Tajikistan: Law Restricts Children’s Ministry

Tajikistan, a little-known Central Asian country, holds a special place in my heart. Here’s why.  1) I created the Tajik Kids curriculum, part of the Kids Around the World mission series for children. 2) My local church adopted the Tajik people and we have an ongoing relationship with national believers there. 3) I’ve served on two short-term teams to Tajikistan. Both times, I was privileged to equip and encourage children’s workers. As is usually the case, I learned more than I imparted and was challenged by the tenacity and creativity of first-generation Christians on fire for God. They realized that when God transforms the heart of a child, there is hope for societal transformation as well.

During my 2007 visit, national workers expressed concern over increasing restrictions on evangelizing children. Since then, the situation has worsened. This August, the Parental Responsibility Law went into effect. It stipulates that the only religious activities in which children under 18 may participate, apart from funerals, are those at state-approved religious education institutions. An amendment to the Criminal Code was passed that would punish organizers of “extremist religious” teaching.

Both measures seek to prevent recruiting of impressionable children by religious extremists. Whatever the intent, these rulings affect ministry to children on several levels. They affect parents, robbing them of the right to raise their children in the faith they choose. They affect boys and girls, preventing them from attending worship services, Sunday School, and church-led functions like summer camp. They impact children’s workers, forcing them to interpret what “extremist religious” teaching means to the government and discern ramifications for their ministry. While it’s too early to know how new laws will be enforced, it’s not too early to pray. Please join me in lifting up Tajik believers in the following ways:

• Pray for protection for believers who may be targets in regard to this law in coming days.
• Pray for boldness and perseverance for parents who seek to disciple their children.
• Pray for wisdom and creativity for children’s workers as they navigate what the new laws mean for their ministry.
• Pray that God will continue to grant believers favor with local government leaders as they meet the holistic needs of children in Tajikistan.
• Pray that many boys and girls in Tajikistan would come to know and follow Jesus.

Children in Prayer-Part 4

Rashid excitedly follows his father and uncles to the mosque. He has joined in prayer with the men before, but this time is different. He’s finally old enough to participate fully in the fast of Ramadan, the most holy month on the Muslim calendar. As his stomach growls in protest, Rashid realizes it has been hours since his predawn meal. His stomach will just have to wait until sunset, the time he will enjoy a meal with his family. But it is worth it. Rashid remembers his father’s words: “Fasting is an expression of our faith, a form of worship, and a way to please Allah.” Entering the cool interior of the mosque with the others, Rashid imagines other Muslim boys all around the world. Like him, they are observing the fast, going to the mosque in their town, and seeking to please Allah.

Robert is getting ready for bed. Earlier at dinner, his mom and dad read a page about Indonesia from the Just for Kids: 30 Days of Prayer for the Muslim World booklet. His parents have also been explaining the basics about Ramadan. Robert thinks about Muslim boys and girls in Indonesia who do not understand that Jesus is God’s son. Instead of trusting in Jesus to forgive sin and bring them back into a relationship with God, they are taught to please God by doing good things– like not eating or drinking during the daytime for a whole month. Robert closes his eyes and begins to pray for children like Rashid. “God, please help kids in Indonesia to know you love them. Help them understand that Jesus died on the cross to remove  their sin.”

RAMADAN IS AUG. 1-30. JOIN BELIEVERS AROUND THE WORLD IN PRAYER FOR THE MUSLIM WORLD.

Global Day of Prayer

June 12 is the Global Day of Prayer. Believers worldwide are joining together to intercede for the nations. You can involve the children in your family, class, or club. Show them the Children in Prayer video that demonstrates ways that kids around the world are actively interceding for their families, communities, nations, and the peoples of the world. Download the free children’s 10-day Prayer Guide. It includes topics like poverty, disabilities, orphans, war zones, and children who have not heard the gospel. Each day is divided into four main sections:

1. Praying for children of the world – a different subject each day, based on the Lord’s Prayer, with ideas of how to pray

2. Thanking God – for His promises about the topic, for blessings we have

3. Journaling/Personal Prayer – reading a Bible verse, responding, listening to God

4. Prayer Activity – follow-up activity that helps kids personalize the day’s topic

Fabric Map Prayer Activities-Part 2

Here are three more children’s prayer activities you can do using the world fabric map.

