All posts by Bill Hutchison

The Invitation

Hindu World

Join YWAMers around the globe in praying and hearing from God. He is inviting you!

Hindu World – 15 Days of Prayer

Hindus are the second-largest least-reached religious group in the world, with only about two percent of cross-cultural missionaries focused on sharing the gospel with them. The majority of the world’s 1.1 billion Hindus still live without any meaningful access to the gospel of Jesus Christ. This month, we invite you to pray for Hindus on September 12 as part of YWAM’s global prayer day, called The Invitation, and we also invite you to join the 15 Days prayer focus on the Hindu World.

Listen to the Letter

15 Days is an annual prayer movement that calls Christians and churches worldwide to take 15 days, October 20 – November 3 to learn about and pray for Hindus around the world. This period encompasses the significant Hindu Festival of Lights called Diwali (or Deepawali) which is the most notable festival of Hindus and an excellent time to pray for and share with Hindus the precious love of Christ, the light of the world. Prayer guides are available in several languages and are either free or available for a nominal price depending on the country. You may access the prayer guides here: www.pray15days.org.

If you only have a few moments to pray during The Invitation please pray for the light of Christ’s presence to be fully received among Hindus in general and by any Hindus that you know. Thank you for being part of The Invitation. We would love to receive stories from you regarding how you prayed. You can email us at prayer@ywam.org.

Prepare to Pray:

“When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life” (John 8:12).

“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:14-16).

As you prepare to pray, consider that Jesus declared Himself to be the light of the world and also declared that His people are the light of the world. Think of a way to represent that light in the place where you will be praying: could you light candles, shine torches/flashlights, pray as the sun rises, or find other ways to bring to mind this powerful image of Jesus and His people bringing light into dark places? Let this physical action of bringing light become your focus and attitude in prayer. May our prayers for the Hindu world be shining shafts of light into the darkness, that the light of Christ’s presence may fully come among those who do not yet know him.

Pray for the Hindu World:

  • Pray for the more than 2,000 YWAM staff who work in South Asia. Many of them work directly with Hindu people.
  • Pray for the 2,328 unreached Hindu people groups (https://joshuaproject.net/religions/5) and that they will turn to Christ. India is where most Hindus live, compromising about 80% of its almost 1.4 Billion person population. But Hindus also have large populations in Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Indonesia.
  • Pray for Bible translation and distribution efforts in the Hindu world and the ending of Bible poverty. Many Hindus do not have Scripture available in their language or do not have access to the Bible or biblical education in any meaningful form. The Bible is the worker who never sleeps, never gets tired, doesn’t require support and always bears fruit.
  • Pray that Hindus would have life-changing encounters with Christ as they set out on pilgrimage and search for God, often each year.
  • Pray that God would start more movements of Hindus who will turn towards Him in all types of Hindu communities.

“There is nothing that intercessory prayer cannot do. Believer, you have a mighty engine in your hand–use it well, use it constantly use it now with faith, and you shall surely prevail.”

– Charles Spurgeon

Take Action

  • If you are interested in prayer and communication, you can be part of The Invitation. Contact us at prayer@ywam.org. We need an administrator/coordinator; photographers/videographers; and researchers.
  • Share on facebook.com/youthwithamission, post a picture and add a comment about how you prayed.
  • Go to twitter.com; search for #praywithywam and tweet about your prayer time/post a picture. You can also post a photo on Instagram and use the same hashtag, #praywithywam.
  • Send an email to prayer@ywam.org letting us know how you prayed and what God revealed to you.
YWAM Ozarks Prayed for Central Europe in July
Photo credits: YWAM Ozarks

How We Prayed

 August 2019 – U of N

  • We heard from multiple people about the words they sensed from God during their time of prayer: the Jubilee; simple; a sense of coming back to basic truth; trust; fellowship; and this is dedicated ministry.

