27.

Nepal (1)
The earthquakes on 25th April and 12th May
have had a devastating effect on Nepal. About
8,800 people died in collapsed buildings,
landslides and avalanches. Nearly 22,000
people have been injured. It is estimated that
over 800,000 people have been affected and
130,000 homes destroyed, with some villages in
remote areas being completely flattened.
Behind each of these statistics are individuals
and families whose lives have been shattered.
Please pray for comfort for those who are
grieving. Pray for those who have been injured
and lost mobility - they may now find it hard to
support their families. Pray that the relief
supplies will reach the remotest areas, where
they are still needed. Pray too for the provision
of supplies to rebuild homes. (INF)
28. India
A listener to Tamil language radio programmes
broadcast from Australia wrote: One day I was
tuning into the radio, when suddenly I heard a
Tamil programme, and was happy. We are 15
blind people who listen to your programme
regularly. The reception is very clear, and we
like your songs and sermons. We cant watch
television programmes; we depend only on
programmes like yours. Please come to
Pondicherry to our church and share the Word
of God in our church as well. Pray that radio
broadcasts into India will bear fruit for Gods
Kingdom. (Reach Beyond)
29. The Chalou
The Chalou are a people group in Afghanistan
that has traditionally been greatly despised.
They are often even thrown out of the mosques.
When aid is being distributed they are mostly
overlooked. Our partners were recently able to
provide food for six hundred Chalou families
living in complete poverty in a camp in Kabul.
They would love to have more opportunities to

help so pray please for open doors to return to

the Chalou. Ask for protection on His people.
Pray for the poor, the despised and
downtrodden. (AsiaLink)
30. Azerbaijan
It is thought there are just 10,000 ethnic Azeri
Christians. Azeri culture is Islamic, and
Christianity is associated with Azerbaijan's
hated enemy Armenia; those who convert to
Christianity are considered traitors. Churches
must be registered, but none have been able to
do so since January 2010. Churches face raids,
threats, arrests and fines. Official checks are
becoming increasingly strict, and the
government appears to be tightening its grip on
religious groups. It is illegal to hold religious
meetings in private homes, but almost
impossible to build church buildings. Pray that
Christians will be able to meet together safely.
With many Christians struggling to find and
keep jobs due to discrimination, ask God to
provide for them. Finally, praise God that the
number of indigenous believers continues to
grow. Ask God to help new believers to grow in
their faith. (Open Doors)
31. Nepal (2)
Radio is more important than ever in remote
Nepali communities since the recent
earthquakes. A radio is a communication lifeline
for a host of things people need to know - when
and where supplies are arriving, medical clinics,
weather forecasts, road information, health and
water safety updates plus news from other
districts. Radio also provides important human
connections to help people deal with stress,
loss, and depression in the wake of the
disaster. Pray as local Christian radio stations
are rebuilt and continue to serve their local
communities. (Reach Beyond)

July - August 2015

I shall lack nothing...

Does some scripture become so familiar that
we lose its transformative message for our day
to day lives? Consider Psalm 23. Its been
sung, prayed through, had thousands of
sermons preached about it, artists illustrate it,
worship leaders extol it...
What if you had never read it? Imagine being a
new follower of Christ and had never been in a
place where Scripture was read. Actually doing
so might lead to a life time of punishment, cruel
labour and perhaps death. In North Korea any
who follow Jesus often have just a segment of
scripture, or a creed or prayer but not the
extravagance of Christian books and the Word
of God we have.
The Lord is my Shepherd I shall lack nothing,
he makes me lie down in green pastures. In
our crowded possession-filled world lacking
anything is a difficult concept and
understanding ultimate contentment in the
relationship with a Shepherd King is not always
top of our western beliefs. But for a North
Korean they understand a life of emptiness yet
filled with propaganda to worship a manmade
deity. New believers can see the richness of
what David is singing through this Psalm. One
in which the Shepherd never abandons, always
provides, not necessarily through the physical,
but more through the intimacy of a relationship