Beanbag Toss

Materials: fabric world map, beanbag

Directions: Lay the map on the floor. Have children sit or stand around the map. Choose a child to toss the beanbag onto the map. Read the name of the country where the beanbag lands. Pray for families in that country to come to know Jesus. If the beanbag lands on a body of water, pray for families in a country that borders that body of water. Hand the beanbag to another child and continue in the same way.

Light of the World

Materials: fabric world map, flashlight, music CD and CD player

Directions: Lay the map on the floor. Have children take off their shoes and sit in a circle around the map. Turn off most of the lights. Hand the flashlight to a child. When the music begins, the children pass the flashlight around the circle. When the music stops, the child with the flashlight stands and shines the light on one country on the map. Pray for God to prepare the hearts of families in that country to understand who Jesus is. Have the child sit back down in the circle, start the music, and continue in the same way.

Missionary Photo Card Prayer

Materials: fabric world map, photo prayer cards of church missionaries

Directions: Lay the map on the floor. Have children sit around the map. Show the photo on the first missionary prayer card and read the names of the people in the family. On the map, locate the country where the missionaries serve. Choose a child to lay the photo card on the map. Pray for the missionaries using some of the prayer categories suggested below. Continue in the same way with the remaining prayer cards.

learn language          many people come to know God

Fabric Map Prayer Activities-Part 1

Need a world map to use for your children’s mission activities? This colorful fabric map is light, portable, and will do the trick in most cases.  It’s 3 x 5 foot, a good size to use with groups. Whether I’m doing an activity with my church kids or packing for an overseas ministry trip, this fabric map is one of the first things I grab. Here are three prayer activities your children will enjoy that use this map.

Stickers for the World

Materials: fabric world map, blindfold, stickers (Bible, cross, or heart shapes)

Directions: Attach the map to a wall. Blindfold a child and give him a sticker. Direct the child to walk toward the map, touch it, and attach the sticker. Read the name of the country closest to the sticker. Pray for God’s word (Bible sticker) to come to the people who live in that country OR pray for the people in that country to receive Jesus (cross or heart sticker) into their hearts.

same sport or hobby                                same number of people in family

same kind of pet                                      same favorite school subject

Hurting Kids

Materials: fabric world map, bandaids (don’t remove back), bag with the following 6 items: piece of fruit, cup, notebook, picture of house or house from Monopoly game, picture of mom and dad, medicine bottle

Directions: Lay the map on the floor. Have the children take off their shoes and sit around the map. Choose children to put a bandaid on each of the following continents: Europe, South America, Africa, North America, Asia, and Australia. Tell the children that many boys and girls around the world don’t have what they need to grow up healthy and strong. Choose a child to pull one item out of the bag. Talk about what it represents (see below). Have the child pick up a bandaid from the map and replace it with the item chosen from the bag. Pray for God to provide for the need represented. For example: “God, please help the kids in Asia to have the medicine and doctors they need to stay healthy.”

fruit=hunger                                        home picture=homeless

notebook=no access to education        mom and dad picture=orphans

cup=without clean water                      medicine=without healthcare

Pray for China Calendar

If you don’t have a 2011 calendar yet, (I always wait to buy mine after New Year’s when they’re half off) here’s one to consider, especially if you have a heart for the people of China. This year’s Intercessors for China wall calendar has the theme “Children and the Fight for Joy.” There are adorable photos of children and a prayer item for every day of the year. Main topics include God’s glory, family, church, workplace, government, poor and outcasts, and children. All the Saturdays have requests for boys and girls in different regions! You can see sample pages here. If you order the calendar, make sure to select the language you want – it comes in both Chinese and English.

4 Global Prayer Resources for Kids

With the launch of the new edition of Operation World, adults can join a 60-day prayer movement to intercede for the nations and ask God to fill the earth with his glory. What about the kids? Here are some great resources to get children involved in praying for their peers around of the world, especially those who have little access to the gospel. The first two use the THUMB acrostic.

T is for Tribal
H is for Hindu
U is for Unreligious (or atheist)
M is for Muslim
B is for Buddhist

1)    Kids Prayer Cards: 25 colorful cards with a carabiner clip highlight children from 22 different people groups. Three activity cards give your kids directions for painting tribal art, making an Indian snack, and meeting and making friends with internationals in their own neighborhood. For ages 7-10. Get more details and see a sample card here.

2)    THUMB Coloring Book: Black-line drawings of 25 children in unreached cultures. Includes suggestions for using the coloring book, important facts about other belief systems, focused prayer points, and a world map indicating where each people group lives. For ages 5-10.

