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

In 1975, Loren Cunningham sensed God giving him a message about God’s desire to see transformation in every sphere of society. Shortly thereafter Loren found out that other Christian leaders had sensed God giving them essentially the same message. Those leaders included Bill Bright, founder of Campus Crusade for Christ, and author Francis Schaeffer.

At the YWAM Together 2016 event held in Kansas City in September, YWAMers, YWAM alumni, and friends of YWAM from all spheres met as a large and extended family to experience the presence of God and to dialog about the spheres at a more practical implementation level than has been done before.

Please join us this month in praying for the seven spheres of society: family, economics, government, religion, education, media and celebration.

God wants every nation to be able to experience the transformative impact of the kingdom of God in every dimension of its cultural life, shaping every sphere of society.

David Hamilton

 Prepare to Pray:

• Review each of the seven spheres of society. See God Revealed Through the Spheres of Society by David Hamilton: http://www.ywam.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/God-Revealed-through-the-Spheres-of-Society.pdf
• Spend some time with the Lord and ask Him to speak to you in a fresh way about the seven spheres:
  • The Sphere of Family
  • The Sphere of Economics (Science, Technology & Business)
  • The Sphere of Government
  • The Sphere of Religion
  • The Sphere of Education
  • The Sphere of Media (Communication)
  • The Sphere of Celebration (Arts, Entertainment & Sports)
• List the spheres impacted by ministries associated with your location.
• List friends of YWAM that are conducting ministries or that have ministry opportunities in spheres other than religion. Ask the Lord how you and your location could serve these individuals.

Pray:

• For more effective discipling of the nations through a better understanding of the spheres.
• For God to teach us how to righty represent him in all of these different arenas of society.
• That new tools available for understanding the spheres from a biblical perspective will help us work more faithfully in God’s purpose for every societal sphere of influence. (For more info on one resource, see the SourceView Bible at sourceviewbible.com.)
• For increased collaboration and communication with people working within specific spheres, such as YWAM alumni and friends of YWAM.

• For the University of Nations partnerships for developing training for the spheres.
• For effective partnerships and relationships between traditional YWAM and spheres and between people from one sphere to another.
• For wisdom for YWAM leaders as YWAM “multiplies” and grows at a faster pace due to sphere ministries.
• That our growth/multiplication would be a movement generated by the Spirit of God.
• For a communication infrastructure that will effectively support the anticipated growth of YWAM in all the spheres.
• For understanding among Christian workers of the importance of all spheres for building God’s kingdom.

• For a spirit of teachability regarding spheres among YWAMers.
• For YWAMers to be grounded in God and His Word so that we bring biblical value to the spheres.
• For YWAMers to be in the world but not conformed to it.

Each sphere plays a unique role in seeing “God’s kingdom come and His will be done on earth as it is in Heaven” (Matthew 6:10).

YWAM Kona

Special Prayer Focus:

Pray for a YWAMer who was kidnapped in Africa in mid-October. Through his holistic work into several spheres of society he and his team have improved living conditions amongst peoples living in isolated and harsh conditions. During the kidnapping, two guards were killed. Please pray for this man’s release, pray for his wife and children, and please pray for the families of the two guards. (Do pray, but the authorities tell us: do not post any information or comments about this man on social media or websites.)

 

Take Action:

• Read about how the spheres of society were identified: http://call2all.org/Groups/1000090335/call2all/About/Spheres/Spheres.aspx#.WAVjh48rK4Q
• Learn more about the spheres of society: http://www.ywam.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/God-Revealed-through-the-Spheres-of-Society.pdf
• Watch this video to hear from Loren about YWAM and the spheres of society:

