Doesn’t it seem to you like North Africa is restless? In the last month, there has been continued civil unrest in Mali which threatens to spill over into Mauritania and Morocco. The Western Sahara issue continues to be unsettled. Government ministers in Morocco resigned from the Islamist party led coalition. Algeria fears for the health and life of its President and wonders what will happen when he dies one day. Tunisia has been rocked by assassinations, bombs and protests. Libya continues to suffer from lawlessness, protests and violence. Egypt is gripped by uncertainty over its leadership, stability and peace. North and South Sudan wrestle with conflict, violence and all it means to be new nations.
What is happening? It seems that this great restlessness is a sign of some deeper longings. People are unhappy with what has been happening in their nations. Are they looking for a saviour when they really need THE SAVIOUR? Let’s ask God this month for the restlessness in people’s hearts to cause many to stop and evaluate what they are actually longing for. May many recognize the emptiness in their hearts and souls and begin to look for the Truth that will fill it. Pray Jesus to reveal Himself as the God of Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness and Self-Control. For those who already know Jesus, pray Romans 15:13: “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Ask God to keep holding back the darkness to allow more of His light to shine into North Africa.
Please remember Kenneth Bae (Bae Jun Ho) who is held captive in North Korea. He has been able to send letters home to his family and a video interview with him was released recently. His health (he is diabetic) has been deteriorating. His family is working hard to get the US government interested in freeing him but have been disappointed with the response so far…
The Kaesong Industrial zone is still closed down and talks about opening it have not been successful so far. There is growing concern that this landmark symbol of North and South Korean cooperation may fade away with the North Korean government taking possession of all the assets belonging to South Korean companies.
Internal discontent continues to grow inside North Korea over a number of things not least of which is growing corruption among officials. Things have also been aggravated by quick decisions made with seemingly little thought as to consequences. A couple of Kim Jong Un's recent efforts have back fire. Supposedly concerned about students, he shortened the school year only to anger people because of the shorter period to prepare for exams. His major publicity effort to create a modern ski resort is also causing a lot of grief and disillusionment (and attempts to stem the flow of bad news) as heavy rains caused major mud slides there.
The recent seizure of a North Korean ship transiting the Panama Canal from Cuba that contained MiG jets and obsolete missile parts supposedly bound for North Korea to be refurbished has raised again the specter of North Korean arms trade. At the same time, the North continues to try to bolster their image as a threatening nuclear power by featuring their backpack bomb unit (see picture here) at the recent parade to celebrate the "Great Fatherland Liberation War Victory Day" (July 27th, the 60th anniversary of the armistice ending active fighting in the Korean War in 1953). Experts are not much concerned, though. The North lacks the skill to truly miniaturize a nuclear device that would fit in a back-pack.
Ben Torrey <This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.>
Song about North Korea by Robert Park
Watch the music video for the song “Indifference”:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ILjAP5SmxTE&feature=youtu.be
The song “Indifference” deals with the ongoing North Korean humanitarian/human rights emergency, and the seemingly willful powerlessness of the international community to meaningfully address it. While much attention is paid to the DPRK’s nuclear and WMD development, virtually nothing is being done to prioritize the lives of starved, brutalized and enslaved masses, including numberless children. A decades-long compassionless and uncreative fear-based approach to North Korea has only exacerbated the crisis on every level, and at an incalculable human loss.
STOP NK GENOCIDE <This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.>
Pray for the release of Ken Bae and all held in prison camps who are suffering for their faith or for suspicion over their political persuasions. All three generations of the families of those accused of being Christians or being disloyal to the government are imprisoned to be worked to death. Pray for the closing down of such Nazi-like concentration camps and for either the reform or removal of the wicked regime of Kim Jung Un.
This is an annual worldwide prayer campaign for the fulfillment of the Great Commission in this generation. It is 21 consecutive days of passionate, heart-level prayer and intercession, seeking God to move significantly, so that His kingdom might come among the remaining unreached and unengaged people groups. Individuals, churches, para-church ministries, campus fellowships, mission organizations gather daily in small groups for 30 minutes to 1 hour to "stand in the gap" (Ezekiel 22:30) for personal revival and spiritual awakening in the body of Christ that leads to a surrendered focus on the fulfillment of the Great Commission. Individual and groups sign up on the website and adopt (for the purpose of the 21 Days Prayer), an unreached and unengaged people group and then dedicate September 29 - October 19th, 2013 to praying for the move of God among the people group.
For further details, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. You can also log on to www.21daysofprayer.net/
Miguel Angel Trevino Morales, the leader the Zetas drug cartel has been arrested in Mexico.
Mexican marines apprehended Miguel Angel Trevino Morales near Nuevo Laredo, which is near the Texas border. Morales was wanted on both sides of the border, with Mexico and the U.S. offering hefty rewards.
Mexican authorities say he had $2 million, eight weapons and hundreds of ammunition cartridges with him when he was captured in a pickup truck. Morales had two other people with him. The 40-year-old is accused of ordering the kidnapping and killing of hundreds of migrants. He faces charges of organized crime, homicide, torture and money laundering.
