Tuesday, September 30, 2014

Day Thirty of Prayer




Making Disciples
The product Jesus calls us to make is disciples. It is interesting that He did not tell us to plant churches although that is a natural by-product of making disciples. Most Romanians are Orthodox and consider themselves Christians, therefore they are hesitant to go to a Protestant church and view Evangelicals with suspicion. Instead of expecting them to come into “our” spaces, perhaps we can go to them in “their” spaces, pray for them and open the Word with them. Those who become disciples of Jesus can continue to grow and share in the context of their natural networks.
  • Pray with the ReachGlobal Bucharest city team that God will unleash a disciple-making movement in the city.

“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." ~ Matthew 28:19-20

Monday, September 29, 2014

Day Twenty Nine of Prayer


Romanians praying for the harvest fields

Churches that Multiply
Praise God for Jesus who always asked penetrating, engaging questions that directed people to God’s Word.

  • Pray for an outreach orientation in Romanian churches.
  • Pray that any person who accepts a call to follow Jesus takes a responsibility to help other people discover God and respond to Him in obedience. This intentional, relational process is called spiritual multiplication.
  • Pray that Romanian disciples will not shrug off the words of Jesus or look at other people or our own failures and assume we have seen all there is to know.
  • Pray for disciples who are filled with the Holy Spirit and see that to be a disciple of Jesus is to make disciples of Jesus.

“Come follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.” 
~ Mark 1:17

Sunday, September 28, 2014

Day Twenty Eight of Prayer


Churches that Multiply
The picture above is a familiar sight in Bucharest. Nature vs. man. It takes a lot of time, money and effort to control the natural spread of plant life (as you know if you’ve tried to kill weeds). Many Scripture illustrations relate spiritual life to organic growth: Vine and branches, wheat and tares, the mustard seed. Jesus intended the growth of His kingdom to be natural and organic, not formulaic and controlled.

  • Pray that His church here in Bucharest will break free of man-made trappings and multiply fruitfully!
  • Pray that God will lead His people to engage society at all levels and not hide behind church walls.
  • Pray that healthy kingdom DNA will lead to exponential church growth.


“He told them another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches."
~ Matthew 13:31-32

Saturday, September 27, 2014

Day Twenty Six and Seven of Prayer

Bucharest Christian Academy: Student Needs

  • Ask the Lord to continue to send students who will not only receive an education at BCA, but will share their gifts and abilities with others at the school.
  • Pray for students for whom English is their second (or third) language. Often students speak their “first” language at home with their family. Many Korean students also attend school in Korean on Saturdays.


Roma (Gypsy) Church Planting
One of the most hopeful developments in all of Europe over the last few decades has been the growth of the church among the Roma, or Gypsy, people. Whole communities have been transformed by the Gospel. We’ve seen God’s power at work among Roma peoples of Bucharest which has a significant Roma minority (close to 10%). May the grace that has arrived in the Roma people group spread to more and more people! (see verse above)
  • Pray for discipleship among immature believers and growth in love and obedience to the Word.
  • Ask God to empower the Roma church to impact other people groups including Romanian nationals.
“All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.” 
~ 2 Corinthians 4:15

Thursday, September 25, 2014

Day Twenty Five of Prayer

BCA students doing a flash mob dance last year 
to increase awareness on human trafficking.

Bucharest Christian Academy: Evangelism & Discipleship

  • Pray for clear communication of the Gospel, in word and deed, to those who do not yet know Christ. We have a growing group of non-Christian Chinese students.
  • Pray that the lives of those who have trusted in Christ as their Savior and Lord will reflect His love and grace.
  • Pray for staff to encourage one another as they continue to deepen their personal relationship with Jesus.

Wednesday, September 24, 2014

Day Twenty Four of Prayer


Bucharest Christian Academy: Staff Needs
BCA depends on teachers who answer God’s call to raise financial and/or prayer support to teach at BCA. God has been faithful to provide teachers, but recruiting is challenging and fewer people are willing to raise financial support.

  • Pray for teachers to answer God’s call on their lives to serve at BCA and for individual believers and churches to be willing to support them.