• Download the YWAM Together workbook http://ywamkc2016.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Sphereview-Devotional.pdf
  • Read about beauty, order and abundance and fill out the Discovering Kingdom Metrics to Disciple the Nations work sheet on pages 26-27 of the workbook.
  • Read about the Belief Tree and fill out The Belief Tree and the Seven Spheres of Influence worksheet on pages 30-35 of the workbook.
  • Read about the domains of authority and the spheres of influence and fill out the Understanding The Domains of Authority worksheet on pages 36 – 43 of the workbook.
  • Complete the Preparing for Transformation questionnaire found on page 47.
• Find out more about the SourceView Bible application and download it:
  • http://sourceviewbible.com/
  • ustream.tv/recorded/25176545

Everyone is called to impact the spheres of society. If you hold that God is the creator and sustainer of all things then the farmer who milks the cows; the driver who delivers the milk and the cashier who sells you the milk are all God’s agents to feed and care for the world.

Beth Senn, YWAM alumni working in the sphere of Celebration

• Read short stories about working in the spheres by YWAM alumni and current YWAMers: http://www.ywamperth.org.au/articles/7-questions-impacting-spheres-society/
• 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.
• Send an email to prayer@ywam.org letting us know how you prayed and what God revealed to you.

How We Prayed – October 2016 – A Year of Answered Prayer

• YWAMers noted on Facebook where they prayed: Australia, Mexico, Malawi, Canada, USA, Brazil, Korea, Papua New Guinea, India, Uganda, Nigeria, Ghana, Nepal, Switzerland, Bulgaria, Norway, Philippines, and Italy.

Future Topics:

• December 8 – Paris

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 post on the second Thursday at facebook.com/youthwithamission or on Twitter @ywam, hash tag #praywithywam.
• If you sense God giving you a word or a direction for YWAM’s prayer, please contact us: prayer@ywam.org

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

And now we thank you, our God, and praise your glorious name.

1 Chronicles 29:13

Praise God that He is our creator, our Father, our redeemer, our protector and He answers our prayers! In October 2015 YWAM launched The Invitation, inviting all YWAMers to pray monthly on the same (or similar) day. We have prayed for global topics like ending Bible poverty, refugees and Muslims. We have prayed for areas where YWAM does not have a presence such as the Horn of Africa. And we have prayed for local matters such as universities and YWAM property. The Lord has answered many prayers during this past year and to mark the one-year anniversary of The Invitation we are inviting you to spend time thanking God for a year of answer prayer.

Some of the highlights from The Invitation’s first year include:

• Through a video produced for The Invitation, a YWAM leader shared his vision of God’s Grace Flowing to the Muslim World. We prayed for this in January. The video has been viewed by over 10,000 people on Facebook and YouTube.

• Many reported a greater understanding of, and thus a greater ability to love Muslims after praying for the Muslim world during June and July (30 Days of Prayer for the Muslim World). YWAM Dunham, Quebec referred to Muslims during the 30 Days as “our brothers who have not come home yet.”
• On the day when we prayed for YWAM properties, Mission Builders International received an unexpected check for $40,000 to pay down their mortgage and YWAM San Diego, USA signed papers to buy four acres of land.
• Many prayed for areas where YWAM does not have a presence including the Horn of Africa, Maldives, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, India, Nepal and Bangladesh (December).
• Through the prayer focus on YWAM Ships (April) YWAMers reported a greater awareness of what God is doing through this ministry. Outpost Panama praised God for bringing Making Waves to minister to various Indian tribes.
• We prayed to End Bible poverty last October and in March gave an update that showed the progress being made in translation and distribution of Bibles by YWAM locations including Blantyre, Malawi, YWAM Chiang Rai, Thailand and YWAM Kona, Hawaii.
• YWAM Quebec, Canada was led to pray for reconciliation between French Canadians and English Canadians in February when we prayed for governments and symbolically, they washed the feet of one another.
• YWAM leaders and various others groups were in session during several global prayer days and included The Invitation in their time of prayer. Specifically, during Europe DNA Infusion, the participants prayed for YWAM property and set up donation and prayer stations for each base represented that was currently in the middle of a building project.

