Speak life daily September-November 2105 by +Greyjones Studio

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SEPTEMBER – NOVEMBER 2015 CHARLESTON FORGIVES ASSASSIN PAGE 6

ALSO...Underground Churches in Afghanistan Tenfold Growth in Indonesian Church Cuba Opening Up to the Gospel

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FORMERLY THE INTERNATIONAL DAILY PRAYER BULLETIN

GLEN’S SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS If Glen is speaking near you, do get in touch. He would love to meet you. 4-6 Sept Church Weekend Away for St Botolph’s, Barton Seagrave 7 Sept Our Union Learning Hub launches. Lectures held each Monday. 9 Sept Month of evangelistic training begins with King’s Church, Lewes 13 Sept Preaching at Wheelock Heath Baptist Church (mission to follow) 16 Sept Evangelism Training for King’s Church, Lewes 20 Sept Preaching at St Michael’s, Westcliff. 23 Sept Evangelism Training for King’s Church, Lewes 24-25 Sept Glen & Emma speaking to medics, students & churches–Sheffield 26 Sept Preaching evangelistically at King’s Church, Lewes 3 Oct Evangelistic event in Haywards Heath 4 Oct Preaching at Hope Church, Gravesend Speaking at Alpha Supper in Lewes. 10 Oct Evangelism training–Sussex Gospel Partnership Annual Meeting 17 Oct Trustees Meeting for the Charity 18 Oct Preaching at Dartford Community Church 31 Oct Speaking at light party, St Wilfred’s, Lower Willingdon. 1 Nov Preaching at a Guest Service for St Wilfred’s, Lower Willingdon 13-15 Nov Weekend away for University of East Anglia Christian Union 16 Nov A day’s teaching for New Frontiers leaders 19-22 Nov Mission to Cwmbran with Pontrhydyrun Baptist Church 29 Nov Preaching at Holy Trinity, Eastbourne

ONGOING PRAYER POINTS • The Union Learning Hub where four students are training for ministry. (Lectures Mondays)

• Preparations for Christmas outreach, including a book, video and website.

• The re-writing and re-filming of 321, the evangelistic course. 2

DEAR PRAYER PARTNERS, Thanks for making it to the second instalment of Speak Life Daily (formerly The International Daily Prayer Bulletin)! We had some teething problems with our first edition as I’m sure you noticed. We forgot to put the months on the front cover and we numbered rather than dated the entries, making it tricky to figure out when you were meant to pray for each item. We’re very sorry for these mistakes and, as you can see, we have fixed them now. We have also made Ian Milmine’s entries easier to find and follow – we have put his inspiring stories of gospel advance on all the left-hand pages. In this edition you can read about the mission of Christ extending into Indonesia, Pakistan, Somalia, Ukraine, Cuba, China, Ivory Coast and many more countries. As we are inspired by these stories may all our prayers be used by God to open yet more doors of gospel opportunity. In another “return to normal service” we have also moved Ian’s feature article back to the centre-pages. In this edition, as ever, Ian provides keen analysis of an issue relevant to Christians making Christ known. This time he considers the question of gender, sex and marriage. When the world has such a profoundly different view of these matters, how should we respond? What do recent developments in the West mean for our preaching and praying? Alongside these excellent resources we also highlight our own evangelistic ministry, reaching out with the good news of Christ. Pray with us as we embark on a two-year training course for gospel preachers (p5). Read about the prayers of commitment said on the streets of Eastbourne this summer when we trained and sent out 32 Christians for the first time (p15). Join us in praying for gospel advance as I preach in Lewes (p7), Cheshire (p7), Sheffield (p11), Norwich (p31), Cwmbran (p33) and many other places. As with the last edition of the Speak Life Daily, you will find three kinds of entry here: We look to the Scriptures to revive us for our mission. We highlight our own work of resourcing the church evangelistically. We rejoice to see the reach of the gospel to the ends of the earth. We hope you enjoy this publication, now with prayer points and encouragements for each and every day. We invest a lot of time and money to make this publication available to you. We hope that it does indeed revive and resource you in your own efforts to reach out for Christ. Yours in His service, Glen Scrivener and the Revival team. 3

1, 2 SEPT

EX-JIHADIST STARTS 1200 JESUS GROUPS John 1:14-18

Christian Raharjo (not his real name) was a school drop-out on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi looking for work, when he was recruited by a jihadist organization. Like many young Muslim men, he was paid to attack Christian villages with the aim to force the Christians out of the area. However, as a result of the increased ‘war on terror‘ by the United States after the 9-11 attack, his group fell apart and he lost his job. Raharjo returned to Jakarta, traumatized and depressed. There he joined a punk group and started to use heroin. One night Raharjo had a dream. A person who introduced himself as Jesus (Isa) spoke to him in “bright and strong language” and told him to “Follow me!” In the dream Raharjo decided to follow this person. When he woke up, he found himself healthy, sober and without any desire to use drugs. Looking for someone to explain his dream Raharjo turned to Samiton, the pastor of a large Christian community in Jakarta, who had done a great deal for Muslims facing social difficulties. “I want to follow Jesus, but I’m not a Christian,” Raharjo told him. Pastor Samiton put him in touch with Wira (not his real name). Wira developed a relationship with Raharjo, spent a lot of time with him and introduced him to the teachings of Jesus. His newfound faith struck deep roots in Raharjo and changed him over time. He introduced all his gang members to his new Christian friends, and one after another began to take an interest in Jesus. Wira noticed that the young men needed a meeting place and also a decent place to live so he bought a house and called it ‘Father’s House’. Here they met regularly and discovered more about Jesus and his teachings. The method they used to ‘discover Jesus’ was simple: they followed the instructions of the Quran to read the Gospels and also parts of the Old Testament. Questions that arose were answered cautiously. In this way the young men were able to discover faith in Jesus by themselves, which is very important for Muslims. In the years that followed many of the young men in the community returned to their families in the countryside and shared their faith in Jesus. Most parents were happy that their sons had not been lost in the big city, but had found a good new life. This way more and more of these small Bible study communities started to emerge in Jakarta and throughout the country - always through personal contacts and along family lines. Like in the gospels it’s common for new Jesus followers to be baptized in the context of their family. To date, through the life and witness of Raharjo alone, around 1,200 Jesus groups have been started among Muslims across the country. Joel News International; source withheld. PRAISE God that He revealed Himself to Raharjo to make him an “apostle” to his people. PRAY For God’s people in Indonesia, where believers in Christ are targeted by extremists. Pray that many Muslims, even jihadists, may experience the saving grace of the living Jesus.

SEPT

BLESSED ARE THE PEACEMAKERS Matthew 6:9

The children of God are peacemakers. Why? Because the Son of God is the Peacemaker. He died to reconcile us to the Father and now He invites us into His own work of reconciliation. Do you want to experience more of your status as a child of God? Do you want to know more of the “blessing” which Jesus speaks of here? Proclaim peace to a world alienated from God – this is the life of God’s Son and the privilege of all His children. PRAY for opportunities to speak the peace of Christ into a world that so desperately needs it.

4-6 SEPT

REFRESHMENT AND REFUELING FOR NORTHAMPTONSHIRE CHURCH Philippians 1:7-9

Glen is speaking this weekend at a Church Retreat for St Botolph’s, Barton Seagrave. PRAY for a deep knowledge of gospel truth. PRAY for a profound unity among the believers that will witness to their neighbourhood. PRAY for the church to be equipped and enthused to share their faith.

SEPT

LET THE TRAINING BEGIN Ephesians 4:10-11

Today our Union Learning Hub launches. We have 4 students embarking on 2 years of theological and practical training for future church leadership. Each one has demonstrated gifting and passion for leading Christ’s body and they are devoting themselves to being equipped for a lifetime of service. PRAY that God would be raising up a bold generation of gospel leaders through this initiative.

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SEPT

CHARLESTON CHURCH FORGIVES ASSASSIN Ephesians 4:31-32

On the weekend after 21-year-old, white supremacist, Dylann Roof had slaughtered nine of its members, at a Wednesday night Bible study, Charleston’s Emannuel African Methodist Episcopal Church reopened its doors and proclaimed forgiveness in Christ Jesus. Pastor Revd Clementa Pinckney was amongst those killed. Temporary pastor, Revd Norvel Goff, said: “The devil also entered - and the devil was trying to take charge.” “Thanks be to God, hallelujah, that the devil cannot take control of your people. And the devil cannot take control of your church.” In an extraordinary example to the whole world the victims’ loved ones and fellow church members, in the midst of their heartbreak and personal loss, confronted the perpetrator and told him they forgave him and prayed for his soul. These black brothers and sisters are a profound witness to the transformative power of the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. “We welcomed you Wednesday night in our Bible study with open arms,” said Felecia Sanders. “You have killed some of the most beautifulest people that I know. Every fiber in my body hurts … and I’ll never be the same.” “Tywanza Sanders was my son, but Tywanza was my hero,” she said. “May God have mercy on you.” Anthony Thompson, the grandson of victim Myra Thompson, told Roof, “I forgive you, my family forgives you. … We would like you to take this opportunity to repent. Do that and you’ll be better off than you are right now.” Los Angeles Times; Christian Post; Revival Media PRAISE God that true forgiveness comes through the love of Christ. Pray that this witness may be a beacon of light to many.

