May 2017 Newsletter EHC

"Go into all the world and preach the Gospel" - Jesus

Mark 16:15

May 2017

Tried AND True B

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by Rob Ste n n e tt

t the very start of the Book of James, believers are told, “Consider it pure joy,my brothers and sisters,whenever you face trials of many kinds” (James 1:2, NIV). James is trying to flip our perspective on resistance to the Gospel. Since the days of the early Church, Christians have thought, We have Good News. Why would anyone be reluctant to accept it? But we don’t have to read far into the New Testament to see just how resistant people were to the story of Jesus. The first Christians were ridiculed, beaten, jailed and tortured. Many even lost their lives so the Gospel could advance. James reminds us that sharing the Gospel comes with an inevitable cost. Persecution looks very different for Christians today, depending on where they are in the world. In Bulgaria, it is not illegal to share the Gospel, but doing so is still highly regulated. This part of the world says that only “a church” can pass out gospel literature, which means an individual who evangelises home to home can draw negative attention. Brother Bogdan, an EHC evangelist, knew of these regulations and diligently followed the rules to the letter. However, he was neither a pastor nor a church worker. He was simply a local schoolteacher whose life had been transformed by the love of Jesus, and he wanted to share that hope with others. When Bogdan heard about the possibility of sharing the Gospel home to home, it inspired him, and he quickly volunteered to participate. Bogdan was equipped by the EHC team in Bulgaria, commissioned by a local church and given the proper authorisation paperwork. And, as Bogdan went home to home, he made sure never to leave gospel literature for someone without hand delivering it in person. (Leaving unwanted literature behind would make the police more likely to question him.) Despite Bogdan’s meticulous efforts to stay within regulations, some locals still didn’t like that he was sharing the Gospel in their neighbourhood. They mocked him and insisted that they didn’t need or want evangelism in their neighbourhood.

“I won’t bother anyone if they don’t want to be bothered,” Bogdan respectfully explained to the agitated locals. “But I’ve already found that some of your neighbours are very interested in my message.” This explanation wasn’t good enough for his critics. They began to spread lies about Bogdan, and they told those lies to the police. “People from the village called the police and said a lot of bad things about Bogdan,” says Pavel Valkov, EHC National Director of Bulgaria. “In Bulgaria, if a group wants to accuse you of a crime, they will find a way to do it, and the police will usually listen.” The police responded to the accusations against Bogdan, and he was caught by surprise when they arrested him. His first thought was, How could this be happening? I was trying to show the love of Jesus while being thoughtful and respectful, and now I’m being dragged to jail. The immediate threats he faced went screaming through his mind. He could be fined a significant amount of money, or even worse, he could lose his job.It doesn’t look good when a local schoolteacher is arrested. For a moment, Bogdan wondered how he was supposed to find “joy” — as the book of James calls it — in the midst of this kind of persecution. But his perspective quickly shifted. “When Bogdan meets an aggressive situation, he immediately starts to pray in his spirit,” Valkov says. As Bogdan prayed, he was reminded of his training. He knew the risks of sharing the Gospel in these areas.“All our team is trained and instructed about working with local authorities and the police,” Valkov explains. Bogdanusedhisclassroommanagement skills to talk with the police. He confidently presented his authorisation papers, and he humbly explained how everything he was doing was legal. After making his case, Bogdan returned to prayer. “We believe in the power of prayer,” Valkov says. “Bogdan loves to pray and is drawn to Every Home for Christ because it

is a prayer ministry at its core.” Bogdan’s explanation and prayers worked, and he was released. It would make sense if, after what happened, Bogdan decided to stop going home to home. Insults, lies from neighbours and an unfair arrest might deter even the strongest of believers. But Bogdan understands what the book of James says. He doesn’t find joy in the persecution itself, but he understands that persecution is a byproduct of sharing the Gospel. Make no mistake — it’s spreading the message of Jesus that brings Bogdan joy. Seeing people’s eyes light up when they understand that they are loved and forgiven is what helps him to persevere. “For Bogdan nothing is more important in life than to spread the Gospel,” Valkov says.“He lives for it, so nothing can stop him from doing that.” Bogdan went back to that same village and, again, shared his story and passed out gospel literature. People who may have never understood the story of Jesus had their lives changed by the Gospel, because Bogdan had the courage to return to the very place where he was humiliated and arrested. His courage to persevere for the sake of the Gospel is a living and breathing example of the book of James. As Valkov has equipped evangelists all over his country to go home to home, he has served faithfully and has seen incredible stories, but Bogdan’s story particularly resonates with Valkov and gives him strength in his own mission. Now, when Valkov teaches and trains future evangelists, he tells them the story of Brother Bogdan and how he persevered through the trials he faced. “The courage of Bogdan, for me, gives hope that the goal of reaching every Bulgarian home will be fulfilled,” Valkov says. Reaching every home in Bulgaria is an audacious goal, but with courageous and selfless men like Bogdan, it becomes a little more possible every day.

