revival prayer bulletin april/may 2012

8/2/2019 Revival Prayer Bulletin April/May 2012

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311 April - May 2012

Day 27

Teenagers Want

Greater Church Role

God Builds His Church in Afghanistan God Builds His Church in Afghanistan Day 5ay 5 Brazil: A Missionary Sending Nation Brazil: A Missionary Sending Nation Day 11ay 11 The Spiritual Battle Rages in Nigeria The Spiritual Battle Rages in Nigeria Days 17 & 18ays 17 & 18 Former Muslim: Jesus Came to Me Former Muslim: Jesus Came to Me Day 21ay 21

God Builds His Church in Afghanistan Day 5

Brazil: A Missionary Sending Nation Day 11

The Spiritual Battle Rages in Nigeria Days 17 & 18

Former Muslim: Jesus Came to Me Day 21


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Outreaches to non-Christians.


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Dearly Beloved Prayer Partners,

But the LORD is with me as a mighty, awesome One.Therefore my persecutors will stumble, and will not prevail.

They will be greatly ashamed, for they will not prosper.

(Jeremiah 20:11)

Re-definition of Marriage A Bridge too Far?

Contrary to wild claims made by the gay lobby, the UK Officefor National Statistics Integrated Household Surveyfor 2010,shows that only 1.5% of the population is gay.When civil partnerships were introduced by the Blairgovernment in 2005, it could reasonably be said that fullequality of rights had been achieved as this constitutedmarriage in all but name. So why did they go to the botherof legislating for civil partnerships at the time if full-blownmarriage for gay people was in the pipeline?Please dont get me wrong, this is not about the value ofhomosexuals as human beings. Indeed, their value is beyond

dispute. They are loved by God as we all are! But perhaps weneed to learn from the gay lobbys extraordinary success ingradually moving the goal-posts so as to end up convincingthe nation that their rights are paramount. Of course this isvery much a continuum of the rights movement that startedin the 60s with would-be mothers claiming to have a right overthe life of their unborn child.Our legislators need to tread carefully because same-sexmarriages - that then have children through IVF oradoption - intentionally deprive a child of either a motheror a father just because adults want it that way! Does theLaw have a right to do this? We are being asked toredefine marriage based on huge, unproven assumptions!

David Cameron is offering a period of consultation on thisissue, while personally favouring gay marriage. Yet evidencefrom countries that have already introduced gay marriageshows little take up. Statistics for Sweden show only 0.55% ofcouples are same-sex and in Norway 0.68%. More worryinglyDutch studies found that the average length of a relationship

between two men is only 1.5 years - certainly not the bestbasis on which to build a household!What can we, as Christians, do about this? First we needto pray that God will intervene as a mighty, awesomeOne. After all marriage is His institution! Secondly weneed to raise our voices millions (not thousands)should sign the petition! But we should also look back

and learn from the gay lobbys strategy that has fed thenations attitudes for decades. A Christian revival isdesperately needed!

With loving greetings from all the Revival team,

Ian Milmine

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Days 1 & 2

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Living the Jesus Way in BarcelonaBIBLE STUDY: Psalm 49:8-9

Spreading Christianity in Spain can be tough since many people have

a very negative view of the church. But in Barcelona, missionaries areusing the English language and new forms of outreach to reachresidents. Spain's second-largest city is a cultural mecca, drawingstudents and visitors from all over the world. And what many of themhave in common is the English language, and they come together atthe International Church of Barcelona.Americans Brian and Ruthie Gomez are assistant pastors at the

church. Congregants have described the atmosphere as a "tasteof heaven." "I feel that way, too. You're sitting next to someonefrom Nigeria and on the other side you have someone from NewZealand, or Nepal, or Singapore," Gomez said. Church membersfrom different nations all describe the same experience - thatthey feel at home as soon as they walk in."I think one of the strengths of our church is we provide a community

in Barcelona," Gomez added. During the Spanish Civil War in the1930s, Barcelona was a centre for anarchists and communists. TheRoman Catholic Church was viewed by the left as a tool of oppres-sion. Clergy were killed and churches destroyed. Some say there isstill a spirit of rebellion against Christianity in Barcelona, and there iscertainly a mistrust of the church. That means the Gospel must beshared in new ways.

"Because they believe the church is equated with money andpower," Gomez explained. Barcelona missionaries John andBrandi Carrano talked to CBN Newsabout their best strategies."Very quickly we learned that we don't talk about 'church,'"Brandi said. "We talk about personal and spiritual development.We don't hide the fact that we're church-related, but we don'tstart off with that."

Many residents think of the church as outdated and ineffective, andpersonal evangelism has to address those concerns. "I had aconversation with a young Catalan couple a few weeks ago, probablyin their early twenties. And they said, 'Our parents have gone tochurch their whole lives, they go every week, but they come home andnothing changes,'" John recalled. "So for them, they say, 'Why would Iwaste my time in something that makes no difference,'" he continued."So for us, one of the main things is we are trying to build acommunity of faith that actually lives out the way of Jesus." Andthe outreach is working. English is bringing Christians frommany cultures together in Barcelona."You really do feel like you're worshipping in Heaven," Gomezsaid. "Because the Bible says there will be believers from allaround the world worshipping God."The aim is to bring Barcelona from its history of rebellion against God,into a new relationship with Jesus Christ.CBN News

Day 1 - PRAISE: God that the people of Barcelona areseeing a community living the way of Christ.

Day 2 PRAY: That doors may be opened to thelife-changing Gospel of Jesus all over Spain.


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Day 4

Praying for the Streets of IndonesiaBIBLE STUDY: Psalm 49:22-23

Christian leaders from across the globe will gather at the World Prayer

Assemblyin Jakarta, Indonesia, on May 14-18, 2012. This historicevent will take place as millions of Indonesians are connected in prayerfor their nation. 24/7 prayer towers are operating in many cities inIndonesia and over 200,000 child intercessors are committed inprayer for their nation. All of this is happening in the worlds largestMuslim-populated country, a vast archipelago of 17,000 islands withmany diverse people groups.