July 2019 – Central Europe

  • YWAM Ozarks in Arkansas: “We distributed the Central Europe map that was included with the description of prayer needs and then we each took on the identity of a nation in the region. One became Croatian, another a Macedonian, someone else a Romanian, etc. About 15 minutes was given to research our particular nations and then we reported from a first-person perspective. We talked a little about our nation’s history, our strengths, our challenges, the religious beliefs that most of us in our country shared, etc. Some told about these crazy people they have in their neighborhood, called Youth With A Mission and what they seem to be doing. After each one shared about his/her identity as a Croatian, etc., we prayed for the nation and its people. Taking on a personal identity of people from these nations made them come alive to us. At the close there was a friendly competition over just who was the hardest working nation, Hungary or Poland” (see picture above).

Future Topics:

  • October 10: Children at Risk
  • November 14: Tokyo
  • December 12: Israel

Don’t Miss The Invitation:

  • Sign up for prayer updates. Go to ywam.org, find the “Stay Connected” box on the home page, put in your email address and click “Sign Up.”
  • Download prayer updates in a specific language. Go to ywam.org/theinvitation. (Currently available in Spanish, Portuguese, French, Indonesian, Korean or request other languages.)
  • Join the conversation about how God is leading in these prayer times. Comment on the Facebook page on the second Thursday at facebook.com/youthwithamission or on Twitter @ywam, hashtag #praywithywam. You can also post a photo on Instagram and use the same hashtag, #praywithywam.
  • You can now listen to The Invitation as a podcast. To sign up or listen to past episodes, go to: ywampodcast.net/prayer.
  • If you sense God giving you a word or a direction for YWAM’s prayer, please contact us: prayer@ywam.org.

Related posts:

2017 Hindu World Prayer Guide Cover Page15 Days of Prayer for the Hindu World Default Thumbnail30-Days of Prayer for the Muslim World Begins Next Week 30 Days of Prayer for the Muslim World June 6 – July 5, 2016
The Invitation

21 Days of Prayer & Fasting for the UofN

Join YWAMers around the globe in praying and hearing from God. He is inviting you!

From left to right: YWAM Lausanne; University of the Nations graduation.
Photo credits: YWAM Lausanne, Emily Ranquist

This year, YWAM is celebrating 50 years of training. It all began with a small group of young adults studying evangelism in Lausanne, Switzerland. This year YWAM has set aside time to remember, to pray, and to look to the future of YWAM’s training, which has now grown into a global university called the University of the Nations. Please join us on August 8, for YWAM’s global prayer day, called The Invitation, as we pray for YWAM’s training.

This day is also the kickoff for 21 days of prayer and fasting for the University of the Nations from August 8 – August 28.   This will be a time as a family of ministries where we seek God together, wait on Him and pray what He has shown us. We believe the Lord is leading us in a time of transition and a time of going deeper in Him for His purposes for the U of N. We believe your prayer will provide a protection and preparation for the Holy Spirit to lead us afresh into this phase of growth and multiplication.

Please find the simple prayer guide to help give daily prayer focus at this link:

We encourage your family, ministries and teams to enter into this time, to give up some type of normal indulgence such as food or media and to seek God together. Together we will pray and fast and look at some of our foundations in the U of N and look to the Lord for His direction and leading into the future.

If you only have a few moments to pray please pray that everyone involved in YWAM’s training will receive direction and leading from the Lord into the future.

Thank-you for taking part in this as the Lord leads you. We would love to receive stories from you regarding how you prayed. You can email us at prayer@ywam.org.

Prepare to Pray:

The spiritual practice of fasting has been interpreted in diverse ways in different Christian traditions. The purpose of this month’s prayer guidelines is not to dictate the way in which you choose to fast. Rather, through fasting we are deliberately taking our physical or emotional hunger, and turning our hearts towards the things of God. That is, we embrace an increase of natural hunger and allow it to become a prompt that turns our awareness – the intentions of our hearts – towards God.

During the 21 days covered by this month’s prayer guide, you may choose to fast in the way that you sense the Holy Spirit nudging you. While this will be a personal response – because the Spirit of God knows our individual appetites and what sort of fasting is most helpful for us – you may also agree to a corporate rhythm of fasting with your community or team.

  • You could choose to fast from one meal each day, or on certain days over the 21 days. This mealtime can then become a time of prayer.
  • You could choose to fast from food for an entire day, on certain days over the 3 weeks. Again, these days can become special times of focused prayer.
  • You could opt for simple meals throughout the 3 weeks, choosing not to eat meat, sweets, or rich foods, for example.
  • You could choose to disconnect from social media, or other entertainment for 3 weeks.
  • You could choose to avoid all purchases for 3 weeks, other than absolute necessities.

