World Cup Prayer Resource iNet - The Message Works · 2012. 7. 5. · 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa 11 June - 11 July This summer South Africa will play host to the 19th FIFA World

World Cup Prayer GuidePraying for the least reached peoples of the world

Local Churches together in Global Mission

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2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa11 June - 11 July

This summer South Africa will play host to the 19th FIFA World Cup. The tournament will see 32 nations battle it out to win the coveted title of World Champions and lift the infamous gold trophy. The coming together of nations provides a great opportunity to pray for the least reached people groups living in those countries.

This resource has been developed to help people engage with praying for the least reached peoples of the world whilst enjoying the football. There is also a fact sheet and wall chart so you can keep a record of how the teams progress.We hope you enjoy using it.

The Gujarati are primarily classified as the inhabitants of the state of Gujarat, western

India. For most of them, Gujarati is their native language. They are a complex people

group, speaking various dialects and having many cultural distinctions. Some of these

differences are based on region, while others are based on their "caste" (social class)

or community. Today there are significant Gujarati communities in some 27 nations.

Outside of the UK, most Gujarati live in Africa; although Gujarati communities can also

be found in Myanmar, Iran, and Malaysia.

The Gujarati are divided into a number of social groups. In Gujarat, villages generally

lie in clusters and sub-clusters based on the "caste" system. The castes are actually

culture groups, based not only on occupations, but also on such things as customs,

manners, and habits.

The Hindus, who make up the largest group, are divided into a number of castes or jatis. The structure of their society is

based on the principles of "purity and pollution." The priestly class, known as the Brahman, is in the highest position, while

servants and laborers are in the lowest caste. Unfortunately, despite various degrees of acculturation, most Hindus retain

their strong cultural ties.

ENGLAND

Ask God to raise up prayer teams

who will begin interceding for these

groups.

Ask the Lord to bring forth churches

among each of the minority groups.

Ask the Holy Spirit to grant wisdom and favour to the

missions agencies that are targeting the minority groups of the

UK.

Ask God to raise up loving Christians in the UK who will not

be afraid to share the Gospel with the minority peoples.

Pray for effectiveness of the Jesus film and Christian

television and radio programmes among each of these groups.

Pray that these peoples will begin to look for true acceptance

and inner peace through Jesus Christ.

Pray that God will reveal Himself to these precious peoples

through dreams and visions.

Country:

People:

Population:

World Popl:

Main Language:

Main Religion:

Status:

Christ-Followers:

Bible:

England

Gujarati

310,000

1,594,000

Gujarati

Hinduism

Least-Reached

2.0%

Complete Bible

Gujarati of United Kingdom

All people group information is sourced from the Joshua

Project. For further information about least reached people

groups, please visit: www.joshuaproject.net

The majority of the Gujarati are Hindus, regardless of

their location in the world. However, approximately 30%

have maintained their Muslim ties. The Hindu clergy are

drawn from the highest caste, the Brahmans. Therefore,

becoming a priest is essentially a matter of birthright,

although not all Brahmans practice as priests.

GROUP C Fixtures:

12 June: England - USA 2030

13 June: Algeria - Slovenia 1330

18 June: Slovenia - USA 1600

18 June: England - Algeria 2030

23 June: Slovenia - England 1600

23 June: USA - Algeria 1600

Most people picture the Bedouin as nomads clothed in long flowing robes, riding across

the desert on their camels. In reality, however, their identity is much more complex. Today, many Bedouin live as semi-nomads, both migrating with their herds and

engaging in some form of settled agriculture. Most Bedouin are organized into tribes,

virtually all of which speak Arabic and claim Arab descent. The Arab conquests of the seventh century brought about a rapid expansion of the

Bedouin. At that time, thousands of Bedouin left the Middle East and began spreading

across North Africa. They have adapted well to the nomadic or semi-nomadic way of

life in the desert. Apart from tribal affiliations, there is little to distinguish one group of

Bedouin from another.

While most of the Bedouin are Sunni Muslims, there is still a basic belief in spirits known as jinnis. The jinnis are, according

to legend, spirits capable of assuming human or animal form and exercising supernatural influence over humans. A few of

the tribes have been influenced by the mystic tradition in Islam known as Sufism. A Sufi is someone who believes that he has

acquired a special inner knowledge direct from Allah.

ALGERIA

Ask the Holy Spirit to grant wisdom and favour to mission agencies that are targeting the Bedouin. Ask God to raise up prayer teams who will faithfully intercede for the Bedouin. Pray that God will reveal Himself to these precious people

through dreams and visions. Ask the Holy Spirit to complete the work begun in the hearts

of the Bedouin believers through adequate discipleship. Pray that God will give the Bedouin believers boldness to share Christ with their own people. Ask the Holy Spirit to soften the hearts of the Bedouin

towards Christians so that they will be receptive to the Gospel.

Pray that strong local churches will be raised up among each of the Bedouin tribes.

GROUP C Fixtures:12 June: England - USA 203013 June: Algeria - Slovenia 133018 June: Slovenia - USA 160018 June: England - Algeria 203023 June: Slovenia - England 160023 June: USA - Algeria 1600

Country:People:

Population: World Popl:

Main Language:Main Religion:

Status:Christ-Followers:

Bible:

AlgeriaBedouin, Dui-Menia66,00066,000Arabic, Algerian SpokenIslamLeast-ReachedFew, less than 2%Portions

Bedouin, Dui-Menia

All people group information is sourced from the Joshua Project. For further information about least reached people groups, please visit: www.joshuaproject.net

All of the Bedouin groups are basically untouched with the Gospel. Although there are resources available in their languages, the Bedouin have proved to be resistant to Christianity. Fervent, effective prayer must be offered up on behalf of these tribes in order to break down the barriers that separate them from the Truth.

Declare His Glory among the nations... (Psalm 96:3)

The series of prayer cards focus on one least reached people group from each qualifying country. Each profile contains facts about: the population living in that country and worldwide; the main language and religion; the percentage of evangelical Christ followers; and proportion of the Bible available in the native language. There is also some background information about the people group, some prayer points and details of relevant group fixtures (times given are correct for BST).

Each time you watch a football match spend five minutes reading through the corresponding country profiles and pray for the least reached people groups.

Gather your friends to watch a match and spend half time praying for two nations. Just 15 minutes of prayer will impact the nations.

Commit to pray for one least reached people group every day of the World Cup. There are 32 teams and 31 days, so you will need to pray for two teams on one of the days.

Use the profiles in your church/youth group meetings to raise awareness and pray for the least reached peoples in the world.

Prayer need not be boring or onerous... here are some simple ways in which you could use the prayer resource:

For further information about least reached people groups:

JOSHUA PROJECT: A list of the world's ethnic people groups with Christian progress status indicators. [www.joshuaproject.net]

ABRAHAM CONNECTION: A network of people passionate about reaching the least reached peoples living in Europe. Join us on Facebook and Twitter. [www.abrahamconnection.info]

WORLD OUTREACH: An international mission agency seeking to impact the least reached people groups with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. [www.world-outreach.com]

KAIROS COURSE: A nine-session interactive course to help you get an understanding of God's heart for the least reached peoples of the world. [kairoscourse.org]

For further information about prayer and training resources, short-term mission trips, or general enquiries please contact: [email protected]


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This is the first FIFA World Cup to be hosted by an African nation.

Only seven teams have ever won the World Cup: Brazil (5), Italy (4), Germany (3), Argentina (2), Uruguay (2), France (1) & England (1).

Brazil are the only country to win the tournament outside of their own continent.

Italy are the current champions, beating France 5-3 on penalties in the 2006 final.

Brazil’s Pele is the only player to have won three World Cup winners’ medals.

The record for playing in the most World Cups is held by Mexico’s Antonio Carbajal and Germany’s Lothar Matthaus; both have played in five tournaments.

The overall top goalscorer in World Cups is Brazil’s Ronaldo. He has scored 15 goals in three tournaments.

France’s Just Fontaine holds the record for the most goals scored in a single World Cup. All his 13 goals were scored in the 1958 tournament held in Sweden.

Slovakia is making its debut appearance at a World Cup tournament.

Columbian singer Shakira is singing the official song of the World Cup. It is called “Waka, Waka - this time for Africa”.

