Category Archives: Prayer

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
The Invitation

Uyghur People Group

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

Uyghur Women

Please join with Youth With A Mission’s global prayer day this month as we lift up a large Muslim people group that is facing a crisis right now.

Listen to the letter

The Uyghur [WEE-gur] people numbers around 15 million. Their traditional homeland is located mainly in Xinjiang [SHIN-jong] province in Northwest China. In recent years, small numbers of Uyghurs have responded to the gospel, and at this time there are a few hundred Uyghur Christians.

Historically, the Uyghurs and communist China have had ongoing conflicts. But recently, things have escalated dramatically. Under the guise of eliminating Islamic extremism, approximately one million Uyghurs have been detained in “re-education camps,” usually indefinitely. The camps are overcrowded and the Uyghurs are forced to learn communist propaganda. Some detainees have claimed they were tortured. Outside the camps, conditions are not much better. Families are being torn apart and some businesses have closed because owners have “disappeared.”

There is a very small Uyghur Christian community that is also being targeted and most leaders and strong believers have been detained. The Uyghur Christian fellowships, small and fragile to begin with, have been driven almost out of existence.

Although Uyghurs are predominantly Muslim and have been for about 1,000 years, historical findings show that there was once a strong Christian community among the Uyghur tribe. They had many churches and were also involved in taking the gospel to other Central Asian peoples. Many Uyghur Christians believe that God wants to revive the destiny of the Uyghur people in these days. They believe that this involves many Uyghurs embracing the gospel and taking God’s good news across Central Asia. They also believe that the enemy is doing his best to stop this destiny from becoming a reality.

Will you join YWAM’s global prayer day, called The Invitation, this month and pray for the Uyghurs? You are particularly invited to pray during our prayer day, May 9. If you only have a few moments to pray we would ask you to pray for the ending of this oppression and for Uyghurs to turn to Jesus in great numbers. Let’s pray that the Uyghurs would rise up with identity restored, healed and bringing the Good News across Central Asia and the world. We would love to receive stories from you regarding how you prayed for the Uyghurs. You can email us at prayer@ywam.org.

Xinjiang

Prepare to Pray:

Before you begin to pray, find a table from your classroom or dining room and cover it in blankets, drapes, or other fabric. It should be covered all around and right down to the floor. You may want to put additional blankets or cushions under the table, in the ‘tent’ you have created.

In groups of 3 or 4, have people sit in the darkness under the table for a few minutes at a time. While there, experiencing darkness, discomfort and confinement, bring to mind those Uyghrs who have been forcibly removed from their homes and families, who are persecuted and in terrible fear. Consider those Christian Uyghurs who are in detention even today. Allow yourself to imagine the loss, grief and fear they might be feeling.

As you experience the emotion of this place of darkness and great need, turn your longing towards God – Father, Son and Holy Spirit – whose great desire and purpose is to rent open this darkness in order for the light of His presence to be made known. As you leave the shadows of the ‘tent’ where you have been sitting, you might want to make this declaration in faith for the Uyghur people:

“Through Jesus dark death has been destroyed and radiant life is everywhere restored!”

Remain in this heart place of identification and faith for the Uyghur as you move through your prayer time.

Uyghur Children

Pray for Uyghurs People Group:

  • Pray for the camps to close and oppression against Uyghurs to end.
  • Pray that the Uyghurs would rise up with identity restored, healed and bringing the Good News across Central Asia and the world.
  • Pray for governments and those in places of influence. “The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes.” Proverbs 21:1
  • Pray for those in detention camps. “The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light and upon those who sat in the region and shadow of death light has dawned.” Matthew 4:16
  • Pray that the enemy’s plans for these camps would be halted.
  • Pray for the families of those in detention camps.
  • Pray for Xinjiang Province. “For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.” Habakkuk 2:14
  • Pray for God’s plans for Xinjiang to come to pass and for the enemy’s plans to be cancelled.
  • Pray that people in Xinjiang would cry out to God in their time of trouble.
  • Pray for Uyghurs in other parts of the world, like Central Asia, Europe and North America.
  • Pray for the Uyghur Church, that Christian fellowships would be restored and strengthened. “I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.” Matthew 16:18.
  • Pray for a spirit of forgiveness and that Uyghur Christians would actively forgive.
  • Pray that Uyghur Christians would sense God’s presence and peace. Pray that these believers would pray with hope and fervor.
  • Pray for prayer movements to cover the Uyghur’s situation. Pray for God to reveal strategies in prayer for the Uyghurs. “And I will pour on [them] the Spirit of grace and supplication.” Zechariah 12:10
  • Pray for Uyghur believers to be released from detention camps.
  • Pray for missionaries to the Uyghurs. Pray that God would call missionaries to the Uyghurs and equip them to participate in what He is going to do.
  • Praise God for His love for those in Xinjiang and His plans for the Uyghur people.
  • Praise God that Jesus has died for the Uyghur’s salvation and restoration.
  • Praise God that there are Uyghurs who believe in Jesus and follow Him.