SEPT

FAITH WORKS ACCORDING TO UK STUDY Colossians 1:3-6

The public perception of Christianity in the UK is that “religion has a negative effect on society.” The reality could not be further from that perception. In 2015 a Faith Action Audit was undertaken in the UK organised by the Cinnamon Network. Its results, published in May revealed that local faith groups deliver 220,000 social action projects in Britain each year. These groups mobilise 2 million volunteers to serve 48 million beneficiaries (some benefit twice) and collectively this gives over £3 billion worth of social support. Today Eastbourne is publicising its own figures in the presence of church and community leaders. It’s a wonderful opportunity to proclaim loud and clear that faith works. PRAY that in Eastbourne and throughout the UK, the world would see the good fruit that is produced by the good news and be drawn to Christ.

SEPT

JESUS IS NOT ASHAMED OF US Hebrews 2:11

Before Jesus tells us not to be ashamed of Him (Mark 8:38) we need to understand this incredible truth from Hebrews 2: He is not ashamed of us. We have given Him every reason to disown us: our sin; our foolishness; our spiritual dryness. Jesus would have every right to distance Himself from us forever but instead He is proud to call us family. He identifies with us before angels and men – surely we can identify with Him in the world. PRAY to know Jesus’ incredible and undeserved pride in us. PRAY that we will be proud of Him before a watching world.

SEPT

MONTH OF EVANGELISTIC TRAINING AND OUTREACH Philemon 1:6

Glen begins a month of evangelism training with King’s Church, Lewes culminating in a guest service and an Alpha course. PRAY for great times of learning, of evangelistic experience and of many coming to Christ.

SEPT

THOUGH THE MOUNTAINS BE SHAKEN... Isaiah 54:10

Everything in this age is passing. Life as we know it is perishing and nothing can stop the onward march of death. But Isaiah says there is something deeper and more enduring than this sinking sand – there is God’s “covenant of peace”. And what is this covenant founded on? The very nature of God, for He is “the LORD who has compassion on you.” PRAY that you would not lean your hope on this passing age but on the unfailing love of Jesus.

SEPT

MISSION TO CHESHIRE Ephesians 6:19-20

Today Glen is preaching at Wheelock Heath Baptist Church in advance of a week-long mission next year. PRAY for great relationships to be struck up with the church. PRAY for a sense of prayerful expectancy for the mission.

SEPT

FOLLOWING CHRIST AMID FAMILY HOSTILITY Luke 21:16-19

A Christian convert who ran away from her Muslim family in Ohio says she doesn’t “live in fear because every day belongs to God.” Rifqa Bary spoke to Christian Today about her journey from Islam and her new book, Hiding in the Light: Why I risked everything to leave Islam and follow Christ. Bary was born a Muslim in Sri Lanka but moved to the US in 2000. She said her father and brother beat her when they found out she had converted to Christianity aged 12 (keeping her faith hidden for four years). “I remember weeping and I had this experience where I felt as if God was breathing in my brokenness, and I was breathing in his grace, mercy and love,” she said. “That was the day that everything changed, where I felt the unconditional love of the Father.” Eventually, as a teenager, she ran away to Florida, and then spent time in juvenile detention and foster homes as she fought a legal battle with her family to stay away from them. “I look back and I realize I was really traumatized by what had happened and I needed time to heal,” she said. “There was a lot of information that was construed in some way... people misunderstood some aspects, and so I really wanted to talk. My book has been my voice in expressing what happened behind closed doors.” Christian Headlines PRAISE God that Christ revealed Himself to this young lady and strengthened her to face trials rather than deny her faith. Pray her book may bless many.

SEPT

WILL PAKISTAN CHANGE BLASPHEMY LAW? Psalm 33:10-15

In a move to prevent the abuse of Pakistan’s blasphemy laws, the government has drafted a bill attempting to reduce false accusations. A mandatory death sentence for the crime of ‘defiling the name’ of Muhammad makes false accusations a serious risk to non-Muslims; they are often used to settle personal grudges. The mob violence that sometimes follows an accusation poses a risk to whole Christian communities if one of their members is accused. If passed, the bill would impose penalties for false accusation and also make it necessary to prove that a person accused of defiling the name of Muhammad had done so intentionally. Pakistan has a secular legal system and an Islamic one based on sharia. According to the constitution, the Federal Shariat Court has the power to decide whether any of the country’s laws are ‘repugnant to the injunctions of Islam’ - the president must then ‘take steps to amend the law’. Barnabas Fund; Prayer Alert PRAISE God that there are at least moves in the right direction. Pray earnestly for a change in the law and that it may be upheld throughout Pakistan. 8

SEPT

MAKE THE TEACHING ABOUT OUR SAVIOUR ATTRACTIVE Titus 2:10

There’s an old proverb: “I can’t hear what you’re saying, your actions are too loud.” How much Christian witness is blunted or undermined by the lives of those who speak? On the other hand, how powerful is the gospel that comes from those shining with the light of Christ? Here then is an exciting motivation towards Christ-like living: we can actually “make the teaching about God our Saviour attractive.” Not by learning clever arguments but by living Jesus-shaped lives. PRAY for an integrity in your witness to Christ – for a walk that matches the words.

SEPT

CHRISTMAS OUTREACH TO THOUSANDS Isaiah 9:1-7

Our Christmas outreach this year is a multi-platform campaign involving a book, a video, a website and the creative use of social media. Four Kinds of Christmas is a proclamation of the good news based on Isaiah 9 and we are seeking to reach tens if not hundreds of thousands of unbelievers with the gospel. PRAY for great creativity and gospel reach as we embark on this venture.

SEPT

SINNERS WILL TURN BACK TO YOU Psalm 51:10-13

On the 16th we saw the power of Christ-like living to adorn our gospel witness. Here we learn that even our failures can serve God’s evangelistic plans. King David had committed murder and adultery but then, having admitted to his terrible sins, he says “Then I will teach transgressors Your ways and sinners will turn to You.” David’s “evangelism” doesn’t come out of triumph but out of transgression. Nevertheless he’s able to reach his hearers because his message (and ours) is not one of morality but of mercy. Perhaps you feel like you’ve “blown it” in your witness to non-Christians. David shows us that we can point to Christ through our failures as well as faithfulness. After all we are never more than beggars telling other beggars where to find Bread. PRAY for God to restore to you the joy of your salvation so that you might “teach transgressors” God’s ways.

SEPT

PREACHING IN ESSEX Psalm 28

Tomorrow Glen will preach at St Michael’s, Westcliff. PRAY for new life in Christ as Glen preaches the gospel. 9

SEPT

MUSLIM SHEIKH RELEASED FROM HIS SINS Hebrews 9:11-15

Elias was an East African missionary living in the crowded Somali refugee camps of a large city in the Horn of Africa. One night he was startled by the unexpected arrival of a Somali sheikh named Abdul-Ahad. Elias wondered if this would be the night that Somali militant group Al-Shabaab would choose to extract their revenge on yet another Christian. As Elias opened the door, the sheikh abruptly demanded, “Yes or No. Jesus’ blood paid for the sins of everyone?” Elias nervously replied, “Yes.” The sheikh responded adamantly, “You’re lying!” Then he hesitated before saying, “The blood of Jesus cannot forgive my sins.” Abdul-Ahad told Elias of the violence he’d committed in war-torn Mogadishu. Then the old sheikh began to tremble and weep. “I need relief from that,” he said. Elias told him, “If you and I agree tonight, then God will forgive you.” The old sheikh prayed with Elias, and Abdul-Ahad was saved that night. Before he left, he said to Elias, “When you look at me on the street, you see my Muslim hat and my beard, and you are afraid of me. But you need to know that inside we are empty. Don’t be afraid of us. We need the gospel.” 30 Days of Prayer network PRAISE God that the blood of Jesus can cleanse even the vilest of sinners. Pray for those Muslims who know that inside they are empty.

