Welcome once more to the DIY Sunday Service Kit ... this time the edition for 25th. February 2024.

Next Friday - St. David's Day - we meet face to face with visitors from across Wales at Memorial Chapel in Llandovery at 6.30 p.m. to Pray for Spiritual Awakening in rural Wales.

The following day we host a day conference in the same place, The Call to the Hills Conference with speakers addressing the question of how we can best reach out to rural Wales in these days.

As a result there will be no DIY Sunday Service Kit next week. There aren't enough hours the day! but PLEASE JOIN US for 

• Prayer on March 1st at 6.30 p.m.

• Conference on March 2nd 9.30 a.m. - 6 p.m.

It would be GREAT to see you there.

If you really can't go, then please really do pray?

Let's pray

Lord and Father we thank your the privilege of your presence, accessible to us not because we are worth it but because you sent your Son the Lord Jesus Christ to be the Saviour of the world, ad sent your Holy Spirit to turn our hearts away from our selves and our own narrow plans and purposes to serving you and our brothers and sisters in the fellowship of your Church.

We thank you for the joy, the fulfilment and the satisfaction this brings, and we thank you for the fellowship not simply of one another but with yourself, the One True Living God.

Wash us fresh today of the things we have done and the things we have not done that we should have done, the our fellowship with you might be unhindered, and both enable and inspire us to walk daily with you.

We ask for Jesus' sake,

Amen.

Again this week we're really grateful for the seven-day prayer calendar for the world from Justin Long.

(Subscribe yourself by entering your email address HERE )

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.

Let's worship the eternal God

Today's Bible Ministry is here ...

                        .mp3 audio

                        .mp4 video with subtitles

Let's worship the King of Kings

Let's pray 1 Timothy 1:15-17

Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: 

Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. 

But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, 

the worst of sinners, 

Christ Jesus might display his immense patience 

as an example for those who would believe in him 

and receive eternal life. 

Now to the King eternal, 

immortal, invisible, 

the only God, 

be honor and glory 

for ever and ever. 

Amen.

DIY Sunday Service Kit - 11/02/24 - Daniel 4: Authoritarianism meets the King of ALL kings

 

Welcome to the DIY Sunday Service Kit for February 10th., 2024.

Today we are looking into how God addressed the situation of four faithful Jewish young men living under a political regime they had reason to be dissatisfied with. At a time when world politics seems to be on the move, this seems to be a fairly common topic in conversation around the world!

This week the way we produce the Deep-Dive into Scripture has been updated with automatically generated captions on the screen. As a result there is no longer a transcript ... it's all on the video. 

The audio-only is still there, though, for all you marathon runners and extreme athletes out there to be able to download it and listen while you are exerting yourselves!

Let's pray.

Lord and loving Heavenly Father we thank you for the measure of freedom we currently enjoy in our culture to hold and to express our views without interference from the authorities.

We know that we can't ever take such things for granted and that our brethren in many places around the world do not currently enjoy the same freedoms as we do.

So we ask you to make us grateful today for the blessings that we receive, and to prepare and equip us as we seek you today to be faithful to you under whatever pressures we face today and  that we may be called upon to face in the future.

We ask for Jesus' sake.

AMEN.

Let's sing

The week's seven-day prayer calendar from JustinLong.org is set out

under this pic. 

(This prayer calendar comes from Justin Long. You could also seek fresh inspiration to pray for the world from his really excellent website HERE )

1. We pray for those Kingdom workers and efforts laboring on behalf of Iran. We praise God for the rapid growth of the church in Iran–many Iranians have become disillusioned and abandoned Islam, and while most of those have secularized, a significant percentage have become followers of Jesus. At the same time, the current tensions between Iran, its neighbors, Israel (in the context of Gaza), and the United States are undoubtedly complicating work on the ground. Pray for wisdom and boldness for workers and for the Iranian church.

2. We continue to pray for peace in Sudan, and for the believers working there. A quarter of the country is on the run. I think it likely the RSF will consolidate majority control over the nation, but all evidence indicates they are more interested in self-enrichment and ethnic cleansing than in establishing a functional state. The people of Sudan, particularly the non-Arab minorities, have been deeply wounded, and the scars of this civil war will last a very long time. Pray for the believers laboring to work in the region, for those working with the refugees in Chad, South Sudan, and Egypt, and for the many Sudanese abroad who fear for their families back home.

