2016 LENT GUIDE Lent is a dedicated time of fasting and prayer observed by Christians around the world over the seven weeks leading up to Easter. The Lord responds to the prayers of his people, and it is our hope that he will do a mighty work during this time, both among the nations and in our own hearts. How to use this guide: Each page includes requests submitted by missionaries around the world, space to record your response and a weekly scripture meditation from Isaiah 58. You are encouraged to print this guide or keep it on your mobile device and pray through the requests during Lent. As you begin, be encouraged by this word of the Lord in Isaiah 58:6-12 (ESV). Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover him, and not to hide yourself from your own flesh? Then shall your light break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up speedily; your righteousness shall go before you; the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard. Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer; you shall cry, and he will say, Here I am. If you take away the yoke from your midst, the pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness, if you pour yourself out for the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then shall your light rise in the darkness and your gloom be as the noonday. And the Lord will guide you continually and satisfy your desire in scorched places and make your bones strong and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail. And your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt; you shall raise up the foundations of many generations; you shall be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of streets to dwell in. team.org 800.343.3144 info@team.org 1
WEEK 1 FEBRUARY 10-14 10 11 12 13 14 GLOBAL Pray for the bonds of wickedness to be broken in the lives of people around the world. Ask the Lord of the harvest to send workers to reach them, and pray that they will come to know freedom in Christ. PERU Craig and Sue Querfeld wrote of a recent opportunity to share the faith with a man named Cesar. Cesar is still struggling with his past. He broke down in tears when I (Craig) told him that I would pray for him that God transform his past and that he would be ready to let that go to follow Christ. Please join the Querfelds in prayer for this man. GERMANY Jeff and Anne Ingram write, We re developing a number of relationships with folks who need the Lord. Anne meets with a woman regularly whom we suspect is demonically oppressed. Pray that Jesus will set her free. CHAD Paul and Kathryn Weber write, Chad continues to be affected by the efforts of terror organizations with several incidences in the past few months. This means security is high and freedoms are reduced but the local government has been effective in minimizing these. We covet your prayers for the local population and those working in vulnerable areas. Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke Isaiah 58:6a team.org 800.343.3144 info@team.org 2
WEEK 2 FEBRUARY 15-21 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 GLOBAL Pray over the refugee crisis around the world, for those who have been oppressed to the point of fleeing their homes and for those who receive them. Pray that they will hear the gospel and experience God s love that they will be set free both physically and spiritually. MIDDLE EAST Workers write, As refugees continue to flee to our area (over 3 million already), the country struggles to deal with the overwhelming needs. Pray for the churches ministering to refugees, for more resources, for more people to reach out to refugees and for this team as it seeks to know the best way to help. GERMANY Ian and Beth Chadwick write, Pray for the refugee situation. Our neighbor recently told us that she is having trouble getting to sleep because of the anxiety since the Paris attacks. We pray that God would use all of these events to bring glory to himself. GREECE Brad and Jamie Newport write, The vision for Hellenic Ministries is to see a refugee camp developed in some part of Greece where refugees could be welcomed and cared for as they consider their next step. This is a massive project and would demand substantial monetary backing. Pray for these matters. ITALY Bologna is receiving lots of African refugees arriving on boats. The Nuova Vita church and Youth for Christ are working together to have a weekly club for the teenaged refugees. Pray for these suffering teens, that they will come to know Jesus and find new life in him. UKRAINE Amanda Keeny writes, Churches in Lviv (western Ukraine), Kiev and other major cities have been helping to meet physical needs of refugees from eastern Ukraine living in their own neighborhoods. Praise God for the ministries going on there and pray for continued open doors in serving refugees. to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? Isaiah 58:6b team.org 800.343.3144 info@team.org 3
WEEK 3 FEBRUARY 22-28 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 GLOBAL Thank the Lord for his heart toward the underprivileged and vulnerable. Pray for the encouragement of those who care for and bring good news to the poor. SOUTHERN AFRICA Lorraine Green writes, I receive frequent inquiries about ministry opportunities among orphans. Pray for me and colleagues who will be praying, discussing and thinking through our vision and engagement with this significant people group across Africa. Pray that the Spirit will guide our thoughts. SOUTH ASIA Workers write, We give thanks for the funds for the recently completed neonatal nursery. Pray for those who take care of these often vulnerable, small babies for wisdom and diligence. ZIMBABWE Pray for Tom and Lois Jackson as they continue to gather ideas and resources through visits and conversations with local agencies and individuals who work with the poor in Zimbabwe. SOUTH ASIA Workers write, Please pray for the people living in the mountains of the far west of the country. They are the least reached with the gospel. Less than 0.1% know Christ. The few isolated churches in the area need trained leaders, encouragement and grounding in God s Word. SOUTH ASIA Workers write, We were able to share the Good News of Jesus with several ladies at the shelter house recently. Please continue to pray for these ladies and their children facing desperate situations. Please pray that Jesus will intervene in their broken worlds and show them the way forward. Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover him, and not to hide yourself from your own flesh? Isaiah 58:7 team.org 800.343.3144 info@team.org 4
