Weekly Prayer Updates Update 06/10/2011

vom groups weekly prayer updates "Prayer is the pulse of life; by it the doctor can tell what is the condition of the heart. The sin of prayerlessness is a proof for the ordinary Christian or minister that the life of God in the soul is in deadly sickness and weakness." - Andrew Murray "praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints" - Ephesians 6:18 VOM-USA Prayer Update for June 10, 2011 On Thu. Jun 09 2011 at 08:42 AM Moderator wrote: India--Christians in India Face Daily Threats Compass Direct News, Asia News Psalm 25:2 Hindu extremists continue to target Christians in India with false accusations, beatings and even murder. In Madhya Pradesh, Hindu militants stopped Pastor Shivraj Maravi's renovation of his small house, where he sometimes holds Sunday services. The extremists filed a police report against Pastor Maravi on May 4, and police then arrested him and charged him with forcible conversion under the state's anti-conversion act. In Uttar Pradesh, Hindu radicals stopped Pastor B. Vijaya Kumar and his family as they walked home from a prayer meeting on May 8. The extremists detained the family for three hours before police arrived and questioned Pastor Kumar. Police then ordered the family to leave the area. On May 12 in Odisha, 17-year-old Nirupama Pradhan was raped and murdered after school. Police waited two weeks before arresting the suspect. Continue to pray for Christians in India. Pray especially that God will turn the hearts of Hindu radicals to him. Former Soviet Republics--Christians Grateful for Books and Materials VOM Sources 1 Peter 3:12 Christians from Ukraine, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Moldova and Russia wrote notes of thankfulness to VOM recently for the Christian literature they had received. The materials included VOM newsletters, copies of FOXE: Voices of the Martyrs and prayer calendars. They especially enjoyed the prayer calendars. A woman in Ukraine said that her women's group is using the calendar. "What we learn from your materials makes other Christians' problems a reality for us and urges us to pray for them and also to be grateful for freedom in our country," she wrote. Another sister wrote, "The Lord calls me to pray especially for the radical Muslims, because they also have the right to be saved." And a worker in the region wrote, "So many people and churches want to pray! People get in groups just to pray for the persecuted. I am always short on materials. People literally are 'in line' for materials." Praise God for the response of these brothers and sister in the former Soviet Republics. Pray together with them for the persecuted church. Sudan--Christian Woman Arrested for Evangelism VOM Canada, Compass Direct News James 1:12 Hawa Abdalla Muhammad Saleh was arrested on May 9 in the Abu Shouk camp for internally displaced persons in Al-Fashir. Authorities have accused her of possessing and distributing Bibles to others in the camp. Sources said she could also be tried for apostasy, which is punishable by death in Sudan. Abdalla has reportedly been transferred to an unknown location in Khartoum, and some fear that she may again be tortured, as she was when she was detained for six days in 2009. Please pray for Abdalla's release. Ask the Lord to give her the strength and grace she needs to withstand this current trial. Printer-Friendly Format Add the PrisonerAlert application on Facebook Download the iOS application on the iTunes Store Suggested Links www.Persecution.com The Voice of the Martyrs Official Homepage www.VOMBooks.com The Voice of the Martyrs Online Store Become a fan of VOM on Facebook You can become a fan of VOM on Facebook, and connect with other VOM supporters. www.PrisonerAlert.com Write to a Christian Prisoner in their own Language Follow us on Twitter Follow VOM-USA on Twitter for updates and prayer requests. You are receiving this email because you subscribed to the Weekly Prayer Updates topic at www.vomgroups.com. If you have received this email in error or if you wish to unsubscribe, click here.