No Matter What by Kathy Gowler

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hey knew that if they didn’t go, there was a very good chance that no one else would. Accessing the unreached mountain areas of Sierra Leone involves a long, arduous journey through steep, rugged terrain, often in suffocating heat. But the physical challenges of traversing the area weren’t the only obstacles the EHC workers would face. The region they were headed into was also scattered with hostile anti-Christian factions and villages deeply rooted in the occult. The first thing the EHC leaders knew they must do was to get on their knees and ask the Lord to guide them. Then they asked His blessing on the outreach and for Him to bring them back unharmed. This outreach would take them to villages where disease was rampant and the Ebola virus was still a threat. It would be a dangerous mission not for the fearful or faint of heart, and they knew they couldn’t do it alone. So after committing their efforts to the Lord, the EHC leaders in Sierra Leone recruited local church leaders and volunteer missionaries who shared their passion for the unreached and would be willing to go with them. It would take a strong team to reach as many people as they could with the Gospel. God heard their prayers and helped them put together an amazing team. Some of them were experienced pastors and church leaders, and some were new believers who knew what it was like to be persecuted and ostracised by their families for accepting Christ. After training to effectively share the Gospel home to home, the team members set out, careful to pace themselves in the intense heat and reserve their strength.

Michael French (pictured left), our Sierra Leone National Director, shares the Gospel using the Heart of Man Chart, a visual tool that is especially helpful in communities with high illiteracy rates. In Sierra Leone, children often accompany their mothers wherever they go.

Their experience in the first village they reached buoyed their faith and ignited a new passion.The very presence of the team brought hope and cheer to the isolated community where visitors are rare. The impoverished community had been struck hard by the Ebola outbreak. Everyone who was left had suffered great loss. They were an attentive audience that listened to the presentation of the Gospel with hungry hearts and open ears. The sick among them received prayer, and many experienced instant healing. As they prepared to move on, the villagers warned the EHC team that going further up the mountain was not a good idea. It was a “no-go” area, they said, a dangerous “secret location” where much evil took place. The secret location — also known as Loko Town — was a drug-infested community built and controlled by an ex-military officer whom everyone feared. He was an evil man who was dismissed from the army for shocking and illegal behaviour.Those who were loyal to him called him “Man Plus,” because his rumoured abilities and spiritual powers were far greater than those of any ordinary man.

At this secret mountaintop location as well as the surrounding area, Man Plus was revered as a spiritual advisor who had mystical powers and could solve everyone’s problems with his herbs, occultist charms and other paraphernalia. He was a manipulative man who made his followers depend on him by getting them addicted to marijuana and strong rum. His concoctions had created a mentally unstable community widely known for its violent behaviour. Knowing that the powers of darkness were wreaking havoc on the region, the EHC team made its way up the mountain to declare the Gospel in Loko Town. But when our workers got there, they were confronted by eight burly men — all devoted followers of Man Plus. These men were clearly agitated when they saw the visitors approach, and they were highly skeptical when the evangelists introduced themselves as missionaries. High on their daily concoctions, Man Plus’s ruffians didn’t believe the outreach workers and thought they were the police coming to arrest them.