3. We pray for the church in Japan. The aging of the nation in general (low birth rate, longer life span) has led to a situation where many leaders in the church are elderly, but there are few to no ‘next generation’ of believers to take their place. Pray for a new generation of believers to rise up, be mentored and equipped by the current leaders, and be able to shoulder the work.

4. We pray for the current ‘opening’ trend in Saudi Arabia both to continue and to be well used. Saudi Arabia is welcoming in large numbers of spiritually hungry pilgrims, and at the same time investing significant amounts to encourage general tourism. Pray for believers to make wise use of the opportunities.

5. We pray for the millions who recently attended the Bishwa Ijtema, a massive Islamic congregation held in Bangladesh. We are thankful for the Kingdom efforts that occurred in the context of this space, seeking out the spiritually hungry. We pray that many who encountered Jesus will pursue him to discover the True Way. We pray for the continued perseverance of bold witnesses who labor in the context of such events.

6. We pray again for believers in India. In the wake of the dedication of the Ayodha temple, other mosque-temple conflicts are beginning to sprout. Both traditional churches and rapidly multiplying movements are experiencing increasing levels of persecution, including martyrdoms. As movements dedicate themselves to finding and filling every witness-lacking gap, encounters with persecution will undoubtedly increase. We pray for the explosive growth of followers of Jesus in India to continue, and also for these believers to stand firm in their faith and witness.

7. We pray for the believers laboring in the context of the Gaza war. The mixture of politics, religion, and violence makes it very difficult for people around the world to think about the war, the peoples involved, and how Jesus would act in this context. Pray for believers who are trying to be a blessing in this very difficult environment to have charity, wisdom, boldness and endurance. Pray for people to pray “Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven” over this region.

Today's Bible reading is Daniel 4 - click the open Bible to go there

Our next hymn is bi-lingual ... great words, great tune!

Now for the new-look Deep-Dive for this week (click the pic)

              Video with sub-titles .mp4

               Audio .mp3

Let's pray

Thank you Lord that we can find confidence in the person and in the work of our faithful God and King, who undertakes provides for His people in even the most challenging of circumstances.

Whatever challenges we face in the coming days, weeks and years, please 

• keep us close to yourself, 
• reveal the mysteries we encounter as and when we need that, 
• show your superior power to deliver us from any powers and authorities that would oppress us, 
• and both raise up and remove the powers that be in order to fulfil your plans and purposes according to your good pleasure 

          ... for whom we also pray the intervention of the saving and redeeming grace.

In Jesus' Name and for His Glory,

Amen.

Thank you for being with us here at the DIY Sunday Service Kit today.

To join us in worshipping through giving please click the offering bag below and if we can be of any help or you would appreciate prayer please use the text or audio contact buttons on the WelshRev,com website:

HERE

DIY Sunday Service Kit 04/02/24 - The God with Superior Power - Daniel 3

 

Welcome to the DIY Sunday Service Kit for 4th., February 2024.

This week we see how a human trying to play God ends up realising ... a lot of stuff he needed to!

Stick with it, it's fun to watch and it gets quite encouraging!

But first, let's pray.

Heavenly Father, in the life, death and resurrection from the dead of your Son the Lord Jesus we see your power, authority and love for us as naturally self-serving and self-enthroning beings naturally rebelling against the authority of Christ the King.

Help us to build a bigger vision of your authority and sovereign power, and teach us awe again at your glory AND your grace.

We ask for Jesus' sake.

AMEN.

You may have seen a lot in the news recently about frustration and unrest in rural communities.

This situation certainly needs our prayers.

Here's a 12-minute video explainer I've made about what the Lord might be doing in this time of rapid change and disruption.

If you can spare the time ... would you give it a look and pray with us accordingly?

Now here's the seven-day prayer calendar 

from JustinLong.org who has lots of good extra stuff here. It's copied below ...

1. We pray for Myanmar, which has slipped off many people’s radar. Millions are “traumatized and despairing,” others “radicalized, committed to destroying Myanmar’s military rule.” There are only tiny shifts between the government and the rebels. Myanmar has become the world’s largest provider of opium and methamphetamines. The chances of stopping the current regime this year seem low, and even if they do, Myanmar’s future faces many challenges to unity. We pray for believers in the midst of this crisis, and for outside groups to find ways to be a blessing and to be peacemakers.