The point here is that during the fasting period, when your attention is captured by your desire for food, or sweets, or for entertainment or distraction, you pause and reflect:

  • To what extent does your hunger for God and His good future exceed your hunger for these passing satisfactions?
  • In what way can this appetite for something temporary remind you to turn to God out of longing for Him?

When you do have the opportunity to gather as a group, reflect together on the ways God has deepened your desire for His purposes to be fulfilled as you have engaged in fasting.

YWAM ministry in Hong Kong
Photo credits: YWAM Tuen Mun, Hong Kong

Pray for the UofN:

  • Praise God for his vision for, creation of and sustainment of YWAM’s University of the Nations (U of N).
  • Pray for the 50th celebration in Lausanne from August 30 to September 2. Pray for heart preparation for those attending and pray for the YWAM family unable to attend – that God would be speaking to all.
  • Pray for God’s leading and revelation in prayer over these next 21 days.
  • Pray for God’s strategies for YWAM’s training programs as we enter this new season. Ask God to take YWAM deeper into His understanding and heart for training and discipleship.
  • Pray that the foundations that shaped the U of N would remain firm as we continue to build and multiply geographically, into all spheres of society and in all aspects of the Great Commission.
  • Pray for appropriate structures for the U of N in a time of growth.
  • Pray for the Holy Spirit to teach us His way forward and to teach us His strategies for development.
  • Pray that all of our training and teaching would be filled with the compassion of Jesus (Mark 6:34).

When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. And he began to teach them many things.

Mark 6:34 (ESV)

  • Pray for effective servant leadership in every school, every campus, and every ministry associated with our campuses.
  • Pray for revelation in areas of His vision, ways of teaching, managing, communicating and working together in community.
  • Ask God to place safeguards so that the U of N globally and in your area will flourish for the next generations.
  • Pray for insight into new training courses and release of workers from your location.
  • Pray for standards of excellence and God’s favor.
  • Pray for DTSes in your region.
  • Pray for greater capacity to train people from everywhere to go everywhere.
  • Pray that every U of N campus would be an educational resource to the nations.
  • Pray that all generations would continue to serve and train together at all levels in honoring, loving and biblical ways.
  • Pray for a fresh wave of prayer.
Giving out Bibles in Thailand.
Photo credits: YWAM Together 2018

Take Action

Learning aquaponics at YWAM in Colorado.
Photo credits: YWAM Emerge
  • If you are interested in prayer and communication, you can be part of The Invitation. Contact us at prayer@ywam.org. We need an administrator/coordinator; photographers/videographers; researchers; and a French translator.
  • Share on facebook.com/youthwithamission, post a picture and add a comment about how you prayed.
  • Go to twitter.com; search for #praywithywam and tweet about your prayer time/post a picture. You can also post a photo on Instagram and use the same hashtag, #praywithywam.
  • Send an email to prayer@ywam.org letting us know how you prayed and what God revealed to you.
YWAM King’s Gardens – Pune, India prayed for Central Europe
Photo credits: Ferdinand Pakyntein

How We Prayed

 July 2019 – Central Europe

  • YWAM King’s Gardens – Pune, India sent in the two photos shown above of their prayer time and reported that they “always have a powerful and blessed time when we join in The Invitation.” They are very grateful for the privilege.
  • YWAM Seamill, Scotland prayed for Central Europe and reported that God revealed something for each country with Hungary highlighted. For Hungary they sensed an angel like a lion roaring over the nation proclaiming His love for the nation. They also sensed Jesus is washing the feet of the nation, cleansing them from all condemnation and shame of the past. And finally, from the cracks of division the Lord will display His union of the body to Jesus.