2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa11 June - 11 July

Ten stadiums will play host to matches of the tournament. The final will take place at Soccer City, Johannesburg on 11 July 2010.

Did you know?

South Africa has a long coastline that stretches more than 1,553 miles (2,500 km).

It is the 25th largest country in the world. That is equal to about a third the size of the European Union, twice the size of France and over three times the size of Germany.

South Africa has three capital cities: Cape Town, the largest of the three, is the legislative capital; Pretoria is the administrative capital; and Bloemfontein is the judicial capital.

There are eleven official languages of South Africa: Afrikaans, English, Ndebele, Northern Sotho, Sotho, Swazi, Tswana, Tsonga, Venda, Xhosa and Zulu. Only India and Boliva have more official languages.


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Group AFranceMexico

South AfricaUruguay


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In general, the Kabyle are sturdy, thrifty, hospitable lovers of the soil. They are also said to be proud, shrewd, persistent, and loyal. In particular, a passion for independence is deeply ingrained in their culture.

In Africa, most Kabyle are shepherds and farmers. For unemployed Kabyle, immigration to Europe was once an option, but that choice has declined in the late twentieth century due to restrictions on immigration. However, decades of immigration have left a large community in France. For some, service in the army and working in the factories of France during World War I were avenues of migration. When the war ended, many remained in France. Others arrived after World War II when there was a labour shortage in France. Recently, additional Kabyle went as merchants, since France is one of the most important trading partners of North Africa.

Although the Kabyle are practically all Muslims, they still retain many of their traditional beliefs, such as saint worship. Many Kabyle are searching for answers beyond Muslim fundamentalism. Those in North Africa do not have the freedom to follow Christianity, but those in France do. Although a number of them have responded to recent Christian programs produced in France, there are still many who remain unreached.

FRANCE

Ask the Lord to burden the hearts of the French Christians for the Kabyle who live among them.

Pray that the Jesus film will be effective in revealing the truth of Jesus.

Pray that God will reveal Himself to the Kabyle through dreams and visions.

Ask the Lord to save key leaders among the Kabyle who will boldly declare the Gospel.

Pray that signs and wonders will follow the Kabyle believers as they share Christ with their families and friends.

Ask God to raise up prayer teams who will begin breaking up the soil through worship and intercession.

Ask the Lord to bring forth a triumphant Kabyle church for the glory of His name!

Country:People:

Population: World Population:



Bible:

France Berber, Kabalye684,0004,030,000KabayleIslam, SunniLeast-Reached5.0%New Testament

Berber, Kabayle of France


The New Testament and the Jesus film are available to the Kabyle in their own language. However, the stronghold of Islam must first be broken through prayer before this people can be reached with the Gospel.

GROUP A Fixtures:

11 June: South Africa - Mexico 1500

11 June: Uruguay - France 1930

16 June: South Africa - Uruguay 1930

17 June: France - Mexico 1930

22 June: Mexico - Uruguay 1500

22 June: France - South Africa 1500

http://www.joshuaproject.net


The Huichol are a Mexican-Indian group that live primarily in western Mexico in the Sierra Madre Occidental mountains. This area includes some of the most rugged terrain in Mexico. It is typified by cliffs, and river valleys and is covered mostly by scrubland.

The origins of the Huichol are unknown. Historically, the rough topography of their homeland insulated them from outside influences. They have maintained a high degree of self-rule; even after being conquered by the Spaniards in the 1720‘s, having to contend with Spanish-Indians, or mestizos, attempts to take over their landholdings. Today the Huichol are no longer as isolated and are beginning to become a part of the Mexican society and economy.

Although Mexico is an overwhelmingly Catholic country, the majority of Huichol are animists. The people seek to appease the gods and spirits which they believe exist in nature, such as in fire, the sun, and the rain. Huichol believe witch doctors can mediate between the gods and man. These shamans supposedly receive guidance through dreams which instruct them how to treat illnesses and perform ceremonial functions. The shamans communicate directly with the gods through prayers which sometimes last as long as three days. Shamans also engage in sorcery and witchcraft.

MEXICO

Country:People:




Bible:

Mexico Huichol15,10015,100HuicholEthnicLeast-Reached1%New Testament

Huichol of Mexico


The Huichol believe that when a person dies, his soul embarks on a five year journey through the underworld. After the journey, the soul returns to earth and is captured by a shaman in the form of a rock crystal. The crystal is placed in the family xiriki to be anointed with blood and offered food.

GROUP A Fixtures:







Pray that God will strengthen and encourage the missionaries presently working among the Huichol.

Pray that God will save key Huichol leaders who will boldly declare the Gospel to their people.

Pray that God will give the Huichol believers boldness to share the love of Jesus with their own people.

Pray that God will bring forth much fruit as the Jesus film is shown to the Huichol.

Pray that God will reveal Himself to the Huichol through dreams and visions.

Ask God to raise up prayer teams who will begin breaking up the soil through worship and intercession.

Pray that God will raise up strong local churches among the Huichol.



The term "Urdu" does not adequately describe the Urdu people as such, but is merelya language distinction. Urdu-speaking Muslims are not an ethnic group in the strictest sense, but are rather a collection of ethnic groups who have been widely dispersed geographically. They possess a sense of "group identity" based on cultural & historical factors: the Islamic religion, a Persian cultural tradition, the Urdu language, and the tradition of Muslim supremacy in northern India.

A majority of the Urdu speakers live in Pakistan and the northern states of India. However, in recent years, many Urdu-speaking Muslims have emigrated to the Persian Gulf and Saudi Arabia, searching for economic opportunities. Skilled laborers and highly educated professionals have also emigrated to Western Europe, North America, and the Commonwealth countries.

Although the Urdu are all Muslims, this is no longer a unifying factor. There are intense differences among the various Muslim sects (the Hanafites, Shafiites, & Ithna-Asharis). Since entire communities tended to migrate together, different Islamic sects are found in different countries. For example, in Turkey and South Africa, the Urdu speakers are 99.9% Sunni Muslims; whereas in Canada and in Pakistan, they are 99.9% Hanafite Muslims.

SOUTH AFRICA

Ask God to strengthen, encourage, and protect the small number of Urdu Muslims that have converted to Christianity.

Pray that these converts will be bold in their witness for Christ.

Pray that God will open doors for Christian businessmen to share the Gospel with them.

Ask the Holy Spirit to soften the hearts of the Urdu towards Christians so that they will be receptive to the Gospel.

Pray that God will reveal Himself to them through dreams and visions.

Ask the Lord to raise up strong local churches among the Diaspora Urdu.

Country:People:




Bible:

South AfricaUrdu247,0001,747,000UrduIslam, SunniLeast-Reached1.8%Complete Bible

Urdu of South Africa


Unfortunately, very few mission agencies are targeting the Urdu communities; and in most countries, the Urdu remain less than one percent Christian. Greater efforts must be made to effectively reach them with the Gospel.

GROUP A Fixtures:









Jews represent the oldest monotheistic religion of modern times. Because of the uniqueness of their history and culture, all Jews have a strong sense of identity. Persecution of and discrimination against the Jews have been the historical reasons for their migrations and settlements around the world.

Although they do share a common culture and religion, the Jews of North and South America have very distinctive lifestyles. The South American Jewish communities began as Conversos (Jews forced to convert to Catholicism) who accompanied early Spanish and Portuguese explorers. While most of them speak either English or Spanish, other distinctive Jewish dialects are also still used. Yiddish, a German dialect with Hebrew elements, is the lingua franca of those with a European heritage, while Ladino, a blendof Spanish and Hebrew, is often used by those of Spanish descent. Hebrew is the religious language of prayer for the more orthodox Jews.

The Jews have a wonderful understanding of their connection with the Abrahamic covenant, but reject Jesus Christ as Messiah, the one who has fulfilled that covenant. The Gospel is often viewed as anti-Semitic, rather as the fulfillment of what God promised humanity through Abraham centuries ago.

URUGUAY

Ask the Lord to raise up workers to reach out to the Jews of South America.

Pray that the Lord Jesus will reveal Himself to the Jews through dreams and visions.

Ask the Lord to soften the hearts of the Jews towards Christians so that they might hear and receive the message of salvation.

Ask the Holy Spirit to grant wisdom and favor to the missions agencies that are targeting the South American Jews.

