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(Liberia)–Liberia’s shattered peace accord tops the news today. Late Thursday, rebels pressed the capital city, Monrovia, in an effort to oust President Charles Taylor. In the process, hundreds of civilians died, and hundreds more were wounded. Evangelical Baptist Mission’s[1] Doug Boisvert says the situation is precarious. “We tried to schedule for even a couple weeks to come back in for some leadership training. From what I’ve heard, they are just too disorganized to be able to be free for that. They are in a desperate situation there. Everybody is just holding their breath, waiting, because they’re expecting even more to happen.” Boisvert urges prayer for the church in Liberia, because the conditions will test their faith. “Physically, they have nothing to offer, but oftentimes, this is the time when believers really make a difference because they have a resource that is not dependent on the peace accords, that is not dependent on the government structure. [And], we really need to hold our brothers and sisters up before the Lord that they can just really go beyond their limits and trust God.”

(North Korea)–Meanwhile, North Korean Christians face imprisonment, torture and death for their faith. One estimate puts the number of Christians in labor camps at several thousand. A coalition of organizations, including Christian Solidarity Worldwide, Voice of the Martyrs[2] , Jubilee Campaign and others, has declared this week a “Week of Prayer for North Korea” and calls for Christians to specifically pray for believers suffering for their faith.

(Brazil)–Brazil’s jobless rate rose to a new high as interest rates choked economic growth. Subsidies and micro-credit are part of an economic package introduced in the hopes it will jump-start the sluggish Brazilian economy. Global Advance Ministries'[4] David Shibley explains the situation falls hard on church leaders. “Even though there is strength in the Brazilian economy, that doesn’t always reach, particularly to evangelical pastors, who are primarily supported by their own congregations.” That sometimes means church leaders are unable to get more training for leadership roles. Shibley says their Frontline Shepherd’s Conference next week in Brazil meets that need. “When there is no opportunity, and no resources, financial resources available for training, and or materials, they just lap up any opportunity for encouragement, for training in ministry, for training in church growth and church planting, and also to receive the materials that we’re going to be providing for them at this conference.”

(Brazil)–Next, in spite of nearly flat economic growth and a growing poverty rate, Brazilian pastors and missionaries remain determined to get essential training. OC International’s[5] Dick Duncan says they’re making sure the tools are available. “We provide information, training, follow-up so that they will have the kinds of tools they need. We don’t tend to repeat what seminaries do; we tend to be very practical, giving them tools that might be about how to develop a small group ministry, or do spiritual warfare, or counseling, or preach better.” Duncan says the challenge faced by believers creates a vibrant church. “Brazilians are among the most flexible, creative people in the world, and they make it work. They come up with resources or a new way of doing things so they do get the training they need. Clearly for the Brazilian missions movement, going out to other countries, it has been an additional challenge; but even so, Brazilians are making those sacrifices and getting missionaries over to other countries.”

(International)–And, Buckner Orphan Care International[6] asks prayer for their short-term mission teams working this week in Romania and Guatemala. The teams will be working in the orphanages and summer camps. The orphanage teams will be working with a Vacation Bible School program while the camp counselors provide training and Bible Study. Pray for health and safety for those helping the children. Also pray that the seeds of the Gospel will take root.

[1] http://www.gospelcom.net/mnn/media/group.php?agencyAb=EBM [2] http://www.gospelcom.net/mnn/media/group.php?agencyAb=VOM [3] http://www.gospelcom.net/mnn/media/group.php?agencyAb=ODM [4] http://www.gospelcom.net/mnn/media/group.php?agencyAb=GAM [5] http://www.gospelcom.net/mnn/media/group.php?agencyAb=OCI [6] http://www.gospelcom.net/mnn/media/group.php?agencyAb=BOC ———————————————————————

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