PRAYER GUIDE
Local Focus
GIBC
Pray that God would use our efforts in children’s ministry to lay a foundation of faith for our children. Thank God for the many who invest in discipling kids and families. Pray for the many adult and youth volunteers who help to lead. Pray that kids will grow each week as they focus on learning about the Bible, how to pray, and what the gospel is and how to share it. Pray that as they continue in school they will focus well and honor God as students. Pray that God would lead more people to serve in our children’s ministry.
Community
Pray for our sister church, Bay Street Baptist. Pray for pastor Luke Racykowski and the staff. Pray for the members, especially those volunteering in key roles. Pray that they would have a great impact on reaching the community for Christ. Pray that God would grow their fervor for telling others about Jesus, reading the Word, and prayer.
USA
Pray for newly elected President Donald Trump and his cabinet and staff. Pray that those who are not saved would clearly hear the gospel, be drawn by God to Him, and repent and confess Christ as Savior and Lord. Pray that God would grant them wisdom as they lead and make choices that are best for our country and human flourishing. Pray that God would raise up believers around them to be a strong voice for biblical morality. Pray that his inauguration on Jan. 20 would be free from incident and a moment of unity for our country. Pray for all the work that is being down to implement policies and orders in his first week in office.
North America:
St. Louis
Upon arrival in St. Louis, Missouri, it’s hard to miss the Gateway Arch. At 630 feet tall and 630 feet wide, it is made of more than 886 tons of stainless steel. As far as monuments go, the first impression is strikingly simple—no bright colors or flashy signs; however, underneath it is an intricate ode to engineering brilliance. This monument is a perfect metaphor for the city itself; on the surface, it seems like a run-of-the-mill Midwestern region yet a closer look reveals a complex makeup with a diverse population.
With 79 neighborhoods, each having their own distinctive styles and personalities, St. Louis exemplifies America’s melting pot personality. The 2.7 million residents of metropolitan St. Louis speak at least 110 different languages, and there are more than 70,000 Bosnians living in the metro area, the largest population of Bosnians in the United States.
For generations, this “Gateway City” was known as America’s gateway to the West. Today, for Southern Baptists and other evangelicals, it is a gateway to reaching the world. But as is true in most large American cities and their surrounding suburbs, evangelicals have not been able to start churches to match the city’s great diversity. Catholicism has deep roots here, established by European immigrants. But more than 50 percent of residents aren’t affiliated with any religious group, Christian or otherwise. Less than 18 percent of metropolitan St. Louis residents are affiliated with an evangelical church.
Though some of the oldest Southern Baptist churches in the city have been around for two centuries, there is still only one Southern Baptist church for every 7,760 people in metropolitan St. Louis. Followers of Jesus Christ hope a church planting boom in the Gateway City will transform St. Louis in a new and fresh way.
“With changed people comes changed communities, with changed communities comes changed neighborhoods, with a changed neighborhood comes a changed city,” said St. Louis church planter Kenny Petty.
Today, church planters, pastors and partners have the opportunity to help start new churches in the Gateway City. The goal is to plant at least 75 new churches in the city in the next five years, each one with a strategic vision that creatively builds community and meets the needs of people living in specific neighborhoods.
Pray for Send City Missionary: Michael Byrd
Every Country:
Ethiopia
Population: 129,719,719
People Groups: 129
Christian Population: 60.7%
As the oldest independent nation in Africa and one of the oldest in the world, Ethiopia has developed a rich and distinct cultural heritage. Unlike many African nations, Ethiopia has never been colonized, though it was briefly occupied by Italy. Known as Abyssinia until the 20th century, the nation was ruled by an age-old monarchy. Landlocked since Eritrea became independent in 1993, Ethiopia also shares borders with Somalia, Kenya, Sudan, and Djibouti in eastern Africa. Ethiopian coffee, enjoyed throughout the world, is the nation’s main export.
Agriculture has been the foundation of the Ethiopian economy for centuries, but years of over-cultivation and unreliable weather caused frequent droughts, famines, and eventually civil unrest. As a result, a Marxist junta overthrew the long running monarchy in 1974. Many of the same problems brought an end to the junta in 1991 and led to the establishment of a democratic government. Though now considered one of Africa’s most stable nations, the previous troubled years have also left Ethiopia one of the poorest. Many of its people are starving, and two-thirds are illiterate. The government has recognized the need for economic changes, has implemented improved agricultural practices, and is accepting food aid, which has helped reduce the number of those starving.
