transformation happen in every part of the world for the knowledge of the glory of the Lord to be shown on earth. However, transformation will not occur unless we the Church firstly humble ourselves and repent and pray together in unity (2 Chronicles 7:14). There is power in praying persistently together. IPC could play a key role in mobilizing prayers with leaders of different localities to target the transformation of cities and nations.
5. The IPC leadership is crucial in demonstrating a new model of leadership of walking together in a Family Journey for the fulfillment of our Father's dream in this generation.
The time has come for the Body of Christ to have a new revelation to see that we are sons and gathered as One in His Family across nations and generations. As His Bridal Warrior to be established in His Army, we cannot finish the coming Battle unless it is together! Leaders from different nations and different generations need to come together regularly in a "family journey", walking together to seek and to follow the Father's guidance (Psalms 33:1-12) in the anointing of love and power for corporate worship, intercession, listening and radical obedience.
In worship, prayer and corporate listening, we seek His face together as sons for our Father (Psalms 2) and discern together the voice of our Chief Commander for continuous new directions of how to fight as an Army, rather than just doing a prayer ministry, a mission or for a planned event. The Battle belongs to the Lion of Judah! If we are going to finish the race of faith together, we need heavenly warfare strategies from above that could only be revealed to us through the opening of the Scroll in the atmosphere of "Harp and Bowl" mentioned in the book of Revelation, concerning every tribe, language, people and nation (Rev 5:1-10). This model of leadership is exceedingly more powerful than the one mentioned in Acts 13.
Conclusion:
The future of IPC is predestined by the Father and should not be determined by just individual ideas or human discussion. This is a time to think of increase and not to decrease, to further "step up" in faith, boldness, courage and humility, and not to "step down"! As the IPC leadership team, we really need to humble ourselves and to seek the Lord corporately for His face and His power. We also need to love and encourage one another if we want to win the battle together. By His grace, we are more than conquerors! Amen. (1Pet 4:7).
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Thanks for your prayer partnership with us in the IPC. Please give us your feedback as to how we can serve you better and let's continue to trust the Lord together for His wonderful works in the nations!
WATCH NOW>> http://testifyworld.com/featured/karen-covell/
Karen Covell is a television producer, Director of the Hollywood Prayer Network (HPN) and co-founder and producer for JC Productions, an independent television and music production company. As the Director of the Hollywood Prayer Network, Ms. Covell speaks and teaches around the country on how people of faith can pray for the people in the entertainment industry. She is a member of the Producers Guild of America, a founding member of PREMISE, and a board member of the Biola University Media Task Force.
Testify World is a Global Community of Kingdom Builders Sharing the Transformational Power of Jesus Christ.... Our Mission: "Making the Invisible Kingdom VISIBLE"
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No one wants their prayer meeting to be awkward, unorganized or poorly attended. Every prayer leader would prefer to host a well-organized and popular prayer event. However, effectual prayer and organizational efficiency are not always the same thing. The biggest and most organized meetings aren't always the most spiritually significant.
How then can we measure the success of our prayer event? A successful Collegiate Day of Prayer gathering can be summed up with three simple words-agreement, allies and answers.
Agreement
One of this generation's greatest needs today is not just more prayer, but rather more agreement in prayer.
According to Matthew 18:18-20, Christ's promise to move heaven and earth through prayer depends more on our prayer agreement than the number of hours we pray. Unity and agreement is always one of the best ways to measure the health and strength of a successful prayer movement. Yes, this is the crowning grace of a good prayer meeting!
However, coming together at the same time and place does not always result in true agreement. We must beware of letting all the little administrative details of our physical meeting distract us from our larger kingdom goals. The visible gathering is only an outlet for the deeper work of the Spirit of unity. Above all the logistics involved in organizing a smooth prayer event, we must always seek to work and pray together like a team. God is looking for intercessory integrators-prayer mobilizers who can unite individual believers, campus ministries and local churches to storm heaven for this generation. A good prayer meeting is a united and focused prayer meeting!
The Collegiate Day of Prayer is a clarion call to agree in prayer for the spiritual needs of this generation. Let's unite our prayers around seeking God for another mighty spiritual awakening throughout the world of higher education.
Allies
All our goals of agreement in prayer will mean little without the strength of spiritual allies. The most effective prayer meetings are usually a close-knit group of kingdom friends and coworkers. The more they pray together the stronger and more effective they become. Additionally, genuine united prayer is a team activity, and demands we learn how to reach out to new and different kinds of praying believers with grace, humility and respect.
