Pray for Albania

Week of Aug. 26 - Sept. 1, 2013

In the News: Plastic, cans, empty cigar packs and banana skins litter the sand of Shengjin beach, making unattractive company for thousands of tourists who have invaded this shore of Adriatic Sea, some 45 kilometers from Tirana [Albania]. Pigs sift through rubbish alongside the road.


An old saying may ring true here, “Cleanliness is next to Godliness”.

Waste management poses a real problem in Albania. Likely there is a lack of revenue to have a fully functioning Waste Management Department. It is a common thing in Albania for people to throw their trash into the rivers and along the roadways. Rivers carry this rubbish into the sea polluting it.

Albania is positioned to expand in the area of tourism. Investors are buying coast land and development is on the rise. Albania is on the Adriatic coast which is a favorite vacation spot for many throughout Europe.

The good vs. the bad; two opposing sides to this issue. The bad could discourage the good. So many times God wants to bless us and prepares a plan for us, but we let the ‘trash’ in our lives rob us of His blessings. The same principle applies in the case of Albania.

1) I think of the trash and I think of neglect. Also, neglect speaks of a lack of ownership and value. Lord, we pray for a transformation of this cultural norm. May the Albanian people develop a pride in keeping their country clean. We pray for a sense of accountability, ownership and value to take root in the Albanian people.

2) Pray for a ‘Clean up Albania’ campaign. May such a program be instigated by Christians.

If Albanian Christians started walking down the streets picking up trash, this would show their servant heart. Acts of kindness can breakdown walls of resistance.

3) Let us pray that the churches would organize and collectively be servants to their communities and country.

4) The Bride of Christ in Albania is responsible for the spiritual condition of the country. Let us pray for a stirring up of evangelism.

5) We must remember the trash Jesus cleaned out of our lives. Let us pray that the Albanian people would desire to live clean before the Lord.

6) As a nation we pray that the inner cleansing of individuals would be reflected in a beautiful nation coming forth.


7) During many years of communist, the regime aggressively pursued a policy of isolation for Albania. Let us pray that the spirit of seclusion be broken.

8) Socialist policies cause people to feel disconnected and unaccountable for the country and community they live in. Let us pray for justice in government. Let us pray that the government would strive to earn the trust and respect of the people.

9) Investment is a good thing for Albania. Let us pray for the ‘right’ investment. Many times criminals launder their illegal money through property ownership, consequently producing evil vices and corruption.

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Pray for Turkey

Week of Aug. 19-25, 2013

In 1987, Turkey applied to join what was then the European Economic Community, and in 1997 it was declared eligible to join the European Union. Accession negotiations started in 2005. There are many objections from other EU members but the main objection is the differences between Turkey and Greece over the government of Cyprus. Also many object to a Muslim nation being part of the EU.
For the full story

Will being omitted to the EU help the spread of the Gospel in Turkey? Most Muslim countries restrict and persecute Christians. In the EU constitution it states there is to be freedom of religion. Generally Muslims are tolerant of the Christian religion as long as the Christians are a silent minority, but when there is a move of God, persecution is the Islamic tool.

Let’s pray for God’s intervention.

1) Lord, we put Turkey in Your hands. If joining the European Union is Turkey’s future, then make it an open door for evangelism.
2) With Turkey being 96.1% Muslim, we pray for discontentment and a hunger for the truth amongst those following Islam.
3) Islam does not make room for a loving personal savior. May Muslims realize their emptiness and begin to seek God, their Creator.
4) I thank you Lord, that You have a plan to reach the empty hearts in Turkey.
   a. Lord, we know many of Your people are praying for Turkey. May angels go forth and stir up Turks to seek truth. God will reveal Himself to those that seek Him. (Matt.7:7)
   b. We ask for hearts to be softened and made ready for the Gospel. Thank you Lord for the reports of how you are already causing Turks to see You in their dreams and how the Gospel is being broadcast in the Turkish language.
   c. Lord prepare Your laborers to gather souls in Turkey. Open the heavens above Your saints, giving them revelation, zeal and an overcoming love for the lost.
5) There are Houses of Prayer in Turkey. May these houses of prayer have protection from Islamic radicals.
6) Lord we understand how the emerging of Your Kingdom works; many will be persecuted for believing in Jesus. May they comprehend that the Gospel is like a pearl that is worth all cost. Matt. 13:46 (May we in Gospel friendly nations be grateful for our freedom to worship)

For Encouragement: This past weekend I met a lady who took part in a prayer-walk and anointed large parts of Eastern Turkey with oil. She had a vision of a fire that started in Eastern Turkey and then spread across to Western Turkey. Studying early church history, we know that the Gospel came from Antioch and spread across Asia Minor; may this happen again, in our life time.

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Pray for Slovenia

Week of Aug. 12-18, 2013

A pastor from Croatia, Mario Ducic, was preaching at a church near Dallas, Texas so Zuzanna and I went to hear him. He spoke on Luke 8:5-15, Jesus’ teaching on “The Sower”. As I reflected on his message I thought of Slovenia and how the sower needs to go forth sowing the Gospel seeds. It is heart breaking to hear of those seeds that did not fall on good ground and did not survive. Take time to read the passage in Luke and pray accordingly for Slovenia.

