Central Asian Overview

I really enjoyed blogging about the ten Central Asia/ Caucasus region countries. I hope that someone was blessed by the testimonies of brave Christians who are fighting the good fight in a dark land. Hopefully it will encourage us all to be salt and light to this world. I’m going to do just a brief overview with a verse and one prayer request and one unreached tribe of each land to inspire you to prayer for these 10 countries. It will only take one minute per country to lift them up in prayer. Do you have 10 minutes to pray for persecuted Christians?

My information comes from a mish-mash of sources: wikipedia, 30-days.net, opendoorsusa.org, persecution.org, operationworld.org, centralasia.imb.org, joshuaproject.org, etc. Please visit these websites to learn more about persecuted Christians and unreached tribes.

Kazakhstan

Verse: Psalm 24:1- “The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof, the world, and they that dwell therein.”

Unreached Tribe- Ingush: The Ingush tribe originally came from the Caucasus regions. They are Sunni Muslims. They do not have the complete Bible translated in there language. There are appx. 18,000 Ingush living in Kazakhstan.

#1 Prayer Request- Strength for Kazakh Christians as they witness to their friends and family. Chosing Christ in Kazakhstan means they usually lose their friends and family. Pray that Kazakhs boldly share their hope in Christ with the people they love.

Kyrgyzstan

 Verse: Kyrgyzstan

 Luke 8:8- “‘And other [seeds] fell upon good ground and sprang up and bare fruit an hundred fold. And when he [Jesus] had said these things he cried, ‘He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.'”

 Unreached Tribe- Dungan: I know one pair of missionaries working among the Dungan tribe. After three years they have yet to have a convert, however they are working side by side the Dungan people in an agricultural mission to teach farming skills that will feed families for generations. Praise God. The Dungans are Sunni Muslims. They do not have the complete Bible in their language. There are appx. 50,000 Dungan living in Kyrgyzstan.

 #1 Prayer Request- Gender discrimination/ bridal kidnapping. Pray that the women of Kyrgyzstan know that God values them and they are equal in the sight of God. Most Kyrgyz women leave religious matters up to their fathers or husbands. Pray that Kyrgyz women will see that a personal relationship with Jesus Christ awaits them.

Uzbekistan

Verse: Jeremiah 50:34- “Their Redeemer is strong. The Lord of Hosts is his name. He shall thoroughly plead their cause, that he may give rest to the land and disquiet among the inhabitants of Babylon.”

Unreached Tribe- Parsee: The Parsee tribe follow the mystical and generally tolerant religion of Zoroastrianism. There are no (known to me) Biblical resources for the Parsee people of Uzbekistan and no Bible in their tongue. They respect the teachings of Jesus but do not know the freedom he brings. Missionaries are needed to reach the appx. 5,000 Parsee living in Uzbekistan.

#1 Prayer Request- For the several Christians imprisoned for their faith. Please pray specifically for Tohar, a 27 year old who was falsely accused because of his faith. Though sent many letters from Christians around the world (including me and hopefully you!), he is shown the letters but not allowed to read them. Pray that he is released soon and his name is cleared. Send a letter to Tohar in the Uzbek language through prisoneralert.com!

Tajikistan

Verse: Romans 1:16- “For I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ. For it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth. To the Jew 1st and also to the Greek [or the Tajiks!].”

 Unreached Tribe: Shughni- The Shughni are extremely isolated people of the mountains of southeast Tajikistan and Northeast Afghanistan. They do not have the Bible in their language but they do have a view Words of Life topical videos. Pray that missionaries will take the Words of Life to the appx. 96,000 Shughni Shi’a Muslims living in the Pamir Mountains.

 #1 Prayer Request- The unreached children of Tajikistan. It is technically illegal to evangelize children. Pray that Christian parents would be bold enough and unashamed of the Gospel of Christ to reach this next generation of Tajikistan for Christ.

Turkmenistan

Verse: Romans 11:5- “Even so at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.”

Unreached Tribe: Lak- The Lak are a Caucasus region people. They are Sunni Muslims. While they do not have the complete Bible in their language they do have the Jesus Film. The Lak people have a unique pride in being the first people group of the Caucasus to convert to Islam. They share their Islamic faith with the people of Turkmenistan. There are appx. 3,800 Lak living in Turkmenistan.

#1 Prayer Request- An oppressive regime. The verse listed above reminds me that even in such an oppressive regime there are a remnant of Christians who are isolated light in the darkness. Pray that prisoners like Pastor Ilmurad Nurliev are released and that Turkmenistan learns that there is ultimate freedom in Christ.

Azerbaijan

Verse: Romans 8:31-33- “What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? He that spared not his own son but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? Who shall lay anything to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth.”

Unreached Tribe: Azeri- I tried to find an isolated people group to pray for, until I realized that the largest ethnic group in Azerbaijan IS unreached. I was shocked to find that the 272,000 Azeris living in Azerbaijan are some of the most unreached peoples in the world. They NEED lamp-lighter missionaries to lead them to the Way. *The Azerbaijani are one of the most unreached people groups in the world!

#1 Prayer Request- For the group of faithful missionaries and Christians who have promised to do a 24/7/52/365 prayer covering over this land. Basically, there is a group of Christians currently serving in Azerbaijan who have individually signed up to bathe this land in prayer every hour of the day, every day of the year. Pray that their evangelical ministry of prayer would cause this land to awake from its spiritual slumber.

