It was encouraging to hear from one of the veteran workers in Afgh anistan that there is a better atmosphere with more hope for the future being expressed by expatriate and local brothers and sisters who live there. He attributes this in part to our year-long prayer focus on the nation. There has also been an encouraging growth in the prayer movement in both nations. Let's continue to pray for His transforming hand to bring down the wicked powers (both spiritual and human) that stand in opposition to God's good purposes for these lands and their peoples. Here are some fresh prayer concerns from our friends who know the situation:   Pakistan 1. Praise God that new believers are coming into the Kingdom, many for the first time and many in groups. Pray for strength and protection. They are being attacked. Many are coming to faith at the cost of their lives. 2. Electricity and gas for cooking and running cars are only being supplied in major cities for 6 hours a day. Rationing  is taking place in many cities now. 3. Corruption is rampant. This is leading police to demand bribes to protect Christians.   4. There is a move by radical Muslims to demand the death penalty for "blaspheming Muhammad". This could be used against Christians so pray that it will not be passed by the government. 5. Continue to pray for the local believers to overcome any fear of taking on spiritual strongholds in the authority of Christ and for the prayer movement to become united, involving Christians of all the different denominations, even those that have been at odds with one another in the past. Afghanistan 1. President Karzai has still not signed the agreement that would keep a small coalition military force in the country for the coming years to serve as a bulwark to the Afghan army and against attempts by the Taliban to overrun the nation. 2. Pray for good, moderate people who really care for their nation to gain the support of the people for the national elections in April, especially for the position of president. 3. Pray for the training and strengthening of the local believers and the building up of the prayer movement in the country. 4. Pray for more teams of prayer leaders and intercessors to visit both nations to provide support and encouragement to the locals and for great favor with the authorities for visas to be granted. Some wicked Taliban leaders responsible for the killing of thousands of people that need to be brought to justice: Afghanistan Taliban Mullah Muhammad Omar (Mullah - religious leader & teacher like Rev. or Pastor. Muhammad - descriptive title - Muslim follower of Muhammad) Pakistan Taliban (North West-Pakistan) Mullah Fazllullah is the new leader who has taken over Hakimullah Mehsud's place who was killed. Pray for confusion and dissension.  Fazllullah is the first outsider to ever take leadership for the Mehsud tribe. Many from within the tribe are not happy.  He is a far more aggressive and fierce leader. Punjab Taliban (supply much of the finances and suicide bombers for the war.) Malik Ishaq is the main leader and organizer, connected to the Taliban and Al-Qaida.  Creating trouble in Afghanistan, Punjab and a strong effort to take over the city of Karachi. Hafiz Saeed, one of Malik's main people.  Used in the Afghanistan war.  But with their belief that the war will be over in 2014, he is once again heading up war initiatives against India. Pray for these wicked men to be brought down and removed from influence in both nations.

The New York Times (January 3) describes "a murky, vicious conflict" in South Sudan, the world's newest nation with "a lot of very disturbing reports about targeted killings of Nuer, as well as targeted killings of Dinka", the two main ethnic groups in South Sudan. At least 1,000 people have been killed in fighting between government and rebel forces so far, with disturbing reports of ethnically motivated atrocities by both sides. This situation, the article says, raises the "specter of mass atrocities".
 
Let's be in prayer that Satan, the destroyer, will be bound, and that leaders on both sides of the conflict will be moved to engage in negotiations for peace and healing of their division. Pray for the United States that is frantically trying to broker peace talks between the warring factions as well as strengthening a United Nations peacekeeping force. Intercede too for South Sudan's neighboring countries Ethiopia, Uganda and Kenya to effectively take a leading role in bringing peace.

"Islamist militants stormed police stations in several cities of Iraq's restive western province of Anbar on Wednesday, seizing weapon caches and freeing prisoners after security forces dismantled a Sunni protest camp on Monday. The attacks on police stations in Falluja, Ramadi and Tarmiya represent an escalation in the confrontation between Iraqi Sunni groups and the Shiite-led government of Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki. In Falluja, a police officer said gunmen first forced policemen to leave their posts without their weapons, then deployed snipers on a nearby building to prevent the security forces from retaking command. In Tarmiya, at least four officers were killed when gunmen attacked a police headquarters, the police reported. Mr. Maliki had said this week that the civilian police force could resume control over Anbar's security, but that decision was changed after an appeal by the province's governor." (New York Times, Jan. 1) Pray for the restoration of peace and stability in Iraq. Over 9000 people were killed in 2013 in suicide bombings and other attacks, largely due to the ongoing conflict between the Sunni and Shiite Muslims. Pray for an end to the newest violence by Islamic radicals in the restive Anbar province and that the government will be able to effectively contain and overcome it. Here are some additional key ministry concerns for the land of Iraq from some dear friends who are Christian leaders in the northern part of the country. Especially pray for the building up of a strong prayer movement within the nation, which they are seeking to do: - Praise the Lord for the showing of Jesus Film according to the Gospel of Luke, in a cinema in Erbil starting on the 19th December and for three weeks, and in another cinema in Baghdad. Please pray for smooth showings and many Arab & Kurdish people to see the film, also, pray please for follow up.    - Praise God for prayer training "Dark Places" that will take place in Erbil on the 6-9th Feb. Please pray for God's sovereignty & grace to be upon the speakers and for the Iraqi and international participants living in Erbil. Also, for the preparatory meeting, entitled "Reconciliation" the last week of January to start a prayer movement within the church of Iraq.    - Praise God for our weekly discipleship program "Arise & Build", which is increasing in number, Please pray for it's continuation after the holidays, and for heavenly wisdom for the next schedule, for God to water the seeds planted in the souls. - Pray for the Radio Ministry training taking place fist week of January,    Thank you for standing with us in the gap Mahir & Sahar

Towns in the provinces have experienced a return of their old demons in the form of armed confrontations. There is no let-up for the civilian population, and people are continuing to cross over the border into the Democratic Republic of Congo to seek refuge there.

• A few days ago. fighting was reported between the Seleka and anti-Balaka in Dékoa.
• Inhabitants of the Ouaka region arrived in Bangui last week, denouncing the fighting and extortions that are going on there and in the town of Bambari.
• Yesterday we learned of fierce fighting in Djimbi between Goula and  Runga tribespeople (all Seleka) which had led to a number of deaths. The townspeople were sitting it out, holed up in their houses.
• In Bria, Muslims and French Sangaris troops have been locked in mortal combat.

In short, this is the climate in which preparations are being made for the Bangui Forum - supposed to be a national dialogue that will restore peace to the CAR. Delegations including representatives of the different religions will go up and down the country holding preparatory talks in different places. This will include areas where fighting is going on. I will probably be a member of one of these delegations, though I do not know which one or where it will be going to. Peace is beyond price, as is said; but we have need of your prayers.

The irresponsibility of the different armed militia groups, along with the egoism of their leaders does not make the task any easier, and we do not know if the elections planned for the middle of this year will be held in anything like normal conditions.   

Night temperatures in Bangui are falling below 15° C, something quite unprecedented, while during the day the mercury goes back up to over 30°C. Numerous sudden deaths have been reported in the capital, and many children are ill. The spiritual war appears to be moving to a different front, and we must continue to trust in the Lord.

Thank you for praying, and may He bless you.