Weekly updates.

Hello Brothers and Sisters in Christ!

Prayer blog has been up for about a year, wow that’s quite a long time! We are making a change to how prayer blog is run. We will be posting weekly updates every Sunday instead of daily. So make sure to check the blog on Sunday so you can be praying all week for our world, nation, city, or Harvest!

UPDATE: As prayer ministry, we would like to encourage you. We will now be using this blog as a means for us to post anything that we believe will be encouraging to you as a body. This can be in the form of devotionals, answered prayers, praises, things we’re learning. Hopefully you will be encouraged and blessed by this.

And PLEASE, if you have any prayer requests that you would like to have posted on the prayer blog so that Harvest can lift you up or any needs in prayer feel free to e-mail: prayer@harvestsd.com

-Chris Chang

Also, be sure to check out www.harvestSD.com for more information about our church and upcoming events!

Our Nation: 12/18/09

Food for the holidays?

Food Banks Labor Under Increase of Demand

Demands for emergency food increased by 30% this year for America’s food banks, revealing a glum situation that’s fueled by the arrival of many new clients who have recently lost their jobs.  Out of the 200+ food banks distributed throughout the country, Feeding America reported that over half of them had to turn people away.  Moreover, not only is Feeding America’s food banks in demand, but the Salvation Army’s as well.  With a plummeting economy, and the scarcity of jobs, families today can barely pay the bills, and “there’s not much left over for purchasing food for the house.”  The use of food stamps is on the rise, integrated in the lives of 35 million people in June, or more than 1 in 10 Americans.  And another concern: children and their futures rooted in these desperate times.

Please pray for:

- the Lord will provide for those in need of food through any means

- in these fragile times, many will seek God’s aid and rest their lives with Him

- God’s servants will be faithful and take initiative out of love, and reach out to these people

- the Holy Spirit will sweep through the needy and open their hearts to what they really need

- those who have will adopt selflessness and give to those who do not

- organizations like Feeding America or Salvation Army will be steadfast in their endeavors

- God’s Will be in the forefront of any believer who is suffering in these times

- jobs opening up and the economy rising

in Christ,

Jennifer

Our World 12/06/09

In light of World AIDS Day last week..

‘Dawn of a new era’ for AIDS in South Africa?

On World AIDS Day, South Africa President Jacob Zuma announced new policies on tackling the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Currently, South Africa has the greatest number of those infected with HIV. Previous President Thabo Mbeki had denied that HIV was the cause of AIDS, slowing down progress in battling the epidemic. Current President Zuma is now taking a step forward in acknowledging the link between the two, seizing new opportunities, encouraging his people to be tested for HIV, and increasing funding for the treatment of HIV

Please pray for:

– Those who are affected by HIV/AIDS directly or indirectly:
families, orphaned children, men &women left to support a family alone
– Those who are infected
– Caretakers who put themselves at risk
– Governments to continue to take action in helping those in need
– Those who are helpless to seek HOPE in God.

World AIDS Day should not be the only day that we remember those who are suffering and affected by this epidemic. Though it is so much bigger than us, we know that God is bigger than all of this, so remember to PRAY BIG!

This past summer I was able to take a course at UCSD titled “AIDS, Science & Society” in which I was able to learn much about how tragic and widespread HIV/AIDS is. If you have some free space in your schedule, I would encourage you to take this class. For the less science inclined, there is a lower division course BILD 36, and for those in the science majors in need of another upper division election, BICD 136.

– Tiffany Ching

Our World: 11/27/09

Hi Harvest!

A few weeks ago, there was a post on the expulsion of a high school Chinese student for professing faith in Christ. (I had missed the consequent update!), but he was invited back to school by the Party Secretary of the High School Division, who was “deeply concerned” about the international response to his expulsion. Praise God for the answer to prayer. (You can read more about it here).

Please continue to pray for the persecuted brothers and sisters in China.

In Christ,

Virginia P.

Thanksgiving.

Hey Harvest,

I know it’s a day after thanksgiving but…
Just in case you haven’t read it yet, Pastor Jeff has some thoughts about Thanksgiving on the Harvest website.

Thanksgiving: A Day or a Lifestyle?

I was definitely encouraged by reading this, hope you are as well!
Have a wonderful rest of break Harvest!

Brother in Christ,
Chris Chang

Our World: 11/22/09

Sex slave speaks out…

Indonesian sex slave breaks silence

Please read her story.
UNICEF estimates that around 100,000 women and children are trafficked as sex slaves inside and out of Indonesia. Companies are doing what they can to provide their migrant workers with the skills needed to defend themselves and information on what to do if something goes wrong.

