From the Sudan Support Network (SSNet): We feel compelled to mobilize a 40-hour prayer chain for Sudan & South Sudan for the weekend of 25 to 27 January 2013.
To be exact: Next weekend, starting on Friday evening 19:00 to Sunday 11:00.
The structure is quite easy to understand: 40 slots of 1 hour each. We want to encourage believers from different nations to take responsibility for part of that 40 hours. It does not matter so much if in the various time zones it does not match up precisely; we believe that in heaven it will add up.
Please mail me specific commitment(s) to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Could I encourage that you sign up and ask others to do too for 1 hour or more next weekend in prayer for Sudan.
Key directions for prayer:
*Psalm 2 – the whole Psalm
*From the Scripture given below, it is a sobering thought that in the past month more than 100 Christian workers have been kicked out of Sudan. Right now, they're picking up the pieces. The process is continuing relentlessly! It reminds a LOT of when Christian workers were kicked out "en masse" from China in the 1950's. Everybody thought that's the end of Christianity in China, but now we know that GOD had to do that for the growth that would come.
Pray that God would raise up indigenous believers to take up the baton in Sudan. (He's already doing that).
Pray healing and direction for those kicked out and picking up the pieces.
For more info on Sudan, please go to www.Sudan4Jesus.com.
“News from Pakistan is a huge challenge to pray for our land, our people and us. Since 14th January an "Arab Spring" like situation has developed in our capital city, Islamabad. Several hundred thousand men, women and children have congregated in Islamabad calling for an end to the present corrupt government, electoral reforms and a new caretaker government to carry out elections. The government has adopted a wait and watch attitude hoping that the movement will fizzle out; the opposition parties have rallied together to oppose what they call a "circus" in Islamabad; civil society is also against the gathering in the Capital and we are praying that no violence will ensue as there are women and children in the gathering. The whole shebang is being led by a religious scholar who has recently returned from Canada to bring about reforms in Pakistan. As a dual-nationality holder he is barred from taking part in national politics but has adopted this novel way of bringing about reforms.
Islamabad has been under lock down for the last four days with millions of man-hours wasted due to which the economy has been adversely affected. In addition the Taliban and other militant groups are carrying on a brutal wave of bombings, target killings and suicide attacks on the general public, security forces and especially the Shia'ite community, minority sect in Islam. In one city alone over a hundred people were killed by bombings. Later, the affected people brought out the coffins of their loved ones and laid them in a street for three days before the government even decided to talk with them! Death and destruction have become so commonplace in our country that it takes a jolt like this incident to get people out protesting against such excesses. Unfortunately, the "circus in Islamabad' overshadowed this event also. Please pray that our country will see peace and a return to “normality.”
The Situation in the North
We would like to start off by calling attention to the arrest and detention of Kenneth Bae (Korean name: Pae Jun Ho), a US citizen and resident of Los Angeles. As you can see from the links in the sentence, Kenneth Bae was the owner of Nations Tours in Los Angeles. He was apparently arrested when North Korean authorities found compromising material on the computer of a person on one of his tours. Please pray that he be safe from harm while in custody and for his speedy release.
This past December 17th marked the first anniversary of the death of Kim Jong Il. The Kumsusan Palace of the Sun, which had been closed earlier in the year for renovation, was opened to the public again on that date to display the embalmed body of the dead leader. Here is an article with a number of pictures. This is part of the ongoing effort to memorialize Kim Jong Il in the same manner as his father Kim Il Sung and to establish the succession of his son.
As experts reflect back on this first year of Kim Jong Un's rule, they agree that he is bringing in changes--some very remarkable--but commentators differ as to what they mean. Andrei Lankov (Russian historian and North Korea specialist) discusses the great changes that have occurred in the military in this piece on missing generals. Here is one analyst who does not think that Kim Jong Un will be able to hold onto power for very long while another one here sees steps that he has been taking to establish his rule. At the same time, the new leader is beefing up security around himself and in Pyongyang. There is also evidence that people are taking greater liberties in their discussion of Kim Jong Un then when his father ruled. He has acquired a new nick name, "General Soimae" after a popular cartoon figure, "The Boy General."
