Pray for Slovenia

Week of Oct. 24-30, 2014

In the NEWS: Slovenia: Founding congress of the Initiative for Democratic Socialism; United Left formed

March 19, 2014 - By Anej Korsika - Links Internaional Journal of Socialist Renewal -- On March 8, the Initiative for Democratic Socialism (IDS) had its founding congress and officially transformed itself into a political party. In the invitation to the congress we have written that in the last 20 years all political parties in Slovenia have been representatives of one and the same fraction, the fraction of capital. We have emphasized that it is high time Slovenia gets a proper socialist party that openly and consciously represents a socialist alternative to both the crisis in Slovenia as well as the crisis in European Union.
http://links.org.au/node/3778

Comment: Socialism has a tendency to cause low economic productivity and high tax burdens to a country. In theory socialism promises benefits for the weak but in reality cheapens services. Capitalism promises rewards for hard work but can only function properly in a society with high ethical standards.

Prayer points:

1)      Let us pray for the Slovenian government. May there be an overriding sense of servanthood among its ministers and officials.

2)     Let us pray against favoritism and an ‘above the law’ attitude in government. As they struggle to make capitalism work, may government officials develop ethical guidelines.

3)     Lord, we pray for men and women of strong Christian conviction to seek government offices in Slovenia.

 In other NEWS: Slovenia Celebrates Reformation Day

Slovenia is celebrating on Thursday Reformation Day [Oct.31^st], a public holiday dedicated to remembering the 16th century Reformation and Protestant movement. The holiday opens a four-day extended weekend.

Although a predominantly Catholic country, Slovenia has celebrated Reformation Day as a national holiday since 1992 to remember a turbulent yet culturally rich period in the 16th century that produced the first book written in the Slovenian language.

During the second half of the 16th century Reformation ideas flourished in the lands that make up present-day Slovenia.

The movement in Slovenia was epitomized by Primoz Trubar (1508-1586), a Protestant priest who wanted to write books in a language which could easily be understood by all Slovenians. His "Abecedarium" spelling-book and "Catechism", published in 1550, gave Slovenians the first books in their own language. http://www.sloveniatimes.com/slovenia-celebrates-reformation-day

  

Comments: The Reformation was truly a godsend for Europe in the 16th century. The Catholic church had become a religious system lacking redemptive values for the people. The Reformation was a protest against that system and resulted in the Protestant movement. It was a 'move of God' that helped Europe recover from a stagnation in Medieval times.

Prayer points:

4)     Slovenia had roots of righteousness in its early development. Let us pray for the resurrection of those early foundations, and the digging up of those ancient wells.

 Isaiah 58:12

Those from among you shall build the old waste places; You shall raise up the foundations of many generations; And you shall be called the Repairer of the Breach, The Restorer of Streets to Dwell In.

Psalm 11:3

If the foundations are destroyed, What can the righteous do?

5)     Lord, we ask for those Slovene Christians that walk in Your righteousness to be energized by the Holy Spirit to restore the original foundations of Slovenia. May they be deeply moved in their hearts to rescue their troubled country.

6)     God often waits on prevailing prayer from His saints. Lord, we ask for a brokenness among the Slovene Christians. May they repent and cry out for Your mercy for Slovenia.

7)     Lord, we thank you for those that are interceding for Slovenia; may they see, in their life time, Your new reformation.

Of all the European countries, Slovenia has the highest average of deaths from alcoholism.  https://www.yahoo.com/travel/what-every-european-union-country-is-the-worst-at-102990636372.html?soc_src=mags&soc_trk=tw

Prayer points:

8)     There has to be revival in Slovenia. The revelation of Jesus Christ as a personal savior is what gives lasting hope. Pray for mercy to be extended to Slovenia.

Please leave a Comment or Reaction so we will know you Prayed.

Pray for SERBIA

Week of Nov. 17-23, 2014

Google Map of Belgrade

A message from Jerry and Zuzanna :

We are so grateful to each of you as you join us in standing in the gap for the Balkan nations week after week, for 6 years now. This prayer blog has evolved through the years and it is evolving still. Starting with this week and going forward, we will have a section in the left column for European Initiative Balkans prayer needs which will give each of you an opportunity to pray specifically for our ministry as European Initiative’s Balkans Base Leaders. In this region called the Balkans, one becomes very acutely aware of ones dependence on prayer. We believe our effectiveness hinges on the prayers of intercessors like you. We will share upcoming events and various needs. “Ministry Needs, Plans & Prayer” will appear in the Column to the left of this prayer directive. Thank you for taking the time to pray over our needs in addition to the country we feature each week.

Friday morning (11/14/2014) I attended a prayer meeting and the Lord’s presence was in our mist. Although this prayer meeting was in Zagreb there was an intercessor there from Serbia. There was a point in our prayer time when we went deep in intercession for Belgrade, the capital of Serbia. God has a divine plan for Serbia; may we be found worthy, that the Lord would share that plan with us.