SEPT

USA: GREEN LIGHT FOR GAY MARRIAGE 1 Kings 19:9-15

America’s churches have been reacting to the US Supreme Court’s decision to recognise same-sex marriage as a constitutional right. With a majority of 5-4, judges held that the 14th Amendment in the US Constitution enshrines the right of all to marry regardless of their sexuality. Ronnie Floyd, the President of the Southern Baptist Convention, said in a statement: “I deeply believe in biblical and traditional marriage. The court has determined otherwise… This decision shows one thing: Our desperate need for the next Great Awakening and the hope of the Gospel given to all persons. We must rise up like never before with great urgency, to forward the message of Jesus Christ to every person…” However pro-gay bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori, of the Episcopal Church, said in a statement: “I rejoice that the Supreme Court has opened the way for the love of two people to be recognized by all the states of this Union…” But many commentators expressed their horror at the Supreme Court’s reckless disregard for the democratic process and the spirit of the Constitution. Franklin Graham remarked that the judgement of God would fall on America and President Obama, warning US Christians of persecution to come. Premier Radio News; Revival Media PRAY earnestly for revival to sweep over the nations of the Western World.

SEPT

MISSION TO LEWES CONTINUING Proverbs 11:30

The training element of the Lewes mission is coming to a conclusion this week. Tomorrow is the final equipping session and then, on the next two Sundays, Glen will be preaching God’s powerful gospel with the prayerful hope of new birth. PRAY for Christians to be equipped and enthused for their evangelistic task and to bring many unbelievers over the next two Sundays.

SEPT

LARGENESS OF HEART 1 Kings 4:29

God gave Solomon wisdom, understanding and “largeness of heart” (KJV). He wasn’t merely a great mind, he had a big heart. No wonder the nations were attracted to him (see v34), there’s something about large-heartedness that is magnetic. PRAY that the Spirit would enlarge your heart and that your loving character would draw unbelievers to Christ.

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SEPT

GOSPEL HOPE IN SHEFFIELD Psalm 111 & 112

Emma and Glen are both speaking in Sheffield to churches, medics and students about the power of the gospel to bring hope to any situation. PRAY for new birth and healing as Emma lifts up Christ. Pray for God to bring light and life.

SEPT

GOOD NEWS FOR LEWES Psalm 113

Glen is speaking evangelistically at King’s Church, Lewes today. PRAY that many unbelievers would be present and for many to cross from death to life.

SEPT

AFGHANISTAN: SEEK AND YOU WILL FIND! John 1:44-46

Discipleship is a difficult and dangerous challenge in a nation where identifying as a follower of Jesus can make you a target for extremist violence. But one believer shared this story about how determined seekers are finding what they’re looking for. “I met one of our young believers through a social media site. I was very cautious about meeting with him face to face, but I accidentally sent him my mobile number. He kept calling me… asking to meet me and for copies of the New Testament. So I prayed about it and agreed to meet him. I said goodbye to my family and kissed the children. I drove to his part of the city along with another young believer, and parked the car… I told my friend, ‘If you don’t hear from me in ten minutes, drive the car and all of you get out of the city immediately.’ When I met this brother, he gave me a big hug and was very happy to see me… but honestly I was still thinking of how to get away! But he reassured me, so I gave him the two New Testaments and he was thrilled. He had found what he’d been wanting for a long time. He shared his story with me…” “He was seeking for Jesus and couldn’t find anyone in the city where he lives. So he decided to save some money and buy a second-hand computer. He borrowed an Internet connection, taught himself to use email and social media and started searching for other believers in our nation. He found me despite all those challenges! He’s so excited to learn about Jesus and so is his family, and he is sharing his understanding with others. God does His work in ways we don’t understand…”Joel News International PRAISE God that He is being found in Afghanistan. PRAY that doors will open for many to find the teachings of Christ. Pray for peace in this nation and the safety and encouragement of those who believe in secret.

SEPT

ARAB WORLD: THE HOLY SPIRIT IS AT WORK John 4:21-26

The Holy Spirit is convicting Arab Muslims of their need for a Saviour. When 58-year-old retired businessman Mahad’s beloved wife died, he became depressed. This led to heart problems and eventually the need for open-heart surgery. “The doctors told me my chances of survival were no better than five percent. As I went under the anaesthesia, I prayed but felt no peace. As I was losing consciousness, I called out, ‘Jesus,’ three times.” “Immediately, I felt peace. While under the anaesthesia, I had a vision of Jesus and my wife, together in a beautiful meadow. They both looked so happy. The surgery was successful, but since that day my heart has been tied to Jesus.” Since coming to faith, Mahad has brought members of 70 households to Christ, and leads a network of secret believers in Bible study and worship. 30 Days of Prayer network PRAISE God that He is moving Muslims of all walks to find Jesus. Pray for Mahad and for a great harvest.

SEPT

LOOK AND LIVE Numbers 21:4-9

It’s a strange story with a wonderful conclusion: The bronze serpent is lifted up and salvation comes simply by looking. Jesus says it is just the same today (John 3:14-16). A sore, snake-bitten world is looking for deliverance in all the wrong places but all we need to do is look away from ourselves and look to Jesus – the One lifted up. Have we looked to Christ crucified ourselves? Then, having received salvation, we take on the role of Moses, pointing the world to our one true hope. PRAY that today you would have opportunity to point others to Christ and say “Look!”

SEPT

WORLD-REACHING EVANGELISTIC RESOURCE Romans 10:9-13

321 is a fresh telling of the gospel that requires no prior knowledge. It exists in many forms. First there are videos that have been translated into a dozen languages and been seen hundreds of thousands of times. The presentation has developed as a book, a website, an app and an evangelistic course. This course is currently being run in many churches as part of their autumn outreach. PRAY for hundreds to turn to Christ.

1-2 OCT

STRIP CLUB CONVERTED TO WORSHIP CENTRE Psalm 49:1-15

After giving his life to Jesus, strip club owner Aaron Bekkela said he felt compelled to sell the property to a church. He approached Daryl R. Northrop, senior pastor of Timberline Church in Fort Collins, Colorado. Bekkela and Northrop had earlier established a friendship after Bekkela learned that one of the dancer’s mothers and her prayer group at the church had been praying for him for years. Upon divesting himself of interests in the strip club, Bekkela visited the church and met with Northrop to share of his exit from the industry and his commitment to the Lord. Inspired by Bekkela’s desire to move away from the industry, PE News reported Northrop said he saw it as a great opportunity to plant a church in one of the most under served areas of town. Bekkela invited Northrop and Timberline Executive Pastor Rob W. Cowles to tour the club one afternoon. When they entered a dressing room, Cowles was overcome with emotion upon seeing pictures of children of dancers on lockers. “It just broke me,” Cowles said. “Before I even knew what I was saying, I said ‘we really need to plant a church here and I need to lead it.’” With Northrop’s support, Cowles left his position and began preparing the new work, Genesis Project. An anonymous donor purchased the building on behalf of the church. Genesis Project in Ogden, Utah, which has a mission similar to Timberline Church, contributed $5,000. Resurrection Fellowship in nearby Loveland, Colorado, also contributed $13,600. Resurrection Fellowship Senior Pastor Jonathan Wiggins said he sees the value of a church opening in the same locale as the former strip club. It becomes a statement of redemption. The 7,200-square-foot building is now home to a 200-seat worship centre. Services began in January with a dedication ceremony on February 8th. In keeping with a vision to minister to needy people, a coffee shop soon will open employing at risk youth to learn job skills. The coffee shop will serve as a venue for people to gather daily and to build relationships. Once the commercial kitchen is remodelled, local chefs and restaurant managers will provide training in culinary and restaurant careers. A partnership with a local non-profit organization has provided connections to hotels and restaurants willing to hire those who come through the classes. A mobile food cart will be used to feed the homeless. Cowles said: “We don’t create new beginnings; we know only Jesus can do that, but we create the space for that to happen…” PE News; Crossmap.com; Assist News Service PRAISE God that the Genesis Project is truly a redeemed space dedicated to God’s work. PRAY that the community of Fort Collins will see what God is doing and that many who have no hope may turn to Christ in this place of worship and service.

OCT

PORK, CIDER AND JESUS Acts 10:11-15

Grace Church, Haywards Heath are holding an evangelistic event tonight called Pork and Cider, The Greatest Combination? Glen will speak towards the end of the evening. PRAY for many non-Christians to come, for open ears and hearts to the gospel and many to respond in faith.

OCT

PREACHING IN KENT AND SUSSEX 2 Corinthians 4:4-6

Glen is speaking at Hope Church, Gravesend in the morning and the Alpha Supper at King’s Church, Lewes in the evening. PRAY that God would shine the light of Christ through His word to bring salvation.