The Church has united in an extraordinary way. Thousands ofprayer, mission and marketplace leaders, along with on-fire youthand children, will gather in Jakarta to seek the Lord for Hisstrategies of prayer-action for the world. Whats unique is thatthe WPA will be led inter-generationally, with youth and childrenhelping to facilitate plenary and other sessions. This, theorganizers believe, will help launch the next generation of men

and women of God to lead the prayer and mission movements asmodern Josephs, Esthers, Daniels, and Deborahs that God willuse to impact the nations.On May 17 there will be a gathering of 100,000 in the national stadiumin Jakarta, including 20,000 children and 20,000 youth, withsimultaneous gatherings in 300-400 cities of Indonesia, connected bylive television. Also a My Homeinitiative will be launched in which an

estimated 15 million Christians will adopt their own streets for prayer,followed by loving service to their neighbours such as planting trees,cleaning up garbage, etc. This will go on for the next two years. Theywere inspired by word of a similar prayer effort for Newark, NewJersey, one of the most dangerous cities in the USA until united prayercontributed to a large drop in the crime rate between 2006 and 2008.WPA2012; Joel News International

PRAISE: God for the huge number of adults and children

who are coming together in prayer for the nations. Pray forspecial blessing upon Indonesia.

Learning to Pray from ChildhoodBIBLE STUDY: Joel 2:28-32

Christian web-news agency, Joel News, is highlighting the emergingprayer movement among children and teenagers. These are childrenwho are knowing God and falling in love with Jesus while they areyoung, leading to changed lives and a dramatic advance of hisKingdom in new places.

We may be distraught at developments in Egypt, but God knowsbetter! Every year conferences are being held to equip Egyptianchildren in prayer the last one attended by up to 1,500 children,showing appetite to read the Bible, and also hearing God speak tothem through dreams and visions.Joel News International

PRAY: That many modern Daniels, Josephs, Esthers andDeborahs will be raised up.

Day 3


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Day 6

God Builds His Church in AfghanistanBIBLE STUDY: Daniel 3:13-28

During the era of the Taliban rule the situation for those who decided to

leave Islam was extremely difficult as they were considered to betraitors. When the Taliban was ousted the new government brought ina measure of liberalization, especially in Kabul.However, despite the presence of foreign forces, the deposedTaliban still exists and, even while in hiding, they havecontinued intimidating the Afghan people. In October 2011 theTaliban issued a statement via one of their websites vowing to

purge all Christians from the country. Accusing them ofevangelizing Afghans, the Taliban has often targeted foreign relieforganizations.Together with this, the strongest negative influence on believers is thesocial control exerted by the extended family. In the midst of suchcircumstances, many Afghans are miraculously coming to faith inJesus Christ. Some through divine revelations in dreams and visions;

others through Christian radio and television programmes broadcastinto the country and the Internet, where available. The message isfinding its way into hearts that are hungry to know the truth.Last year, after the nationally televised exposure of AfghanChristians on the internet, it became widely known that AfghanChristians actually exist. Though many were angry about thisrevelation, others started to ask questions and began to seek. In

recent years a number of well-educated and skilled Afghanis havebecome believers and begun participating in undergroundChristian activities. Although gatherings of believers aredangerous and difficult, family and friend groups have started tomeet together, and there is a growing awareness among Afghanbelievers that they are not alone.God is slowly but steadily building His church in Afghanistan. It is still

small and fragile. Unable to own Bibles, believers do not have theopportunity to study the Word except by listening to the radio, watchingsatellite TV or through the Internet.Open Doors; Prayer Alert

PRAISE: God that faith in Jesus is spreading. Pray forthose who are risking all to proclaim Christ.

French Youth Seek Evangelical ChurchBIBLE STUDY: Micah 2:12-13

The Hillsongchurch planted a Paris congregation in 2005 which hasgrown from a few dozen people to around 900 at each of its two

weekend services conducted in French and English. This youthful,enthusiastic, multi-ethnic crowd meet at the 1,000-seat Thtre Bobinoin the Montparnasse area of Paris. Census figures report 600,000French members of evangelical churches, with 460,000 regularlypracticing their faith - a ten-fold increase from 1950.Prayer Alert; Revival Media

PRAISE: God that there is a steady revelation of Christ to

the people of France. Pray for a harvest!

Day 5

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Day 7

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Day 8

Texas Church Targets Older FolkBIBLE STUDY: Micah 4:1-5

Pastor Len McLaughlin, 59, believes many contemporary churches do

a great job of meeting the needs of young families. At the same time,though, he says those programmes and worship styles often leave the"second-half" generation feeling isolated and uninvolved. HeritageChurchof McKinney, Texas, is a congregation comprised of adultsaged 50 and up. McLaughlin planted the Assemblies of Godchurchthree years ago with the specific goal of serving an older generation.Heritage'sfoundational verse is Psalm 92:14: "They shall stillbring forth fruit in old age; they shall be [healthy] andflourishing". The church, located just outside of Dallas, Texas,does not have a youth group or a children's programme. EvenHeritage'scommunity service outreaches target older adults."We feel so blessed to have church services at severalassisted-living facilities throughout the week," McLaughlin says. Most

of the more than 100 Heritagemembers are involved in assisted-livingservices, he says.AG News.

PRAISE: God that this church has recognised its specific

role within the wider body of Christ and is encouraging

older folk to remain constant in Christian ministry and

service.

