Exloring Life Eternal

PEOPLE GROUP PRAYER BUTTON
PrayerGuard.net working with the Joshua Project has come up with a cool way to mobilize prayer for the 6,900 Unreached People Groups listed under the Ethne to Ethne prayer movement. The UPG Prayer Button displays a different people group every hour, and when clicked, takes you to a 3 Minute on-line prayer session for that group. The goal is to pray through all 6,900 people groups over the next 10 months, as part of the Ethne prayer focus. By pasting a few lines of code into your website, you can mobilize prayer for thousands of Unreached People Groups.

To learn more:
http://prayerguard.net/upg

VIDEO CD - 2005 GLOBAL DAY OF PRAYER DOCUMENTARY
from: Marc van der Woude <info@joelnews.org>, Joel News (http://www.joelnews.org)

Last year the Global Day of Prayer (GDOP) united 200 million
people in 150 nations in what has been labeled ‘the biggest prayer
gathering ever.’ From Fiji in the east to Hawaii in the west,
the whole world was covered with non-stop prayer and worship.
In thousands of stadiums, church buildings, squares, desert tents,
living rooms, and even prisons, believers poured out their hearts
to God.

The touching documentaries of this Global Day of Prayer and the
years of prayer that preceded it, have now been captured on one
CD. People who saw the _Transformations_ video series (from The
Sentinel Group) (http://www.sentinelgroup.org/vsg2001.asp), which
showed how united prayer transforms nations, will certainly appreciate
this high-quality video CD compiled by the South African GDOP
team. This is a great tool to encourage churches and prayer groups
and to mobilize Christians to pray.

This English-language CD can be played on any PC or notebook
computer. Besides the video material, the CD also contains manuals,
articles, and promotional materials for the upcoming Global Day
of Prayer on June 4, 2006, and the 10 days of prayer and fasting
that will precede this event. Make a free-will offering and
request your copy from Joel Ministries (http://www.joelnews.org/promo/gdopcd.htm#order)
or send an e-mail <info@joelnews.org>.

RESOURCES FOR GLOBAL PRAYER

“Look at the nations and watch – and be utterly amazed. For I
am going to do something in your days that you would not believe,
even if you were told.” Habakkuk 1:5

The next Global Day of Prayer is Pentecost Sunday, June 4, 2006.
http://www.globaldayofprayer.com
Are you ready? Millions of Christians are expected to pray for the ten days preceding Pentecost as well. An useful guide has been published by Waymakers:
http://www.waymakers.org

Other resources and details are also available at GDOP USA:
http://www.gdopusa.com

This day of prayer coincides with the launch of an even more
extensive prayer campaign, an unprecedented year-long prayer
focus on the world’s least-reached peoples:

Ethne' - http://www.ethne.net
[See below!]

Global Prayer Digest - http://www.global-prayer-digest.org

Joshua Project - http://www.joshuaproject.net

... and others are teaming up to provide information to fuel this effort, which will last from June 2006 through May 2007. We expect united prayer will open doors and fuel effective outreach efforts throughout the earth!

Each month will be dedicated to prayer for one of 12 regions:

June 2006: South Pacific
July 2006: Southeast Asia
August 2006: Northeast Asia
September 2006: South Asia
October 2006: Central Asia
November 2006: Middle East and North Africa
December 2006: East and South Africa
January 2007: West and Central Africa
February 2007: Eastern Europe and Eurasia
March 2007: Western Europe
April 2007: Central and South America
May 2007: North America and the Caribbean

A map is available here:
http://www.joshuaproject.net/ethne globalregion.php

Ethne' has produced a DVD with video testimonies and videos highlighting each world region and its prayer needs. They are currently finalizing global distribution channels. “Other
resources will be available through the Ethne site and are being uploaded now as quickly as possible. You are given permission to duplicate and distribute as much as possible,” write the Ethne staff.

Write to request further information:
prayer (at) ethne (dot) net

BRING THE FACES OF THE 10/40 INTO YOUR CHURCH FOR PRAYER!
Volume 3 of "The Waiting World" unreached people group prayer series can help your church or small group pray more effectively for the lost of the 10/40 Window. Thirteen five-minute prayer videos are featured on this volume and discuss various Hindu, Buddhist, and Muslim peoples. Special features on this volume are the Iraqi's, as well as a general Arab video. Produced by YWAM Strategic Frontiers, the suggested donation for a DVD of Volume 3 is $29.95 (USD), plus shipping. Order all three volumes on DVD for a suggested donation of $69.95, plus shipping.