in which he truly guides through both the quiet

waters and the darkest valley.
You prepare a table before me in the presence
of my enemies. See that extravagant picture as
the North Koreans see it. A table with healthy life
-giving food is what millions would have
dreamed of through the years of preventable
famine. Even today, their nutritional intake is so
lacking that those who escape and move to
South Korean routinely have dentures fitted as a
consequence of prolonged malnutrition. A
banquet for them is simply one where they share
hospitality freely, eat food with rich flavours and
nutritional value and in the presence of my
enemies according to the Psalm. Here we learn
that their enemy is subdued, powerless in the
presence of the Shepherd. The dark valley is
behind them, justice is restored, pain and
suffering is over and they dwell in the house of
the Lord for ever.
Do pray for North Korea and those defectors
living outside the country who will be reflecting
on Psalm 23 in a special discipleship school in
Seoul this summer.
Emma Dipper
Release International

22. Japan
Many Japanese Christians are the only believer
in their family. Non-Christian husbands often
have no time at all to be able to interact with
Christians or go to church. Parents are often
strongly opposed to their children becoming
non-Japanese (Christians) and fear for their
own well-being after death if their offspring
wont take care of their deceased spirits. Ask
God to break down these barriers to the gospel
within the family environment. Pray for
strengthening and patience for lone believers to
stay close to God. Pray for Gods protection on
Christian families to stay strong, united and able
to resist temptations and attacks that would
seek to undermine or divide the family. Pray for
significant growth of Gods family, the Church,
to occur through the salvation of earthly family
members. (Japan Christian Link)
23. Australia
The Yolgnu people of Arnhem Land, Northern
Australia, are recovering from two cyclones that
hit the area within six weeks of each other
earlier this year. Cyclone Lam and Nathan
uprooted trees and destroyed homes and
buildings in the homelands of Milingimbi,
Ramingining, and Elcho Island. Pray for the
clean-up operation that is now under way, that
life will soon get back to normal for those
affected and for a special touch on those
suffering stress and mental trauma from the two
storms. (MAF UK)
24. Vietnam

Vol 60 No 4

Editor: Paul Tuckwell

The annual cost including postage for copies sent to the same address:
One copy per issue
5.00 UK only
8.00 Europe
All subscriptions should be addressed to:
Global Connections, Caswell Road, Leamington Spa, CV31 1QD
Telephone: 01926 487755
Email: info@globalconnections.org.uk
Registered in England & Wales as Evangelical Mission Association.
Company number 3886596. Charity number 1081966

Hon. Editor: Martin Lee

12.00 Rest of world

Vietnam is one of the few remaining Communist

countries, but change is taking place. As a
result of the expanding private economy, many
Communist leaders have become rich, leading
to an ideological crisis. In an attempt to
maintain control, the regime operates harshly
against deviant thought, including Christianity,
which is still seen as a foreign influence and

highly suspicious. All religious groups must be

registered and abide by strict rules, so many
house churches are forced to meet in secret.
Pray for protection for these secret churches
and wisdom for their leaders. Two thirds of
Vietnamese Christians are from tribal
backgrounds. Pray for them as they face
pressure from their families and communities to
return to traditional faiths. (Open Doors)
25. Indonesia
Praise God that the Hupla people of the Soba
valley, Indonesia, now have a complete Bible
translation in their own language. Nearly 3,000
community members celebrated together as
5,000 copies of the new translation were flown
in to the remote mountain community. Thank
God for the Hupla people and for those who
assisted in the translation. Pray that the word
would bear fruit and that lives would be
changed and set free through it. (MAF UK)
26. China
A government demolition programme targeting
churches continues apace in coastal Zhejiang
province, with the destruction in June of a new
megachurch. Yanxia Church, a staterecognised church in Wenling city, was pulled
down, soon after its completion, apparently to
make way for a new road. Church leaders had
reportedly agreed a compensation deal with
officials, although reports suggest they were
pressured into an agreement. At least 425
churches are known to have been affected by
the local governments ongoing Three
Rectifications and One Demolition campaign.
Please pray for an end to the local government
campaign targeting churches in Zhejiang. Pray
that congregations in this province and across
China, including Guizhou will be like a town
built on a hill, whose light cannot be hidden
(Matthew 5:14). (Release International)

