1. Pray for the many refugees flowing out of Sudan into surrounding nations. Over 6 million are displaced inside Sudan, and over 1.5 million have fled into the surrounding countries. These countries were already hosting large populations of refugees and budgets for those were stretched; the war in Sudan has made this significantly more difficult.

  • We pray for the hundreds of thousands in refugee camps in South Sudan, Chad, and Ethiopia, and for the workers who are trying to help them. Some have been there for years. We pray Psalm 126:5 especially over the aid agencies laboring amongst these situations: that “those who sow in tears will reap in joy.”

  • We pray for those who are fleeing over smuggling routes into Egypt: over 300 arriving daily, but many find it difficult to survive there. Pray for believers to connect with these.

  • We pray for the Sudanese diaspora in places like the UAE, UK, France, the US, and Australia. Many of these know of family members who are struggling, and are afraid for them. Pray for believers to connect with these communities as well (especially 1 Peter 4:9, “cheerfully share your home”).


2. Pray for the many believers laboring in the Sahel. Several provinces within Mali, Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Niger, and Chad are under the dominance of Islamic fundamentalists of various kinds. Communities have been cut off, and ministry in this area is exceptionally dangerous.

  • Pray for God’s protection for those spreading the Good News to communities in the region.

  • Pray that spiritually earnest individuals—like Islamic fundamentalists!—will meet Jesus.

  • Pray for dreams and visions of Jesus to spread amongst the peoples and villages in the area.

  • Pray for peace and justice and an end to the violence between the various nomadic and pastoral communities.

  • Pray Matthew 24 over these people—that in the midst of wars and great coldness, the Gospel will be preached to the nations.


3. Thank God for the small open doors for foreigners within China. Several articles this week note especially how China is seeking tourists (and, obviously, the income from tourism).

  • Pray believers and organizations will be able to find innovate ways to enter the country and be of service to believers, churches, networks, and the unreached there.

  • Pray for all of these efforts to be wise and discerning, and to be mindful of the danger to existing work in the country.

  • It is possible in the aftermath of the US election, whoever wins, relations between China and the US could be rocky. Pray for those laboring here to be wise in the midst of shifting trends.


4. Pray for the body of Christ in Pakistan. The recent election introduced significant political destabilization. At the same time, the economic situation in the country is deteriorating, and it is by no means clear that the new government will be able to effectively reverse this.

  • Pray for believers to continue to spread the Kingdom amongst their neighbors and villages, in spite of instability and persecution.

  • Many believers exist in situations of great poverty and social insecurity. Pray for the spread of Kingdom business models that will help families to provide for themselves and provide economic opportunities for others.


5. We read with grief a recent study that shows a large percentage of Koreans are at risk of a “lonely death”—people, isolated from family and friends, whose bodies are found 72 hours after death. This includes people at high risk for suicide. Pray for believers and churches to be more aware of, and reach out to, the socially isolated and depressed in the communities around them. Let’s continue to pray for believers to pursue where Jesus is working, who is "close to the broken hearted..." (Psalm 34:18).


6. We pray for the church in North Korea. While news of Pyongyang’s saber-rattling and missile launches has dominated, other small bits have emerged: the possibility of cross-border tourism (from China to visit ski resorts in Samjiyon) and the growing prevalence of cell phones.

  • While these things aren’t necessarily immediate openings for Gospel advance, they do remind us there are ‘cracks in the walls,’ and we pray for the Kingdom to find uncommon ways to seep into North Korea. Pray Psalm 24:7, “Lift up your heads, gates—be lifted up, ancient doors, that the King of Glory may come in.”

  • We know that there are believers in North Korea, and pray for them, as they live in the midst of a truly harsh environment, often enduring persecution.


7. We pray for believers in Indonesia. The election has been completed and many have some concerns about the new incoming President and the erosion of democracy in Indonesia. While Subianto won a majority of the votes, his party won a minority of seats, and so there will be much political negotiation. There was some division amongst Indonesian Christians over the election.

  • We pray for a renewal of charity and unity in the church of Indonesia: “by this will all men know you are my disciples—by the love you have for one another” (John 13:35).

  • We pray for the continued efforts to spread the Good News among the peoples and cities of Indonesia, thankful for the truly widespread reach of the Gospel in the land.