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 God will inspire us in what to pray for and that is all we should pray for.
WMCAS
1. PLEDGE SUNDAY ON 2012: Thank God our proposed church budget for 2012 has been unanimously agreed upon by the LCEC without any visible or verbal dissent from everyone present. Our 2012 budget will be presented to the church on Pledge Sunday on 29/01/2012. Pray God will not only speak to each one of us concerning our tithes & offerings to Him. Pray He will also reveal to each one of us concerning the tithing and offering of our time & energy, prayer & participation back to Him by our ministry & service for Him in and through the church. Why not offer yourself first to God and then to the church to serve for at least one year.
2 INDIGENOUS CHURCH FUND: Praise God for making us aware of the needs of our brothers & sisters in Sabah, Sarawak & the Orang Asli churches in West Malaysia. Praise God for the far-sightedness of our church leaders in setting up this fund to channel financial support together with our prayerful support for these our front-line churches in Malaysia. Pray Almighty God will raise more leaders & workers, spiritual & financial support as we prepare for revival & persecution in the near future.
3 PASTORAL CARE TEAM (PCT): Now that we are without a resident pastor, the District Superintendent (DS) has been assigned to overseer & take full responsibility to pastor WMCAS, an added & heavy responsiblity on top of his existing role as pastor in WMC Penang. Pray for his health and protection especially when he travels. New guidelines on the purposes & principles, roles & responsibilities of the PCT are being finalized to suit our unique local condition. The composition of our PCT is being sorted out as part of this re-organization and re-defination. Pray for our DS, Lay Leader, LCEC chairman & PPRC chairman. They need God's wisdom to do His will, to make the right decisions. They need God's strength and the courage to implement what is good and biblical for WMCAS.
MALAYSIA
And if a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. And if a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand. (Mark 3:24-25  )
On 16 September 2008, Prime Minister Najib Razak launch the1 Malaysia campaign under the slogan, ‘1Malaysia, People First, Performance Now’. It was meant to foster unity among the different communities for nation building. Every Malaysian should see themselves as Malaysian made up of difference ethnic groups and religion. However, with the recent rhetoric of irresponsible politicking, racist extremism and religious bigotry, serious questions have been raised about the Prime Minister’s sincerity and commitment to the 1Malaysia concept and his political will to promote it. Some claimed that it is merely a political tool to garner votes and not an honest commitment for change.
Prayer Points:
- The Prime Minister to be fully committed to implementing the 1 Malaysia concept as against mere slogan.
- Racial and religious supremacy to be dismantled
- Irresponsible politicking to be reprimanded
- National unity and harmony among the various communities.
Sabah & Sarawak:
- Perception as “fixed deposit” states by Federal Government to be corrected
- Given equal economic, educational and infrastructure development as in West Malaysia
- More interaction, understanding and cooperation between the east and west Malaysia
- Past constitutional agreements to be preserved and respected.
- Recognition and restoration of lands belonging to the natives
WORLD
CHRISTIAN PERSECUTION HOTSPOTS FOR 2012
China and North Korea are likely persecution hotspots for Christians in 2012, according to UK based Release International. Worsening persecution is foreseen in Pakistan, India, Iran, Central Asia and Nigeria. A growing number of Christians are likely to be imprisoned for their faith in 2012. North Korea could face a power struggle as leadership transitions to the youthful Kim Jong-un. Christians are expected to be the victims of such internal strife. In China, authorities may tighten their grip on Christians in the run up to the transfer of power to new leadership later this year.
‘Religious freedom is at its lowest point since 1982,’ says Bob Fu of China Aid. Chinese authorities are considering legalising the detention of people considered a threat to national security such as lawyers and Christians campaigning for human rights. Even before such a law is passed, there are now more people in prison in China for alleged ‘political crimes’ than at any time since the Tiananmen Square massacre in 1989. Another worrying trend is the action being taken against those considered guilty of ‘apostasy’ – changing their faith. This is gaining momentum in the Islamic and Hindu worlds. It impacts those who speak about their own faith to people of other religions.
In Iran, Muslim leaders have spoken out against the spread of Christianity, which is regarded as a threat to the Islamic revolution. Government tactics against Christians include phone tapping, persuading family members to spy on one another, and the expulsion of Christians from universities and jobs. Christians have also been arrested, beaten, imprisoned and killed. In Morocco and Algeria Christians have been accused in recent months of taking part in activities to ‘shake the faith of Muslims.’ And in Central Asia, including Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan, new laws are being introduced to restrict religion and require new churches to register and come under state control.
Those that cannot in conscience submit to the control of a hostile state face being driven underground – as has happened in the former Soviet Union, and still takes place in China, Vietnam and Laos. In Pakistan, radical Islam is spreading. The Pakistan Taliban have murdered public figures who have called for the repeal of the country’s blasphemy laws. In Nigeria, Boko Haram are calling for an end to democracy in Africa’s most populous nation and the imposition of strict Islamic law. Christians continue to come under attack in the north, where they are in a minority. Militants want to create a breakaway Islamist Northern Nigeria.
In 2011 more than 500 Christians were killed in central and northern Nigeria, over 4,000 Christian houses were burnt or destroyed, and over 4,000 Christian businesses were attacked and looted. In India, the general secretary of the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) has called for a new constitution allowing ‘anyone who converts Hindus to be beheaded.’ Such extremism is indicative of a growing hostility towards Christians and Christian witness in India. Increasingly, pastors stand accused of converting Hindus by force, charged under anti-conversion laws which are being interpreted as outlawing evangelism and even charitable works, considering relief aid to be a form of bribery.
Even in Buddhist nations Christians face violent persecution. The Burmese military promote Buddhism as a means of unifying the nation and have been waging war against ethnic groups, some of whom are Christians. In Sri Lanka nationalists are opposed to Christianity, which they regard as a foreign import. Since September 2011, all places of worship must obtain permission. Those that do not are regarded as illegal. Christians continue to face violence, assault, arson, demolition of churches, mob attacks and protest marches.’ Andy Dipper, CEO of Release International, said ‘Across the world, the number of Christians imprisoned for their faith looks set to increase in 2012.” Please intercede for our brethren.
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