Pray for Albania

Ponzi Scheme in Albania, 1991 - 1997

The pyramid schemes started operations in 1991. Their activity was based on making payments to old investors using money contributed by new investors. The first scheme was that of Hajdin Sejdisë, who later fled to Switzerland with several million dollars. It was followed by "Sudja" of shoe factory worker Maksude Kadëna in 1993, then the "Populli" foundations run by an opposition politician, and "Xhaferri". By the end of 1996 the schemes peaked. The interest rates they offered were very tempting; Sudja offered 100% interest. The schemes were not criticized immediately because of bad banking laws. Despite IMF advice to close these schemes, the government continued to allow their activities, often participating in them. Between 8–16 January 1997 the schemes collapsed. On 22 January the government froze the Xhaferri and Populli firms. "Gjallica", another firm, was nearly bankrupt, while "Vefa", which had invested in Albanian hotels, fuel and factories, continued normal activity. The economic crisis was the worst in Albanian history.

The number of investors who had been lured by the promise of getting rich quick grew to include two-thirds of the population. It is estimated that close to $1.5 billion was invested in companies offering monthly interest rates ranging from 10%-25%, while the average monthly income was around $80. People sold their homes to invest. Immigrants working in Greece and Italy transferred additional resources to the schemes. When the realization that most of the money was lost, the people begin to protest, forming rebel gangs that took to the streets. Many government buildings were attacked, looted and burned. Chaos was everywhere, especially in the south. The ruling party was blamed and the rebel groups demanded their removal. The army ammunition depots were raided by rebel gangs and even the army ended up giving out guns to citizens so they could defend themselves. Although the government quelled revolts in the north, the ability of the government and military to maintain order began to collapse, especially in the southern half of Albania, which fell under the control of rebels and criminal gangs. Prominent organized-crime figures escaped from prison and put together gangs, effectively taking control of many areas. Gangs looted banks, took hostages and grabbed businesses. The chaos was complete and the whole country (except for the capital, Tirana) was completely paralyzed. The rebellion started in January of 1997 and did not end until August of the same year.

Damage from the rebellion was estimated at 200 million dollars and some 3700 to 5000 wounded and 2000 dead. Lawsuits were filed against the bosses of the rogue firms. In elections in June and July 1997, Berisha and his party were voted out of power, and the left coalition headed by the Socialist Party won. The Socialist party elected Rexhep Meidani as President of the Albanian Republic. All UN forces left Albania by 11 August.
> Full details can be read at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albanian_Civil_War

Over the many decades of hardline communism, atheism reigned supreme and religious services were forbidden. This left the people spiritually empty with no moral base. This ponzi scheme was a symptom of misguided hope. There was no wisdom to govern as personal gain excelled through criminal minds. No fear of God.
It is good news now to report the Gospel is spreading across the Albania and changing the hearts of those that once had little or no hope. Many churches and mission organization are reporting many coming to faith.

Prayer Points:
1) God is so gracious. He will not abandon us forever. He loves the nations and He loves Albania. Pray that a humbled people will find full forgiveness in Jesus.
2) The hope we have in the resurrected Savior gives us strength and assurance. May the Gospel message continue to grow in the cities of Albania.
3) Lord, may the Holy Spirit go forth across the land preparing the people’s hearts to receive the Gospel. Lord, release an atmosphere of hope.
4) The Gospel will be preached to all men before the end comes. Lord, we ask for the doors to be fully open for the proclamation of the Gospel in Albania.  4) Matthew 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.
5) Let us pray for an excitement to fill the hearts of the Albanian Christians. May they move in the power of the Holy Spirit and let Jesus shine through their lives.
6) May the churches in Albania be safe places for many to receive healing and abundance in this life.  John 10:10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

Pray for Albania

Week of Dec. 8-14, 2014

We appreciate you also Praying for European Initiative Needs found in the left collumn.

I am so thankful for my dear intercessor brother, Dag Rane Schjelderup. Dag has ministered in Albania for many years. He sent the follow letter containing his spiritual and sociological update on Albania for us to pray into. With Zuzanna and I presently hosting a team from Charis Bible College in Colorado, little time was available to seek the Lord for Albania. So let us be thankful that there is a man on the ground in Albania that hears from God and supplied the follow insights.

Be Blessed Jerry!