Professor Speaks Up for FreedomBIBLE STUDY: Habakkuk 2:2-3

Leading Philosopher Roger Trigg, a Professor Emeritus at Warwick

University, and Senior Research Fellow at Oxfords Kellogg College,has warned of an increasing tendency in UK courts to prioritiseequality above religion, thereby undermining religious freedom.Professor Trigg, founding President of the British Society for thePhilosophy of Religion, stated that: Religious freedom and theright to manifest religious belief is a central part of every charterof human rights. Yet he believes that the courts are now

limiting human freedom itself. Professor Trigg is launching anew book, Equality, Freedom and Religion, which cites numerouscases where religious freedom has been denied by the courts.There have been many concerns that, within judicial interpretations ofequality law, a hierarchy of rights has developed, with some rightsnow being seen as more important than others. Recent court

decisions have suggested that freedom to manifest sexual orientationnow trumps the freedom to manifest ones religion.Prayer Alert

PRAISE: God for this powerful voice siding with freedom

of religious thought and practice in the very real threatrepresented by the equality lobby. Pray that his new

book may be a clarion call.


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Days 9 & 10

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Young Christians Being RestorersBIBLE STUDY: Jeremiah 30:17

A 2009 study by the Volunteering in Americaorganization found that

youth who attended church regularly were twice as likely as theirpeers to volunteer regularly. "We've discovered (Christian) youngpeople want to do something other than protest," says JennyLangness, Executive Director of the Alpha Center, a Christian medicalclinic located adjacent to the Colorado State University campus in FortCollins. "They haven't seen any big political campaigns or marchesmake a difference... Their experience tells them the most effective

way to elicit change is one-on-one, one person at a time."One area where this new attitude is reshaping things is thepro-life movement. After decades of political rhetoric andabortion centre demonstrations, defenders of the unborn havequietly shifted toward ministry-based activities. Today's youngactivists are more likely to answer phones at a pregnancy help

centre than participate in an anti-abortion rally."I see this as ageneration of restorers, where they're going to see somethingthat's not right, but instead of just complaining about it, theywant to be engaged and try to do something about it," says RyanMoore, Young Adult Ministries coordinator for the Assemblies ofGod.Ashleigh Davenport, 20, says she volunteers at the Alpha Center

because of the compassion she sees demonstrated there. "I wouldrather volunteer and show people love than protest, because I believelove and kindness are stronger than even the best protest. If it wereme making the choice (of whether to have an abortion), someoneloving on me to show God's love for me would grab my heart muchfaster than a protester showing me how much they disagree with mychoices or my values."Moore says many young adults share Davenport'sperspective."They just really want to see their faith in action,"Moore says. "They've grown up hearing a list of do's and don'ts,and they don't want to be defined by that anymore. In manyways, they're changing the landscape of Christianity and theperception people outside the church have of us. People have

heard we're against abortion and sex outside of marriage. Thisgeneration is coming alongside hurting people and showingwhat we're for and what Christ's love is all about." Langnesssays her younger volunteers tend to be the most enthusiastic.When they find something they believe in, young adults seldom keepit to themselves. They chat, post, tweet, text, email, blog and producevideos about it. Davenport says. "It should be about showing them the

love and kindness that Christ would have showed them...Pentecostal Evangel

Day 9 PRAISE: God for the awakening of Christian youth toshow the love of Christ to others in service.

Day 10 ENCOURAGE: young Christians to be salt and light,proclaiming Christs reign through love. Pray for a generation ofservant Christians.


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Day 12

Brazil: A Missionary Sending NationBIBLE STUDY: Habakkuk 3:1-2

Brazil has become the country that sends the second-most missionar-

ies abroad across the world, according to the director of a GlobalChristianity study organization.Of 400,000 global missionaries that were sent to foreign countries in2010, Brazil sent 34,000, second behind the United States, which sent127,000.The statistics were presented by Todd Johnson, director of theCenter for the Study of Global Christianity at Gordon-Conwell

Theological Seminaryin Massachusetts. Interestingly, eventhough the United States sends the most missionaries abroad, itis also the country that receives the most foreign missionaries aswell; with 32,400 foreign missionaries arriving to the U.S. in 2010 the majority of whom come from Brazil.Beaten only by the United States, Brazil has the second largestprotestant population in the world. The South American country also

has a huge number of mission organizations, of which, Jovens ComMissao(Youth with Mission) alone has 16,000 people providingmissions to 150 countries.The Christian Post

PRAISE: God that Brazilian Christians are ready to standin the gap, taking the Gospel to others.

Biggest Marriage Increase in DecadeBIBLE STUDY: Ephesians 5:22-33

The number of weddings in England and Wales increased by almostfour per cent in 2010, according to new figures published by TheOffice for National Statistics. The ONS reported that there were241,100 marriages in 2010, a rise of over 8,500 from the previousyear.The ONS said that, during tough economic times, people seekstability and family may be valued more highly than materialgoods. Research shows that marriage is the most stable form ofrelationship for bringing up children. According to the Centre for

Social Justice, children who are not brought up in two-parenthouseholds are 75 per cent more likely to fail at school, 70 percent more likely to be a drug addict and 50 per cent more likely tohave an alcohol problem.The news comes as the Government was expected to launch a publicconsultation on redefining marriage towards the end of March. Its aimis to allow a change in the law to be made before the end of the

current Parliament in May 2015. A new grassroots campaign groupseeking to protect the traditional definition of marriage was set up inFebruary. Since its launch on 20 February, the Coalition for Marriage(C4M) has gathered more than 65,000 signatures on its onlinepetition.The Christian Institute

PRAY: That God will defend marriage in our nations.