After a lot of talking, the EHC workers managed to convince the angry men that they were not the police but had come to bring Man Plus some very good news. Then they shared the Gospel, speaking of freedom in Christ and His power to forgive and break the bondage of addiction. When they finished, the team said a prayer and asked God to give them a miracle. Then the evangelists asked if anyone wanted to accept Christ. Five of Man Plus’s eight loyal followers — and Man Plus himself — raised their hands and surrendered their lives to Christ. After much prayer and biblical counsel, the EHC workers persuaded the former gang members to renounce their sinful ways and look for gainful employment. As it turned out, several of them had marketable skills and soon found work. It took Man Plus a little longer to find a new vocation, as many people feared him. He was eventually hired after he made a public announcement of his decision to follow Christ, destroyed his charms and tore down his former place of business. In its place, he constructed a building large enough to house his entire family. The news quickly spread that Man Plus was no longer offering his ungodly services because he had given his life to Christ. As a result, many more of his loyal customers opened their hearts to the Gospel and accepted Jesus too. Today, Man Plus and many who once followed him are part of an EHC Christ Group fellowship that meets for regular Bible study and prayer. EHC workers who proclaim the Gospel in difficult areas are sometimes said to be superheroes of the faith. But the truth is, they’re no different than you and me. They’re just ordinary people who have families that worry when they’re gone and trust God for their safe return. They are humble men and women who have dedicated their lives to building the Kingdom and thank God for the privilege.

Please pray for EHC workers and Christians everywhere who have devoted their lives to spreading the Gospel in hostile areas, no matter the cost.

A pioneer missionary shares the Gospel with three friends.

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“Knowing that the powers of darkness were wreaking havoc on the region, the EHC team made its way up the mountain to declare the Gospel...” 7

THERE IS HOPE!

jesus said, "go into all the world and Preach the gospel".

Pressed Down but Not Crushed M e x i c o

hat has being a Christian cost you? Jesus told us to pick up our crosses and follow Him, but young Jorge Fernández never could have imagined what that would mean for his family in Mexico. “At first, we all were very happy as my family participated in the beautiful services of the small church in our village,” says Jorge. “But over time, our neighbours began to harass us.” Jorge was 16 years old when his family became a target of persecution. The Christian families in his village refused to participate in idol worship or provide money for pagan celebrations. NonChristian neighbours saw this refusal as a threat against the village’s ancestral traditions and culture — and their reaction to it was severe. First, the Christian children were

by James Holt

banned from attending the local school. Then, the water and electricity in the Christians’ homes were shut off. But the worst part was the death threats. “They threatened to burn our house and then burn us,” Jorge remembers. Terrified, Jorge’s mother refused to remain in the village any longer, and she wasn’t the only one who felt that way. One by one, Christian families broke apart as parents sent their children to stay with relatives while they went in search of new, safe places to settle. Jorge and his siblings were sent to live with their grandparents. Jorge cried himself to sleep many nights. Why had God allowed so many awful things to happen to his family? His home, his church, his school and his parents had all been ripped away from him.

He didn’t even know whether his mother and father were still alive or if the threats against them had actually been carried out. It’s hard to imagine the loneliness he must have felt as he contemplated all that had happened. “He blamed God for his lot,” says Gloria Silva, EHC National Director of Mexico. “The reason for this persecution was that he and his family accepted Jesus as their Saviour and worshipped Him as a family.” Jorge was ready to abandon the faith he blamed for his trouble — until someone gave him a piece of EHC gospel literature. The message was called Are You Happy?and it reminded Jorge that true happiness can only be found in Jesus. It was the exact message Jorge needed to hear in that painful moment, and the Holy Spirit used it to transform his life. “The message filled my life with hope and confidence in God,” Jorge says. “It was that message of faith that held me close to Jesus in the most difficult years of my life.” Inspired by the EHC message, Jorge didn’t give up on following Jesus. Instead, he discovered that, even in the darkest moments, when all we have is Jesus, Jesus is always enough. With hope restored, Jorge persevered in his faith, praying all the while for his family to be reunited. When he grew up, Jorge went to seminary and became a pastor. Today he leads the congregation at New Bethel