I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart; I will recount all of your wonderful deeds.

Psalm 9:1

 Prepare to Pray:

• Ask God to reveal answered prayers at your location—those you have seen and those unseen.
• Review this list of topics for The Invitation from the past 12 months and list prayers that God has answered at a global, local and individual level.
  • Ending Bible Poverty (October 2015 and March 2016)
  • Local Immigrants (November 2015)
  • The Horn of Africa (December 2015)
  • God’s Grace Flowing to the Muslim World (January 2016)
  • Local government (February 2016)
  • YWAM Ships (April 2016)
  • YWAM Property (May 2016)
  • 30 Days of Prayer for the Muslim World (June into July 2016)
  • Refugees (July 2016)
  • YWAM Together (August 2016)
  • Universities (September 2016)
• Meditate on this verse and note specific ways that God has answered YWAM prayers through the years:

But we your people, the sheep of your pasture, will give thanks to you forever; from generation to generation we will recount your praise.

Psalm 79:13

Praise God:

• Referring to the lists you made during time of preparation:
  • Praise God for the prayers that He has answered during the past year at a local, area and national level.
  • Praise God for the prayers that he has answered for YWAM through the years.

Pray:

• Pray for YWAMers, specifically DTS students, to:
  • always be offering up a sacrifice of praise to God (Hebrews 13:15)
  • have lips that acknowledge His name (Hebrews 13:15)
  • praise Him with a whole heart (Psalm 86:12)
  • have full belief in God’s promises (Romans 4:20-21)
  • give thanks in all circumstances (1 Thessalonians 5:18)
  • fear Him and praise Him (Revelation 19:5)
  • always give thanks for everything (Ephesians 5:20)
  • make requests of God with a spirit of thanksgiving (Philippians 4:6)
• Make a list of the people that your location is thankful for and praise God for them. Mention each one in prayer.
• Pray for proper understanding of what God has done for you and the eternal promises He has for you.

But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

1 Corinthians 15:57

Take Action:

• Tell someone other than a close friend, coworker or family member why you are thankful to God.
• Produce a praise report. Add the report to your website, post it on social media, or send it to supporters, parents, or others. See example: http://ywamyosemite.org/praise-report/

In God we have boasted continually, and we will give thanks to your name forever.

Psalm 44:8

• Identify a way for your location to keep track of answered prayers—a wall, a journal, a blog, or some other form. Set up a process for keeping it current. Use the list during worship time on a regular basis.

• Plan a praise event. See the idea for the Make Jesus Famous Worship Festival held by YWAM Lynden, Washington.

I will praise the name of God with a song; I will magnify him with Thanksgiving.

Psalm 69:30

 

Future Topics:

• November 10 – Spheres of Society

How We Prayed – September – Universities:

• YWAM Puerto La Cruz, Venezuela fasted one day and sent a prayer report noting Bible verses and key messages they received from God.
• Several requested prayers on Facebook for specific universities, including: Arturo Prat University in Iquique, Chile; The University of Newcastle in Australia; University of the South Pacific, Laucala campus; University Utrecht in the Netherlands, and others.

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 post on the second Thursday at facebook.com/youthwithamission or on Twitter @ywam, hash tag #praywithywam.
• If you sense God giving you a word or a direction for YWAM’s prayer, please contact us: prayer@ywam.org.

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

As the university school year begins in many places, we invite you to pray for universities. Specifically, pray for university students near you and for YWAM’s campus ministries around the world. YWAM has more than 90 campus ministry locations in countries across the world, such as Nicaragua, Tanzania, and Vietnam.

University World News reported in 2012 that the total number of students around the globe enrolled in higher education was expected to double to 262 million by 2025. Many of these students come from restricted-access nations. They are tomorrow’s world leaders.

. . the university is a key doorway for the Body of Christ to reach and teach the nations – especially through ministry to international students from creative access nations.