Pray that as Jewish people watch the Jesus film, they will understand that He is the long awaited Messiah.

Pray that God will grant Jewish believers favour as they share their faith in Christ with their own people.

Country:People:




Bible:

UruguayJew, Spanish Speaking17,000332,000SpanishJudaismLeast-Reached0.1%Complete Bible

Jew of Uruguay


In South America, most Jews live in urban areas, but tend to keep themselves as a distinct religious and ethnic minority. Not all Jews are religious. Some understand their "Jewishness" only as a social and cultural identity.

GROUP A Fixtures:









Group BArgentinaGreece

South KoreaNigeria


!




ARGENTINA







Country:People:




Bible:

ArgentinaJew, Spanish Speaking185,000332,000SpanishJudaismLeast-Reached0.21%Complete Bible

Jew of Argentina



GROUP B Fixtures:

12 June: Argentina - Nigeria 1500

12 June: S.Korea - Greece 1230

17 June: Greece - Nigeria 1500

17 June: Argentina - S.Korea 1230

22 June: Nigeria - S.Korea 1930

22 June: Greece - Argentina 1930



The Rumelian Turk are a remnant of the Ottoman Turks who migrated from their homeland in central Asia in the thirteenth century. The Rumelian Turk conquered Anatolia and eventually established the Ottoman Empire, which encompassed the Balkan Mountains, Arabia, and North Africa. The Rumelian Turk name is derived from the word rumelia, which means "land of the Romans" and refers to the Balkan Mountains.

During the rule of the Ottoman Empire, Turks often settled in towns in the Balkans and served as military personnel, administrators, and artisans. After Yugoslavia, Greece, Albania, Bulgaria, and Romania became independent countries in the nineteenth century, many urban Turks left the Balkans and the Rumelian Turk population was reduced by several million. The Rumelian Turks are largely untouched with the Gospel.

Lamb is the favorite meat of Turks. The most common way of preparing it is pilaf, where small bits of meat are cooked with rice and oil. Musaka (roasted meat and eggplant) and kapama (mutton with spinach and green onions) are other popular dishes. Turks are very fond of sweets and eat large quantities. The Rumelian Turk are not supposed to drink alcohol because their Islamic belief forbids it. Instead, they drink much coffee and sour milk, or yogurt, which is said to keep people healthy.

GREECE

Ask God to raise up prayer teams who will begin breaking up the spiritual soil of Greece through intercession.

Pray for the effectiveness of the Jesus film among the Rumelian Turk.

Ask the Lord of the harvest to send forth labourers into Greece to work among the Rumelian Turk.

Ask God to anoint the Gospel as it goes forth via radio in their area.

Take authority over the spiritual principalities and powers that are keeping the Rumelian Turk bound.

Pray that the Rumelian Turk will hunger to know Jesus and that God will reveal Himself to them through dreams and visions.

Ask the Lord to save key leaders among the Rumelian Turk who will boldly declare the Gospel.

Country:People:




Bible:

Greece Turk156,00056,920,000TurkishIslam, SunniLeast-Reached0.10%Complete Bible

Turk of Greece


The Bible and the Jesus film have already been translated into the language of the Turks, and some Christian broadcasts are also available. However, only a small number of Greek Rumelian Turk are known to have become Christians. Prayer is the key to reaching them with the Good News of salvation.

GROUP B Fixtures:









KOREA REPUBLIC

Pray that laws in North Korea that restrict the preaching of the Gospel will be changed.

Ask God to create an openness to Jesus within the hearts of the Korean.

Pray that the doors of North Korea will soon be open to Christian missionaries.

Pray that God will send His Spirit to convict the Korean of their need for the Saviour.

Ask the Lord to protect, strengthen, and encourage the small number of Koran Christians. Pray that God will give these believers opportunities to share the love of Jesus with their own people.

Declare Jesus’ authority over the spiritual principalities and powers that have kept the Korean bound for many generations.

Ask God to raise up strong local churches among the Korean of North Korea.


Country:People:




Bible:

South KoreaKorean46,840,00077,018,000KoreanEthnic ReligionsReached31.67%Complete Bible

Korean of Korea

GROUP B Fixtures:







The dominant religions of South Korea are Christianity and Buddhism despite the fact that most of the population express no particular affiliation with a religion. South Korea has the third largest number of professing Christians of all the East Asian and Southeast Asian countries. South Korea is considered a reached nation.

The Korean Church has had amazing growth in numbers and influence. It was founded on sound indigenous principles, blessed with a succession of revivals, refined by persecution and is now one of the foremost in the world for missions vision. Its presence is highly visible; every level of society has been impacted and growth has been remarkable. With over 15,000 missionaries, the Korean Church sends the second-highest number of cross-cultural workers to other parts of the world.

It is separated from the ethnically identical North Korea by a military demarcation zone. Until World War II, Korea was occupied by Japan. After the war Korea was partitioned into a communist North and democratic South. Where South Korea enjoys religious freedom, North Korea suffers harsh religious repression, causing Christian churches to go underground. In contrast to the largely Christian South, most North Koreans have never had an opportunity to hear the Gospel.

Politically, North Korea is one of the most highly controlled societies in the world. The government has officially decided against Christianity and the Gospel for the entire nation. The North Korean are in need of political and spiritual freedom. For this reason, we will focus prayer on the Koreans of North Korea.



Seventy percent of the Hausa live in rural farm villages with populations that may range from 2,000 to 12,000. Their homes are generally made of grass or dried mud with thatched roofs. Only the "well-to-do" can be found living in modern homes or apartment buildings in the city.

Most of the Hausa are farmers, herdsmen, or traders. Cocoa, peanuts, palm oil, cotton, and rubber are grown for sale or trade, while corn, rice, beans, and yams are grown for consumption. The farmers depend heavily on nearby cities for trade opportunities. Most of the villagers cannot survive solely as farmers or herdsmen, but must also hold factory jobs to adequately provide for their families.

The Hausa culture is strongly linked to Islam, which makes it difficult to penetrate this people group with the Gospel. There is a lot of prejudice against the Christians of southern Nigeria, and there has been intense persecution of the Christian Hausa. Because Islam has been carried throughout West Africa by Hausa traders and priests, nearly everyone expects a Hausa to be Muslim. This could be one of the main reasons why the Hausa stay so resistant to the Gospel and have difficulty leaving their Islamic faith.

NIGERIA

Pray for the Maguzawa Hausa as they take the Gospel to the Muslim Hausa

Pray that God will open the hearts of the Hausa to the Gospel.

Pray that Christian converts would be bold in the face of family pressure and persecution.

Ask the Lord to raise up loving Christians who are willing to share Christ with the Hausa.

Ask God to encourage and protect the small number of Hausa believers.

Thank God for the Hausa Bible and the powerful impact that the Holy Scriptures has upon Muslims.

Pray that a church will be raised up among the Hausa.

Country:People:




Bible:

NigeriaHausa24,181,00031,411,000HausaIslam, SunniLeast-Reached0.10%Complete Bible

Hausa of Nigeria


Although English is recognized as the country's official language, Hausa, the native language of the Hausa people, is rapidly becoming the chief language of northern Nigeria. The Hausa are very influential in West Africa, both culturally and politically. God's heart is to see them become a strong Christian influence as well.

GROUP B Fixtures:









Group CAlgeriaEnglandSlovenia

USA


!

Most people picture the Bedouin as nomads clothed in long flowing robes, riding across the desert on their camels. In reality, however, their identity is much more complex.

Today, many Bedouin live as semi-nomads, both migrating with their herds and engaging in some form of settled agriculture. Most Bedouin are organized into tribes, virtually all of which speak Arabic and claim Arab descent.

The Arab conquests of the seventh century brought about a rapid expansion of the Bedouin. At that time, thousands of Bedouin left the Middle East and began spreading across North Africa. They have adapted well to the nomadic or semi-nomadic way of life in the desert. Apart from tribal affiliations, there is little to distinguish one group of Bedouin from another.

While most of the Bedouin are Sunni Muslims, there is still a basic belief in spirits known as jinnis. The jinnis are, according to legend, spirits capable of assuming human or animal form and exercising supernatural influence over humans. A few of the tribes have been influenced by the mystic tradition in Islam known as Sufism. A Sufi is someone who believes that he has acquired a special inner knowledge direct from Allah.

