DECLARATIONS As a community of believers, we seek to bring holistic and transformational change in North Africa. With the help of our prayer efforts, partnerships, shortterm Global Connection Teams, and our long-term Church Based Teams, we are working to see the rapid expansion of the Kingdom of God in this spiritually and physically needy region. We ask that everyone within the Central community participate in praying for these pioneering efforts. I am committed to praying for the people of North Africa, especially those who live in the city of. Signature of Bearer Signature Du Titulaire/Firma Del Titular DIRECTIONS HOW TO USE THIS PASSPORT For each topic spend a few minutes alone or in your life group, praying for North Africa. If you have visited the Prayer Wall and committed to pray for a city in North Africa, then write that city name in any of the blanks you find. We encourage you to pray the written prayer, pray God s word over the city, and pray as God leads you. Space has been provided so you can journal anything God places on your heart as you pray for the last, the least, and the lost of North Africa.
TABLE OF CONTENTS WHY NORTH AFRICA Join us in praying for North Africa. Consider praying through these 13 different topics. Central has a core value that we primarily exist for those who are not yet a part of us. While locally this means we are primarily concerned for those not yet in the church; around the world it means that we are primarily concerned for the people where there is no church yet. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. God s Heart Unreached & Unengaged The 80% North Africa Disciple is a Verb DMM s People of Peace It s an HR Problem Field Workers Long Term Success Some Stay. Some Go. All Are Called. Fear Factor All Shook Up Of those places, the vast region of North Africa is one of the least reached places in the world. Most of the 100 million people in this region are born, face difficult lives, and then die without ever having a chance to know of the healing and transforming power of Jesus. As a body of believers, we are determined to change this reality and to see His Kingdom come and His will be done in North Africa as it is in heaven.
1 1 GOD S HEART There has never been a time when God did not have a global plan in mind. From before creation God intended that all nations would love and worship him! Is. 12:1-6 In that day (Cairo) will say: I will praise you Lord. Although you were angry with me, your anger has turned away and you have comforted me. Surely God is (Cairo) s salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The Lord, the Lord, is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation. With joy (Cairo) will draw water from the wells of salvation. Is. In that day (Cairo) will say, Give thanks to the Lord, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done, and proclaim that his name is exalted. Sing to the Lord, for he has done glorious things; let this be know to all the world! Shout aloud and sing for joy, people of (Cairo), for great is the Holy One of Israel among you. 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 Isaiah 12 over your city (read a verse filling in the blank with the name of a city.) Cairo has been used as an example below, but please insert the city you have committed to pray for.
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2 2 UNREACHED & UNENGAGED There are more people alive today than have ever lived before. At the Joshua Project you will see that they represent over 16,000 unique groups of people. Of these, roughly 7,000 people groups remain unreached with the Gospel: over 100 of these are in Northeast Africa alone. Father, When we read this promise we are inspired. Jesus did not say, This gospel should be preached, nor: might be preached, but: will be preached. This is not so much a commission, nor a commandment. It is the great certainty. Thank you that the global cause of Christ is absolutely assured of success. It cannot fail. So we pray with supreme confidence. Send gospel workers to to announce the good news. We just can t bear the idea that 100 people groups in this region could live and die without ever hearing from a follower of Jesus. So we will do all we can to help workers get there. We pray in Jesus name. Amen! This gospel of the kingdom will be preached throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations and then the end will come. Matthew 24:14 Choose a city in North Africa that you can be praying for so that God s glory will be known there: For more prayer ideas for North Africa, go to centralaz.com/goprayer
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3 THE 80% Of all the unreached people groups in the world, 80% of them are Muslim. Matthew 8:10-12 When Jesus heard this, he was amazed and said to those following him, Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith. I say to you that many will come from the east and the west, and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. Choose a city in North Africa that you can be praying for so that God s glory will be known there: 3 Lord, Your word tells us that every tribe, tongue, and nation will one day gather before your throne. We believe your promise. So help us not to turn a blind eye to the Muslim world, especially the people in North Africa. Help us to move beyond working mostly in Christian nations and begin to reach out to the lost and the least. Lord help us to see the Muslim world with your eyes. That in the same way Jesus saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Lord we pray that you would start a new work in among the poor, the needy, and the downtrodden. Lord we pray that you would shepherd these people into lasting peace, hope, and joy. Amen.