17. Colombia
Karla Contreras is a 20 year-old student at the
seminary where CMS mission associate
Christopher Hays teaches. She says, I came to
the seminary to get trained in theology so that I
can teach the Bible in a responsible manner.
Right now, in addition to my studies, I am
working in Young Life, an organisation that
reaches out to youth and has a vision of
presenting Jesus in a engaging way, as well as
by means of developing sincere friendships. Its
work that Im really passionate about! Since I
have been here at the seminary I have realised
that my heart feels pulled towards urban
missions. So, when I finish my studies, I hope to
keep working with Young Life for the expansion
of the Kingdom of God, in order to fulfill the
calling that God has on my life. Pray for her
and all such students in Colombia. (CMS)
18. The Quechua
The Quechua people are a marginalised people
group who live in the Andes. Because of their
strong traditions, some Quechua beliefs and
practices can unhelpfully pass into the live of
new believers. One such belief is that people
can get ill because they had a scare (and as a
result, their spirit departs from their body), or
because they were attacked by a malevolent
spirit-wind. Pray for ATEK, an organisation
promoting the use of Scriptures in the Quechua
language, as it develops discipleship materials
to help believers develop a Biblically-shaped
worldview. (Latin Link)
19. Bolivia
The town of Huanuni is home to Bolivias
largest tin mine. Health problems are common
and the miners seek protection by making
offerings to a statue of the devil before they
enter the mine. Unin Cristiana Evanglica
(UCE) runs a church in Huanuni, and its
members have a vision to bring health and

hope to their town. Volunteers from Belania

Church started by running a radio station for 15
hours a day to broadcast positive messages to
the community. Now, the congregation is
making plans to protect the towns young
people from the drugs and heavy drinking that
many turn to. They also want to tackle the
pollution problem, beginning by collecting the
rubbish that litters the streets and clogs the
river. Give thanks for UCEs determination to
see a brighter, healthier future for the people of
Huanuni, and pray that God would bring this to
fruition. (Tearfund)
20. Mexico
Drug cartels and other criminal organisations
target Christians because they view churches
as revenue centres and because churches
support programmes for the rehabilitation of
drug addicts and alcoholics. Christians who
refuse to pay the cartels have had to close their
churches or face attacks - some have even
been killed. Pray for healing and courage for
Christians and church leaders who have
experienced intense violence. (Open Doors)
21. Paraguay
Give thanks that the stage of cleaning up the
translated text of the Enxet Bible is now
complete. This has been a fantastic project to
work on in which the translators have
experienced Gods blessing, his provision and
faithfulness over the years. There has been a
tremendous amount of effort which has gone
into this project since it began in 2003: the
building of the translation office in Rio Verde in
2002 and the training of translators Asuncin
Rojas, Martn Rojas and Juan Martnez in Peru
between 2005 and 2007. Pray for all the
necessary arrangements and funding for
publication, in partnership with The Paraguayan
Bible Society. (CMS)

1. Lebanon
As the Syrian war enters its fifth year, with no
sign of an end to the suffering, the United
Nations High Commissioner for Refugees has
called it the biggest humanitarian emergency of
our era. At least 1.2 million displaced Syrians
have taken refuge in Lebanon, where the
effects of the crisis ripple through the fabric of
society. As well as providing emergency
humanitarian aid, Embraces Lebanese partners
are responding to the challenges of rising
poverty, tensions between communities and an
economy at breaking point. Please pray for
them as they continue to respond in the love of
Christ. (Embrace ME)
2. Tunisia
How would you like to die? Surrounded by
family as you peacefully drift away or inching
slowly to the end of your life in unspeakable
pain? Sadly, this last option is what lies ahead
for many with terminal illnesses in Tunisia. By
sharing her knowledge in palliative care, BMS
teacher and nurse Mary and her team of
trainers are helping terminally ill Tunisians to
die with dignity and free from pain. As well as
providing training for a range of medical
professionals, the team also holds awareness
days, where members of the community can
learn more about terminal illness and how
things like diet, pain and sleep can be
managed. Pray for this ongoing ministry. (BMS)
3. Egypt
The devastating practice of female genital
mutilation (FGM) is widespread in Egypt. The
practice frequently leaves girls and women
traumatised and suffering from a range of
physical difficulties, and can even lead to death.
Staff from a Tearfund partner in Egypt are
working hard to educate people about the
dangers of FGM and to empower them to make
healthier choices. They are running awareness-