Church. Jorge even found his parents again, older but alive and well. His entire family has now been reunited, and they’re all still following Jesus. One day, a Mobile Training Coordinator from Every Home for Christ visited Jorge’s church. His name was Luciano Díaz, and he invited the congregation to participate in a home-to-home evangelism outreach. Jorge recognized Every Home for Christ as the creator of the Are You Happy? gospel message that had so profoundly influenced his life as a young Christian. He was overjoyed to meet Luciano. “I was reached by God through the printed message that Every Home for Christ Mexico made available to me when I most needed it,” Jorge says. “I immediately agreed to participate. We all went rejoicing to sow the seed of the Gospel printed in these messages.” Partnering with other local churches, Jorge’s congregation has helped to reach 4,765 homes with the Good News of salvation in the past year, generating 1,100 responses to Jesus and establishing 53 Christ Group fellowships for discipleship. Jorge’s childhood village wasn’t the only one to experience a backlash against the Gospel, and it’s still happening today. But thanks to churches like Jorge’s, the Gospel is spreading in Mexico all the same — and gospel messages like Are You Happy? are still changing lives.

D i c k

E a s t m a n

International President

“...lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age...” (Matthew 28:20b,

NKJV )

he Bible tells us that “in the last days it is going to be very difficult to be a Christian” (2 Timothy 3:1, TLB). While many of us still enjoy religious freedom, there are growing numbers of Christians around the world who face great opposition because of their faith. Some experience it as discrimination in the workplace or difficulty in finding employment. In more extreme cases, Christ’s followers are openly persecuted, forced to hide their Bibles and worship in secret just to protect their families. In this edition of Every Home magazine, we bring you stories of some of our global evangelists who have faced great conflict while sharing the Gospel and proclaiming the Christian faith. You’ll read about an EHC worker in Bulgaria who has been repeatedly confronted by police for sharing the Gospel. You’ll follow our team in Sierra Leone as it risks exposure to Ebola and comes face to face with a group of dangerous drug addicts. Then you’ll be inspired by an EHC worker in Mexico whose Christian family was scattered by persecution when he was 16 years old. Please join me in praying for our global workers — and Christians everywhere — who are clinging to the promise found in Matthew 28: “. . . I am with you always . . .”

Australia: PO Box 168 Penshurst NSW 2222 Telephone: (02) 9570 8211 Facsimile: (02) 9570 4738 New Zealand: PO Box 31-260 Milford North Shore City 0741 Telephone: Free call 0800 900 200 Facsimile: 0061 2 9570 4738 www.everyhome.org.au ehc@everyhome.org.au

What of the last days? What is the number one prophetic sign? What sign more than any other, points to the soon return of Jesus Christ? While any number of signs are present, I believe one stands out above all others. In fact, Jesus Himself told us what it is.When the disciples said, "Tell us the signs of your coming and the end of the age" (Matthew 24:3), Jesus detailed a number of things to look for. He then said, "When you see all these things, you can know my return is near. I'm right at the door" (Matthew 24:33). He also said, "When all these things begin to happen, look up for your salvation is near!" (Luke 21:28). This means the number one sign of Jesus' return is all the signs appearing together.

without witnessing one of these signs. Yet our generation is witness to all of them. Those signs include: Israel Back in the Land God promised to bring the Jewish people back into the land of Israel before He returned (Jeremiah 23:7-8). He said He would call them from "among the nations" (Ezekiel 39:28), from "the farthest corners of the earth" (Isaiah 11:12), and from "north, south, east, and west" (Psalm 107:3). He promised to welcome them home from the lands where they were scattered (Ezekiel 20:34). When they did, He promised to return and establish His everlasting kingdom (Isaiah 11:11-12).

The Jews Back in Jerusalem - Jesus said armies would surround Jerusalem, destroy the city, and enslave its citizens. This happened in A.D. 70 when the Roman legions did exactly that. Jesus then said people other than the Jews would control Jerusalem for a time, then the Jewish people would once again control Jerusalem. When they did, Jesus promised to return (Luke 21:24-28). Since 1967, the Jewish people The Convergence of Signs have been in possession of Jerusalem and The Bible tells us a number of events will will be celebrating their 50 year reunification take place just prior to the return of Jesus. this June. Generations of Christians lived and died Both Jesus and the prophets told us what signs to look for, and the appearance of just one is reason enough to take notice. But the arrival of one sign after another should really get your attention. This convergence of signs is the number one prophetic sign - the number one reason to believe Jesus is right at the door.

