Let the “New Wave” of His Glory Fill the Earth!

Your heart will be stirred to see the new World Prayer Assembly video which is called "The New Wave is Coming!" It was filmed and produced by the award-winning Media Village. Here is a direct link to the 7 minute video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XnEL_NAiSR0&feature=youtube

Please have a look and share the link with others you think would be interested in seeing it. Many are seeing a spiritual tsunami rising up through the global prayer movement. As we meet from around the world in Jakarta this May, the waves from many nations will converge and this great tsunami of His Spirit will cascade outward from the prayer revival now happening in Indonesia to the rest of the world. This is the theme of the new video. Please pray with us for those He is calling to join us at the WPA and for every nation to be represented in Jakarta.

“But which of them has stood in the council of the Lord to see or hear his word? Who has listened and heard his word?”-Jeremiah 23:18
Some snapshots of the global prayer movement as reported by our leadership during a recent conference call:
 24/7 Prayer Movement- Amazing stories of growth. Website hits have increased about 30%. Since the beginning of the year, there was a 40% increase in prayer response. Missional communities are growing everywhere and new movements are starting. In South Africa, taxi drivers at war with one another came together with the church leaders at a stadium, and there was reconciliation. Out of that spread a number of prayer initiatives. - Etienne
 One great need for prayer across Central Asia concerns increased persecution. It is a new season in the region and prayer is needed on how to move forward for the Great Harvest that He has promised. – Eunice
 The Latin America Prayer Summit concluded with 31 people representing 12 nations (Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Paraguay, Bolivia, Peru, El Salvador, Mexico, Uruguay, Dominican Republic, and for the first time a good representation from Venezuela.) The meeting was in Curitiba, Brazil, March 2-5. Powerful days. A highlight was the participation of the youth with the anointing they brought to the meetings. They will participate together as nations in a continental prayer agenda, lifting up an altar of praise, worship, and intercession to the Lord. - Yanira
 China, Hong Kong and Taiwan- Intercessors on the prayer wall have been working well, and multiple prayer walls were established for the past year. About 600 people are going to the World Prayer Assembly and will be one of the most strategic groups there. – Gloria
 Europe- national initiatives have multiplied and often there are reports of other convocations and prayer meetings. Croatia—3 years ago started to fulfil their call. Denmark has a prayer initiative. Prague in the Czech Republic had a prayer gathering recently. - Ioan
 USA- Presidential and other governmental elections in November that generates a significant amount of prayer- a momentum of deep, profound prayer for the USA and how it influences the world. Re-launching of Pray magazine now called Prayer Connect (name influenced by IPC and acknowledged). New initiative called the “One Cry” movement which calls forth 50,000 prayer warriors in a common revival vision and to equip them to become ongoing and informed intercessors. – Steve
 United Kingdom- Major events happening: Diamond Jubilee of her Majesty, the Queen, and Olympics (July/August, 2012) and the Para Olympics. A couple months ago, Christian prayer was banned in all council chambers, government chambers, and other public places. A footballer collapsed at a match. A call spread across the nation to pray for him including one of the most secular newspapers that wrote “God is in Control” when hearing the man was getting better. Organizing ahead of the Olympic torch, praying ahead and behind the torch “Jesus, the Light of the world”. – Ian
 Sri Lanka- Every region has monthly prayer movement with pastors/elders (inter-denominational). Within our own denomination, 5,000 involved in intercessory prayer. Despite bleak situations in the country, God is moving by His Spirit through spiritual warfare, intercession, prayer, unity. - Leslie
 Operation World prayer guide being abridged from 1,000 to less than 300 pages and rewritten in more accessible English for non-native English speakers. To be translated into many languages—more than the original larger book’s translations. Project will be done in autumn 2012. - Jason
 Caribbean- Another regional prayer summit being planned. In Jamaica, they are in high gear for 50 years of independence. They are declaring jubilee over the nation and to seek to bring the nation into repentance and transformation. - Maria
 The World Prayer Assembly has required 8 trips to Indonesia, Korea, and surrounding nations. Hectic and very demanding but also joyful and thrilling to see what the Lord is doing through the WPA. Denominations across the nation are united to participate, God has given favour with political leadership, and millions in more than 350 cities will pray with the Assembly in a live broadcast on May 17 that will also be connected
around the world by GodTV. The Indonesians have developed the “My Home” Project where believers adopt their own streets for prayer and reach out in loving service to their neighbours. Millions of Christians will be involved in this. - John
 The World Prayer Assembly Intercession Task Force has received a word from the Lord in different groups but the same vision: a big book is opened, and a "new page" is showing a new season, a new day in which the Holy Spirit is orchestrating a worldwide prayer strategy that will surpass any other prayer movement during the Church’s history. In the WPA 2012, the Holy Spirit will equip the Body of Christ to participate with Jesus in His intercessory ministry. The result will be a great harvest of souls that will be added to the Kingdom of Heaven. IPC is a tool that God is using to align His people to his prophetic agenda. Not only a new wave, but a fresh anointing in prayer and intercession will be release all over the earth. – Yanira
 I resonate with Yanira's word that this is a new page of a the Chronicle as the Lord also put the scripture of Revelation in my heart about the opening of the Scroll for the WPA:
 "When he had taken the scroll; the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell before the Lamb, each holding a harp and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. They sing a new song: 'You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slaughtered and by your blood your ransomed for God saints from every tribe and language and people and nation; you have made them to be a kingdom and priests serving our God, and they will reign on earth." (Rev 5:8-10).
 We will enter into a new season for the nations to see the opening of the Scroll! This is about new understandings of the end-time redeemed purposes and unique destinies of different nations in His kingdom before the creation when different tribes and languages gather before His throne and worship Him with new song and intercession during the WPA. Corporate listening during that time is thus very important!
 And as the WPA is going to open on May 14, the Lord also impress me with the same number of scripture in 1 Peter 5:14: "And this is the boldness we have in Him that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have obtained the requests made of him." Corporate intercession in unity during the WPA is therefore history changing! - Gloria
World Prayer Assembly - Final Call to Register
This is the last call for the WPA, a once-in-generation encounter with the Lord, cutting-edge ministry leaders, on-fire youth and praying children from around the world. We will be meeting in the midst of the greatest prayer revival happening on earth with millions of believers in 350 Indonesian cities also participating. You can register at www.wpa2012.org until April 14 for this once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Hope to see you in Jakarta,
WPA International Coordination Team, leaders from the Indonesian and Korean prayer movements, the International Prayer Council, and many other prayer and ministry networks

