Prayer Focus for Egypt – Sunday, July 3

egyp-MMAP-smEgypt is arguably the intellectual centre of Sunni Islam, and Islamist groups such as The Brotherhood have grown greatly as they push for a more Islamic state. Their slogan (now “illegal”), “Islam is the solution”, will never actually be tested unless they attain power. The stridency and harshness of some of their teachings and actions cause many to question this, yet they are also generous providers of social welfare. Pray that their leaders, their members and those disillusioned with conflict might discover the Light of the World.

Mark 10:32-45

32 They were on their way up to Jerusalem, with Jesus leading the way, and the disciples were astonished, while those who followed were afraid. Again he took the Twelve aside and told them what was going to happen to him. 33 “We are going up to Jerusalem,” he said, “and the Son of Manwill be delivered over to the chief priests and the teachers of the law.They will condemn him to death and will hand him over to the Gentiles,34 who will mock him and spit on him, flog him and kill him. Three days later he will rise.”

35 Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him. “Teacher,” they said, “we want you to do for us whatever we ask.”

36 “What do you want me to do for you?” he asked.

37 They replied, “Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory.”

38 “You don’t know what you are asking,” Jesus said. “Can you drink the cup I drink or be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?”

39 “We can,” they answered.

Jesus said to them, “You will drink the cup I drink and be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with, 40 but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared.”

41 When the ten heard about this, they became indignant with James and John. 42 Jesus called them together and said, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. 43 Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 44 and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. 45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Prayer Focus for Ecuador – Sunday, June 26

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Ecuador, Latin America: Bible translation and distribution. Ecuador was one of the first countries entered by WBT. They were involved in 12 NT translation projects before they were obliged to withdraw. Pray for completion of translation programs in progress. Pray for the effective use of the Bibles and NTs now available; some Ecuadorians still copy the Bible by hand, verse-by-verse. The Bible Society has a pivotal role in promoting and distributing the Scriptures in this nation. For more information, go to www.operationworld.org.

 

Mark 10:13-31

13 People were bringing little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them, but the disciples rebuked them. 14 When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 15 Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” 16 And he took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them and blessed them.

17 As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. “Good teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

18 “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone. 19 You know the commandments: ‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, you shall not defraud, honor your father and mother.’”

20 “Teacher,” he declared, “all these I have kept since I was a boy.”

21 Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

22 At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth.

23 Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!”

24 The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said again, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! 25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”

26 The disciples were even more amazed, and said to each other, “Who then can be saved?”

27 Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.”

28 Then Peter spoke up, “We have left everything to follow you!”

29 “Truly I tell you,” Jesus replied, “no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel 30 will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age: homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields—along with persecutions—and in the age to come eternal life. 31 But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”

Prayer Focus for Dominica – Sunday, June 19

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Dominica, Caribbean: Practicing Catholics have substantially decreased in recent years, indicating a high degree of nominalism. Pray for those who still adhere to Catholicism and those who have disaffiliated themselves, that the Holy Spirit might speak to their hearts about the reality of the gospel. For more information, go to www.operationworld.org.

 

Breaking the First Commandment and Not Realizing It

Mark 10:17-22

17 And as he was setting out on his journey, a man ran up and knelt before him and asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 18 And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. 19 You know the commandments: ‘Do not murder, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother.’” 20 And he said to him, “Teacher, all these I have kept from my youth.” 21 And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” 22 Disheartened by the saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.

Exodus 20:1-17  

1 And God spoke all these words, saying,

“I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.

“You shall have no other gods before me.

“You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments.

“You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain.

 

“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your male servant, or your female servant, or your livestock, or the sojourner who is within your gates. 11 For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day. Therefore, the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.

 

12 “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.

 

13 “You shall not murder.

 

14 “You shall not commit adultery.

 

15 “You shall not steal.

 

16 “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

 

17 “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male servant, or his female servant, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor’s.”

 

 

 

Germans, Americans, and Russians: United in Christ, Working for Peace | July 2016

RUSSIAN AND GERMAN MISSIONARIES COMING TO VIRGINIA JULY 8-JULY 18, 2016

This July, missionaries from the former East Germany and Russia will be making a historic trip to Dumfries, VA to work with members of Crossroads Presbyterian Church for a series of work projects in Prince William County.

Crossroads has partnered with two “sister” churches, a Baptist church in Gera, Germany, and another in Rostov-on- Don, Russia. In all, 28 Germans and 12 Russians will be coming to Northern Virginia from July 8-July 18, 2016, where they will be joined by congregants of Crossroads Church to help renovate and preserve historic cabins in Prince William Forest Park, which celebrates its 80th anniversary as a park, as well as the 100th anniversary of the US National Park System.

Past projects by the three churches include trips to Russia to help build a sanctuary for the Russian church, and to Germany to help renovate the city zoo in Gera, as well as to participate in the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II. This will be the first trip made to the U.S. by the German and Russian groups.

In addition to working in Prince William Forest park, the three teams will assist women in transition at the Women’s Empowerment Center, a facility operated by ACTS (Action in Community Through Service) headquartered in Dumfries. Work will include improving the appearance of the organization’s grounds and building a fence that will help keep women and children safe as they enter the facility. The group will also tour the US Capitol Building, meet Members of Congress and other governmental officials and experience an old-fashioned Virginia farm barbecue.

The goal of this unique partnership is to serve the communities where these churches live, work and play, and to promote understanding between three very different cultures that were once World War II enemies, all while demonstrating the reconciliation that comes through a relationship with Jesus Christ.


Below are highlight videos from the partnership to Germany in 2015.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GAy_1x8s5B8

Prayer Focus for Djibouti – Sunday, June 12

djib-MMAP-smDjibouti, Africa: Pray that contacts lead to disciples for Jesus. Pray for God to send long-term workers, especially from nearby countries and people groups. Pray for unprecedented spiritual breakthroughs, long-awaited but as yet unseen. There is notable interest in Christianity from a small but increasing number of locals. For more information, go to www.operationworld.org.

Laws That Liberate

Laws That Liberate

1 And God spoke all these words, saying,

“I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.

“You shall have no other gods before me.

“You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments.

“You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain.

“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your male servant, or your female servant, or your livestock, or the sojourner who is within your gates. 11 For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day. Therefore, the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.

12 “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.

13 “You shall not murder.

14 “You shall not commit adultery.

15 “You shall not steal.

16 “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

17 “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male servant, or his female servant, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor’s.”

 

Prayer Focus for Denmark – Sunday, June 5

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Denmark, Europe: Denmark retains a core of Christian tradition and values. They are deeply ingrained in Danish social laws and values. Over 80% of the population remain members of the Lutheran Church (despite the fact that over 50% are reported to be agnostic or atheist). Pray that more Danes will rediscover the faith that has shaped so much of the nation’s history and society. For more information, go to www.operationworld.org.