The Uyghur people in China stand in urgent need of prayer in this hour. Forgotten by the world, the Uyghur people’s only hope is that God would move mightily on their behalf.

Anonymous

Take Action

  • Our prayers are powerful to get His kingdom to come on the earth! Expand your prayer influence for the Uyghurs:
    • Raise the awareness of the need to pray for Uyghurs with others (prayer chains, prayer groups, etc.).
    • Post this prayer guide somewhere that will remind you to pray.
    • Invite others to pray. Many intercessors are unaware of this situation. But agreement and unity increase the power of our prayers many-fold! Feel free to copy and distribute this prayer guide.
  • Conduct research using suggestions below. After conducting research on your own or in a group pray to God and ask Him what He would have you do.
  • Stay informed: Frequently do internet searches for “Uyghur detention, Uyghur oppression, etc.” New information is coming out nearly every week. This information can be fuel for prayer. This article was posted in April, 2019: https://www.uyghurcongress.org/en/?p=38001
  • Watch this BBC news report for an overview of the Uyghur camp situation:

  • Watch the video and read the article of one refugee who was detained: http://time.com/5467628/china-uighur-congress-torture/
  • Read this research from the Concerned Scholars website: https://concernedscholars.home.blog.
  • Subscribe to this online magazine on religious liberty and human rights in china: www.bitterwinter.org and then do a search on Xinjiang or Uyghur. You can also get connected to its social media platform, find articles and videos.
  • Take up the cause. Find a way for your voice to help the Uyghurs. If you are in the USA or associated with the USA, write your congress men/women and demand they address the human rights abuses of the Uyghurs.
  • Google Uyghurrestaurants in your area and if there are any go and strike up a conversation and encourage the owners and workers.
  • Pray for the Uyghurs and other Muslims during Ramadan May 5 – June 4. Participate in 30 Days of Prayer for the Muslim World. Order prayer guides or sign up for emails at this site: https://www.30daysprayer.com/

  • If you are interested in prayer and communication ask how you can be part of The Invitation: prayer@ywam.org We need 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

April 2019 – YWAM Foundational Values #16 – 18

  • We had a request to pray for Bangladesh and YWAM Bangladesh as God leads us.
Uyghur Woman

Future Topics:

  • June 13, 2019: Central Europe
  • July 11, 2019: Redeeming Cultures

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:

Pray For Pyongyang, North Korea Default ThumbnailYWAM Organizes Youth Group Outreach to Panama Default ThumbnailYWAM Canada Group Ministers in Fijian Prison
The Invitation

The Mobilization of Two-Thirds-World Senders

Leave a comment

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

Brazilian Missionary Surrounded by Children
Brazilian missionary to Tanzania. Photo credit: YWAM Frontier Mission

Before he left for India, missionary William Carey told his friend, “I will go down…if you hold the rope.” Like the person holding the rope for a mountain climber, the sender of missionaries plays a vital role in helping their friends succeed. Please join the YWAM family in prayer this month for those people who hold the rope for missionaries, who serve as senders. In particular, please pray for senders from the Two-Thirds World.

Listen to this month’s letter here.

Last month YWAM’s monthly prayer day, called The Invitation, focused on the encouraging realities of how God is transforming the missions field into the mission force!

But there is another side to this unfolding story. In many locations both in and out of YWAM there are hundreds if not thousands of amazing men and women from the Two-Thirds-World who are called to go the lost. They have proven character, they have a clear call, often they have been equipped for cross-cultural work, but what they lack are senders.

Senders are any believers intentionally focused on sending and supporting missionaries. In his book Serving as Senders, Neil Pirolo identifies six different ways we can serve as senders: moral support, logistic support, financial support, prayer support, communication support, and re-entry support.

The apostle Paul highlighted the crucial role of senders in his letter to the church in Rome. He wrote, “How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!’” (Romans 10:14-15, NIV).

Let us join together to pray for both more senders and more leaders (mobilizers) who will focus not only on launching the Two-Thirds-World missionaries but also on equipping the Two-Thirds-World senders. More believers serving as senders in the Two-Thirds-World will release another wave of amazing missionaries from the Two-Thirds-World.

Please join with The Invitation during the month of March to pray with us about sending Two-Thirds-World missionaries. You are particularly invited to pray during our prayer day, March 14. If you only have a few moments to pray we ask you to pray for a Two-Thirds-World sending country that God puts on your heart (for example, Brazil, Nigeria, South Korea, or India). We would love to receive stories from you regarding how God touched your heart through this prayer. You can email us at prayer@ywam.org.

