December 2004
International Missions Emphasis Nov. 28-Dec. 5
"And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and
between your offspring and hers ; he will crush your head,
and you will strike his heel" (Gen. 3:15, NIV).
MEXICO (southern North America). Neil and Leanne
Treme live in the Heart of Darkness — part of central
Mexico that has less than 2 percent evangelical Christians.
Almost all of the 22 million Mexican Mestizos, the Tremes'
people group, are Catholic. Most either don't understand the
gospel or fear the cost of embracing Jesus. "There's a very
real chance they could lose relationships with family, inheri¬
tance, jobs and property," says Neil. Through the prayers of
God's people, Mexican Mestizos recently have become more
open to the gospel. Ask God to raise up local Mexican believ¬
ers to train others to plant churches in every neighborhood.
IRAN (Southwestern Asia). After 25 years of Islamic rule,
many Iranians — even Muslims — are looking elsewhere
for truth to satisfy their hearts' hunger. Churches are
emerging — with adults disillusioned with Islam and
young people curious about spiritual matters. Despite their
interest, though, many Iranians hesitate to embrace Christ.
Why? Some people distrust all things "religious." Others
fear persecution; the family is the most important institu¬
tion in Iran, and Muslim families often reject members who
become Christians. New Christians often end up completely
alone — without personal and business relationships. They
face persecution by the community. Pray that Iranian
Christians will persevere in the face of persecution and that
they will sense your prayers. Ask also that the church will
continue flourishing in Iran. And pray that all Unreached
People Groups in Iran will hear the gospel by 2005.
UNENGAGED PEOPLES OF SOUTH ASIA. God told
Moses, "When my glory passes by, I will put you in a
cleft in the rock and cover you with my hand ..." (Ex.
33:22a). Aurangabad is a city of nearly 900,000 people in the
Indian state of Maharashtra, about 250 miles from Mumbai.
Aurangabad is best known for nearby temples that have
been chiseled into the sides of caves. These temples do not
honor the living God, however. Instead, they celebrate the
gods of Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism. Pray that, like
Moses, the people of Aurangabad will beg the living God to
see His goodness. Pray that God will open their eyes so they
might understand the love, protective covering and provi¬
sion He offers them. Pray for the glory of God to shine in
Aurangabad and throughout South Asia.
KOLKATA, INDIA (kohl-KAH-tah). Give thanks to God for
three rickshaw pullers who have decided to follow Jesus.
These men are part of a group of rickshaw pullers in the city
who have been attending a Bible study for people in this line
of work. Pray that they will grow in maturity in their walk
with the Lord and that they will faithfully share the good
news they have received in Jesus. Pray also for the Christian
workers who are ministering to this group of men.
He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root
out of dry ground. He had no beauty or majesty to attract
us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire
him (Isa. 53:2, NIV).
ACEHNESE OF INDONESIA (AH-chin-eez). What if you
had never seen a Bible, but had heard that it was power¬
ful and magical? For one young Acehnese boy, he couldn't
contain his curiosity and stole a Bible in order to read it for
himself! Bibles are not accessible in Aceh. Pray that Ace¬
hnese will be drawn to God's Word, and that Bibles will be
available when they look for one.
PEOPLE OF CARTAGO, COSTA RICA (car-TAH-goh). In
Cartago, a family continues to meet faithfully on Sunday
nights. Through studying the Word, each member contin¬
ues to grow spiritually. The father, M, is leading the group
study, and the mother, S, brings a Bible story. Pray for their
boldness in the neighborhood and with other members of
their family. They recently shared that for the first time,
they were "rejected" by a neighbor because of "religion,"
since the Bible studies were not Catholic. This neighbor has
now forbidden his daughter, D, to continue attending the
Bible study. Please pray for D's salvation. Also pray that
other families will come alongside to worship and study
the Word with this group as they become a church.
BURYAT OF RUSSIA (BOO-ree-aht). The Buryat team
gives thanks to the Lord that He is at work among the
Buryat people. You have been a part of this (day 12 of
November Global PrayerGram) as you have prayed for a
Buryat village called S. The team has been working in this
village for three years now, and for the first time, they see
some hunger for spiritual things. As a result of a Christian
film being shown, there is a desire for a Bible study to
begin in this village. Please ask the Lord to give the team
wisdom as they begin this Bible study, since many of the
leaders of this village consider themselves to be Buddhists.
Pray that the Lord of the harvest will raise up workers