YWAM Madison, Wisconsin Student Mobilization Centre website

 Prepare to Pray:

• Review some of YWAM’s campus based ministries and their work (see more at the end of this document):
  • YWAM Thailand: www.ywamthai.org/ministries#university (pick Campus Ministries from the menu on the right)
  • YWAM Madison: www.ywammadison.org/campus
  • YWAM Boston: video of a young man who came to Christ through campus ministry: www.facebook.com/aaronmreeves/videos/10200178364527628/
• Make a list of local institutions for higher learning in your area.
• Make a list of students known by you or your location.
• Discuss your local campus based ministries situation. Who are you reaching? What opportunities do you have to reach others?
• Get a picture of international student mobility via this interactive map. It shows where students go and where they come from in each country of the world: uis.unesco.org/Education/Pages/international-student-flow-viz.aspx#sthash.Q6WDGds3.dpuf

 

Pray for Universities:

Universities and Students Near You

• Pray for eradication of Bible poverty in all universities.
• Pray for university professors and staff and that they would come to know the Lord and develop a biblical worldview.

 

• Pray for college students to make time for worship and ask that our Father would grant them rich times with Him.
• Pray for wisdom for university students to do well on tests, papers and projects and bring glory to the Lord.
• Pray for solid relationships between students and their parents and for a heart of obedience when students are home.
• Pray for healthy relationships for university students and that believing students would shine the light for unbelievers.
• Pray for purity in thought, word and deed.
• Pray for students to embrace God’s will for their lives.
• Pray that the whole campus from the powerless to the powerful be reached with the whole gospel
• Pray for a biblical worldview to permeate universities through: discipleship schools, small group Bible studies, seminars, and conferences.
• Pray that God would raise students who receive Christ today into future leaders in their nation.
• Pray for the planting of campus fellowships/churches amongst the most unreached immigrant people groups and international students in universities. Pray that those students would be empowered to reach their own people throughout the world.
• As a team, pray for God to reveal opportunities for campus based ministry in your local area.

YWAM’s Campus Based Ministries International

• Pray for YWAM’s Student Mobilization Centre (http://uofn.edu/colleges/uofn-student-mobilisation-centre). The mission of the Student Mobilization Centre is to mobilize university students of all nations on every campus worldwide to God’s purposes for their lives in knowing Him and making Him known through their life’s work.
• Pray for potential student interns and YWAM locations to be linked together through YWAM’s Converge service (www.ywamconverge.org). Converge is an online missions mobilization tool, a searchable registry of internship opportunities.

• Pray for the equipping of new YWAM missionaries through focused training schools, such as the School of University Ministries & Missions.
• Pray that many respond to Christ’s call to universities around the world.

”… teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.”

Matthew 28:18-20

Take Action:

• Engage university communities both near you and in other countries. Mobilize students to serve and learn about issues of poverty, disease, illiteracy, impure water, human trafficking, domestic violence, drug abuse, homelessness, at risk youth, etc.
  • Reach out to international students at a university near your YWAM location.
  • Set aside a regular time to prayer walk at local universities.
  • Pursue opportunities to partner with YWAM campus ministries. Invite a university ministry team to your location for ministry orientation or host a university ministry seminar at your base to learn how to interact with universities.
• Sign up as a host with Converge to get prequalified student interns for your YWAM ministry: https://ywamconverge.org
• 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.
• Send an email to prayer@ywam.org letting us know how you prayed and what God revealed to you.

Upcoming Prayer Topics:

• October 13 – A Year of Answered Prayer
• November 10 – Spheres of Society

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 post on the second Thursday at facebook.com/youthwithamission or on Twitter @ywam, hash tag #praywithywam.
• If you sense God giving you a word or a direction for YWAM’s prayer, please contact us: prayer@ywam.org.

YWAM Campus Ministry Locations

Some locations have been removed from this list for security reasons.