2. The world’s largest displacement crisis is Sudan: a staggering 11 million people (1 in 8). Of these, over 1.7 million have fled the country for its neighbors. Chad and South Sudan each host about a third of these. “Every second person needs aid in Sudan” (link). We pray for the many believers and organizations laboring to help these. If the RSF wins (and unleashes its trademark ethnic massacres) or the country continues in a divided fashion, how safe will it be for many of these to return home? Much of the Kingdom work in the country has been completely overturned and disrupted, and many laborers have had to relocate and make completely new plans. Pray for wisdom, compassion, and discernment for these workers.

3. Ever hear “To be _x_ is to be [Christian|Muslim|Hindu|Buddhist”? A new 21-country study from Pew explores the connection between national identity, birthplace, language, and religion. Less than half said religious identity was important. Pray for the many earnest seekers who want to find the Truth, are interested in the Way, and are struggling with issues of culture and nation. Pray for God to send revelation, dreams, visions, and workers into the harvest.

4. We pray again for the upcoming election in Indonesia. We pray especially for charity between believers - there has been some division between those within the church over political candidates. In addition, we pray for peace and protection for the believers, as elections can, at times, be “exciting” (in the words of one leader from the field). There can be scuffles, demonstrations, and violence. Please pray for the believers to continue to be a witness in the midst of this time.

5. We pray for Ethiopia, facing a potential famine. Recent reports say over 90% of Tigrayans are at risk of starvation - a disaster that could match the 1984-1985 crisis. Over 20 million Ethiopians in all need food assistance. Read this analysis and pray for the people of the region and the many organizations and Kingdom movements in the area, seeking to help.

6. We pray for the spiritually hungry in India to discover the true Bread of Life. The recent dedication of the Ayodha temple was a major event, some say symbolizing a new form of Hinduism in India: “This new form of political Hinduism requires all Hindus to conform to a uniform idea of God, where a ritualistic demonstration of faith through regular practice is essential to ensure enduring allegiance to the otherwise evolving tenets of an ancient faith. A transient flirtation with Hinduism – something allowable under the flexibility long imbued within the faith – will be a thing of the past; now the follower will have to be a practitioner of the faith as well.” We pray for the explosive growth of followers of Jesus in India to continue, and also for these believers to stand firm in their faith and witness.

7. We pray for the transformation of Sichuan, China, one of China’s geographically largest and most populous provinces and the gateway to the Tibetan peoples. It is China’s leading producer of food and rare mineral resources, and its globally connected cities of Chongqing and Chengdu export products to the world. About 3% of the province is Christian, but most of these are in Chengdu. Pray for the Gospel to spread into the less-reached areas

Click this open Bible for our reading today

This song from Hillsong extrapolates from the idea of God walking with us through the 'fires' and storms in human life

This week's Deep-Dive into God's Word is available here in audio, video and written formats

Audio .mp3

Video .mp4

Transcript

Let's worship this all-powerful, rescuing God we are privileged to serve

Let's pray

Now to Him Who is ABLE to keep us from falling,

    and to present us before his glorious presence 

        without fault and 

        with great joy

to the only God

    our Saviour be 

• glory, 
• majesty, 
• power and 
• authority, 

through Jesus Christ our Lord, 

    before all ages, 

        now and 

            forevermore! 

Amen.

Please feel free to get in touch with any questions you are pondering over, or prayer requests we can take to heart for you.

And if you'd like to join us in worshipping through giving, please click the offering bag below to go to our online giving link.

God bless you ... have a great week!

DIY Sunday Service Kit - 28/01/24 - Daniel 2

 

Welcome to the DIY Sunday Service Kit for 28th. January, 2024

Today we are taking a look at Daniel 2, both in the  Word for the Week and the Deep-Dive format using the links below. One is just very short and feels a bit like sinking into your favourite armchair ... warm and reassuring. The other is a proper 30-minute sermon format which feels more like the sort of experience you have on a dining chair!

I reckon the transition from the comfort of the armchair to the re-fuelling of the dining table is worth making ... do you?

Try both and see!

Let's worship the Lord.

Here's a short video published this week giving an insight into the other stuff we do during the week in y GRWP and explaining WHY we need to meet on the evening of 

March 1st. in Llandovery to pray, 

and what we need to be praying for rural Wales.

This seems like the right sort of thing to sing in response ...