OCT

THE BURNING BUSH Exodus 3:1-8.

“I will believe in God when I have a burning bush experience.” I have heard a number of people say this but what do they mean? It’s actually not the most impressive miracle, especially given the competition in the rest of the book of Exodus! But the burning bush is a sign of a rescuing God – the great I AM – who meets us in our burning afflictions, to bring us out. The world may ask for miracles, but God gives us a cross to preach (1 Cor 1-2). People may clamour for a burning bush but what they really need is the One who descended into the midst of our fiery furnace – the LORD Jesus Christ. He is the great I AM – the rescuer who wins our trust. No matter what people ask for, give them Christ. PRAY that in our speaking we would always lift up Jesus, the great I AM.

OCT

STREET EVANGELISM STILL WORKS! Matthew 28:16-20

In June, 32 Christians from Eastbourne gathered at the Speak Life Centre to be trained by veteran evangelist Geoffrey Hilder. After an hour he sent out 16 nervous pairs of street evangelists but we shouldn’t have feared. God gave us dozens of gospel conversations – two of which ended with prayers of commitment! Some say we must “earn the right to speak of Jesus” over the long term. There is a time and place for that and a right motivation behind the sentiment but in Matthew 28 Jesus gives us the right to speak. He earned the right and now He tells us to “Go.” As we go, He is with us and His Spirit powerfully works! PRAY for boldness to speak in your situation, knowing that we are authorized by Christ Himself. 15

OCT

DISCOVER JESUS THROUGH ASIAN EYES John 12:20-36

For many non-Westerners, Western culture is intertwined with Christianity. So how do we share Christ with South Asians? Discovering Jesus Through Asian Eyes has been developed to tackle this key question and is an eight-week course that aims to dispel common misconceptions that Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs and Buddhists have about the Christian faith. It is intended to be informative, engaging and enlightening while paying due respect to people of other beliefs. The course helps Christians respond to enquiries and questions from Asian communities about Jesus, guiding them in using Bible passages to answer questions about Jesus in a culturally appropriate way. The course covers 16 common themes, such as ‘Why does God need a sacrifice to forgive sins?, ‘What do Christians mean by calling Jesus the Son of God?’ and ‘Why do Christians say Jesus is the only way to reach God?’ Manoj Raithatha, national co-ordinator for South Asian Forum, says of Jesus Through Asian Eyes: “I know when I first became a Christian three years ago, my Hindu family and friends would ask me; ‘don’t all roads lead to heaven?’. I decided to swot up on the Scripture so I could give them reasoned and seasoned answers. I later discovered that my fellow South Asian believers had been asked similar questions, so together we decided to develop a course giving questions and answers.” Mahabba Network PRAISE God for South Asian converts like Manoj. Pray that this resource may be instrumental in leading many to the feet of Christ.

OCT

TURKEY RESPONDS TO CHRISTIAN TV Isaiah 55:1-2

Özge Talas is holding two phones and trying to answer both at the same time. She’s working frantically to ensure all calls from an enthusiastic SAT-7 TÜRK audience are answered. Judging by the increase in calls SAT-7 TÜRK is receiving its recent launch is proving a great success. “Before we had around 10 calls per week,” Özge says, “Now it’s hundreds weekly, and we’re getting many more e-mails too.” Audience calls cover a wide variety of topics and issues, many asking for Bibles. “We usually guide those who ask for a Bible to churches or specific communions in their area,” Özge says. “That way they can also get in touch with other Christians.” One man from Burdur said: “I have been praying secretly like a Christian for 12 years,” the man said. “I always prayed to the Father, Son and Holy Spirit but I have never met any Christian at all. “Now I watch you and I can’t believe my eyes. I give praises to God. Please help me to meet with local Christians.” Sat-7 Uplink Magazine PRAISE God for the spread of Christian TV in Muslim countries and for the hunger displayed.

OCT

GIVE YOURSELVES FULLY TO THE WORK 1 Corinthians 15:51-58

Sometimes sports stars will give an interview after they’ve won, saying“We left it all out there on the pitch.”It’s the idea of spending every ounce of energy in the game because they knew that the final whistle would soon blow. Paul says something similar to Christians. The trumpet is about to sound. Our opportunity to labour in evangelism will soon end forever. How should we spend these last moments before the siren sounds? PRAY we would give ourselves fully to this work.

OCT

EQUIPPING THE SAINTS ACROSS SUSSEX Acts 1:8

Glen is training Christians from across the Sussex Gospel Partnership at their annual meeting today. PRAY for many witnesses to be equipped and encouraged.

OCT

WHILE HE WAS BLESSING THEM... Luke 24:50-53

Our last sighting of Jesus was at the ascension. And what was Jesus’ posture? Arms outstretched in blessing. According to Ephesians 1:3, He hasn’t stopped blessing us since. PRAY today to experience the freedom, joy and boldness that comes from knowing Jesus’ blessing. Let us walk and talk with the confidence only Christ can give.

OCT

THE EVANGELIST’S PODCAST 1 Peter 3:15

The Evangelists Podcast is our weekly broadcast, available online at speaklife.org.uk/tep. It has been running for two and a half years and has been downloaded hundreds of thousands of times as we seek to equip Christians for their daily witness. PRAY that thousands more would be built up in their evangelistic outreach through the podcast.

OCT

GHANA: ‘I HAVE SEEN THE LIGHT!’ John 8:12

Abdallah is one of around 100,000 people who identify as Nanumbas. With his family, he lives in the traditional capital of his people group, Bimbilla, which is located in the south-eastern corner of Northern Ghana. As a true Nanumba, Abdallah was brought up a Muslim. However, in his daily life animism plays an equally significant role. Asked why he became a Christian, he tells this story with a smile, “Because I have seen the light! I had been seeing it now and then for many years, an indescribable pure light. It was different from the lights I had seen in connection with witchcraft or evil spirits! One night in my dream I saw this light rising over my daughter. Shortly after that, a pastor from a brother tribe came to my house and invited my daughter to get schooling at his wife’s school. Because of the dream, I agreed.” “At that time I was seriously ill. One day, the headmistress felt led to pray for the sick relatives of her pupils. That morning while lying on my mat I suddenly saw the light and was instantly healed. When my daughter told me about the prayers, I knew where my healing had come from. I started attending church with my daughter. The pastor took time to explain the gospel to me and after some weeks my daughter and I trusted Jesus as our Lord and Saviour.” In this remote corner of Western Africa, the light of Jesus is shining like a candle in the darkness. Joel News International PRAISE God–Jesus is the Light of the world, who shines in the darkest place. Pray that those who are coming to faith through dreams and visions may receive training in the Word of God.

OCT

RAPID GROWTH OF INDONESIAN CHURCH Zechariah 9:9-12

In Indonesia so many Muslims are becoming Christian that an Islamic activist group launched the Save Maryam campaign on YouTube and Facebook to warn against this trend and call for a new islamization of the country. Indonesia has the world’s largest Muslim population but, on the current trend, Indonesia might be a Christian nation by 2035. Operation World says Evangelicals have grown from 1.3 million to 13 million since 1960. Already five years ago TIME magazine called what is happening in Indonesia “a religious revolution.” And Christians in the Banda Aceh province say Muslims are much more receptive to the gospel since the devastating 2004 tsunami. In the capital Jakarta, newly built mega-churches send steeples into the sky. Other Christians worship at unofficial churches based in hotels and malls, where Sunday services rival shopping as a popular weekend activity. Indonesian cable TV beams 24-hour Christian channels. Save Maryam campaign, TIME magazine PRAISE God for this receptivity to Christ. Pray that Indonesia may experience a great awakening. 18

BY IAN MILMINE

US SUPREME COURT RULING ON GAY MARRIAGE SHOWS NEED FOR REVIVAL

‘But from the beginning of creation God made them male and female. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife; and the two shall become one flesh; so they are no longer two but one. Therefore what God has joined together let man not separate.’ Mark 10:6-9

On Friday, 26th June, the US Supreme Court announced its decision to recognise same-sex marriage as a constitutional right for every American in every State of the Union. With a majority of 5-4, judges held that the 14th Amendment in the US Constitution, which regards equality before the law, enshrines the right of all to marry regardless of the gender of the partners. Before, 13 of the 50 states had banned gay marriage at a federal level, many through a democratic electoral process. The Supreme Court’s ruling means they are now no longer allowed to do so and must legally conduct and recognise same-sex as well as heterosexual marriages.