Armenia

Verse: Colossians 1:3-4- “We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and the love which ye have to all to all the saints.” Unreached Tribe: N. Azerbaijani- Praise the Lord. The North Azerbaijani have the complete Bible in their own heart language as well as the Jesus Film. Pray that God uses these tools to reach the appx. 20,000 N. Azerbaijani living in Armenia.

 #1 Prayer Request- Armenia was the first country in the world to declare itself a Christian nation. However, most of the ancient cathedrals, chapels, and churches that once held faithful Christians are empty except for curious tourists. Pray that the Armenian Christians do not lose their first love. While Armenia may not be a “persecuted” country, it does have a golden opportunity to extend the right hand of friendship to the various lost people living in the land.

Georgia

Verse: II Chronicles 7:14- “If my people which are called by my name shall humble themselves and pray and seek my face and will turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from Heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”

Unreached Tribe: Kurds- The Kurdish people are the largest people group in the world who do not have a country to call their own. Appx. 17,000 Kurds reside in the Georgia. Christians in Georgia have an opportunity to show them that Christ will give them an eternal home. Praise God for the complete New Testament for the Kurdish people.

#1 Request- Like Armenia, Georgia has a long-standing Christian heritage but it is waxing lukewarm. However, faithful Christians like Bishop Malkhaz Songulashvii have a vision for Georgia: that every tribe know the gospel and have a church where they can worship together. Pray that Bishop Songulashvii’s vision would come to fruition soon.

Chechnya

 Verse: Hebrews 12:14- “Follow peace with all men and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.”

Unreached Tribe: Chechens- I also tried to find a more isolated people group for the autonomous Republic of Chechnya but found the greated need to be the Chechen people themselves. Chechens need the complete Bible in their own tongue. Pray that the appx. 1,345,000 Chechens living here would be able to view the Jesus Film in their language and learn who the Prince of Peace is.

#1 Prayer Request: For the violence to stop! Chechnya is one of the most war torn places in the world. Because of radical Islam and extreme tribal pride, many innocent Muslims and Christians and atheists alike have been negatively affected by the conflicts in Chechnya. Pray that God pours out his spirit of peace over this land.

Dagestan

Verse: John 4:35- “Say ye not, ‘There are yet four months’ and then cometh harvest. Behold, I say unto you, ‘Lift up your eyes and look on the fields for they are already white to harvest.'”

Unreached Tribe: Avars- Again, the largest people group of Dagestan are the Avar people, also known as the Dagestani people. There are appx. 748,000 Avar people living in Dagestan. They are currently experiencing a “pure” Islamic revival in Dagestan. They have the option to learn from the Qur’an but do not have the opportunity to read the complete Bible in their native tongue.

#1 Prayer Request-The Christians of the Hosanna House of prayer. Two missionaries (one foreign, one national) have been killed in the last 11 years. It is a dangerous place to call yourself a Christian. It’s not a term lightly thrown around but rather the label of pariahs. Pray for the safety of Christians and the Hosanna House of Prayer.

Concerned about Poverty? Read about Tajikistan

If I told you to go to a map and find Tajikistan, would you be able to? About 2 months ago, I would be able to figure out the general location but knew nothing about this place. What saddens me (more than are lack of geography studies in America) is the fact that most Christians have no idea that there’s a struggling church in this land. Studying these “forgotten” Central Asia lands isn’t some weird kick I’m on, trying be cute talking about some distant land with faceless people. Study it for yourself and see: it’s an extremely dangerous country to be a Christian in.

In a country of 7 million, there are approximately 74,000 people who are believers (orthodox and evangelical combined). Out of these 74,000 there are only an estimated 1,000 native Tajik believers. So the other 73,000 are presumably ex-pats. It’s a safe assumption that this small population of Christians can’t afford to be casual about their faith. To them it could mean the loss of a job, not being able to feed their family, family shame, and even imprisonment or fines. But they still hold fast to their faith knowing that in Christ alone is life and peace. They’ve found the secret to being filled and satisfied and it has nothing to do with material possessions or earthly comforts. I believe that if we could visit the 1,000 faithful believers of this land, they would teach us Western Christians a thing or two about true discipleship.

It may be hard for most Europeans and Americans to believe but the Tajik people have only had the Holy Bible in their own heart language since the 20^th century (estimated 1991). Since then the Church has grown from an unknown miniscule number to 1,000, with the help of the presence of the Word of God in a mere 20 years. To put it in perspective, I’ve been a Christian for 19 years. So while I was safe and happy with my little New Testament with a picture of Jesus blessing children on the cover, going to my church in safety, the Tajik believers were holding God’s Holy Word in their hands for the first time.

What’s even scarier is that it’s nearly illegal for children to attend religious gatherings. To send your child to a Vacation Bible School, Christian youth event, or Christian summer camp is out of the question. So while I was going to VBS singing about Father Abraham, attending the World Baptist Youth Conference, and going to Minnetonka Christian Camp, Tajik parents were quietly educating their children in secret, teaching them about the same God who loves the entire world.

The verse that reminds me of the Christians of Tajikistan is Romans 1:16- “For I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believes, to the Jews first and also to the Greeks (or Tajik people!).” To be a Christian requires faith in general, but to be a Christian in a land of darkness and misunderstanding and hardships requires an unashamed faith and trust in the Gospel of Christ. It’s time for every Christian, from America to Tajikistan to be unashamed of the hope that we have in Jesus Christ.