Of course the big news in both South and North Korea is the election of Park Geun Hye as South Korea's new president to take office in February. The election of a woman has astounded the people of the North. The northern government made a speedy but terse announcement not referring to her by name. People everywhere are wondering what her election will mean for the future of North-South relationships as she is from the same, conservative Saenuri party as the current president. She has also visited North Korea on her own. While her father, the former military dictator of South Korea, Park Chung Hee, was in power in the 1960s and 1970s, he was the first South Korean leader to engage the North. There are many firsts related to her election.
In addition to the returning Obama administration in the United States and Park Geun Hye's election in South Korea, China also has a new president, Xi Jinping, who will take office in March. With these new administrations in three of the nations around North Korea, we can certainly look towards significant developments in this new year. Please keep this whole Northeast Asian region in your prayers.
We are excited to start the year praying for the world’s most influential marketplace, and we are so thankful that you’re praying with us! We are calling 2013 the YEAR OF THE HOLY SPIRIT because we are expecting Him to do incredible miracles in our hearts and lives and in the hearts and lives of industry professionals! We know that great things are coming this year, so let’s PRAY…
SUMMARY:
• Pray for filmmakers and actors during this awards nomination season
• Thank God for HPN being represented at the ATMC event in Florida
• Let’s keep praying for The American Bible Challenge game show
• We praise God for His provision for HPN at the end of 2012
• Pray for Christians outside Hollywood to embrace people inside Hollywood
• Pray for Stephen Colbert, who has gone through great loss in his life
• Pray for the Sundance Film Festival, from January 17 – 27, 2013 in Park City
• Pray for Dick Wolf, Producer of Miami Vice, Law & Order and The Church
• Hollywood is noticing the growing number of believers who go to church
• Please pray for the family and friends of Frank Pastore, who died last month
• Let's pray for Charlie Humbard, the President and CEO of GMC
• Let’s pray for our industry pros to be hungry for God and to seek Him
• Pray with and for the HPN Twin Cities Local Chapter Director, Heidi
• Pray for HPN member, Rene, in Sacramento, who’s going through a tough time
• The National Prayer Committee is gathering this year in Hollywood
• Industry pros: join us for an Experiencing God seminar by Claude King
• HPN member, Jozanne Marie, is opening her one woman show, Beautiful
• The Next Film series offers classes for filmmakers of all disciplines
UPDATES:
• Continue to pray for filmmakers and actors as their films and jobs are being nominated by the press, the guilds and the Academy of Motion Pictures, for the many upcoming awards shows honoring the films of 2012. This is the most confusing time of year, as people feel completely crushed or unnaturally elated, based on how their film or work was seen by their peers. For the list of recently announced Oscar nominations, click
(http://www.hollywoodprayernetwork.org/crm/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=389265&qid=948927).
• Last week, our HPN Atlanta Local Chapter Director, Cassandra Hollis, represented HPN at a large annual SHINE event that was sponsored by ATMC (Actors, Models & Talent for Christ) in Florida. It was a great success, and Cassandra tells us, “I had a real sense of being a missionary in the field of entertainment. It was a great time of fellowship, and my presentation went well. I was at peace and had an intimate dialogue about the need for more Christians to pray for industry professionals.” We thank God for these opportunities, for AMTC and for Cassandra. If you would like to be a prayer partner/intercessor this year with an entertainment industry professional, email Lisa at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
• Let’s keep praying for The American Bible Challenge (Thursdays at 8:00pm ET/PT) as it goes into its second season on GSN (Game Show Network). In its first season, the show brought in the network’s highest numbers in its 17-year history with 1.7 million total viewers for its series premiere and over 13 million total viewers during its run. The success of the show has hit digital and social platforms with the launch of The American Bible Challenge Game for iPhone, iPad, Android, Kindle and Facebook, with an amazing 8 million+ game plays and 500,000+ users. It’s a phenomenon that a Bible game show would be such the hit! And not only does the show ask historically and Biblically compelling questions, but the contestants all share their back stories, which include many stories of faith, and they all give ALL of their winnings to the charity of their choice! For more information, click
(http://www.hollywoodprayernetwork.org/crm/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=389266&qid=948927).