THIS TYRANNY WILL MAKE MARRIAGE INCREASINGLY MEANINGLESS Unsurprisingly, many American church leaders have been quick to voice their dismay. Robert A. J. Gagnon, Ph.D., Associate Professor of New Testament at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, claimed that June 26, 2015, was “a day of national tragedy”; “the Supreme Court of the United States rendered what should rank as the worst decision of the Supreme Court of the United States in the lifetime of every living American.” He claims the five majority judges (he calls them the “lawless five”) have had the audacity to foist gay marriage on all 50 states. He continues: “Five unelected lawyers have acted as legislators and imposed their arbitrary and extreme leftwing ideology on all the American people, culminating the judicial tyranny over the past two years that has pre-empted the democratic process.”

Gagnon adds a dire warning: “Contrary to what deceived and deceiving proponents of “gay marriage” have argued, homosexual relationships will not be tamed by marriage but rather will destroy it and render it meaningless. The institution of marriage will not so much conform homosexual activity to the Christian understanding of marriage (lifelong, monogamous, procreative, balancing the sexes) as be transformed over time to accommodate to virtually any type of adult-consensual union. It will eradicate the very basis in creation and nature for defining marriage as complementary of body and monogamous: a male-female foundation.”

THE RULING INCREASES THE THREAT AGAINST CHRISTIAN FAITH Doug Wardlow, legal counsel with the Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) told Christian News Network that he believes that there is now a much greater threat against faith-based businesses and organizations as a result of the ruling. “What we’re going to see is further attacks on the freedom of Christian businesses: wedding photographers... also churches and religious schools that want to teach the truth about marriage as being between a man and a woman, and other religious organizations, [such as] adoption agencies - they will come into conflict with this new fundamental right to marry if they continue to profess and act upon their sincerely-held beliefs…”Wardlow highlights that one of the minority, discenting judges, Justice Clarence Thomas, stated his belief that the majority decision creates “potentially ruinous consequences for religious liberty.”

STRONGEST CONDEMNATION CAME FROM MINORITY JUSTICES The five judges voting with the majority were justices Sotomayor, Kagan, Ginsburg, Breyer and Kennedy. The minority opinion was voiced by Chief Justice Roberts and justices Alito, Thomas and Scalia. It was the latter who was most outspoken in his condemnation of the decision. In his written dissent, Justice Antonin Scalia railed against an elitist majority on the Supreme Court who were imposing their values on “320 million Americans coast-to-coast”. “They are willing to say that any citizen who does not agree with that, who adheres to what was, until 15 years ago, the unanimous judgment of all generations and all societies, stands against the Constitution,” he writes. In scathing remarks, he called the decision a “judicial Putsch” and “a threat to democracy”, in which the majority discovered a right to marriage that all the US legal minds before them had overlooked. By broadening its interpretation of the Fourteenth Amendment equal protection of the law guarantee to include a

universal right of same-sex marriage, he argued, the Court has given itself unlimited power. “It stands for nothing whatever, except those freedoms and entitlements this Court really likes,” he writes. Chief Justice Roberts’ dissent was more restrained, “However heartened the proponents of same-sex marriage might be on this day, it is worth acknowledging what they have lost, and lost forever: the opportunity to win the true acceptance that comes from persuading their fellow citizens of the justice of their cause,” he writes. It is the role of legislatures to determine social policy, he concluded, not judges. Already some US States are considering the possibility of getting out of the marriage business altogether rather than officiating gay weddings. However, the US Supreme Court’s decision has emboldened activists elsewhere. Frans Timmermans, the vice president of the European Commission, said - on June 30th that it was a “disgrace” that some European countries do not recognise same-sex partnerships formed elsewhere in the union, adding that same sex marriage should be legal all across Europe.

HOW SHOULD THE CHURCH REACT TO THIS NEW SITUATION? In a recent address to his congregation, Bishop T.D. Jakes of The Potter’s House, a non-denominational megachurch, with 30,000 members. said, “I’m not really as concerned about this as a lot of people are. I think that we should not lose our mind about the world being the world and the Church being the Church. This is not a news flash. The world is gonna be the world and the Church is gonna be the Church, and you have to understand the difference.” He continued: “We have bought into all this rhetoric about America being a Christian nation.” He went on to suggest that indeed America has a lot of Christians in it, but the country is governed as a democracy and not by theocratic principles. “There’s nothing to say that Christianity will be the dominant religion in this country. I hope it will. It’s up to us,” he added, going on to say that Christians have “stopped witnessing” and “stopped winning souls” and continue to isolate themselves from people who do not “believe like we believe.” Russell Moore, President of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention, in his new book, Onward: Engaging the Culture Without Losing the Gospel, says that now that Christianity is strange to the larger American culture, Christians have an opportunity to reclaim the freakishness of the Gospel message. He writes: “As American culture changes, the scandal of Christianity is increasingly

right up front, exactly where it was in the first century. The shaking of American culture will get us back to the question Jesus asked his disciples at Caesarea Philippi: ‘Who do you say that I am?’ As the Bible Belt recedes, those left standing up for Jesus will be those who, like Simon Peter of old, know how to answer that question.” “Once Christianity is no longer seen as part and parcel of patriotism, the church must offer more than ‘What would Jesus do?’ moralism and the ‘I vote values’ populism to which we’ve grown accustomed.” In a recent phone interview with The Christian Post, Moore explained that the Church in America can thrive, as the Church always has, when it is seen as abnormal or counter-cultural. George O. Wood, General Superintendent of the Assemblies of God, writes to all Christians when he says: “If you are troubled with the Supreme Court’s decision, keep perspective! In this and every other matter, always remember the words of our Lord Jesus Christ: ‘In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world’ (John 16:33). Let us all pray for a great spiritual awakening in our country!” And Doug Wardlow says that, despite concerns about the ramifications of the Court’s ruling, Christians must not shrink back in this hour, but rather speak out all the more. “It is all the more important now for Christians … to stand up for the truth about marriage - to not be intimidated and to declare what is true because we need to revitalize the marriage culture in the United States,” he stated. “It’s been damaged by no-fault divorce and the sexual revolution, and now it is under assault by means of the law and the Constitution.” Ronnie Floyd, the President of the Southern Baptist Convention, states: “This decision shows one thing: Our desperate need for the next Great Awakening and the hope of the Gospel given to all persons. We must rise up like never before with great urgency, to forward the message of Jesus Christ to every person in America and across the world.” Yes, “we are in the world but not of the world” and, today, much more than ever before, we must make every effort to proclaim the Truth of Jesus Christ, and pray for revival. Our strength comes from the Lord (Psalm 28:7).

Yours in the fellowship of Jesus Christ, Ian Milmine

OCT

FOR THE JOY SET BEFORE HIM Hebrews 12:1-3

How did Jesus endure the shame, the pain and the darkness of the cross? Hebrews says He fixed His eyes on the future “joy set before Him.” Jesus considered that even His cross was worth it for the glory to come. If that is true for Him then surely our own little crosses will be worth the trouble. PRAY for perseverance in our faith and witness as we fix our eyes on Jesus and His coming joy.

OCT

MAKING A GOOD RESOURCE EVEN BETTER Jonah 2

321 the course has been run in scores of churches and seen many trusting in Jesus. We want to refilm the course to a high professional standard and make this resource a world-class evangelistic tool. Pray as we write, film and edit these videos and pray that we reach hundreds of thousands through this resource.

OCT

WISDOM AND VISION NEEDED Acts 6:1-7

Next Monday, October 19, we hold one of our twice-yearly trustees meetings. PRAY for wisdom, guidance and a united vision for our evangelistic work.

OCT

PREACHING IN DARTFORD Genesis 15:4-6

Glen is preaching at Dartford Community Church. PRAY for a special time of God’s favour as He deals with His people through His word. 23

OCT

MANY SAVED IN UKRAINE HOPE FESTIVAL Psalm 74:10-12

After many months of planning and much prayer, on June 20th the city of Lviv in western Ukraine celebrated its Festival of Hope with Franklin Graham. The event included a 2,800-member choir of local worshippers. The stadium’s 35,000 seats filled quickly, and extra songs were added to the early part of the service to allow people in cars and buses still lined up on streets outside to find a place inside. Eventually 39,000 Ukrainians overflowed onto the football pitch. Franklin Graham’s message was focused on the Prodigal Son. It had rained all day Saturday leading up to the Festival but, by the time Franklin began to preach, a blue sky appeared amid the clouds above the open-air stadium. Valeriy Antonyuk, the head of the Baptist denomination in Ukraine, said: “Right now, our people are not in a good situation; they have many problems… but they have a thirst for God.” Antonyuk was seated next to Franklin on the platform and had an ideal view of the droves of people who came forward to pray, many of whom he said were probably young soldiers who had served in the war against pro-Russian separatists in the eastern part of the country. “A lot of people were kneeling in front of the stage,” he said. “I saw tears in their eyes. It’s a great joy for me to see so many of them come to know Christ tonight. It was a special work of the Holy Spirit.” Volodya and Oxana Karpyak, who have been married for nine years, served as counsellors and were blessed to lead seven people in the prayer for salvation. It was Oxana’s birthday, and she said the harvest she witnessed on this night was the best present she could ever have received. “I am filled with emotions,” she said. Billy Graham Evangelistic Association PRAISE God that the people of this war-torn nation are hungry for Him and so many responded in Lviv. Pray for His peace to spread throughout the land.