Our goal is to have every college community in America (including faculty) thoroughly covered in fervent prayer. This goal will never happen by only enlisting the help of other college students. True prayer saturation can only be achieved as America's fathers, mothers, grandparents and church leaders from every class, culture, and denomination begin to cry out for this generation. A successful Collegiate Day of Prayer builds bridges, opens locked doors, and establishes new friendships and prayer allies!
This is much more than just strategic networking and good logistics-God is asking us to open our hearts to Him and His whole Church-to walk and work together like a real family. The spiritual needs of this generation are crying out for us to pull down every wall that divides and weakens us. If we can find a way to do this we are halfway home. New kingdom friendships and allies are a sure sign that God is beginning to crown our prayer efforts with lasting grace and victory!
Answers
Ultimately, a successful prayer movement is not judged by its goals, organization, or passion, but by tangible answers to God's biblical promises. One of the initial ways we know God is beginning to answer our prayers is by giving us a strong sense of His presence. This is usually evident by an increased sense of faith, urgency, and greater freedom in intercession. These are all good signs that the Father is drawing close, listening and blessing our corporate prayer efforts.
Another indicator that God is honoring our prayers for revival is by a growing desire to be still, tarry, and worship in God's presence for extended periods of time. When this is accompanied by conviction, as well as brokenness and repentance, we know that God's answer is on the way. This is both the biblical prescription and description of all the great historical revivals. When this spiritual process is sustained long enough to produce lasting joy, peace, and true transformation we know God is blessing our prayers for revival.
Yet, our hopes and prayers shouldn't stop with just the refreshing and empowering of believers. True revival should always mobilize God's people to share the Good News with the lost and unreached. We know God is answering when there is a widespread turning to Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Such a move of the Holy Spirit will transform our college campuses, restore a morally broken generation, and rescue our whole nation.
But when these prayers are fully answered it won't stop there. The ANSWER to the hopes and dreams of God is nothing less than the evangelization of the whole world-every tongue, tribe and nation turning to Jesus Christ in this generation. This is the ultimate crown and answer to all of our united prayers!
Let's seek God to answer our prayers for another great move of the Holy Spirit on each of our campuses, be in agreement in this pursuit, and invite as many friends and allies to intercede alongside us as possible. Our most fruitful CDOP may be just around the corner.
David Smithers serves as the English minister for the Chinese Christian Assembly in Pomona, California. For the last 30 years David has been committed to encouraging intercession and corporate prayer meetings for revival and spiritual awakening. He is the founder and director of Awake and Go prayer network (www.awakeandgo.com) and also serves on the leadership team for the Collegiate Day of Prayer.
(www.collegiatedayofprayer.org)
www.icicnations.org
International Children Intercessors Conference 2015 will be our 11th year we host this gathering. Over 1000 children from different parts of India specially from families that are considered untouchables in India like the children of the lepors, prostitutes, gypsies, Dalits (lowest caste of our hierarchal system) and thrown away children will come together. We will also have international delegates from over 10-15 nations present as in every year. Those four days will be a time of interceding, worshiping and releasing the Father's heart over the children present, over nations, pastors, leaders, families and churches.
WHO WILL STAND IN THE GAP FOR MY PEOPLE?
These children who were once considered trash are today raising their voices to say YES!!!
Each of these 1000 are a part of a Children House of Prayer (CHOP). Over 20 children gather in each of the communities everyday to intercede. These children when off from school run 24, 48 or 72hours of worship in their community CHOP. Through these children, families, communities and cities have been transformed and saved.
This ICIC we are inviting houses of prayer from every nation to come. Our heart vision and focus is on Malachi 4:6. We have seen God releasing the Father's heart over these children and on our international delegates every year. But this year we will receive Houses of Prayer run by adults as the FATHERS and the Children Houses of Prayer as the CHILDREN in accordance with Malachi 4:6
We believe, when houses of prayer representing the fathers and children come together, revival will spark in every nation. Let generations connect and the heart of the Father be established among His people.
It's time to release children. It's time for the fathers to pass the batons to their children.
Dates: Aug 6-9th, 2015
Venue: Chennai, India
Closest Airport: Chennai International Airport.