The Gospel Preached Throughout the World When asked about the end of the age and the signs of His coming, Jesus said to look for a very specific sign. He said the gospel will be preached throughout the entire world. Every nation will hear it. And then? And then, the end will come (Matthew 24:14). For centuries after the crucifixion, the gospel was confined to a small area surrounding the Mediterranean Sea. In the past two centuries, Christians have brought the gospel to every nation in the world. Today, missionaries are in every nation. The Bible is translated in hundreds of languages, and the message of Jesus is sent around the world by radio, TV, satellite, and the Internet, as well as the Every Home for Christ goal to visit every home on earth with the Gospel message. Our generation is literally on the verge of spreading the gospel to every last person on earth.

In the 20th Century alone, more people died from war and famine than lived on the earth when Jesus spoke these words. Israel Surrounded by Enemies The Bible says enemies will surround Israel in the end times. Those enemies will say "Come, let us wipe away the nation of Israel. Let's destroy the memory of its existence" (Psalm 83:4) and "Let us take for ourselves these pasturelands of God" (Psalm 83:12). Ezekiel said Israel's neighbours will say "God has given their land to us" (Ezekiel 11:14-17), and "Israel and Judah are ours. We will take possession of them. What do we care if their God is there?" (Ezekiel 35:10). Ever since the rebirth of Israel in 1948, the daily headlines have included these Bible verses. Israel's Muslim neighbours claim the land of Israel for themselves, and they have no regard for the God of Israel.

An Increase in Travel and Knowledge Six hundred years before Jesus, an angel gave Daniel a special message. He said "travel and knowledge" will increase in the end times (Daniel 12:4). For centuries of human history, dramatic gains in travel and knowledge did NOT take place. Yet the last two hundred years have seen explosions in the speed and frequency of travel as well as the amount and availability of knowledge. Arrival of the Exponential Cur ve Jesus said a variety of global signs will come before His return and the end of the age.These signs will be spiritual, natural, societal, and political in nature. And He said they would appear in a distinct way - "like birth pains" (Matthew 24:3-8). This means the frequency and intensity of these signs will increase as we near His return. Our generation has seen the exponential increase in war and famine Jesus said to look for.

Israel's Exceedingly Great Army Ezekiel said, in the end times, Israel will field "an exceedingly great army" (Ezekiel 37:10). Zechariah said Israel will be like a fire among sheaves of grain,burning up the neighbouring nations (Zechariah 12:6) and even the weakest Israeli soldier will be like David (Zechariah 12:8). Since 1948, Israel has fought no less than four conventional wars against its neighbours. Despite being outnumbered more than 50 to 1, Israel has achieved overwhelming victory every time. Rise of the Gog of Magog Alliance The Bible says a military alliance that includes Russia, Iran, Turkey, and a number of Muslim nations will attack Israel "in the latter days" (Ezekiel 38:8) when God brings His people home from among the enemy nations (Ezekiel 39:27).

Conclusion Today, we see those very nations coming together - an alliance that has never existed in world history. Rise of a United Europe The Bible says a revived Roman Empire will come to power in the end times (Daniel 2, Daniel 7, Revelation 17). According to Daniel, it will be a ten nation alliance of weak and strong nations. Some parts will be as strong as iron, while other parts will be as weak as clay (Daniel 2:42). We see the beginning of this alliance in the European Union - a coalition of weak and strong nations struggling to stay together despite the efforts of Britain to leave through Brexit. The Rise of Global Government The Bible says a single government will rule the world politically (Revelation 13:7), religiously (Revelation 13:8), and economically (Revelation 13:1617) in the last days. It will rule over "all people, tribes, and languages" on the face of the earth (Revelation 13:7). Its authority will be so complete no one will be able to buy or sell anything without its permission (Revelation 13:1617). For centuries, a true global government was impossible. Today, world leaders openly discuss it. Denial of the Signs Almost two thousand years ago, Peter issued a warning. He said in the last days people will mock the idea of Jesus returning. They will make fun of those who believe in the Second Coming and say exactly what we hear today - things like, "I thought Jesus was coming back? What happened to His promise? Generation after generation has said He's coming. Yet, since the beginning of the world, everything has remained the same!" (2 Peter 3:34).