1)    Lord, we ask for a time of sowing in Slovenia.
2)    Let us pray according to verse 8 where Jesus cried out, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear!” It was important to the Lord that his disciples understand this parable of the sower. Let us, as intercessors, pray for the present churches in Slovenia to hear the Lord’s challenge to go forth and sow.
3)    Notice that the sower did not necessarily look for a certain plot of ground to sow his seeds but rather sowed everywhere. Let us pray for many evangelist to be raised up to share the gospel with every person in Slovenia regardless of their position or status. Not just in the church buildings but in the marketplace and in every institution.
4)    Slovenes are hardworking people and they have prospered but they also have a greater percentage of suicides. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is a message of hope. Let us pray for hope to arise all over Slovenia.
5)    Slovene hearts are hard like rock. They rely upon a false hope in science and their humanistic abilities. Come Lord and break up these rocks that rob them of the ability to grow in hope.
6)    As the seeds are planted, let us pray for the Slovenian Evangelical Churches to be safe places for these newly redeemed to find fresh water for their souls. May there be trained ministers that can walk young Christians through emotional healing.
7)    Let us pray for anointed teachers to present the Gospel in purity and truth. Thank You, Lord, that Your Word cleanses us and shows us how to walk righteous before You.

 Amos 9:13 NKJV
“Behold, the days are coming,” says the LORD, “When the plowman shall overtake the reaper, And the treader of grapes him who sows seed; The mountains shall drip with sweet wine, And all the hills shall flow with it.

8)    Lord, we pray for “plowmen” and “treaders” that will go quickly into the harvest field. Lord, we know this happens when the Holy Spirit blows across the land. Holy Spirit blow upon Slovenia.
9)    May the Slovene people ascend the mountain of the Lord and find His sweet wine. May they be so full of the sweetness of the Lord that they will spill out over the hills and into the valleys.
10)    Lord, may Your gentle love and non-judgmental compassion flow through those that sow in Slovenia.  Lord, help the Slovene Christians to break through their fears and find the joy of sharing their faith.
11)    Lord, we rebuke that lying spirit of suicide that inhabits Slovenia. Come Lord, and set the people free.


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Pray for Serbia

Week of Aug. 5-11, 2013

I asked a missionary in Serbia to give me his perspective of the national and spiritual conditions there. His report is very insightful and revealing.

Greg Sivulka’s report:
1.  Church - Generally speaking, most of the Christian churches in Serbia have fallen into a state of apathy.  The excitement of a personal, daily walk with the Lord has died down and as a result, the care and concern for reaching the lost has also died down to a minimum lull.  Many pastors in full-time ministry are overloaded with various activities and are in desperate need of rest.  Most churches are struggling financially to keep bills paid and keep staff out of poverty.

2.  Non-believers - Please pray for God to change the mentality of the people of Serbia.  Many consider us [Evangelical Churches] a dangerous sect/cult.  Many young people that show an interest in coming to church and/or hanging out with believers are often forbidden to do so by their parents. Women interested in the Lord are often hindered and sometimes even physically abused by their husbands.
     Please pray that God would bring down the pride level of non-believers.  Many times, even when people realize their need for a Savior, they often refuse to come to him because of pride.  Two things that you very rarely hear in Serbia, generally speaking, are "I'm sorry," and "I don't know."  This to me is a sign that there are very high strongholds of pride that still need to come down.
     Please pray that the devil would be thwarted in his plans to keep people in spiritual darkness here in Serbia.  Many seeds have been sown, through various different means (Jesus film, one-on-one evangelism, humanitarian aid distribution....), but the devil is continuing to keep the blinders on people's spiritual sight.  Pray for the Lord to turn the lights on! www.SerbianOutreach.com

1.    Ask the Lord to let your heart burn for the Serbian evangelical churches. The pressures are intense and the battle is hard. They truly need a prayer covering. Let us stand in the gap and build up a hedge.
2.    Let us pray for a spiritual assault on the principalities and strongholds in Serbia. May those that have a burden for Serbia be awakened to this crucial hour. Daniel was only one man and he stood against the Prince of Persia; we are many, may we too send up a cry that empowers warring angels. (Daniel chapter 10)
3.    Let us pray for more intercessors to be raised up to pray for Serbia. Let us also pray for gatekeepers to be raised up for the major cities in Serbia. (Men and women, saints that make it their priority and sacrifice their time to keep a spiritual watch over their city)
4.    Lord, we ask for the financial struggles of churches to be lightened. This generally is proceeded by believers sacrificial giving. May the saints learn to give their money, time and talents to the house of faith. Lord, may the Serbian Christians learn the joy of giving.
5.    Lord, we ask for your favor to be upon those that have found that freedom of giving. May they be entrusted with more of heaven’s riches.
6.    Pride is such a yoke of bondage. To break the Serbs will, it will take a sovereign move of the Holy Spirit. War didn’t bring them to their knees and neither did poverty. Lord, please release Your love on the Serbian people and raise up believers who will overflow with Your love into their communities.
7.    The health system is very poor in Serbia. Those that have the financial means usually take their health issues to other countries. Let us pray the Lord would engineer a solution. We can ask for men and women of faith to lay hands on the sick and we can pray for more money to flow into the hospitals; we put it in Your hands Lord to touch the physically hurting of Serbia. Either way, the Serbian people need a miracle for their health.

Jeremiah 33:2-3 NKJV
“Thus says the Lord who made it, the Lord who formed it to establish it (the Lord is His name): ‘Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.’

8.    Lord, we ask that You put the above verse in every Serbian Christian’s heart. May we all just seek more of You, Jesus.
9.    Let us also pray for Greg and Jelena and their three children as they minister in Serbia. They have a ministry to the families with special needs children. The Sivulka’s need a home and a car so they can be fully effective.

A Praise Report from a Serbian youth pastor:
Wow, we had a great teen camp last week. 62 teenagers (plus the staff) came together for five days where we experienced Gods love and His power. It was truly amazing to see how God touched so many hearts trough worship and teachings.

There was a girl who used to cut herself and got freed from her depression. Another one confessed her sin to one of the leaders and experienced a spiritual breakthrough after that. Many others got filled with the Holy Spirit and many gave their hearts to God.

Thank you for all your prayers and support,
Arpod Sabo

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