The world didn't know on the day that Jesus Christ was born that families and friends would still gather to celebrate His birth over 2,000 years later. While the holiday first made its appearance in Korea with the arrival of early missionaries who came to the peninsula, within the current young generation, Christmas' true meaning has been blanketed by another significant cultural influence: dating. Similar to Valentine's Day, White Day, and Pepero Day–other South Korean holidays which celebrate relationships–going on a date has become the main event for Christmas Day in South Korea. It is easy to see why this is the case. As the younger population has slipped further and further away from relationship with Jesus, their attention has turned to the promises of the world: wealth, status, and success, and Christmas is a rare opportunity to step away from the rat race and spend time with their significant other. However, peace can never be found in any person other than Jesus, the true reason behind Christmas Day. Please pray that the Holy Spirit reveals to young adults in South Korea this year the true significance of Jesus' birth and the road to salvation it provides.
(sor-AH-nee) - God has been saving people over the past few years in one city, but the new believers have struggled to gather together. They lack trust for one another and have a deep fear of man. The new brothers and sisters in Christ fear the biblical "next step" of meeting together, even though they are at a place where they should begin forming a church. Will you pray that these new believers will desire to gather together and that the Lord will bless their time together?
(mah-LOO-koo) - Thank you for joining Ruth and her husband in praying that the woman who poisoned Ruth last year would reinitiate contact with her so that Ruth could share the gospel with her. The woman, Mrs. Fran, contacted them for prayer during a recent illness. They went to her island to visit. Mrs. Fran admitted she wanted to kill Ruth, Ruth's husband, and Ruth's child because she hates Christians. But Mrs. Fran saw God do a miracle in healing Ruth. Ruth and her husband spent two days on her island sharing the gospel with Mrs. Fran, her husband, and daughter. They have not yet come to faith, but the daughter is very open. Now, Mrs. Fran's daughter has asked Ruth to come again. Mrs. Fran's family believe she is near death. Ruth and her family are on their way. Please pray for her and her husband. This is an emotional situation for them because they have been praying for Mrs. Fran since the poisoning. Pray that God, in His great mercy, will save this family for His glory.
(PEH-dee) - Pray for young Pedi adults who are feeling lost and alone because they left their rural homes, seeking work in the urban centers. Pray that instead of the distraction of worldly cares, they will be introduced to Jesus through new believing friends, employers, and neighbors. May they experience the love of God and find salvation in Him through Jesus Christ. May they accept the "good news of great joy that will be for all the people" (Luke 2:10 ESV).
Momina has lived with her two youngest children in one European country for several years now. She regularly attends different gatherings held at a local church in her town that aim to see people from different backgrounds and homelands come to know one another and hear stories from the Bible. She tells her believing friends that she enjoys their stories of Jesus and the things she has watched before about Him online. "To me, it's all good," she says. "Everyone--Muslims, Christians, and more--are all fine as long we love God and try to be nice to others!" When her friends share that this is not what teachings from either book says, she just repeats that everyone should focus on love and care for others. Pray that Momina's eyes will be open to the truth of the singular hope found in Jesus and the greatest love ever shown in His sacrifice for the world.
Pray for continued efforts to reach people groups in the northern area and for ongoing trainings with local harvest workers in the cities of Lahore and Islamabad.
"We're grateful for all of your prayers!" missionary explorer Stephen Farrell said. "We have been really feeling the reality of 2 Corinthians 4:3-4. 'And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.' We get to share the good news about Jesus every day, but there is still such an apathy among people who don't care about what happens after death. Or they don't want to step out from what their whole culture believes. Or, right when we get to talk about Jesus' death and resurrection, people start up chainsaws right next to us to cut up firewood so you can't hear anything. The enemy has blinded the eyes and hearts of so many people. Would you intercede in prayer for all the lost people we encounter? Ask God to open their eyes to the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ! We're powerless on our own, but God hears and answers prayers. Thank you all!!"
(DEE-goh) - Please pray that in the coastal areas of East Africa, the people who have lived here for hundreds of years will seek God. Ask that they will not be satisfied with the status quo of their traditions and culture. Pray that during their multiple calls to prayer each day, the Digo people will find Jesus as they are seeking God. "And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us" (Acts 17:26-27 ESV).
As they serve, local harvest workers are often faced with physical, emotional and spiritual attacks from the evil one. Please pray for Mariama, a local believer who has been instrumental in teaching sign language. She has been facing various instabilities that have hindered her ministry. Pray for complete healing and restoration and for renewed service within the Deaf community.
"Leadership development is an important part of church planting work. To avoid creating an unhealthy cycle of dependence on outside help, IMB teams want to come alongside local believers and encourage them to use their God-given gifts for the good of the Church. One way we do that is by training church members to lead small groups. Please pray for small group leaders being trained in Crossroads International Church in Vienna. This new church is growing, and strong leadership is essential for ongoing discipleship. We are looking forward to seeing how God calls people forward to lead with the help of the Holy Spirit."
As we celebrate Christmas this month, pray for believers in the Asia-Pacific Rim to be alert for opportunities to share Christ. May they pray daily for their eyes to be open to the symbols and decorations they see and the songs they hear, and may they always have a word to share that relates to the birth of Christ. In a world of Santa and Jingle Bells, may they often share the "good news of great joy that will be for all the people" (Luke 2:10 ESV). Pray they will always be ready to give a defense to anyone who asks them for a reason for the hope they have; may they do it with gentleness and respect (1 Peter 3:15).
Arab tribes do not celebrate Christmas. In their worldview, they consider the story of Christmas to be very heretical. The ideas that God would come to earth, that God has a Son, that God would identify with humanity in such a humble way . . . are forbidden thoughts. And yet, the comfort and joy available to believers at Christmas is based on these very truths. Thankfully, despite the fact that most Arabs do not yet believe these truths, they are eager to accept invitations to celebrations. Ask the Lord to work in this season that reminds the world of Immanuel, God with us. Pray that the good news, which provides genuine comfort and joy, will be communicated clearly. Pray that Arab tribes will know the beauty of Isaiah 9 personally: "The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone. . . . and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace" (Isaiah 9:2, 6 ESV).
(ab-i-JAHN) - It has become a tradition for workers in Abidjan to host members of their church on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. Pray that this time of fellowship among believers will be sweet and that all will have cheerful, giving hearts during this season. Pray that members who attend church regularly will continue to grow in the knowledge of God and His Word. Lift up the workers, as they miss their family members and church family back in the United States. Join them in giving thanks that they can be satisfied in Christ. May the Christmas season give them a renewed spark, spurring them on in their efforts to reach the lost and make disciples in Abidjan!