Praise God, He is answering! The majority of Mexico’s most wanted drug cartel leaders have been apprehended or otherwise removed from their ruthless, bloodthirsty occupation as His people there and around the world have prayed! Let’s continue to pray that “El Chapo” Guzman and other remaining drug kingpins will be found and arrested and that the Mexican government will have God’s wisdom and help in carrying out this battle with organized evil in their country.
Armed group says first batch of fighters have arrived and have set up a command and control centre to begin operations.
The Pakistani Taliban has said its first batch of fighters has arrived in Syria to fight alongside rebels battling the regime of President Bashar al-Assad…
More than two years since the start of the anti-Assad rebellion, Syria has become a magnet for foreign Sunni fighters who have flocked to the country to what many see as a holy war against the regime.
Operating alongside armed groups such as the al-Nusra Front, an al-Qaeda affiliate in Syria and a US-designated terrorist organisation, they mainly come from nearby countries such as Libya and Tunisia.
Al Jazeera’s Kamal Hyder, reporting from Islamabad, said the Taliban claimed that "Arab fighters in Syria had requested their help, that hundreds of their fighters were preparing to go there, or were already in Syria, through unfrequented roots".
The announcement further complicates the picture on the ground in Syria, where rivalries have already been intense between the Free Syrian Army (FSA) and groups seeking to implement Islamic law…
It also comes at a time when Assad's forces, with backing from Shia fighters from Hezbollah and Iran, have been making gains on the Syrian battlefield.
The Pakistani Taliban, known as the Tehreek-e-Taliban, operate mainly from Pakistan's ethnic Pashtun areas along the Afghan border - a long-standing stronghold for armed groups including the Taliban and their al-Qaeda allies.
Taliban fighters in Pakistan, who are linked to their Afghan counterparts, are mainly fighting to topple Pakistan's government and to impose their version of Islam, targeting the military, security forces and civilians.
Source: Al Jazeera and agencies
Please keep Syria and its ongoing conflict in your prayers. Some local Christian leaders are gathering there shortly for a united prayer initiative. Pray that they will be led by the Lord in confessing the sins of the nation, working for reconciliation among themselves and praying unitedly for His healing and deliverance for this embattled and suffering nation. There are also huge numbers that have left their homes and become refugees both within Syria and in nearby nations, causing a potentially catastrophic humanitarian situation. Pray for their needs to be supplied quickly and generously by the host governments, the international community and humanitarian and church organizations.
The First House of Prayer in Melanesia
Launched by the Prime Minister of the Solomon Islands
TO GOD BE THE THE GLORY GREAT THINGS HE HAS DONE... The IHOP-LINKING THE ISLANDS in Buderim Australia and the SIHOP which we have recently launched from July 10th - 14th 2013 in Honiara. Officially launched by our Prime Minister, the Honourable Gordon Darcy Lilo at the Lawson Tama National stadium. It was indeed a real blessing to have great speakers like Pastor Ben Gray and Pastor Ian Malins, men I have known for a long time. Their teaching and sharing at our two days of leadership conference was very powerful and relevant. Brother Ben's sharing at the International Leaders Prayer Breakfast and the Official launch have left a convicting and changing impact upon our Prime Minister whose government also sponsored the 200 leaders Prayer breakfast at Mendana Hotel. The crowd of between 3000 plus people at the Public Official Launch were also greatly impacted our PM and the Body of Christ. It was also a blessing to have Jenny Hagger from Australia House of Prayer in Adelaide and Sue Rowe from Transform World Ministry in California sharing powerfully with the women of Melanesia…The Redeemed Cultural Festival was one of the Highlights when various groups of children and youth took the opportunity to showcase their redeemed culture and passion to serve God relevantly in their God-given cultures.
"GOD'S SET TIME FOR THE SOUTH PACIFIC.."
The Launching of the Solomon Islands House of Prayer was very significant because it releases three most important foundational structures to build His church upon.
(1) God is using Children and Youth to lead the way forward in this 'NEW SPIRITUAL WAVE' of PRAYER... WORSHIP..&.. MISSION. We must provide platforms for these two generations to lead the way under the anointed and called Adult Leaders to guide, to guard, inspire and lead them in faith and boldness.
(2) Children & Youth are the two generations that God will build 'HIS BODY' through because of their purity and passion in prayer and worship. The Adults are very denominationally focused, but Malachi 4:6 will be fulfilled in that..."the hearts of the fathers will turn to their children and children to their fathers."
(3) When the BODY OF CHRIST is fully function in PRAYER...WORSHIP...&...PRACTICAL MISSIONS throughout our nation in all area of life then we will see our nation blessed with.... (a) A GODLY GOVERNMENT... (b) RESTORATION & TRANSFORMATION taking place in our nation...
Brother Roy Funu
IHOP-Linking the Islands