ALGERIA

Ask the Holy Spirit to grant wisdom and favour to mission agencies that are targeting the Bedouin.

Ask God to raise up prayer teams who will faithfully intercede for the Bedouin.

Pray that God will reveal Himself to these precious people through dreams and visions.

Ask the Holy Spirit to complete the work begun in the hearts of the Bedouin believers through adequate discipleship.

Pray that God will give the Bedouin believers boldness to share Christ with their own people.

Ask the Holy Spirit to soften the hearts of the Bedouin towards Christians so that they will be receptive to the Gospel.

Pray that strong local churches will be raised up among each of the Bedouin tribes.

GROUP C Fixtures:







Country:People:




Bible:

AlgeriaBedouin, Dui-Menia66,00066,000Arabic, Algerian SpokenIslam, SunniLeast-ReachedFew, less than 2%Portions

Bedouin, Dui-Menia


All of the Bedouin groups are basically untouched with the Gospel. Although there are resources available in their languages, the Bedouin have proved to be resistant to Christianity. Fervent, effective prayer must be offered up on behalf of these tribes in order to break down the barriers that separate them from the Truth.



The Gujarati are primarily classified as the inhabitants of the state of Gujarat, western India. For most of them, Gujarati is their native language. They are a complex people group, speaking various dialects and having many cultural distinctions. Some of these differences are based on region, while others are based on their "caste" (social class) or community. Today there are significant Gujarati communities in some 27 nations. Outside of the UK, most Gujarati live in Africa; although Gujarati communities can also be found in Myanmar, Iran, and Malaysia.

The Gujarati are divided into a number of social groups. In Gujarat, villages generally lie in clusters and sub-clusters based on the "caste" system. The castes are actually culture groups, based not only on occupations, but also on such things as customs, manners, and habits.

The Hindus, who make up the largest group, are divided into a number of castes or jatis. The structure of their society is based on the principles of "purity and pollution." The priestly class, known as the Brahman, is in the highest position, while servants and laborers are in the lowest caste. Unfortunately, despite various degrees of acculturation, most Hindus retain their strong cultural ties.

ENGLAND

Ask God to raise up prayer teams who will begin interceding for these groups.

Ask the Lord to bring forth churches among each of the minority groups.

Ask the Holy Spirit to grant wisdom and favour to the missions agencies that are targeting the minority groups of the UK.

Ask God to raise up loving Christians in the UK who will not be afraid to share the Gospel with the minority peoples.

Pray for effectiveness of the Jesus film and Christian television and radio programmes among each of these groups.

Pray that these peoples will begin to look for true acceptance and inner peace through Jesus Christ.

Pray that God will reveal Himself to these precious peoples through dreams and visions.

Country:People:




Bible:

EnglandGujarati310,0001,594,000GujaratiHinduismLeast-Reached2.0%Complete Bible

Gujarati of United Kingdom


The majority of the Gujarati are Hindus, regardless of their location in the world. However, approximately 30% have maintained their Muslim ties. The Hindu clergy are drawn from the highest caste, the Brahmans. Therefore, becoming a priest is essentially a matter of birthright, although not all Brahmans practice as priests.

GROUP C Fixtures:









Most of Bosniaks identify themselves with Bosnia and Herzegovina as their ethnic state and are part of such a common nation. There are also around two million Bosniaks living in the Balkans today. The largest number of Bosniaks outside of Bosnia and Herzegovina is found in the Sandzak region of Montenegro and Serbia. There is also a smaller indigenous population present in Croatia, Kosovo, Slovenia and Macedonia.

Both within the region and the outside world, Bosniaks are often noted for their unique culture, which has been influenced by both eastern and western civilizations and schools of thought over the course of their history. Today many of the Bosniaks are war refugees in the Western countries. They still speak Bosnian, and maintain a cultural and religious community and visit their mother country regularly.

Most Bosniaks are Sunni Muslim, although historically Sufism has also played a significant role among them. Being part of Europe and influenced not only by the oriental but also by the western culture, Bosniaks are considered to be some of the most advanced Islamic peoples of the world. For many Bosniaks, Islamic identity has more to do with cultural roots than with religious beliefs. Even among most religious Bosniaks, there is a disdain for religious leaders exercising any influence over day-to-day life. Bosniaks are no different than other Muslims in that they view Islam from the foundation that is their culture.

SLOVENIA

Ask the Holy Spirit to soften the hearts of Bosnians toward Christians so that they will be receptive to the Gospel.

Pray that God will grant wisdom and favor to the missions agencies that are currently working among Bosnians.

Ask God to raise prayer teams who will begin breaking up the soil through worship and intercession.

Ask the Lord to call people who are willing to go to Bosnia-Herzegovina and share Christ.

Ask God to encourage the few known Bosnian believers in this region.

Pray that God will meet the physical, spiritual, and emotional needs of Bosnians.

Ask the Lord to raise strong local churches among Bosnians.

Country:People:




Bible:

SloveniaSlav, Southern86,0002,984,000BosnianIslam, SunniLeast-Reached0.00%Complete Bible

Bosniak of Slovenia


The Bosnians are one of Europe's least evangelized peoples. Although there are missions agencies currently working among the Bosnians of Bosnia-Herzegovina, very few have accepted Christ. Prayer is the key to reaching them with the Gospel.

GROUP C Fixtures:









The Bengali are considered to be the original inhabitants of the Bengal region of south- west Asia. This territory is divided politically between Bangladesh and West Bengal, a state in India. Bengali is the native language spoken by most of the groups in this region. While the vast majority of Bengalis live in Bangladesh and northeast India, there are significant communities in a number of other countries

Although the Bengalis are primarily classified according to language, their culture remains very diversified. It is made up of various castes, such as the Brahman, Kayastha, Vaidya, Namasudra, Gandha Banik, Saadgop, Napit, Mahisya, Kanaani, and Subarnabanik.

The majority of Bengalis are Muslims (60%), while the rest are Hindu or Hinduized animists. Bengali Hindu worship many gods, some of which are animals. Cows are sacred, but they revere monkeys, snakes, and other animals as well. They teach such things as yoga and reincarnation (a continual cycle of death and rebirth). They believe that the soul may be reincarnated, or reborn, as an animal or as a human.The law of karma states that every action influences how the soul will be born in the next life. If a person lives a good life, his soul will be born into a higher state. Whereas, if he leads an evil life, his soul will be born into a lower state, perhaps even as a worm!

USA

Pray for an opening of spiritual understanding among all Bengalis.

Ask the Lord to call people who are willing to go to the Bengal region and share Christ with the Bengalis.

Pray that the small number of Bengali Christians will be a light for the Gospel to their people.

Ask God to raise up Christian medical teams, businessmen, and teachers to take the Gospel into this region.

Pray that Christian radio broadcasts, Bibles, and other literature will be made available to the people of the Bengal region.

Ask the Holy Spirit to soften the hearts of the Bengali towards Christians so that they will be receptive to the Gospel.

Ask the Lord to raise up strong local churches in the Bengal region.

Country:People:




Bible:

USABengali159,0001,244,000BengaliIslam, SunniLeast-Reached0.00%Complete Bible

Bengali of USA


In general, the Bengalis are a proud people, highly ambitious, and always striving for excellence. Although outside influences are being incorporated into their culture, the Bengalis remain very proud of their cultural heritage.

GROUP C Fixtures:









Group DAustraliaGermanyGhanaSerbia


!

By definition, Persians (also known as Iranians) are an ethnic group native to Iran. The Persian language, called Farsi, is part of the Indo-Iranian language family, and is the official language of Iran. Although the vast majority of Persians now live either in Iran or in one of the nearby Middle Eastern countries, small Persian communities can also be found in many other nations around the world.

Around 1000 B.C., Persian groups began to settle in the territory that is now Iran. Loosely associated Persian tribes became a more cohesive political unit under the Achaemenian dynasty. Their unity soon made them the dominant ethnic group in the region. For 1,200 years, Persia maintained a culture that became increasingly more complex and rigid. This laid the foundation for a successful Arabian conquest in the seventh century A.D.