Mike
klausmeierm(at)ywamsf(dot)org

A. The Bible says He does.
B. I have seen God answer prayer.

Read on for an account someone shares:

=====
What does it mean to 'adopt' a people group?

Jerry Rankin, President of the IMB, stated in his book, 'To the Ends of the Earth' that "A [church] can take ownership of a strategy to reach a people on the other side of the world without ever going there." All they have to do is to commit to pray plus do whatever God leads them to do. In his book, Jerry also shares the following true story of how God moved among a people group as a result of one man's commitment to pray and to lead his church in prayer.

"When disability and early retirement forced him to slow down, Tom Wright felt God speaking to him about a commitment he had made as a child. One Sunday morning Tom hobbled down the aisle and devoted himself to intercessory prayer for his church. The pastor had recently asked the congregation to pray for an Unreached People Group in the Last Frontier. Tom took the lead on the project. He promoted prayer for them, he prayed long hours for them himself, and he always asked prayer for them whenever the church met. They became his people.

A year went by and Tom expanded his prayer for the people group. He felt led to pray that the JESUS film be translated into their language. One of his fellow church members told him: "Tom, you can pray for that, but I have seen the websites on this people group. Only the old people and the priests speak that language now. No one else does. I think it would be a waste of time." But Tom and the church were persistent in their prayers.

Two years latter, a couple living and working among the people group came to the church and gave a report. They told how four years before there were no known believers among the group and little response to the gospel. But three years ago, they said, things changed. It was sudden and dramatic. The International Mission Board sent workers to live among them and they began to respond. Now there were more than five hundred believers. Tom realized this was about the time of his struggle with God. It was also about the time his pastor asked the congregation to begin praying for this people group and Tom had taken them on as a project.

The two workers went on to report that not having Scripture in the heart language of the people was one of the big problems for this group. While everyone spoke the language common to the country, in their homes and among themselves they still spoke the traditional language of their ancestors. But there was hope, they said. Two years before, one of the new believers felt called to translate the JESUS film into their language and was about to complete it.

The timing was more than coincidence. The man was called after Tom began to pray for that translation. The church was moved as they realized the Lord had brought the missionaries who live among their people group, love them, and know them, to their church to show how He was answering their prayers."

What about you? Will you too allow God to use you to reach a people group on the other side of the world?

[Taken from a newsletter sent by a Christian worker in West Africa.]

Just a line or two to let you hear from us. We both are well and hope this finds you the same. My grandmother used to begin all of her letters to us with those sentences, to us, her family. To you, who are part of our Christian family, I write today.

Mr. came in late last week intent on sharing an event with me. He prefaced it with, “You have to tell them, they have to KNOW what their prayers are doing, how they are opening up hearts, SO here goes:

By Mr. (by Mrs.):
Friday I visited the offices of the water dept. I normally work closely with them on any number of projects. Through the head of this government dept we have made entry to many villages. She has always been very interested in what we have to share from the word when we visit and has even helped with interpreting and expounding on some trips. I wanted to discuss an upcoming project in the Wakhan with her and see about other things that may be needed. I took along a couple of calendars that I printed up for distribution from our office. Each includes a picture of some project or person that we know in common, along with the first three verses of I Cor. 13 in a national langauge. [Which is our motto for our office here.] We did talk about projects but most of the time was spent on explaining what I thought about the meaning of the verses. Several quotes to note from this include:

1. “I like to talk about spiritual things with you. Can we do this more?”
[Would you pray that we do have many opportunities to talk about spiritual things with her?]

2. “Every cabinet in my department needs one of these calendars because of the words on them.”

3. "Is it ok if I give one to the Governor and maybe other department heads?"
[Also pray that others will be struck to the heart by these verses.]

So I’m busy printing Before I left she shared this story.

“When God handed out land the Pamiri people were lazy and didn’t come for theirs until He had handed out everything. So He said that the only land left was part of His place and not really designed for humans. So that is how they got here and anyone who is allowed to come here and stay is special to God.”

[Mrs. writes:
To be honest, other than a general request for prayer some time ago for government leaders here, I don’t think I have requested specific prayer for this lady. We have been really drawn to her, I like her personally, and it has been always an enjoyable experience to work with her, partly as she has a great sense of humor. Last summer we were going to a village to begin a canal project, Mr. read from the Word to explain who we are and what we are about. She translated into their dialect and added some comments of her own, that they should PAY ATTENTION to this, God’s Word. On the way to the village we had been talking about times past and what it was like when we were all kids, us in the USA and them here.. It seems that the world around was watching Tarzan movies back in the early ‘60s. She said many boys here broke ankles and legs trying to swing and drop like Tarzan did. Anyway, on our way down the mountain we had to stop for an oncoming truck, as the road was so narrow. A good opportunity for leg stretching, I walked up the road and she walked down. We were a good bit away from one another, standing on the edge of the rough dirt road, the stillness of the sharp walled valley surrounding us, I cupped my hands around my mouth and shouted HELLOOOO! She looked back up at me and grinned, and thumped her fists to her chest and the Tarzan AAeAAeAA rang through the air!

