Rev Gloria Au Yeung
(HK China/ NE Asia Coordinator, IPC)
“Of whom the world was not worthy…And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise, God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect” (Hebrews 11:38-40).
After 2000+ years of the Gospel, as the clicking of the end-time clock is counting down, I believe Asia will be playing an increasing pivotal role for the fulfillment of the Great Commission and preparation for the King of Glory’s return. The strong corporate vision of the Back to Jerusalem movement that began in mainland China to take the gospel to the Muslims and other peoples across Central Asia, the Middle East, and finally back to Jerusalem is now going even more strongly and rapidly.
Asia is the largest and most populous continent
Asia comprises a full 30% of the world's land area with 60% of the world's current population. It also has the highest growth rate, and its population almost quadrupled during the 20th century. The estimated population for Asia in 2016 is now 4.4 billion, with the median age of 30.7 years.
Asia was the birthplace of the world’s major religions
Asia was the site of many of the first civilizations and has the greatest diversity of ethnic groups, cultures, environments, economics, historical ties and government systems. Many of the world's major religions have their origins there, including the five most practiced in the world-- Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Chinese folk religion (classified as Confucianism and Taoism), and Buddhism respectively. Asia was the birthplace of also many other religions such as: Jainism, Sikhism, and Zoroastrianism (once the state religion of the Persian Empire, now a minority mostly found in India and Iran.)
Asian countries with large Christian populations are China (believed to be over 100 million), Philippines (84 million), India (24 million), Indonesia (23 million officially but probably at least three times that now unofficially), Kazakhstan (16.5 million), South Korea (15 million), Vietnam (7 million), Georgia (4.6 million), Armenia (3.2 million), Malaysia (2.6 million), Japan (2.5 million), Pakistan (2.5 million), Uzbekistan (2.5 million), Syria (1.8 million), Sri Lanka (1.5 million) and Taiwan (one million).
As the Lord is preparing His Bride, there are specific assignments for this generation, to “ finish well” so that the previous generations according to Hebrews chapter 11 would receive their promise. Please pray that we Asians who have received the last baton of the race of faith will also get “something better” in the perfection of all the generations as we seek to answer His call.
- CALL TO ALL – time to FINISH!
There’s never been a more important time in church history. The worldwide Christian movement has been exploding tremendously around the globe. Pray that the Church, its leaders and organizations, will network together to finish the Great Commission. Asia needs our special priority since it has the vast majority of unreached peoples, comprising the majority of the world's Muslims, Hindus, and Buddhists and also huge numbers in desperate poverty - over 80% of the world’s poorest people.
As China’s churches are believed to have the biggest population of Christians and are still growing, China is rapidly changing from a “mission field” to a great “mission force”. Pray that China’s church movement will continue to grow strong, not only in evangelism for the end-time harvest, but also for bringing transformation and revival through united prayer on both national and global levels.
- CALL TO FALL – time to march forward ON OUR KNEES!
The world, especially Asia, desperately needs change. Yet the change we need does not come from world politics or growing economies. It comes from God. He calls on us to fall to our knees before Him and take responsibility for the state of our nation by confessing our corporate and individual sins. Asian Christians have been especially well prepared for decades in prayer because of strong persecution and their need to be long-suffering. Please pray that a strong bridal Army with the vision of Jesus’ coming back will continuously be raised up to transform nations and change the course of history for this continent.
- CALL TO WALL – Time to be UNITED IN PRAYER!
Since the historic first worldwide prayer gathering of International Prayer Assembly in the year of 1984 in Seoul, Korea and then the continuous effort of global mobilization of united prayers by the IPC (International Prayer Council) since 2001, along with many other prayer networks, the Body of Christ has now been more awakened to the significance of connectivity and cooperation. That is what the Lord has been praying for us as His Body 2000+ years ago to be united – to cross all denominational and cultural barriers, laying down our own agendas and “kingdoms” to embrace the Father’s instead.
After the World Prayer Assembly of 2012 in Jakarta, Indonesia, and its on-going 'New Wave' movement, a new greater global level of awareness has been raised for the importance of united prayers along with massive mobilization and equipping for the blessing, healing and transformation of the nations. The biggest end-time armies of united prayer seem to be coming out from Asian countries: Korea, Indonesia and China! These 3 countries that all had strong participation in the WPA-2012 are certainly the biggest groups of watchmen for the nations today. Also, since the largest Christian population/ biggest church of the world nowadays is in China (the size of it is still a mystery out of God’s wisdom), the potential capacity to continuously build the “Great Wall of Prayer” cannot be under-estimated. This correlates with the preparation of the coming biggest harvest among the nations and its warfare involved. Like the Great Wall of China in olden days, this is a strategic massive construction to get ready for war. This is the time to rebuild the “Wall” as in Nehemiah’s experience in order to strategically re-establish spiritual oneness so that the Body of Christ will no longer be in disgrace (Neh 2:17. Pray that we can do this by sharing the same vision of “preparing the way” cross- generationally with the children and youth as well as internationally with many other different networks.
4. CALL to Rise Up IN MISSION!
Asian Churches have been truly blessed by the western Churches in the past. However, due to the previous history of mission movements, Asian Churches are generally also at the same time, much influenced by the down side of the western Churches! The time has come to corporately discern, be set free and cleansed from all kind of religious bondages, especially those coming from western theology and human philosophies such as denominationalism, false teachings (eg. Replacement Theology”), “syncretism” and false “ unity” between different religions, deceptions and compromise like “Chrislam”. In addition, the Body of Christ needs to face the biggest ever spiritual giants, namely Islam, Hinduism and Buddhism in our own region. Please pray that the Lord will greatly protect, purify and rescue us from all kinds of deception and the three common phenomena of the end-time churches in general, namely, Godlessness, Prayerlessness and Lawlessness (2 Tim 3:1-9).
If combining only Korea and China together, it will already become the largest mission force for both evangelization and prayer for the whole world. Both these two nations have been well prepared for spiritual battles …… and we believe that One Korea will be coming soon too. It is definitely strategic for the nations of NE Asia to come together so please pray that we can work together trans-nationally!
Our desperate prayer request is for the coming together of the “ three chopsticks nations”- China, Korea and also Japan - for the revival of NE Asia and the whole of Asia! It will take a miracle to bring real reconciliation and unity due to the deep-rooted historical wounds and trauma! Nevertheless, if Christians in these three countries come together, they will become a huge blessing and a great testimony to the world! Let’s join hands and believe this - from the Far East to the Middle East, the glory of the Lord will be revealed, and all mankind together will see it. For the mouth of the Lord has spoken (Isa 40:5). Arise, Asia, prepare the way. Something Better is coming for you! Amen.