raising workshops, training counsellors to work

with sexual abuse survivors, and advocating
decision-makers for positive change. Ask God
to pour out his comfort and healing on all those
who are still experiencing the painful effects of
FGM. Pray that governments and communities
around the world will come to see FGM as a
violation of human rights, and that the practice
will soon be stopped. (Tearfund)
4. Iraq
As a Yazidi, 21-year-old Araz* had to flee her
village to escape IS. We just ran, we were so
afraid. Some women left their babies, as they
couldnt carry them. They killed our men, took
our children, everything, she says. Tearfund is
helping Yazidi families by giving them money
for basic needs but with so many people
displaced and no end in sight to their suffering,
the need is great. Pray for Gods blessing and
protection over the work of those sharing his
love practically among Yazidi communities and
please pray for real and permanent peace in the
Middle East. *Name changed (Tearfund)
5. Israel and the Palestinian Territories
Church leaders say many Christians in Israel
and the Palestinian Territories now feel unsafe,
after recently being the target of attacks and
inflammatory speeches. An imam at the AlAqsa mosque in East Jerusalem recently
posted a video on the Internet urging Muslims
to be in a constant state of war against the
polytheist enemy, namely Christians, and also
against Jews. In May, a mob attacked property
in the Christian Quarter of Jerusalem, following
a row between a Christian and a Muslim.
Pray for our Christian brothers and sisters in
Israel and the Palestinian Territories to be salt
and light in their communities. Pray too that
moderate Muslims and Christians will unite to
stand against extremism in all its forms and
promote religious tolerance. (Release Int.)

6. Albania
Mat and Suzanne Gregory volunteer at a club
for the Roma children on the outskirts of Tirana.
The kids come to this club with a huge amount
of baggage, says Mat, sometimes literally as
they carry their younger siblings around. These
children are part of a long history of
marginalisation and discrimination. Roma
people have often been refused work, an equal
chance at education and been paid below a
liveable wage. Thankfully, there are church
communities around Europe who have
dedicated their time to helping the Roma
people. Christians are called to stand alongside
the poorest of the poor, those living on the
margins. Please pray for Mat and Suzanne and
others seeking to show Gods love to Roma
communities. (BMS World Mission)
7. United Kingdom
Pamela Sikahall is a Guatemalan working with
Latin Link in Norwich, serving among the large
student population there. She says: I have
started a home group for international students
every Thursday. We have been meeting for
seven weeks. We have at least six nationalities
represented and most are not Christians. It has
been special to build friendships and get to
know them. Pray for friendships based on Gods
love, for salvation and commitment, and that
these young people come to know
Jesus. (Latin Link)
8. The Mediterranean
In April, a boat carrying over 700 refugees sank
off the coast of Italy. This brought the total for
lives lost this year in such incidents to over
1,600 and it can be assumed that many more
will have been lost, whose vessels were never
observed. These desperate people leave from
Libya and Tunisia, often having first travelled
overland from Algeria and nations further
inland. They aim for Italy and Malta, desiring a