Here's the seven-day prayer calendar for this week from JustinLong.org

Why don't you check that link for all sorts of information about wha is happening in the world from a spiritual viewpoint? There is SO much more there than gets into our weekly prayer calendar!

(Prayer  Calendar coming soon ... below)

1 1. We pray for believers in the midst of the ongoing shaking in North Africa. Pray that believers rise up and don’t miss this opportunity. Pray for the churches to step out of their walls, workers to seize the kairos moment. Pray for the “Go North” initiatives to develop innovative approaches to successfully send intercessory prayer teams.

• We pray for the ongoing major displacement of Sudanese populations across Africa. Imagine Khartoum - a capital city of 5 million - has been displaced. It’s a ghost town. The genocidal rampages taking place in Darfur, and people are fleeing in all directions. We pray for the refugees that have found themselves far from home, traumatized, not always welcomed or cared for.

• We pray for the families affected by the Gaza war. Emotions, tensions, pressure, weight are all being felt especially by Arabs in the region. Pray that God will use the war and the many things endured for good.

• We pray for Egypt and Tunisia in the midst of economic crises. Egypt’s currency has lost half its value in the past fifteen months; inflation is running rampant through the region. It makes it hard for believers (and everyone) to simply exist day to day.

• We pray for the ongoing war in Libya and the east vs. west divide, which continues to perpetuate the crisis in that country.

2. We pray for the ongoing instability in the Horn of Africa.

• Pray for the Lord to intervene and bring peace to the tribal and political conflicts in Ethiopia and the region. It has been very difficult to do road trips for ministry due to security issues and danger in doing so. Many vehicles are burnt, killing and robbery and high jacking people and asking for money has been very common.

• Pray for the many refugees from Sudan, Eritrea and Somalia entering Ethiopia - pray for believers to be able to reach out to these refugees so they are blessed with Good News when they do return home to their people group.

• Pray for the severe persecution of the church in Eritrea. Most of the work there is underground, and many believers are in prison. We pray for the endurance of the church, the release of these believers, and a change in the situation.

3 We pray for the spiritually hungry in India to discover the true Bread of Life.

• The recent dedication of the Ayodha temple was a major event accompanied by celebrations in many villages and cities in the country. We pray that those who go on pilgrimage to Ayodha and other similar locations will be visited by dreams and visions of Jesus.

• We pray for the many believers who are enduring persecution especially in the midst of the current climate of Hindu nationalism. Pray that these believers will have an opportunity to be a witness for Jesus. Pray that persecutors will be turned by the Spirit to the truth.

4. We pray for the upcoming election in Indonesia. We pray especially for charity between believers - there has been some division between those within the church over political candidates. In addition, we pray for peace and protection for the believers, as elections can, at times, be “exciting” (in the words of one leader from the field). There can be scuffles, demonstrations, and violence. Please pray for the believers to continue to be a witness in the midst of this time.

5. We pray for Nigeria, the most populous country in Africa:

• Economic hardship bites harder in Nigeria as its local currency depreciates so badly

• The Fulani Nationalist Movement FUNAM has threatened to declare a Jihad on the Nation if their President - Bello Bodejo who was picked up by unknown persons is not released immediately within 72hours. Meanwhile Government has said their President is not in their Custody. Pray that God will frustrate their schemes and that the government in power will be proactive in their response.

• Over 200 violent attacks have been recorded across all six area councils of the Federal Capital Territory since President Bola Tinubu assumed office on May 29, 2023. The incidents led to the death of no fewer than 87 residents of the FCT, while 176 were kidnapped within the period. Pray against the rising tide of insecurity across Nigeria.

• Pray that disciple makers and church planters will emerge in sufficient numbers to engage the remaining unreached peoples and places across our region using movement principles.

• Ask for spiritual protection over all Missionaries, Mission Leaders and Leaders of the Church across the region in the face of rampant Kidnapping for ransom, violent attacks, and insurgency as they go about the mission of the Kingdom.

• Nigeria, the most populous nation in Africa plays host to 40 Unreached People Groups and 3 Least evangelized people groups, and all are found in the Northern part of the Country. Pray for deliverance of Northern Nigeria.

  
  

6. We pray for Burkina Faso and the Sahel, specifically:

• Please praise God with us for the progressive break through we are seeing in access ministry and media among the Fulani

• Please plead with us for: discernment and protection against attacks and infiltration from jihadi group.