Future Topics: 

  • September 12: Hindu World
  • October 10: Children at Risk
  • November 14: Tokyo

Don’t Miss The Invitation:

  • Sign up for prayer updates. Go to ywam.org, find the “Stay Connected” box on the home page, put in your email address and click “Sign Up.”
  • Download prayer updates in a specific language. Go to ywam.org/theinvitation. (Currently available in Spanish, Portuguese, French, Indonesian, Korean or request other languages.)
  • Join the conversation about how God is leading in these prayer times. Comment on the Facebook page on the second Thursday at facebook.com/youthwithamission or on Twitter @ywam, hashtag #praywithywam. You can also post a photo on Instagram and use the same hashtag, #praywithywam.
  • You can now listen to The Invitation as a podcast. To sign up or listen to past episodes, go to: ywampodcast.net/prayer.
  • If you sense God giving you a word or a direction for YWAM’s prayer, please contact us: prayer@ywam.org.

Related posts:

2017 Hindu World Prayer Guide Cover Page15 Days of Prayer for the Hindu World Default Thumbnail30-Days of Prayer for the Muslim World Begins Next Week 30 Days of Prayer for the Muslim World June 6 – July 5, 2016
The Invitation

Central Europe

Join YWAMers around the globe in praying and hearing from God. He is inviting you!

From left to right, top to bottom: Mytilene, the biggest town on Lesvos; Faith and Conflict Journey in Bosnia and Herzegovina; the Church in Sandanski, Bulgaria
Photo credits: Micah Stailey, YWAM Bosnia Herzegovina, YWAM Bulgaria

This month, please join YWAM in prayer for a very diverse part of the world. This is a place where many countries have been at war with each other or have oppressed each other. It’s a place where Catholicism, Islam and Orthodoxy meet. Please pray with us for Central Europe and for YWAM’s work there.

Listen to the letter

The YWAM Central Europe area is made up of 16 countries: Albania, Bosnia Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, Greece, Hungary, Kosovo, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia with a combined population of over 130 million people. At present YWAM has about 250 full-time staff working here, with almost half working in Romania.

There is much division and disunity within and between these countries. The word “balkanise”, which is named after the Balkan peninsula where many Central European countries are found, means “to divide (a region or body) into smaller mutually hostile states or groups.” Our biggest mandate as YWAM Central Europe is to come against this propensity to divide and instead reconcile, and work together in unity within countries and across borders.

Other significant issues in Central Europe include the post-communism way of thinking that is prevalent in Central Europe; human trafficking due to the high numbers of young people seeking better economic conditions through migration; a heavy flow of refugees wanting to reach the richer countries of the European Union that instead find themselves in camps unable to reach “the promised land”; and the discrimination of the Romani or Roma people.

Please join YWAM’s global prayer day, called The Invitation, this month and pray for Central Europe. You are particularly invited to pray during our prayer day, July 11. If you only have a few moments to pray please pray for unity and reconciliation in and among these nations. Pray also for those that are lost, marginalized and victimized in Central Europe. We would love to receive stories from you regarding how you prayed. You can email us at prayer@ywam.org.

Map of Central Europe Locations
Design credit: Matthew McCaigue

Prepare to Pray:

If you are praying with a group, consider this activity as a way to focus on Central Europe. You will need to prepare:

  1. A large poster size hand drawn map using the above picture as a reference for the group to use or a black and white print for each participant of a simple line map of the region. (You may even click on the above picture, save it as a picture, and print as a full page or larger photo for each participant.)
  2. A selection of random images pre-cut from magazines (these could include landscapes, objects, people alone or in groups – avoid anything with lots of writing). Spread the images on a table so that they can easily be seen.
  3. Scissors and glue.
Sample Collage
Photo credit: Miranda Heathcote

Before looking at the images, remind everyone that this is a way of preparing our hearts to listen to God’s desires for the region. Everyone is to chose from the images a selection of four to eight that they are drawn to. They may notice these images in particular because they feel attracted to an aspect of beauty, peace, connection or abundance. Or they may especially notice an image that repels them because it portrays an element of disorder, fear or scarcity. Resist the desire to over-think the exercise, or to try to ‘make meaning.’ Everyone should simply choose those images that seem to draw their attention.

In a prayerful way–listening to God and noticing one’s own feelings–allow a few minutes for people to stick their images on the map. It may be that they want to arrange them along boundary lines between nations, or on particular nations. This does not need to take long.