Zondervan Blog

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3 New Features on Bible Gateway Inspire an NIV & KJV Bible Giveaway Posted: 09 Jun 2011 10:31 AM PDT   THE PRIZE: NIV & KJV Side-by-Side Bible BibleGateway.com has been revamped, and three of the new features have Zondervan Blog especially excited. We're going to celebrate by giving away three NIV and KJV Side-by-Side Bibles (with a tan and dark cherry leatherbound cover). Find out how you can enter to win under the Feature #1 section below.     Feature #1: Parallel Translations When you're reading a particularly insightful or challenging verse in Scripture, do you ever wonder how other translations render that passage? Now it's easy to compare different versions. When you're viewing a verse, just click the "Add parallel" link to find your other translation options. This feature inspired Zondervan Blog to host this giveaway:   ENTER TO WIN: NIV & KJV Side-by-Side Bible Search for your favorite verse on Biblegateway.com. Add a parallel translation next to the verse. (Click the "Add parallel" link on the right side of your screen. You can pick any translation you like.) Copy both versions of the verse and paste them into a comment here on Zondervan Blog. Leave your comment on this post by 3PM (EDT) on Monday, June 13. You have 3 chances to win: We'll pick a comment at random on Thursday, Friday, and Monday. Each of those three commenters will receive an NIV and KJV Side-by-Side Bible. Enter now before you keep reading! You can learn more about setting up parallel translations on the Bible Gateway Blog. Feature #2: Read Daily Devotionals Now you can read some of BibleGateway's daily email devotionals right there on the site. Just click the "Devotionals" link in the left sidebar. The current daily devotionals include All Men of the Bible, All Women of the Bible, and Charles Spurgeon's Morning and Evening. You can learn more about devotionals on the Bible Gateway Blog.     Feature #3: Read Commentaries on Scripture Did you know BibleGateway now lets you read commentaries alongside Scripture? To find resources on the passage you're reading, click the "Show resources" link on the right side of the screen. You will see the available commentaries for the passage you're reading. The commentary selection now includes the Matthew Henry Commentary, IVP New Testament Commentary, Asbury Bible Commentary and Easton's Bible Dictionary. Learn more about commentaries on the Bible Gateway Blog.     The remodeled BibleGateway.com has even more new features, including new social sharing options, and the "Red letter option" (which you can turn on using the preferences page). We encourage you to go check out everything new, but don't forget to enter the NIV & KJV Side-by-Side Bible giveaway by Monday, June 13 at 3:00pm EDT!

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Secret Church

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OLD TESTAMENT SURVEY // HOW WE SHOULD STUDY THE OLD TESTAMENT Posted: 06 Jun 2011 11:00 AM PDT (The following excerpt was taken from the Secret Church transcripts for "Survey of the Old Testament" by David Platt.  You can find these transcripts and other resources by going to DiscipleMakingIntl.org..) "I want us to look at the Old Testament through three different lenses or three different dimensions: First, there is the literary dimension.  The Old Testament is a book.  It is a piece of literature.  We are going to think about it in terms of what kind of literature it is and how that affects the way we understand the Old Testament.  Second, there is the historical dimension.  The Old Testament is real history of real people and we are going to get a background for understanding the history.  Most of us probably have little knowledge of the history of the Old Testament and how it all ties together.  The Old Testament is a fragmented book for us and we try to piece it all together in our minds, but it just doesn’t make sense.  So I want us to walk away with an overall knowledge of the history and how it all fits together.  We will look at it from a literary perspective and from a historical perspective. Third, there is the theological dimension.  This book was not just written to tell us a story about history, but it was written to demonstrate God in the middle of history.  That is what theology is...the Study of God. "

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Secret Church

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PRAY FOR THE SECRET CHURCH // COLUMBIA Posted: 03 Jun 2011 11:00 AM PDT Violence in Columbia has reached an all time high, as many were killed in a recent bombing.  Christian workers in this country are on high alert but are encouraged by what God is doing in the midst of the turmoil.  Many are coming to Christ and want to learn more so the need for Bibles is great. For more information about how to pray for Christian workers in Columbia, visit the Voice of the Martyrs. website