A MOVEMENT OF PRAYER, REPENTANCE, HOLINESS AND CHANGE

On November 29, the Albanian National Liberation Day (from German troops in 1944), the leaders of the evangelical churches (Ev Alliance) in the country had announced and organized a "Day Joel" (Joel 2:12-17), of Prayer and Fasting for the Chruch and the country. Not only the Germans left Albania, but Communism took over in 1944. As the Israelis were 70 years in Babylon, the Albanians were 70 years under Communism. "Democracy" came in 1990. But the "new" leaders were former communists, and the dictatorial and communist way of thinking and dealings among politicians were dominant till now.

Before Nov 29th this year, likely many hundreds, possibly thousands of believers took part in a 3 weeks of fasting according to Daniel, to repemnt and prepare for the "Day of Joel".

Our local church in Fushe-Kruje and other places where we work, experienced great changes in peoples' and families' lives those days. Root issues that had been hidden "forever" were revealed and dealt with. Many experienced deep deliverance.

On the 29th, about 2000 believers gathered for a 4 1/2 hour prayer meeting, unprecedented in our modern history., repenting of national former and today's issues. Many again experienced a powerful touch and change from God.

But the changes for better in the Church and this nation has just begun. We are already planning for more prayer until and on the next Nov 29th in 2015:

1.     Pray that the move of prayer, repentance and holiness will go on and grow.

2.     Pray that more believers and churches will be a part of this move of the Holy Spirit.

THE NEW ALBANIAN PRIME MINISTER EDI RAMA HAD "RILINDJE" (REBIRTH) AS HIS SLOGAN BEFORE ELECTED. For sure many changes has happened. He has appointed the first ever evangelical Christian as one of his ministers. And he has got evangelical believers as close counsellors, even Rama himself calls himself a humanist. He does not walk around with a train of body-guards, like former leaders used to appear. He has taken tough decisions on school reforms, closing down more than a dozen of badly run private universities. The traffic police are enforcing laws, fines have increased, and the way people drive has improved a lot just in a few months' time. With these radical reforms, he has got many enemies.

3.     Pray for salvation, wisdom and protection for Prime Minister Edi Rama.

4.     Pray for the believers in the government to stay free of corruption and compromise with any evil.

5.     Pray for the "Rilindje" to proceed in God's way for Albania and the Albanians.

CORRUPTION, UNEMPLOYMENT AND PRIVATE DEBTS

As one of the most corrupt nations in Europe, a financial analyst found that about 2/3 of the finances [are] circulated in the hidden/dark/illegal ways. That means that far less is left for righteous wages, taxes etc. A normal manual worker, the lucky one to have a job, does so without social insurance, on 1000 leke (7 €) [$9.50] a day, which is hardly enough to sustain a family of 5 or more with the most basic food, or even to pay for electric power, rent of house etc. A major bank did a research last year, finding that about 1/3 of families are indebted to banks mainly for borrowing money to buy food, even many lie to get loans, telling they will start a business etc. 2/3 of the population is indebted to the local grocery store, not being able to pay for daily bread.

6.     Pray for corruption to come to an end Albania.

7.     Pray that wages and employment levels will rise and become righteous.

Dag  
     

Also I would ask that we pray for Dag. May he continue to be close to the Lord’s heart, knowing the times and the seasons the Lord has ordained.

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

Pray for Albania

Week of March 3-9, 2014

In praying for Albania I was led to look for heroes. I found two whose stories intrigued me. One is Ded Coku, an Albanian freedom fighter and the other Aubrey Herbert, an Englishman who loved Albania and represented her in many world courts.

Mr. Zef Coku [Ded Coku’s son] said recently through a translator. ''My father cried out before he died, 'Long life to Albania,' and he made the sign of the cross. But in the end, the Communists had their way.''

Let us take inspiration from a fallen hero of Albania, Ded Coku. He was executed when the communist took over in 1945.


Impeccably aristocratic and eccentric in a uniquely English tradition, Aubrey Herbert was at first sight an incongruous champion of Albanian nationalism, to say the least. Tall, slender and slightly stooped, with a mustache and heavily lidded eyes, within England - let alone abroad - he cut a colorful figure. But Herbert was also an acclaimed linguist, intrepid traveler and an outspoken and independent thinker, who became enthralled by the Balkans on his first visit to the region in 1904 as honorary attaché at the British Embassy in Constantinople. From that time until his death in 1923, he was unrelenting in campaigning for the Albanian cause. He returned frequently to the country and gained respect as an expert on the region. 