ARGENTINA

• Buenos Aires

BANGLADESH

• Dhaka, BANGLADESH

CAMBODIA

• Battambang, CAMBODIA – uofnbattambang.com
• Phnom Penh, Cambodia

CANADA

• Calgary, Alberta, http://ywamcalgaryhockey.ca/
• Toronto

CHILE

• Santiago
• Antofagasta

CHINA

• 4 cities

COLOMBIA

• Cartagena
• Barranquilla
• Medellin

ECUADOR

• Guayaquil

EGYPT

ESTONIA

• Estonia, ESTONIA – http://www.ywamestonia.com/

GEORGIA

• Tbilisi, GEORGIA

GERMANY

• Bochum, Germany
• Cologne, GERMANY –  jmem-koeln.de

HONG KONG

• Tuen Mun, HONG KONG

INDIA

• Chennai, INDIA
• Greater Noida, INDIA
• Karnataka, Dharwad, INDIA
• Kolkata, INDIA
• Mysore, INDIA
• Pune, INDIA
• Bangalore

INDONESIA

• Bandung, INDONESIA
• Pontianak, INDONESIA

JAPAN

• Kyoto, JAPAN

KAZAKHSTAN

LAOS

MADAGASCAR

• Antananarivo, MADAGASCAR – ywam-madagascar.org
• Fianarantsoa, MADAGASCAR
• Mahajanga, MADAGASCAR
• Toliara, MADAGASCAR

MALAYSIA

• Kualalumpur, MALAYSIA
• Kuching, MALAYSIA
• Penang, MALAYSIA

MONGOLIA

• Darkhan, Mongolia
• Daanbaatar, MONGOLIA

NEPAL

• Kathmandu, NEPAL

NEW ZEALAND

• Auckland, NEW ZEALAND – www.ywamtam.com

NICARAGUA

• Managua

PARAGUAY

• Asuncion

PHILIPPINES

• Antipolo City (Cainta), PHILIPPINES – http://www.ywamatc.com/
• Baguio City, PHILIPPINES – ywamphilippines.org
• Dagupan, PHILIPPINES
• Dumaguete, PHILIPPINES
• General Santos, PHILIPPINES
• Iloilo, PHILIPPINES
• Luzon Island (Batangas Province), Nasugbu, PHILIPPINES
• Valencia, PHILIPPINES

RUSSIA

• Irkutsk, Russia

SOUTH KOREA

• Busan,
• Cheju, http://www.uofnjeju.org/
• Chuncheon
• Cheonan,
• Daejeon,
• Gwangju,
• Seoul,
• Suwon,
• TaeGu,
• Ulsan,
• Gunsan, SOUTH KOREA

SWEDEN

• Linkoping, SWEDEN

TANZANIA

• Dar Es-Salaam, TANZANIA

THAILAND

• Bangkok, THAILAND – http://www.ywamthai.org/
• Chiang Mai, THAILAND – http://ywamcm.com/
• Chiang Rai, THAILAND
• Hat Yai, THAILAND
• Kalasin, THAILAND.
• Khon Kaen, THAILAND
• Khorat, THAILAND
• Mahasarakham, THAILAND
• Ratchathani, THAILAND
• UdonThani,THAILAND
• Roiet, THAILAND

UGANDA

• Kampala, UGANDA

USA

• Akron, OH – http://www.ywamakron.com/
• Atlanta, GA
• Boston, MA – http://www.ywamboston.org/
• Dallas
• Madison, WI – http://www.ywammadison.org/dts/udts-2/
• Ocean City, NJ USA – https://ywamconverge.org/
• Phoenix, AZ
• Salem, OR
• San Francisco, CA
• Seattle, WA
• Kealakekua, HI USA –

VENEZUELA

• Puerto La Cruz

VIETNAM

Our international YWAM gatherings have always been times of seeking God’s face, hearing fresh words from Him, allowing our hearts to encounter Him, renewing and establishing friendships and gaining new vision for our individual and corporate roles in discipling nations. Repeatedly the Lord has challenged our hearts and led us corporately to covenant with Him on issues on His heart when we have gathered before Him. Over the last two years in particular, these events have gathered momentum and brought us together to new places in Him.

