PrayerPoints, May 2011

MAY 2011 I i * \ ■}■'%*&&&*■■ К ■ ' V *?г1£~и Addis Ababa: from billionaires to beggars With an infrastructure estimated at Ababa home to to Washington D.C. I the number of embassies it has, and thou- sands of expatriated people from across the I i iffS ; fM MfcjttSSSS k* &&S3aSBS& globe live there. From billionaires to beggars, ■ 5 Addis is home to Africa's wealthiest man and \ ‘ * ГЙЯК wR: , ЩЦЩжмЩЩш to some of the world's most impoverished. шЦЩ ^ The United Nations promotes this city/nation * ^iSjlHl as one of the poorest, most corrupt in the i* '/ ^ ^ l jJfeR ° H world; yet, global economic figures for 2009 У *ч \ " .J шт list it as the world's fifth fastest growing econ- . ' Ш л \ j „ .w | omy. From Christ followers whose lives seem i I*' \ # to leap straight out of the Gospels, to the ^ ^ ^ V / demon possessed whose lives are also mir- ^ t ^ t / rored shadows of their biblical counterparts, д s-v^ all co-exist as neighbors in Addis Ababa. "* " .* iT 1 From Muslim backgrounds and from ^ ^ Orthodox backgrounds, God is calling out J, ^ many in the city to follow Him. They are be¬ ing trained to share their faith and to start groups in their homes. Many are suffering great persecution for their faith as families and friends ostracize and disown them. On behalf of the Church living in Addis, thank you for praying for our city. Harar: stepping back a thousand years Walking through the gates of the walled city of Harar is like stepping back a thousand years. On narrow walk¬ ways, mounds of colorful spices and the smell of roasted coffee accompany the cries of children for money and Bic pens — the only reminder that you are in the 21st century! Women wearing brightly colored scarves sell vegetables and woven baskets, adding to the unique cultural environment of Harar. Yet as old as the city, so is the stronghold of Islam. Within the walls, nearly 200 mosques and shrines give testimony to the inherent Muslim nature of the Harari people. The Asmod- din Beri, one of five gates providing entrance into the city, is translated the "Missionary Gate," through which teachers have gone out to spread Islam to the surrounding regions. Pray for the Gospel to penetrate the Harari people's hearts: a message of the redeeming love of Jesus. PRAYER О POINTS PRAYER W POINTS PRAYER welcome to Mama's house n a land that seems untouched by time, walk through a rocky field and see an ancient-looking woman. You don't know her. She doesn't know you. But you find yourself in her embrace as she kisses you on each cheek. Welcome to Mama's house. Mama's family has been Ethiopian Orthodox Christian for hundreds of years. Yet despite the magnificent heritage of the church, false beliefs have eroded the Gospel witness. Many trust the Bible as God's Word but are too poor to own a copy; however, most are unable to read. Not long ago, workers used simple Bible stories to share the Gospel with this fam¬ ily and they covenanted to follow Christ. Despite opposition they have consistently shared the Good News, starting other groups that will become churches. " Finally ; pray for us , broth¬ ers, that the Lord's message may spread rapidly and be hon¬ ored, just as it was with you." (2 Thessalonians 3:1, HCSB) POINTS О PRAYER W POINTS PRAYER > POINTS