MaryBeth Hall – Page 42 – Targeted Global Prayer

Earth, Milky Way

Pray for the Lord to send out workers throughout every corner of His harvestfield.

1. Praise God for all His interventions in the lives of people on His Earth, especially through the redemptive work of Jesus.

2. Pray that every people group around the world who does not have access to God’s Word in their own language will very soon. Pray for His providential blessing to be on those who are working in linguistics / Bible translation ministries.

3. May our hearts echo the last prayer of Scripture: “Even so, come, Lord Jesus!” (Rev. 22:20).

Revelation 4:11

Willemstad, Curacao

Pray for the Lord to send out workers to the harvestfield of Willemstad.

Located in Willemstad, Mikve Israel-Emanuel Synagogue opened in 1674, and is the oldest surviving synagogue in the Americas. This photo is the cabinet where the Scripture is kept. Directly behind where the photographer stood in this view is a smaller platform where the person explaining the Scripture would be. Wooden pews line both sides of the synagogue, where the men and women would be seated separately. The layout of everything is the same as it was when Christ taught in a synagogue in Luke 4. An interesting feature about the above picture is that the floor is sand. The name of this synagogue includes the name Emanuel…God with us. Pray that the hearts of many who come there will be opened to Emanuel’s message.
Pray for visitors to the Curacao Ostrich Farm near Willemstad to see something there that points them to the Lord.
According to britannica.com, the two white stars on Curacao’s flag symbolize peace and happiness. Pray for someone in Willemstad to find true peace and happiness in Jesus today.

Psalm 102:25-28

This post was originally published on February 13, 2022.

Antakya, Turkey

Pray for the Lord to send out workers to the harvestfield of Antakya.

*Image source: https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/magnitude-63-earthquake-strikes-turkey-syria-border-region-emsc-2023-02-20/*

1. TGP’s most recent Saturday Morning Recap featured information about Antakya, Turkey, the NT Biblical city Antioch of Syria. This city was badly damaged by the February 6 earthquakes. On February 20, Antakya was the epicenter for two more major earthquakes. Pray for city residents, most of whom have been living in tents for the past two weeks, as they try to cope with anxiety and uncertainty, that the Lord will reach into their lives with the truth that He can be their unshakable refuge.

2. Samaritan’s Purse opened an Emergency Field Hospital in Antakya on February 13, and has seen over 500 patients since then. Pray that as they minister in Jesus’ name during this crisis, many will place their personal faith in Christ. Additionally, pray for safety for the 100 Samaritan’s Purse personnel working in Turkey. (For more information, visit samaritanspurse.org.)

3. Pray for the Lord to provide for the immediate physical needs of Antakya’s people, as well as their long-term spiritual needs.

Revelation 4:11

Fakaofo, Tokelau

Pray for the Lord to send out workers to the harvestfield of Fakaofo.

Tokelau is a territory of New Zealand, geographically halfway between Hawaii and New Zealand. Fakaofo is a the largest atoll (coral island encompassing a lagoon) of the territory. Around 500 people live on Fakaofo. Pray for someone today who has heard the Word of God but not yet accepted it to do so.
Tokelau is the first nation to be 100% solar powered (wikipedia). Pray for workers who maintain solar equipment to also personally decide to access the Son’s power / resources in their daily lives.
Fakaofo has swimming pigs that catch fish. Pray for animal lovers on the island to see the kindness of the Lord in providing for all of His creatures.

Romans 3:10-24

This post was originally published on January 29, 2022.

Saturday Morning Recap

1 Corinthians 15:54-58

So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, “Death is swallowed up in victory.”…But thanks be to God, Who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ…

1. Bristol, USA: Pray for 6,000 John & Romans booklets headed for the Ukraine – that multiple people will read each one, resulting in many salvations and much discipleship progress.

2. Foshan, China: Gaoming District: Pray for orphans born in this area to become recipients of both human and divine love.

3. Turkey-Syria Earthquakes: Pray for any request you remember from this prayer emphasis. One ABWE team member “estimates there might be a small group of 10,000 Christians in Turkey alone.”* Considering that the city of Antakya (Antioch) was where believers in Jesus were first called Christians, where the first Christian missionaries were commissioned in Acts 13, and Turkey at large is where Jesus sent the seven letters of Revelation 2-3, it is sad that the number of current believers is so small compared to the country’s total population of 85.3 million people. There are also a few Scriptural references to Syrians (such as Naaman in the Old Testament, and later the Christians in Damascus where Saul was headed) who put their faith in the one true God. So far there are 45,000+ known fatalities from the earthquakes. Statistically speaking, most of those who died were not Christians, which is a greater tragedy than any natural disaster could ever be. Pray for Christians on the ground now who are doing all they can to reach out with the love of Christ. Pray for receptive hearts among the Turks and Syrians. Pray for God to be glorified in the midst of the devastation.