Finally, leave some time for people to reflect on the map collage they have created. They might do this in pairs. Be open to the possibility that God may use the pictures, or the way they have been arranged, to speak to people as they move to prayer. Rather than trying to explain or make the pictures mean anything, simply be sensitive to how they might reflect, in some way, the heart of God for the people of Central Europe. Hold onto this sense of God’s longings for the region as you go to prayer.

Left to right, top to bottom: YWAM’s workers in Greece; YWAM Romania Staff Gathering; YWAM Central Europe Staff Gathering; Young missionaries From Germany, Poland, USA and Eqypt Gather in Warsaw
Photo credits: YWAM Greece, YWAM Romania, YWAM CE, YWAM Poland

Pray for Central Europe:

  • Pray for a spirit of unity and reconciliation amongst the nations in Central Europe.
  • Pray that the gospel of the Kingdom will be preached and demonstrated in practical ways to bring revival and engagement among the youth who are looking for a valid alternative.
  • Pray for ways to impact the nations, so that migration to the West is not seen as the only alternative, but instead young people will want to stay in their home countries and make a difference there.
  • Pray for those caught in the web of human trafficking, that they will be able to get out and find help and healing. More than one million people work in the multi-billion dollar commercial sex industry in Europe. Many have been trafficked from Central and Eastern Europe and are stigmatized, isolated and trapped. Please pray for their freedom, fresh opportunities for safe dignified work and committed people who will help them start a new life.
  • Pray for refugees in Central Europe, especially those coming from a Muslim background, to find Jesus while they are in these crisis situations.
  • Pray for the marginalized Roma community to rise up and take their place in society so they can impact not only on their own community, but also the nations where they live.
  • Praise God for the increase of YWAM staff in Central Europe in recent years!

And he said to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore, pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.

Luke 10:2 (ESV)

  • Pray for more workers – there is a real need in our region, and so few workers. In fact, we have two countries, Montenegro and Moldova where there is no full-time YWAM presence. There are also four other countries where there are less than five staff in total: Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo and Macedonia. Pray especially for Slovenia which until this year had no YWAM presence!
Left to right: Outreach to Roma in Albania; Youth Conference in Albania
Photo credits: YWAM Elbasan, YWAM Albania

Take Action

  • Dig deeper. Read: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/33690.Balkan_Ghosts
  • Refugees: We are making a call out to all men! We are working with demographics of mainly Muslim men and there is a limit to how far cross-gender ministry can reach. Please pray for men to join our schools and long-term ministry. It is a real case of the harvest being ripe but we do not have enough workers who can specifically minister to these men. Please contact info@ywamlesvos.com for more information on the programs, school, and long-term opportunities we offer.
  • Trafficking:
    • Consider this real-life experience:
      • Adri’s* father was in the sex industry and told her from a young age that she would grow up to become a prostitute. Unfortunately, his prediction became true and Adri was trafficked in her teens to be exploited for sex. She is one of the thousands of women who have been made vulnerable due to poverty and abuse and have been exploited in the multi-billion euro commercial sex industry of Europe.
    • Come help us minister to these ladies caught in the trap of human trafficking. HOPE DIES LAST is a justice ministry reaching out creatively to trafficked, marginalized and exploited people. They create media for under-resourced organizations and address the root causes of human trafficking and sexual exploitation. Hope Dies Last works throughout Central Europe and is based out of Budapest, Hungary. https://www.hopedieslast.org/
Sign Language DTS YWAM Constanta Romania
Trafficked!
Photo credits: Hope Dies Last
  • If you are interested in prayer and communication, you can be part of The Invitation. Contact us at prayer@ywam.org. We need an administrator/coordinator; photographers/videographers; researchers; and translators for French and Indonesian.
  • Share on facebook.com/youthwithamission, post a picture and add a comment about how you prayed.
  • Go to twitter.com; search for #praywithywam and tweet about your prayer time/post a picture. You can also post a photo on Instagram and use the same hashtag, #praywithywam.
  • Send an email to prayer@ywam.org letting us know how you prayed and what God revealed to you.

