Niger: first weekend of Ramadan
Many Christians will be praying for Muslims, using the Prayercast Ramadan Challenge as a resource. Muslims’ pursuit of God is in vain without Jesus Christ. The spiritual condition of Muslims in Niger is dry. We can pray for focused efforts to evangelise those under the age of fifteen (half the population); pray for speed and accuracy for those translating Scriptures for barely reached people groups, and for a visible Christian presence in their societies. Pray for peace among struggling believers who feel isolated. Niger was under military rule for thirty-one years; violent coups and bloody political infighting have finally unfolded into a fledgling democracy, but slavery is still practised in isolated areas of the country. Children are trafficked for labour in gold mines, sexual exploitation, and begging. Women are abducted and sold and young boys are kidnapped for work in stone quarries. A land dispute with Libya remains unresolved and triggers spasmodic acts of violence.
World: commitment to Bible translation
One in seven people do not have the full Bible available in their native language. But there are many Christians whose mission it is to change that statistic by 2025. For example, United Bible Societies recently brought together 450 worldwide Christian leaders in Philadelphia for their world assembly, which occurs once every six years. American Bible Society members hosted the event during that organisation's 200th year. The assembly included representatives from 147 Bible societies working in more than 200 countries and territories. ‘We saw the Holy Spirit at work in so many ways, especially through patterns of praise, unity, generosity and urgency toward the singular mission and shared vision of the Bible,’ said American Bible Society's managing director of communications. He said that various Bible translation organisations have agreed to form new partnerships, and believes that they will make great strides in the next ten years in translating and distributing at least some portions of scripture to the 1,800 people groups still waiting.
Australia: federal elections and the Church
Australians are asking us to pray with them for justice in the Church. Their election prayer diary for this week says, ‘Let us pray for justice to be manifested in the Church. Let us repent of our prayerlessness for those in government, and for the times we have judged and criticised them, instead of praying. Pray that the Church will be faithful in praying for all members of parliament and their advisors, taking the time to find out the policies and intentions of those in their own constituencies standing for parliament. Ask the Lord to grant His grace and favour to those who would stand up for justice and truth, that they may be elected.’
Israelis encouraged to study the Bible
Israel is currently taking positive steps to teach people God’s Scriptures on a national level. The programme, called ‘929 studying the Bible together’, was launched in December 2014 and will end on Israel’s 70th birthday, 19 April 2018. The daily Bible readings of one chapter per day run from Sunday to Thursday. There are 929 chapters in the Hebrew Bible. 93% of Israelis own a Bible, but only a minority have ever read it. It is expected that one million Jews will participate - studying in schools or educational institutions, or using social media, TV, smart phones, radio and internet, with a variety of commentaries to promote discussion. Hebrew Scriptures follow a different order from English Bibles. On 12 and 13 June (Pentecost in the Hebrew calendar) they will read of the Messiah in Isaiah 52 and 53 (not normally read in annual synagogue readings and remaining largely hidden). See also