Heading to the YWAM Together gathering in Kansas City in September we sense many streams are converging. Representatives of the whole tribe of YWAM, YWAM alumni, and partners in prayer and mission all will come together to seek the Lord and His global purposes for us. They will meet September 4-10 (ywamkc2016.org). This will indeed be a holy convocation if we are humble and seek His face.

To that end, whether you are able to attend or not, we invite you to join us in focused prayer leading up to and during the gathering.

We invite you to pray for:

1) Intense Presence of God

In 2014 at a YWAM leadership gathering in Singapore, participants sensed God speaking about seeking God and His presence above all else.

Pray:

• That this will be a time when God deals with His people and that we may have revelation and grace to know how to live godly lives in a post-modern world with a clear conscience (2 Peter 1:3-8).
• That the entire gathering will be marked by God’s presence, and that we will hear the word of the Lord, especially as we face sobering challenges of discipling the nations in the critical times we live in.
• That prophetic discernment will be clear leading up to and during the event.
• That God would have His way among us. Pray that the event will be well-planned, but that we would be sensitive to the Holy Spirit when He wants to redirect us or change the order of the agenda.

2) YWAM Family

Pray:

• That YWAMers will fully recognize the value of maintaining relationship and partnering with their alumni, the ones who are currently active in the discipling of nations in all seven spheres. (For more information on spheres of society, go to www.call2all.org/Groups/1000090335/call2All/2012/About/Spheres/Spheres.aspx.)
• That YWAM staff and YWAM associates will be “family” as we reach and disciple the nations and take the Kingdom into the spheres.
• That the missions movement and the prayer movement will connect and synchronise more than ever.

3) Spheres

Pray: 

• For revelation, insight and unity as sphere groups come together.
• That we will grow in our understanding of the power of influence and authority given to the spheres of society.
• That participants will receive greater clarity in their roles in various spheres.
• That our appreciation of the Scriptures and the Holy Spirit would grow as we apply God’s Word to the whole of life. 

4) Delegates

Pray:

• For a sense of family and of belonging—for all nations and all generations.
• For preparation of hearts. For a heart of humility, prayer, fear of the Lord, and a willingness to change where necessary.
• For grace and unity as many expressions of delegates working in prayer, missions, business, government, and education converge.
• For those who are unable to attend to still to be able to connect through prayer, friendship and watching the event on live stream.
• For safety in travel arrangements, and for visas for those who need them.
• That all would encounter the Lord and many would receive greater clarity for God’s call on their lives.
• For the full complement of delegates to be released.
• For children and teenagers to be transformed through the children’s program.

5) Leadership

Pray: 

• For unity in the event eldership (Founders’ Circle members, plenary speakers, conveners).
• For guidance for the conveners of various spheres and breakout sessions.
• Pray for David Hamilton and others who are preparing resources.

6) Logistics

Pray:

• For the Kansas City team as they host and prepare for us—especially Mark and Karen Anderson and Barb Livingston as they coordinate logistics.
• For teams going to Kansas City to assist in running the event, pray for grace, energy, smooth communication, joy and a heart to serve.
• Pray for the full release of resources—finances, equipment, hospitality.

Take Action:

To register for YWAM Together, or to watch the live streaming, go to ywamkc2016.org.