Besides religious persecution, poverty is crippling this land. It has the lowest GDP per capita among the former USSR. 83% live below the poverty line. Less than $1 a year is spent on each Tajik child’s education. Most girls don’t finish primary school. During harvest time, school stops and entire families (including small children) work tirelessly together in the fields. One woman said that you could work for 6 months and make $6 and get enough fire kindle for the winter after all the middle men are paid and the white gold is collected (per David Voges’ video “The Youth of Tajikistan” and 30-days.net).

Thanks to rare charitable ministries like the Millennium Relief and Development Services (www.mrds.org) and Open Doors, educational programs, micro-loans, sports clinics, ESL classes, computer training, youth business skills schools, and aid to invalids, people finding practical ways to meet the needs of the Tajik people.

What you need to know about Tajikistan:

Capital: Dushanbe

Leader: Emomali Rahmon

Language: Tajik

Concerns: Pray for the ministry of the Baptist Union President Alexandre Vervai and the various charitable and educational ministries of Open Doors and Millennium Relief and Development Services. Pray that the number of Tajik believers would grow, due to the faithful witness of their friends and family. Pray that somehow this country would have more money to put towards education. Pray for the believers who desire to be learn more about their faith but lack Bibles and Christian literature (due to lack of funds or availability). Pray for faithful witnesses to go to the city of Khorugh, where there are little to no believers. Overall, pray for the protection and increased courage of YOUR brothers and sisters here. II Corinthians 12: 25-26 says, “So that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other.  If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.”

Dear Lord, You know the needs of each person in Tajikistan, Christian and Muslim alike. Please pour out your blessings on this land so that children can receive a good education and food on their table. Please protect your faithful believers as their share the Gospel. Help them not to be ashamed of being followers of you. Bless the ministries of Alexandre Vervai, Millennium Relief and Development Services, and Open Doors. Lord, please send more workers to this land to meet both physical and spiritual needs. Please send workers to Khorugh, so that this city may experience the peace in comes with knowing you. Lord, the cattle on 1000 hills belong to you and you withhold no good thing from those who love you. Please supply Christian literature and Bibles for the people who desire to know you in a deeper way. Let your compassionate spirit move in this land. You alone can help. In Jesus Name, Amen.

Seeds needed for Kyrgyzstan

In this journey to learn all I can about my 10 Central Asian countries, I stumbled upon a priceless couple serving in Kyrgyzstan. They have left all the comforts of America to help teach the Dungan tribe agriculture skills for sustainable living. They’ve been there three years and have been planting two kinds of seeds: plant and gospel.

Talking with the “Walkers” (name changed for safety purposes) has really blessed my heart. They’ve quietly lived out the Gospel, both sharing when they can and modeling the essence of Christ’s compassion and peace. They’ve been there three years and have not seen one soul come to Christ yet but are hopeful. What I like about the Walkers is they embody the parable of the sower from Luke 8.

A farmer went walking along, sowing his seeds. As he walked, he cast out some seeds but the birds of the air ate them (nay sayers of the Gospel). Then he cast some seeds, but they landed among rocks (no discipleship to help the Gospel seeds grow). He cast more seeds but they fell among thorns (the cares of this world choke the joy out of the Word). But he kept casting the seeds until finally it fell upon good ground and the increase was huge.

You see the farmer was just doing his job: sowing seeds. There was no time to evaluate if the seeds he was sowing was going to good ground. He cast them out hoping that at least a few would spring up on good ground. Luke 8:8 is the verse I think of when I pray over the land of Kyrgyzstan and the ministry of the Walkers. “And other fell upon good ground and sprang up and bare fruit an hundred fold. And when he (Jesus) had said these things he cried, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.”

So listen up. God is trying to tell you about a work that quietly taking place among the rolling hills, sprawling plains, and mountain peaks of wild, rustic Kyrgyzstan. The Gospel is being shared! And what is this Gospel being shared? That God loves people and sent God the Son (Jesus) to die for a lost and lonely world. Through him is peace and relief from sin. Throug Jesus is salvation and forgiveness. Through Jesus, there is hope. Isn’t that cause for rejoicing? Please join me in uplifting the ministry of the Walkers as the seek to sustain the Dungan tribe both physically and spiritually.

What you need to know about Kyrgyzstan:

Capitol- Bishkek

Leader: President Roza Otunbayeva

Language: Kyrgyz, Russian

Faithful Servants/Missionaries/Christians: “Stella”, the “Walkers”

Concerns: Just like Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz people have adopted Islam as their religion of choice from the 17th century on. In several rural villages, Christians like Stella are being forced to flee. A group of towns people, once they find out you are a Christian, will demand you return to Islam or leave their village. To become a Christian, you literally have to give up everything you’ve ever known to follow Christ. This is the essence of true discipleship.

Also, it is extremely hard for Christians to get jobs here. Basically, there’s a stigma hanging over you if you convert and the community wants nothing to do with you. But the Lord always provides.

In 2010, Kyrgyzstan was a turbulent land due to ethnic violence and a coup. The country is still trying to heal from this. Christ has brough peace to nearly 5,000 believers since the fall of Communism. How much more peace could he bring if a revival sprung up and more learned about the Good Shepherd?

Finally, there is a strange cultural tradition of “bridal kidnapping” that still occurs in rural areas (I checked my facts with 30-days.net and the Walkers). Some of the “kidnapping” is really just eloping to avoid the high bridal price but sometimes kidnapping is done in the literal sense of the word. Brides are forced to marry their captors and stay because their virginity has been robbed of them and their families will not take them back. Pray that this human rights violation ends.