Aubrey Herbert was twice offered the throne of Albania. On the first occasion, just before World War I, …the second occasion the crown was offered was after the defeat of the Italian Army by the Albanians in September 1920. Again the offer was unofficial, though it was made on behalf of the Albanian government. The National Library of Albania in Tirana was once named after Herbert, as was a village in the country. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aubrey_Herbert

1)    Let us pray blessings upon Albania, a country greatly misunderstood but greatly loved by the Lord. Because Abraham is a blessing to all nations let us pray the Abrahamic blessing. 1)    Genesis 12:2  I will make you a great nation; I will bless you And make your name great; And you shall be a blessing.
2)    Let us pray for heroes to emerge who will give themselves like Ded Coku did for Albania. Christian or secular may they work toward the good of Albania.
3)    May those who have been influenced by a Biblical worldview rise to the top of every institution in Albanian society. Lord, release in Christians a sense of duty and service to country.
4)    May the churches rise up and touch the social fabric of Albania. Give the pastors vision and strategies to communicate the gospel to the population.
5)    Let us pray for friends of Albania. People like Aubrey Herbert that went beyond the call of duty to see that justice was extended to Albania. May foreigners of influence be sympathetic toward Albania.
6)    Lord, I ask You to put Albania on the hearts of Your church throughout the world. Not only that the saints would pray but they would go or send others. Just as Paul (Ro. 15:19) went to Albania (Illyricum) 2,000 years ago, may others hear the call today.
7)    Investment is coming into the country, although slowly. Let us pray that these assets would not only be invested wisely but that productivity in the country would rise.

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

Prayer for Albania

Week of Nov. 18-24, 2013

 -    PRAISE REPORT -
At the end of August, we prayed for Albania and that there should be a ‘Clean up Albania’ campaign. We just got this report from Craig and Odette Bredenkamp, missionaries in Albania; The government has announced a national clean-up day for this coming Thursday Nov. 21! This is not a small thing for Albania. Please pray that this would be a part of something deeper God is doing in the identity of the people.

Your prayers make a difference!

TIRANA, Albania (AP) — The international effort to destroy Syria's chemical weapons was dealt a major blow Friday when staunch American ally Albania rejected a U.S. request to let the destruction take place on its soil.  

Albania was in the world news last week as they faced having to make a decision concerning participating in the destruction of Syria’s weapons. It is believed that because of the protest of the people, Prime Minister Rama decided to tell the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons no to dumping these weapons in Albania.

The spiritual application here is that Albania did not timidly stand down under pressure from the ‘big dogs’ but the people raised their voice for a cause. After many years of communist dictatorial oppression, a time when no protest was allowed, Albanians are regaining their voice.

1)    Let us pray for boldness coupled with wisdom in the Albanian people. Who are the leaders of this protest? Are they righteous in their intentions? Let us stand in prayer against wolfs leading the people astray.
2)    Let us look at the picture of the Albanians in the streets of the capital and remember how Jesus looked on the multitudes with compassion. Perhaps those leading the protest were not necessarily godly men but let us pray that the Lord would raise up righteous people to lead in Albania. Matthew 9:36 - But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.
3)    Lord, we know You are the Great Shepherd. Come, Lord Jesus, and walk upon that land and gather Your people.
4)    Pray for Bible schools that will be dedicated to training leaders. May the students learn the virtues of leading through righteousness. 
5)    The Evangelical Churches of Albania need much help from Christians worldwide. Holy Spirit, please turn Christian aid toward Albania. We pray for Biblical teachers, evangelical trainers and financial investors.
6)    Lord, we ask for boldness to be released through Albanian Christians.
7)    The family mentioned in the praise report, recently moved from Colorado to Albania to minister there: Craig and Odette Bredenkamp and family. Let us pray God would fill their lives with divine appointments and fruitful ministry. For their recent newsletter got to www.his-cloud.com/Craig.

I would also encourage you to go to www.his-cloud.com/Albania for names and cities of others active for the Lord in Albania (also includes some in Kosovo).

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

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.