*This quote is from an email from Alex Kocman, Director of Communications and Media for the Association of Baptists for World Evangelism.

Foshan, China: Gaoming District

Pray for the Lord to send out workers to the harvestfield of Foshan.

1. Foshan has a population of around 9.5 million, with the Gaoming District area home to around 450,000 people. Pray for every person from Foshan who has a birthday today to have and take the opportunity to be born again into God’s family.

2. Pray for every orphan from the Gaoming District to become the recipient of both human and divine love.

3. Birds are important in Chinese culture. The photo above was taken near a picturesque bridge that supports a highway. Cranes in particular represent everything from “elegance, moral integrity, and personal dignity of the immortals” to wishes for longevity and good luck, and the crane with outstretched wings is said to “reflect an outstanding temperament.” (https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crane_in_Chinese_mythology) In truth, these things can only be found in Jesus Christ, so pray for a 21-year-old passing by the above statue today to find the realization of all things necessary for life and godliness through the knowledge of Him Who has called us to glory and virtue. (2 Peter 1:3)

I Corinthians 15:54-58

Bristol, USA

Pray for the Lord to send out workers to the harvestfield of Bristol.

*Image source: Wayside Baptist Church Facebook page*

1. Gunnings Baptist Church in Bristol, Tennessee, has a ministry of assembling John & Romans booklets that go all around the world. Every Tuesday, members can participate in this hands on process. Pray for the Lord to bless, provide for, and increase their production of His Word.

2. In addition to the above mentioned work, the couple who head up this ministry also take materials to other churches that want to assemble John & Romans booklets.* This is usually a Friday night / Saturday morning time investment – not much for the impact the Scriptures will have! Even children can help. The above picture is from a recent Bible project weekend in Graysville, Tennessee. The boxes hold 6,000 John & Romans booklets, printed in the Russian language that will be sent to the Ukraine. Pray for many people to read these and accept Christ.

3. Pray for the Lord to bless the family that facilitates this ministry, and continue to use them in making Jesus known. Truly, God’s Word is the best gift we can give.

1 Corinthians 15:54-58

* For more info on how your church can host a Bible project weekend, email targetedglobalprayer@gmail.com.

Turkey – Syria Earthquakes II

For the last week, TGP has highlighted prayer requests resulting from the two major earthquakes on February 6th that affected Turkey and Syria. Although today’s post is the last in that series, please continue praying for the people there whose lives have been forever changed.

*Image source: https://www.npr.org/2023/02/13/1156479373/rescuers-keep-digging-for-survivors-a-week-after-the-turkey-syria-earthquake*

1. Rescue: Amazingly, at least six people were rescued yesterday, a week after the quakes. Praise the Lord for this, and pray that anyone still alive beneath the rubble will be rescued today.

2. Journalists: pray for the salvation of ten journalists who have been reporting this story to the world.

3. Receptivity: There was a window of time after WW2 in which Japan was open to the gospel as never before. Pray for a similar openness in Turkey and Syria – both in governmental policies allowing Christians entrance/freedom, and in the hearts of people to accept the gospel.

I Corinthians 15:54-58

Kahramanmaras, Turkey

Pray for the Lord to send out workers to the harvestfield of Kahramanmaras.

1. These two Google street view pictures were taken in close proximity to each other, so the five children might have known each other. Each of their lives has been forever changed by the earthquakes of February 6. Pray that, if they’re alive today, God will provide for their every physical and spiritual need. If they’re in eternity, pray that God will comfort the hearts of those who grieve for them, as only He can.

2. Anger is a natural stage of grief, as are working through “why” and “if only” thoughts. Pray for the residents of Kahramanmaras who are struggling through those feelings/questions to find peace in the only God Who can bring meaning back to their lives.

3. Pray for an atheist in Kahramanmaras to put personal faith in Jesus, the Resurrection and the Life.

1 Corinthians 15:54-58

Jableh, Syria

Pray for the Lord to send out workers to the harvestfield of Jableh.

1. Pictured above is an aerial view of an amphitheater built by the Romans in Jableh (then called Gabala). Pray that someone who comes here to sit and reflect on life will find the true meaning and purpose of life in Jesus.

2. As of February 9, Jableh had 283 known casualties from the earthquake (wikipedia.org). Pray for family members grieving the loss of loved ones to meet Christians who will point them to the “Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort.” (2 Cor. 1:3-4)

3. Pray for the Lord to bless Christians gathering in His name on this Lord’s Day, that they may be encouraged and strengthened to live for Him no matter what the week holds.

1 Corinthians 15:54-58