Day 11

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Day 14

Government Opens Way for PrayerBIBLE STUDY: Isaiah 49:6-8

The UK Government has intervened to restore the power of local town

councils to pray at the beginning of their formal meetings after a HighCourt controversially ruled that the long-standing tradition wasillegal. Communities Secretary Eric Pickles has signed a Parliamen-tary order to quicken the introduction of a power of competence,which will give Councils the authority to engage in any act which isgenerally lawful, including the holding of prayers. The High Court ruledthat it was unlawful for local town councils to begin their formal

meetings with prayer. The case was brought against Bideford TownCouncil by the National Secular Society (NSS).Mr Pickles said: "By effectively reversing that illiberal ruling, weare striking a blow for localism over central interference, forfreedom to worship over intolerant secularism, for Parliamentarysovereignty over judicial activism, and for long-standing Britishliberties over modern-day political correctness. Last week's case

should be seen as a wake-up call. For too long, the public sectorhas been used to marginalise and attack faith in public life,undermining the very foundations of the British nation. But thisweek, the tables have been turned.While welcoming and respecting fellow British citizens who belong toother faiths, we are a Christian country, with an established churchgoverned by the Queen. "Christianity plays an important part in the

culture, heritage and fabric of our nation. Public authorities shouldhave the right to say prayers before meetings if they wish. The right toworship is a fundamental and hard-fought British liberty.Christian Telegraph; Christian Concern for our Nation

PRAISE: God for this stand for Christian freedom. Praythat this issue may be a wake-up call to see that erosion of

Christian Truth also erodes freedom.

Bhutan: Hearts Soften to the GospelBIBLE STUDY: Job 23:15-17

With a population of 700,000, 72% of the population adhere toBhutans state religion of Lamaistic Buddhism, while 23% are Hindus,4% Muslims and less than 1% Christian. Persecution is rife and oftenviolent for those who convert to Christ.But all across Bhutan, people are experiencing miracles in thename of the living God. The lame walk, people are healed fromlife-threatening sicknesses and countless people areexperiencing the mighty power of Jesus.

Today, the first residential Bible college in the country has opened inThimphu, Bhutans capital city, offering believers a place where theycan grow spiritually and be equipped to reach those around them; andChristians are seeing a bright future for their nation.ASSIST News Service; Revival Media

PRAISE: God that a nation closed to missionaries is

seeing the Gospel spread by its own people.

Day 13


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Gods Pattern for Revival

Hoseas Call to Repentance

Reading: Hosea 1 & 2

Their deeds do not permit them to return to their God. A spirit ofprostitution is in their heart; they do not acknowledge the LORD...Then I will go to my place until they admit their guilt. And they will

seek my face; in their misery they will earnestly seek me.(Hosea 5:4 & 15)

The history of revival indicates that it is invariably preceded byprayer, sometimes long periods of persistent and sacrificialprayer. But more than the manner or length of the prayer whatreally makes the breakthrough is the content of the prayer tworequirements are given in these verses: 1) admission of guilt; 2)earnestly seeking the Lord.

God Uses the Prophet Hosea as a Parable of Israels Adultery

Hosea prophesied during the reigns of the kings of Judah,Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah, and the reign of JeroboamII, king of Israel. He was told to take the adulteress Gomer to behis wife to illustrate the adultery of the nation in turning to other

gods. Gods wish was to bless and prosper Israel but Jeroboamdid evil in the eyes of the Lord (2 Kings 14:24). Gomersfirst-born daughter, named Lo-Ruhamah (not loved), illustratesGods intended punishment on Israel which would happen at thehands of the Assyrians only a few years later. Hosea chapter 2describes Gods disgust at her adultery.

God Disciplines His People in Order to Show His Mercy

Rather like Israel prior to the Assyrian captivity, many parts of theChurch today are guilty of the adultery of not serving the LivingGod wholeheartedly. Our comfortable life-styles have led us toworship idols which we are not prepared to give up for the sake of

Christ and the Gospel. But, even as God plans His punishmentfor Israel, He speaks words of invitation to her (2 v. 14-16). It isthe love of Christ that invites us to repentance and revival (2Cor. 5:13-15) brought to our hearts afresh by the Holy Spirit.

God Wants a People to be His Wife Not His Slave

What other God is there who wants a people to be betrothed toHim forever, in righteousness, justice, love and compassion?(2:19). The response He wants from us is: You are my God... myHusband. (2:23). Of what other lovers do we need to repentbefore we can see revival in our land?

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Examples from History:

ASBURY COLLEGE LEXINGTON (KY), USA(1970)

Without warning, all heaven broke loose during Asbury Colleges10 a.m. chapel service. The service was scheduled for 50minutes. Instead, it lasted 185 hours non-stop, 24 hours a day.Intermittently, it continued for weeks. Ultimately, it spread acrossthe United States and into foreign countries.David McKenna, author of The Coming Great Awakening,interviewed by the Lexington Herald Leader, believes the nextgreat revival will probably begin on student campuses. He travelsto many colleges and says, I see the signs wherever I go. Thosesigns include a generation of students wounded by familybreakdowns and searching for spiritual fulfillment.

Participants Describe the Service as A Baptism of Love

During that service, on a Tuesday morning in 1970, students wereinvited to share. One student responded to the offer, then anotherand another. The Lexington Herald Leaderpicks up the story:Then they started pouring to the altar, it just broke. Gradually,inexplicably, students and faculty members alike found

themselves quietly praying, weeping, singing. They sought outothers to whom they had done wrong deeds and asked forforgiveness. The chapel service went on and on.According to J.T. Seamands book, On Tiptoe With Love, the1,500 seat chapel was packed. When he entered, Seamands feltas if he had been baptized in an unaccountable spirit of love, I

said to myself, This is not of man, this is of God.

The Lord Jesus Walked into the Auditorium

Reynolds, the dean, called Kinlaw, the president, who was at aconference in western Canada. Kinlaw had reservations aboutthe revival. He returned to the campus two days later, in the wee

hours of the morning. The meeting, he found, was still going. Iwas scared, Kinlaw said. He knew he would be held accountableif matters got out of hand. At the same time, he didnt want tointervene and quench an authentic move of God. But soonKinlaw, too, was convinced that the revival was legitimate. Later,a reporter asked him to explain the outbreak.

He said, Well, you may not understand this, but the only way Iknow how to account for this is that last Tuesday morning... theLord Jesus walked into Hughes Auditorium, and Hes been thereever since, and youve got the whole community paying tribute toHis presence.

One remarkable thing, given the youthfulness of the worshipers,

he said, was that the marathon service was uncannily orderly.