Dear Lord, I lift up the land of Kyrgyzstan to you. I pray that you begin to soften the soil of Kyrgyz hearts toward the Gospel. Let the Gospel seeds scattered by Christians like Stella and missionaries like the Walkers fall upon good ground.  To you we will give you the praise for the increase. I pray also you protect this land from ethnic violence. Pour out your spirit upon this land and let your peace flow like a river. I also pray you protect the women of this land from bridal kidnapping. Let these women know you love them and they are worthy of love in your sight. Finally, I pray you protect the Christians here who have left all to follow hard after you. Provide their daily bread. Encourage them with fellowship and your Word. I praise you for the faithful 5,000 and pray that you use them to reach the lost of this land for your kingdom. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.

Do you even care?

According to Mission to Unreached peoples, “less than 10% of the modern missionary workforce is focused on the least-evangelized peoples of the world.” Through my own research, I have grown disheartened to learn that most of the missionaries sent out are building on “another man’s foundation” (Romans 15:20).

For example, the mission board that my church belongs to has missionaries sent to 24 of 196 countries of the world. I counted 70 missionaries that serve in a traditional sense. So technically, this particular board could have sent out missionaries to 35.7% of the world, instead of just 12.25%. But they didn’t. Too often these mission boards play it safe when it comes to the Gospel.

So I checked another mission board with similar doctrinal beliefs and the same philosophy of evangelism. They had about 350 more missionaries on this particular board but the trend to cluster the Gospel in heavily evangelized countries was just as evident.

What’s even more disheartening about these numbers is lack of presence of missionaries in dangerous, Muslim lands (where the peace of the Gospel is so needed) . Below, I’ve listed my findings of where these mission boards are sending their missionaries. I’ve separated my findings into regional/language groups based on a comparison of two like-minded mission boards, averaging the various locations of missionaries. I briefly glanced over other mission boards and the trend is still the same: Let’s go where it’ll cost us less and forget about the places that need the Gospel the most.

Missionaries to English Speaking and/or American peoples: 29% (EX: missionaries IN America, Canada, England, Australia, etc.)

Missionaries to Central/South America: 39% (EX: Brazil was by far the most sent-to place, followed by Mexico…how convenient)

Missionaries to Non-English Speaking Europe: 7% (EX: Ukraine, Latvia, France, Spain, etc.)

Missionaries to Non- 10/40 Window Africa: 13% (EX: Nigeria, Kenya, Mozambique, etc.)

Missionaries to Non-10/40 Window Asia: 6% (EX: Malaysia, Samoa, etc.)

Missionaries to 10/40 Window Countries (least Evangelized regions of the World): 6% (Central Asia, Middle East, North Africa, etc.)

I did not mention these mission agencies because I know many fine missionaries sent out by them. I do not doubt that there are large pockets of unreached people groups in North, Central, and South America. I do not discredit the work they do amongst the people they serve. I do not believe that “all” have been reached yet in America, Mexico, and Brazil. These people need the Gospel too.

I just find it strange that the least reached regions of the world also have the least missionaries sent to them. I’m pretty sure this is indicative of other like-minded mission boards. I find it strange that the most evangelized nations of North, Central, and South America (according to sites such as aboutmissions.org and common sense) still have the most missionaries sent out to them. And why? Frankly, I believe because it’s easy and safe. Is the Christian life ever supposed to be easy and safe? I digress….

So to break down the average of two mission boards and the missioaries going to these areas:

Most Reached Regions: 68% of missionaries continue to go here

Least Reached Regions: 6% of missionaries dare to go here

Other Regions: 26% of missionaries go here

I do not doubt the unction of the Holy Spirit and his call on missionaries’ lives but I am wondering: is God really calling missionaries to go to places where other people have been? Are there missionaries out there that have a call to go to the unreached lands but don’t for some reason? Where are the missionaries for the unreached peoples?

I will share my own personal experiences concerning one of the two mentioned mission boards. Once upon a time, I had a fiancée. We were going to be missionaries. We had already served together as friends in Mexico and God gave, what we thought, a burden for Spanish-speaking people on our hearts. But we didn’t want to go to Mexico, like so many other missionaries before us with this agency. We wanted to go to a small, dangerous Spanish Speaking African country called Equatorial Guinea.

We spoke to the president of the Bible College we went to stating our desires to go to this land. Here’s how the conversation went:

Fiancée: President “Brown”, once my girlfriend and I get married, we plan on going to Equatorial Guinea. We noticed that our mission board doesn’t have a missionary there. We were so excited when we found out! We can be the missionaries there! They can finally have the Gospel.

President “Brown”: “No, sorry son. We don’t send missionaries there. It’s so dangerous. Besides, there aren’t any other missionary contacts from our agency there.”

Fiancée: “Yeah, I know. That’s why we want to go, because no one else is there.”

President “Brown”: “Well, that’s why you CAN’T go. We simply don’t send out missionaries to places that don’t already have missionaries there.”

Fiancée: “But sir! Once upon a time, all our current missionaries had to start out somewhere in some unreached land.”

President “Brown”: “Yeah, but that was so dangerous. The board agreed there won’t be any pioneer missionaries anymore.”