PRAISES: We praise God for His provision. He was so faithful to provide all of HPN’s end-of-the-year financial needs, and we thank all of you who donated as well. We can’t thank you enough for your vision for the media and for your support of HPN. We couldn’t do it without you! Whether you are a long time giver or you just joined our giving team for the first time, we PRAISE GOD FOR YOU!
REQUESTS:
• Let’s start the year with the prayer that more Christians outside of Hollywood will have a heart for the people here in Hollywood! If the hearts of the Christians outside of Hollywood melt, then they will pray more and have more compassion for the people on the inside, and we will see miracles happen to industry professionals! Softened hearts will also break the barrier that has kept the Church and Hollywood divided for so many decades. May the Church have love and compassion for the Nation’s culture-creators so their lives will change, then their content will change, and then our culture will change! This is a yearlong prayer request!
• Pray for Stephen Colbert, who has gone through a tremendous amount of loss in his life and yet has chosen to have a great attitude. A quote he has on his computer reads, "Joy is the most infallible sign of the presence of God." As you're praying for Stephen, read his full story HERE.
• Pray for the Sundance Film Festival, from January 17 – 27, 2013 in Park City, Utah. It is one of the year’s biggest film festivals where filmmakers, distributors and marketers all gather to see what’s available to pick up for the new year. Please pray for the filmmakers to find the Lord there, for the distributors to be moved by God when choosing what films to buy and for the audiences to be discerning in their choice of films to embrace. And may the Christians there have a beautiful, eternal impact on everyone they encounter. For more information about Sundance, click (http://www.hollywoodprayernetwork.org/crm/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=389268&qid=948927).
• Pray for Producer Dick Wolf (Miami Vice and Law & Order) and his new show coming out, currently titled The Church. Dick has been controversial in how he represents Christians on his shows, so we want to ask the Lord to melt his heart and reveal to Dick His unconditional love and not the stereotypes that come from people who have been hurt in the past by someone in the Church or in the name of God. HERE’s an editorial with insight on how to pray for Dick Wolf and his upcoming show.
• Hollywood is noticing the growing number of bold believers who are church-going industry professionals. Pray for the strength and depth of faith for the community of Hollywood Christians. May we all find one another and build unity, support, prayer and love. Read a fun list of "Hollywood Churches"
(http://www.hollywoodprayernetwork.org/crm/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=389270&qid=948927).
• Please pray for the family and friends of Frank Pastore, who died last month in a tragic accident in Los Angeles. Frank was the host of the Frank Pastore Show on KKLA and a passionate supporter of our Christian community in Hollywood. Frank’s wife, Gina, especially needs our prayers during this time of loss. For more on Frank, click (http://www.hollywoodprayernetwork.org/crm/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=389271&qid=948927).
• Last month, we prayed for I Forgive You, a new show on GMC. This month, let's pray for Charlie Humbard, the President and CEO of GMC. Charlie has been with GMC for years, and as a Christian, he wants to expand the channel to meet the entertainment needs of all families across the country with films, TV shows and other quality entertainment. May we ask the Lord to give him wisdom, discernment and favor as he builds this cable network. For more about GMC, click (http://www.hollywoodprayernetwork.org/crm/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=389272&qid=948927).