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Worshipers did not become loud, did not speak out of turn, did notfall down on the floor in religious ecstasy. The feelings weresubtle yet, in their own way, overwhelming.

The Revival Spreads all over the USA and Beyond

News of the revival spread in newspapers and on television.Strangers flocked to worship with the students. Asbury officialsdismissed classes. By the Thursday, a revival had broken out atthe seminary across the street from the college. Leaders of otherinstitutions read of the service in publications as far-flung as TheIndianapolis Star, the Chicago Tribune, The Seattle Timesandthe St. Louis Post-Dispatch, and heard of it by word of mouth.They invited Asbury students and faculty members to come andtell what was happening. Wherever the Asburyans traveled,revival followed. By the summer of 1970, the revival had reachedmore than 130 other colleges, seminaries and Bible schools, and

scores of churches, according to published accounts. It spreadfrom New York to California, and even to South America.

The Revival Came in Time of Distress and Upheaval

The Asbury revival was not itself a Pentecostal revival, in thatthere was no speaking in tongues or healing by faith. But the

situation at Asbury in 1970 certainly was conducive to a revival.The college had a Wesleyan tradition and a history of unexpectedrevivals. Students were not strangers to the idea. A number had,in fact, been praying for an outbreak. In addition, the campus wasin an upheaval. There was the general distress of the times, andthere were tensions specific to the college, stemming from a

messy change in administrations a few years before. Revivalsoften occur in times of discord.

Passing the Test of Genuine Revival

The truest test of genuine revival is whether they produce lastingchanges in peoples lives. If permanent change is indeed the test,

then the issue was decided long ago for many of the people whowitnessed the Asbury revival. It was a real turning point, I think,where I sensed that God really desired more of a commitment onmy part of my life to Him, said Hunt, the doctor. You stand in thatkind of presence and that kind of awe its very difficult, I think,for a mortal man not to really look and examine and say, Whatdoes this God want of my life?

Kinlaw, the Asbury College President sums it up: There was thissense of the divine presence that one doesnt have often in hislife, he said. And when you do have it, you never quite get overitYou know it in your bone marrow.

Condensed from an article originally printed in the Lexington

Herald Leader and re-published on www.forerunner.com.

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Prayer Concerning Revival

Prayers from Scripture

"For Zions sake, I will not keep silent, and for Jerusalems sake, Iwill not rest, until her righteousness shines out like the dawn andher salvation as a burning torch."

(Isaiah 62:1)

"I will recall the years of the right hand of the Most High. I willremember the works of the Lord. I will remember your wonders oflong ago. I will also meditate on all your works, and talk of all yourdeeds. Your way, O God is holy.What god is so great as our God? You are the God who doeswonders. You have displayed your power among the people. Withyour mighty arm, You redeemed Your people."

(Ps.77:10-15)

"Look down from heaven, and see from Your holy and glorioushabitation. Where are Your zeal and Your might? The yearning ofyour heart and Your compassion are withheld from usBut youare our FatherOur Redeemer from of old is your name. For a

little while, your people possessed Your holy place, but now ourenemies have trampled down your sanctuary. We have becomelike those of old, over whom you have never ruled, those whohave never been called by your name.

(Isaiah 63: 15-19)

"O Lord, great and awesome God, who keeps His covenant and

mercy with those who love Him, and with those who keep Hiscommandments, we have sinned and done wrong. We havebeen wicked and rebelled. We have turned away from yourcommands and laws Lord You are righteous, but this day weare covered with shamebecause we have sinned againstYou All this disaster has come upon us, yet we have not soughtthe favour of the Lord our God, by turning from our sins and

giving attention to your truthO Lord, turn away Your anger andyour wrath We do not make requests of you because we arerighteous, but because of your great mercy. O Lord, listen, OLord forgive. O Lord, hear and act. For your sake, O my God, donot delay because Your people are called by your name."

(Daniel 9: 1-19)

"Restore us again, O God of our salvation, and put away yourindignation towards us. Will You be angry with us for ever? WillYou prolong your anger to all generations? Will You not revive usagain, that your people may rejoice in you? Show us your mercy,God, and grant us your salvation.

(Psalm 85:4-7)

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Day 16

Muslims Also Hear of Gods LoveBIBLE STUDY: James 1:22-25

The Bible Society of Tanzania has been providing the Scriptures and

its Good Samaritanprogramme to churches in many areas of thecountry. The Bible-based Good Samaritanscheme is a programmedesigned to help communities understand and fight against theHIV/AIDS pandemic through Scripture engagement. To date it hashelped around 6000 people affected by HIV/AIDS.Now Muslim religious leaders have asked Bible Society to runthe Good Samaritancourse for members of their communities.

Some imams have asked if we could do training outside thechurches so their people could also benefit, said NeemaKiswaga, Bible Society of Tanzania HIV/AIDS Co-ordinator.The solution was to run this in schools where Christians and Muslimscould attend together. Im so grateful for the Good Samaritantrainings, said mosque member Marian. Tested positive for HIV shewas afraid of being rejected and accused as a sinner. She added,

The Good Samaritantraining taught me Gods promises for thoseliving with HIV/AIDS. I felt so relieved because I know God loves medespite my HIV status. Muslim participation means even morepeople are hearing about the goodness of Jesus, said NeemaKiswaga.

Bible Society Word in Action

PRAISE: God that Biblical principles for living with and fightingAIDS are helping Tanzanians of different faiths learn about thegoodness of Jesus.