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

Pray for Albania

Week of May 6 - 12, 2013

By THOMAS L. FRIEDMAN  -  Op-Ed Columnist  When I was in Albania last week, I was amazed by the people's basic desire for a stable life, and that tells me two things. It tells me that the citizens of Albania have no shortage of courage, and that is a good beginning to grow from. Second, it tells me that people in Albania are just like people anywhere else on this flat earth of ours.

So what should we do about the chaos in Albania? Well, it's easier to start with what we should not do. We should not let seemingly endless frustrations cause the people of Albania to doubt their chance at progress. Beyond that, we need to be careful to nurture the seeds of democratic ideals. The opportunity is there, but I worry that the path to stability is so strewn with obstacles that Albania will have to move down it very slowly. Published: May 5, 2013 http://thomasfriedmanopedgenerator.com/Can%2BGod%2BSave%2BAlbania%253F%2B7203ae#

1.      There is great hope for Albania. I don’t always agree with Thomas Friedman but he does offer hope for Albanians. Pray for Albania and all their institutions as they seek freedom and a better life.

2.      There is much investment going into Albania at this time to develop their coast line. Please pray that Christian construction companies would seize upon this opportunity to bless that nation with development and especially jobs. 

3.      May the Gospel always have the freedom to be proclaimed in Albania. Pray that Orthodox and Muslim leaders would not stir up opposition to Evangelical churches and try to restrict them from spreading the Gospel.

4.      Let us pray for evangelical in Albania. May they seize upon the open door they have to preach the Gospel throughout Albania.

5.      Lord, we ask strategies be given the churches to evangelize Albania.

6.      Many foreign Christian groups have gone to Albania since Communism fell. Let us pray for the seeds that were sown. Let us pray for more missionaries to be sent.

7.      May the churches rise up and touch the social fabric of Albania. Give the pastors vision and strategies to communicate the gospel to the population.

8.      I just believe this is a time of decision for Albania. There is an election coming up in June in Albania. Let us pray for people to be elected that will stand up against corruption. 

9.      Pray that the media would do their job and report all the news and not be favorable to one political party over others. May the journalists be bold and factual in their reporting.

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

Pray for Albania

Week of Feb. 18-24, 2013

There has been a film made, “BESA, The Promise” that celebrates Albanian Muslims that saved many Jews during World War II from the Nazis. There is an unwritten Albanian tradition called “Besa” — a code of honor that it is better to die than to turn your back on a person in need. The film project was produced by photographers Norman Gershman and Stu Huck.

“It's their culture. Someone who shows up at their door, you shelter them from danger. Even if it's their mortal enemy,” Huck said. “And the reason nobody knows about this is, to Albanians this is perfectly normal. In other countries, this is celebrated as extraordinary; in Albania, they couldn't understand people not doing it. Everybody in Albania did it, even the king, King Zog. He personally intervened.”

http://newsroom.blogs.cnn.com/2012/09/02/albanian-honor-code-saves-jews-in-wwii/

Don Richardson, a famous missionary, defined the concept of redemptive analogy in his books Peace Child and Eternity in Their Hearts. He explained how, embedded in any culture, there is usually some practice or understanding which can be used to demonstrate the Gospel.

Ecclesiastes 3:11

He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end. (NIV)

1.       Lord, You draw us unto Yourself. Let us thank the Lord for putting a desire in us to seek Him. Let us pray for the “redemptive analogy” He has put before the people of Albania.

2.       Let us pray that this beautiful redemptive analogy will run its full course and lead many Albanians to its origin, the heart of God. Truly Lord, You desire to bring the hurt and needy into Your house.

3.       Let us pray for churches/houses of rescue to be raised up in Albania.  Think about it, Jesus died to bring us into the Father’s house where we are protected from the enemy.

4.       Lord, I ask for a blessing upon the descendants of those families that risked their lives to save those Jews. May those blood lines be a thread of blessing through the Albanian culture.

5.       Lord, remember what they did for Your chosen people. We declare a blessing for Albania. We are asking You, Holy Spirit, to move in that land and set many free.

6.       Rescue the children of Albania. Lord, draw this young generation unto You. Let us pray for children ministries. Lord, raise up organizers that will plan many outreaches for the coming summer.

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

Pray for FYROM Macedonia

Week of Dec. 17-23, 2012

Skopje Fortress >

The Macedonian parliament has started working on reforms in their military laws/statutes that are aimed at giving equal benefits for all ethnic groups in Macedonia.