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Zondervan Blog

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Scared to Share Your Faith? 4 Good Reads on Evangelism Posted: 03 Jun 2011 01:18 PM PDT   Evangelism has been on my mind this week, ever since I saw the results from Zondervan Blog's "Am I a Christian Atheist?" Quiz. Of the 402 people who took the quiz so far, two responses have proven especially popular. Take a look: By a long shot, the top two picks are "I worry often" and "I am hesitant to share my faith with others." Do these results surprise you? Not me. I can worry about anything, including evangelism. So I thought about some reasons I've been nervous about outreach (i.e., I didn't know how the other person would react; I didn't want to sound judgmental; I was afraid I would get branded as a religious weirdo; I just didn't know what to say!). Since I'm not alone in these fears, I wanted to share some books that have helped me take steps into more actively sharing my faith. Does the following list leave out your favorite book on evangelism? Drop your recommendation in a comment on this post. (-Adam Forrest, Zondervan Internet Team)   4 Good Reads on Evangelism 1. The Faith by Chuck Colson and Harold Fickett If you find it difficult to answer questions about some of Christianity's basic truths (Who is God? What did Jesus do for us on the cross? Why do Christians trust the Bible?) then you will find The Faith both interesting and useful. Here's a key quote from the book: "We pray that the Kingdom of God will rule in our hearts and once again transform the places in which we live. That will happen only by knowing and living the faith. To the best of our ability, then, here is what Christians believe, why we believe it, and why it matters." Read Excerpt     2. The Best-Kept Secret of Christian Mission by John Dickson The best-kept secret of Christian mission is that there are more ways to promote the gospel than verbal outreach. While not all Christians are called to become full-time evangelists, we are all called to promote the gospel through a wide range of activities that include prayer, good deeds, godly lives, public worship, financial stewardship, daily conversation, and more. This practical, biblically-based book will help you discover how you can be involved in spreading the good news of Jesus. Read Excerpt   3. Just Walk Across the Room by Bill Hybels Hybels shows us simple steps that can make huge differences in peoples' lives. Central to Hybels' book is what he calls "Living in 3D" -- Developing friendships, Discovering stories, and Discerning appropriate next steps. I haven't read this book myself, but I know several people who've said it helped them get over what intimidated them about evangelism. Read Excerpt     4. Organic Outreach for Ordinary People by Kevin Harney "The starting point of effective outreach is not a system, a program, or a specific presentation," says Harney. "It is a heart deeply in love with God and with people." Staying true to this belief,  Harney's book offers insight into how you can fully embracing God's love, then share it in ways that fit your own personality and unique calling. The related Organic Outreach for Churches comes out this fall. Read Excerpt     PS - I recently discovered Lee Strobel is kicking off a newsletter about investigating the reasons for faith. Learn More

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Weekly Prayer Updates Update 06/03/2011

vom groups weekly prayer updates "Prayer is the pulse of life; by it the doctor can tell what is the condition of the heart. The sin of prayerlessness is a proof for the ordinary Christian or minister that the life of God in the soul is in deadly sickness and weakness." - Andrew Murray "praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints" - Ephesians 6:18 VOM-USA Prayer Update for June 3, 2011 On Tue. May 31 2011 at 09:16 AM Moderator wrote: Algeria--Seven Churches Face Closure Compass Direct News Isaiah 37:14-17 Seven churches in Algeria's Bejaia province received notices on May 22 that they face closure because they have not registered with the government. The churches were warned that if they do not comply, authorities could use force. The governor of Bejaia, one of 48 Algerian provinces, also sent a statement to the president of the Protestant Church of Algeria informing him that all churches in Bejaia are illegal because they have not registered. Although the Bejaia churches have submitted the required registration documents, the government has not responded to their applications. Despite this intimidation, Christians plan to continue their services. "We expect that we may encounter the police," said a church leader. Leaders say that some Christians have expressed fear, while others have questions. The Bejaia churches have mobilized their congregations to pray. Pray with them for all the churches and Christians in Algeria. Ask God to intervene especially in the Bejaia situation. Pakistan--Millions Attend Religious Festivals VOM Sources Isaiah 35:5 Many Pakistanis attend Muslim, Hindu and Sikh festivals throughout the year. Several of these religious festivals attract up to a million visitors, and some who attend the Muslim festivals consider their attendance the equivalent of a hajj pilgrimage, one of the basic requirements of Islam. VOM-supported evangelists all over Pakistan aggressively share the gospel with people like those attending the festivals. Although their work is perilous, they continue on "with the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and with the prayers of all the VOM friends," one evangelist writes. "Our main target is to give the gospel and the good news of the Lord Jesus Christ to win souls for him, and we have done it very faithfully." Please pray that God will open the eyes of those attending the religious festivals and they will come to know the good news of Jesus. Pray also for the VOM-supported evangelists. Uzbekistan--No Progress for Uzbek Prisoner of Faith VOM Canada Isaiah 44:21 Persecution against Christians in Uzbekistan increased last month — from raids to fines to literature confiscation — underscoring the need to remember the nation's believers in prayer. Tohar Haydarov, 27, has been imprisoned since his arrest in March 2010 and is currently serving a 10-year prison sentence for the "illegal sale of narcotic or psychotropic substances in large quantities." It is widely believed that the charges were fabricated as a means of punishing Tohar for his religious activity. At last report, he had appealed the prison sentence but there had been no indication of progress. Pray that comfort and peace will reign in Tohar as he suffers for his faith. Pray that he will be assured that he is not forgotten, but that he is loved and remembered by God and His people. Pray that the charges against Tohar will be dropped and that he will be released. Printer-Friendly Format Add the PrisonerAlert application on Facebook Download the iOS application on the iTunes Store Suggested Links www.Persecution.com The Voice of the Martyrs Official Homepage www.VOMBooks.com The Voice of the Martyrs Online Store Become a fan of VOM on Facebook You can become a fan of VOM on Facebook, and connect with other VOM supporters. www.PrisonerAlert.com Write to a Christian Prisoner in their own Language Follow us on Twitter Follow VOM-USA on Twitter for updates and prayer requests. You are receiving this email because you subscribed to the Weekly Prayer Updates topic at www.vomgroups.com. If you have received this email in error or if you wish to unsubscribe, click here.