JOURNAL 4 NORTH AFRICA Of all the unreached Muslim people groups, North Africa has one of the highest concentrations in the world. In that day there will be a highway from Egypt to Assyria (Iraq). The Assyrians will go to Egypt and the Egyptians to Assyria. The Egyptians and Assyrians will worship together. In that day Israel will be the third, along with Egypt and Assyria, a blessing on the earth. The Lord Almighty will bless them, saying, Blessed be Egypt my people, Assyria my handiwork, and Israel my inheritance. Isaiah 19:23-25
4 Choose a city in North Africa that you can be praying for so that God s glory will be known there: Lord God Almighty, We ask that your glory would be known in. The people there shop for groceries, pray for health, and tuck their kids in at night just like we do. But they don t know that Jesus gave his life for them. Their traditions tell them that Jesus did not die on the cross. May they come to know Him. He is the resurrection and the life. He can heal the brokenness in their societies. He is the way the truth and the life. We pray in his powerful name. Amen. For more prayer ideas for North Africa, go to centralaz.com/goprayer JOURNAL
5 DISCIPLE IS A VERB We are under orders from our Master to go into the world and disciple the nations (literally meaning people groups.) This is God s plan to spread healing to the brokenness of the world. All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and disciple all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. Matthew 28:18-20 Choose a city in North Africa that you can be praying for so that God s glory will be known there: 5 Lord, We believe that all authority means that there is no authority above yours. We know this means that we must be doing what you ve told us to do. Please teach us how to disciple others. Help us to imitate your ways, obey your words and communicate your worth to everyone we meet. We also pray for disciples to go to. Help them to make new friends who will soon be Jesus followers themselves. We pray in His name. Amen. For more prayer ideas for North Africa, go to centralaz.com/goprayer
JOURNAL 6 DMMs The research is done. The best way to reach a people group and see the culture transformed is to launch a rapidly multiplying disciple making movement (DMMs). So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly... Acts 6:7 Choose a city in North Africa that you can be praying for so that God s glory will be known there:
6 Lord, We pray that you would send disciples to, and that you would anoint the workers who go to be able to launch a DMM. We ask that you would help them to practice the principles of DMMs; like training people how to obey the Word of God. We pray that they would see the kind of fruit Jesus describes in Matthew 13 which produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. We need the same kind of help here in our city. Help us all to follow you whole-heartedly and spread the word of God everywhere. We pray in the name of the Risen King. Amen. For more prayer ideas for North Africa, go to centralaz.com/goprayer JOURNAL
7 7 PEOPLE OF PEACE Movements are ignited by influential locals who are receptive to the message and are willing to share it with others. Therefore we search for persons of peace and then invest heavily in their spiritual development. Lord, We are praying for the capital cities in Northeast Africa. We believe that Khartoum, Cairo, Tripoli, and Tunis are the keys to reaching their nations with the good news about Jesus. We pray that workers would have success connecting with people of peace in each neighborhood. We ask that you would do in these cities what you did in Antioch 2,000 years ago. It became a sending base for reaching the entire Roman Empire. We ask that you would miraculously do it again. If there is some way we can help, please use us. We pray in the name of Jesus. Amen. When you enter a house, first say, Peace to this house. If someone who promotes peace is there, your peace will rest on them; if not, it will return to you. Stay there, eating and drinking whatever they give you, for the worker deserves his wages. Do not move around from house to house. Luke 10:5-7 Choose a city in North Africa that you can be praying for so that God s glory will be known there: For more prayer ideas for North Africa, go to centralaz.com/goprayer
JOURNAL 8 IT S AN HR PROBLEM There are very few, if any, followers of Jesus in most places in Northeast Africa. The negative effects of that are prominent throughout the region. But we can t blame the harvest. Jesus said the harvest is plentiful. The problem is the human resources to do the work. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field. Matthew 9:35-38 Choose a city in North Africa that you can be praying for so that God s glory will be known there:
8 Father, You are the Lord of the harvest. It is your will that there would be a huge crop of Jesus followers in who can bring hope and healing to this city. We know that the problem is not the people there. Your word makes it clear that the problem is a shortage of workers. We pray that more people will embrace your call to go. Help those of us who stay to respond with the faith to send them. We pray in the name that is above every name, Jesus. Amen. For more prayer ideas for North Africa, go to centralaz.com/goprayer JOURNAL