Egyptian Christians have requested our prayers following a series of similar incidents in several provinces across the country in which Christians have been threatened or attacked. Egyptian Christians are keen to stress that there are a range of motivations behind these =
incidents, and the primary call is for prayer that effective rule of law will be established and applied equitably to all citizens and institutions throughout the country.

On 5th November a group of Salafists occupied church-owned land in the Shubra district of Cairo. Church leaders informed the Interior Ministry who arranged for the Salafists to leave the site the next day. However this problem is ongoing as Salafists do not want the church to put up a fence or an administrative building, in spite of the fact that all legal documents have been in order for some time and the Church has the support of the Governor. Church leaders have urged members not to engage with Salafists who visit the site.

In early November the General Manager of the Coptic Agricultural Bank in Minya was kidnapped. He was released on 4th November. A ransom was demanded. However, effective police action led to the man being released with no payment made.

In late October a Christian concert was stopped in Minya province due to accusations from Salafists that it was an evangelistic event. Church leaders stated that, whilst the concert was open to anyone who wished to attend, it was made clear to all that it was a Christian event intended for a Christian audience.

Egyptian Christians note that incidents like these often occur as a result of inadequate state security provision, and that Muslims are also suffering as a result of this lack of security. They note that since January 2011, weak security and rising Salafist extremism mean that Christian communities are increasingly vulnerable. Because the authorities seem unable or reluctant to protect Christians from extremist assailants, it has become more common for minor disputes to escalate into sectarian clashes.

Egyptian Christians request our prayers that:
a.    The government of President Mursi will uphold the rule of law, ensuring the equitable treatment of all citizens
b.    This will be enshrined in the new constitution, which is currently being drafted
c.    The situation in Shubra will be resolved and the church’s rights upheld and respected by all
d.    Church leaders will know the Spirit’s enabling wisdom to respond to injustice with fact, firmness, and clarity while maintaining a faithful and clear witness to Jesus
e.    All officials involved will love mercy, act justly, learn about Jesus, and choose to follow Him
(From a Christian leader in the Middle East)