Cambodian Church Rises from AshesBIBLE STUDY: John 12:23-26

After the Khmer Rouge invaded Cambodia in 1975, banned religionand massacred many thousands, by 1979 only about 200 Christiansremained alive. In 1990, when the Church was given governmentpermission to function openly again, there were just ten evangelicalchurches left. Today there are over two thousand, with a totalmembership of perhaps 200,000.Cambodian Christians are committed to sharing the good newsof Jesus in word and action and planting new churches amongevery people group. But they could do so much more if they hadmore resources. The Church in Cambodia lacks many of theresources that Christians in the West take for granted, such astrained pastors, Bibles, Christian literature and well equippedchurch buildings.Another major issue is literacy many church members have neverlearned to read. Even for those who can, a Bible can cost half amonths salary. Bible Societys David Smith recently attended aliteracy session in a pastors house. Many use the Bible Societysliteracy kit complete with CDs, radios and Bibles - it costs just 8 toteach someone to read.Cambodian Communities out of Crisis; Bible Society

PRAISE: God that the Cambodian Church is rising up from

the ashes and is vigorously facing up to the needs of thepeople and proclaiming the Gospel.

Day 15

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The Spiritual Battle Rages in NigeriaBIBLE STUDY: Daniel 12:1-3

Since 2002 when it was founded, Boko Haramhas terrorised Nigerian

Christians by attacking their homes, churches, and killing scores ofbelievers. About 215 miles north from the Nigerian capital of Abuja sitsthe sprawling city of Kano. It is the epicentrer of Boko Haram's"holywar" against the country.Police officers and the Nigerian Army are patrolling the streets, settingup numerous checkpoints to try and protect this vulnerable city fromfuture attacks by Boko Haram.

"What this group is doing to our country is terrible," a young man, whoasked to remain anonymous, said. "They are killing our people andthey want to divide us." "This is a faceless enemy," another residenttold CBN News. "They don't wear a uniform. They live among us andsuddenly attack so we have to be very careful."Boko Haram's official name in Arabic means the "Peoplecommitted to Propagation of the Prophet's Teachings and Jihad."

A spokesman for the Islamist group says the deadly attacks won'tstop until Sharia law rules the country. "What they want to do isto establish an emirate, an Islamist radical state - first in thenorthern part of Nigeria and then push to the south and declarean emirate across Nigeria," says terrorism expert Walid Phares.Bishop Ransom Bello is a prominent Christian leader with theChristian Association of Nigeria, in Kano. He says, "My biggestworry is about the security of the Christians in Kano State.At one of Kano's largest mosques, Imam Abubakar Jibirin used arecent Friday noon gathering to urge followers to remain calm andseek peace. But in an interview with CBN Newsfollowing Fridayprayers, Imam Jibirin refused to criticize directly or condemn theactions of Boko Haram. This raises concerns that the Muslim

population and leaders will sit by and allow Boko Haram to imposehardline Islam by force. And now perhaps even more worrying arereports of Boko Haramsympathizers within Nigeria's police,intelligence services, army and judiciary. That's leaving many to worryabout the future of Africa's most populous country."Their bombs are increasingly more sophisticated and morepowerful, so this has gone beyond the sort of local radical

group," Paul Marshall of the Hudson Institutesaid. A Nigeriannewspaper investigation traced funding for the group's activitiesto the United Kingdom and Saudi Arabia. Members have alsoreportedly met and received training from senior al Qaedafiguresin North Africa."I see this as a spiritual battle over Nigeria because these issues gobeyond economic, beyond politics," Bello said. "It goes beyond natural

things. It's spiritual!"CBN News; Revival Media

DAY 17 PRAY: That the Hand of Almighty God willintervene to save Nigeria from the enemys power.

DAY 18 PRAISE: God for the Christian Church in Nigeria.

Pray that wisdom and godliness may prevail.

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Day 19

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Day 20

Nurturing Young People in ChristBIBLE STUDY: 1 Corinthians 9:24-27

With UK churches haemorrhaging younger generations, the

importance of giving young people the opportunity to come to gripswith their faith cannot be overestimated. Between Friday 1 June andMonday 4 June 2011 at Felden Lodge, Hemel Hempstead around 750young people from Boys Brigades and Girls Brigadesacross theSouth East of England will be attending this year's Firm Foundations(FF) to learn how the Bible is still relevant today. Speaking about lastyears event, Eric Hudson, on behalf of the Festival Planning Team

said, It was a brilliant weekend. The Holy Spirit was definitely at workand it was exciting to see so many young people giving their lives toGod or developing their relationship with Him.The event focused on showing how Jesus, through the Bible, hasrelevant things to say on current issues and encouraged youngpeople to explore their Bibles. The theme for this years FF isGreater than Goldand will tie into the 2012 Olympic Games,

being held in London.It was an amazing year at FF and has brought me so much closer toGod, said one of last years young people. Another added, 'I hopethat everyone who found God this year at FF will continue in smallsteps to bring Him into their life. God is amazing. Come on! Editorsnote: young people are not the future of the Church, they are thepresent, and need to be given every opportunity to develop their faith

and serve God in the Church and wider community. Then they willremain!

Firm Foundations; Revival Media

PRAISE: God for events like this. Pray that many young peoplewill hear Jesus call their name and dedicate their whole lives toHis service.

Nepalese Find Jesus Through AdvertsBIBLE STUDY: Zechariah 13:2

In Nepal, very few people are Christians. However, AMG Internationalhas found one way to present the hope of truth to people, in spite ofwhat chaos might be wreaking havoc in Nepal: Newspaper

evangelism. A newspaper enters many homes where Christians mightnever be allowed to enter. By placing Gospel messages as paidadvertisements in local newspaper, the ministry can give the goodnews of the Gospel to hundreds of thousands of people who may haveno other opportunity to learn about Christ. To those who respond to theads, AMG's team sends a Bible and Bible correspondence courses.AMG's ad appeared in a magazine with a circulation of 45,000 copies.

There were 775 responses over a seven-month period, and throughthe correspondence and follow up, 233 people made a profession offaith in Jesus Christ. More than half of those are now engaged infurther Bible study.

Christian Telegraph; Mission Network News

PRAISE: God that this means of evangelism is reaching a

people that have almost no knowledge of the Name ofJesus and His saving Gospel.