Prior to the Arab invasions, the Persian religion was Zoroastrianism. This religion taught that there was an eternal struggle between the forces of good and evil. Shiite Islam became the national religion of Iran in the sixteenth century, at which time the ulama (clergy) began playing an important role in both the social and political lives of the people. Today, most Persians are Shia Muslims of the Ithna Ashari branch, and are radical in their adherence to Islamic laws and principles.

AUSTRALIA

Pray that God will raise up faithful intercessors who will stand in the gap for the Persians.

Ask the Lord to call people who are willing to reach out and share the love of Christ with those living in Australia.

Ask God to strengthen, encourage, and protect the small number of Muslim Persians who have converted to Christianity.

Pray their traditional Muslim culture will soften, creating open doors for the Gospel to be preached among them.

Ask the Holy Spirit to open the hearts of the Persian people towards Christians so that they will be receptive to the Gospel.


Ask the Lord to raise up strong local churches among the Persians in Australia.

Country:People:




Bible:

AustraliaPersian86,00030,630,000BengaliIslam, ShiaLeast-Reached2.00%Complete Bible

Persian of Australia


Iran is home to one of the most radical Islamic governments in the world. Sharia law was introduced in 1979 and since then the country has been in the hands of radical Muslims who have increasingly placed pressure on the Christian Church.

GROUP D Fixtures:

13 June: Germany - Australia 1930

13 June: Serbia - Ghana 1500

18 June: Germany - Serbia 1230

19 June: Ghana - Australia 1500

23 June: Ghana - Germany 1930

23 June: Australia - Serbia 1930



India, the world's second most densely populated nation (after China), is rapidly approaching one billion inhabitants. It is here that more than 33,000,000 Bhojpuri Bihari can be found. They live primarily in the Northeastern region of India, in the state of Bihar. Ironically, the name "Bihar" is derived from a term that means "Buddhist monastery," but the Bhojpuri Bihari are a staunch Hindu, not Buddhist, people. The name "Bhojpuri" is simply a term that indicates which of the sixteen different Indian languages they speak.

Seventy percent of the Bhojpuri Bihari are strict observers of the Hindu faith. Hinduism is actually more of a philosophy than it is a religion. This widespread faith, which has been around for more than 3000 years, has been shaped by various cultures and belief systems.

Hindus basically worship three main gods: Brahma (the creator), Vishnu (the preserver), and Shiva (the destroyer). Some scholars say that the number of Hindu gods worshipped exceeds 35 million. Most of the deities are both good and evil in nature. Shiva's wife is believed to take a number of seemingly contradictory forms. For example, as Uma she is known as "the beloved goddess of motherhood," but as Kali she is known as "the destroyer."

GERMANY

Ask God to call linguists who can translate the Bible into Bhojpuri.

Ask God to open the hearts of the Bhojpuris living in Germany towards the Gospel.

Pray for the spread of knowledge and the Gospel amongst those not touched by it.

Pray that German Christians would reach out to Bhojpuris living in their country.

Pray that the doors of India will soon open to missionaries.

Ask God to raise up a strong church among the Bhojpuris.

Ask the Lord to call people who are willing to go to India and share Christ with the Bhojpuris.

Pray that God will strengthen and encourage the small number of believers who live in India.

Country:People:




Bible:

GermanyBhojpuri Bihari17,00033,000,000BhojpuriHinduismLeast-Reached4.00%New Testament

Bhojpuri of Germany


Hinduism has no single "holy book," but has many sacred writings. The most important of these are the Vedas and the Bhagavad-Gita.

GROUP D Fixtures:









The Dagomba are a large people group living in northern Ghana. The Dagomba make their living primarily through farming. Since yams are the specialty crop, the Dagomba plant over 32 varieties. Farmers also grow crops such as maize, millet, rice, peanuts, and beans.

The Dagomba are not only skillful farmers, but also are fishermen and hunters, and some even engage in administrative and managerial work. Dagomba craftsmen are skilled tailors, traders, and makers of ropes and mats. Some also specialize as blacksmiths, butchers, and barbers. Parents send their young sons to be trained by these craftsmen.

Although almost half of the Dagomba follow the Islamic faith, many also believe in and worship additional spirits and gods. Each village sacrifices to its individual ancestral gods and the entire society collectively worships the more powerful gods. The Dagomba also practice witchcraft and consult diviners to rid themselves of curses.

The Dagomba honour their ancestors with a pagan festival called Bugun, which means "fire" or "hell". The celebration begins with a great feast and culminates when the people gather together with lighted torches near a tree outside the community. There they recite the names of their ancestors and throw their torches into the tree.

GHANA

Pray that God will use the Dagomba believers to share the love of Jesus with their own people.

Pray that God will open the hearts of the Dagomba leaders to receive the Gospel.

Ask the Holy Spirit to grant wisdom and favor to missions agencies working among the Dagomba.

Ask the Lord to raise additional laborers to go into Ghana and work among these people.

Pray that God will reveal Himself to the Dagomba through dreams and visions.

Take authority over the principalities and powers that are keeping the Dagomba bound.


Country:People:




Bible:

GhanaDagomba826,000836,000DagbaniIslam, SunniLeast-Reached3.00%Complete Bible

Dagoba of Ghana


Some Christian resources are available to the Dagomba. The Dagomba's minimal response to Christianity, however, shows that Christians need to pray and intercede for the people to yield their hearts to the power of the Gospel.

GROUP D Fixtures:









The Cherkess, also known as Circassians, are the oldest indigenous people of Northwest Caucasus and identify themselves as Adyghe. The Circassians preserve their culture and continue to use the Circassian language as their primary means of communication. Only in the 18th century did their language assume a written form. Organised into tribes, the Circassians have never had an independent state.

Much insight into Circassian culture and customs can be gathered from Circassian folk dances. The dances tell stories about everyday life such as courtship, preparing for war, the harvest, and showing of strength. The stories preserve Circassian ancient history, and they are predecessors to Greek mythology, containing ancient stories of gods from southern Russia. From these Epics came the "Adyge habza," or Circassian traditions.

The habza is an important feature of Circassian identity and was established long before their Islamization. It is the Circassian system of laws, rules, etiquette, and ethos. The habza provided the rules of behavior and morality that are handed down in other societies through religion. The Adyge habza is passed on from generation to generation, with today's Circassian youth still being taught to carry on the traditions.

SERBIA

Pray that God will use the Dagomba believers to share the love of Jesus with their own people.

Pray that God will open the hearts of the Dagomba leaders to receive the Gospel.

Ask the Holy Spirit to grant wisdom and favor to missions agencies working among the Dagomba.

Ask the Lord to raise additional laborers to go into Ghana and work among these people.

Pray that God will reveal Himself to the Dagomba through dreams and visions.

Take authority over the principalities and powers that are keeping the Dagomba bound.


Country:People:




Bible:

SerbiaCherkess, Adyghe2,300623,000AdygheIslam, SunniLeast-Reached5.00%New Testament

Cherkess, Adyghe of Searbia


Many Circassians were Christianized under Georgian and Byzantine influence in the 6th century. However, under the growing influence of the Ottomans, Islam gradually replaced Christianity and became fully established in the 18th and 19th century, blending with remnants of Christian beliefs and even pre-Christian folk beliefs.

GROUP D Fixtures:









Group ECameroonDenmark

JapanNetherlands


!

The Baggara of Cameroon live in the "hinge" between West and Central Africa on the northern savanna near Fort-Foureau. This area straddles the borders of Chad and Nigeria and the Baggara frequently cross into these countries to visit or live with kin. They are semi-nomadic, agricultural people of Cameroon depend on cattle for their food and economy.

Baggara towns are composed of small compounds grouped according to male family and tribal lines. Baggara men frequently have one wife who may live in the nomadic camp and another who lives in the village or town. Baggara women build the mud brick and thatched roof houses plus any other structures connected with the house. Men build the sun shelters they use for eating and entertaining while tending cattle.

The roles of men and women are strictly separated. Women are responsible for all of the household work and are the primary caretakers of the children. They also milk the cows, which not only provides the family with dairy products, but by selling the products women earn extra income-which they control. Men manage and market the cattle; they also plant and harvest crops of millet, yams, plantains, and cassava melons.

CAMEROON

Pray that God will raise up prayer teams who will begin breaking up the soil through worship and intercession.

