Pray for Montenegro - Corruption vs. the Poor

Week of Feb. 2-8, 2015
< See left column. Please include European Initiative Balkans in your Prayers.

In the News: Cabinet meeting: Several draft laws proposed aimed at improving rule of law, new OGP team to be appointed soon
Published date: 05.12.2014 10:46 | Author: PR Bureau

Podgorica, Montenegro (5 December 2014) – The Cabinet of Montenegro held the 92nd session earlier today, chaired by Prime Minister Milo Đukanović, adopted several draft laws, among which the very important ones for the rule of law area, such as on the Constitutional Court, the State Prosecution, and the Special State Prosecution. The Government also adopted draft amendments to the law on public gatherings, and discussed tax policies and further activities within the Open Government Partnership.

The new draft law on the Constitutional Court of Montenegro regulates the appointment of constitutional judges and the competences on constitutional appeals.

The State Prosecution draft law is intended as a measure towards improving judicial independence,... Its adoption will ensure objective and transparent procedures for election of state prosecutors, which will improve prosecutorial independence. The legal novelties establish a unique system of State Prosecutors’ appointment across the country, ensuring further transparency and merit-based selection.

The draft law on Special State Prosecution envisaged in Action Plans for Chapters 23 and 24 is a measure aimed at establishing independent, efficient, and specialised anti-corruption and anti-crime bodies. Its adoption will ensure a more efficient processing of organised crime and public sector corruption in cases of a public official’s corruption in accordance with the legislation regulating conflicts of interest. The new law will also ensure more efficient processing of crimes with graft elements in the private sector and in instances of money laundering, terrorism, and war crimes.

The Cabinet also discussed further activities within the Open Government Partnership (OGP) initiative and it clarified that five representatives from civil society at the OGP Operational Team should be appointed in accordance with the Decision on manner and procedure of establishing cooperation between the state administration and NGOs.

Remarks: Many times over the years here at Praying For the Balkans we have prayed for justice in Montenegro. Corruption has been the curse that has plagued the land. The above article talks of the Open Government Partnership and “establishing independent, efficient, and specialized anti-corruption and anti-crime bodies.” Also the “appointment of constitutional judges and the competences on constitutional appeals” is a positive sign.

Prayer Points:
1)    We see these steps toward justice that the Montenegrin government is taking as the Lord’s hand of mercy upon the land. Lord, You have heard the cry of the oppressed.
2)    Let us pray that this proposed legislation would be enacted and carried out as prescribed so the ethical standards can be raised in Montenegro.
3)    Let us pray for more accountability to come from those elected and chosen to lead the government.
4)    Corruption is an injustice to the population as a whole, but especially the poor and inadequately educated. Let us pray that the poor of Montenegro would see justice.
5)    Let us pray for the doors of opportunity to open up to the poor.

Job 5:11-16  
He sets on high those who are lowly,
And those who mourn are lifted to safety.
He frustrates the devices of the crafty,
So that their hands cannot carry out their plans.
He catches the wise in their own craftiness,
And the counsel of the cunning comes quickly upon them.
They meet with darkness in the daytime,
And grope at noontime as in the night.
But He saves the needy from the sword,
From the mouth of the mighty,
And from their hand.
So the poor have hope,
And injustice shuts her mouth.

6)    The above verses are from Job’s friend Eliphaz. Let these verses guide you in praying for the humble in spirit and that the poor are raised up. May He cast down the wicked and crafty. God will bring hope to the poor and the injustice against them will be silenced.
7)    May those with corrupt hearts find that their hands are unable to carry out their plans. May the corrupt be exposed and fully prosecuted.
8)    It is time to intercede for Montenegro. May the Lord touch us deeply as intercessors to believe for heaven to invade Montenegro this year.
9)    Lord, we pray that You would speak humility to the Christians of Montenegro. May they repent of known sins and ask for the blood of the cross to cleanse them. May the burden of sin be lifted and heavenly joy come forth.
10)    Let us pray from a new revelation of renewal and hope to fill the hearts of the evangelical pastors. When they stand up to preach, let the Holy Spirit bring forth words of life that will set people free.
11)    I see the pastors being given a key that they will use to unlock those chained to habitual sins. The word of God will set the captives free.
12)    God will raise up a remnant to pray for Montenegro and the enemy will hear the trumpet of the Lord sounding out the call for angels to assemble for battle. Let us stand in prayer for this remnant; Lord, give them boldness to call down heaven’s armies.