OCT

KENYA: JESUS BRINGS FREEDOM AND HOPE Isaiah 61:1-4

Alcoholism and poverty in one Kenyan village led to the despair of the Christian chieftain who saw poverty driving hundreds of women to brew illegal and dangerous alcohol. When Samuel spoke at a meeting the chief organised, he did not expect his audience would number almost 200 people. He challenged the men and women to choose a new course in life. Three days later a surprised chief called and said, ‘Samuel, there are more than 100 women who want to come for training! This is a miracle!’ When they arrived on a bright Monday morning, they did not realise that dozens of lives were about to change. Toward the end of the devotion the Spirit of God moved, and 44 women and two men gave their lives to Jesus Christ as their Saviour and Lord. Prayer Alert PRAISE God His surprises are wonderful!

OCT

GOD GIVES WISDOM GENEROUSLY James 1:1-8

Are you struggling to know the way forward? James tells us to “ask God [for wisdom], who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.” The Bible assumes that we are naturally foolish but it also promises that God is superabundantly generous with His guidance. Don’t let guidance issues drive you to consternation but to prayer. PRAY for wisdom – you need it more than you know!

OCT

MY FATHER IS AT WORK John 5:17

In human religion the people are always busy while the gods do nothing. In the Bible it’s the other way around: God does everything and we receive. But so often we think that we are the ones who have to busy ourselves while God remains unmoved. In John 5, Jesus sets the record straight. He reassures us that He and His Father are at work bringing redemption. Nothing is a lost cause – our God is “on the case.” PRAY for God’s peace to guard your heart and mind, knowing that, whatever your worries, He is at work.

OCT

YOUR GOD WILL BE MY GOD Ruth 1:16-17

Ruth shows us the essence of conversion when she says to Naomi: “Your God will be my God and your people will be my people.” It wasn’t merely the God of Abraham that appealed to Ruth but the God of Naomi. Do our friends and family see the way we belong to Jesus and to His people, the church? In the way we speak about Jesus and church, do we make it seem like our God and our people are attractive? PRAY for opportunities to speak personally of our God and our people.

OCT

THE GREAT EVANGELISTIC BAKE OFF 1 Corinthians 15:20-23

Glen is speaking tonight at an evangelistic event at Emmanuel, Leamington Spa - a ‘Bake Off with a gospel talk’. PRAY for many unbelievers to come, for a tangible sense of God’s presence and for all to trust Christ.

OCT

PREACHING IN WARWICKSHIRE Acts 2:36-41

Glen is speaking at a guest service this morning at Emmanuel, Leamington Spa. PRAY for many unbelieving guests and for salvation. 25

OCT

CHINA: CHURCH READY FOR WORLD MISSION Exodus 9:15-16

“The church in China has been maturing in its understanding of its role in world missions,” writes David Ro of Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. Chinese leaders are now focusing on sending at least 20,000 Chinese missionaries overseas by 2030. “China’s example should inspire church leaders anywhere to accomplish a global mission vision for their country,” says Ro. “They also need to be prepared for a Chinese church on a mission with a global reach.” Columnist Lee Grady wrote: “You can’t ignore the miracle of Christianity in China. Last week I worshipped in Hong Kong at the Wing Kwong Church, that has grown from 28 members in 1978 to more than 13,000 today.” Speaker at the meeting was James Hudson Taylor IV, the great-great-grandson of British missionary pioneer Hudson Taylor... “God has entrusted to the Chinese church a special mandate for the 21st century,” he declared. Spiritual hunger is exploding in China, even though the country is officially atheist. A recent study found that online searches for the words “Christian congregation” and “Jesus” are far more numerous than for “communist party.” And as more people have moved from rural areas to big cities, large numbers of young professionals have turned to Christ. Missiologists say between 10,000 and 25,000 people convert to Christianity every day in China. Persecution of Christians may still be rampant in China, but it is certainly not slowing church growth. A recent study by Qunyong Wang of Nankai University and Xinyu Lin of Renmin University of China discovered there was robust economic growth in areas of China where Christian congregations are growing. Could it be that God will use the vast financial resources of China to pay for the next great thrust of world evangelism? Lausanne Global Analysis, Lee Grady PRAISE God that, in His wisdom and mercy, He is preparing the Chinese Church to pick up the batton for world evangelism. Pray for these preparations.

OCT

GOSPEL TO UZBEKISTAN’S MIGRANTS 2 Corinthians 5:17

In Uzbekistan it is illegal to have Christian meetings in the Uzbek language, the Bible is restricted, and known Christians are monitored. This makes sharing about Jesus difficult, and as a result, many Uzbek people have not heard the Good News. However, millions of Uzbeks make their way to Russia to find work and send money back to their families. In Russia there is freedom to share the Gospel and distribute Bibles. Operation Mobilization‘s church-planting ministry in Russia reaches out to Uzbeks in the city of Novosibirsk, and over the last four years they’ve seen dozens of migrant workers come to faith in Jesus. Mission Network News PRAISE God that He allows people of all nations to hear of salvation through His Son. Pray for Uzbeks. 26

OCT

THE LORD IS FULL OF COMPASSION AND MERCY James 5:11

When you think of the story of Job, what is your take-home message? James looks back on those 42 chapters – mainly of suffering – and sees a Lord full of compassion and mercy. When he brings to mind “what the Lord finally brought about” he views that suffering in a different light. The same will be true of our own lives too. At the end, when Christ returns and His happy ending overwhelms us all, we will be able to sing with gusto: “Great is thy faithfulness!” PRAY for heaven’s perspective on today’s trials.

OCT

OUR EVANGELIST IN MALAWI Romans 10:1-4

Thomson Chirwa is based in Mzuzu, Malawi and is always busy for the Lord. He pastors a church in Mzuzu, runs a youth outreach in the locality, leads a ministry to the local prison, provides training programmes for local people in tailoring, knitting and computer skills and also preaches in the open air. PRAY that many would encounter Christ through his ministries.

OCT

MY PRESENCE WILL GO WITH YOU Exodus 33:14-16

What did Moses need during the Exodus? Mischievously we might suggest a map. But he knew what he really needed: the Presence of the LORD. In Hebrew it’s the word for “Face.” Moses cries out for the Face-to-Face God, the image of the invisible God – Christ Himself. Essentially his prayer is Give me Jesus or give me death. And as he goes with Christ he knows that Christ’s presence will be a witness to the onlooking nations. This is a lesson for us: as we seek God’s Presence, Christ Himself will shine through us to the world. PRAY for God’s Presence in your own times of wilderness.

OCT

LIGHT IN THE DARKNESS Isaiah 60:1-3

Glen is speaking tonight at a family-friendly light party at St Wilfred’s, Lower Willingdon. PRAY for many to cross from darkness to the light of Christ.