Pray that God will begin revealing Himself to these precious people through dreams and visions.

Pray that God will supply qualified linguists to complete the translation of the Bible into Badawi.

Ask the Holy Spirit to soften the hearts of the Baggara towards Christians so that they will be receptive to the Gospel.

Pray for the effectiveness of the Jesus film among Baggara.

Ask the Holy Spirit to anoint the Gospel as it goes forth via radio to the Baggara.

Ask the Lord to bring forth a triumphant Baggara church for the glory of His name!

Country:People:




Bible:

CameroonArab, Shuwa, Bagarra165,0002,097,000Arabic, ChadianIslam, SunniLeast-Reached0.02%New Testament

Arab, Bagarra of Cameroon


Christianity is considered the major religion in Cameroon and the second largest religion is Islam. However, the Baggara of Cameroon are Muslims, and there are no known Baggara Christians at this time. The New Testament, the Jesus film, and Christian radio broadcasts are all available in the Badawi language.

GROUP E Fixtures:

14 June: Netherlands - Denmark 1230

14 June: Japan - Cameroon 1500

19 June: Netherlands - Japan 1230

19 June: Cameroon - Denmark 1930

24 June: Denmark - Japan 1930

24 June: Cameroon - Netherlands 1930



The word "Arab" usually brings to mind images of white-robed Bedouins riding across the desert on their camels; however, this is not the total picture. Today, only 5% of the modern Arabs live as desert shepherds; and significant Arab communities can now be found in almost all of the western world.

About 40% of the Arabs live in cities and towns. This has caused traditional family and tribal ties to be broken down somewhat. Women, as well as men, now have greater educational and employment opportunities. These and other changes have created a new middle class within their society.

The Diaspora Arab communities fit into this new middle class category. Because they have been exposed to western culture on a grand scale, their traditional culture andway of life have undergone many changes. As a result, they have experienced much tension. For most of the Diaspora Arabs, there have been a greater variety of job opportunities. This has greatly aided their poor living conditions. However, it has also weakened their traditional family ties. There is greater freedom for women to leave the home, fewer arranged marriages, and less social pressure to conform to traditional religious practices.

DENMARK

Ask the Lord to call people who are willing to reach out and share the love of Christ with them.

Pray that God will raise up faithful intercessors who will stand in the gap for the Arabs.

Ask God to strengthen, encourage, and protect the small number of Arabs who have decided to follow Christ.

Pray that the softening of their traditional culture will create open doors for the Gospel to be preached among them.

Ask the Holy Spirit to soften the hearts of the Arabian people towards Christians so that they will be receptive to the Gospel.


Ask the Lord to raise up strong local churches among the Diaspora Arabs.

Country:People:




Bible:

DenmarkArab, Iraqi12,00021,558,000ArabicIslam, Least-Reached0.5%New Testament

Arab, Iraqi of Denmark


It was early in the seventh century that Mohammed first preached the tenets of Islam to the Arabs. His successors quickly spread the word of Allah far and wide. The historical link between Arabs and the Islamic religion is still very strong. Today, approximately 93% of all Arabs are Muslims, belonging to a number of sects: the Shia, the Alawi, the Zaidi, and the Sunni.

GROUP E Fixtures:









The Sudanese Arabs originated in the Khartoum region of Sudan many centuries ago. Today, they live primarily in northern and central Sudan and in Egypt. The political situation in Sudan has caused many Sudanese Arabs to flee as refugees to neighbouring African countries and Europe.

Since 1983, conflict between the predominately north Arab and southern animist and Christian regions of the Sudan has accounted for more than two million deaths. Also tragic are the recent atrocities to non-Arab African groups on the Western Sudan/Chad border in the region of Darfur. Killings, mass rapes, looting of livestock and burning of villages by the Arab militia, Janjaweed, have devastated the area. It is estimated that over 70,000 have lost their lives due to hunger and disease alone.

The Sudanese Arabs live in a country engulfed by tension, terror, and war. Even more than the physical provisions that are so badly needed in the Sudan, Sudanese Arabs need to hear about the saving love of Jesus. They have some Christian resources available to them. But churches are often closed, destroyed, or not allowed to be built. Converts from the Muslim faith are not well accepted. They will need courage and grace to withstand persecution from their Islamic relatives.

NETHERLANDS

Ask the Lord to call out prayer teams to go and break up the soil through worship and intercession.

Ask God to bring natural and spiritual peace to the country of Sudan.

Ask God to strengthen, encourage and protect church planters in Sudan.

Pray that God will raise up long term workers to join those who have already responded.

Pray for additional Bibles and Christian literature to be provided and placed in influential hands in the Netherlands.

Pray that the Sudanese living in the Netherlands will be responsive to the Gospel.

Pray that the Holy Spirit will complete the work begun in their hearts through adequate discipleship.

Country:People:




Bible:

NetherlandsArab, Sudanese 1,30014,164,000Arabic, SudaneseIslam, SunniLeast-ReachedUnknownNew Testament

Arab, Sudanese of Netherlands


Persecution is increasing in Sudan and has been more extreme since 1985. The Islamic government has re-introduced slavery to Sudan. As many as 200,000 people have been kidnapped from the south and sold as slaves. Church services have been bombed, whole villages destroyed and church leaders have been murdered.

GROUP E Fixtures:









Japan is a large group of islands located between the North Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Japan. The five main islands are Honshu, Hokkaido, Kyushu, Skikoku, and Okinawa.Racially, culturally, and ethnically, the Japanese are one of the most homogenous people groups in the world. They identify themselves in terms of biological heritage, birth in Japan, a shared culture, and a common language (Japanese). One group, the burakunin, speaks a unique Japanese dialect. Society considers them undesirable outcasts-"untouchables."

Shintoism is the native religion of Japan. It is rooted in animism (belief that non-living objects have spirits). Its many gods or spirits are known as kami. Buddhism was introduced to Japan in the sixth century. Today, most Japanese claim to be both Shintoist and Buddhist.

Traditions of Shintoism, Buddhism, Confucianism, and Taoism have all contributed to Japanese religious principles: ancestor worship; a belief in religious continuity of the family; a close tie between the nation and religion; a free exchange of ideas among religious systems; and religious practices centered on the use of prayer meditation, amulets, and purification.

JAPAN

Ask the Lord to call labourers to go to Japan and share the Gospel.

Pray that Christian radio and television broadcasts will be effective in reaching the Japanese.

Pray that Christian businessmen will have open doors to share the Gospel with the Japanese.

Ask the Holy Spirit to soften the hearts of the Japanese toward Christians so that they will be receptive to the Gospel.

Pray that Japanese Christians will have opportunities to share the love of Jesus with their families and friends.

Pray that God will raise up teams of intercessors to stand in the gap for these precious people.

Ask the Lord to raise up strong local churches among the Japanese.

Country:People:




Bible:

JapanJapanese121,405,000124,893,000JapaneseBuddhismLeast-Reached1.56%Complete Bible

Japanese of Japan


Sixty percent of the Japanese live in nuclear families, while slightly over 20% live in extended family units, or ie. The ie consists of a three-generation household of grandparents, parents, and children. Japanese couples are free to choose their own marriage partners; however, many marriages are still arranged.

GROUP E Fixtures:









Group FItaly

New ZealandParaguaySlovakia


!

Traditionally, the Shawiya are Berber shepherds living mainly on the Aures Plateau of the Atlas Mountains in northern Algeria and Tunisia. The Africans call this entire region of North Africa Maghrib. The Berber refer to themselves as Imazighen, or "free and noble men." This term has become an indicator of Berber identity and nationalism.

The Shawiya are a part of various Berber groups that have risen in Algeria to defend their identity. In general, they are sturdy, thrifty, hospitable, and lovers of the soil. They are also proud, shrewd, persistent, and loyal. In particular, a passion for independence is deeply ingrained in their culture.

After a bitter war, Algeria gained its independence from France in 1962 and instituted a socialist government. However, independence and the political system that followedhave failed dismally. Since independence, the government has zealously encouraged the formation of an Islamic Arab state.

Although they accepted Islam as a new religion, the Berber also maintained their pre-Islamic cultural and ritual traditions. The acceptance of Islam and the adoption of Arabic ways never completely erased Berber culture. Although they are nominally Sunni Muslims, most Shawiya have little knowledge of the practices of the Koran and other dimensions of Middle Eastern Islam.