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Pray for Montenegro

Week of July 28 - Aug. 3, 2014

So much intercession, evangelism and teaching needs to be done in Montenegro. There are just so few evangelical churches and so few Christians in a country that has complete freedom of religion. There are three evangelical/protestant churches and maybe about 8 to 10 home groups; Less than 200 evangelical Christians in the whole country.


Prayer Points
1)    Let us first pray that the Lord would move the Holy Spirit toward this forsaken land. Let us pray for the compassion of heaven.
2)    Oh, Lord Jesus, send missionaries and raise up Montenegrin Christians that burn for their nation.
3)    Let us pray that the Father would extend mercy toward Montenegro and send out the Holy Spirit to stir the people’s hearts.

Kotor Bay: A Haven for Billionaires’ Yachts

In my research of Montenegro I came across information of foreign investment in the tourist industry. I can’t give the source due to copy-right laws.

There is development aimed at attracting the very wealthy to bring their yachts to Kotor Bay and enjoy the rugged but beautiful Adriatic coast of Montenegro. It is expected to be one of the most ambitious leisure projects along the Mediterranean. Development has already started for two marinas, seven hotels, a golf course and hundreds of villas, town houses and apartments. The unique small church buildings and prayer towers will become picture backdrops for tourist.

Now this is good news for Montenegro’s economy. The question is, what will happen spiritually? What is not said, is the gambling and prostitution that will follow.

4)    Lord, we are happy to see money coming into Montenegro to help the economy. Poverty is vide spread and people are hurting.
5)    Let us pray that Christians would seek out jobs in construction, hotel services and management, that Christians would open shops: coffee shops and other tourist establishments. Lord, send in Your salt. Matthew 5:13a “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned?”
6)    Let us pray for mature Christians who are sold out for Jesus, that will not lose their flavor but stand on that land and cry out daily for His presence.
7)    Let us ask the Lord to bring confusion upon the enemy and his plans to use this development for dark purposes.

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Pray for Montenegro

Week of May 5-11,2014

Zuzanna and I were privileged to visit Montenegro about a month ago. Our purpose was to find out more about the Roma (Gypsy) refugee camps in Podgorica and learn how we could help alleviate their present sufferings while sharing the love of Jesus with them. We found their situation quite dire. The will and the financial ability of the Montenegrin government comes short of meeting their physical needs.

Presently, there is a dental team visiting the camps preforming many procedures and meeting their needs. They are seeing 20 plus patients per day. This is a tremendous blessing to the refugees! Pastor Sinisa Nadazdin, head of Roma - REA Ministry Montenegro is praising God for the two dentists, Kriss and Thuha and the support team, who are blessing many refugees in the Konik camp.

As I visit each Balkan country I make it a priority to prayer walk the government buildings, in search of a breakthrough and to establish a stake in the ground. I did not get the sense that I accomplished this breakthrough when prayer-walking the Montenegrin capitol, which is yet another reminder of the spiritual hardness of this nation.

1) Let us pray for the love of Jesus to be manifested in the camps through the practical ministry of the dental team. May the people receiving dental care understand that God loved them so much, that He sent dentists to fix their teeth. May there be much lasting fruit as a result of this work.
2) Let us lift up Pastor Sinisa as he works with the refugees. May there be joy in their midst. May the Christian Roma in the camp live to be an example to the other refugees. 3) The country of Montenegro has an estimated 180 evangelical Christians. Let us pray for the strengthening of the Christians there and a reassurance that they are not alone. Let us hold up their weak arms like Aaron and Hur and pray that the Lord of all would give them new strength to live a victorious life.
4) Let us pray for a spiritual breakthrough in Montenegro. May the Lord stir hearts to believe for increase in Montenegro. May He break up the rocky ground of the Montenegrins hearts.
5) Montenegrin Christians need help from the larger Body of Christ abroad. Let us pray for churches and mission organizations throughout the world to turn their attention toward Montenegro. Let us pray also for the handful of Missionaries like Bukurije Nikqi and other organizations and churches who serve in Montenegro.
6) The Lord’s heart is for Montenegro to be a part of the coming revival. Let us pray for men and women who will hear His voice and follow His leading to pray for and go to Montenegro and leave the stamp of God on the nation.
7) Lord, deposit vision and strategies for evangelical events in Montenegro to reach the people. Lord, shine Your light on the dark land of Montenegro.PRAYING WITH SPECIFICITY… within an URGENT TIME FRAME… with an EXPECTATION OF RESULTS. - George Otis, Jr., Sentinel Group
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Week of Jan. 13-19, 2014