3)    Window on the World: This 220-page book uses an A-Z format  to teach children about countries and people groups. Each 2-page spread includes a map, information on the people, and prayer points. Now in paperback. For elementary ages, but some have used this book effectively with middle schoolers as well.

4)    Free resource: The pray page on the Stand4kids website features a month’s worth of photos of children around the world, each with a prayer request.

Pray for Children in Burma

Burma (Myanmar) is one of the poorest countries in Southeast Asia. In 2008, a cyclone wiped out villages, destroyed crops, and devastated farmland. Millions of people were left homeless and without a reliable source of food or water.  Now, in an effort to squelch opposition to the current government, the Burmese military is carrying out brutal attacks against its own people.  Recent election results do not reflect a move towards democracy. What does all this mean for the upcoming generation? As often happens in times of upheaval, children are hit the hardest. Thousands of boys and girls have become orphans. Some have seen soldiers torture or kill their parents right in front of them. Looking for a safe place to escape the fighting, many children have fled across the border to refugee camps in Thailand. On their journey, young people must avoid landmines and troops. If captured by military patrols, children are forced to serve as soldiers. Sex trafficking is a danger for girls. Even when children reach the refugee camps, they are not safe. Food is scarce and disease spread rapidly in the crowded conditions. Sometimes Burmese soldiers sneak across the Thai border and poison the camp water supply.

Where can the children of Burma turn? Most raised in families that worship false gods who cannot hear their cries for help or provide for their needs. Those living in Christian families seem to be targeted by the military. To find out more about the situation for believers, click here.

The children of Burma need the love, provision, and comfort of their heavenly father. The number one thing you can do for them is pray. Download a free 30-day prayer guide from Vision for Burma.

Muslim Pilgrimage (Hajj)

November 14-17, join with others around the world in praying for Muslims as they go on the Hajj (hahj), the annual pilgrimage to Islam’s holy sites in Saudi Arabia. Participating in this religious journey is one of the five pillars, or essential parts, of Islam. Muslims are expected to attend at least once during their life. An important aspect of the pilgrimage is seeking forgiveness for sins accumulated over a lifetime. According to the prophet Muhammad, Muslims who perform the pilgrimage properly will return home as newly born babies, freed from all sins.

Although most children do not participate in the pilgrimage until they reach puberty, they do join with followers of Islam worldwide in observing Eid al-Adha (eed ahl-ahd-hah), the Feast of Sacrifice. This ceremony coincides with the end of the Hajj. Killing a sheep or goat commemorates the time when Allah provided Abraham with a ram to sacrifice in place of his son.

You can stand for Muslim kids during this festival season.

1. First get God’s perspective by reading Psalm 51:5, John 2:29, and Galatians 2:16.
2. Next ponder the following: Do newborn babies start out having no sin? Who is the Lamb of God? According to the Bible, what is the only way we can be forgiven for a lifetime of sins?
3. Now pray that Muslim families will come to know Jesus, the God-given sacrifice for their sins. Need more prayer tools? Praying Through the Arabian Peninsula has a free 5-day prayer guide you can download and a short video that explains the ceremonies performed during the Hajj.

For more information on Muslim beliefs, click here and scroll down to the section on Muslims.

Hindu Festival of Lights (Diwali)

November 5-10, Hindu families will celebrate the festival of Diwali (duh-wah-lee). Diwali is the Hindu New Year and is also called the Festival of Lights. It honors the victory of good over evil and light over darkness. Across India, children observe this five-day festival with new clothes, jewelry, special foods, gift exchanges, and sweets. In some parts of India, Hindus celebrate Lord Rama’s defeat of Ravana, a demon king. In other parts of India, activities focus on evoking the blessing of Lakshmi, the Hindu goddess of wealth and prosperity.

On the first day, families indicate the arrival of the Hindu goddess by placing small footprints drawn from rice flour or powder around their homes. Throughout the week, families attend Hindu temples, singing songs of devotion to the goddess, and leaving her offerings of sweets. In the evenings, they place small oil lamps, candles, or neon lights around their home and in courtyards. These lights represent the triumph of knowledge over ignorance, the renewal of life, and hope that the goddess of wealth and prosperity will bless them.

You can stand for Hindu kids during this festival season.

1. First get God’s perspective by reading Proverbs 1:7 and John 1:9, John 8:12.
2. Next ponder the following: What do Hindus need to know about the source of true knowledge? What is the most important light that people need?
3. Now pray that Hindu families of will come to know the true light of the world, Jesus, the one who can change their hearts and lives.

