Week of Prayer for Mauritania: 9 – 15 April, 2012
The week of April 9 – 15 has been designated by a number of prayer networks as week of prayer for Mauritania. We'd like to encourage all who have a heart for Mauritania and its people to organize prayer gatherings for Mauritania during that week. Prayer topics for each day of that week will be sent out by April 3. There will be 3 days of intensive prayer and fasting April 12 - 14.
Please pray for the Lord's help and grace in all the preparation for this dedicated time of prayer for Mauritania, and that He would raise up many intercessors around the world to pray for Mauritania and its people throughout 2012 and beyond.
In recent weeks, a number of individuals who pray regularly for Mauritania have sensed the Lord urging prayer for humility, confession, repentance and unity on three levels:
1. among all those who are committed to praying for it – That we would guard our hearts and be quick to confess any sin or seek forgiveness and work to restore broken relationships so that nothing would hinder our prayers. We sense the most important preparation for the week of prayer in April is our own humility, purity and right relationship with the Lord and one another
2. among believers in Mauritania – May the Lord pour out His grace and kindness in the lives of believers in Mauritania, leading them to recognize, confess and repent of any sin in their lives, including deeply entrenched sins that are "strongholds" in the culture - including love of money, pride, deception or manipulation, racism, occult practices, sexual sin. Pray for healing of divisions and unity among believers. Pray for God's "rain" in their lives, softening hard hearts and refreshing and renewing those who are weary and dry.
3. Prayer for conviction of sin, confession, and repentance within the country as a whole: In studying the ministry of John the Baptist, we are reminded that before Jesus began His ministry, there was a large movement of confession of sins and repentance throughout Judea and Jerusalem. John was called to "prepare the way" for Jesus to come, and calling people to confession was a key part of that preparation. Pray for God to pour out the Holy Spirit in Mauritania, convicting Mauritanians of their sin and helping them recognize that they are sick, in need of a savior to heal and restore and reconcile them to God.
Key Scriptures: Mark 1:1-8; Luke 7:27-30; Mark 2:16-17; Malachi 3:1-3; John 16:7-11
World Weekend of Prayer for Children at Risk, June 2-3, 2012
"Children are great imitators. So give them something great to imitate." – Anonymous
Let’s TEACH our Children to pray! Let’s pray FOR the Children of this world!
"For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave Me something to drink, I was a stranger, and you invited Me in, naked, and you clothed Me, I was sick, and you visited Me, I was in prison, and you came to Me...”Matthew 25:35-45
There are 2.3 billion children on earth under age 15 and they represent the largest unreached people group in the world. Boys and girls in the 4/14 Window is given priority because they are more open and receptive to the gospel than older youth and adults. Nearly 85% of people who make a decision for Christ, do so between the ages of 4 to 14!
For this reason you are invited to participate in the Global 4/14 Day – a day of prayer and fasting for children aged 4 to 14 – on Saturday, April 14, 2012.While adults are registering for the Global 4/14 Day, ARISE is inviting CHILDREN to gather for prayer in every time zone of the world at 4:14PM (local time zone) on 14 April 2012 to unite in praise and worship, stand in the gap for their generation and to commit themselves to be a generation set apart for God.
For more information please visit the website www.kidsarise.com or contact Gwen De Rozario at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Billions of children around the world are growing up without the basic needs they are entitled to. For example: Education, Safety, Advocacy and Health. To pray for them effectively please visit VIVA –together for children and diarize the date for the World Weekend of Prayer for Children at Risk 2 – 3 June 2012.
Sudan: Christians request our prayers
On 21st April the Anglican Church in Sawafi was attacked by a mob, provoked by a radical Imam. Security forces stopped the mob, then some found an alternate route and ransacked and burnt down the building. Also on 21st the Gereif West Bible School in Al-Gereif, was badly damaged in an arson attack by a Muslim mob. They had received threats of violence in late March and early April. Churches on the site as well as the Bible School were damaged in the attack.Office equipment, library resources and students' personal belongings were destroyed. On 19th April in Burri 130 South Sudanese university students were detained and given seven days to leave Sudan after being accused of celebrating South Sudan's invasion of the Heglig oil field. The students denied that they had held any such celebration. Sudanese Christians give thanks that nobody was injured in the recent attacks.
Pray: Christians in Khartoum will know the peace, presence and protection of Jesus, and His enabling to live without fear; and for detained students to be released and know the Spirit's guidance and wisdom.
China: Plans to 'eradicate house churches'
China has begun a campaign to eradicate house churches within ten years. Last September a secret document was issued by the Chinese authorities aimed at 'completely eradicating house churches' in three phases. (1) from January to June 2012- investigate house churches and create files on them. (2) to 'clean up' those churches within 3 years. (3) completely wipe out the house churches within 10 years. In December 2010, 'Operation Deterrence' was launched and Government officials were to 'guide' Christians attending unregistered churches to worship in government-approved Three-Self churches. At the same time, they were to break up larger churches, such as Shouwang Church in Beijing into smaller groups. Shouwang has been forced to hold services in the open-air since Easter 2011, and worshippers face surveillance and arrest. • Please pray also for Shouwang Church in Beijing, whose members faithfully meet outside in all weathers, under surveillance and at risk of arrest. Ask that God would embolden and protect them.
Pray: against the increase in persecution of house churches and for God to bless them with continued growth. (Is.65:22-24)