Evangelicals: 300, 0.0005% of population

Is Montenegro the least evangelized country in the world? It very well could because there are estimated to be only about 300 evangelicals in the whole country; three churches and some small home groups. There are Orthodox and Catholic churches but the people are far from being spiritually taught and delivered from the power of sin..

1. Lord, we know it is in Your heart to reach the Montenegrin people. You desire to be lifted up in Montenegro. Lord, show us how to pray and send help.
2. Let us pray for intercessors and prayer-walkers to be burdened for the many Montenegrins that do not know Jesus. May they pray through to the point of dominion over the enemies’ territorial bondage. Lord, let the enemies’ days be numbered; we demand he release the people.
3. Let us pray for labors to be raised up to go to Montenegro. Holy Spirit, send out a Montenegrin Call and draw Christians to give their lives for this dry land.
4. Lord, we ask for church planters to get a burden for the towns and villages of Montenegro. Lord, send Your “gathers”.
5. Let us pray for the few churches and the small home groups. Lord, let grace be their portion at this time. Lord, release hope and expectation in their mist.
6. What if, Orthodox and Catholic priest started having dreams and visions of the Word replacing icons and statues. Let us honor the painter and sculpture for their skilled representation of the Gospel, but it is the Word that can set Montenegrins free.

Ministry Prayer: Zuzanna and I arrived in Romania today and was met by our host. We started scouting out the stores where we can but shoes, coats, etc. for the humanitarian outreach.
Please Pray:

1. For the teams safe and healthy travel to Romania on Wed.1/16.
2. For ministry to the women; we are sharing health concerns, issues and prevention.
3. Ministry in the schools; sharing the danger of vises that can destroy ones life.
4. House to house distribution of clothing and food items among the very poor.
5. Attending and sharing in a gypsy (Roma) church on Sunday.
6. Pray that in every situation we will have the freedom to share Jesus and see many accept Him.

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Pray for Montenegro

Week of Dec. 24-30, 2012

 I know we are all preoccupied by Christmas (Jesus’ birth), which is good, but please take time to pray for Montenegro.

Montenegro is one of the least evangelized countries in Europe and has the fewest Christians per population in all of Europe. Most people in Montenegro have never heard the Gospel.

 

Religious belief in Montenegro

 
The Serbian and Montenegrin Orthodox churches (two different denominations) claim to be the religion of the people but this claim is a farce and a tragedy.

The example in Niksic [Montenegro] is instructive: The population of the city of Niksic is around 70,000. Around 60% of the population would claim to be "Orthodox." Yet there is only one Serbian Orthodox church that regularly holds services, and on any given Lord's Day there will only be around 50 people that attend the whole service. Many who claim to be Montenegrin or Serbian Orthodox have no idea what the Montenegrin or Serbian Orthodox church teaches and have never even been inside a Montenegrin or Serbian Orthodox church building. 

What is extraordinarily sad is that many of the Serbian Orthodox leaders are just like the Pharisees of whom Jesus said, "But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you shut off the kingdom of heaven from men; for you do not enter in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in." (Matt. 23:13) So many Serbian Orthodox leaders do not preach the Gospel; they do not call Montenegrins to faith and repentance, they do not teach the love of Christ, but they do call biblical Christians a "sect" and liken us to Satanists and tell people not to listen to us. It is so sad that many Montenegrins listen to this kind of propaganda. Read More: http://christianitymontenegro.org/christianity.php