• - for the provision of felt needs for many internally displaced people particularly brethren (food, shelter, water/well)

• - the provision of the long-term economic sustainability of Kingdom work in the area

• - the effective finding and filling the gaps in our context of insecurity

• - a breakthrough leading to movements of disciple makers across all the 21 countries of Africa where the Fulani people live

7. We pray for the many workers who are participating in various conferences, as they are in conferences and as they are returning from them. We pray especially for unity (John 17) and for safety as they return. We pray for wisdom and diligence as they follow up on the action steps they decided on in the conferences.

This week's Deep-Dive Bible exposition is here in three formats ... to watch, to listen and to read. 

Take your pick!

• Watch

• Listen

• Read

Let's worship this God of ours Who controls the revelation of mysteries 

Lord and Father we thank you that your supremacy is seen in your knowledge of all things and your Fatherly care is seen your revelation of all that it is good for us to know.

Help us in our limited knowledge and understanding to trust to your care in all that perplexes us and shows the limits of our understanding, and teach us the worship and total trust that will honour and glorify your Name.

We ask for Jesus' sake.

AMEN.

You can join us in worshipping through giving by clicking the offering bag below 

and you can contact us through the website WelshRev.com 

There is a range of ways to connect with us on that site ... please feel free to let us know your thoughts, your questions and your prayer requests there!

DIY Sunday Service Kit - 14/01/24

Welcome to the DIY Sunday Service Kit of 14th. January 2024, the Sunday after 'Quitters' Friday' ... all will become clear when we get to the Bible ministry which this week is out and about in the form of an extended Word for the Week.

Let's come to worship ...

Let's pray

Lord and Father we ask that whatever we bring with us as we come to worship you this week, whatever lies on our conscience, on our jobs list or in our cares and concerns you will give us a fresh view of your Son the Lord Jesus living now in Heavenly Glory, and that the sight will bring us fresh repentance, rejoicing and redirection in life so that we are equipped to go forward following Him and with you.

We ask for Jesus sake.

AMEN.

The Seven Day Prayer Calendar for our World is now here

Let's pray

1. We pray for the “unseen” displaced in Burkina Faso’s capital, Ouagadougou. Tens of thousands of people have been displaced from the countryside and have flowed into the city, where they are living in camps. In all, perhaps 2 million are displaced in Burkina Faso due to jihadist conflict. 

• You can read some of their stories and pray for the people involved, many by name. 

• We pray for believers and churches in the area to be a blessing to these displaced.

• We pray for the Gospel to spread among the earnestly spiritual fundamentalists in the Sahel, and for a great turning to Christ.

2. We pray for the Christians suffering attacks in Nigeria. Since the week of Christmas, Christian communities have been attacked, people killed, and churches burnt (read their story). Over 10,000 have been displaced and many communities abandoned as people fled.

• We pray for the families and communities that have suffered terrible loss. We “weep with those who weep” and lament the pain and devastation.

• We pray even in the midst of the violence, God will expand his kingdom among the unreached peoples in this region—and especially for work among the Fulani-speaking peoples of the area. Beseech the Lord of the Harvest for more workers in this field!

3. We pray for the Rohingya refugees in Aceh, Indonesia (read their story). Fleeing persecution and finding themselves stateless, they came to the “doorway to Mecca”—but there, political activists have apparently used their arrival to begin a populist, anti-immigrant campaign as part of upcoming national elections. Unfortunately this leaves the Rohingya in a precarious situation—in need of aid yet once again the focus of hostility and fear.

• We pray for this group of refugees, who have endured so much tragedy, to come to know the God who loves them.

• There are very few believers in this particular part of the world, but we pray for some form of aid to come to the Rohingya.

• We continue to pray for the Gospel to spread throughout the little-reached province of Aceh.

4. Let’s remember Sudan’s millions before the Throne! This war has slipped “out of sight” of many who are focused on Israel/Gaza and Russia/Ukraine.  If the current trend holds true, the RSF may very well end up in control of significant portions of the country, if not completely victorious. Wherever the RSF go, the area is marked by violence, massacres and abuses. Over 7 million are estimated displaced, and it’s uncertain who would be able to return to their homes.

• We pray for the millions who have suffered severe loss and trauma as a result of the war.

• We even pray for the miraculous spread of the Kingdom through the soldiers of the RSF. We ask God to send dreams and visions and “turn the hearts of kings.”