Please pray for:
-Safety of women and children migrant workers all over the world
-For those who are involved in sex trafficking to share their stories regardless of how painful they may be so they can help those in the future
-Companies to do what they can to help their migrant workers, to prepare and keep them safe
-Us as Christian brothers and sisters to continue to pray for injustices like these constantly with faith, trusting in our Almighty God
-Christians to act, sacrifice, show mercy and compassion, make problems like these known

Brother in Christ,
Chris Chang

Our Missions Ministry

A few prayer requests from our missions ministry…

China team
- Virginia: leading China team; humility & servant’s heart
- Phil: leading China team; purposeful year; dependence on God for future/job search; right heart
- Andrea: next summer trip decision
- Joyce: next summer trip decision; long term missions
- Tim & Rebecca: currently studying abroad in Shanghai
- Tiff P. young: currently studying abroad in HK & considering long term missions
- Dpat: winter trip; OMF
- Teachers taught
- Bible study at Fudan
- Migrant kids: for people to share with them and to work with them

Country:
House Church (Harvest partner)
Exposed; cannot meet in original place
continual faith & growth
the Lord’s provision, protection and guidance
joyful, hopeful hearts
MANY opportunities in China right now
Chinese believers to be effective in sharing and going into full time ministry
Leaders to train and enable Chinese believers

Bolivia team
- Nina & Leslie & Tiff Tran: guidance, wisdom, and direction for future in health profession

- Street kids
- Casa de Alegra (orphanage they worked with)
- Hospitals of Hope: staff, doctors, host (Thomas & Iris)

Country:
Current president Evo involved in the Quichua belief system; Christians affected
Political instability –> kicking out foreigners / missionaries
Current long term workers
Bolivian Christians

Mindanao, Philippines
Physical and emotional healing, spiritual strength
Forgiving hearts & Christ-like love for persecutor
Protection and great hope for believers

Together for the Gospel,
- Missions ministry

Our World: 11/15/09

“About 40 Muslim extremists…”

Muslims Attack Worship Service in Uganda

On Nov.1, around 40 Muslim extremists attempted to break into a Sunday worship service outside of Namasuba, Uganda, injuring one service member and damaging the church building. According to Pastor Henry Zaake, these extremists sent a warning before the attack, and since then, have continued threatening the church. Out of fear, much of the congregation stopped attending service, decreasing attendance from 250 to 100. For a while, area Muslims despised the church in Namasuba and accused them of trying to convert Muslims. In fact, most of Namasuba is Islamic, with 80 percent Muslim “adherents.” In the end, Christians there live in danger, as the police dismiss these cases and rarely prosecute the Muslims, regardless of Uganda’s guarantee of religious freedom.

Pray for:
-Protection for our fellow Christian neighbors in Namasuba, and other parts of Uganda
-Heavy reliance upon God and His strength in the midst of threats and persecution
-Worship services to run smoothly and without interruption
-Provisions to fix any damages to the church
-The Gospel to reach the un-found sheep of God’s flock
-Christians to remain true to their faith, and trust in the Lord’s Good Will
-Active government involvement in uprightly dealing with religious inequality

in Christ,
Jennifer Tjong

Our World: 11/12/09

Refugees in Kenya recruited to return to war..

Rights group urges Kenya to stop military recruitment of refugees..

Somali military recruiters have been targeting young refugees in Dadaab camps in Kenya, and luring them in with the promise of money. However many of these refugees come from the war-stricken Somalia and have been relocated to escape from warfare. The recruitment of these refugees defeat the purpose of having them relocated in the first place. Many refugees are being taken advantage of due to their vulnerable state. Human rights group have begun taking a stand and urging the Kenyan government to stop this form of recruitment.

Pray for:
– the military recruitment at refugees to end, so that the refugees would not have to return a nation at war.
– the safety of the refugees, that they are no longer taken advantage of and their human rights no longer abused
– the Kenyan government to take action against this form of recruitment, that they would protect those who have been displaced
– the war in Somalia to end peacably, that the need for fighting and fighters to cease
– the human rights group to persevere and stand firm in their convictions in seeking justice and protection for refugees

 

Tiffany Ching

Our Church: 11/04/09

Our prayer requests from Wednesday night’s church prayer meeting:

Pray for:

- Building project
- Heart of thankfulness within the church
- Combined FnF
- Missions Sharing on Saturday
- Fall retreat, family group leaders
- Tiff Woon & Tyra; Robert
- Leaders, refreshed/renewed vision
- Leaders of this country
- Stella and Jared
- Walter & Annice in Japan
- Freshmen
- Non Christian friends and family

In Christ,
Virginia P.

Our World: 11/02/09

Student expelled for professing Christ…

China: Student Expelled

In the Xinjiang district of China, Chen Le was expelled for refusing to denounce his faith. The school he attended, Huashan Middle School, had attempted several times to “re-educate” Chen Le through talks with class advisors and leaders of the school. They have asked him to stop attending Christian gatherings and to not believe in Christ. He was also asked to write a statement of self-criticism and self-introspection regarding his attendance of Christian activities. In his refusal to do so and his continued affirmation of his faith, Chen Le was expelled from Huashan Middle school. The consequence of this expulsion is his being barred from the college entrance exams.

Pray for:

- Chen Le’s testimony for Christ to shine powerfully for Christ into the lives of his friends and the students in his school
- Chen Le’s perseverance amidst persecution from school officials
- Chen Le’s faith in God to grow exponentially as a result
- Chen Le to be greatly encouraged by his brothers and sisters in Christ, and by Christ’s own example
- For Chen Le’s example to be an encouragement to other believers
- The acceptance and support of his family in his decision to follow Christ over possible educational gain
- The provision of all of Chen Le’s needs, including present schooling, for future college, for protection, and so forth.
- Those who are persecuting Chen Le to recognize the truth and the hope of the gospel and to turn back and be saved

In Christ,
Virginia P.