Sri Lanka—No More War (Inside Look into Sri Lanka)
“He will give you the desires of your heart” Psalm 37:4. A friend of IPC reports…“It was in my heart to go to Sri Lanka and China to open the Bible College. Now I know that my desire is a dream for God.” While traveling in Taiwan in February, God told our friend to visit Sri Lanka, the country of his birth. He went to India to open a Bible College and then went on to Colombo, Sri Lanka. War had ended, but foreigners were forbidden. Special permission from the Army Chief was required and would take a week for approval. Most applications are rejected. Our friend prayed for a miracle, and it came! Permission was granted within a day to travel by air and land.
The journey started with a heavy burden (like Nehemiah). The land was beautiful but now is like a graveyard with dry bones. God spoke to our brother… “’The wall is broken…the gates are burnt with fire. You are my Nehemiah. What are you doing? Cry out for your own people…your own city…I have blessed you. Now you bless your people. Don’t forget your land where you were born.’ I was watching through the window of the helicopter, and my heart began to weep because now the land is empty with the cry of innocent children.” Hundreds of children used to be in the Children House of Prayer (CHOP) programme in Jaffna and a few villages, but almost every village was empty. In a small church, 12 children were found praying and worshipping, crying out for mercy on the land, healing of the people, and saving the nation. Our friend visited a refugee camp where 50 children gathered for free tuition—children who had lost both or one parent. Now 400 children are in the support programme of our friend’s ministry.
From Jaffna, he traveled 10 hours observing that nearly all homes he passed had no doors, windows, or roofs. Most had bullet holes on the walls. He stopped in Vanni to worship in a small church with broken walls and an altar filled with bullet holes. People had lost arms and legs. Almost every child had lost someone in his/her family. The two villages used to have 250,000 but now have 20,000. People began to tell their stories; none could keep quiet, crying aloud in anguish and pain.
No media or foreigners are allowed, and there were so many untold stories. “Lord, no more war…we need peace…bless Sri Lanka…children…come out from your empty tombs…our God is alive”—this was our friend’s prayer until he reached Colombo. Having met a pastor and asking if he had any needs, the pastor said, “I had only one old bicycle, and I lost it during the war. If I get one bicycle, I can travel a hundred miles and pray for people and win souls.” Our friend took him to a shop and bought a new bicycle for him. The pastor took our friend’s hand and started blessing him. He said, “This one cycle is enough to bring 1,000 people to Jesus.” When our friend was in Colombo, he prayed with pastors and ministers until 2:30 a.m. … There is now a commitment to raise 2,000 children intercessors in Sri Lanka!
Our brother is now going to China with a burden to build a “Wall of Fire” through children’s prayers. He asks for our prayers. He writes: “It is Time to see the Revival. Let us cry to our Heavenly Father. Please pray that He will raise up an army of children intercessors in Sri Lanka and open Children’s House Of Prayer in every city and rebuild the churches. Pray that these children will be healed by the Father’s Love and have proper food and shelter. Pray that he and others may be able to start and support orphanages that lost their dear ones in the war. “I was hungry, you gave me food; I was thirsty, you gave me to drink; I was naked, you clothed me; I was sick, you looked after me…Whatever you have done to these little ones, you have done to me,” says Jesus. Please pray for his trip to China. As he wrote, “MY DESIRE IS HIS DREAM.”
Global Prayer Connection
For the past couple of years, there has been much discussion among prayer leaders about the use of Internet technology for prayer mobilization. Many ministries want to develop web-based tools that will leverage the broad outreach and interactive communication that Internet technology can provide. Prototypes like Global Prayer Connection www.globalprayerconnection.com have been created, but more collaboration is needed to further explore possibilities.
Global Prayer Connection was first commissioned by IPC in partnership with two technology companies, Simon Solutions and Liquidus Tech. The purpose for developing this prototype was to help intercessors catch a glimpse of the capabilities of Internet technology for local, national, and global prayer mobilization. Our overall purpose is to bring together experts in Internet technology, mobile communications, and prayer strategies with the goal of developing a sophisticated prayer networking tool that will help intercessors connect and mobilize for targeted intercession in real-time.
We already have in place web developers who are experts in hardware/software design and Internet security. These experts have the capability of building whatever is needed. We also have a small group of prayer leaders who want to see this project become a reality. What we are lacking is the proper amount of resources to build and maintain the global network, which intercessors around the world could use free of charge. For several months we have also been part of conference calls orchestrated by Phil Miglioratti of Mission America. Representatives from different technology companies have been discussing the challenges associated with developing prayer networking tools. We all agree that our greatest challenge is not technology development, but consensus among prayer leaders as to how technology can benefit all prayer ministries. If all things could come together in a timely fashion, a powerful global prayer network with the following features could be up and running in a matter of months:
• Keeps intercessors well-connected, informed, and engaged in a safe and secure environment.
• Enables intercessors with like-passions to easily connect in small groups and work together.
• Makes it easy to orchestrate 24/7 prayer and mobilize intercessors for specific assignments.
• Instantly send private messages and broadcast prayer bulletins to large groups.
Now is the time for prayer leaders and ministries to come together and discover new ways to partner together. The reality of millions of intercessors united in global intercession in real-time can happen if people are willing to work together. For more information on how to get involved or to contribute financially, please contact Mike Simon This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
'No place' in the law for Christianity, High Court rules
There is no place in British law for Christian beliefs, despite this country’s long history of religious observance and the traditions of the established Church, two High Court judges said on Monday. Lord Justice Munby and Mr Justice Beatson made the remarks when ruling on the case of a Christian couple who were told that they could not be foster carers because of their view that homosexuality is wrong. The judges underlined that, in the case of fostering arrangements at least, the right of homosexuals to equality ‘should take precedence’ over the right of Christians to manifest their beliefs and moral values. Eunice and Owen Johns went to court after a social worker expressed concerns when they said they could not tell a child a ‘homosexual lifestyle’ was acceptable. They asked judges to rule that their faith should not be a bar to them becoming carers, and that the law should protect their Christian values. The Johns said ‘the judges have suggested that our views might harm children’. Pray: for the Johns and all those who have to defend their faith's beliefs in an increasingly secular society. (Lk.21:13-15)
Archbishop tells MPs: ‘Govt should not dictate to us’
The Church of England will not permit its buildings to be used for same-sex civil partnerships, according to the Archbishop of Canterbury. And it will not allow itself to be dictated to by the Government. Dr Rowan Williams made the comments at a recent private meeting with influential MPs. His remarks come following the Coalition Government’s controversial plans to allow religious buildings to be used to conduct civil partnership ceremonies. Dr Williams told the MPs that the Church held a clear position that marriage is between a man and a woman and would not consider changing this stance. (See Prayer Alert 08-2011) Pray: for the Holy Spirit to give all believers a greater boldness to stand up for our faith. (Ac.4:29)