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Day 22

Former Muslim: Jesus Came to MeBIBLE STUDY: 1 Kings 3:4-6

Hassan Sharif Lubenga, 54, was a sheik and member of Buk Haram,

a violent group of Ugandan Islamists. Originally from Chengera, sevenkilometres from Kampala, he began his conversion process four yearsago. Then in June 2011, after various dreams and visions in whichJesus appeared to him, he made a full commitment to follow Christ.His former Islamic extremist friends, who had declared war oninfidels, started threatening him when he first began to speak ofdreams and visions of Christ. He had told his jihadist friends that he

had seen Jesus in a dream. He said they had warned him, Do notmake such a mistake again we are ready to help you. If youcontinue with this move, then we will destroy you.I explained to them that it is Jesus who came to me, and not Iwho sought Him, he said. They were furious. They thenkidnapped me and blindfolded me for three days, coupled withbeatings. They demanded I deny Jesus as the Son of God, which

I consented to because I feared that they were going to kill me.In 2009 Lubenga decided to go on pilgrimage to Mecca. Whilethere, he heard another voice which said: You have decided toforsake me, and instead you are here to accuse me, he said.Jesus continued appearing to him in visions, he said. I could notresist, so I decided to believe in Him and in 2011 - started openlydeclaring that Jesus is my personal Saviour, Lubenga said. The

whole family and clan members were out to destroy me. I waspoisoned by my own family. His father, Morshid Kabide, committedsuicide rather than face the disgrace of an apostate son. My heartgot troubled, but the voice of Jesus continued whispering to me towitness for Jesus without fear, Lubenga said. In the face of severedeath threats Lubenga fled to Kenya last July 10. All my familymembers have deserted me, he said by telephone. The Muslims arelooking to kill me. I need protection and help.Compass Direct; Revival Media

PRAISE: God that many Muslims, like Lubenga, are hearing the

call of Jesus. Pray that they may know the power of Gods graceand be strong in witness.

Helping the Church to Survive in SyriaBIBLE STUDY: 2 Corinthians 9:1-5

The world is right to stand up for those that are being massacred bythe government in Homs. But there's a substantial chance that oncethis government does fall, what will replace it will be even moreextremist Islamic," says Dr. Carl Moeller, President and CEO of Open

Door USA. The question is: what will the Christians face in terms ofrevenge or hostility? Some news sources have indicated that theChristian population of Homs is being targeted by Islamic extremistsamong the rebel forces. Pray for our Syrian brethren, for theirpreservation and for aid to reach them.Revival Media; Mission Network News

PRAY: That God will miraculously preserve His own.

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Day 24

Christians Save Baby from AbortionBIBLE STUDY: Exodus 2:1-10

Two Christian pro-life campaigners, Andy Stephenson and Kathryn

Sloane, entered a not-guilty plea on 30 January at BrightonMagistrates' Court after being arrested outside an abortion clinic inBrighton, Southern England, on 22 June 2011. Since 2007, MrStephenson and Mrs Sloane have been silently witnessing outside thepublically-funded BPAS clinic showing pictures of the effects ofabortion, only engaging with women entering the premises if they starta conversation.

While Stephenson and Sloane were in court, colleagues of thepair held a further demonstration outside the clinic. One womanattending the clinic for the termination of a 22-week-old babyengaged in conversation with them and as a result of talking andseeing the pictures, changed her mind on having the abortion.Andrea Minichiello Williams, CEO of the Christian Legal Centresaid:"Andy and Kathryn hold respectful demonstrations and they should

not be denied the right to share their viewpoint to others... one womanchanged her mind; she chose life. That's why free speech is vital in ademocracy. It gives an opportunity for people to reflect and think againand perhaps change their minds...Christian Concern for our Nation

PRAISE: God that a baby was saved through the brave and

persistent action of Christian people. Pray that they will beexonerated and that a change of heart in favour of life will takeplace in the nation.

Huge Church Growth in SingaporeBIBLE STUDY: Acts 2:42-47

The 2000 Census, the latest to date, registered nearly 15 percent ofSingapores population as Christian. Since then almost all Protestantdenominations have experienced phenomenal growth: Anglicans haveseen a 26.17 percent increase; the Methodists, 23%; Presbyterians,42%.But it is the largest independent denominations that registered

the greatest growth. The City Harvest Church, for instance,entered 2000 with an average attendance of 7,042 people, butwas nearly five times larger in 2009, with 33,812, of whom 77percent were first-time converts to Christianity. TwentyProtestant churches are considered mega-churches, with acongregation of at least 2,000.As a major sea and air hub for Asia, Singapore is in a strategic

position to reach major countries like China, India and Indonesia withthe Gospel. Today, trends show that in Asian countries like Singapore,South Korea, Taiwan and mainland China, Christianity is growing sofast that experts predict this region will soon be home to the largestChristian population in the world.Christian Post; CBN News; Revival Media

PRAISE: God for the explosive growth of the Gospel inAsia. Pray for faithfulness to the Word of Truth.

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Day 26

Conversions Increasing in WalesBIBLE STUDY: Titus 3:4-7

The survey of UK church attendance published by Tearfund in 2007,

showed Wales has the least number of regular church goers (12%)and the highest number of people who had some church contact andnow are resistant to the Gospel (46%). To address this, over 200Welsh church leaders met recently.During the day, the results of a survey commissioned byWaleswide in 2011 were released. The poll of over 260 Welshchurch leaders found that during the first decade of this millen-

nium 5,728 people came to Christ in their churches. However in2010 alone, 1,642 became Christians!These fastest growing churches were all connecting with their variouscommunities: through debt counselling, Foodbank, working withprisoners, Street Pastors, and particularly working with families andyoung children. David Ollerton, Chairman of Waleswide said: "Thegreatest challenge facing church leaders in Wales is to develop

intentional Gospel communities, as new churches or within existing,that are more interested in reaching out to people with few or noChristian links instead of maintaining existing structures.Christian Today

PRAISE: God that there is a slow but increasing return to faith inChrist in Wales. Pray for showers!

