Missions - Here & There

While there is ministry to be done right here in my hometown and yours, if you've never been on a mission trip, I would strongly recommend adding it to your bucket list. Actually, if you haven't ever even traveled outside of the USA {or your home country wherever in the world you may be reading this from} I would high suggest doing so as soon as possible! There is so much world to see, experience, and love on. There are so many people needing the Light of Christ spread to them, and you and I may be the only Jesus some will ever see.

As I continue to read about and pray for countries around the world, my heart breaks a little bit more each day for people I may never meet living in countries I may never visit. There is so much pain in this world - so much war, violence, and destruction; pain deeper that you or I may ever fully understand.

I see pain and heartache regularly in my students, and as their teacher, it is my desire to show them the love of Christ, even if the law forbids me to publicly speak His name. I pray for my students regularly, and I pray that my classroom be a safe place for them. Yet, even the pain I see in my students hardly compares to the pain on the news happening around the world.

Let me share with you some pain and concerns for pray from areas around the world I've been praying for this week.

The Pacific (Region)

• Despite New Zealand and Australia having some of the world's highest living standards - young people living in the pacific region (mainly on the surrounding islands) have little opportunity for education or meaningful employment unless they can travel to the "mainlands". 
• Island communities tend to be isolated from current and effective healthcare. 
• There is a decaying interest in the organized church. While secularism is rising in the form of Atheism, Islam, Mormonism, and Buddhism. 

Afghanistan (Country - Asia)

• Afghanistan is one of the least reached countries in the world.
• The Afghan church is entirely "underground" with frequently changing meeting times and places for safety purposes against severe persecution. 
• The number of Afghan believers is increasing. Media has been a huge resource to get the gospel into the homes of the people.
• Afghanistan is tormented and far from recovery after thousands of years of war and conflict.
• Threats of violence still exist - land minds are still "hidden" throughout the nation.
• Highest portion of disabled population (mainly due to war).
• Afghanistan is the most dangerous place for a child to be born. 
• Highest maternal mortality rate in the world.
• 78% of people do not have access to clean water.
• Less than 15% of the population has electricity in their homes. 
• 90% of the world's opium-producing poppies are grown in Afghanistan.

Albania (Country - Europe)

• Albania is one of Europe's two poorest nations.
• Religious freedom began in 1998. Previously under Communist control no religion was allowed to exist.
• The church is maturing and the number of evangelicals has grown.
• The young people of the church are committed to the Great Commission. (A legacy of Islam opens the door for connecting with the Muslim world to spread the gospel more effectively.)
• Focus on holistic ministries to meet physical, emotional, and spiritual needs through missions.
• Despite growth, there is a hazy religious climate. Albania is still 70% Muslim. 
• There is an "if it works believe it" attitude.
• Many villages still lack an evangelical presence. 
• Criminal activities include drug, human, and weaponry trafficking.

Alegria (Country - Africa)

• Alegria has a high unemployment rate and a government that appears to accommodate militant Islamist groups.
• People are too familiar with violence and loss. 
• Democracy is written into the constitution of Alegria, but it is not upheld. 
• Abuse of human rights is a concern.
• Religious freedom is dwindling and persecution is intensifying.
• The government bans importing Bibles making media a vital resource for the spread of the gospel.
• Despite the ban on importing Bibles, Christian resources are growing. 
• Alegria church is growing, but there is a lack of properly trained Christian leaders.
• No ministry is devoted to children.
• Religious and social pressures force young Christian girls to marry Muslim men.
• 65-70% of the population of Alegria is under the age of 30, and this group makes up the greatest proportion of Christians in Alegria. 

Won't you join me in praying for peace and healing for our world. We live in a fallen world, and nothing will be perfect until the return of Christ; however, it is our duty as Christians to pray for our brothers and sisters living around the world. 

"Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing" ~ 1 Thessalonians 5:11