Tuesday, September 23, 2014

Day Twenty Three of Prayer


Bucharest Christian Academy: Christ Centered
From the school’s beginning, the BCA school board has emphasized the school’s dependence on Christian principles of administration and values in education.

  • Pray for the board’s continued dependence on God as they face a myriad of challenges associated with leading an inter-national Christian school in Bucharest, Romania.
  • Pray for Christ-following teachers who demonstrate their love for Christ in their instruction in the classrooms and their personal interactions with students, parents, and other staff.
  • Pray for students to grow in their love for Christ demonstrated by a love for His Word and for others.

Monday, September 22, 2014

Day Twenty One and Two of Prayer

Retired People/Elderly
This generation of elderly in Bucharest was born into, educated, worked, and raised their families under a brutally oppressive communist regime. Some older people perceive things are no better, and decry the secularization of culture, corruption, and the sad fact that the social pension for a retiree in Romania was lowered last year. (lower still for women and people classified with a disability--Ministry of Labor, Family, and Social Protection http://www.mmuncii.ro)
Elderly Romanians may be disillusioned by dramatic social changes with a tendency towards pessimism, depression, and withdrawing from society. Some follow religious rituals that do not provide any assurance of salvation. Communism has been described as the "enemy of friendship" because of the way it drew people into reporting and trusting only the state.

  • Pray that elderly people in Bucharest will be reconciled to God before the end of their life.
  • Pray that more retirees will know Christ as Savior, receive His righteousness, and use their influence and time to demonstrate joyful faith in Him.
  • Pray for Christians to lead the way in reconciliation of whole families, especially that older people would not hold grudges but take the first step to peacemaking.

Hospice Ministry
Romanian children and adults with serious and incurable medical conditions may be abandoned when it seems that nothing can be done. Sometimes, as was the case with 9-year old "Danny" the incurable condition is a result of a substandard medical treatment.
  • Pray for the peace of God to overcome fear, anxiety, loneliness, and isolation for patients near the end of their life and their caregivers.
  • Ask God to guide Romanians to a Biblical view of God's ways in sickness and pain.
  • Pray for a society that reflects God's values in assigning dignity to each life, for the whole life.
  • Thank Him for the work of Casa Sperantei “Hospice of Hope” to bring medical, nursing, social, and spiritual care into this situation.
  • Pray for fundraising and awareness events and a growing volunteer base that includes many Romanians who do not turn away from suffering but share hope in Christ.
"But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him. David said about him: ‘I saw the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest in hope, because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead, you will not let your holy one see decay. You have made known to me the paths of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence.’” ~ Acts 2:24-28

Saturday, September 20, 2014

Day of Twenty of Prayer


One Unified Church in Bucharest
Over the years the church in Bucharest has suffered from division and infighting. The three major denominations are often at odds and don’t cooperate. Recently, a growing number of younger pastors began seeing God’s work in our city from a healthier, wider perspective. Setting aside politics and denominational differences they are encouraging us to realize that God only sees ONE true church in Bucharest.

  • Ask God to break down barriers between believers of different backgrounds that we could all work in unison to make Christ known.
  • Pray that legalism would disappear from our churches and that obedience would flow from grace not law.
  • Intercede for citywide outreach projects involving believers from a range of denominations.


“I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.” ~ John 17:20-21

Friday, September 19, 2014

Day Nineteen of Prayer for Bucharest


Today we want to share a praise.  We jumped up yesterday to 76% of our monthly/ annual financial needs now met.  Lord willing, we are praying that the rest of our needed financial partnership will be committed by the end of the year so we can move to Bucharest in early 2015 after our little guy is born.  Thank you to all of you who are praying for Bucharest this month.  Tomorrow is the city's 555th birthday.

Disabled in State Institutions
Some of the least-loved people in Bucharest are found in the “placement centers” which house children and adults with severe disabilities. Conditions can be extremely poor and the vast majority have no one to visit them or keep track of their well-being. Government workers at these facilities are often sadly disinterested in the well-being of the residents.

  • Ask God to bring hope to those who are forgotten, malnourished and mistreated.
  • Pray for justice and change where there is corruption and negligence.
  • Intercede for residents that they might have the opportunity to hear and experience the Gospel of Christ.

