MARCH 2011
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What do you think when you hear "Africa"? Elephants, lions and giraffes? Did you know that nearly 40 percent of the people
of sub-Saharan Africa actually live in urban areas, not "African bush"? Cities have enormous potential for impacting the
continent with the Gospel. As people move to ur- —
ban centers for jobs and education, they may be
more open to hear the Good News; then they can ,,
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share the Gospel with their families and friends ^ ? «j
who remain in rural areas. N ‘ i
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Reaching cities with the Gospel is a chal-
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lenge. Cities also have a dark side; newcomers IVI -
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may be caught in crime, drugs and prostitution ^ <V ^
before they realize the dangers. Urban areas are w* g V | '' ^g
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large and sprawling, with neighborhoods rang- if*** ** J
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ing from poor slums to wealthy gated communi-
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ties. Socioeconomic groups include immigrants, |* * 1 ^
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street vendors, doctors, taxi drivers, teachers, fe v
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housewives and professionals. Missionaries and
churches must employ a wide range of strategies
to share the Gospel with the diverse peoples of their city. Follow-up is difficult as people move, looking for work.
Your help is needed — pray for the people of a city; partner with Christian workers to help reach their city with the Gospel-
take on a neighborhood or population segment, bathing that area or population in prayer. Then, as the Holy Spirit leads, com¬
mit to travel there to share the Good News in person.
a different Africa: urban centers
pray for a rain of volunteers
missionary in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, writes: "The rainy
season brings torrents of rain to where we are. Even in
this large city, there are streets filled with muddy water that
will remain that way until after the rainy season has passed.
Pray that God will send workers for the harvest who are also
essential to His success here. Pray that many churches will
come and brave the rains of West Africa so that others may
have a chance to hear the Good News."
Kinshasa: Christ in the chaos
magine a city of refugees, thrown together by years of civil
conflict, with more than 15 million living in whatever can
protect them from rain and robbers. Pastors and churches
are overwhelmed, with little energy to reach out to those
who have never heard. Pray for outreach ministries, like the
ceramic water filter project, to give clean water in the chaos
and also present Christ, the Living Water.
PRAYER V- POINTS
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PRAYER POINTS PRAYER V
Dakar: people who need true peace
akar (dah-KAR), the capital city of Senegal, has a popula¬
tion of 4 million people. Ninety-five percent of the
population is Islamic. The majority of people live far below
the poverty level with a large population of "Talibe boys"
living and begging on the street. Pray for ministry to these
boys, that they will come to know God's love and real peace
in their lives. Pray for Dakar to know the Prince of Peace.
Windhoek: seeking the Bread of Life
Namibia, in southwest Africa, has a population of more
than 1.5 million people, with at least 11 ethnic groups.
Windhoek (VIN-took), capital of Namibia, is one area many
flock to in search of work, fleeing the harshness of the land.
Many are searching for the Bread of Life. Pray that local
churches will be encouraged to reach out and meet the
needs of the people and share the love of Christ.
POINTS '> PRAYER POINTS PRAYER :> POINTS