It wasn’t God’s plan for my fiancée and me to serve together anyway. He had other plans for us that didn’t include each other. My ex decided to go be his own pioneer missionary because I was too stubborn to leave for the unknown (a more progressive mission board). I kick myself now for being so closed-minded. My ex went on to minister in several dangerous places and to unreached peoples and I ended up dropping out of Bible College for a while and most of you know how that ended up.

Another example, I hope will not offend anyone. Often times missionaries on furlough come to churches to share their vision for a certain country and solicit support and prayers. Again, I do not doubt the calling of God but I can’t imagine that God would need another missionary in Christian Australia. This couple felt the calling of God to Australia…of all places…because the need was “so great there for Baptist churches.” Really? The land of Hillsong Church, countless Anglican churches, and other denominations needs the Gospel? How about let’s let the Christian of Australia minister to their own people while we go and minister to those that have never even heard the name of Jesus.

My heart aches for unreached lands, specially the Russian speaking Muslims of Central Asia. When I began my “Year of Holiness”, as I like to call it, I asked God to place a burden on my heart for regions to pray for an entire year. Central Asia (with 8 of 10 regions being in the 10/40 window) now has my heart, prayers, love, and desires. I do not understand it but it has become my singular obsession. I know that my burden for them is now life-long and not year long as planned. Who knows what my role will be in reaching them? I can pray evangelistically now, send my meager funds, tell others to pray, and hopefully go on a few short term trips there but I feel there is a deeper connection there. Dare I say, “Here am I, Lord. Send me”?

So what is the purpose of this introductory blog before I begin to highlight the 10 Central Asian countries I’ve come to love in 20 short days? I want to call to “lift up your eyes, and look on the fields for they are white already to harvest.” (John 4:35) Let’s not build upon another man’s foundation. If God is calling you to get burdened about missions (whether by prayer, funds, or going), pray that God shows you a people group that you’ve never heard of before in places you’ve never dreamed!

Let’s stop pretending that only safe places need the Gospel. Chances are they’ve already heard it and rejected it. What America and Australia and Brazil needs are for their own people to rise up and disciple their country. Let’s turn our eyes to billions of lost and dying people in the 10/40 window. Let’s stop pretending they don’t exist and get concerned. Do you even care that nearly two billion people have never heard an accurate description of Jesus Christ? Do you care that Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia, and the 7 N. Caucasus regions (particularly Chechnya and Dagestan) are beyond dangerous for Christians, in dire need of the Gospel, and need the peace of God to heal their lands? Maybe I’m the only one with the burden. I have promised God my prayers for these lands. Will you join me?

Prayers for Turkey and Luke 20- Persecution of God’s Workers

TURKEY

The government imposes limitations on religious groups and there are restrictions on evangelism or holding unauthorised meetings. There were reports of discrimination based on religious belief. Violent attacks and threats create an atmosphere of pressure for some non-Muslim communities. In 2008 no Christians were murdered or jailed, but converts from Islam face social harassment and violence from relatives and neighbours. (Open Doors USA)

*Another way that Turkey discriminated against Christians is the limitations the government puts on religious schools. Imagine if America said no one can go to Seminary to deeply study the Word of God. That is occurring this very year in Turkey. Currently there is a Senate Resolution headed by Senator Benjamin Cardin of Maryland to support the opening of Turkey’s own Greek Orthodox seminary, the Ecumenical Patriarchate’s Theological School of Halki. The resolution has been referred  to the  Committee on Foreign Relations. The resolution is pushing for the school to open without delay. Since 1971, Turkish authorities have prevented the seminary from opening. Join me in writing a letter to President Obama and his staff for the recognition of support for Senate Resolution S. RES 356. Use the links to write a letter to the president and to sign a petition on behalf of those in Turkey desiring to learn more about the Greek Orthodox Christian faith:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact

http://www.greece.org/themis/halki2/ENpetition.html

Population: 74.8 million

Christian Population: 0.1%

Leader: President Abdullah Gul

Prayer Requests:

1) Pray that Christians facing intimidation and threats would stand firm in their faith.

2)Pray for all involved in the ongoing murder trial following the killing of three Christians in Malatya in 2007.

3) Pray for greater openness to the Gospel in Turkish hearts.

4) Pray that the Seminary in Halki can be opened without delay and that people could learn more about their faith here.

5) Pray that the media ceases to portray Christians in a negative light.

LUKE 20

I believe the passage I want to concentrate on today is very appropriate for my desire to see the Christians of Turkey experience more religious freedom and for the persecution of Christ’s Church in Turkey to cease. Luke 20: 9-18 concerns a parable about the persecution of God’s messengers throughout world history. Jesus compares the persecution to that of a rich land owner who leaves his land for a while and sends a trusted servant to tend to the vines but husbandmen (gardeners) beat the trusted servant. The owner sends two more servants and both are shamefully beaten. Then the owner sends his only beloved son thinking surely they would accept the son. The gardeners kill the only son and desire to take the land for themselves. The land owner then strikes back with a vengeance and gives the land away to others.

The people listening to the story say, “God forbid. That would be a horrible thing to beat the servants and kill the son of the land owner!” Then Jesus says that they are about to do the same thing. Most of the prophets sent by God to the Jewish people were mocked and ridiculed and sometimes beaten because of the Word of Truth they boldly proclaimed. Examples include: John the Baptist, beheaded for declaring the Word of the Lord and the persecution of prophets such as Isaiah and Jeremiah. Soon, the Jews would persecute to the Owner’s only Son in the worst way possible. ( I want to note that the Jews are still God’s Chosen people but really missed out on the chance to accept Jesus as their Messiah before he was Crucified. There is still hope for today for Jews to believe in Christ.)