I’m going to name her Deborah, she is not a judge but she does have position in the government, as head of our region’s water dept. and now a seat in the Senate as well. Deborah is married, and is in her early 50’s. Please pray that we do have many opportunites with Deborah, her husband, and their family as well.

1 Corinthians 13:1-3

If I speak in the tongues of humans and angels but have no love, I have become a reverberating gong or a clashing cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can understand all secrets and every form of knowledge, and if I have absolute faith so as to move mountains but have no love, I am nothing. Even if I give away all that I have and surrender my body so that I may boast but have no love, I get nothing out of it.

Blessings,

From South-Central Asia

MERT: Having used similar materials from Caleb Project & having taught kids about Missions on a number of occassions, I wholeheartedly endorse the need to teach kids to pray for the unreached & the lost.

I particularly Remember one time when a boy was praying with other for the Buddhists.

Over several weeks, we were talking about the different major blocks of unreached peoples:
Tribal
Hindu
Unreligious
Muslim
Buddhists
[T.H.U.M.B.]

Of course, to any good Southern boy, that is the perfect name for elaborating upon: Every time the booty-ists were mentioned, laughter erupted. Finally, the time came to pray. Several were assigned to pray for various people blocks. One boy had to pray for the booty-ists (more laughter), but he admitted that he didn't know how to pray. I reminded him: they don't know Jesus. A soberness fell upon the boy. He prayed earnestly for the booty-ists (stiffled giggles as he tried to say the name right) ... "And God, I pray for the Budiists cause they don't know Jesus. Help them know Jesus. Send missionaries to them." That young man found the love of God that day. For more than a year afterwards, at least, he was praying for the Buddhists. Pray for him to be able to go with the Good News of Jesus to tell Buddhists about the Lord ... & for many to turn.

So ... that said ... encourage your kids to pray in Jesus name for those peoples who do not yet have hope! Here is one excellent way to do that:

KIDS' PRAYER CARDS
from: Caleb Project (http://www.calebproject.com)

===
Pray for the Yanomamo (yah noh mahm oh)
Greeting: wah day mee tah wah!
Where We Live: Venezuela and Brazil
Fun Fact!: Yanomamo kids use an anteater bladder blown up like
a balloon for a ball.
We believe certain words are forbidden. For example, we never
say our names out loud. If an evil spirit knows your name, it
can harm you.
Pray that God would remove fear from our hearts and replace it
with love and hope.
===

The above is an excerpt from a set of 25, 4-inch, colorful prayer
cards now available from Caleb Project. They are based on the
THUMB acronym (Tribal, Hindu, Unreligious, Muslim, and Buddhist),
a fun and easy way to learn about the beliefs of unreached peoples.
The set comes with a carabiner to hold the cards together. _Kids'_
Prayer_Cards_ are priced at $6, with bulk discounts available.
These and many other great resources for children and adults
can be purchased from Caleb Project’s store (http://www.calebproject.org/store).

EDITOR'S NOTE: You might also be interested in inviting a Children’s
Mobilization Specialist to come train your leaders or present
lessons to your children's program. Find out how (http://www.calebproject.org/speakers)!

Phil 1:3-9 I thank my God every time I remember you, always praying
with joy in every one of my prayers for all of you because of your
partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. I am convinced
of this, that the one who began a good work among you will bring it to
completion by the day of Christ Jesus. For it is only right for me to
think this way about all of you, because I have you in my heart. ...
all of you are partners with me in grace.

Dearly Beloved,

Have you reflected lately on the power and privilege of prayer? That
we, are privileged to - nay requested, to approach the throne of the
Almighty God of The Universe in speech?! That He not only may hear us
but does?! And He- GOD ALMIGHTY- wants us to?! This is God’s holy
calling that He has placed on our lives, to intercede for others in
prayer. Prayer is not something that we “just” do, this is something
that the Father Himself has given us, our Loving Lord that we are
speaking with. Brethren, please call each other to prayer – we have a
request, and we have a mandate.