As Jesus passed by, he saw a man blind from birth. And his disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus answered, "It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him.”   ~ John 9:2-3

Thursday, September 18, 2014

Day Eighteen of Prayer

Disabled Hidden from Society
Hidden people with disabilities in the City have limited access to places and groups, and may feel abandoned or punished by God. Family life is deeply affected, as the disabled person and their caregiver can feel alienated from people, isolated, useless, or despised.

  • Pray for their physical, spiritual, and emotional protection from people who would try to harm them.
  • Pray that the Church will seek to listen, serve, integrate, and equip people to identify with one another and flourish in the community.
  • Pray that as people become aware of needs we will create access and opportunities for them to express spiritual gifts and bring glory to God.


“Working together with Him, then, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain. For He says 'In a favorable time I listened to you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you.'  Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation."   2 Corinthians 6:1-2

Wednesday, September 17, 2014

Day Seventeen of Prayer

Disabled Ministries (Candle Workshop)
Less powerful people in Romanian society tend to expect and accept power distance inequality. People with disabilities are less powerful and often excluded from education, employment, and social life. Most, with their families, have an uncertain future.

  • Ask God to bless and multiply ministries that assist people with disabilities to have productive and healthy lives.
  • Praise God for safe places where people with disabilities are welcomed and loved, hear the Good News and are empowered to serve.
  • Pray that the Lord would encourage family members who are struggling to find rest in Him. Ask God to show Him how He defines their value and purpose in life. Ask God to change the heart of a person who overlooks another person with a disability.


“When I am weak, then I am strong.” 2 Corinthians 12:8-10

Tuesday, September 16, 2014

Day Sixteen of Prayer

Abandoned Children Transitions
Children in institutional care are more likely to suffer from poor health, physical underdevelopment and deterioration in brain growth, developmental delay and emotional attachment disorders. Consequently, these children have reduced intellectual, social and behavioral abilities compared with those growing up in a family home (Save the Children, The Risk of Harm, 2009). When they do not have resources or accountability from someone who cares about them, many drop out of school.

  • Pray for the great need for right relationship with God through Christ for these abandoned children in transitions.
  • Pray for physical needs to be met through connections with local churches.
  • Pray for follow-up from summer camp ministries to abandoned children in transition. May Romanian children and teenagers have eyes open to the Gospel and through this learn their true value.
  • Pray for many lives to be transformed as children and adults learn to read the Bible for themselves and apply what it says.
“Evil men do not understand justice, but those who seek the LORD understand it completely” Proverbs 28:5

Saturday, September 13, 2014

Day Fourteen and Fifteen of Prayer

Abandoned Children in Apartments
The majority of abandoned children in Bucharest have been moved from state institutions to live in apartments. This seems to be a positive step, but these apartments are crowded and often there is inadequate supervision. These young people are vulnerable to all sorts of evil influences.

  • Pray for several Christian groups who visit these apartments and care for the residents.
  • Most state support to abandoned children disappears when they turn 18. Pray for believers who are working to assist them in surviving on their own.
  • Many abandoned children hear the Gospel and are responsive, yet they easily fall away as temptation appears. Pray for true transformation.

“Defend the weak and the fatherless; uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed.” Psalm 82:3


Abandoned Children in Hospitals
While there has been an increase in the number of children in foster or guardian care rather than institutions, the rate of child abandonment has not declined (Source: UNICEF, 2011). Mothers abandon their newborn babies in hospitals when they feel they cannot afford to raise them, or are pressured from other members of the extended family who see the baby as a burden. In Bucharest monitors are assigned to counsel disadvantaged mothers and teach them about the importance of good nutrition and birth registration as well as prevent abandonment or re-abandonment. Praise God that He Himself is the provision sent to satisfy the souls of every person.

  • Pray that babies and children will have shelter, clothing, water, and food because someone knows and shares the provision and love of God with them.
  • Pray for important needs for affection and safety to be known and all the benefits expressed when a mother bonds with her baby from the start.
  • Ask God to bless the work of the child welfare workers on the part of children.
  • Ask God to bring about changes in the city as the Kingdom of God enters dark places.