Love Brings Bosnian Muslim to ChristBIBLE STUDY: Galatians 2:20

In 2005 Murat and Amina arrived at a Bosnian aid warehouse run byOperation Mobilisation (OM) in urgent need: Aminas husband wasdesperately sick and they had no money to heat their home. The OMBosnia workers quickly added Amina and her neighbour Murat to their

firewood distribution project and visited them soon after. They prayedfor Amina, her husband and Murat, and left them with some Christianliterature to read.Over the following years, the OM team often saw Murat, but hehad little interest. On one occasion though, he accepted a Gospeltract and to the teams delight, he rang a few months later. Theywere even more overjoyed when they heard this man from an

Islamic background ask if he could join their Christian prayermeetings. Over the next weeks, Murat became a regular attendeeat church and made a decision to accept Jesus as his Lord andSaviour.He had been abandoned by his wife and his health was deteriorating;then he remembered the love the Christian missionaries had shown toAmina and her sick husband years before, and how their prayers had

been answered. Today Murat and his new Christian wife lead a Biblestudy group in their home. Most of my fellow citizens have neverseen an open Bible - even less owned one. Yet they look for answersand hope, often turning to other spiritual forces, he shared. Theyneed God. Gods Word is powerful; it changed my life!Christian Today

PRAISE: God that the love of Christ can penetrate thehardest soul. Pray for a move of God in Bosnia.

Day 25

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Day 28

Teenagers Want Greater Church RoleBIBLE STUDY: 1 John 2:13-15

Christian teenagers from across America poured out their hearts in

front of an international Internet audience during a recent event, titledGroundswell: The Church of Tomorrow Speaks Today. The three-hourlong conference was made up primarily of video clips in which teenageChristians shared their thoughts on the future of the church and onhow churches can better reach their generation for Christ.Hope Rangle, a teenager from Alabama, said churches aren'tcapturing the attention of most teens, and she believes they

should encourage more young people to serve others in thechurch. "Teenagers are often pushed aside as if they're not there,but I think the teenagers should be taken advantage of," saidRangle. "[Serving] takes you from going to a church to actuallybeing a part of a church." While many of the teens agreed thatchurches need to change to become more relevant to theirgeneration, they also said the basic message should stay the

same. "Don't water down the Gospel. Be real ... You're notshowing that the Gospel can be relevant by watering it down,"one participant Nick Ertel said.David Kinnaman, president of The Barna Group, also offered hisinsights during the event. He shared some of the research thatappeared in his book, You Lost Me: Why Young Christians AreLeaving Church...and Rethinking Faith, which focuses on the

overwhelming number of young people who stop attending churchafter their teen years. Kinnaman said Christian teens want moreopportunities to contribute and express their views in the church, butadults aren't pushing them to reach their potential. Ford Garner, a highschool senior, indicated that his generation is just waiting for aninvitation from the church. "The kids are hungry, and they want toknow Christ, they just need someone to invite them ... and they really

will take to it," said Garner. Kinnaman also spoke on the importance ofgetting churches to teach teens about how the Bible applies to theirlives.Christian Headlines; Christian Post

PRAISE: God that Teenagers want to be part of the Church if

churches will make them feel part. Pray for vibrant youthparticipation in our churches.

Indiana: Number of Abortions FallingBIBLE STUDY: Ezekiel 16:20-22

The Indiana State Department of Health (USA) has released its 2009abortion statistics. The numbers are frightful, but the encouraging

news is that the total abortion rate in Indiana dropped by over 3% from2008 to 2009, which amounts to 362 fewer children aborted in 2009.The total number of abortions done in 2009 is 10,557. Overall, the2009 numbers are a 36% drop from the 16,505 abortions reported in1980.Life News

PRAISE: God for this positive trend. Pray that this trend

will continue all around the world.

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Day 31

Day 30

Growing Church Vital in South SudanBIBLE STUDY: Matthew 16:17-19

According to figures from the South Sudan government, 60% of the

population professes the Christian faith, while the rest of the 9 millioninhabitants are either of traditional faith or Muslim.The Anglican Church in South Sudan - by far the largestdenomination - numbers about 4 million, and has grown rapidlyfrom 500,000 in the 1960s. The churches of Sudan wereinstrumental in the peace process that ultimately led to the birthof the new Republic of South Sudan in 2011.

Sadly the country has continued to experience unrest as disputes overthe central oil-producing region with its northern neighbour continueand armed groups have failed to disarm.Revival Media; AllVoices

PRAISE: God that Christians in South Sudan can now enjoy therelative freedom of a non-Islamic government. Pray for Christiansin the north.

Gods Crazy Love in San FranciscoBIBLE STUDY: Luke 14:22-24

37,000 people live in 586 apartment blocks in the Tenderloin district ofSan Francisco. Francis Chan, author of Crazy Love, is working with anew initiative, called Adopt a Building. First a prayer team starts

praying for residents in a building. Then a grace team knocks on thedoors and asks residents if there is anything they need: food, schoolsupplies, prayer.After the grace team has a list of needs they will come back thenext week to deliver what was requested. The teams continue thedialogue that they started the week before with those in theapartment. Chan who stepped down last year as pastor of

Cornerstone Churchas he began to question and rethink "howwe do church" says the idea is to start making connections, toask people if they want to learn more about God and read theBible.The end goal is to find leaders in the apartments that can be preparedto pastor a church in their building.Christian Post

PRAISE: God that a successful mega-church pastor is willing togo out and take church to the people. Pray that many mayrespond and know Gods grace.

A Witness to Jesus in Heart of the EUBIBLE STUDY: Daniel 6:19-28

The Evangelical Churchin the Belgian town of Aalst was told last yearthat it could no longer occupy its rented building. In believing prayerthey sought the Lord and, just before Christmas, were able to moveinto a new building, double the size, and for the same rent. TheirChristmas service saw a congregation of 160 attend, with 20 who hadnever been before. They are impatient to see what God will do in 2012!Belgian Evangelical Mission

PRAISE: God for Gospel witness in the secular EU.

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