1)    Please pray that God would open the eyes of Montenegrins to see the Gospel and the lies of those who would hinder them.
2)    Please pray that the mouths of those who speak lies would be shut and that their lies would be ineffectual.
3)    Let us pray that intercessors would be raised up in Montenegro. May they take their place on the walls and cry out day and night for the Spirit to come.
4)    Holy Spirit, we ask that You go forth and prepare the hearts of Montenegrins to receive the Gospel.
5)    We pray for the breaking of old, un-redemptive mental images Montenegrins have of Christians, church and Jesus as just on icon. Lord, activate the need for a savior in their hearts.
6)    Let us pray for the Lord of the harvest to send out labors to gather Montenegrins unto His Kingdom. I truly believe the Lord has plans to evangelize Montenegro. He just needs committed Christians that He can trust His plans to.
7)    May foreign churches and ministries be drawn to the spiritual needs in Montenegro. May they send help; may workers and money be sent to help the few churches that have been started.
8)    There was a “Christmas shoebox drive” in Montenegro this season; let us pray for powerful results as the Lord uses His servants to distribute about 5,000 boxes. Lord, may there be an anointing on each box.
9)    Let us pray for workers to do follow-up with those that have received boxes. 

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IN THE NEWS: Montenegrins debate political offer for October election

22/09/2012

The campaign for Montenegro's ninth parliamentary election began September 14th amid a debate about whether the fractured opposition can muster the strength to unseat the Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS) and its coalition partners, who have ruled for 23 years.

1) Let us pray for the election coming up in Montenegro in October. Let us pray for the DPS party who will likely stay in power. We pray that men and women of good consciences would be elected to be servants of the state.
2) Lord, we ask for servants that do their duty for the people not profiteers. Change the hearts of those running for office. If they are not honest, expose their miss-deeds.

3) Let us pray for morality to arise. May fathers and mothers live righteous before their children and these children grow up to respect what is right.
4) Lord, we know that You honor the righteous. May righteousness be taught in the churches of Montenegro. Although there are very few evangelical churches in Montenegro, may these dear saints be known as people that can be trusted.
5) We pray that the Orthodox and Catholic churches would be moved to make morality a cornerstone of their teachings.
6) We ask that moral righteous educators would be in charge of the school curriculums in Macedonia. Give them the desire to teach honesty, respect and duty to others.
7) Let us pray for the gates of righteousness to be opened up to Montenegro. Psalm 24:7
Lift up your heads, O you gates! And be lifted up, you everlasting doors! And the King of glory shall come in.

Psalm 118:19
Open to me the gates of righteousness; I will go through them, And I will praise the LORD.

8) Let us pray for these few evangelical churches. Lord, give them favor in the culture.
9) Let us pray for the pastors of Montenegro. May they have the wisdom, finances and anointing to be full-time for the Lord.

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Pray for Montenegro 7-9-12

~ Pray for Montenegro ~


Week of July 9-15, 2012


In April when we prayed for Montenegro, one of our directives was to pray against cronyism and corruption in the government.


IN THE NEWS: OSCE Chairmanship representative, in Podgorica, welcomes Montenegro’s reform progress

As OSCE [Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe] reported, in a meeting with Montenegro’s Foreign Minister Milan Rocen, she [Minister for European Affairs Lucinda Creighton] discussed OSCE support to the country in democratization, rule of law, media freedom, and combating high-level corruption and organized crime.

“We urge Montenegro to do more in the fight against high-level corruption and organized crime and to ensure full respect for fundamental rights and freedoms. These are priorities of the OSCE in the country and I am pleased that we are working on addressing these issues together,” she said.


1) We thank You, Lord for beginning to deal with the corruption in Montenegro.

2) Lord, we just ask that the people of Montenegro would be able to do business and go to court without having to pay someone off for favor.

3) Human lust and greed is born into the heart of every man and can only be tamed by a power greater than himself. Thank You Lord that You have a solution: Your awesome love. Lord, let the message of Your great redemptive love be heard in Macedonia.


4) One of the ways of spreading God’s love is through summer youth camps. May this be a year when the camps planned by the churches in Montenegro are bigger and better than they have ever been.

5) Lord, we pray that You would release the provisions for these youth camps.

6) May the churches reach out to the communities’ un-churched youth and be able to give these children scholarships.

7) May volunteers come from other countries to help with the camps in Montenegro.

8) Let us pray for speakers that will speak the truth to the youth about sin and its destructive results, about God’s forgiveness and bring them into the joy of salvation.

Psalm 35:9
And my soul shall be joyful in the LORD; It shall rejoice in His salvation.

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