MISSIONARY NEWS FEATURE #14

Turkey: 

Turkey is a nation torn in different directions. It crosses 2 continents. 3% is Europe (Thrace), and 97% is Asia (Anatolia). It has economic links with Europe, cultural links with Central Asia, and sits near conflict areas such as Iraq/Syria, the Balkans, and the Caucasus. Turkey is a secular state, yet to be Turk is to be Muslim! The constitution, courts, and military are meant to uphold religious freedom, but even some secular Turks can be as anti-Christian (and anti-Western, anti-minority) as Islamists are. Turkey’s strategic location has made it important throughout history. It could serve as a powerful and stable mediator in a region of great conflict. But more and more, it looks like it is moving toward being a dictatorship rather than a democracy. Thousands of people associated with the political opposition parties have been arrested or lost their jobs. Even some loyalists were “not loyal enough” and lost theirs, too! We pray for God's will to be done in this influential nation and for Turkey to be used for His glory.

For over 1,000 years, this region was a stronghold of Christianity. Later it became a centre for the spread of Islam. The Christian population declined from 22% in 1900 to 0.21% in 2010. Few of today’s 73 million Turkish Muslims have ever truly heard the gospel. The ancient Churches survived until the beginning of the 20th century, but massacres (Armenians), severe persecutions (Assyrians), and emigration (Greeks) removed most of them from the land. We pray for a reviving work of the Holy Spirit among the 130,000 Christians from these ancient confessions who’ still remain in Turkey.

(Do click onto this link – https://operationworld.org/prayer-calendar/11-24/ & https://operationworld.org/prayer-calendar/11-25/ to read for further news by Operation World Prayer News, 24 & 25th Nov 2021)

South Africa:
Do pray for all in government and leadership, that the priorities would be justice, righteousness, and economic improvement for all. Greater transparency, a more mature democracy, and free press, would all help combat corruption and deception. The nation faces high rates of rape and violent crime. The legacy of racism and injustice do not justify the lawlessness and wickedness evident. Do pray that the spirit of violence, both physical and sexual, might be bound under the authority of Christ.

(Do click onto this link – https://operationworld.org/prayer-calendar/11-01/ to read for further news by Operation World Prayer News, 1st Nov 2021)

Slovenia:
Slovenia has had a Protestant witness since the Reformation, but still has very few evangelical churches and needs church-planting teams. The very small evangelical population is divided by ethnic group. Do pray for unity, and for an Evangelical Alliance to unite the churches. Most congregations lack a full-time pastor, and need outside financial assistance. Do pray for Slovene believers to evangelize their country, to support their pastors, and even to send missionaries!

(Do click onto this link – https://operationworld.org/prayer-calendar/10-27/ to read for further news by Operation World Prayer News, 27th Oct 2021)

Slovakia:
Slovakia has a strong Christian heritage, but the many Catholic, Lutheran, and Reformed Churches struggle with low attendance. Praise God for renewal movements, especially among Lutherans who focus on young people and small groups (Family Fellowships). Do pray that the Holy Spirit would bring new life to the strong foundation of Christianity here.

(Do click onto this link – https://operationworld.org/prayer-calendar/10-26/ to read for further news by Operation World Prayer News, 26th Oct 2021)

Russia:
The fall of the Iron Curtain opened Eastern Europe and Central Asia to evangelism, church planting, rebirth of a Christian society, Bible translation work, and more. Churches more than doubled in number and in size, and the number of people who identify themselves as non-religious or atheist dropped by more than half from before 1991! Evangelicals tripled in number since 1991, and now have a recognized place within Russian religious culture. Their experience and maturity allow them to face with wisdom the agendas of both Western and Russian governments. But the days of fast growth (1990s) soon ended. Moscow and St Petersburg have only 10% of Russia’s population, but the largest amount of mission activity, ministry, and resources.

The North Caucasus region is the poorest and least stable region in Russia. It has the highest unemployment, the highest birth rates, and widespread corruption. The region’s 7 republics contain 50 to 60 ethnic groups of Caucasus, Turkic, and Iranian origin. The North Caucasus peoples are among the least reached on earth, and they live in Europe’s least-evangelized region.

(Do click onto the links – https://operationworld.org/prayer-calendar/10-14/ & https://operationworld.org/prayer-calendar/10-15/ to read for further news by Operation World Prayer News, 14th & 15th Oct 2021)

Estonia:
Estonia found political and economic success after the time of Soviet domination (1940-1988). Poverty remains a problem, and greed for material possessions grows as the economy grows. Estonia faces a crisis of values as the people become more and more secular in their attitudes.

(Do click onto this link – https://operationworld.org/prayer-calendar/05-18/ to read for further news by Operation World Prayer News, 18th May 2021)

Eritrea:
Religious freedom remains a major issue. A 2002 government ruling banned all religious groups from meeting together and practicing their faith without official recognition, and it granted recognition only to Sunni Islam, Eritrean Orthodox, Roman Catholic and Evangelical Lutheran groups. The effects of this on all Eritreans are significant, especially so on Christians within non-approved groups. Some posit this as a reaction against the evangelical growth within the Orthodox Church and during the long war with Ethiopia. Do pray for the government acceptance of religious groups and for restoration of basic human rights and religious freedom to all Eritreans.