ITALY

Pray that the Bible and and gospel radio will be made available in the Shawiya language.

Ask the Holy Spirit to grant wisdom and favor to any missions agencies targeting the Shawiya.

Ask the Lord Jesus to reveal Himself to the Shawiya through dreams and visions.

Pray that God will save key leaders among the Shawiya living in Italy who will boldly declare the Gospel.

Ask God to raise up prayer teams who, through worship and intercession, will begin to break up the soil of the Shawiya hearts to receive the seed of the Gospel.

Pray that strong local churches will be raised up among the Shawiya.

Country:People:




Bible:

ItalyShawiya38,0002,231,000TachawitIslam, SunniLeast-Reached0%Bible Portions

Shawiya of Italy


After Algeria's independence, Christian missionaries were expelled from the country in several waves. The remaining missionary efforts have since deteriorated. Proselytizing is not allowed, and opposition to the Gospel is intense. As a result, the option of the Gospel has never been fairly presented.

GROUP F Fixtures:

14 June: Italy - Paraguay 1930

15 June: New Zealand - Slovakia 1230

20 June: Slovakia - Paraguay 1230

20 June: Italy - New Zealand 1500

24 June: Slovakia - Italy 1500

24 June: Paraguay - New Zealand 1500



The dispersal of the Malay was in progress by the fifth century A.D. when the Malay began to dominate local trade in southeastern Asia and long distance trade between northwestern India and southern China. Their domination of sea trade continued until the 1500's and even into the European colonial period. In addition to sea trade, some Malay may have been transported as slaves in the 1700's; others were political exiles.

Even though the Malay identify strongly with Islam, they continue to practice many aspects of their pre-Islamic religions of Buddhism, Hinduism, and ethnic religions. For example, they commemorate many important events in life such as birth, marriage, and death with non-Islamic rituals. It is common for Malay who live in rural areas to believe in ghosts, goblins, and spirits. Also, if medicine is unavailable, a shaman (priest orpriestess who communicates with the spirits) will often be brought in to treat an illness. For these reasons, other Muslims see the Malay as poor Muslims who have distorted the doctrines of Islam.

The strongest characteristic of Malay identity that remains consistent regardless of their location is their adherence to the Islamic faith. Malays worldwide recognize a Malaysian law that defines a Malay as "a person belonging to any Malayan race who habitually speaks Malay (or any Malayan language) and professes the Muslim religion."

NEW ZEALAND

Ask the Holy Spirit to grant wisdom and favour to missions agencies targeting the Malay.

Pray for workers to reach out to the Malay living in New Zealand.

Pray for effectiveness of the Jesus film and Gospel broadcasts among the Malay.

Ask the Lord to send Christian businessmen to minister life to the Malay in various countries.

Pray that God will reveal Himself to the Malay through dreams and visions.

Pray that God will give the small number of Malay believers boldness to share Christ with their own people.

Pray that the church in New Zealand would know how to welcome the Malay living in their communities.

Country:People:




Bible:

New ZealandMalay2,30012,786,000MalayIslam, SunniLeast-Reached1%Complete Bible

Malay of New Zealand


The Malay observe the traditional Islamic holidays. Muslim rites are also performed at the beginning and ending of every ceremony (even those that are Hindu-Buddhist in content), especially weddings.

GROUP F Fixtures:












PARAGUAY







Country:People:




Bible:

ParaguayJew, Spanish Speaking900332,000SpanishJudaismLeast-Reached0.11%Complete Bible

Jew of Paraguay



GROUP F Fixtures:










The Jews of Europe arrived on the continent at least 2,000 years ago during the early days of the Roman empire. Since then, they have been a significant influence in the history and culture of Europe. Much of what is considered "Jewish" today finds its roots among the European Jews.

During the last few centuries, Eastern Europe had the largest Jewish population in theworld. National attitudes toward the Jews were ambivalent, depending on the usefulness of the Jewish inhabitants to the nations' rulers. Anti-Semitism was prevalent and frequently led to either persecution or expulsion. The Holocaust of World War II was the climax of Jewish persecution in Europe, leading to the extermination of six million Jews. Many Eastern European countries lost the majority of their Jewish population in this tragedy.

SLOVAKIA

Ask the Lord to raise up people to work among the Jewish communities.



Ask the Holy Spirit to grant wisdom and favor to the missions agencies that are targeting the European Jews.



Pray that strong local churches will be raised up in each Jewish community.

Country:People:




Bible:

SlovakiaJew, Italian Speaking2,70032,000ItalianNon-ReligiousLeast-Reached0.5%Complete Bible

Jew of Slovakia



GROUP F Fixtures:









Group GBrazil

Ivory CoastKorea DPRPortugal


!

Korubo is the name given to a tribe of living in the Javari Valley, in the Western Amazon Basin. The group calls themselves 'Dslala', and in Portuguese they are referred to as caceteiros (clubbers). The Korubo are some of the last people on earth to live in near isolation from modern society although they have on numerous occasions had violent contact with the surrounding communities.

Both men and women paint themselves with a red dye from the roucou plant. A workday for a Korubo is about 4-5 hours long. The Korubo’s hunting and war weapon of choice is the club, and aside from poison darts they use no other ranged weapons. Their diet includes fish, spider monkeys, birds, wild pig, fruit and corn. It is thought that they have some knowledge of agriculture, making clearings for harvests of crops. The tribe was in complete isolation until 1996. Since then, minimal contact has been made with the Korubo. Population figures of the main tribe are unknown but estimated from aerial reconnaissance of houses to be a few hundred individuals.

BRAZIL

Pray that they would be allowed to live on their land peacefully and free of oppression and violence.

Pray that God will prepare their hearts for receiving the Gospel.


Pray that God will send workers to harvest the spiritual souls of the Korubo people.

Pray for the salvation of Korubo souls.

Pray for these brave people to find meaning in the One who was crucified to pay for their sins.

Pray that God will anoint the effort of believing Native Americans to take His truth to the Korubo people.

Pray for God to raise up intercessors for this least reached people group.

GROUP G Fixtures:

15 June: Ivory Coast - Portugal 1500

15 June: Brazil - N.Korea 1930

20 June: Brazil - Ivory Coast 1930

21 June: Portugal - N.Korea 1930

25 June: Portugal - Brazil 1500

25 June: N.Korea - Ivory Coast 1500


Country:People:




Bible:

BrazilKorubo300300KoruboEthnic ReligionLeast-Reached0%None Reported

Korubo of Brazil

Much is unknown about the Korubo, because the government protection agency for Indian interest and culture refuses to let anthropologists study the group. This is because of violent encounters in the past.

What is known is that hey often live inside large, communal huts called malocas and don’t appear to have no known spiritual or religious practices.



A majority of the Dyula live along the trade routes of the Ivory Coast. The name dyula means "itinerant trader," and the Dyula are respected for their trading abilities. In the 1400's, European explorers and merchants who arrived in the area found a flourishing Dyula society. The Portuguese, who were first to arrive, plundered ivory, gold, and ostrich feathers. Later, the Dutch and English explorers implemented the more lucrative slave trade. The Ivory Coast was colonized in 1908 by France. Today, French remains the country's official language.

The Ivory Coast gained its independence in 1960. Five years later, the government implemented a new civil code that undermined all traditional forms of social organization. The new code outlawed polygamy (multiple spouses), abolished the bride price, outlawed forced marriages, and tightened divorce laws.

The majority of the Dyula are Sunni Muslim. Most of the others, whom the Muslims call "pagans," hold to traditional animistic beliefs (believe that non-living objects have spirits). West African Islam does, however, generally retain local traditions and is more tolerant of diversity than elsewhere. Muslim scholars are held in high esteem.

IVORY COAST

Ask God to raise up teams of intercessors who will faithfully stand in the gap for the Dyula.


Pray that the Lord of the harvest will send forth faithful labourers to live and work among the Dyula.

Ask God to speed the completion of the Jesus film and other evangelistic materials into the Jula language.

Ask the Holy Spirit to soften the hearts of the Dyula towards Christians so that they will be receptive to the Gospel.

Ask the Lord to save key leaders among the Dyula who will boldly declare the Gospel.