• Let’s pray for our industry pros to be hungry for God and to take time to hear His voice and sense His direction. We're all too busy here, either working or trying to find work, and we need to take time to sit quietly in God's presence. The hardest thing for us, as artists, is to seek God in solitude! Henri Nouwen says it best:
“It is a great advantage to have a room or a corner of a room…reserved for the discipline of solitude…There we dwell in the presence of the Lord. Our temptation is to do something useful - to read something stimulating, to think about something interesting, or to experience something unusual. But our moment of solitude is precisely a moment in which we want to be in the presence of our Lord with empty hands, naked, vulnerable, useless, without much to show, prove, or defend . . . Although the discipline of solitude asks us to set aside time and space, what finally matters is that our hearts become like quiet cells where God can dwell, wherever we go and whatever we do. The more we train ourselves to spend time with God and him alone, the more we will discover that God is with us at all times and in all places. Then we will be able to recognize him even in the midst of a busy and active life. Once the solitude of time and space has become a solitude of the heart, we will never have to leave that solitude. We will be able to live the spiritual life in any place and any time. Thus the discipline of solitude enables us to live active lives in the world, while remaining always in the presence of the living God.” Henri Nouwen
Thank you for starting out your new year with PRAYER! We are praying that the Lord encourages you and gives you the desires of your hearts this year!
The Resurrection is a major motion picture that will tell the story of the resurrection of Jesus Christ and the events of the forty days that lead up to his ascension into heaven.
News stories about The Resurrection Project:
• http://www.christianpost.com/news/the-resurrection-hollywood-producer-aims-for-gods-sequel-to-the-passion-72127/
• http://mobile.wnd.com/2012/11/passion-of-the-christ-sequel-looking-for-you/
More information about the project: http://myresurrectionproject.com/deals/the-resurrection-project/
Executive Producer – David Wood
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Let’s pray that the Lord would be glorified in this effort to portray His resurrection. Pray for unity, wisdom and provision for the planning team and for David Wood who is coordinating this effort.
Thanks to those of you who were able to pray with us for our recent Middle East trip. Colleagues and I met with senior church leaders in four countries of that region about developing a regional strategic prayer focus that will connect people of prayer across the region and Christian traditions. The Lord surely answered and we had great favor with open doors and hearts in every place. Along with the evangelical leaders in each country, we met with the office of the Ecumenical Patriarch in Istanbul and the Coptic Orthodox Pope, a major bishop and several priests in Egypt. In Jordan, the Director of the Middle East Council of Churches and others strongly urged us to move ahead with the prayer initiative. In Lebanon, the Armenian Orthodox Catholics, the Catholic Cardinal and Archbishops from Catholic and Syrian Orthodox churches all were positive and encouraging, saying that they would support this prayer effort. Two radio interviews and a TV appearance enabled us to get the word out more widely to many thousands of others.
The overwhelming consensus was that the both the church and prayer leaders we consulted are not only extremely grateful to have the international prayer movement focus special prayer on their region, they would also like to come together themselves for a Middle East prayer assembly, probably later this year. Please pray for this possibility. Here are some other key prayer concerns that we ask you to take on with us:
We will focus on different countries and prayer concerns for this region throughout the year, but to kick things off this month here are some key general concerns we hope you will focus your prayers on:
1. That Christian leaders will value prayer and the unity of His Body and be able to come together for a Middle East prayer assembly.
2. For many more Muslims to continue to encounter Jesus in their visions and dreams and for Christ’s people to boldly and lovingly share Him with them.
3. Peace in the conflicts that are raging in various nations of the region, especially in Syria where tens of thousands have lost their lives and 4 million of the 20 million population have become refugees within their country, in Lebanon, Jordan and other places. They need the international community to care and provide badly needed supplies since they are suffering acutely during the winter cold. Pray for them and these humanitarian efforts to be abundant and effective.
4. That Christians will not choose to emigrate as many have done, but will stay to serve and be His witnesses.
5. That the younger generation will arise and carry out the mission the Lord has for them.
6. For the peoples of the region to accept one another as brothers and for forgiveness and justice to prevail, especially in the longstanding Israeli-Palestinian conflict which has caused violence by fundamentalists and radicals to surge.
Thanks for your prayers for a change of atmosphere in what is probably the most challenging of all regions on earth.