Prepare to Pray:

Watch this video from Bevin Ginder that explains why praying for senders from the Two-Thirds-World is so important at this time: https://globalcastresources.com/2018/11/07/new-missionaries-from-new-sending-nations/

Roped in Rock Climber
“I will go down… if you will hold the rope.” – William Cary to his friend Andrew Fuller before departing to India. Image from Bevin Ginder

Pray for Two-Thirds-World Senders:

  • The mobilization of many more Two-Thirds-World believers willing to serve as senders.
  • More leaders who will focus on equipping both those called to go and those called to send. These leaders could be pastors, business people, church leaders, community leaders, or family leaders.
  • A renewed emphasis on maintaining and developing good relationships and partnerships with local church leaders.
  • A change of identity in Two-Thirds-World churches from mission field to mission force. Pray for the discipleship process. Missions mobilization includes the long-term efforts necessary to shift how both individuals and whole communities perceive themselves, the Bible, and God’s mission.
  • The continued development of relevant models for funding missions from the Two-Thirds-World. There is still a huge need for wisdom on models for funding missions that do not stunt the growing capacity and responsibility of the local believers send out and sustain their own workers.
  • More missions mobilization resources developed by and for national leaders, mobilizers and trainers.
  • More principle-based training for leaders with a heart for missions.
  • The integration of topics such as Biblical basis of missions in the training of pastors in new sending countries.
  • Specifically pray for African missionaries and people to send them. In response to last-month’s prayer focus, Sunday Adewumi, a believer from Nigeria, wrote us and asked us to pray for the African mission movement: “I did my YWAM Discipleship Training School in South Africa in 2016, against all odds, in terms of immigration issues. I did my outreach with a group of five in South Africa. Thereafter, I applied to join staff but I was not accepted due to immigration issues. I love missions and my heart is in it. I still do it here in Nigeria. I’ve discovered that some missionaries from some Africa countries and less developed countries are confronted with immigration issues, finances, racial discrimination, and other issues. I hope we can pray for African missionaries on the points mentioned above.
Globe
Image credit: YWAM Frontier Mission

Take Action

Money from Brazil
Totally Dependent on God for Finances
Photo credit: YWAM Frontier Missions

How We Prayed:

February 2019 – Two-Thirds-World Missionaries

  • Several people showed enthusiasm on Facebook to pray for this topic: “Praying with great expectation!” and “Agreeing in prayer. (Psalm 67)”
  • One on Facebook asked: “Any mobilization for 2020 Olympics in Japan?”
  • International House of Prayer featured praying for Mobilization of Two-Thirds-World (Majority World) Missionaries in the “Prayer for YWAM” guide they distributed to their prayer partners.
  • We received an email from a woman in Nigeria asking God to grant the Two-Thirds-World missionaries safety and protection in all their lives and remove humiliation, killings, and maltreatment.

Future Topics:

  • April 11, 2019: YWAM Foundational Values 16 – 18
  • May 9, 2019: The Muslim World
  • June 13, 2019: Central Europe

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:

Mobilizing Two-Thirds-World Missionaries Default ThumbnailTwo-Thirds-World Workers, Financial Support 2017 Hindu World Prayer Guide Cover Page15 Days of Prayer for the Hindu World
The Invitation

Mobilizing Two-Thirds-World Missionaries

Leave a comment

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

Missionaries From Pakistan That Serve In Canada
Photo credit: Assist News Service

You are invited to join together with thousands of YWAMers from around the world as we pray and hear from God about the mobilization of Two-Thirds-World (Majority World) missionaries.

Listen to the YWAM Prayer Letter

For decades there has been a dramatic shift in the makeup of the global body of Christ. In the 1900’s, most Christians lived in Western nations. But today, most of the followers of Jesus are from Asia, Africa and Latin America. As one would expect, there has been a similar shift in the makeup of the missions force. In 2010, three of the top ten countries sending the most missionaries were from Asia and Latin America: Brazil, South Korea and India. Other notable sending nations included South Africa, the Philippines, Mexico, China, Colombia, and Nigeria. (Melissa Steffen in Christianity Today.)

This means that missions is no longer “the West reaching the rest.” It is “the reached reaching the unreached.” According to mission researcher Jason Mandryk, “Today the Majority World Church sends out as many cross-cultural missionaries as does the Western Church.”

We are witnessing the globalization of missions where just about every country is both sending and receiving missionaries! This globalization of missions is also being enabled by several other trends such as unprecedented migration, a communications revolution and transportation technology. People are on the move. Both travel and communication are easier. But the globalization of missions may be disorienting, as there are new challenges and it requires new paradigms. The reached everywhere are partnering together to reach the unreached! This is nothing less than the global body of Christ partnering together to plant the body of Christ globally.