9 FIELD WORKERS There are people from Central Christian serving in Northeast Africa. They are learning a new culture, a foreign language and at the same time seeking to be effective witnesses of Jesus. Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should. Eph. 6:19-20 Choose a city in North Africa that you can be praying for so that God s glory will be known there:
9 King Jesus, We ask that you would be with our staff, worship leaders, and our friends from Central who have already taken up the challenge of moving to North Africa. Help us not to forget them. Help us to remember to pray, support, and encourage them in their journey. Lord, use them in a mighty way to see North Africa changed. We pray that you would protect them, watch over them, keep their marriages strong and their kids healthy. We pray that they would not become weary in doing good. We know at the proper time they will reap a harvest if they do not give up. We also pray that you would raise up more workers to begin a new work in. We ask in Jesus name. Amen JOURNAL
10 LONG TERM SUCCESS In global work, teams out perform, and outlast individuals. Therefore as a body, we are working and praying for whole Church Based Teams to come together to transform North Africa. Now in the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen... and Saul. While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them. So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off. Acts 13:1-3 Choose a city in North Africa that you can be praying for so that God s glory will be known there:
10 Lord Jesus, In your infinite wisdom you chose to do life with a team of people. You surrounded yourself with ordinary men and women as you changed an entire region. The team you left behind went on to change the world. Lord, we know that in order to see change, it is going to take more than individual workers moving there. We need whole teams that are built to last, can work well together, and can see long-term reproducible fruit. Lord we pray that you would continue to raise up teams of people from among us who are willing to go. We pray in Jesus name. Amen JOURNAL
11 SOME GO. SOME STAY. ALL ARE CALLED. We re all called to take part in the harvest. Those who stay can help field workers through prayer, encouragement, logistical, and financial support, while also working to impact their own local communities. Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. 2 Corinthians 9:6-8 11 Choose a city in North Africa that you can be praying for so that God s glory will be known there: Lord, We pray that your kingdom would come to just as it is in heaven. Give us the courage and faith that matches our calling. Our friends have decided to obey you and go. Help us to obey by supporting them in every possible way. May your kingdom come through our surrender and our sacrifice. We pray in Jesus name. Amen! For more prayer ideas for North Africa, go to centralaz.com/goprayer
JOURNAL 12 FEAR FACTOR It s true that Perfect love casts out fear. Could it also be true that perfect fear casts out love? As a church we choose to fight against the fear that is so pervasive in our culture and respond to the world in love. Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. Do everything in love. 1 Corinthians 16:13-14 Choose a city in North Africa that you can be praying for so that God s glory will be known there:
12 Lord, We confess that we are afraid. We are also in awe of the love that compelled you to die for those who despised you. We pray that this same love would compel us to love our neighbors, love our communities, and even love our enemies. Help us to love the people in and not be afraid of them. We pray that our love for you and your Kingdom, would compel us to follow your lead and your teachings in Matthew 18 where you taught us to leave the ninety-nine and go to look for the one that wandered off. Lord help us to not stay huddled together with the 99 out of fear but to be willing to send from among us those who are willing to go in search of the lost in North Africa. We pray in Jesus name. Amen! JOURNAL
13 13 ALL SHOOK UP In 2007, we committed ourselves to seeing North Africa transformed. We began praying for God to shake the region, and WOW did He answer. Not a day goes by that it we don t see it in the headlines. May this be the beginning of changing over 1,000 years of history. Thank you Lord for shaking things up in. History tells us that some of the greatest movements toward Christ emerge out of tumultuous times. So we ask that you would use this unrest for your greater purpose. Please help those in North Africa who are crying for freedom to find lasting peace. The kind of peace that can only come through one King, the King of Kings who said Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. We pray in the name of Jesus, that they would find you, your peace, and your rest. Amen. The Lord reigns, let the nations tremble; he sits enthroned between the cherubim, let the earth shake. Great is the Lord in Zion; he is exalted over all the nations. Let them praise your great and awesome name he is holy. Psalm 99:1-3 Choose a city in North Africa that you can be praying for so that God s glory will be known there: For more prayer ideas for North Africa, go to centralaz.com/goprayer