Thursday 31 March 2022

MISSIONARY NEWS FEATURE #15

Canada:
Christian influence on Canadian society declined across the last century. The non–religious population grew the most as Christians left the Church, but other religions grew quickly through immigration and high birthrates. The mainline churches, especially the United Church and Anglican Church, became more liberal in their beliefs about God and the Bible. They also declined in numbers. Do pray for a new, vibrant move of God in these declining denominations, and for fresh, contemporary expressions of faith in Jesus. Do pray for Canadian Christians to be more concerned with being loving witnesses to the Gospel than with political agendas and culture wars.

(Do click onto these links – https://operationworld.org/prayer-calendar/03-28/ to read for further news by Operation World Prayer News, 28th Mar 2022)

Cameroon:
Deep divisions of language, faith, and politics lead to tension and violence. Cameroon divides between French and English regions. It also divides between Christian, Muslim, and traditional religions, and between those who hold political power and the opposition. The increasing activity of Islamist groups in the north further threatens peace. Do pray for God to raise up reconcilers and peacemakers in this divided land.

(Do click onto these links – https://operationworld.org/prayer-calendar/03-27/ to read for further news by Operation World Prayer News, 27th Mar 2022)

Bolivia:
Poverty and inequality continue to plague Bolivia and drive a wedge between the haves and have–nots. Recent political upheaval includes the removal of former President Morales in 2019 but a landslide electoral victory in 2020 of his successor Luis Arce. Bolivian farmers are able to earn more money for the coca leaf than for other products, but some uses for coca are illegal. Rich gas deposits in the east lead to tension among the white elite, the highland peoples of the west, and the mixed and Indian peoples of the east. Do pray for individuals in power and those in poverty to find courage to reject temptations and make wise decisions.

Evangelical Christians grew greatly in number and in influence, but face challenges. Some follow false teachings or fail morally without good discipleship and Bible knowledge. Do pray for God to set apart thousands of new leaders for His use. Evangelicals must help lead Bolivia’s battle against poverty, injustice, and evil by allowing Kingdom values to guide their words and deeds. Such believers have potential to greatly impact a nation in need of moral clarity and compassionate work among the poor.

(Do click onto these links – https://operationworld.org/prayer-calendar/03-11/ & https://operationworld.org/prayer-calendar/03-12/ to read for further news by Operation World Prayer News, 11th & 12th Mar 2022)

Bangladesh:
The cycle of poverty will continue unless fundamental changes occur. Bangladesh has few natural resources; around 25% of the population lives below the poverty line. The country sits on level ground beside the gigantic Ganges and Brahmaputra Rivers, and floods and monsoon rains regularly devastate the nation. The political situation offers little hope, as it seems more focused on arguments between wealthy clans than on improvements for the people.

(Do click onto this link – https://operationworld.org/prayer-calendar/03-01/ to read for further news by Operation World Prayer News, 1st Mar 2022)

Argentina:
Buenos Aires is one of the world’s largest urban areas, and the gospel does not reach many who live there. The cultured upper class seems harder to reach. The Jewish community (one of the world’s largest) has few believers. Some churches started work among the 500,000 slum dwellers, homeless, and street kids, but more work is needed.

(Do click onto this link – https://operationworld.org/prayer-calendar/02-18/ to read for further news by Operation World Prayer News, 18th Feb 2022)

Pacific Islands:
The strength of Christianity in the Pacific Islands – the Pacific was one of the first areas to be evangelized in the modern Protestant missionary era. By the end of the 19th Century, most of the Pacific region had become Christian through the sacrificial labours of early LMS (London Missionary Society), Methodist, Anglican and Pacific Islander missionaries. Missionary casualties were high through disease, violent death and cannibalism, but great people movements brought whole peoples and islands to Christianity.

(Do click onto this link – https://operationworld.org/prayer-calendar/02-06/ to read for further news by Operation World Prayer News, 6th Feb 2022)

China:
China's re-emergence as a global superpower is possibly the major global political and economic factor in the first decades of the 21st Century. China is growing more assertive in international diplomacy and political engagement. The pragmatic marriage of centralized state control with an increasingly capitalist economy has achieved stupendous financial growth. But such growth, fuelled by massive consumption of resources, cannot be sustained indefinitely; what happens when the bubble bursts will have a global impact.

(Do click onto this link – https://operationworld.org/prayer-calendar/01-27/ to read for further news by Operation World Prayer News, 27th Jan 2022)

Equatorial Guinea:
Equatorial Guinea faces an unusual political and economic situation. Large oil reserves made a small minority very rich. Western oil companies work with a regime whose human rights record is poor, in order to increase profits. Corruption means that most of the people do not benefit from such wealth. Do pray for economic justice and wise stewardship. The oil boom brings in foreigners, both Christian and Muslim. Do pray that expat believers might engage with the spiritual and physical needs of the nation. Do pray that foreign companies might do business in ways that benefit the local people.

(Do click onto this link – https://operationworld.org/prayer-calendar/05-15/ to read for further news by Operation World Prayer News, 15th May 2021)

 

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