WEEK 4 FEBRUARY 29-MARCH 6 29 GLOBAL Pray for peoples around the world who are afflicted and hungry in various ways. Pray that they will know that our God is the God who sees and he is not blind to their affliction. Ask the Lord to prepare hearts for the workers who will pour themselves out to share the gospel that brings healing. 1 2 3 4 5 MIDDLE EAST Workers write, Please pray for open hearts as we serve in a new village in the next couple of months. ZIMBABWE Tom and Lois Jackson write, Pray that God would increasingly bless and empower the church in Zimbabwe in the ministry of reconciliation, healing and in the proclamation of the Gospel of Christ. ZIMBABWE Steve and Anthea Love request prayer for the families in orphan homes as they care for children and as they seek aging out orphans to disciple, mentor and train. GUATEMALA Paul and Jann Vander Mey write, Praise for the opportunity this past year to help the orphans and their caretakers at the orphanage, Rios en el Desierto. Pray for us as we desire to faithfully continue and do even more to help this new year. SOUTHERN AFRICA Dudley and Inge Donaldson write, Pray for wisdom as we deal with students who have been impacted by the beating and strangulation of one of their fellow students on her way to school. Life is not easy for young Swazi girls. 6 if you pour yourself out for the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then shall your light rise in the darkness and your gloom be as the noonday. Isaiah 58:10 team.org 800.343.3144 info@team.org 5
WEEK 5 MARCH 7-13 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 GLOBAL Thank the Lord for guiding his people continually and strengthening us in scorched places. Call on the Lord for our brothers and sisters who are working in difficult situations. CENTRAL ASIA Workers write, Please continue to remember brothers and sisters in Christ who are around the country. Many of them are eager for training and fellowship, but they aren t sure how to get it. Ask for continued wisdom and discernment for them. SOUTH AMERICA Craig and Sue Querfeld write, We are looking for missionaries to come alongside qualified Latin American pastors and church planters to establish new communities of faith in the cities in South America. We would ask you to pray Matthew 9:36-37 with us: The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field. AUSTRIA Pray for Rhonda Formanek and Rachel and Dan Zuch as they look into the possibility of new discipleship training groups with a focus mainly on leaders in the church, who can then use the principles learned in their own groups or ministry areas. GREECE Brad and Jamie Newport write, The Father is replanting his church in Europe in part through the scattering of the former Muslim believers who, by the way, when they come to Christ, are full of his power, are ready to suffer and are bolder than their Western counterparts. Pray for these refugees, their families and the seeds of the Gospel to grow. TAIWAN Isomi and Chieko Saito write, The number of children attending the after-school program is shrinking because elementary schools have also started leading a similar program in schools. Now the church is trying to extend the program to middle school students. Pray that God will continue to use this program for reaching out to needy students. And the Lord will guide you continually and satisfy your desire in scorched places and make your bones strong Isaiah 58:11a team.org 800.343.3144 info@team.org 6
WEEK 6 MARCH 14-20 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 GLOBAL Thank the Lord for drawing people to salvation all around the world. Pray for the encouragement of missionaries and the churches that send them. PHILIPPINES David and Kathy North write, We just want to praise the Lord for a wonderful, motivated core group of young believers in our church plant. Pray for us as we disciple and incorporate all the new people into community groups and discipleship relationships. CZECH REPUBLIC David and Kathy Sedlacek write, Pray for Kathy s work at the Christian International School of Prague in admissions. This small school serves families of many nationalities as well as religions. Join us in praying for more students as well as more teachers and staff. ITALY Gene and Susan Coleman write, Please pray for the church in Mestre, Italy, that God would bring many Italians to Himself. The church has many contacts, but we are praying that many of these people would put their faith in Christ. CHAD Rivers and Becky Camp write, Pray for God to raise up people to help us with the Ziguey school and literacy development. UKRAINE Kurt and Rochelle ZurBurg write, While we have known for a while that we love discipleship, recently we see the tremendous growing need. Pray for us to continue to find positive avenues to partner with disciples and churches who desperately need help in this foundational ministry. and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail. Isaiah 58:11b team.org 800.343.3144 info@team.org 7
WEEK 7 MARCH 21-26 And your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt; you shall raise up the foundations of many generations; you shall be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of streets to dwell in. Isaiah 58:12 Over the past six weeks, you have prayed over specific requests from missionaries around world. This week, set aside time to reflect over the Lenten season and ask the Lord what he wants to speak to your heart. Below are some guided reflection questions. As you pray and fast, seek the Lord in quietness and wait for him. 21 22 23 24 25 26 Today is a time for thankfulness. As you look back at your time of prayer and fasting, what have you felt the Spirit speaking to you? What has he revealed or grown in you that you can thank him for? Today is a time to pray for missionaries you know personally or those sent by your church. In what ways can you be an encouragement and support them? Ask the Lord how he would have you pray for them and serve them. Ask the Lord to increase your own boldness for the gospel. Where are there opportunities to witness through your words and your walk? Ask the Lord to call people to your mind even now and for his spirit to embolden you as you follow him. What has been the impact of your fast? Reflect on what has been produced and revealed in your heart through what you have given up during Lent. Meditate and ask the Lord what he is teaching you through that. Has any particular prayer request stood out in your mind and heart as you prayed through this time? Take some time to go back and pray fervently over that request again today. On this last day of Lent, thank the Lord for this season and the privilege to pray and commune with him. Ask him to bring to completion good work he desires to do in you through this season, and the good work he is doing throughout the world. team.org 800.343.3144 info@team.org 8