Despite the naysayers, Jesus is coming, and the signs indicate that ours is the generation that will witness His return. The convergence of all these signs confirm it. Jesus Himself said to look for these signs, and when you see them, He said you can know His return is near. He's right at the door (Matthew 24:33). In fact, He said the generation witnessing these signs will not pass away before He returns (Matthew 24:34). "But," you might say. "These are the same signs you keep pointing out. You keep saying the same thing over and over." That's right. I do. And that's because the truth doesn't change. These signs were present yesterday, and these same signs will be present right up until the rapture. But keep this in mind - for 1,878 years of Christianity (A.D. 70 - A.D. 1948), none of these signs were present. Today, all of them are. I repeat myself because this is a message people need to hear. It's the message every Christian should brand in his or her heart. Advertisers say you need to hear a message at least seven times before it sinks in. Looking around, I don't think it's sunk in. Too many people are asleep when it comes to the signs of the Second Coming. Sadly,many of these people are Christians. If you're one of them, it's time to wake up. Jesus warned us not to be caught sleeping when He returns (Mark 13:36). He commanded us to watch. Today, the signs of His return are all around us. Jesus is coming, and it can't be said enough... Now is the season of His return. - Britt Gillette

Every Home for Christ is made possible because Christians give money and pray for Every Home for Christ. Missionary staff across the world receive financial support from Every Home for Christ. Millions of gospel booklets and leaflets are printed by Every Home for Christ. All this is made possible because of the generous financial support of God's people for Every Home for Christ and very often, these people are giving out of poverty.

giving out of poverty You don't have to possess large sums of money to be a "large giver." In his second letter to the Corinthians, Paul pointed out this example of the churches in Macedonia: "In a great deal of affliction their abundance of joy and their deep poverty overflowed in the wealth of their liberality" (2 Corinthians 8:2, NASB). A good many years ago, while slowly reading this passage, I recalled thinking I must have misread the words. So I read them again: "In a great deal of affliction their abundance of joy and their deep poverty overflowed in the wealth of their liberality". "Lord,"I said, "there must be a mistake. Do You mean to say that when these people were in affliction and deep poverty they still "overflowed'with liberal giving?" I admitted before the Lord that this was not my experience in giving, but prayed that if He would open to me what this passage meant and how I was to do it, I would give it a try. I read on. Paul said, "I testify that according to their ability, and beyond their ability, they gave of their own accord"(verse 3). Then I realised that these Christians had not given according to their natural abilities, but God had allowed them to give supernaturally, far above their natural power. Furthermore, they had done this willingly and voluntarily. No one had to twist their arms. They simply heard about the seriousness of the need, and gave spontaneously. This kind of giving impressed me.

I re-read this passsage and noticed especially the opening verse of this chapter: "Now, brethren, we wish to make known to you the grace of God which has been given in the churches of Macedonia. It had never occurred to me before that the giving depended on the grace of God. This opened up a completely new concept. Giving is based on God's grace - God's unmerited favour and power. The Macedonian Christians had experienced that grace. This "gracious" giving is joyful. Even though these people were experiencing "a great ordeal of affliction"- torture, torment, discomfort, and pain - they experienced inwardly the abundance of joy. Furthermore, they were in "deep poverty", with little or no income to give away. Yet they continued to give more and more until Paul could call it liberal or lavish giving. Only God can accomplish this kind of giving, for He is our source! These people had a desire to give, so they gave first what they could - "according to their ability"(verse 3).Then God's Spirit made it possible for them to give far beyond their power - "beyond their ability."And they did this voluntarily - there was no forcing, no arm-twisting, no playing on their emotions. God controlled their wills. They first gave what they could; then God gave through them what He wanted them to give supernaturally. This had to be "giving" by the power of God. Wayne Watts - "The Gift of Giving"

MAY 2017 Bible Readings: This month the daily text will be taken from Genesis and Exodus. For those wanting to do the one-year Bible reading program these chapters are in brackets.

