February Prayer

Let's Pray

Hello! Thank you so very much indeed for being willing to pray with us this week. I know that for some of us will be doing this in growth groups, others of us will be doing this at home, but it’s a brilliant thing to be praying together and so thank you for doing so. We normally split our prayer time into four sections and I’m going to do the same today.

For each there is a Video and some prayer points…

Pray for our Church

Please see the PDF for prayer points.

  • For the Lord to bring the right person
  • Praise God for those who have expressed interest.
  • For the PCC working group as they plan the next steps
  • For external funders as they consider our funding requests
  • For young people in our church family to grow in love of Jesus
  • For children and families in our community to meet Jesus for the first time. 
  • For the PCC working group coordinating it all
  • For the hearts for Totley
    • That they would be seen and people may want to find out more about Jesus. 
    • For enough people to distribute them
    • For good follow up with people. 
  • For other events coming up (full list here)
  • Praise God for a great response to partnership Sunday last year. 
  • Praise God for those who have already joined Children’s, Youth and Music teams.
  • Pray for Ben and ministry team leaders as they contact people about joining other teams and starting up new ministry areas

Why not pray though recent items from the AST Prayer Chain (link will work on phones only) and others known to us?

Pray for other Churches

  • Praise God for the move to the New Building 
  • Pray for Children to adjust to their new surroundings
  • Pray for them as they seek to appoint a new trainee
  • Give thanks for recent opportunities with unbelievers.
  • Please pray for the Lord’s provision as we look to appoint a Church manager when our current administrators retire at the end of May.
  • Give thanks for a spirit of unity amongst the people at Wycliffe.
  • Pray that we would be bold in our evangelism, on the back of some helpful training this past weekend in using the Word 1-2-1.
  • for the remaining funds to be raised for the building project
  • ⁠for all the contractors involved on site
  • ⁠for growth while we’re out of the building – in numbers, in expectancy, in our love for one another and the Lord’s world

The Persecuted Church

From a population of 31.8 million in Yemen, there is only a small number of Christians in the country. It’s hard to know the exact number, given the secrecy they have to live under.

Following Jesus in Yemen continues to be extremely dangerous. As conversion from Islam is forbidden by Islamic and state law, Christians must keep their faith secret, or risk severe repercussions from their families, the authorities or radical Islamic groups. This can include forced divorce, loss of custody of children, arrest, interrogation and even ‘honour’ killings. Women who convert to Christianity are more likely to face pressure in their private lives, while men are at greater risk of persecution in the public sphere. Pastors and church leaders are in particular danger of imprisonment and torture.

The humanitarian crisis caused by Yemen’s ten-year civil war has also exacerbated the pressure on believers. While some relief aid is available, this is mostly distributed through local Muslim groups and mosques, which are alleged to be discriminating against anyone not considered a devout Muslim.

Conversion from Islam is strictly forbidden in Yemen, and even comes with the death penalty – so when Saleh* chose to follow Jesus, you might have thought he’d keep his new faith secret. Instead, he decided to evangelise outside his local mosque. “If we sit at home and do nothing, we would be safe,” he says. “But what kind of a Christians would we be if weren’t risking our life for others to know Life?” 

During his ministry, he has been arrested and harassed by the authorities. Close friends have been locked in prison. He has received death threats, and had his name and contact information shared with those who wish him harm. But he continues to follow Jesus despite the enormous cost.

“In those tough moments, I would receive a call from someone and they would pray for me, or I would receive text messages from brothers and sisters from the global church, encouraging me that they were praying with us and for us. The church in Yemen is living in very harsh conditions but is growing nonetheless!”

Saleh lives outside Yemen but still travels back to meet and disciple believers – currently serving 70 Christian families in Yemen. Open Doors local partners are enabling Saleh to give food packages and medical aid, train leaders and provide trauma care and discipleship.

“We are grateful for your support,” he says to Open Doors supporters. “Without these resources we won’t be able to grow and to serve the church in Yemen. Your prayers are important and uplifting to us, giving us strength and encouragement to keep going.”

*Name changed for security reasons

Lord Jesus, thank You for the courageous faith of our sisters and brothers in Yemen. Strengthen and protect them from evil, meet their every need, and provide more opportunities for believers to gather and learn about You. Give Christians discernment and courage as they follow You despite such the dangers, and may their transformed lives capture the hearts of those around them and draw them to You. Bring peace to this troubled nation and may Your people one day be free to worship You. Amen

With Your Growth Group

On Your Own

  1. Am I consciously or unconsciously creating the impression that I am better than I really am? In other words, am I a hypocrite?
  2. Am I honest in all my acts and words, or do I exaggerate?
  3. Do I confidentially pass on to another what was told to me in confidence?
  4. Can I be trusted?
  5. Am I a slave to dress, friends, work, or habits?
  6. Am I self-conscious, self-pitying, or self-justifying?
  7. Did the Bible live in me today?
  8. Do I give it time to speak to me everyday?
  9. Am I enjoying prayer?
  10. When did I last speak to someone else about my faith?
  11. Do I pray about the money I spend?
  12. Do I get to bed on time and get up on time?
  13. Do I disobey God in anything?
  14. Do I insist upon doing something about which my conscience is uneasy?
  15. Am I defeated in any part of my life?
  16. Am I jealous, impure, critical, irritable, touchy, or distrustful?
  17. How do I spend my spare time?
  18. Am I proud?
  19. Do I thank God that I am not as other people, especially as the Pharisees who despised the publican?
  20. Is there anyone whom I fear, dislike, disown, criticize, hold a resentment toward or disregard? If so, what am I doing about it?
  21. Do I grumble or complain constantly?
  22. Is Christ real to me?