Quote:  “Today we start our battle to save the inter-ethnic relations and build bridges between Macedonians and Albanians,” said during the session Xhevat Ademi from the Democratic Union for Integration, DUI.

The draft law, pushed by the main ruling VMRO DPMNE party of Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski, envisages state pensions, free healthcare and other benefits - but only for Macedonian army veterans of the 2001 conflict between government forces and Albanian insurgents.

But there is opposition from the Democratic Party of Albanians (DPA); they want the same rights extended to former Albanian guerrilla fighters, or want the bill dropped altogether.
Ethnic divisions in Macedonia have been the greatest hindrances to a smooth civil government.

1)    Lord, we thank You for these steps in the government to solve ethnic differences. May these lawmakers be forgiving of the past injustices and have wisdom to set into law a respect for all ethnic groups.
2)    Democratic government usually requires compromise on behalf of opposing parties in order to establish a law. Also compromises can be impacted by a greater idea, usually delivered by a statesman, that can create a more sure solution. Lord, we pray for a solution that solves the needs (not wants) of all parties involved. May they work toward the unity of one country and not a fragmented society. 
3)    Lord, we believe it was and is Your will to set apart a northern Macedonian nation. We pray that the citizens can put aside past abuses and work together to bring forth a “sheep nation”.
4)    As the government’s reforms laws, we pray that all religious expression would not be legislated against. Let us pray for total religious freedom in Macedonia.

Macedonia’s Economy:  Macedonia has maintained macroeconomic stability with low inflation, but it has so far lagged the region in attracting foreign investment and creating jobs, despite making extensive fiscal and business sector reforms. Official unemployment remains high at 29%, but may be overstated based on the existence of an extensive gray market (illegal trade), estimated to be more than 20% of GDP that is not captured by official statistics.

I was overwhelmed by all the scriptures in the Bible concerning the poor.

Psalm 41:1
Blessed is he who considers the poor; The LORD will deliver him in time of trouble.
1)    Let us go beyond considering the poor and ask for the lifting up of the poor in Macedonia. Lord, release innovation and relax government restrictions on opening small business.
1 Samuel 2:7
The LORD makes poor and makes rich; He brings low and lifts up.
2)    It is true, the Lord makes the poor and makes the rich, but we want to pray into the second part of the verse; “He brings low and lifts up”. Lord, we know You desire to bless all the people of Macedonia so we pray that both rich and poor would be lifted up.
1 Samuel 2:8
He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the beggar from the ash heap, To set them among princes And make them inherit the throne of glory.  
3)    God knows how to bless whom He wants to bless. God chooses the lowly and blesses them. Let us pray that the poor would give their financial concerns unto the Lord and therefore be able to receive His blessings.
Psalm 10:2
The wicked in his pride persecutes the poor; Let them be caught in the plots which they have devised.
4)    The wicked persecute the poor because they are an easy target. Let us pray that the wicked of Macedonia would be humbled before the poor.  Lord, expose the financial schemes that are designed to rob the poor.
Psalm 12:5
“For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy, now I will arise,” says the LORD; “I will set him in the safety for which he yearns.”
5)    Let us stand in the gap and join in their yearnings. I truly believe your prayers are highly considered by the Lord when He decides to bless a people or nation. Let us agree with the Lord and ask for His favor on the poor of Macedonia. Lord, we ask that the spirit of poverty be broken over Macedonia.
Romans 15:26
For it pleased those from Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor among the saints who are in Jerusalem.
6)    There was a time when Macedonians gave to the poor of Jerusalem. (These were likely Greek Macedonians) Lord, we ask that churches outside Macedonia would repay a blessing for a blessing that was given long ago.
Luke 14:13
But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind.
7)    Let the churches be full of feasting and let the poor be invited to sit at the Lord’s table.
Psalm 72:4
He will bring justice to the poor of the people; He will save the children of the needy, And will break in pieces the oppressor.
8)    The will bring justice, so we declare it – What was spoken in heaven for the poor, we declare it on earth in Macedonia. Lord, we pray for the children of Macedonia. May the Gospel be presented to them.
9)    Lord, we pray for the widows and orphans. May the churches take the responsibility to minister to them as You commanded.

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

Pray for Albania

Week of Oct. 29 - Nov. 4, 2012

According to the latest IMF report on Albania’s economy, the country, unlike other Balkan countries, has managed to avoid recession, but the consequences of the financial crisis are denting the local economy and are slowing growth down. http://www.euinside.eu/en/news/where-is-albania-headed-to

1) Let us thank the Lord for this good financial report concerning Albania. Most of the other Balkan countries are struggling.