Christianity has a long history in Ethiopia. Since its introduction in the fourth century and the establishment of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church in 1270, Christianity has been a part of everyday life in Ethiopia. Persecution during the Marxist junta was severe but brought many to Christ. Evangelicals increased significantly and are still active in ministry under the current freedoms. Approximately sixty percent of Ethiopians consider themselves Christians. Frequently existing in peace among the Christians is a strong Muslim influence (34%), but some Islamic groups are threatening that fragile peace. Christian churches in Ethiopia have recognized the need to work together to strengthen believers and to find ways to minister to the poor.
- Pray for supporting nations to be wise in their programs and not cause diminished work ethic among Ethiopians.
- Pray for a resurgence of the deep Christian beliefs held by this nation from the earliest Church history.
- Pray for militant Muslims to know the truth of Jesus Christ and to stop persecuting believers.
Information gathered from PrayerCast.com and Operation World.org
Unreached Peoples:
Afar in Ethiopia
Population: 2,209,000
Worldwide: 2,850,000
Christian Population: 0.90%
Main Religion: Islam
The Afar (Danakil) claim to be descendants of Ham (Noah’s son). They are located in the East African countries of Djibouti, Ethiopia, and Eritrea. They prefer to be known as the Afar, since the Arabic word “danakil” is an offensive term to them. They are a proud people, emphasizing a man’s strength and bravery. Prestige comes from killing one’s enemies.
The Afar consist of two subgroups: the Asaemara (“red ones”), who are the more prestigious and powerful nobles living primarily in the area of Assayita; and the Adaemara (“white ones”), who are the commoners living in the desert areas. Those who live in the desert inhabit one of the most rugged regions in the world, known as the Afar Plain or the Danakil Desert. One area, called the Danakil Depression, consists of a vast plain of salt pans and active volcanoes. Much of it lies 200 feet below sea level and has daily temperatures as high as 125 degrees F. The average yearly rainfall is less than seven inches.
Most of the Afar are nomads who herd sheep, goats, cattle, and camels. A man’s wealth is measured by the size of his herds.
Not all of the Afar are herdsmen. Many of those who work in the Danakil Depression pry loose slabs of solid salt during the dry season, supplying ready-to-use salt in the form of crude blocks. Some of them live in apartment buildings in the country’s capitol city, Addis Ababa. They remain there year round and work in government jobs such as the Afar broadcasts of the Ethiopian radio station.
Although some Muslims are permitted to have four wives, Afar marriages are usually monogamous. Girls may marry as early as age ten. Marriages between first cousins are preferred, particularly between a man and his father’s sister’s daughter. The night of the full moon is favored for a wedding ceremony, and the presence of someone able to read the Koran is required.
Meat and milk are the major components of the Afar diet. Milk is also an important social “offering”. For instance, when a guest is given fresh warm milk to drink, the host is implying that he will provide immediate protection for the guest. If a person is killed while under the protection of an Afar, his death must be avenged as if he were a member of the clan.
The Afar live in camps surrounded by thorn barricades, which protect them from the attacks of wild animals or enemy tribesmen. Their oval-shaped huts, called ari, are made of palm mats and are easily moved.
Early in their history, the Afar were heavily influenced by the Islamic religion; and today, Islam is still held in great esteem. The people do not eat pork and rarely drink alcohol. Those who can afford to do so, make a pilgrimage to Mecca. In addition, many pre-Islamic beliefs and customs are also prevalent among the Afar. They believe that certain trees and groves have sacred powers. They also have various religious rites such as anointing their bodies with ghee (a type of butter). Spirits of the dead are believed to be very powerful, and a “feast of the dead”, called Rabena, is celebrated each year. They also give annual offerings to the sea to ensure safety for their villages. Many people wear protective leather amulets that contain herbs and verses from the Koran.
Because the Afar are a proud, independent people, they have had a very turbulent history. In recent times, the government has built houses with kitchens and bathrooms – luxuries previously unknown to these nomads.
Only one large river, the Awash, flows through the Danakil Desert. However, it dwindles into a series of lakes before ever reaching the sea. Consequently, there is a great need for pure water sources for the Danakil and their herds. In recent years, they have suffered because of famines and drought.
- Ask the Lord of the harvest to send forth long-term Christian laborers into Ethiopia.
- Ask God to anoint the Gospel as it goes forth via radio to this tribe.
- Pray that additional evangelistic tools will be made available to the Afar.
- Ask God to provide pure water sources for the Afar and their herds living in the Danakil Desert.
- Ask the Lord to raise prayer teams who will begin breaking up the soil through worship and intercession.
- Ask the Lord to bring forth a strong Afar church for the glory of His name!
Information gathered from JoshuaProject.net