Pray that strong local churches will be planted among the Dyula.


Country:People:




Bible:

Ivory CoastJula, Dyula289,000672,000JulaIslam, SunniLeast-Reached0.02%New Testament

Jula, Dyula of Ivory Coast

Even though about a third of the entire country's population is considered Christian and despite devoted efforts by missionaries, there are no known Christians among the Dyula. Very few Christian resources are available to them in their native language.

GROUP G Fixtures:









The Koreans of North and South Korea share distinctive Mongolian features and are believed to have descended from a single racial group. Korean is the national language of both countries. Many Korean words have Chinese roots due to centuries of diplomatic relations. The Korean writing system uses 26 phonetic symbols.

Officially, the North Korean Constitution gives political power to the people. However, real political power belongs to the Communist Party. The constitution guarantees such rights as freedom of the press, religion, and speech; however, the 23.6 million Korean in North Korea have very little freedom in those areas. For instance, all radio and television broadcasts are strictly controlled by the Korean Central Broadcast Committee. All privately owned radios are "preset" to the government frequency. Current news is often withheld from the public, or even altered. The people often do not learn of news events until weeks, months, or even years after they occurred.

KOREA DPR

Pray that laws in North Korea that restrict the preaching of the Gospel will be changed.

Ask God to create an openness to Jesus within the hearts of the Korean.

Pray that the doors of North Korea will soon be open to Christian missionaries.

Pray that God will send His Spirit to convict the Korean of their need for the Saviour.

Ask the Lord to protect, strengthen, and encourage the small number of Koran Christians. Pray that God will give these believers opportunities to share the love of Jesus with their own people.

Declare Jesus’ authority over the spiritual principalities and powers that have kept the Korean bound for many generations.

Ask God to raise up strong local churches among the Korean of North Korea.


Country:People:




Bible:

North KoreaKorean23,712,00077,018,000KoreanNon-ReligiousLeast-Reached1.69%Complete Bible

Korean of North Korea

The Korean believe that deceased family members remain within the family circle, in spiritual form. For this reason, the most important concern of the family is to produce a male heir to carry on the family line. He is called on to perform ancestral rituals in the household and at the family grave site.

Politically, North Korea is one of the most highly controlled societies in the world. Although religious freedom is technically guaranteed by the government, religious activity is strongly discouraged. The government has officially decided against Christianity and the Gospel for the entire nation. The North Korean are in need of political and spiritual freedom.

GROUP G Fixtures:












PORTUGAL


Ask the Lord to call people who are willing to reach out and share the love of Christ with them.


Pray that the softening of their traditional culture will create open doors for the Gospel to be preached among them.





Country:People:




Bible:

PortugalArab, Maghrebi6,20015,159.000Arabic, MoroccanIslam, SunniLeast-Reached0.2%New Testament

Arab, Maghrebi of Portugal


GROUP G Fixtures:









Group HChile

HondurasSpain

Switzerland


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CHILE







Country:People:




Bible:

ChileJew, Spanish Speaking23,000332,000SpanishJudaismLeast-Reached0.2%Complete Bible

Jew of Chile



GROUP H Fixtures:

16 June: Honduras - Chile 1230

16 June: Spain - Switzerland 1500

21 June: Chile - Switzerland 1500

21 June: Spain - Honduras 1930

25 June: Chile - Spain 1930

25 June: Switzerland - Honduras 1930



The Turks originated in Turan, a region that lies between the Caspian Sea and the Mongolian Desert. They arrived in Anatolia, Turkey (Asia Minor) in the eleventh century as conquering warriors. By the year 1299, the Ottoman Dynasty began ruling over what would become a vast empire, greater in area than the Roman Empire, and held the Caliphate lamented by Muslim fundamentalists. Over twenty states fell under Ottoman rule, including Southern Russia, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Egypt, Libya, and Saudi Arabia. This huge empire lasted until Turkey became a republic in 1923.

The majority of Turks live in their home country but significant numbers live elsewhere. The Aruban Turks live in not only a western, Christianized area but also a tourist destination which can bring both problems and opportunities for evangelism.

The Turks of Turkey are predominantly nominally Sunni Muslim, believing in one god (Allah), and an eternal heaven and hell. However, they also have many ethnic beliefs and superstitions as well. For example, they believe that men have the power to curse others by giving them the "evil eye." They believe that one is protected against such a curse by wearing blue beads, which the evil eye cannot face. Another way to avoid this cursing glare is to spit in a fire and pray to Allah. They also believe that if a woman puts fish oil around a door and a man walks through it, he will love her for the rest of his life.

HONDURAS

Ask God to call people who are willing to go to the Turks of Aruba and share Christ with them.

Pray that churches and mission organisations will accept the challenge of adopting and reaching Turks.

Pray that the Turks living in Honduras will be reached with the Gospel and take it back to Turkey.

Pray that God will begin revealing Himself to the Turks through dreams and visions.

Ask the Lord to save key leaders among the Turks who will boldly declare the Gospel.

Ask God to give the Turk believers boldness to share the Gospel with their own people.

Ask the Lord to raise up a strong local church among the Turks of Aruba.

Country:People:




Bible:

Honduras Turk1,50056,920,000TurkishIslam, SunniLeast-Reached0.12%Complete Bible

Turk of Honduras


Lamb is the favorite meat of Turks. The most common way of preparing it is pilaf, where small bits of meat are cooked with rice and oil. Musaka (roasted meat and eggplant) and kapama (mutton with spinach and green onions) are other popular dishes. Turks are very fond of sweets and eat large quantities.

GROUP H Fixtures:









SPAIN

Country:People:




Bible:


GROUP H Fixtures:







SpainArab, Maghrebi490,00015,159.000Arabic, MoroccanIslam, SunniLeast-Reached0.1%New Testament

Arab, Maghrebi of Spain






Ask the Lord to call people who are willing to reach out and share the love of Christ with those living in Spain.


Pray that the softening of their traditional culture will create open doors for the Gospel to be preached among Arabs living in Spain.






The Northern Kurds are actually part of a much greater Kurd population. They are made up of a number of clans, tribes, and tribal confederations, originating in modern Turkey and Iran. Large numbers of Kurds moved to the Caucasus region during the late 1800's and early 1900's, seeking refuge from the wars between Ottoman Turkey and Tsarist Russia. Today, they can be found living right across Europe.

Although the distinct Kurdish communities within the former USSR are separated by religion, places of origin, and distance, many Kurds still dream of a united Kurdistan. Customs and traditional dress have been maintained in many areas, and the Kurds have been encouraged to use their national language.

Nearly all Kurds are Muslim, most being Shafiite Sunnis. They first embraced Islam after the Arab conquests of the seventh century. Today, they primarily look to Islam as a basis for social justice. However, despite being predominantly Muslim, religion has created deep rifts among the Kurds. Many of the dispossessed Kurd minorities have become associated with the secret and unorthodox sects of Islam. The Kurds have a strong sense of family values and tradition runs deep within their communities. Because of their firmly held beliefs, the Kurds have been resistant to evangelization.

SWITZERLAND

Pray that God will raise up qualified linguists to complete translation of the Bible into Kurmanji.

Ask the Lord to being revealing Himself to the Kurds through dreams and visions.

Ask the Holy Spirit to soften the hearts of the Kurds living in Switzerland so that they will be receptive to the Gospel.

Pray that the Swiss church would reach out to the Kurds living in their community.

Ask God to give the Northern Kurds believers opportunities to share the love of Jesus with their own people.

Pray that God will open the hearts of Azerbaijan's governmental leaders to the Gospel.

Pray that God will raise up strong local churches among the Northern Kurds.

Country:People:




Bible:

Switzerland Kurd, Kumanji7,60014,304,000KurdishIslam, SunniLeast-Reached0.1%New Testament

Kurds, Kumanji of Switzerland


The daily diet of most Kurds centers on bread, dairy products, dates, tea, and meat. The wealthier Kurds have a more varied diet and consume more rice, meats, and fruits. In accordance with their Islamic beliefs, the Kurd are forbidden to eat pork and drink alcohol.

GROUP H Fixtures:









Documents

World Cup Prayer Resource iNet - The Message Works · 2012. 7. 5. · 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa 11 June - 11 July This summer South Africa will play host to the 19th FIFA World