Curfew in Bangkok after surrender of red-shirt leaders

At least 27 buildings were set ablaze in Bangkok in significant locations such as banks, a shopping mall, and the stock exchange, even after the protest leader surrendered and told his supporters to “please return home”.  Small resistance groups still want to continue fighting.  There is now a set curfew, from 20:00 to 06:00 in the city.   Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said he was “confident and determined to end the problems and return the country to peace and order once again”.

Please pray for:
-peace to return to the city of Thailand
-the Prime Minister to restore order to the city, economically, politically
-our Lord to change the hearts of the protesters
-the God of comfort to pour out to the families that have been broken from the attacks
-brothers and sisters there to remain steadfast in God’s love as well as show His love to others

Brother in Christ,
Chris Chang

This is it.  We are very close to the completion of construction for
this phase of the project.  There has been so much activity in the
past few weeks.  Each day, so much progress is made.  There are so
many people praying, so many people working hard, so many people
preparing, as we get ready to move in.

We still urgently need prayers specifically to the completion of our
loan.  Even though the loan is approved, we need to obtain our
occupancy permit by March 23, so the final paperwork can be processed
by April 1.  Otherwise, the loan approval would expire, and we would
need to restart the entire loan process.  In order to obtain the
occupancy permit, we need to get the final inspection, which typically
occurs 10 days after electricity is connected.  We thank you for all
your prayers about the recent SDG&E issue.  We are now scheduled to
have the electricity connected this coming Tuesday, March 16.
However, this would mean a final inspection on March 26, which would
not give us enough time to complete the final processing for the loan.
William Yen and the rest of the building committee is working hard at
completing the building, and working hard with SDG&E, city, and Wells
Fargo to ensure everything can go smoothly, and perhaps expedite
certain portions of the final steps.

So, we’re asking everyone to pray for this. Please pray that:
1) Construction can continue to make progress and compete soon.
2) Connection of the power can take place Tuesday, and there are no issues.
3) Inspection can occur in due time, or even sooner, with no major
findings.  We can obtain our occupancy permit.
4) We can process the final portions of the loan in time.

And please also pray for those who have so diligently worked to bring
this phase of the project to completion, especially the building
committee.  Please give them, and each other, words of encouragement.
We can all use more encouragement.

In Him,

Simon

Pray for:
-Retreats this weekend.
-Building project.
-Ryan and Natalie.
-Church merger and leadership.
-New people coming into Harvest.
-Walter and Annice.
-Enoch, Stella and Jared.
-Job hunting and future plans.
-People going home.
-More church prayer.
-Youth.
-Haiti.
-David Pat’S Wedding and all involved June-ish.
-Missions.
-Hanson and Joyce and their potential leadership roles next year.
-CE teachers.
-Reflections and servant auction.
-Energy to work.
-Those who are sick.

-SDG
-Chih

Pray for:
-Building project.
-Sunday lunch clean up.
-Reflections.
-Servant Auction.
-Leadership of our church and EFC.
-Haiti and the rebuilding efforts.
-New leaders for next year.
-Pray for a stronger community feel in the college fellowship.
-Kenny speaking on assurance of salvation.
-Prayer groups.
-Virginia and leading China missions.
-China team also looking for another male.
-Unbelievers in our church.
-Enoch James Phelps!
-Walter and Annice.
-Servant auction.
-Worship team and new faces.
-Praise for the homeless in San Diego.
-Justin Chan and Matty Pau.
-Juniors and planning a lot of things this quarter.
-Seniors as they near the end of their undergraduate careers (the majority of them).
-More Freshman: also that we be able to care for them all.
-Sophomores really devote their lives to God.
-Small groups: new people joining and the continual building up of men and women in these groups.
-Men and Women’s retreat.
-Gospel night.

-SDG
-Chih

Christian-Muslim Mayhem in Nigeria Kills Dozens

Muslim youths reportedly attacked a Christian church in Jos, Nigeria on Sunday where “innocent peoples were macheted.”  By now, however, reports have atrocities from both groups. Jos has been a trouble spot as it lies between the largely Muslim north and Christian south.  The federal government has sent forces to quell the violence but are making slow progress.

Please pray for:

- Cessation of hostility on both sides, but especially for the Christians involved in the conflict.
- Christ’s love to be shown in their actions, even to their enemies, even if he holds a machete.
- The grace of God to be shown in this conflict, and comfort for those who have lost loved ones.
- The perseverance in love of the brothers and sisters in Jos, Nigeria.

-Anonymous

Suicide bomber attacked Lakki Marwat, killing about 88 in his attack.  Militants have been attacking “hard” targets like intelligence officers and “soft” targets, random crowds of people.  The Pakistani army has been conducting a campaign against the Taliban since October almost 600 dying in the process.  According to Khalid Israr, there are not many rescue facilities in the village.  There is also a map of other attacks in the article.

Please pray for:
-Those who are wounded to recover
-Families to be comforted during these hard times
-For God to reveal Himself to these people as well as use Christians to spread His love to them
-Peace between the militants and Taliban

Brother in Christ,
Chris Chang

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

‘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

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.

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