This just reminds me of my quest to understand the world of Atheism and hatred toward Christianity/ Judaism. I don’t understand why people would think that religion and faith are crutches for the weak. It takes guts to stand up against injustice and immorality and speak the truth! Why would people risk their lives, the comfort of their living rooms, and a life of surety for the Gospel???? BECAUSE IT’S TRUE!

One may say, well aren’t militant Muslims doing the same thing? They are dying for their faith as well. But it’s so different. True Christian Missionaries give up their national comforts, steady incomes, and often their own dignity to go and shamelessly preach the Gospel to those in need of it. They do so in a peaceful way because they’ve received a mandate from God telling them to go into all the nations and preach the Gospel in the strong spirit of truth and love. Yet some are still killed, persecuted, etc. because of their faith. Why would someone say that Christianity is for the weak when clearly only the strong truly live by faith????????

The moral of the story from Luke 20:9-18 is that even though Jesus Christ IS the WAY, the TRUTH, and the LIFE and NO MAN COMES TO THE FATHER EXCEPT THROUGH HIM people refuse to believe it. Their eyes are blinded to this truth because of pride and stubborn sin. If only for one moment could they soften their hearts to the Gospel and truly search out the Scriptures, the Holy Spirit could then illuminate their hearts toward the beauty of the Gospel. So to those of you who may be atheists and mock Christians for their faith and their “weakness”, I have a dare for you: I dare you to go out and life a positive, meaningful life for no one (because that’s essentially who you are living for) and dare to be strong in the face of persecution. But don’t worry, you won’t actually be persecuted because you have no belief system. I’d rather die for my belief in Christ than for a life of nothing.

Prayer Requests:

1) PLEASE PRAY FOR KHLOE. She has pneumonia and isn’t doing so well in the Hospital in Iowa. Pray that God heals her sweet little body and she can go home again soon. Pray that God grants peace to the Sassman family.

2) Pray for the needs of Turkey.

3) Pray for a lost friend today!

4) Pray for my friend Arewin. She has recently had a baby and it seems to be taking a toll on her. I was in her very shoes 6 months ago, with a newborn baby, wondering why on earth I decided to become a mother. Pray that God energizes her and that she could get some rest and appreciate that hard but precious time of tiny fuzzy-headed babies.

Dear Lord, My heart breaks tonight once again for my friends who are atheists. I wish that you could physically appear to them so they would believe. Lord, I haven’t seen you with my eyes but I’ve seen your handiwork and I’ve felt you in my spirit. I know you are with me everyday and I see your hand in my life. I pray that you let my friends Alyssa, Linki, Reba, Patricia, Maur, and Anon see this too. Lord, please use me as your messenger. I want to live out the Gospel in my life. If people won’t take your Word seriously because I’m not a good example of Christianity, change me and forgive me of my faults and let me be a message board for you. Also, please heal sweet Khloe. Heal her lungs completely of pneumonia and any other problems she has. Comfort Staci and Lenny and take away their disappointments. Give them peace and send Khloe safely back home soon. God bless my friend Arewin. Give her rest and peace as she learns how to care for her new baby.  Lord, I lift up the country of Turkey to you. I pray that you would soften the Turkish hearts toward the Gospel of Christ. I pray that the media would stop portraying Christians in a negative light. I pray that you would comfort the families of those martyred for their family in 2007. Let justice take place. Protect the Christians here and allow them to share their faith more effectively. Also, I pray that you allow the Greek Orthodox Seminary to be opened in Halki. This denomination deserves to learn more about faith and your Son. I pray that it would open more doors for more seminaries of all denominations to open. I also pray again for the various suffering Churches around the world. Lift up those in North Korea, Mauritania, Uzbekistan, and India today Lord. Let the Church arise. Amen.

 

Chechnya

Chechnya is a war-torn country in the Caucasus Mountains. They have been at battle with Russian for years over land, ideals, freedom, and respect. Here, to be Chechen is to be Muslim. It’s part of their national pride, making them different than the Russian Orthodox Church. So, to be a Christian is to be an enemy. There is so much pressure to either leave the area or recant if you become a Christian. While, there are a few small groups of Christians that remain, most must flee the area to avoid persecution. Pray for the remaining believers to be strengthened and for peace to overcome the land.

*As I study all these different countries I’m noticing that where Islam is the dominant religion in the land there is suffering and war. Without Jesus, can a land really have peace? When I study about Chechnya two verses come to my mind:  

2 Chronicles 7:14- “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”

 Isaiah 59:8- “The way of peace they know not; and there is no judgment in their goings: they have made them crooked paths: whosoever goeth therein shall not know peace.”

Population: 1 million

Christian Population: “Few”

Leader: President Ramzan Kadyrou

Prayer Requests:

1) Pray for ongoing political stability in the whole Caucasus region.

2) Pray for the secret believers to grow in knowledge and love of Jesus Christ.

3) Pray that the New Testament, published in 2007 in the Chechen language, will reach believers as well as other Christian literature.

