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Environmental Missions Prayer Digest
August 2010 |
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Greetings!
If, for the sake of environmental missions, one of the ways to define the word environment" is "that which surrounds those we love, those for whom Christ died," then how do we say it. . .?
Pakistanis are currently surrounded by miles of flood water.
Russians are surrounded by acres of wildfire.
The Chinese are surrounded by tons of muddy landslide.
And how then do we pray it?
One of our goals in the Environmental Missions Prayer Digest is to ask as the disciples did: "Lord, teach us to pray" (Lk 11.1). Month-in-month-out we wish to learn how to pray the "effective prayers of the righteous" for the nexus of environmental and cross-cultural missions issues in particular. This month we find ourselves wondering whether the Prayer Digest will just become a crisis prayer alert for one extreme weather event after another. (As I write this, I'm staring out my window at some of the damaged caused Friday by 93 mph. winds that tore up trees and houses in my hometown.) While we direct your attention in prayer to Pakistan and Russia, may we also ask you to consider the NY Times article which argues the link between these extreme weather events and global climate change.
NY Times: In Weather Chaos, a Case for Global Warming
How appropriate do you think Henry David Thoreau's quotation might be for our prayers: "For every thousand hacking at the leaves of evil, there is one striking at the root"?
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Pray for the millions of Pakistanis affected by the flood
Pastor Hydrie's congregation evacuated, but lost all their possessions
In terms of natural disasters, 1700 deaths seems to be a number which should allow us to get our  minds around the flood in Pakistan. But, then U.N. officials announce that the devastation of this flood will rival the 2005 Kashmir earthquake, the Asian tsunami, and the Haitian earthquake COMBINED! Fourteen million people displaced. Almost total crop loss. Whole villages washed away.
The name of one region, the PUNJAB, literally means "five rivers." Jampur is a "small" town of 120,000 located in the Southern Punjab, near the confluence of two of these rivers. For decades, Pastor Hydrie has faithfully shepherded a small congregation in Jampur that the mission agency Christar helped establish. A Christar leader reports of Jampur:
"Jampur has been flooded twice, and a lot of damage. Hydrie has been contacting the flock, and they all have seemed to escape in time. But many including Hydrie have little except what they are wearing. They knew that the flood was coming but did not expect the severity of it, and so many evacuated, but did not take belongings. Outlying areas are also damaged greatly, and some still under water. Of the areas we [Christar] have worked definitely the hardest hit."
Let's join Pastor Hydrie in praying:
- that relief efforts (especially access to clean drinking water) will reach flood victims
- that outbreaks of cholera will be prevented
- that the Sindh region (downriver from the Punjab) will be spared the same devastation
- that international fund-raising efforts will be more successful. (For example, to date, the UN reports to having received only 20% of what it needs to mount a full-scale relief effort.)
- the Pastor Hydrie and other Christian pastors will find the wisdom, courage, and hope to shepherd their flocks through this crisis.
- for Christar, IMB, SIM, Team, and other agencies who ask for wisdom in how best to minister in light of new realities.
Photos: Reuters/Boston.com
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Pray for Russians still battling wildfires
Heat wave is the worst in Russia's recorded temperature history. Ban of grain exports will affect dependent countries.
 There are certain features of the Russian wildfires that parallel that of the Pakistan flood. For one, the low death count masks a broader devastation. The official death toll is at 52, but Moscow city officials are claiming that the average daily death rate of 350 has doubled to 700, due to heat, fire-related smog, and evidence of fire-related suicides.
Scorched farm land is another parallel. Grain yields are expected to drop from 97 million tons harvested last year, to 60 million tons. Last week's announcement by Vladimir Putin of a ban on grain exports will greatly affect Egypt, Turkey, Iran, and Syria.
And then of course there is, once again, that strange linkage to changed climate patterns.
Please join Slavic Gospel Association in praying:
- "Please lift this urgent matter before the Lord, praying especially for the six Christian families who lost their homes and belongings.
- Pray for the hundreds of others who have lost their homes, or are in danger of losing them.
- Intercede for the faithful men and women battling the fires night and day, asking the Lord to protect them.
- Pray for the Lord to bring the needed rain and lower temperatures that will help extinguish the fires.
- And above all, pray that God will grant wisdom and direction to Russian believers and churches as they seek opportunities to glorify Him and share the Gospel in the midst of this tragedy."
Photo: REUTERS/Mikhail Voskresensky
Links: Full letter from SGA president, Dr. Bob Provost
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Mobilizing for environmental missions means FIRST AND FOREMOST
mobilizing for PRAYER.
The "Forward E-mail" link below represents
one of the best ways to mobilize prayer for environmental missions. Who
among your friends and contacts would like this invitation to pray?
What should we pray for next month?
We are always asking that question of God, not only because we need to publish a new prayer digest next month, but because we want to be praying for that ministry, people group, or issue where God Himself is ready to act. If you would like to suggest a prayer focus, please contact us.
God bless you,
Lowell Bliss
Eden Vigil
Links: Contact the editors, Eden Vigil website, Donations to Eden Vigil
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