NOV

PREACHING AT A GUEST SERVICE John 1:12-13

After the evangelistic event of last night, Glen is preaching this morning at St Wilfrid’s. PRAY for the church to be built in faith and in number. 27

2-3 NOV

CHURCH’S MINISTRY TO CALAIS MIGRANTS Deuteronomy 15:11

Christians living in the UK have become used to the TV images of desperate migrants in Calais attempting to board trucks to the UK. The plight of over 2,000 migrants losing their lives in the Mediterranean has brought this issue into sharp focus. How should we, as Christians, respond to the migrants who stand on our doorstep? Well, a team from Life Church in Folkestone, Kent, has been going to visit the migrants in and around Calais most weekends for more than a decade, taking them food, clothing, Bibles and tracts, and offering to pray with them. Rev Margaret Knight, a retired Anglican vicar from Hertfordshire, who joins the group about once a month, says she often feels “totally inadequate” when confronted by the situation. “These people are desperate. Most of them have fled for their lives. They’ve probably got what they’re standing up in, maybe a plastic sheet,” she told Christian Today. To me, the awful thing is that they’re not treated like human beings, nobody wants to know.” It is thought that there are now 4,000 people at Calais, having come from Eritrea, Somalia, Sudan, Afghanistan and elsewhere. Every so often, the police will come along and clear their makeshift tents, turning the hose on them. Over the years different French charities have taken responsibility for providing food and clothing, and ensuring that the migrants get a hot meal every day. Many of the Eritrean migrants Margaret has spoken to are Christians, and she says it is a “wonderful privilege” when they are able to share Communion with them. These Eritreans have travelled across the desert on foot, and about half of those who set out die on the journey. Those who do make it face further hardship when they get to France. The group talk to people and offer to pray with them, even though many of them are Muslims. “We usually ask if any of them is sick and if they would like prayer. We make it clear that we are going to pray in the name of Jesus,” Margaret says. They have seen a number of miracles and answers to prayer, despite the language barrier. On one occasion a Chinese man was following her around for much of the day. He had declined prayer for himself, although he acted as an interpreter as she prayed for other people. Just as they were going to leave, he asked for prayer, said he had done wrong things and gave his life to Christ. “You should have seen his face, there was no doubt that he had done it. Then you just have to leave them with the Lord; I left him with a Bible and God,” she says, adding that leaving them behind is the difficult part, particularly as a pastor. Margaret recognises that it is important to tackle the crisis from a political perspective, but says “I’m not called to do that.” Instead, she felt called to do what she could with her time and gifts. Christian Today PRAISE God for this fruitful ministry of grace and for many answers to prayer. PRAY that the seed sown may bring forth a rich harvest and that a godly solution may be found. 28

NOV

MAY THE PEOPLES PRAISE YOU Psalm 67

How will the world be won for Christ? Psalm 67 tells us. There will be an ever-widening circle of God’s blessing – first to us, His people, and then to the nations, and then even to the physical creation. God’s “Face” (i.e. Christ) will shine on us, but we will then shine out to the world. Therefore, just as Moses gazed upon the Face of the LORD and then was radiant, we should follow suit (2 Cor 3:18). From Christ to us and from us to the world, this is God’s mission to the world. PRAY to know the radiant Face of God and to shine with His light.

NOV

HEALING AND HOPE Psalm 107:17-22

Emma, Glen’s wife, is a writer and speaker whose ministry has touched many thousands. She is the author of the awardwinning blog emmascrivener.net and her first book, A New Name, has won critical acclaim as well as leading many to freedom and new life in Christ. Emma’s second book, A New Day, is nearing completion.

NOV

PRAY that many would find salvation and wholeness in Jesus through her ministry.

THOSE WHO SOW WITH TEARS Psalm 126

Sorrow almost always seems senseless but the Psalmist says our sorrows are like seeds. We can plant them and they will bear fruit in songs of joy. Whatever troubles we are facing now, we can commit them to God who will make us fruitful, not in spite of this trouble, but because of it. The world either wallows in its problems or ignores them, how incredible if we can model a different approach. PRAY now, casting your cares on our sustaining LORD. PRAY for His songs of joy to sustain you and to witness to the world.

NOV

CHARIOTS OF FIRE – THE LAST RACE Matthew 5:3-12

A sequel to the film Chariots of Fire is ready for its premiere on December 13th. The Last Race is a US-Chinese co-production, which should open doors to its exhibition all over China. It will be the first time that a film with an explicit Christian message will be exhibited in theatres all over China. It tells the story of what happened to Eric Liddell after his epic gold medal win in the Paris Olympics in 1924. The new film tells the story of how the Scottish athlete left athletics and returned to China to be a missionary. The Last Race tells the story of his death in a Japanese prison camp in 1943 from a cerebral tumour. Despite his illness, Liddell renounced his right to be freed in a prisioner exchange negotiated by Churchill, instead giving his place to a pregnant woman who was able to be freed from the horrors of the prison camp were thousand died. A fellow prisoner – Stephen Metcalf – said of him, “Liddell gave me two things: his old running shoes, and his example of forgiveness. He taught me to love my enemies, the Japanese, and to pray for them.” Liddell is played in the film by actor Joseph Fiennes, who will also be lead actor in Risen, the history of a centurion who investigates the Resurrection. Protestante Digital; Revival Media PRAISE God for this film which gives a clear message of Christian love, dedication and sacrifice. PRAY that it will indeed be exhibited all over China and that many Chinese people may find Christ.

NOV

ARGENTINA’S SECRET OF CHURCH GROWTH Psalm 133:1-3

Facing its final Sunday as a church, a small Pentecostal congregation e-mailed Norberto Saracco on a Wednesday in 2007 asking for prayer. They would lose their Buenos Aires property unless the church paid an impossible US$25,000—nearly a year’s worth of offerings - to resolve a long-standing property lawsuit. Saracco, co-leader of the Council of Pastors in Argentina’s capital, sent up a prayer - and sent out an e-mail saying, “We cannot afford for $25,000 to let a church close in Buenos Aires.” Two days later, pastors from an array of denominations had donated the money. “When we say there is only one church in Buenos Aires, these are the consequences,” explains Saracco. “If we want a strong church in Buenos Aires, every local church has to be strong.” This is just one of the fruits of perhaps the most remarkable experiment in citywide church unity today. Argentina’s unity movement is based on a simple biblical concept. “Each time the New Testament speaks of the church in a city such as Ephesus, it is always singular, never plural,” says Carlos Mraida, pastor of Del Centro First Baptist Church. “Yet when the New Testament speaks of leadership in a city, it is always plural. The church is singular, but leadership is plural.” Christianity Today – The Galli Report PRAISE God for this secret of unity among churches.

NOV

RAISING UP CHURCH LEADERS Proverbs 4:1-9

Our students continue to meet on Mondays for lectures. Please remember our students in prayer – especially on Mondays. PRAY that these four young men will go deep in God’s word and prepare well for a lifetime of serving Christ.

NOV

LAST OF ALL, HE SENT HIS SON Matthew 21:33-46

God is desperate for the world to respond to Him. He is the sending God, commissioning prophet after prophet to speak to His people. Last of all He has sent His Son, knowing full well what would happen to Him. The Father gives His pride and joy to the world in order to invite all to His kingdom. How do our hearts for mission compare to His? PRAY to share God’s own passion to see the world reached.

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NOV

OUR EVANGELIST IN KENYA Ephesians 3:14-20

Evans Sira Sira has been faithfully preaching the gospel in churches and schools for the last 40 years. We have had a 30 year relationship with Evans, at first through our radio broadcasts dating back to the early 1980s. Now with a vibrant ministry to over 100 Kenyan schools and responsibility for 3 churches, Evans sees dramatic responses to his gospel preaching on a regular basis. PRAISE God for his recovery from major surgery. PRAY for Evans, his family and the appointment of church deacons.

NOV

PREPARING TO LAUNCH Isaiah 62

Glen is leading a weekend away for the University of East Anglia Christian Union. He will be taking their week of mission events in February and this time away will be a crucial opportunity to build faith and expectancy for the students. PRAY that God would increase all our zeal for the name of Christ.

NOV

OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE GOSPEL IN CUBA Matthew 13:31-32

Cuban leader Raúl Castro was a Jesuit schoolboy before turning to communism, and after a lengthy meeting with Pope Francis in May, he told Vatican reporters he was so impressed he was considering a return to the church. They laughed. “I’m serious,” said Castro, 84. If so, he would not be the first Cuban in recent years to find his way back to Jesus. The island has experienced a religious revival in the past 25 years. But while Catholic leaders are trying to win them back with an institutional resurgence, spearheaded by Pope Francis, evangelical Christians are going into the streets to do it. “We are living in a society that has lost its values,” said Yoel Guevara, a 32-year-old evangelical pastor. “Christ gives them back.” Hundreds if not thousands of tiny churches have popped up in Cubans’ living rooms, resisting official attempts to organise them. Guevara’s group is affiliated with Victory Outreach International, a Pentecostal order founded on the streets of Los Angeles that is known for evangelising among addicts, inmates and the homeless. In Cuba, the group has no church, but Cuban authorities allow them to congregate Sunday mornings for worship along Havana’s Malecón seawall. They bring their own generator to power the microphone and the speakers, attracting hundreds. Evangelical Christianity has made inroads especially in poorer eastern Cuba, and among migrants from rural Cuba who arrive in Havana and find community through the church’s open doors and animated style of worship. Guardian Weekly; Washington Post PRAISE God that there is hunger for God in Cuba. Pray that, as relations with the US are normalised, there may be many opportunities for the Gospel.