Dear Lord, I pray that the people of Chechnya will know peace. I pray that the recently published Bibles would reach the people and change their lives. Please allow the Christians here to grow in their faith and be strong in you no matter what happens. Lord, I know nothing of being cast out of my homeland because I love you. I know nothing of losing friends and family because I follow you. But Lord I do care that the Chechen Christians are experiencing this. Help them to know that there are Christians praying for them and concerned about them. Help them to know that they are part of the body of Christ and that you are always with them. Help them to be light and salt in that dark land. Lord, again I pray for peace and stability here. Only you can bring this. Come and live in Chechnya. Amen.

Mark 16

It’s the last day to study Mark. This book seemed to go by really fast. Some of the same stories were repeated from Matthew so I generally took whatever struck and ran with it.

Lately, my hearts really been on evangelism. I have such a burden for a few people that I know to get saved. It breaks my heart that the world has such a nasty view on the church and I think the problem and the solution to the world’s disbelief in our genuine faith in Mark 16.

Problem:

1) Why should the world believe in Christ, if we don’t live like we believe in him?

2) Why should the world believe in Christ, if no one goes and tells them? (Romans 10:14-15) How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!

Solution:

1) Live your life like Christ really is risen from the dead. That’s something to celebrate. We should be joyful! Why are we so angry?

2) Follow the Great Commission and share the Gospel, baptize, and make disciples of all people. Start caring about people.

In this chapter, Jesus rises from the dead, as he promised he would. He even said he’d rise again on the 3rd day. Yet we see his faithful female disciples coming to put nice smelling things in his tomb and we see his male disciples hiding from public view. Both are wrong. The women, were being respectful of Jesus’ death, but forgetting his promises. They should have believed that when they went to the tomb on the third day he wouldn’t be in there. And the men were living like their Christianity was a mistake. One group was mourning due to their lack of faith and the other group was ashamed due to their lack of faith.

Jesus revealed himself to a few disciples first but the rest of the group didn’t believe him. He had to appear to them as they hid for them to remember his promise and believe. Once they saw him and repented of their unbelief, he left them with a mission. Go spread the news. That mission applies to us today.

Brother Andrew, who once smuggled Bibles into Communist countries, has a new mission focus now: the Muslim world. He says that if we don’t go to them, THEY will come to us. We’ll come with Bibles, Christian teaching materials, the Gospel, Christ living in us, with songs of praise and worship and THEY will come to us… quite differently if you can imagine. Therefore we must be proactive, not reactive. This includes prayer, living a Christian life that respects Islam but at the same time sets you apart as a Child of God, and even going to a Muslim mission field. I actually am considering a great trip that would involve ministering to Muslim refugees. They need peace and the love of Christ too!

This also applies to any other “faith” that would pervert the gospel of Jesus Christ. They are aggressive in their tactics. They think they are telling the truth, but are blinded. Satan lets them get by with this and we, who have the truth, sit on our tushies and wish things would get better. I too must do a better job at being a witness though. I am writing this for myself. Pep Talk.

Let’s consider Galatians 1:6-9 as we study Mark 16. “I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel. Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.”

The Gospel Paul is talking about in this very book he wrote to the church of Galatia is this: Galatians 2: 16- “Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.” So basically, if another man or a certain faith comes along saying you need anything more than this, he is WRONG. The Bible is the final authority on salvation. Any book that contradicts this is simply wrong. Two books that contradict each other cannot both be right and inspired by God. This is where the Book of Mormon and the Koran fail.

So, if you know the truth, do what Jesus asks and spread it. Spread it with kindness and doctrinal soundness. Live a life like you believe that Christ is exactly how he says he is. This means a life of joy in your Savior and a life filled with compassion.

Prayer Requests:

1) PRAISE!!!! Khloe is doing so good. She was able to take an eating test today and passed. She’s doing good on her exercises as she gets off the vent. Please continue to pray for her friends in the PICU at Iowa State University Hospital for Children (Duncan, Trevor, Stella, Rilee, and Torrie). Pray to God for all these kiddo’s continuing recovery (cleft palate kids)!

2) Pray for the land of Turkmenistan. Remember this country in your prayers. Please imagine the suffering and fear they go through just to worship Jesus. Pray that this land continues to experience improvement toward basic and religious freedoms.

3) Pray for me. I have such a big decision coming up on Monday. Pray that I listen solely to God’s voice and not my own. I want his will for my life.

4) Please pray for two friends of mine that are having tricky pregnancies (Darcy and Rhonda). Pray that they both go full-term.

5) Also, please pray for the Lord to guide three of my friends to salvation. Pray that God uses me to show them how awesome he is!

Dear Lord, I come to you tonight with a heavy heart. I have a burden for my friends to be saved. I have a burden to see religious freedom come to countries like Turkmenistan and Mauritania. I have a burden for my mom friends that are struggling in their new pregnancies. I have a burden for Khloe and the Sassman family and her little PICU friends in need. I have a burden for my future. Lord, your word says that I should cast all my cares on you, for you care for me. Lord, here are my burdens they are yours. You see  all my requests and understand them better than I do. You see everything and you are in control. Help me to trust you with my burdens as I lay them down. Lord, have your way in all of these situations. Thank you for dying on the cross for me. Thank you for rising again. Help me to be obedient to your Great Commission. Use me Lord. Amen.

Mark 8 and Prayers for the Persecuted! Yemen

Mark 8

Tonight, because of poor time management I’m meshing the two blogs into one. Bible study plus prayer. Sounds like a good combination. But I kind of feel bad because today I’m only writing 1 prayer for Yemen, though I did pray for them during the day to myself.  Please remember them in your prayers tonight as you lay down in peaceful America (or wherever). Remember your family in Yemen, who need your prayers.

