It was an interesting title for a conference, especially when most of the conferences these days are related to mega-churches.  This one was named the “Ordinary Pastor’s Conference” and sponsored by my home church, Wedgwood Baptist Church in Fort Worth, TX.  The stated purpose was, “to encourage, instruct and bless the ordinary, average, vanilla flavored, mega-nuthin pastor and his wife.” The instruction was given early in the day that the one thing that was illegal was to ask another…

Religious Liberty Prayer Bulletin | RLPB 183 | Wed 31 Oct 2012



by Elizabeth Kendal



WELCOME to the intercessors who have joined the list this month.



OCTOBER 2012 UPDATE - During October we prayed concerning . . .



* INDIA (RLPB 179) where unrestrained Hindu nationalism results in unrelenting persecution.



* PHILIPPINES (RLPB 180) where the government has signed a 'framework agreement' with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF)…

INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER (IDOP) FOR THE PERSECUTED CHURCH

(4 or 11 November)

by Elizabeth Kendal



There is no such thing as a persecution-free day. Consequently, not a single day goes by when persecuted believers are not in need of advocacy in the courts of the Lord. And so we pray as the Apostle Paul exhorted: 'without ceasing' (1 Thessalonians 5:17). However, International Day of Prayer (IDOP) for the Persecuted Church provides an…

The REAL Decision America Faces This Election

     I recently preached on “The 3 Success Secrets of a Scoundrel,” and you can hear the entire message at http://bit.ly/QMSzoF. The message was based on the life of Jacob, a man who ended up highly favored by God, though he was quite a schemer…

I lead a small prayer group from our church. Each week we focus on different aspects of prayer. This week we searched scripture to discover what Jesus had to say about prayer. 

Since He was in complete agreement with God's will, Jesus knew exactly what to pray and He left us some examples of perfect prayers.

As born-again believers, we have God's Holy Spirit to guide us and we need to invite His Spirit to lead us in our prayers. 

We also need to…

"The next morning Jesus awoke long before daybreak and went out alone into the wilderness to pray."  (Mark 1:35)  I've always loved Mark 1:35.  It motivates me to seek God early in the morning.  But I never fully appreciated it until I examined the phrase: "the next morning."

So what happened the day before?  The context is the key to this text.  Jesus had a long day the day before. He preached a sermon.  He cast out a demon.  And he healed a multitude of people.  As a…

Religious Liberty Prayer Bulletin | RLPB 182 | Wed 24 Oct 2012



TANZANIA: CHRISTIANS THREATENED BY ISLAMISATION



by Elizabeth Kendal



Tanzania's population is 31 percent Muslim and 54 percent Christian, although church attendance is only about eight percent (Operation World 7th Edition). According to the Catholic Bishop of Kondoa Diocese, Bernadin Mfumbusa, Islamisation is advancing. Since the mid-1980s, itinerant preachers from Saudi Arabia and the Sudan…

INTERNATIONAL PRAYER CONNECTIONS

October 2012

“Globalizing Prayer, Transforming our World”

IN THIS EDITION

INTERNATIONAL PRAYER CONNECTIONS

October 2012

“Globalizing Prayer, Transforming our…

by Jim Buchan

I’ve been haunted lately by an old quote attributed to John Wesley, the famed English preacher and founder of Methodism:

“Give me one hundred men who fear nothing but sin and desire nothing but God, and I care not whether they be clergymen or laymen; such alone will shake the gates of hell and set up the kingdom of heaven upon the earth.”

My angst over this quote…

                                            (Insert child’s name)

 Dear Heavenly Father, I pray ______________will not be concerned about the outward beauty that depends on fancy hairstyles, expensive jewelry, or beautiful clothes. But that she will clothe herself with the beauty of a teachable, gentle spirit, displaying pure, and godly behavior, for this is precious in Your sight.

 I pray ________ will have a balanced view of beauty…

Next year’s Seek God for the City came off press last week. That is earlier than ever before. Here’s why: The WayMakers team thought it would be important to have it in the hands of leaders before the election in order to encourage God’s people to be ready to pray together next year with solid biblical hope.

I’m sure you are praying now along with millions of…

Religious Liberty Prayer Bulletin | RLPB 181 | Wed 17 Oct 2012



PAPUA (formerly Irian Jaya), EASTERN INDONESIA: SWEEPING WAMENA

 

by Elizabeth Kendal



The Dutch first brought the gospel to Dutch (West) New Guinea, along with health care and education, gradually transforming the coastal towns. When Mission Aviation Fellowship USA (MAF USA) arrived in the mid-1900s, the previously inaccessible interior was opened to pioneer missionaries, several of whom lost…

Psalm 36:8

Introduction: In Psalm 36 David gives equal time to good and bad people.  In verses 1-4 and 11, 12 He tells us about those who do evil and what they face.  In verses 5-10 He gives us an incredible list of God’s magnificent love for His own.  Today the focus is on the second half of verse 8: “And You give them to drink of the river of Your delights.”  NASB

When I first read this, my mind wandered to the wicked witch in the Lion, Witch and the Wardrobe. …

A friend recently told me a story about renovations being done to the upstairs of an elderly woman’s house. The reconstruction project had proven more costly than expected, resulting in considerable friction among her children, who presumably will inherit the house and their mother’s remaining assets someday.

This was a casual conversation about a very real situation. But it contained significant prophetic lessons for the state of the church in America.

As the…

"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full" John 10:10

Most people said that a blessing life means if they have money , living at…

Religious Liberty Prayer Bulletin | RLPB 180 | Wed 10 Oct 2012



PHILIPPINES: RELIGIOUS LIBERTY IN BANGSAMORO

plus UPDATES on Iran and Saudi Arabia



by Elizabeth Kendal



On Sunday 7 October the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) agreed to a 'framework agreement' with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). This framework is not a 'peace deal' inasmuch as it is an agreed commencement from which the two parties will work towards a…

Note: This is for my friends (many) who are in the midst of some of the most horrific events at the hands of “God’s” people.  To you I send you the love of the Father and the peace that passes understanding.

Introduction: Today in the middle of my devotions, The Father led me to pray for some friends.  It was not a subtle request.  It was a swamping of urgency.  For several minutes nothing was visible but their pain.  Even now more than an hour later the residue lingers in the tears…