March 2006
Pacific Rim
A famous Muslim evangelist has asked for prayer to
scale the wall of Islam that surrounds him and to trust
in Jesus. He has begged for thousands, even 10,000,
to pray for his soul. A 57-year-old Japanese Sony employ¬
ee experienced a stroke, divorce and retirement, but God
gave him new life, a restored marriage and many oppor¬
tunities to share Christ. One Mogen lady in Thailand de¬
scribed the Mogen life as an empty glass containing no
hope, but 170 of the 300 Mogen in her community have
found hope in Jesus alone. Will the walls of unbelief,
deceit, fear and bondage be broken so the Light may
shine among the 800 million people of PacRim?
PacRim's purpose is to "Glorify God by planting
reproducing churches where Christ is not known." All
major religions and 3,000 different people groups are rep¬
resented in this region. From the megacities of Japan to
the tsunami villages of Thailand and Indonesia to moun¬
tain huts in the Last Frontier to sidewalks in local villages,
the task is great. Still, while opposition and persecution
increase, many new souls are being added daily to God's
church. National believers are receiving training with
eager hearts and are applying lessons they learn the next
day. Clearly, the Light is coming to the peoples of Pac¬
Rim. Visit us at go2pacrim.org.
"To open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light,
and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may
receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who
are sanctified by faith in me" Acts 26:18, NIV.
JAPAN (Eastern Asia). A well-known Japanese Christian
singer, Makoto Iwabuchi, will be performing gospel con¬
certs in five Australian cities during March. Pray for a great
movement of God's Spirit among the Japanese who attend
these concerts. Pray for the Gospel to spread quickly as
people share testimonies of what God has done for them.
Pray for God to call out workers for the harvest who will
not only reach Japanese for Christ in Australia but also
their relatives back in Japan.
SULAWESI (Southeast Asia). The CC people live on the
island of Sulawesi. They have a tradition that says someone
from abroad will come and share with them a precious gift.
Praise God last November the very first person among the
CC came to faith in Christ. He is busy sharing and telling
others the Good News; pray he will continue to do so. Ask
that the Holy Spirit open the eyes, ears and hearts of all the
CC people to see and know Him personally.
STUDENTS OF UNIVERSITY OF DAR ES SALAAM, TAN¬
ZANIA (dar es sah-LAHM). "We are praising God for a
new sister in Christ!" writes the University of Dar es Sa¬
laam Team. "She came from a Muslim background and has
put her faith in Christ. Pray that students who are believers
would have a vision to reach their Muslim friends and
roommates. Ask that they would have a boldness to share
about who Jesus really is and the reason for the hope that
they have in Him."
0 KARACHI, PAKISTAN (kah-RAH-chee). A CD of worship
0 songs written by local believers has just been completed
and is in the marketplace for sale. Pray that God will use
this to encourage new believers and that many who are
seeking will hear the truth of the message in the lyrics.
Every song is written in a way with which Muslims can re¬
late. May God use it to touch their very souls!
PHILIPPINES (Southeast Asia). The island of Masbate is
home to 600,000 people. Fewer than 2 percent of these
know Jesus Christ as their personal Savior. Recently, a
strong evangelistic effort was conducted on this island.
Pray that the Holy Spirit will continue to touch hearts to
receive the Good News and that entire families will come
to Christ. Pray for Baptist churches that are following up
on this event.
LAST FRONTIER, PACIFIC RIM. Ahmat picked up the
book and exclaimed, "This is written in my language!" He
and many others have recently received the first book ever
printed in the script of the WC people, known as Javi. Its
fame is spreading quickly across the community. This book
contains stories that will lead readers through the prophets
of the Old Testament to "Isa," our beloved Jesus. Pray that
the One who opens hearts to the truth will use this book to
open hearts of the WC people.
BEDOUIN OF NORTHERN AFRICA (BEH-doo-in).
Bedouin children often see no hope for their future. As a
result of many years of oppression, poverty and poor edu¬
cation, advancement for them is unusual. But God says that
He has a plan for their lives; through Him, they do have
hope and a future. Pray that these children will realize they
are valuable in His sight and that He has big plans for them
(Jeremiah 29:11)!