How We Prayed:

Refugees – July 14, 2016:

• One YWAM team member had just returned from ministering at the border of Macedonia and Thessaloniki, Greece serving Syrian, Iraqi, Yazidi and Kurdish refugees and encouraged readers on Facebook to pray for and serve refugees.
• The following YWAM locations reported that they prayed for refugees: Minneapolis, USA; South Korea; Hong Kong; Buka Island, Papua New Guinea; Lapu-Lapu City Cebu, Philippines; Quezon City, Philippines; Las Vegas, NV USA; Papua New Guinea; Pernambuco, Brazil; Greenville, SC USA; Tanzania; Nigeria; Germany; Redding, CA USA; Cody, WY USA; Juazeiro do Norte, Brazil; Bass Lake, Gowen, MI USA; and Ceará,

Upcoming topics for The Invitation:

• September 8 – Universities
• October 13 – A Year of Answered Prayer

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 post on the second Thursday at facebook.com/youthwithamission or on Twitter @ywam, hash tag #praywithywam.
• If you sense God giving you a word or a direction for YWAM’s prayer, please contact us: prayer@ywam.org.

We invite you to pray about the global refugee situation this month. Please join us as we pray for people (asylum seekers, economic migrants, displaced people and others) who have had to leave their home for various reasons – war, persecution, natural disaster, famine, lack of jobs, etc. – from all parts of the world. Just some of the countries include Myanmar, North Korea, Syria, Afghanistan, Central African Republic, Mali, Somalia, Iraq, Ukraine, Mexico and South Sudan.

We will also pray for those that are impacted by refugee movements: government leaders, families that are left behind, local residents and YWAMers who are ministering to refugees all over the world. He is inviting you to pray!

According to the United Nations, there have been record numbers of displaced people and refugees in recent years, over 60 million estimated in total. Those that flee across international borders are known as refugees (estimated to be over 16 million), while those that flee but stay in-country are known as internally displaced persons. Statistics such as these reported by the New York Times give us a sense of the tremendous needs for prayer:

• Approximately half of the refugees are children. A very high percentage of these people are unaccompanied minors: 90% of the migrant children who have recently arrived in Europe via Italy were unaccompanied minors. Over 7,000 unaccompanied minors crossed from North Africa into Italy in the first 5 months of 2016.
• More than one million refugees crossed the Mediterranean Sea last year.
• Last year there was a record 5,400 deaths of migrants attempting to cross borders and already in 2016 there are 3,100 dead.
• Tens of thousands of people are in limbo living in squalid camps in border towns.

In spite of these complex issues, YWAMers and other Christian organizations are seeing a time of great harvest of people coming to Christ.

. . . there has never been a time of greater harvest. Time and again over recent decades, we have said “the nations are coming to us,” but it has never been so overwhelmingly true. Will God’s people be swept up in the fear and protectionism, or will we reach out to reap the harvest?

Lynn Green, YWAM leader

 Prepare to Pray:

• Watch this simple video created by World Vision about praying for refugees:

• Watch this video created by the documentary filmmaking school in YWAM Harpenden called “Sunday in the Calais Jungle.” It tells the refugee story of a camp in Calais, France called “The Jungle.” It is home to more than 7,000 refugees

Pray for Refugees:

• Pray for refugees that are travelling with risky health situations: pregnant mothers, women who have just delivered, day-old babies and others who are travelling who are sick or weak.
• Pray for safety and protection from smugglers who often steal passports and other items from refugees.
• Pray for greater freedom in the home countries of refugees so they don’t have to flee and so they can choose whom they will worship.
• Pray for refugees who are lonely to experience the family of God and God as their Father.
• Pray for government leaders to find workable solutions to refugee issues associated with displacement, transition, etc.
• Pray for the hearts of residents in areas where there are refugee camps to be accepting, especially of the children in need of schooling and medical services. Refugees are often misunderstood. Pray for God’s people to be non-judgmental and to hear their stories.

For us, religion is finished. We want to have the freedom to choose like in the West.