Secret Church

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SECRET CHURCH STORIES // HIGHLAND BAPTIST CHURCH Posted: 01 Jun 2011 11:00 AM PDT Grove City, Ohio I wanted to let you know for the past 5 months we have been meeting weekly on Friday evenings holding our own Secret Church! We have about 30 people that meet regularly to worship our God in song and praise to Him, share in testimony, have an intimate time of prayer for the persecuted church, listen to a challenging message/study and then end with a time of prayer in small groups. It has been so encouraging to see many being discipled and growing in their faith on this Friday evening! I want to take this time to thank you for obeying God in this venture of starting “Secret Church” and how it has impacted so many across the nation including Grove City, Ohio. Thank for the accessibility of resources to allow for others to use. To God be the glory, great things He has done/doing.  For past Secret Church sessions, study guides and downloads visit the DiscipleMakingIntl.org website.

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Zondervan Blog

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Karen Kingsbury Blog Tour: Sign up to Review "Learning" Posted: 01 Jun 2011 01:17 PM PDT   Learn More We're giving away 8 copies of Karen Kingsbury's latest novel Learning to bloggers for review! Sign up below, and if your blog is selected we'll ship you a review copy of Learning, Volume 2 in the Bailey Flanigan Series. Karen Kingsbury's new novel Learning picks up where Leaving left off: Bailey Flanigan and Cody Coleman are separated by both physical and great emotional distance. Can distance truly make the heart grow fonder? Find out in this poignant love story that features characters from Karen Kingsbury's popular Baxter family.   Sign Up for the Learning Blog Tour Fill out this form by Sunday, June 5. If your blog is selected we'll ship a copy of Learning to you. Post your review on your blog during the week of 7/11. Please link to your review in a comment here on Zondervan Blog, because we'd like to hear your thoughts on the story! Please post your review on amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com, christianbook.com, or your favorite book retailer's website. In your review please mention that Zondervan gave you a free copy for the purpose of honest review. Thanks!    (DON'T SEE A SIGNUP FORM? Go here.)   More About Learning: Bailey Flanigan Series, Volume 2 Learning picks up where Leaving ended. While Bailey grows closer to her dream of being an actress and dancer in New York, Cody becomes immersed in the lives of the high school football team he is coaching. Neither Bailey nor Cody feel complete without the chance to share their dreams with one other, but can distance truly make the heart grow fonder? Or will Cody turn to others, especially when tragedy strikes? As Cody's past catches up with him, he must learn to reach out for help or risk withdrawing permanently inside himself... Learn More

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