How We Prayed

 June 2019 – Mozambique

  • YWAM Diriamba, Nicaragua prayed and sensed God giving them words including verses from 1 Kings, Philippians, Joshua, Joel and Genesis. They saw that God sent ravens to feed Elijah and they asked for similar for Mozambique. They sensed that God desires people be healed internally.
  • Several posted on Facebook and shared The Invitation to Pray for Mozambique 93 times. One asked for blessings for YWAM and the people of Mozambique, another thanked the Lord for those who will go, another thanked the Lord for providing aid and one shared Jeremiah 29:11.
  • A young man from Goma, Democratic Republic Congo reported that he prayed and sensed God would provide the people with hope.

Future Topics:

  • August 8, 2019: Human Trafficking
  • September 12: Hindu World

Don’t Miss The Invitation:

  • Sign up for prayer updates. Go to ywam.org, find the “Stay Connected” box on the home page, put in your email address and click “Sign Up.”
  • Download prayer updates in a specific language. Go to ywam.org/theinvitation. (Currently available in Spanish, Portuguese, French, Indonesian, Korean or request other languages.)
  • Join the conversation about how God is leading in these prayer times. Comment on the Facebook page on the second Thursday at facebook.com/youthwithamission or on Twitter @ywam, hashtag #praywithywam. You can also post a photo on Instagram and use the same hashtag, #praywithywam.
  • You can now listen to The Invitation as a podcast. To sign up or listen to past episodes, go to: ywampodcast.net/prayer.
  • If you sense God giving you a word or a direction for YWAM’s prayer, please contact us: prayer@ywam.org.

Related posts:

Default ThumbnailStatement from YWAM Norway about the Oslo Bombing and Utoeya Shootings Moscow YWAM Foundational Values (4 – 6)
The Invitation

Mozambique

Join YWAMers around the globe in praying and hearing from God. He is inviting you!

Beira, Mozambique after Cyclone Idai
Photo credit: The Red Cross

On March 14th a category three cyclone made landfall in Mozambique. Just six weeks later on April 25th another cyclone came ashore a bit farther north in Mozambique. Significant rains before and after these cyclones also impacted the neighboring countries of Zimbabwe and Malawi. Please join with Youth With A Mission’s global prayer day this month as we lift up the people of Mozambique and surrounding countries and evangelistic and aid workers in those areas, including YWAMers.

Listen to the letter

According to the United Nations Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, cyclone Idai has affected over 1.85 million people with at least 130,000 people displaced over four provinces in Mozambique. A minimum of 112,000 houses were damaged or destroyed. At least 715,000 hectares of crops have been destroyed at the beginning of the main harvest season. Over 400,000 people have been reached with food assistance, while 10,000 people are being helped with ready-to-eat meals in the city of Beira. The death toll is over 750 in Mozambique alone.

Watch the story here through the eyes of a young YWAM girl who lived through the destruction of Idai: https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/47828862

YWAM locations in Beira and Dondo were directly impacted by Idai, making them strategically located to help others. YWAM Blantyre, Malawi is also assisting their neighbors and providing hope to people who have lost much. YWAM Muizenberg, South Africa has become a communication and coordinating point for YWAM efforts including disbursing donations and other resources, as well as working with other YWAM locations to coordinate the development and resettlement phase that officially began this month.

In addition to prayer, YWAM leaders in South Africa are asking us to be generous towards our brothers and sisters in Christ in Mozambique as they are in desperate need of food, water, shelter and medical supplies. See the Take Action section of The Invitation for ways to help, including sending teams for rebuilding.

Please join YWAM’s global prayer day, called The Invitation, this month and pray for Mozambique. You are particularly invited to pray during our prayer day, June 13. If you only have a few moments to pray please pray for our brothers and sisters in YWAM Beira and YWAM Dondo as they seek to recover from this disaster. We would love to receive stories from you regarding how you prayed for Mozambique. You can email us at prayer@ywam.org.

Destruction in Mozambique
Photo credit: YWAM Muizenberg

Prepare to Pray:

Consider these two short portions from Lamentations chapter 3:

“The waters closed over my head, and I thought I was about to perish. I called on your name, Lord, from the depths of the pit. You heard my plea: ‘Do not close your ears to my cry for relief.’ You came near when I called you, and you said, ‘Do not fear.’ You, Lord, took up my case; you redeemed my life.

“Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, ‘The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.’ The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.”

Lamentations 3, 54-58 and 22-26

In order to lead a group in their preparation time, it will help to have just these selected verses available for people to read, whether on a projected slide, or printed and available for each person.