• We pray for those working among the Sudanese—both inside and outside the country. Many of these Kingdom workers are no doubt distraught, exhausted, and dismayed. We pray for their energy to be renewed by the work of the Spirit.

5. We pray for Gaza. Reports indicate the war seems to be shifting to a lower-intensity phase, but the future of Gaza—access to it, its leadership, and the ability of people to work there—is still unclear. Over 80% of Gaza’s people are displaced, and two-thirds of the buildings are damaged (see photos). Gaza is “on the verge of famine” and will require a major reconstruction effort. In this new phase, is it possible Kingdom workers could bring aid and be a blessing?

• We pray for wisdom, discernment, and boldness for Kingdom workers focused on the area.

• We pray for favor from local officials and military personnel so that aid can be brought in.

6. We pray for peace between Ethiopia and its neighbors. This week, several stories focused on the increase in tensions between Ethiopia and Eritrea and Somalia over Ethiopia’s agreement with Somaliland for access to a Red Sea port. While the prospects of war between these nation seem low, at the same time it’s not out of the question. We pray that peace will prevail. Human suffering aside, a war between these three nations would cause significant disruption to much Kingdom work.

7. We pray for the spiritual transformation of West Bengal, India. This is the fifth province on the least-reached provinces list. It lies on the eastern edge of India, bordering Bangladesh, Bhutan and Nepal. It has nearly 100 million people, most of whom are Bengalis. Kolkata (Calcutta) is the commercial, cultural, and educational capital of eastern India, the third largest city in India and one of the largest metropolitan areas in the world. Christianity first came to the area in the 1500s, but today the region is probably around 1% Christian. There are significant efforts under way, with over 200 denominations and missions at work (according to Operation World). We pray for the rapid spread of the Gospel through this state, and among the Bengali, one of the largest people groups in the world.

 

It's time to read the Bible (click the pic.)

This week's Bible ministry is here 👇

Let's pray

We thank you Lord and Father that you have put a longing in human hearts to overcome our old self and become new.

We thank you too that in the face of our human ability to self-renew, you have provided so completely for us in the Lord Jesus to be inwardly renewed day by day.

Take us into this coming week, we pray, with eyes fixed on the Lord Jesus the we may soak up the benefits of His and be transformed by His presence and His person.

We ask for Jesus' sake.

AMEN.

As usual we are here this week to support you in fellowship and prayer so please feel free to contact us through any of the contact opportunities available ... the easiest these days is probably the set of these on the outreach website www.WelshRev.com 

If you would like to join in with us in worshiping by giving, please click the offering bag below which will take you straight to our online giving page.

Have a great week!

DIY Sunday Service Kit 07/01/24 - HAPPY New Year - 1 John 1:1-4

 

Welcome to the first DIY Sunday Service Kit of 2024 on January 7th., 2024.

It looks as if the coming year will have some new things and new challenges in it (but not in a bad way) for y GRWP. So let's begin by committing the coming year to the Lord as we worship Him together with Sovereign Grace Music ...

One of the big new opportunities we look forward to in 2024 is hosting 'The Call to the Hills', a conference drawing people together from across Wales to pray and stoke up a fresh vision for reaching rural Wales with the Gospel. 

Speakers with experience of pioneer Cristian mission from Wales and the world beyond area currently preparing papers and there will be more information about the programme and registration detail coming out across the next few weeks.

For now, please put the dates and times in your diary and do all you can to be with us on 

• the evening of March 1st., St. David's Day for: a big old prayer meeting for Revival across rural Wales led by Rev. Phil Swan from Llanelli 
• and across the day on March 2nd. to hear speakers with experience of wha they're speaking about dealing with subjects from how to train workers for rural Wales through how to reach difficult to reach people groups and how to open ears to the Gospel ... all chaired by Rev. Jonathan Stephen

But the biggest thing we need right now is to pray for the Lord to protect and bless our preparations and to be with us very powerfully over that weekend in March!

So please would you join us in prayer that the Lord would use this conference to equip and send workers int His harvest fielding rural Wales?