From the beginning, God lead YWAM to be international and interdenominational (Foundational Value #8). Today we are thrilled that over 50% of our staff are from the Majority World. Therefore, YWAM is uniquely poised to continue to play a significant role in mobilizing, equipping, sending and sustaining new missionaries from new sending countries.

Please join with The Invitation during the month of February to pray with us about the missions movement from the Majority World. You are particularly invited to pray during our prayer day, February 14. If you only have a few moments to pray we would ask you to pray for a Two-Thirds-World missionary that God puts on your heart. We would love to receive stories from you regarding how God touched your heart through this prayer. You can email us at prayer@ywam.org.

Prepare to Pray:

You may find it helpful to appoint a facilitator for the Prepare to Pray exercise.

You will need a ball of string or twine. If you are a larger group, you may find it helpful to divide into smaller groups of 8-10 people, with one ball of string or twine for each group.

With the group standing in a circle, one person begins by holding the string. Being sure to keep hold of the end, they throw the ball of string to someone else in the circle. This person keeps hold of their piece of the string, then throws the ball of string to someone else. Continue throwing until everyone in the group is holding a piece of the string and the entire circle is connected by a network of string.

Web of Reflection
Photo credit: Miranda Heathcote

Pause at this point and take a look at the person who threw the ball of string to you. What do you appreciate about this person? What do you receive from them in your relationship as team members, or part of this community? In what ways is it easy to receive from them? In what ways do you feel resistant to what they may offer? Now take a look at the person to whom you threw the ball of string. In your relationship with them, what are you able to offer them that is a source of blessing or strength to them? In what ways is it easy to give to them? What might prevent you from giving to them?

A facilitator may gather feedback from these reflections. Your group may also find it helpful to consider any additional reflections from this exercise. How do you feel about giving to and receiving from others? In what ways does giving and receiving create connection within a group, across cultures, or across diverse socio-economic groups? Bring to mind all the ways our world is connected as people travel to study, work, take vacations, or volunteer. People also move around the globe as refugees, or displaced people. How does this inter-connectedness create opportunities to give and receive from one another, and especially to share our faith in Jesus? Think about the web of string you created – what can be created as we all play our part?

Pray for Two-Thirds-World Missionaries:

  • Praise God for the increasingly strong and mature national leadership from Majority-World sending nations.
  • Pray for the development of relevant missions mobilization resources.
  • Pray for openness of Western leaders to listen to and learn from Majority World leaders.
  • Pray for wisdom for partnership with national missions initiatives.
  • Pray for insight regarding relevant funding models for new workers from new sending countries.
  • Pray that biblical missions topics will be integrated into the training of pastors in new sending countries.
  • Pray for more coaching, mentoring and training available for Majority World missions leaders/mobilizers.
  • Pray for a renewed emphasis on maintaining and developing good relationships and partnerships with local church leaders.

Continue to Pray for The Send:

  • Pray for an upcoming event: The Send on Feb 23, 2019. Pray that those who attend will be activated into their evangelistic and missional calling. Pray that it would be a “tipping point” gathering that would spark a great wave of evangelism and missions. Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6JObabQXTF8 For More: thesend.org
African Missionaries Serving in New York City (left) and United Kingdom (right)
Photo credits (left to right): New York Times Magazine, Quartz News

Take Action

How We Prayed:

January 2019 – YWAM Foundational Values #13 – Be Relationship Oriented, #14 – Value the Individual, #15 Value Families

  • Three people responded with how these YWAM values have impacted their lives:
    • “One time, when I was a student, I was late for class. I thought the staff would be upset with me, but they weren’t. They had tea ready for me.”
    • “Seeing the way families around the base are still able to serve God and that having a family doesn’t have to slow you down or change things is pretty cool.”
    • “I was part of a school with 53 students. The leader of that school was also my one on one and I was so impressed in how he took time to hear God on my behalf and push me further than I could ever have gone by myself… he saw value in me where I didn’t . . .“
  • A group from YWAM Perth noted that they had been directed to pray for the Andrea and Andreas Frész family:
    • Don’t fear evil. God goes ahead and behind. Protected on all sides.
    • God had anointed them to lead and be the example of the Bridegroom of Christ. Be aware as they represent His image, be aware of the areas that the enemy would want to attack.
    • Picture of bird’s eye view. Could see the footprints of where they had been. Mountains ahead, but seeing from above the path was clearly set. God has made a path clearly even if they see mountains ahead.

Future Topics:

  • March 14, 2019: Two-Thirds-World Senders
  • April 11, 2019: YWAM Foundational Values 16 – 18

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 ThumbnailTwo-Thirds-World Workers, Financial Support Default ThumbnailFaith Week Challenges YWAM Missionaries to Rely Completely on God 2017 Hindu World Prayer Guide Cover Page15 Days of Prayer for the Hindu World