These selected verses will be read aloud three times, either by one person or by someone different each time.

The first reading is an opportunity to simply notice which word or short phrase catches your attention. For a couple of minutes following the reading, allow time for people to speak out loud ‘popcorn style’ the word or phrase that struck them. Repetitions are fine, it is good to hear how God is speaking throughout the group.

The second reading is an opportunity to listen to the invitation the Lord may be bringing to you through these verses. This invitation may relate to the word or phrase you noticed in the first reading, or it may be something new. What is God inviting you to today? Perhaps He is inviting you to an attitude of compassion or trust? Maybe there is a step of faith He is inviting you to take? He may simply be inviting you to call on His name. Allow people a moment to jot this down in their journal.

The third and final reading is an opportunity to consider your response to this invitation from God. How does your heart respond to Him? In what way might you enter into the attitude or action to which He has invited you? You may wish to allow a short time of sharing as you move into prayer for Mozambique.

YWAM Locations and Ministries in Mozambique Were Impacted
Photo credit: YWAM Muizenberg

Pray for Mozambique:

  • Pray for God’s leading and for hope for the millions affected by cyclones Idai and Kenneth. Pray that those who don’t know Him yet will find Jesus through this storm in their lives.
  • The timing of Idai was just before harvest time for crops. Pray for provision of necessities between now and when the next crops are able to be harvested.
  • Pray for rebuilding of businesses, buildings and farms in such a way that there is greater abundance in the future.

The human cost is immense. Many people are understandingly emotional: “I am not crying because I lost things, but what I experienced was scary. I want to run away from this city!”

Shephen Mbewe, former base leader YWAM Marromeu

  • Praise God for the many other organizations that have provided aid and resources including RescueNet and Mercy Air. Their work has been phenomenal.
  • Praise God that no YWAMers were killed.
  • Praise God for the initial donations that have been provided. Pray for all funds needed to rebuild YWAM ministries including the school and orphanage in Beira and the preschool and clinic in Dondo.
  • Much rebuilding is still needed in Mozambique. There are many opportunities for YWAMers to reach out and help others. Pray for YWAMers directly impacted so they can help others effectively. Pray for continued resources and volunteers to support our YWAM locations impacted.
  • Pray for YWAMers and others who were traumatized and in need of counseling.
  • YWAM has solid ministries in these areas. Praise God for the impact that has already been made and ask Him to direct future ministries.
  • Praise God for the structure and resources of YWAM Muizenberg so that resources can be dispersed effectively and with discernment. Pray for wisdom from God.
  • There are many conflicting priorities. An example is that government officials want the people out of schools so that education can continue but temporary shelters are not always ready. Pray for governmental officials and leaders from aid organizations to collaborate effectively, making sure that all needs are addressed in a coordinated fashion so people are not further impacted by this disaster.
  • Pray for relief for the city of Beira, Mozambique where many people initially fled.
  • Many are still living in temporary refugee-type housing. Supplies are limited. Pray for adequate and equitable distribution of supplies.
  • Pray for all children and that even in the midst of the devastation their education can continue. Pray that all children will soon have schools where schools were destroyed.
  • All services including water, medical, electricity, police, postal and others were disrupted. Some serves are not yet fully restored. Pray for restoration of all services including water, electricity, police, postal and others. Pray for clean water sources.
  • The threat of disease is high. Pray for God to protect the people from these threats and for those who are sick to believe He can heal.
  • Pray for military and police officers who are guarding resettlement sites. Pray for their protection and that they will meet Jesus through their work. Pray for security of those they are protecting.
Ready for Rebuilding in Mozambique
Photo credits: YWAM Muizenberg