“For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” They said to him, “Sir, give us this bread always.”Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.” John 6:33-35

Day Twelve and Thirteen


Preventing Trafficking from Villages
“What do you mean by crushing My people, and grinding the face of the poor?” declares the Lord of Hosts.” Isaiah 3:15

The per capita income in Romania has risen since the fall of Communism ($135/month in 1990 to $708/month in 2012), but this has not altered life in many villages. Most young people leave villages and head to the capital or other large cities or leave Romania altogether to find decent work. Unfortunately one industry that is still available in villages is human trafficking. People in Romanian villages without financial options can become perpetrators or victims. Family members, neighbors or friends make money from “selling” those who trust them, often not understanding what will happen to the victims and excusing the decision as a necessary evil.

  • Pray for better job opportunities (small businesses, factories, organizations involved in development) in villages.
  • Pray for awareness campaigns to take place that will help communities understand and face the issue.
  • Pray that believers will be salt and light in their communities and will have the courage and wisdom to stand against this form of evil.

Preventing Trafficking of Abandoned Children
60,000 children currently live in government or privately-run orphanages in Romania (2014). Most of these children are not orphans but are considered abandoned children. Children in government-run orphanages are particularly vulnerable to sexual exploitation and trafficking. Traffickers can be in league with staff workers leaving the children with no protection.
  • Pray that abandoned children would be protected and cared for by people of integrity.
  • Pray that a healthy foster-care system would be developed in Romania. Pray that law enforcement and child protection officials would be free from corruption and work for the good of vulnerable children.
  • Pray that the Body of Christ would seek to care for these children and offer hope and practical help in the name of Jesus.
“Woe to those who make unjust laws, to those who issue oppressive decrees, to deprive the poor of their rights and withhold justice from the oppressed of my people, making widows their prey and robbing the fatherless.” Isaiah 10:1-2

Thursday, September 11, 2014

Day Eleven of Prayer

Trafficking Aftercare
Survivors who have been freed from trafficking find hope and healing at the Open Door Shelter in Bucharest (the only shelter in Romania). These young women come into contact, perhaps for the first time, with people who love God and love them. The healing process is long and must be addressed holistically (mind, body, and spirit).

  • Pray for the director and staff of Open Door to draw strength from Christ to love and serve the young women who come to the shelter.
  • Pray for the young women to be truly healed emotionally, physically and spiritually.
  • Pray that God would continue to provide the human and financial resources needed to run the shelter.

Tuesday, September 9, 2014

Day Nine and Ten of Prayer

Today and tomorrow we are traveling to Missouri for a missions conference so we are posting two days prayer requests at once.  First, please pray that our trip to Missouri and Arkansas to speak at churches would bring glory to God and be used to further His work in Romania and around the world.  The other requests for today and tomorrow are:


  • Pray that God would move in the hearts of Romanian churches and believers to give generously to missions, and that God would bless them in order to be a blessing.


AND:

Romania is the major source country for victims of human trafficking in the European Union. Men and women are often lured by offers of work to wealthier countries in Western Europe only to find themselves enslaved into forced labor or the sex trade. One-third of trafficking victims are children who are kidnapped and secretly taken across borders (Source: 2013 Trafficking in Persons Report).

  • Pray that the government would effectively implement laws designed to prevent and combat human trafficking.
  • Pray that funds earmarked to support private anti-trafficking organizations would be released by officials and put to use as intended.
  • Pray that more Romanians would be made aware of the scope of the problem and would find ways to get involved in the fight to end modern slavery right in their backyard.

Monday, September 8, 2014

Day Eight of Prayer

Tent-Makers from Romania

  • Pray that Romanian missions leaders would explore and discover creative ways to send out the growing number of missions-minded believers in the Romanian church.
  • Pray that the introduction of the tent-making model will result in hundreds more missionaries being sent out from Romania.

“And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ…” ~ Colossians 4:3

Sunday, September 7, 2014

Day Seven of Prayer

Pray for Romanian Missionaries


  • Pray that God would sustain, encourage, and support the 200+ Romanian missionaries that have already been sent out.
  • Pray that their ministries would be effective, bringing glory to God.