Airport Code: MAA
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Please be in prayer for the success of the ICIC and also for the Royal Kids ministry which is helping tens of thousands of children in coming to Christ, becoming intercessors and also with their educational needs. They are under a lot of pressure right now and need our prayer support.
SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA—March 3-6, 2015, at the Koreana Hotel, 28 international and 26 local leaders came together to plan for the World Youth Prayer Assembly (working title) pegged for 2016. 16 countries were represented in the meeting - South Korea, the United States of America, United Kingdom, the Philippines, Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, Puerto Rico, Guatemala, Romania, American Samoa, Nigeria, Fiji, Vietnam, India, and Germany. It was amazing how God has orchestrated the meeting and how He has supernaturally provided to see this happen.
To get everybody on the same page, Pastor Jerome Ocampo re-cast the vision for the gathering on 2016 to the young, global leaders present in the meeting. As these leaders made a commitment to run with the vision and to be a part of the International Dream Team (IDT), the planning and stirring team for the event, they were prayed for and anointed by the older generation of leaders who were present. What a beautiful sight of impartation to and empowerment of the next generation!
During the sessions, the IDT was grouped into teams for discussion. It was previously agreed that the WYPA will be an event “for the youth and by the youth.” Thus, the young leaders were given a venue for their voices to be heard-- they gave input on the challenges the youth of today face, and generated ideas on how the WYPA can possibly address these issues and how it will be distinct from other gatherings for the youth. Among the challenges that surfaced across all group discussions are the lack of understanding of identity and purpose, and the lack of mentoring and fathering. One of the key elements the team thinks would be distinctive of the WYPA will be “learning conversations with fathers,” apart from powerful moments of just enjoying being marked by the Presence of the Lord.
They also brainstormed on the form and content of the event. Some ideas that came up were having prayer tents for the “seven mountains of culture,” plus another tent where 24/7 worship will take place. It is foreseen to be highly social and highly interactive; delegates will come out of the event well-connected with people from all over the world who are called to occupy the same “mountain” as theirs.
The team also threw out ideas for the event name, and among the names suggested, “UP: Unified Prayer/ United Prayer” is a direction the team is prayerfully considering going for.
Each of the IDT members were also asked to volunteer for committees they would like to be a part of for the event, aside from committing to mobilize from their respective nations and regions. A faith goal of bringing 1,254 delegates was generated from the commitment of the IDT alone! Faith for fund-raising was also challenged as each member believed for a specific amount to raise for the event.
Tentative dates were also set for the event: July 26-30, 2016 or July 18-23, 2016, pending the Korean Executive Team’s confirmation.
One of the highlights of the meeting was a trip to the DMZ (Demilitarized Zone) - the border between North and South Korea. In the freezing cold weather, the team’s hearts burned in prayer for the unification of Korea. It was a foretaste of what is planned for 2016 - to bring the delegates from all nations to the border to release declarations for the freedom of North Korea and for the unification of the North and South.
What was remarkable in this meeting were the relationships forged among these young, global leaders. It was a joy to see them get along so well in just two and a half days of being together! Seeing these strong bonds formed, it will not be a surprise if the IDT will take their friendships and partnerships beyond 2016.
Praise the Lord for all that He has done!
Sarah Torres, WYPA and IDT Administrator
Prayer concerns:
1 For the IDT members to move strongly ahead in the work of mobilizing in their nations and regions.
2 For the Korean Executive Team’s formation and effective efforts within their nation to bring many other leaders and organizations on board and in support of the WYPA.
3 For Jerome Ocampo and his team in the Philippines to effectively lead and coordinate planning along with the IDT members.
4 For His provision of funding for this major event since there will be very significant financial needs to make it happen.
Theresa May receives death threats from IS
27 Mar 2015The UK will no longer tolerate the behaviour of Islamist extremists who ‘reject our values’, Home Secretary Theresa May has said. She invited individuals, families and communities to join a ‘partnership’ to tackle the issue head on. Mrs May said everyone in Britain had ‘responsibilities as well as rights’, and must respect laws, institutions and the rights of others. Speaking in London, she also outlined plans to ban hate preachers. She announced Tory plans for a review of Sharia courts in England and Wales to examine whether they are compatible with British values.' We will no longer tolerate your behaviour. We will expose your hateful beliefs for what they are.’ An Islamic State fighter has called for the death of Home Secretary Theresa May following the speech she made on Monday in which she called on British Muslims to help defeat extremism.