Some stats in relation to Egypt

•    Estimated 85-90 million people in Egypt.
•    Approximately 13 million of them are Coptic Christians
•    With a further 1 million Evangelical Christians
•    Cairo (capital) has an estimated population of 23 million people, of which 5 million commute to Cairo for work from outlying areas
•    Since the revolution, there is a limited police force on the ground, but it’s virtually non-functional in day-to-day affairs.
•    The army has retracted mainly to military operations and oversight of the country; Egypt is ruled by a Muslim Brotherhood-led government whose chief aim seems to be the institution of Islamic Sharia Law to establish Egypt as a pure Islamic state, thereby limiting the role of Christians and if possible rid the country of its 2000-year Christian history and witness.
•    There is an increasing lawlessness with emerging gangs of young Muslims terrorizing parts of city and country.
•    An estimated 120+ thousand Christians from the more affluent and educated levels of Egyptian society have emigrated since 2011 revolution.
•    We heard there is an excess of 1 million Muslims coming to faith over the last five years with some estimates varying up to 5 million. It is happening for sure, but it’s very difficult to get accurate numbers.
•    Across the country, there are massive problems with poverty, failing infrastructure, religious disharmony and persecution between Christians and Muslims, as well as Muslim sectarian fighting.
(Quoted from a visiting prayer leader who was recently there.)

A challenging message from a Muslim convert to Christ:

“People of Stockholm, people of the world, people who are concerned about
Human rights, people who are concerned about freedom. There is about 1.3 billion Muslims  who do not have freedom to change religion. They do not have freedom of thought conscious and religion. They do not have the right to exist as former Muslims.

This issue was brought up by the UN reporter on freedom of religion to the
UN assembly in New York two weeks ago that freedom to change religion is basic for
religious freedom. We are here to remember the victims if Islam apostasy and blasphemy  laws. We are here to see a change in their situation. We are here that they may
have freedom. We are here that they may have equal rights.

Muslim People are killed for rejecting Islam, Muslim people are imprisoned
and tortured for leaving Islam. It is not right that people get to lose their life, get imprisoned and get tortured for their belief. This contradicts with Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which gives freedom of thought, conscience and religion, and this freedom includes the right to change their belief and practice their new faith.

How can we be quiet about this? In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends. Martin Luther King Jr.

Mahmoud Mohammad Taha- he was executed at the age of 76 for apostasy in Sudan.

Mahdi Debag the head of the Bible Society in Iran was arrested after the Islamic revolution in 1979 and was tortured and imprisoned for 10 years. He said I am not just willing to suffer for Christ but to also die for him. After much international pressure he was released and 6 months later he was murdered.

Fatima was murdered by her family in Saudi Arabia for converting to Christianity 3 years ago after cutting her tongue out.

Frag  Fouda, journalist and free thinker, was shot and  killed in front of his office in Cairo because he was accused of blasphemy in 1992.

Najeb Mafous, the Literature Nobel prize winner, was stabbed for the same
reason.

Taiser, the governor of Banjab in Pakistan, was murdered by his bodyguard for trying to
free Asia who was in prison for being accused for blasphemy.

Shabaz, the Minister of Minorities, followed the same fate for trying to protect
minorities in Pakistan. 400 Christian families cannot return to their home
since the teenager Rimasha was accused of blasphemy.

A number of pastors in Iran are serving prison sentences for their
conversion from Islam to Christianity.

Metafi in Saudi Arabia has been in prison since he was 18 and now he is 36.
He is an Ismaili accused of blasphemy.

Kashgari a journalist who tweeted that some things Mohammed did I like and some I do not like, was accused of blasphemy, and 30000 tweeted he should be killed. He apologized and this did not help. He tried to escape to New Zeland via Malaysia. He was arrested it there and extradited to Saudie Arabia. He has been in prison since then.

Around 10 countries have death sentences for apostates and blasphemers.

How can we be quiet about this? “For evil men to triumph, it is only necessary for good men to do nothing.”- Edmund Burke. How can be quiet about this injustice? How can we be quiet about this oppression?

Stand for freedom, Stand for Justice, stand for humanity. Stand against apostasy and blasphemy codes in Islam which are choking freedom worldwide.

Stand for freedom for fear; "Freedom from fear" could be said to sum up the whole philosophy of human rights. Dag Hammarskjold

Stand for freedom of speech; if the freedom of speech is taken away, then dumb and silent we may be led like sheep to the slaughter. George Washington

Stand for justice; injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. Martin Luther King

If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor. If an elephant has its foot on the tail of a mouse and you say that you are neutral, the mouse will not appreciate your neutrality. Desmond Tutu

Stand for freedom, stand for justice, stand for equality. Stand for Article 18 in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Stand for freedom of thought, conscience and religion, and freedom to change belief. Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either
alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance.

To deny people their human rights is to challenge their very humanity. Nelson Mandela

As we pray for the persecuted believers in Christ around the world this month, let’s pray for those suffering grim persecutions for coming to faith in the Muslim world and that such blasphemy and apostasy laws will be overthrown by the governments that now observe them.