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Dear Friends,
The time in Fiji was renewing and
stimulating. Practitioners in the ministry of transformation from 25 nations
were in attendance. We were especially encouraged and challenged by the
experiences of the Fijians who described how God’s healing is coming to
their islands.
Members from their Healing the Land
Team told us how they gather a community to go through a process of
repentance and reconciliation, dealing with the sins of their forefathers
and any current relationship breaches. They also stressed the need to
re-covenant the land back to God. Afterwards, they often see remarkable
signs and wonders as the Lord dramatically increases the agricultural output
of the soil, heals reefs that were dying, and brings back large schools of
fish and other sea creatures that had long been absent. The weather
patterns have also changed so that they do not suffer the typhoons that had
been common in past years.
Political leaders, such as the
president and prime minister are active participants in the prayer movement,
and have asked the church to be closely involved in the matters of state. It
is an extraordinary story.
The early June meeting in Atlanta on helping the Persecuted Church that we
prayed for was successful and met everyone’s expectations, according to one
of the organizers. He reports: “The PCEDN (Persecuted Church Economic
Development Network) was unanimously launched by the participants. There is
a well-defined, clear vision specifically for the persecuted/emerging
church!” Praise God for answering our prayers for this important gathering
and let’s pray that this new network will further develop and flourish.
Next week in South Sudan, important talks will be held that could end the
awful 20-year conflict of Uganda with the LRA (Lord’s Resistance Army)
rebels. The talks between the government and rebels are considered northern
Uganda's best chance for peace in years. Please pray for the Sudanese
mediators and all who are involved on both sides that a peace breakthrough
can occur.
Please also pray for the Democratic Republic of Congo as it moves towards
national elections on July 30. These elections come after a five-year
conflict that took over three million lives. It is essential that they go
well. They are also the first free elections since independence in 1960.
Pray against violence and corruption and that the election process will be
peaceful and fair.
A friend of mine in Central India reports that a fanatical Hindu
fundamentalist group, the RSS, is “holding an international strategy session
on the 10th of July in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh to chalk out a new policy
for persecuting Christians.” He notes that several states
of the nation have witnessed “a steep rise both in frequency and severity
since January 2006.” Let’s pray that this meeting will be ineffective and
that the Hindu fundamentalists will not be able to continue their violent
attacks against believers in Christ and that government and law enforcement
agencies will take firm action against those who carry out such crimes.
Lastly, would you especially pray for a special prayer initiative inside
Iraq that one of my colleagues in the prayer movement will help lead, July
17-22. It will be a 4 days fasting and praying conference for young adults
from 18-28 years old. Pray for safety in travel for my friend and all the
participants and that it will be a well organized event that is anointed and
guided by the Lord. May He use this time to bring healing to this war-weary,
shattered nation!
Thanks and greetings,
John Robb
International Prayer Council |