And now we pray for the wider world

Here's the 7-day prayer diary for this week

We continue to pray for those caught up in the war in Sudan. Sudanese citizens are in “total panic” and “rushing for arms to defend themselves” as the RSF make significant gains. The RSF “offered” a cease-fire (or is it a publicity stunt?), but Sudan’s army chief has rejected any chance of reconciliation. RSF gains have been marked by massacres and other abuses. It seems likely the war will continue to grind on. We pray for an end to it, and for justice and reconciliation, but in the meantime we pray for those who are suffering, and for the Kingdom workers who are trying to help. "The Lord is close to the broken hearted..." (Psalm 34:18)

2 We pray for the suffering, distressed and hungry in Tigray, Ethiopia. Hunger and insecurity continues to spread. More than 2 million Tigrayans face acute malnutrition., and “many worry the current famine will grow to equal the catastrophe of 1984” (Le Monde). Additional political uncertainty and stress stress is being felt in the Horn as the effort by Ethiopia and Somaliland to agree on access to the Red Sea port is opposed by Somalia (which views recognition of Somaliland as an attack on its sovereignty) and Djibouti (which would suffer the lost of significant trade through its ports). We pray for the Kingdom workers in the region who are trying to be of help. 

3. We are thankful for continued growth in openness between the West and China, small though these cracks may be: the lessening of visa requirements for US citizens, and the increasing appeal of overseas jobs for Chinese workers. We pray new avenues for the Gospel will open up as a result of this; while the church in China numbers likely over 100 million, many millions still have no access to the Good News.

4. We are thankful for the ability of some Chinese businessmen and workers to enter North Korea (Daily NK). Yet we also know the “wall” around North Korea remains very strong. We pray for continued ‘cracks’ and for the Gospel to find ways to enter and spread. We pray that North Korea, once the “Jerusalem of the East,” will once again “be full of the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the seas” (Habakkuk 2:14).

5. In many places around the world, diaspora workers are eagerly sought due to widening demographic crises: with slowing birth rates, there are too few workers for local economies. A recent example is seen in Thailand, where companies are asking the government to allow as many as 400,000 additional Lao migrant workers in to work for them. In many places, we have seen the flow of migrant workers has brought significant new opportunities for the Kingdom to spread, and we pray that will happen in Thailand as well. The majority Thai are significantly under-engaged.

6. We pray for believers who will be a blessing to the many refugees. This week, we pray especially for the hundreds of refugees resettling in Minnesota (over 1,500 in 2023), especially Somalis, and pray for the Gospel to spread among them. Many are not always welcomed in host communities, but we pray for believers who will be a blessing to them.

7. We pray for the spiritual transformation of Punjab, Pakistan. This is the fourth province on the least-reached provinces list. One of the largest provinces in Pakistan, it is criss-crossed by the Indus River and borders India. Punjab province was divided between India and Pakistan in 1947, and today is a political center. Although there has been no census since 1998, most estimates suggest Punjab has more than 100 million, or more than half of Pakistan’s population. Punjab has a strong economy but poverty is widespread; it is the breadbasket of the nation, but industrial centers are in several of its cities. Christianity first entered Punjab around the 1590s. Today, over 80% of Pakistan’s Christians are found in this province, yet they make up just a little more than 2% of its population. Over 2 million Christians are thought to be living in and around Lahore and Faisalabad. We pray that these workers and others will be used by God to spread the Gospel throughout this province and the rest of Pakistan.

As we have prayed for our God to step in to deal with our world's chaos, let's now restate our trust in His Fatherly care and Sovereign rule

Today's Bible reading is 1 John 1:1-10 (click the pic.)

What a HUGE thing it is that God is so wonderfully FOR us!

Let's look into God's Word together - you have the choice of three formats:

                                                            ... audio

                                                               ... video

                                                              ... transcript

May the Lord fill our hearts and minds with a fresh vision of Himself and His Glory, that makes sharing His good news our great delight ... let's sing

Let's pray

Lord and Father, please give us a fresh and tangible sense of your reality and the reality of your Gospel of grace as we live out our lives day by day throughout 2024.

Would you meet with us as we read your Word each day through this year and speak to us clearly and powerfully.

Would you meet with us as we pray, that we might live as people of your holy and glorious presence.

And would you walk with us closely through all the experiences of our life and amongst the people with whom we meet, that your ways might be made known through us on earth and your saving grace throughout all nations.

We ask for Jesus' sake and glory.

Amen.

As ever, please feel free to contact us about anything in this service kit today or anything we can pray about for you.

And if you would like to join us in sharing the fellowship of giving, please click on the offering bag below to be taken to our online giving link.

May our good and gracious God bless you with a very good week in His service.