DIPLAVE POKHREL Keep praying for Diplave to get an Australian Permanent Residency Visa. It's urgent and important to Every Home for Christ and getting the Gospel to those without Christ. If you know a Member of Parliament, tell us and you can ask them and we can ask too. Let us know soon. Pray that the Migration Agent will make a case that is acceptable to the Australian Government. His visa expires soon on the 30th of July 2017. Genesis 36:21-43 (Judges 6-8)

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CAMEROON Pop. 23,700,000 Map 24. Our team in Cameroon recently celebrated the baptisms of several new brothers and sisters in Christ. Please pray for the faith of these believers to grow. Genesis 37(Judges 9-12) CREATIVE ACCESS Police are putting pressure on our team of evangelists to stop sharing the Gospel. Please pray that those who are trying to stop our workers will come to know Christ. Genesis 38 (Judges 13-16)

MYANMAR Pop. 56,300,000 Map 135. Where our workers in Myanmar might normally find hostility, they were met with cordial openness to the Gospel! Please pray that the Holy Spirit will continue to open hearts in the villages. Genesis 39 (Judges 17-21) URUGUAY Pop. 3,300,000 Map. 224 Please pray for all our workers who were recently trained in home-to-home evangelism. Genesis 40 (Ruth 1-4)

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ROMANIA Pop. 21,800,000 Map 78. Our team in Romania recently reached homes in Timis County with a personal, face-to-face presentation of the Gospel. Pray that all those who have heard the Good News would be convicte_d by the Holy Spirit and brought into relationship with Jesus. Genesis 41:1-35 (1 Samuel 1-7)

LESOTHO Pop. 1,900,000 Map. 2 "My heart's cry is that of Isaiah, 'Here I am Lord. Send me", says a gospel worker in Lesotho. "I don't know how many days I have left to run this race, so I have to preach the Gospel now". Please pray that God will continue to raise up workers to send to the harvest in Lesotho. Genesis 41:36-47 (1 Samuel 8-12) HONDURAS Pop. 8,500,000 Map 182. Please pray for the pastors whom our National Director had the privilege of leading in evangelism and discipleship training. Genesis 42 (1 Samuel 13:1 to 16:13)

UNITED KINGDOM Pop. 63,400,000 Map 92. Please pray for open heavens as our workers go home-to-home with the Good News in Birmingham! Pray that God will use our workers to inspire the Church in the United Kingdom to reach those who don't know Jesus as their Saviour. Genesis 43 (Psalm 23) CREATIVE ACCESS One of our evangelism workers in this closed nation wrote: "There is a dark spiritual atmosphere over this land". Pray that God will send more labourers into this land of darkness with the light and life that comes from a personal relationship with Jesus. Genesis 44 (I Samuel 16:14 to 19:11) SRI LANKA Pop. 21,700,000 Map 131. Praise God that over 12,000 gospel messages were shared in a crowded marketplace in Sri Lanka. Please pray that the Holy Spirit will continue to work through these pieces of literature to reach the people of this nation with His love. Genesis 45 (Psalm 59) PA P UA NEW GUINEA Pop. 6,400,000 Map 146. Please pray for our workers in the Southern Highlands Province who are mobilising different churches to reach every home in the town of Tari with the Good News. Pray for courage and protection as they share the name of Jesus in this area. Genesis 46 (1 Samuel 19:12 to 21:15) MEXICO Pop. 116,200,000 Map 178 Praise God for the Christ Group ministry that is taking place at the Topo Chico Jail. Pray that our workers will be allowed to meet with and disciple these men and that these new believers will be able to reach their fellow inmates with the love of God. Genesis 47 (Psalm 34,56)

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GEORGIA Pop. 4,600,000 Map 103. Please pray for an ongoing project that is focused on ministering to a region where people practice traditional beliefs. Pray that God will use our workers to open their eyes and hearts. Genesis 48 (1 Samuel 22:1-2 - 2 Psalm 57,142) MADAGSCAR Pop. 22,600,000 Map 4. Our workers in Madagascar go to great lengths in order to take the Gospel to every rural home on their island. Pray that the Holy Spirit will continue to fill them with the excitement and joy that is found when someone accepts the love of Jesus. Genesis 49 (1 Samuel 22:3 - 23 Psalm 52)

EAST TIMOR Pop. 1,200,000 Map. 144 Praise God for the passion of our workers in East Timor who travel through jungles to proclaim the name of Jesus! Pray that God will continue to send labourers to these villages to further disciple the men and women who want to hear more about the Gospel. Genesis 50 (1 Samuel 23, Psalms 54, 63)