James 5:13-20, “Is anyone of you suffering? He should keep on praying.
Is anyone cheerful? He should keep reciting psalms. Is anyone of
you sick? He should call for the elders of the church, and they
should pray for him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord.
The prayer offered in faith will save the person who is sick. The
Lord will raise him up, and if he has committed any sins, he will be
forgiven. Therefore, make it your habit to confess your sins to one
another and to pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The
prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. Elijah was a
man just like us, and he prayed earnestly for it not to rain, and it
did not rain on the ground for three years and six months. Then he
prayed again, and heaven sent rain, and the ground produced its crops.
My brothers, if one of you wanders away from the truth and somebody
brings him back, you may be sure that whoever brings a sinner back
from his wrong path will save his soul from death and cover a
multitude of sins. “

During my language lessons with a local woman I have been storying a
bit, trying to get into the swing of things, and as well as telling in
story-form some of the many miracles that the Lord has done in my life.

“Some years ago – my husband was pastor of a small church in the USA.
The season had been dry as a bone; many wildfires had burnt
neighboring lands. Then one day we too smelled smoke and knew that the
fires were somewhere nearby. The region was rugged, with timber on the
ridges prime fodder for the wildfire. The phone rang out, and a
friend said simply, 'Pray, the fires are above our homes, we will have
to be evacuated, pray now as you’ve never prayed before.' I called
everyone that I could think of in the area, and we went before the
throne. In a matter of minutes, a small dark cloud appeared in the sky
that had before had no promise of rain. This cloud swelled and the
wind carried it to above the raging wildfire where it promptly poured
the rain, and the wildfire was no more. The plane carrying chemicals
from the firefighters arrived too late_ MY GOD had stepped in. The
phone rang again, this time with praises for the Lord, and a statement
from my friend, 'now I KNOW that God hears prayers.'

I told this story to my local friend on Friday, Her eyes filled with
awe of what the Lord had done, and suddenly she blurted out, "Would
you pray for me and my eyes?" Beloved, we went to the throne and I
requested that He heal her body, eyes and her soul. We both wept
before Him. He did not heal her at that moment, but He has assured me
that He will heal her. I have been filled to overflowing with a
spirit of expectation since then, I KNOW it will be well. I’m calling
you to prayer, you our partners in the faith, let us all pray together
that her thirsty soul find the Living Water of Life, and her eyes be
healed.

Blessings,
From M.H. in Central Asia

INTERNATIONAL CHURCHES REACHING UPGS
International churches are filled with unique resources - talented people, money, and know-how. The Missional International Church Network (MICN) models and teaches how international churches can dynamically engage in God's transformational work. The third MICN Conference will be 24-28 April 2006 in Bangkok, Thailand. Speakers are all experienced international church leaders.

For information contact:
conference(at)micn(dot)org
OR: http://www.micn.org

The Sundanese, with a population of 35 million, are the second largest ethnic group in Indonesia after the Javanese, from whom they are quite distinct. The Sundanese mainly live in the West Province of Java Island.

The first Sundanese kingdom (called “Taruma Negara”) was established about AD600. This kingdom was strongly influenced by Hinduism. In 1527, its main city, Sunda Kelapa, fell to Islamic soldiers. This stopped much of the influence of Hinduism in the area.

The Sundanese language, one of the more complex in Indonesia, has three levels — high (polite), middle and low. However, because the Indonesian national language is studied in school, the younger, urban generation do not speak Sundanese.

“Whether rich or poor, the most important thing is to live together” is a saying among the Sundanese. They love to congregate during the cool evenings to relax and chat together. They also prefer living together as extended families.

The Sundanese are 98 per cent Muslim. Many are “Santri”, who adhere strongly to Islam. However, there are numerous nominal Muslims called “abangan” who still hold to pre-Islamic practices such as visiting their ancestors’ tombs to pray, seeking out witchdoctors for good fortune, and reciting the Qur’an as a charm.

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Prayer points

* Pray for Christian workers (local and foreign) to have cultural sensitivity and wisdom in serving and reaching the Sundanese, especially in the villages (Rom 13:7–10).

* Pray for good, continuing cooperation among the Christian workers among the Sundanese.

* Pray that local non-Sundanese churches will have courage to pray for and witness to their Sundanese neighbours.

* Supernatural power is needed to counter demonic power and confirm and demonstrate the gospel (Luke 7:19–22). Pray for the Holy Spirit to move in such power.
* Pray for protection from Islamic fanatics in the area.

* There is some discussion about the government placing restrictions on Christians. Please pray that this will not be passed at national level.

The Yemen focused site is now arranged according to the following people groups.

www.pray4yemen.com

Northern Yemenis
Southern Yemenis
Tihamis
Hadramis
Mahris
Soqotris
Southern Saudi Yemenis
Yemenis Worldwide