NOV

IVORY COAST: BIBLE FOR PALAKA SPEAKERS Psalm 119:89-96

Imagine if the Bible in English had only the books of Jonah and Ruth, and just a few chapters of Genesis and Exodus, but the rest of the Old Testament was missing. For the New Testament it only contained a few portions of the Gospels and some chapters of Acts, Romans and Ephesians; that wouldn’t be all that good, right? But that is how it was for the 11,000 Palaka speakers in northern Ivory Coast... But now, thanks to their former co-worker Denny Johnson, they have their first complete book of the New Testament. The book of Matthew has been checked, printed and the first ten copies have been taken out and handed to the very grateful church leaders and Bible teachers. A final check of the whole book of Acts has been carried out and preliminary checks have also been completed on the book of Romans. Other books that are being worked on are Daniel, 1 Corinthians, Ephesians, 1 Timothy and Titus. Gradualy the Palaka are getting their Scriptures. New Tribes Mission; Revival Media PRAISE God that these people can now study much of God’s Word for themselves.

NOV

THE CHURCH IN THE WILDERNESS Deuteronomy 8

Glen is training church leaders in Canterbury as he speaks about “The Church in the Wilderness” from Exodus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. PRAY that God would be building resilient, Christdependent pastors through their time together.

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NOV

OUR EVANGELIST IN UGANDA John 3:1-7

Amos Mukasa is a fearless evangelist based in Kampala, Uganda but travelling widely. Together with a small team he speaks in churches, house to house, at rallies and at “Jesus Film” showings. He also trains other Ugandans to share the gospel. PRAY for their outreach opportunities which impact thousands of people each month.

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NOV

MISSION TO CWMBRAN Mark 4:1-20

Glen and the team begin 4 days of mission with Pontrhydyrun Baptist Church in Cwmbran. PRAY that we would sow the seed far and wide and find good soil. PRAY for unity among the team, both our apprentices and church members. PRAY for open doors of opportunity into the town. PRAY for open hearts to receive the word of Christ.

NOV

STUDENT WITNESS ACROSS SOUTH ASIA Proverbs 16:16

South Asia is one of IFES’ (International Fellowship of Evangelical Students) most diverse regions. It encompasses war-torn nations, a Buddhist kingdom, a closed dictator-led state, and nations gripped by Islam and Hinduism. The 10 nations making up this region are: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Already struggling with much extreme poverty, the region’s suffering is often exacerbated by natural disasters. 4 countries still do not have an organised IFES university witness: Iran, Afghanistan, Bhutan and Maldives. By far the largest movement is UESI in India, with over 30,000 students. Most movements in the region are well established and have a rich history of discipleship and training. Graduate fellowships are a significant strength of most national movements, but graduates are facing challenges such as work pressures and the tendency to go abroad for better careers. Current students face demanding workloads and struggle to make time for activities, camps and bible studies. Thanks to the developed graduate support, the movements in Pakistan, India and Bangladesh are able to raise the majority of their funds locally.International Fellowship of Evangelical Students PRAISE God for student witness in these nations. Pray for openings in the 4 nations where there is no organised witness, and for Christian students facing persecution for their faith in Christ.

NOV

SPAIN: EVANGELICALS MARCH IN MADRID 1 Corinthians 15:20-28

A national event, Spain, We Pray for You, was celebrated in Madrid on Saturday 13th June. It brought together thousands of Spain’s evangelical Christians to pray for the nation, particularly to pray for Christian witness and that Spanish people may come to know Jesus. In a spirit of joy, more than 12,000 believers marched through central Madrid, stopping to pray for the nation at key locations. Following the march, the auditorium in Tierno Galvan park was the venue for a Festival of Prayer – a three hour event that was accompanied by moments of prayer, praise and preaching of God’s Word. It was broadcast by radio, television and through internet sites. During the morning, prior to the march, a prayer breakfast was held attended by 200 evangelical church leaders with a number of national and local government representatives. Spain has proved to be a hard country for evangelical Christianity but, in the last 10 years, their numbers have doubled. Protestante Digital; World News Service PRAISE: God for growth in Gospel witness. Pray that every Spaniard may have exposure to Christ’s love.

NOV

SPEAKING TO STUDENTS Acts 17:22-34

Glen has been speaking to Sixth Formers at St Bedeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s School in Eastbourne. PRAY that words would be given to Glen, that he would speak with clarity and boldness and that the seed sown would bear much fruit.

The Team Linda, Andy, Glen and Sandy

NOV

A SAT-7 PRAYER IN THE MIDDLE EAST Acts 26:18

“While many voices promote war, or prepare for it through fiery debates, SAT-7 continues to proclaim the truth in that confident but gentle voice. When it comes to speaking about the good news and condemning evil without any compromise, the greatest example to follow is probably St Paul, and he always did so in that same loving spirit (Titus 3: 1-2, Acts 17: 22-31). We are living in historic times, and people will look back to see what we said and did. My prayer for the church, for the believers and for SAT-7 is to have the wisdom to know what is right to say and do in such difficult times, and then the courage and boldness to say and do it.” SAT-7 Programming Manager, George Makeen PRAISE God for this and many other Christian voices of love and wisdom at this time of trial for the Middle East. Pray that Christ be proclaimed.

NOV

SALVATION ARMY CELEBRATES 150 YEARS Ephesians 6:10-12

Members of the Salvation Army descended on London, on July 5th, to mark its 150th anniversary. The movement began in East London in 1865 and was the idea of William and Catherine Booth who took the word of God to the city streets, and helped some of Britain’s poorest people. The Salvation Army says its founder was told by his son about all the homeless people sleeping on the banks of the Thames. His response was: “Go and do something.” The organisation celebrated the event by welcoming members from all over the world - including Kenya, Latvia and India - to its founding city, London. It hosted a series of events in London which culminated with a mass march along The Mall. Premier New: Revival Media PRAISE God for raising up the Salvation Army and for its continuous service to the needy around the world.

NOV

FRANCE: CHURCH IS GROWING STEADILY John 11:21-27

Although France’s population is over 66 million (2013), as of 2015, there were only 2,440 Evangelical churches in the entire country. However, the number of Evangelical Protestants has increased 10 times in the past 60 years. French Protestants now make up close to 3% of the population and churches are being planted at an increasing rate (a 15.5% increase in the number of churches from 2012-2015)! A new local church is born every 10 days – about 35 new churches per year. Impactfrance.org PRAISE God for this steady growth. Pray that France may see a powerful move of God.

NOV

PREACHING AT HOLY TRINITY CHURCH 2 Timothy 4:1-5

Glen is preaching at Holy Trinity, Eastbourne. PRAY for the gospel to bring life, hope, healing and freedom.

NOV

MY HOUSE WILL BE FULL Luke 14:15-24

Jesus often likened His kingdom to a feast, with the whole world invited in. In this parable Jesus puts these words in the mouth of the Master: “My house will be full.” What an encouragement as we seek to spread the good news. God’s unstoppable mission to the nations cannot fail. His house will be full because it is ultimately His zeal and power which accomplishes His purposes. PRAY with thanksgiving to the great missionary God and pray to share His heart for a full house!

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WORLD’S BIGGEST MARCH FOR JESUS Acts 26:22-29 To call São Paolo’s annual March for Jesus a huge procession is an understatement. Since the inaugural event back in 1993, the parade has grown into the largest of its kind in the whole world and has attracted much media attention. Organisers expect up to a staggering 5 million evangelical Christians to swarm the streets of the Brazilian metropolis, led by live Christian bands on floats and trucks.

The 23rd March for Jesus takes place on June 4th. The huge street manifestation of evangelicals is expected to beat previous record attendances of several millions. ‘This March represents the unity and communion of all who trust Jesus as the Son of God and desire to express their faith,’ says one of the organisers. From 9.30 am, there will be a Kids March, where children and their parents follow the same route, proclaiming their faith. Marchaparajesus.com.br

PRAISE God for this huge act of witness to the world. PRAY that it may truly proclaim Christ’s love.

‘YOU ARE THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD.’ Matthew 5:14-16

Light shines. That’s what light does. In the same way Christians radiate. Our presence is likeSpeaklife a warm lamp in the corner, lighting up 13 Lismore Road stop shining would be the whole house. The only way we could by putting our ‘light underEastbourne, a bushel’ (verse 15, KJV). Perhaps fear East Sussex BN21and 3AYto hide our God-given may cause us to be ashamed of Christ distinctiveness. On the other hand, pride may make us spotlight 01323 725231 our own glory rather than ‘our Father’s’ (verse 15). info@speaklife.org.uk www.speaklife.org.uk

PRAY that you might resist such fear and pride and pray that Christ would shine through you this day – He has promised: you are the light of the world.

GLEN SPEAKING IN POLAND (1-3 JUNE)

REVIVING CHRISTIANS RESOURCING THE CHURCH REACHING THE WORLD