10:14. #HowWillTheyHear 10 MINUTES 14 DAYS

Transcription

1 10:14 10 MINUTES 14 DAYS #HowWillTheyHear How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? Romans 10:14

2 DAY 1 Give thanks Thanks to the prayers of people like you, churches have this year sent one team, two couples and two single women to take the good news of Jesus Christ to refugees and migrants in Greece, Germany and Italy. There are seven more enquirers, and great interest from church networks and partners. Give thanks to the Lord for mobilising his people. Pray for more workers to go and take the gospel to refugees and migrants in Europe and the Middle East. Pray that the truths shared by the body of Christ in Europe and the Middle East will bring many to a living faith in Jesus.

3 Everyday realities In 2017, 68.5 million people were displaced as a direct result of persecution, conflict or violence.* People make treacherous journeys by foot and by sea, with few possessions. They arrive exhausted. Many are traumatised and feel unsafe. They often face resentment and extremist threats. DAY 2 Pray for the victims of human trafficking, who were promised hope and a future. Pray for safety and protection for people making treacherous journeys. Pray for Bible-believing churches and Christian migrants to have opportunities to respond in practical ways with the love and message of Jesus Christ. * (p1)

4 DAY 3 Disciple making Migrants seek help from the communities in which they hope to settle. The gospel is uniquely powerful for eternal salvation and reconciliation. Counselling, applied Bible teaching and focused training can help reduce the church s fear and enable greater obedience to Christ s great commission. Pray for effective partnerships with mission teams which will increase the church s capacity to respond to this continuing crisis with gospel grace. Pray for wisdom in reaching out across cultural barriers with the gospel message. Pray for those working in outreach, evangelism, discipleship and training for Christian service.

5 Refugees and migrants Take time to remember the horrific journeys many refugees and migrants have made to reach relative safety. Many are haunted by painful memories of physical, mental, verbal and emotional trauma. Even now, some still await judgement on whether they can live permanently in their country of refuge. DAY 4 Pray that God would comfort those who have lost loved ones, or are uncertain whether family members are still alive. Bible-based trauma healing ministries are being used by Christians to help people process their experiences. Pray that through these, refugees and migrants will come to know the one true healer.

6 DAY 5 Refugee camps Refugee camps are increasingly overcrowded, with some already at double their capacity. It is reported that in some, women and children are at risk of sexual abuse and that toilets and latrines are no-go areas after dark. Conditions are creating great frustration, leading to sometimes tense security situations.* Photo: Frantisek Trampota, bit.ly/cclca2 Pray for the UNHCR and other humanitarian organisations as they seek to improve conditions for those living in the refugee camps. Pray for Christian medical professionals and trained trauma healing experts, that they may be able to make a gospel impact among the people in the camps, both physically and spiritually. *

7 Refugee children Imagine the scars left on a child who has experienced war, persecution, separation or migration. In 2017, the number of unaccompanied children lodging asylum claims more than doubled from 2016, with 173,800 being made in 67 countries. In 2017, 52 per cent of all refugees were children.* DAY 6 Photo: DG ECHO, bit.ly/cclca2 Pray for God s protection over innocent children who are separated from their families, living in poverty and vulnerable to trafficking, abuse and exploitation. Praise God for those providing refugee children with access to education. Pray for more workers with teaching skills to resource centres in Europe and the Middle East. * (p3)

8 DAY 7 European situation There have been indications of a growing hostility towards refugees and migrants, particularly in those countries which have been receiving boats filled with refugees.* Governments appear increasingly reluctant to take in people who are risking their lives to flee their home countries. Please pray for a united response to people who are crossing the Mediterranean Sea, so that more lives are not ended needlessly. Pray for the church in Europe as the members reach out in love to the new arrivals. Pray new workers would be raised up to serve alongside the European church. *

9 Germany In the first quarter of 2018, Germany received more refugee and migrant asylum applications than any other country in Europe 34,400 people or 26 per cent of the EU total.* Despite the pressure this puts on the German economy, the church is looking to counteract hostility and build bridges. DAY 8 Give thanks for churches which have opened their doors to refugees and migrants. As relationships are built, pray there will be gospel opportunities. Pray for Ana and Richard Selby, sent from the UK, who are to begin work with Mosaik Church in Heidelberg offering trauma-healing training and English lessons. *

10 DAY 9 Mercy Centre, Greek Evangelical Church of Piraeus The church has been reaching out to refugees, migrants and homeless people every week, helping provide for a wide variety of physical, spiritual, psychological and welfare needs. Some have come to faith in Jesus Christ, and the church is now seeking to disciple and teach them. Pray that the church s new Mercy Centre will be completed soon, providing a community hub and practical facilities to serve and reach people more effectively. Give thanks that this is just one of many evangelical churches in Athens welcoming and reaching out to refugees and migrants. Pray for fruit from these ministries.

11 Middle East Most refugees from the Middle East are still in the region. There are about 2.6 million people internally displaced in Iraq*, 3.5 million Syrians in Turkey and million Syrian refugees in Lebanon. There are 658,000 Syrian refugees in Jordan, many in camps; 247,000 in Iraq; and 127,000 in Egypt.** DAY 10 Photo: DVIDSHUB, bit.ly/cclca2 While some churches have struggled to respond, some have reached out to welcome and serve refugees and migrants, answer questions and share the gospel. Pray for churches and other agencies to continue offering care and compassion to displaced people. Pray these ministries might lead to genuine encounters with God. * **

12 DAY 11 Education centre An education centre set up by mission workers in the Middle East is providing huge support and comfort to Syrian refugees. It provides a solid education for 50 refugee children aged 5 12, teaching English, Arabic and maths. The gospel is firmly embedded into the centre s daily routine. Pray the children and their families will soon be able to return to their home country and that they will take the gospel with them. Pray for gospel breakthroughs among the families who have been served by the centre for five years. *

13 UK Church The UK government remains committed to resettling 23,000 refugees by 2020.* Churches and aid organisations across Britain are calling on the government to take more action, encouraging donations from church members and providing support where possible, often through partner organisations.** DAY 12 Pray that the refugees already settled into communities will come to know the love of Christ through the friendships they make with Christians in the UK. Pray for a spirit of boldness among Christians in the UK church as they proclaim the good news of salvation in Christ Jesus to people of other cultures. * **

14 DAY 13 2:19 Serving In Mission project 2:19 exists to help UK churches reach out to their local multicultural communities by establishing ministries such as English language teaching, Bible studies and international cafes. Through the witness of Christians serving the migrant community, many are coming to faith. Thank God for 2:19 s annual ESL and Outreach Forum which connects, encourages and equips ordinary UK church members as they use English classes to reach into their local communities. 2:19 would love to cover more regions and so have a wider impact, especially in the Midlands and the north. Pray the Lord would open doors.

15 Peace and stability While world unrest seems only to grow, let us today remember the peace and comfort that comes from faith in Jesus Christ and the salvation he offers. We serve a Lord who listens to our prayers and answers them. Join us today in praying boldly for peace and stability around the globe. DAY 14 Having fled hardship and persecution, but found little comfort, many refugees and migrants long for a return to life as it was before. Pray they may find enduring peace, protection and hope. Pray that those who long for stability would find comfort in their Father God, whose love remains constant throughout.

16 #HowWillTheyHear Thank you for taking the time to work through this prayer guide. How is God calling you to respond? There are opportunities to pray, to support projects ministering to refugees and to use your God-given gifts to help practically. For more information visit Contact Partners