FRANCE Pop. 66,000,000 Map 89. Please pray that the Gospel will spread swiftly in the town of Falaise where very little church presence exists. Pray that the Christ Group planted there will take root and bring the presence of God to this community. Exodus 1 (1 Samuel 24-26) CREATIVE ACCESS Our team is meeting with several pastors and church leaders to discuss engaging the people in their country. Please pray that the Holy Spirit will bring unity to these meetings and will impart to them divine wisdom for evangelism strategies. Exodus 2 (1 Samuel 27-31) CHILE - Pop. 17,200,000 Map 220. Please pray for our workers who are evangelising in areas affected by massive fires from this past year. Pray that they find practical ways to share the hope of Jesus and that His Kingdom will be expanded even in the midst of hardship. Exodus 3 (2 Samuel 1-4) BULGARIA Pop. 7,000,000 Map 77. Praise God for the 8,000 bags of seed our team recently distributed as a way to share the love and provision of God! Please pray for our workers as they continue to follow up with those who responded to this message and begin a process of discipleship. Exodus 4 (2 Samuel 5-7, Psalm 30) CANADA Pop. 34,600.00 Map 177. Please pray for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the Church in Canada. Pray that He would stir a passion in their hearts to give people the hope that is found in Jesus Christ. Exodus 5 (2 Samuel 8:1-14, Psalm 60) SOLOMON ISLANDS Pop. 600,000 Map 152. A son of a local priest has come to know and accept Jesus as his Lord and Saviour and even started a Christ Group! Please pray that God will use his powerful testimony, and those of other believers in his Christ Group. Exodus 6 (2 Samuel 8:15 to 10:19) GUYANA Pop.700,000 Map 213. Our workers in Guyana are doing home-tohome ministry in a mountainous region. Please pray that the Holy Spirit will provide them with both supernatural strength to reach the homes and supernatural words to reach the hearts of those who don't know Jesus. Exodus 7 (2 Samuel 11:1 to 12:14, Psalms 51,32 )

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PRAY FOR ISRAEL ROMANS 11:28

SAMOA Pop. 600,000 Map 158. Please pray for our gospel workers in Samoa to be equipped and inspired to reach their nation for Christ! Pray for God to give them a spirit of boldness and open doors for many evangelism opportunities. Exodus 8 (2 Samuel 12:15 to 15:37) CREATIVE ACCESS The local church in this closed nation is seeking the Lord as it decides on upcoming opportunities for evangelism. Please pray that the Holy Spirit will give them divine insight and a passion to reach men and women in their country. Exodus 9 (Psalms 3,69) GUADELOUPE Pop. 400,000 Map 202. Gospel messages are a key component of our team's evangelism efforts in Guadeloupe! Please pray that these pieces of literature left with each home will stand as a testimony of God's grace and salvation. Exodus 10 (2 Samuel 16-20) SOUTH AFRICA Pop. 48,600,000 Map 1. Social and racial divides can cause tension among neighbourhoods in South Africa. Please pray for our workers to break into this situation with the transformational power of the Gospel which can heal any broken situation. Exodus 11 (Psalms 64,70) CREATIVE ACCESS Please pray for unity among our teams of pioneer missionairies in this nation that is hostile to the preaching of the Gospel. Pray that they will be of one mind and will encourage each other, continuing to share the Good News in spite of opposition. Exodus 12 (2 Samuel 21-22, Psalm 18) UNITED STATES Pop. 316,700,000 Map 176. Continue to pray with us for another Great Awakening in the United States. Pray that the Holy Spirit will refresh the American Church with a passion to reach men and women and that the Church would return to its first love. Exodus 13 (2 Samuel 23-24) ITALY Pop. 61,500,000 Map 65. Please pray for open doors in Italy for the Gospel to go forth in a mighty way. Pray earnestly that the Holy Spirit will send labourers to this field and that God will bless their work with an abundant harvest. Exodus 14 ( Psalm 4-6) SERBIA Pop. 7,200,000 Map 71. Please pray for open hearts as our workers take the Gospel home to home in Serbia. Pray that the Holy Spirit will use our teams's message to reveal the sacrificial love of Christ and His longing to be in a relationship with each and every person. Exodus 15 (Psalm 7-9)

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