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 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.

Remembering who God is.

 

A Biblical Theology of Prayer by Edmund P. Clowney

This section talks about how God’s glory is personally revealed In his works
“God reveals his power and wisdom in the created universe…First, because God has all power, he is able to act in answering prayer. The thunderstorm of God’s appearing described in Psalm 18 is his response to the cry of his afflicted servant. Second, the creative power of God shows the awe and reverence with which he is to be addressed and worshipped. God is not submerged in the cosmos, but greater far than all that his word called into being…”

I think this just adds on to Justin Chan’s message on Friday and his point about prayer being so simple, but how much faith do I have in it? How much faith do I have that God is powerful, able to do ANYTHING that I request? God is truly powerful, awesome, amazing, greater than the greatest thing that I can imagine. He has the power to fulfill any request, relieve any burden and hurt in my heart, heal physical and spiritual wounds. I need to trust in that power.

-Chris Chang

Our Nation: 10/25/09

The dreaded swine flu…

Obama declares H1N1 emergency

President Obama has declared a national emergency for the H1N1 virus due to the rapid increase of those affected. This emergency allows for health care services such as Medicare or Medicaid to waive some restrictions or modify requirements so more people can be treated. At least 20,000 people have been affected and 1,000 people have died. They have been producing and giving a vaccine for H1N1, yet they do not have all the resources to keep production going.

Please pray for:
-Those who are ill from the swine flu to be healed by our mighty Healer
-Brothers and sisters who have been affected by the death of loved ones to be comforted by God’s grace
-The people who are working and producing vaccines
-Doctors and nurses to provide for their patients and also to be safe from the H1N1 virus
-Fellow brothers and sisters to care for those who are sick and continue praying
-Health of people in general

PLEASE, Harvest brothers and sisters, BE HEALTHY! Eat your vegetables, fruits, vitamins, minerals. Get proper sleep. I know it is difficult during midterm time, but please, as everything you own is God’s, so is your body so treat your body well!

-Chris Chang

Our World: 10/18/09

“Islamic kidnappers in Kirkuk…”

Kidnapped Christian doctor in Iraq freed in critical condition

Iraqi insurgents recently released 55-year-old Sameer Gorgees Youssif, a Christian doctor who was kidnapped for ransom, and tortured for 29 days. But, Youssif’s abduction only reinforced old headlines, as the kidnapping of Christians are a “common occurrence,” and a daily practice for terrorists. Sources revealed that the Iraqi government does not provide protection, and even seem afraid of the insurgents, thus leaving persecuted Christians vulnerable to the corruption and violence of the country. The past has shown that only Christians or Christian doctors have been kidnapped: they include Sargon Yowash, Reath Ramo, Hikmat Saeed, and Salem Barjo, who didn’t survive his captivity.

Please pray for:
- God’s shield to shelter His sheep living in Iraq.
- Comfort for the abducted and their families when pain ensues.
- Impossible strength to forgive, and also to trust in God’s Will.
- An unshakable faith in their Provider, and assurance of salvation through it.
- God’s light to reveal the darkness of His enemies and bring them to their knees.
- God would use His servants mightily to plant seeds of the Gospel in the hearts of nonbelievers in Iraq.
- Softened hearts to receive the Message.
- Increased alarm and urgency within the Iraqi government to act in protecting its citizens.

in Christ,
Jennifer Tjong

Our Church: 10/14/09

Our prayer requests from this week’s Wednesday night church prayer meeting…

Pray for:
- Building Project
- Sick people
- Jane, health, comfort, community
- Small groups/FAs
- Harvest’s Fall retreat/Josh Kira, the speaker
- Job seekers
- Unsaved friends around us
- Missions ministry, new policies and structure
- Missionaries abroad
- Walter and Annice
- UCSD students to be a light to the campus
- Pastor Jeff’s family, Dahlia and Daniel
- Freshmen class
- Jared and Stella, the parents in EFC and Harvest

in Christ,
Virginia

Our Nation: 10/13/09

Storms in California..

Storms threatens California with flooding, mudslides

Heavy rain began pouring on California on Tuesday. Due to the fires over the summer, there are many areas in California that have lands susceptible to mudslides and flooding. Roads in Santa Cruz have already begun flooding and evacuations orders have been sent out. Areas in Los Angeles from the Station fire are very vulnerable and could lead to mudslides and flooding as well.

Pray for:
– the safety of those being threatened by floods/mudslides
– those that have been evacuated to be comforted
– weather conditions to improve
– the storms to not cause any damage

Tiffany Ching

Our Family: 10/09/09

Message received via message on our prayer blog, placed here for better awareness:

Thank you all for praying for Dave. He came home from the hospital yesterday and continues to improve each day. We appreciate you! It is a comfort to know that the body of Christ is praying and bearing our burdens with us.

-Renee