life free of hunger, war, and persecution. Pray

for patrol and rescue vessels to locate these
inadequate and overcrowded boats before the
worst happens. Pray too for the countries
receiving the refugees, which are feeling the
strain on resources. Pray for a witness there,
but also for the refugees homelands, that their
communities would prosper in peace, freedom,
resources, and the Word of God. (YWAM)
9. Media for minority languages
During April, a four-day conference in the
Netherlands brought together 380 workers, from
130 organisations, who produce resources to
spread the gospel in minority languages
throughout Eurasia. Praise God for a valuable
time for learning from one another. Pray for
those who are reaching out to minority groups
in Eurasia, for wisdom in how to use what has
been learnt to further maximise media for
building Gods kingdom. (OM)
10. Kosovo
Drita*, a newly committed Kosovar follower of
Christ, had been searching for a week for
important documents. She was desperate replacing them was not an option. Her heart
heavy with anxiety, Drita asked God for help. At
last she fell asleep. In a dream, a voice told her
that the papers were in a plastic bag in a
particular place in the bedroom. When
Drita woke up the electricity was out so she lit a
candle to search in the bedroom. But she had
no memory of putting them in a plastic bag.
Gathering her resolve, Drita looked in the spot
that the voice had directed her. There was the
plastic bag, and in it she found the documents.
Later, as she was talking with her friend
Carmen*, an OMer who is discipling her, Drita
asked who had been talking to her in the
dream. Carmen assured her that it was God:
You prayed, and He answered you because
He cares about you. *Names changed (BMS)

11. Ethiopia

14. Tanzania

Give thanks for the renewed energy in the

Ethiopian Ministry of Health to tackle leprosy,
following the recent publication of a health
report mapping cases across the country.
NGOs, including TLM, are working with the
Ministry of Health to intensify leprosy control in
the disease hotspots that the survey identified.
TLM partners with a Christian community
organisation, Life in Abundance, which works in
some of the shanty towns surrounding Ethiopia.
Give thanks for the amazing work the
organisations social workers are doing, by
making house-to-house visits to people affected
by leprosy, to give health education and to
provide livelihood support. Please pray for the
TLM team in Ethiopia: Tanny (Acting Country
Director), Wogene (Programmes Officer) and
Berihun (Administrator), as the office is in the
midst of staff changes. (TLM)

The Rufiji delta in Tanzania is nearly 370 miles

long and has the largest mangrove forest in
East Africa. Many of the villages are located on
islands only reachable by boat or plane. Pray
for the inhabitants of these remote villages
which are vulnerable to flood and have only
limited access to healthcare and other essential
services. (MAF UK)

12. Kenya (1)

The Borana and Rendille peoples of Northern
Kenya have been trapped in conflict for
decades. But efforts to bring peace have started
to bear fruit. Having borrowed animals from the
new Community Livestock Bank, impoverished
young widows on both sides repay the loan by
giving away the first female calf born to women
from the other tribe. Pray for healing and
restoration as these women who have lost
husbands to tribal conflict are brought together
and that the seeds of peace will be sown for
future generations to live side by side. (MAF UK)
13. Lesotho
Please pray that God would work in the hearts
and minds of the shepherds of Lesotho. Pray
that the team working amongst them develop
good friendships with shepherds who will then
receive the gospel. Pray that shepherds will
know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour
and live lives obedient to him. (AIM)

15. Kenya (2)

Many people in Kenya find themselves in prison
through no fault of their own and spend years
awaiting trial, unaware of the charge against
them. There is little provision for legal
representation, especially if you have no means
to pay. Some like George* have spent 4 years
awaiting trial, unsure of when there will be any
change. Through regular workshops designed
and run by CLEAR Kenya, and supported LCF,
a number of these individuals are now being
equipped to represent themselves, understand
the court process, and, using role play, gain
confidence in asking questions and responding
to the judge. Please give thanks for continued
access to the prisons, and for the success in
seeking justice. Please pray for opportunities to
share the gospel, as CLEAR Kenya equips
individuals like George and restores hope.
*Name changed (Lawyers Christian Fellowship)
16. The Mandinka
The Mandinka people, numbering around 1.3
million, are found particularly in Senegal, The
Gambia and Guinea-Bissau. In The Gambia
they make up over 40% of the total population.
A couple of years ago the whole Bible was
published in Mandinka. The Jesus film has also
been dubbed into Mandinka. Many have prayed
for the Mandinka people. But there are still very
few believers. Persevering prayer for the
Mandinka people to accept Jesus as Lord is the
need of the hour. (WEC International)