Prayer Points:
1)    The Serbian people are a proud people and nationalism runs very deep. Oh, Lord we want to know Your heart for the people of Serbia. We pray for a great host of Serbs to be standing before the throne when the books are opened. May they hold their heads high because they fought the good fight and held on to God’s Word.
2)    Let us once again pray for the capitol city of Belgrade. Close to 1.5 million people and only about 1,000 Christians. Lord raise up intercessors to cry for that city. Raise up ministries that will pour resources into the city.
3)    Lord we pray for houses of prayer to be birth with an open heaven where the Holy Spirit dwells constantly. Lord, draw together those that have a burden for Belgrade.
4)    Lord we lift up the Christians in Serbia. May they choose to fear the Lord and submit to the teaching of the Holy Spirit so they may prosper and their descendants establish wisdom in the land. Let us believe for strong Christian families that are grounded in principles of the Gospel. May their descendants inherit a righteous Serbia.
5)    Though the vision of a righteous land seems distant now, let us pray that the Christians will do what is right in all things. Purify Your people so the vileness of hypocrisy will be wiped away.
6)    Let us continue to pray for those bound by alcohol and drugs. Heroin is cheap compared to other countries and easily acquired, therefore there are a large number of drug addicts. Hope is the answer, and Jesus gives hope.
7)    Lord, release an extra measure of grace and healing in the alcohol and drug centers in Serbia. We pray for restoration in these broken lives. Let not the enemy steal their destinies.
8)    Let us be burdened for the pastors of Serbian churches. May they stand strong and not be weary in well-doing. We must hold up their arms because the battles are hard. May Psalms 25: 12-13 be their portion. “Who is the man that fears the LORD? Him shall He teach in the way He chooses.  He himself shall dwell in prosperity, And his descendants shall inherit the earth.

2 Cor. 4: 6 For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

9)   Lord we join You in commanding the “light to shine out of darkness”. Take the present darkness and transform it into Light. We command the bad to be turned to good. Let us speak boldly to the enemy to take his hands off Serbia.
Please leave a Comment or a Reaction so we will know you Prayed.

Pray for Romania

Week of Nov. 3-9, 2014

Couple’s aid for Romania passes 2,000 boxes mark
A Workington couple have shipped more than 2,000 shoeboxes to people in need in Romania over the last 20 years.

Barbara and Howard Jones, both 60, of Gordon Street, have this year collected 263 boxes of treats.

Helped by granddaughter Caitlin, nine, they co-ordinate the collection and delivery of boxes from local schools, churches and people to help.
The couple are the north west representatives for Convoy Aid Romania. They got involved after seeing an appeal for volunteers.

Gifts including warm clothing, toys, sweets and toiletries are collected to be sent to some of the poorest areas of the country every year.

Mr Jones said: “The boxes are sent to all age groups, and send warm clothing, toys, sweets and toiletries.

To contribute, call 01900 65306.

The Securitate
A bloody and still murky revolution that toppled Mr. Ceausescu in December 1989 overthrew Eastern Europe’s most authoritarian government, ending a paranoid dystopia in which one in every 30 Romanians worked as an informer for the ruthless security agency, the Securitate.

The Securitate was the popular term for the Departamentul Securității Statului (Department of State Security), the secret police agency of Communist Romania. Founded on August 30, 1948, with help from the Soviet NKVD. After Ceaușescu was ousted, the DSS lived on until 1991, when Parliament approved a law reorganizing the DSS into various subdivisions.


The Securitate was, in proportion to Romania's population, one of the largest secret police forces in the Eastern bloc. By 1951, the Securitate's staff had increased fivefold, while in January 1956, the Securitate had 25,468 employees. Under the regime of Nicolae Ceaușescu, the Securitate employed some 11,000 agents and had a half-million informers for a country with a population of 22 million by 1985. Under Ceaușescu, the Securitate was one of the most brutal secret police forces in the world, responsible for the arrests, torture and death of thousands of people. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Securitate

Prayer points:
1)    Lord, we thank you for Romania and the freedom that the people now have. You have proven Your love for the suffering they endured. May You continue to show great favor. Let us pray that the past will be buried and for trust to return.
2)    Pray for the poor of Romania, which ranks among the lowest in average income in Europe, Lord we pray for innovative solutions that can bring jobs to the poor in Romania.
3)    Thank You Lord for the family in the above story, may they be blessed and be an inspiration for others to participate in similar programs.
4)    These shoeboxes are filled with items that are considered treasures to these people. Lord, as these are given in Your name may they be forever a reminder of Your love to each family.
5)    Pray that there would be safe passage of these boxes to Romania. May an angel be assigned to each box.
6)    Let us stand in the gap for the children of Romania. Pray that Jesus would be presented to them and the Holy Spirit would capture their lives. Let us believe for a generation of Christians that will be a force in the earth to show forth His glory.

At EI Balkans, we are preparing to host two different teams in Romania. One in December and another in January 2015. These teams will minister to the Roma in the Public School, to the believers in a Church service and we will take the teams house to house, bringing much needed groceries, coats, shoes and other winter items while sharing the love of Jesus with the poorest Roma in Romania.

Prayer points:

1)    Please pray for all logistics to come together in each location, and all preparations to fall into place on both ends.
2)    Pray for divine appointments as we minister to the needs of so many. Pray that God might be glorified through many salvations and healings!
3)    Pray against the spirit of confusion that would seek to interrupt the outreaches, for unity in the team as well as between the team and local helpers.
4)    December and January in Romania can yield subzero temperatures, please pray for divine health for everyone on the team.