A refugee at Lesbos, Greece speaking to a YWAM worker

Pray for YWAMers and YWAM Locations:

• Praise God for the many YWAM teams that have responded to the needs of refugees. Pray for YWAMers to be led by the Spirit so that God’s purposes will prevail.
• Pray for God’s love to break down walls as the good news is preached.
• Pray for more teams to be sent. Pray for workers for long-term ministry opportunities such as with unaccompanied minors.
• YWAM Ireland is teaching Iraqi, Syrian and Palestinian refugees about forgiveness. Pray for open hearts and changed lives.
• YWAM Perth, Australia provides counseling on a Facebook page for many Syrians suffering trauma, loss, grief and other issues. Pray for impact in the lives of people who view the material on this page, and pray for more Arabic-speaking staff to work in this ministry.
• YWAM Middle East runs a school for Syrian refugee children in a neighborhood where they are not welcome. Pray for peace and comfort for these children and praise God that the children are responding to the loving instruction they are receiving from YWAMers.

• YWAMers in Lesbos and on YWAM’s Next Wave Ship have been given significant responsibility by local leaders over entire refugee compounds. Pray for wisdom as they care for unaccompanied children and families. Praise God for open doors, healing and salvation in the midst of chaos, brokenness and disorder.
• Several YWAM locations in Germany are serving refugees. One location is providing a home for teenage refugee boys who have nowhere else to stay, teaching German classes, providing social activities and taking them to church. Pray for wisdom for these young men.

 

• YWAM Sicily provides clothing and a discipleship program for refugees coming to their city, many of whom are from Africa. Pray for God to lead them.
• YWAM Dalarna, Sweden has begun discipling Afghans who have shown an interest in the gospel. Pray for good relationships.
• YWAM Calais, France ministers to Sudanese refugees from the Darfur area. Pray for continued favor with the local leaders and that these leaders would have changed lives due to a new faith in God.
• YWAM Pittsburgh has purchased a building to help them reach out to some of the 20,000 refugees in their city. Pray for them and watch this video to see their refugee ministry: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fGPyFEq5ag4.

Take Action:

• Connect with YWAM Refugee Circle and subscribe to receive latest news through email. (www.ywamrefugeecircle.com/contact/).
  • Follow them on Facebook (www.facebook.com/groups/1771566483070306/)
  • To send a team: http://www.ywamrefugeecircle.com/send-a-team/
  • To receive a team: www.ywamrefugeecircle.com/receive-a-team/
  • Support a team: www.ywamrefugeecircle.com/donate/
  • For list of short-term and long-term opportunities (with a great map): www.ywamrefugeecircle.com/locations/
• Donate to support YWAM’s refugee ministry. Go to ywam.org, choose Donate, and pick “Refugee Crisis” from the list.
• Locally:
  • Research about how you can help refugees where you are locally. Contact churches and aid organizations.
  • Find out where new refugees can be found in your area. Greet them with a welcome basket. Become a friend to a refugee. Adopt a family to help.
• Attend Greece Refugee Outreach December 28 – January 18. For more information: www.ywamunited.com/event/greece-refugee-outreach/
• Read the book Serving God in a Migrant Crisis by Dean Merrill and Patrick Johnstone.
• 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.
• Send an email to prayer@ywam.org.

How We Prayed:

June 6 – July 5, 2016 – 30 Days of Prayer for the Muslim World

• YWAM Dunham, Quebec spent time searching their own hearts and repenting about how they have condemned Muslims in the past. They have chosen to love Muslims.
• YWAM Seamill, Scotland prayed for the Muslim world throughout Ramadan. One day they specifically prayed for the 76,000 Muslims in Scotland.
• YWAM Kings Kids, Brazil committed to pray for the Muslim World.
• YWAM Uruguay committed to pray each day in their devotionals and schools. They are also promoting 30 Days of Prayer for Muslims to churches in Uruguay and they planned a celebration and time of intercession towards the end of Ramadan.

Upcoming topics for The Invitation:

• August 11 – Universities
• September 8 – A Year of Answered Prayer

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 post on the second Thursday at facebook.com/youthwithamission or on Twitter @ywam, hash tag #praywithywam.
• If you sense God giving you a word or a direction for YWAM’s prayer, please contact us: prayer@ywam.org.