2) Let us pray that Albania will stay insulated from the overall world financial crisis. May the legislators and captains of industry have wisdom.

3) Lord, we ask for open doors for Christians that are true to Biblical financial principles to be favored in the business world of Albania. We pray that doors would be open for Christian business people; may they have financial backing and favor in the marketplace.

4) We pray that Christians would find employment. May they acquire skills that are in high demand.

5) Most of all let’s pray for those pastors that have to work a secular job and pastor also. May their jobs not consume all their time and may they be given extra energy, especially clarity of mind.

6) Let us pray that the church members would tithe and even give above the tithe. May they enter into the joy of giving. Lord, we pray for the 100% blessing.

Patriarchal societal customs that disenfranchise women, along with high rates of poverty, domestic violence and governmental corruption have made Albania a pivotal location for the trafficking industry. The country serves as both a source of trafficking victims and a transit hub…

7) Patriarchal society, disenfranchised women, poverty, etc. there is still no right for Albanian women to suffer violence. Lord, we ask for relief. May there be a movement in Albania to bring dignity to women.

8) This trafficking in women must stop. First of all we pray for exposure of any and all government people that are involved in human trafficking. Let us pray that any judge that looks the other way and perverts justice in regards to these women be removed.

9) Lord, raise up righteous judges, attorneys and prosecutors. May all corruption be exposed.

10) Lord, we pray for these abused women. Give them a route of escape. www.exoduscry.com

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

Pray for Albania

Week of Aug 13 - 19, 2012

In my research before writing this prayer directive, I kept coming across articles about coastal development in Albania. There are projects being planned to build resorts to attract tourist and vacationers. The Albanian government is seeking investors to help them develop their Adriatic coast.

1)      Lord, we ask for Your blessings upon the restoration of natural beauty and resorts in Albania.  Let us pray for investors that will have a heart for Albania and want to give back to the people from the profits.

2)      Let us pray for open doors for Christians to be involved in this development of Albanian’s natural resources: Christian investors, construction workers, hospitality and service workers. Lord, bless Your people with jobs.

I felt concerned about the Church in Albania. Please join me in praying Ephesians 4:11-16 over the Albanian church.

¹¹ And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, ¹² for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, ¹³ till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; ¹⁴ that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, ¹⁵ but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— ¹⁶ from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.

3)      Let us pray for unity among the Albanian Christians. Pray that they would “…come to the unity of the stature of the fullness of Christ;”. Lord, develop the “five-fold ministry” in the Albanian churches.

4)      Lord, raise up Pastors that will show Your love to the people. Men and women that can be trusted with the lives of others. May they be examples of the Father’s heart.

5)      Let us pray for Teachers that have spent hours with You, Lord, looking to You for understanding of Your Word. Let the teaching mantle fall upon them to rightly divide the Word of God.

6)      Lord, raise up Prophets that hear from You and are full of boldness to proclaim and decree Your Word. Let us pray for a school of the prophets, where there is an open heaven for men and women of God hear from the Lord.  May they have an open door to stand up in the churches to not only edify the churches with a clear Word from God but to speak out against sin and rebuke the devil to flee.

7)      Let us pray for the Evangelist to go forth and proclaim the salvation message. Lord raise up men and women that will have hearts that burn for the lost.

8)      Lord, raise up seasoned men that have walked close to You, that have proven their service to the church and have the wisdom to oversee Your works in Albania. Let the Apostolic anointing be evident in their lives. May the Albanian Christians show them the proper respect.

9)      Let the day come when the Albanian church will be seen as mature and abounding in the things of God.

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10)   The report is that the Muslims in Albania are not devout to their religion. That means they should be easier to reach. Let us pray for evangelism to go out to the Muslims in Albania. Open a door Lord that no one can shut. (About 63% of Albania is Muslim)

A very important date is coming soon; Balkan Prayer Day 2012  -  Christians and intercessors that love the Balkans have set aside this coming September 2^nd to pray for the Balkan countries. Read more at http://www.balkannetworks.org/balkan-prayer-day-2012/about-the-day/

Also Please read the Plans Box to the right. We are in the middle of a Coat drive now.