Mark 8 reminds me of the provision of God once again. Earlier, Jesus fed the multitude with a mere 5 loaves of bread and 2 fishes. Once again the crowd continues to follow Jesus. They are so captured by his words that they forget to bring picnic baskets with them and get hungry. Jesus says that he is moved with compassion for them and felt for the masses who had followed him and come so far. He was able to feed the masses with 7 loaves and a few fishes. It just goes to show that “little is much when God is in it”.

But Jesus also uses this as a lesson in trusting in God rather than man. He warns the disciples not to rely on the leaven of the pharisees and of Herod, who esteemed fame, fortune, and worldly treasures. It’s the lesson that when you follow after Jesus and abandon all, he WILL provide you for. Don’t trust the world to be so kind to you.

After he feeds the masses and teaches a much needed lesson, he heals a blind man. His disciples had seen Jesus perform countless miracles and were walking daily with God in the Flesh. But Jesus questions them about who they thought they were following. He asks, “Who do men say that I am?” Some said Jesus was John the Baptist reincarnated, some said Elijah or one of the prophets reincarnated. But then he asks that all important question, which we visit again in Mark: “But who do YOU say that I am”.

Oh course Peter is the first to blurt something out, “Thou art the Christ”. Remember Christ means “the annointed one” or “the promised one”. So Peter really did understand who Jesus was. But do you? Do you really know Jesus? I hope that if you don’t, you’ll discover who Jesus really is tonight. He was God in the Flesh, sent to die for you. He lived a perfect life and by his death on the cross and resurrection from the grave, he paid the price you should have paid for your sins. He loves you and can provide for you. He can be your everything today.

Finally, Jesus tells his disciples that if you truly want to call yourself a Christian that you must deny yourself and take up your cross and follow him. Give your entire life to Christ and don’t be ashamed of the cross that you must bear as a Christian. It’s NOT an easy life. God tests your faith to make you grow and there are lots of things in the flesh that you must deny. But a true Christian, even if he falls, must pick the cross up and keep following after his Lord and Master.

Galatians 2:20- “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.”

YEMEN

Population: 22.4 million

Christian Population: “Few”

Leader President Ali Saleh

Prayer Requests of Yemen:

1) Pray that more Christians would enter Yemen and build up the church.

2) Pray that Christians there would be safe to carry about the word of spreading the Good News of Christ.

3) Pray for a continuing positive response to Christian Satellite TV and Christian websites and that God would use these tools to reach those searching for the Truth.

4) Pray for encouragement for those who were arrested, abused, and tortured last year and for freedom from fear for those facing persecution because they have taken up their cross to follow Jesus.

*It costs sometimes to follow Christ. In Yemen, following after Christ could cost you your life. Christians here face death and torture if caught after converting from Islam. Islam views these Christian converts as “apostates” or “infidels”, who must be destroyed. Though Yemen’s constitution promises religious freedom, the religious law of Islam trumps this and therefore converting and evangelizing is forbidden. Pray for a new leader to come to power in Yemen that would allow these precious people to be able to choose for themselves who they should worship.

A little girl and her father in Yemen. Yemen has a rich history but is full of sorrows. It is largely forgotten by the Western World. If you’d like to know more about how to pray for these awesome people go to http://www.30-days.net/muslims/muslims-in/mid-near-east/yemen-sorrows/.

General Prayer Requests:

1) Continue to pray for Khloe. She had a good day today and was able to rest and have play time with her mommy, Staci! Pray that Khloe’s immune system would recover and that her body would be strong enough for the next round of surgeries. She needs her blood level to come up to a certain point before they can continue working on her. Pray that she has an uneventful week and that her levels rise to that good number needed.

2)Pray for me tomorrow as I go and take an important test for a job I am very interested in. Pray that I score high and that the hiring staff would make the right decision in who they choose for a job. Pray that the Lord sends me to the right work place and that I would be a great worker wherever I’m at.

3) Pray for my grandmother Billie, who is very sick and loosing blood in an unknown place in her body. She is very weak. Pray that the four doctors working on her would know what to do and that she would regain her strength.

Dear Lord, Thank you for your provision. Thank you that I have all I need. But Lord, I pray for the people of Yemen, who are in need of the love of the Savior. Tonight I lift up the church of Yemen. Lord, you see each and every one of your sheep in this land. I pray that you protect them from harm. Strengthen those who have been persecuted there and remind them of your love for them. Take away all fear from those possibly facing persecution. I pray that more Christians would move to Yemen and that more national people would become Christians. Please use the tools of internet and Christian satellite TV to reach the people there with your truth. I pray that a new leader would come to power there and that religious freedom would take place. Lord, build up your people there and let the numbers grow. Let them know that they are loved. Help them feel your presence today. God, please heal Khloe. Continue to uphold her with your right hand. Heal her body and strengthen her immune system. Protect her from stress and infection. Please keep her from all harm this week so she can recover. Continue to give the doctors wisdom and give her parents peace. Thank you for blessing her with a happy day. Give her more happy days to come. God, be with me as I take the dispatch test tomorrow. Help me to score well. But Lord do not give me this job unless you want me to have it. Lord, lead me to the right job and give me guidance for my next step. Help me to be sensitive to your direction. Also, be with my grandmother Billie and heal her body. Give the doctors wisdom. Renew her strength like and eagle and help Big Bob as he takes care of her. Amen.