Take Action

  • Donate and if you have already donated consider doing so again. If you have questions, contact YWAM Muizenberg at mzidai@ywammuizenberg.org:
    • Paypal: finance2@ywammuizenberg.org
    • Transfer funds to:
      • Account Name: Youth With A Mission NPC
      • Bank: FNB
      • Account No: 62544019997
      • Branch Code: 200409
    • For international transfers: see above plus:
      • Swift Code: FIRNZAJJXXX
      • Clearing Code: 250655
    • Mail to YWAM Muizenberg:
      • Youth With A Mission NPC
      • 19 Alexander Rd
      • Muizenberg
      • 7945
      • Cape Town
    • Review general information about the damage from the cyclones: https://www.ywam.org/blog/2019/03/26/response-to-cyclone-idai-in-mozambique/
    • Contact YWAM Muizenberg, South Africa to plan a team or to come mzidai@ywammuizenberg.org:
      • Any helpers willing to get dirty for the Lord are welcome.
      • People to help with ongoing trauma counseling: Many people have been left traumatized and deeply affected by what they have been through. Counseling teams would be welcome.
      • Construction, building and repairing teams: There will be a need for teams and individuals to come and help as there will be work to be done for some time to come. Please continue to give financially as this will allow the work of rebuilding to continue.
    • Prayer:
      • Continue to pray individually for those on the ground, for those traumatized and affected.
      • Organize ongoing prayer for Mozambique at your location.
    • Learn more about Mozambique. One such source: https://geology.com/world/mozambique-satellite-image.shtml. Then ask God what action He wants you to take.
    • Talk to your leader about disaster preparedness at your location and how your location could help others impacted by a local disaster. Help develop disaster plans where needed.
Mozambique – Find Dondo and Beira on the west coast east of Zimbabwe
Source: Geology.com
  • If you are interested in prayer and communication, you can be part of The Invitation. Contact us at prayer@ywam.org. We need an administrator/coordinator; photographers/videographers; researchers; and translators for French and Indonesian.
  • Share on facebook.com/youthwithamission, post a picture and add a comment about how you prayed.
  • Go to twitter.com; search for #praywithywam and tweet about your prayer time/post a picture. You can also post a photo on Instagram and use the same hashtag, #praywithywam.
  • Send an email to prayer@ywam.org letting us know how you prayed and what God revealed to you.
Preparing to Pray for Uyghurs People Group
Photo credit: Ywam Chiang Rai, Thailand (Matthew Thompson)

How We Prayed

May 2019 – YWAM Uyghurs People Group

  • YWAM Chiang Rai, Thailand posted the picture above on Facebook and provided a report of how they prayed. One of their prayers was that the gospel would advance in the camps – like Paul influencing prisoners, guards, visitors, and the household of Caesar through his two years in chains. They also referenced Exodus 2:23-24 & 3:7-8;
    Psalm 146 and 1 Corinthians 10:4-5.
  • YWAM Harvest City, Otukpo, Nigeria prayed and reported: “We thank God for involving us in the prayer for the Uyghurs. We felt the Lord reminding us that he is able to do the impossible. He is the Lord who makes streams in desert places. He is able to turn the hearts of the communists running these detention camps to himself. Let us be encouraged as we continue to pray!”
  • YWAM Dunham, Quebec, Canada reported that they went down into a dark, cold and humid basement room and identified with those who live in darkness and oppression. With every prayer prayed we lit a candle representing the hope and light that God wants to bring to them. It was great to engage our senses and it added to the passion to pray for the Uyghur! They have also prayed for the Uyghurs since our global prayer day.

Future Topics:

  • July 11, 2019: Central Europe
  • August 8, 2019: Human Trafficking
  • September 12: Hindu World

Don’t Miss The Invitation:

  • Sign up for prayer updates. Go to ywam.org, find the “Stay Connected” box on the home page, put in your email address and click “Sign Up.”
  • Download prayer updates in a specific language. Go to ywam.org/theinvitation. (Currently available in Spanish, Portuguese, French, Indonesian, Korean or request other languages.)
  • Join the conversation about how God is leading in these prayer times. Comment on the Facebook page on the second Thursday at facebook.com/youthwithamission or on Twitter @ywam, hashtag #praywithywam. You can also post a photo on Instagram and use the same hashtag, #praywithywam.
  • You can now listen to The Invitation as a podcast. To sign up or listen to past episodes, go to: ywampodcast.net/prayer.
  • If you sense God giving you a word or a direction for YWAM’s prayer, please contact us: prayer@ywam.org.

Related posts:

Quote, "The history of missions is the history of answered prayer." by Samuel ZwemerA Year of Answered Prayer DTS, Disciple-making YWAM Response to Cyclone Idai in Mozambique