For more information about Hindu beliefs, click here and scroll down to the section on Hindus.

Voices of African Children’s Leaders: Part 3

Children’s leaders in Africa understand the enormity of the task of not just evangelizing children, but discipling them for a lifetime of following Jesus. They are dealing with issues like poverty, street children, child soldiers, and AIDS. We spent lots of time praying for the children in their countries. In our trainings, we emphasized the importance of the entire body of Christ working together to build God’s kingdom. This means reaching across organizational, denominational, and national lines. Leaders were challenged to take what they had learned and pass it on to others. Please join me in praying for the leaders who made the following comments:

Training Prayers or Commitments:

• 16 million kids in Uganda. 330,000 workers needed. God help me find partners to network with.
• I need to partner and network with others in children’s ministry.
• Relationships-God looks at me as a child of God. We must remove the cloaks of nations and work as one.
• Pray that I can get others to understand the material.
• So many kids around me. I can’t disciple them all, but others can. Those leaders need to grow deep in the Word. Want to see them grow rooted in the Word. I will work with them.
• I want to teach at least one other. Also involve kids in ministry.
• In my region most children’s workers are kids [themselves] so I want to equip them.
• We need to train the leaders of tomorrow.
• Passion to share what I have, equip others.
• That I can share the vision with others.
• That I’d share the vision with pastors.
• The harvest is big and the workers are few. I need to train more.
• Teach kids to help in discipleship.
• Wish to train 50 teachers in the coming year.
• So many village churches don’t know this information. I want to grab opportunities to use them [materials].
• Every time there was a need in the Bible, God raised up someone to meet that need. I’ve received lots of good material. God expects much from us, too. Pray it will not be shelved, but that we will pass it along to others.

Voices From African Children’s Leaders: Part 2

The students we trained expressed concerns similar to those of children’s leaders I know. How can we engage families, especially if parents are unbelievers? How can we disciple children in a way that sticks? How do we minister to children outside the church? I also heard questions that were outside the realm of my experience. One of the most alarming was how can we stop the increasing practice of child sacrifice? Will you pray for the leaders who made the following statements?

Training Prayers or Commitments:

• Convicted-as a school teacher I need to be ready to speak to children at every opportunity
• Urgency to minister to the little ones. May I be used of God to catch them while they’re still young
• I need to reach kids who don’t know Christ
• Many areas with unreached kids. Learned strategies to reach and build relationships
• How creative we can be in ministry to non-Christian kids
• That I’d make disciples of the kids I reach-difficult because I move around-and equip others to follow up with them
• We need to reach the unreached, no matter what are your resources you can do something
• I see the eight kids who are my Muslim neighbors. How can I show the love of Jesus to them and touch their families?
• Urgency to nurture children for God. Importance of involving families is on my heart.
• Have kids abducted and sacrificed. Pray for these kids and that the spirit worship would end.

Voices from African Children’s Leaders: Part 1

In September, I had the privilege of helping train some of the best and brightest children’s leaders in East Africa. Coming from seven different countries, they hold positions of influence in their churches and organizations. I have no doubt that God is and will use them to reach children for Christ and equip other teachers who will do so as well. Near the end of the seminar, leaders had the opportunity to share commitments and prayers stemming from how God was speaking to them. Will you stand with me in prayer for these leaders?

Training Prayers or Commitments:

• Help teachers, parents, etc. to understand the child.

• Concerned about children in the village-to disciple them and build relationships.

• Pray that I can get others to understand the materials.

• God give me a hunger for his word so that it would be on my heart. It’s the only way to impress kids.

• I’ve not been following up kids who come to Christ. I need to disciple kids.

• Teach kids to help in discipleship.

• Pray God will use us to talk to parents.

• I’ve been convicted. I’m tempted to quit children’s ministry. Please pray that every time I interact with kids I’ll make an impact. The harvest is big and the workers are few so I need to train more.

• Heart of a leader –I do work, but I don’t work on my heart. I am friends with kids in the country, but most go with them to church.

• God is challenging me to speak so children understand.

Interceding for the Global Persecuted Church

International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church (IDOP) is November 14. This year’s theme, “Hearing Their Cry,” is based on Psalm 10:17: “You hear, O Lord, the desire of the afflicted; you encourage them and listen to their cry.”

Check out these free, downloadable resources to equip your family, class, or small group to learn about families and churches around the world who are persecuted for their faith and to remember them in prayer. Materials include a video, devotional, Bible passages about persecution, and children’s material.