Eritrea longs for peace and national stability. It is located in a region filled with countries fraught with conflict and crises. War and drought left millions dependent on food aid from abroad. Many face extreme poverty with no relief ahead. Mandatory military service limits the size of the workforce. Many people flee the country to escape the military, and the money sent home by those who live abroad now provides a vital source of income for the country.

(Do click onto this link – https://operationworld.org/locations/eritrea/ & https://operationworld.org/prayer-calendar/05-16/ to read for further news by Operation World Prayer News, 17th & 16th May 2021)

Mary’s Song

As I did my Christmas’ reading, I noted how Mary “hurried” to visit her cousin Elizabeth (Luke 1:39, NIV) after all the shocking events of Gabriel’s annunciation and how she said a bold “yes” to God after Gabriel confirmed God’s word at the first greeting between the two women. And, Elizabeth prophesied over Mary that caused her to respond by singing to God’s promise shown to her life. Truly, I saw how Mary was able to conceive and was to bear the newborn Christ – being the mother of our Lord that came true through the words of the angel (Luke 1:28, NIV). Indeed, God chose Mary to birth out Jesus Christ who was going to give eternal life & the redemption to all men as their Messiah being regenerated and sanctified by the Holy Spirit within her. Through this, Mary walked in fear the Lord where God’s elect has been spoken out from generation to generation; to the end of the world where we can be the partakers of His grace like how Mary declared, “From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me – holy is his name. His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation” (Luke 1:48b–50, NIV).

Hence, I sing an anthem of praise and promise from my heart to know that a Saviour has been born on this day. And, this encourages me to place the priority of God’s purpose in my life just as Mary did as I did my weekend’s reading.

What song will you be singing this Christmas today?

(Written by Jeremy Koh, 25th December 2021 – Christmas Day)

Profile Background:
Jeremy Koh is a disabled graduate from Cerebral Palsy Alliance Singapore – formerly known as Spastic Children Association (1987-1997). He graduated with Certificates in Microsoft Office Skills. Jeremy has worked in ServeHope Pte Ltd – Project Assistant/Email Marketing Consultant for 5 years (March 2008 – August 2013). And, Jeremy did a research work for the keyguard at (these)abilites Pte Ltd handling all KeyGuard Operations for 10 months in World United College South East Asia (Tampines Branch). He was Executive Assistant with Vision Strategy Storytelling (3 months, Aug to Oct 2017). Jeremy worked as GB Connector in GrowthBeans Team in Savior-Asia Consulting Pte Ltd (October 2018 to December 2019). Today, he continues to be in GB Youth Organizing Team/as a GB Youth Facilitator in YouthCorps Singapore, a former member of the Special Needs Cluster in YCS, and a Founder in the ground up initiative project called – Project Story for LIFE that serves the Special Needs Community at-large in society today.

Prayer Response to this featured article:
Jesus, ‘Lord, my soul glorifies you, ‘and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour’ (Luke 1:46b–47, NIV).

The Season of Advent

Advent brings us about the seasonal Christmas preparation as we prepare our hearts for Christ’s second coming. Truly, it’s the season that we can all rejoice!

This gives me the reason to pray for God to cleanse me from all sins of dirt away and for Him to sanctify my whole body of being as I present myself as a blameless creature while I wait for Christ’s second coming return as I noted how the apostle Paul prayed, “May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Thessalonians 5:24, NIV)

Truly, we got to prepare our hearts as we look forward to Christ’s return who’ll be clothed with great power and glory around Him (Mark 13:26, NIV). By this, I praise God to understand how my life is filled with God promises through the incarnation, and fulfillment of Christ’s second coming. As such, I let Christ renew my hope and vision of Him through His saving grace of salvation so that I can grow my faith (Ephesians 2:8a, NIV) with a clearer perspective on the life that He has intended for me today. So, I take time reflect upon Christ who’s my source of salvation as I look forward to His return and live with the view of eternity ahead.

Hence, the season of Advent offers us an opportunity to invest some time and energy for us to consider how our lives reflect the character and promise of God on earth that portrays the biblical story of Christmas today, while I reflected upon my weekend’s reading.

Are you living your faith out as you reflect upon Christ – the source of your salvation as you look forward to Christ’s return and live with the view of eternity today?

(Written by Jeremy Koh, 28th November 2021)

Profile Background:
Jeremy Koh is a disabled graduate from Cerebral Palsy Alliance Singapore – formerly known as Spastic Children Association (1987-1997). He graduated with Certificates in Microsoft Office Skills. Jeremy has worked in ServeHope Pte Ltd – Project Assistant/Email Marketing Consultant for 5 years (March 2008 – August 2013). And, Jeremy did a research work for the keyguard at (these)abilites Pte Ltd handling all KeyGuard Operations for 10 months in World United College South East Asia (Tampines Branch). He was Executive Assistant with Vision Strategy Storytelling (3 months, Aug to Oct 2017). Jeremy worked as GB Connector in GrowthBeans Team in Savior-Asia Consulting Pte Ltd (October 2018 to December 2019). Today, he continues to be in GB Youth Organizing Team/as a GB Youth Facilitator in YouthCorps Singapore, a former member of the Special Needs Cluster in YCS, and a Founder in the ground up initiative project called – Project Story for LIFE that serves the Special Needs Community at-large in society today.

Prayer Response to this featured article:
Jesus, help us to live out our life in the view of eternity as you renew our hope and vision of your saving grace today.