Saturday, September 6, 2014

Day Six of Prayer

A group of Romanians interested in missions


Romanian Mission Sending Agencies

  • Pray for national sending agencies to cooperate and thrive as they partner with Romanian churches and international agencies.
  • Pray that they would find creative ways to send those God is calling as missionaries.


“My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you… Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.” ~ John 17:20-23

Friday, September 5, 2014

Day Five of Prayer

“For the word of the Lord has sounded forth from you, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith toward God has gone forth, so that we have no need to say anything.”   ~1 Thessalonians 1:8

According to the 2011 census, there were 28,226 Turks and 20,464 Crimean Tatars living in Romania. Some are in Bucharest and others in the neighboring area near the Black Sea. Turks tend to be lower income. Churches are being established. Several Romanians are working full time among Turks developing leaders and planting churches. Tatars tend to be higher income. No one is currently engaging this unreached people group full time. There are only one or two known Tatar believers.

  • Pray for growth in the Romanian Turkish church. May the day come when the Word of God sounds forth from them as it did from the Thessalonians (see above)!
  • Pray that God would raise up full-time workers to enter the Tatar community and make disciples of Jesus.

Thursday, September 4, 2014

Day Four of Prayer


Romanian Gateway to Other Countries
Romania has one of the largest number of believers in all of Europe. Many neighboring  countries have an extremely tiny Christian community. Many cities are unreached by the Gospel. God is putting a couple of the countries (towards the bottom right of the picture) on the hearts of dozens of Romanians.

  • Pray for the many short-term Romanian Christian workers visit these countries each year.
  • Many Romanian believers desire to minister long term as tent -makers or full time workers but it’s very difficult for them to obtain long-term visas.
  • Pray for a solution. Ask God to bring revival among the these people, so they can know God’s grace!

“May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face to shine upon us, that Your way may be known on earth, Your saving power among all nations. Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise You!”
~Psalm 67:1-3

“Freely you received, freely give.” Matthew 10:8

Wednesday, September 3, 2014

Day Three of Prayer



Muslim Business People
Thousands of Turkish, Arab and Asian Muslims are involved in business in Bucharest. Some are quite poor while others are very rich. All are struggling to improve their economic situation thinking this is the key to happiness. Some enjoy the looser moral standards in Romania while others are quite traditional.

  • Pray for the multi-national team of believers involved in a prayer and discipleship ministry at the Red Dragon commercial area.
  • Intercede for several Muslim business men who have expressed interest in learning more about Christ.

“Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” Matthew 6:31-33

Tuesday, September 2, 2014

Day Two of Prayer

Muslim Refugees & Students
There are more Muslims than evangelical Christians in Bucharest. Some of these are refugees and others are students coming from Arab, Turkish and Asian backgrounds. There is currently no ongoing work among international students in Bucharest. Some believers have begun to befriend Muslim students. May this outreach grow and lead to transformation of lives. Refugees in Bucharest face many bureaucratic hurdles. Most feel stranded, not knowing Romanian and wishing to reach western Europe.

  • Ask God to open more and more doors for believers to share Christ’s love.

“When a stranger sojourns with you in your land, you shall not do him wrong. You shall treat the stranger who sojourns with you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself” ~ Leviticus 19:33-34b

Monday, September 1, 2014

Day One of Prayer


Kairos Missions Course
Praise God for efforts among Romanians to help the Church finish the task of bringing the Gospel to unreached peoples. Leaders and participants in the Kairos course come from a variety of church and personal backgrounds. They devote themselves to listen to God, look at the big picture of God, His mission, His World, and act on what He has said.


  • Pray for follow-through with more than a hundred course participants to courageously live up to how God has called them to be a part of God’s global mission.
  • Pray that in every church in Bucharest there will be disciples who are engaged in missions and able to mobilize prayer for specific and immediate needs.
  • Pray that churches will be willing to release disciples whom God is calling to become traditional or tent-making missionaries.

“It is too small a thing for you to be my servant to restore the tribes of Jacob and bring back those of Israel I have kept. I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.” ~ Isaiah 49:6