Global Awareness-Armenia

This is a continuing series of posts from recent talks to the student ministry of our church.

Statistics*
 
Population:  3 million
Capitol:  Yerevan
Life Expectancy:  74 years
Religions:
     -Christian:  94%
     -Non-religious:  4%
     -Muslim:  1.8%

*Source:  Operation World by Jason Mandryk  


Challenges for Prayer


     -Pray that Armenia will have good relations with their neighbors.
     -Pray that Armenians will have opportunities for good employment.
     -Pray for the strength of the Armenian church.


Prayer Reminder

     -Many Armenians rely on agriculture as their source of income.  Remember to pray for Armenia when you see a field with newly planted crops.

Global Awareness--Ecuador

This is a continuing series of posts from recent talks to the student ministry of our church.

This presentation was done by Molly, a youth leader, who has been to Ecuador and was able to share her experiences while visiting the country.  Molly's family sponsors a child in Ecuador through Compassion.  Thank you Molly for sharing from your heart about the needs of the people in Ecuador.


Statistics

Capital:  Quito
Area:  102,548 square miles
Population:  14.5 million
Religion:  95% Roman Catholic
Life Expectancy:  76 years

Major Exports

-Petroleum
-Bananas
-Coffee
-Wood
-Canned Fish

Prayer Focus
-Pray that those involved in gangs that they would find a positive alternate
-Pray for those in bondage to drugs and alcohol
-Pray for those that have been forced into the sex trade

Prayer Reminder

Ecuador is known for its roses.  Molly asked us to remember to pray for Ecuador when we see roses.

Global Awareness--Sweden

This is a continuing series of posts from recent talks to the student ministry of our church. 

The nation of Sweden is very different from the countries that we have talked about in past weeks.  Unlike the other countries we have talked about, extreme poverty is not something that many Swedes have to deal with.  The purpose of talking about Sweden (which has a literacy rate of 99%, and a high standard of living), is to show that although a nation may be rich in material possessions, they are still in need of a spiritual awakening.


Statistics*

Population:  9.2 million
Capitol:  Stockholm
Life Expectancy:  80.8 years
Religions:
     -Christian:  57%
     -Non-religious:  38%
     -Muslim-3.6%

*Source:  Operation World by Jason Mandryk



Challenges for Prayer
(For the prayer challenge I contacted a friend who is missionary to university students in Sweden)

-Spiritual Decline
     -Pray for a spiritual awakening, and that Christianity would be more than read about in history books in Sweden.

-Pray Against Apathy
     -Many Swedes have zero spiritual awareness.  Pray for a desire to know God.

-University Ministry
     -This generation knows almost nothing of biblical truth.  Pray for openings to minister to university students.


Prayer Illustration

Sweden is known for its heavy machinery industry.  Remember to pray for Sweden when you see heavy machinery.

Global Awareness--Haiti

This is a continuing series of posts from recent talks to the student ministry of our church.

The focus last week was on Haiti.

Statistics*

Population:  10 million
Capitol:  Port-au-Prince
Life Expectancy:  61 years
Religions
     -Christian:  95%
     -Ethnoreligionist:  2.8%
     -Non-religious:  1.9%

*Source:  Operation World by Jason Mandryk


Challenges for Prayer:
     -Recovery from 2010 earthquake
     -Strength for the Church
     -Healthy economy 


Prayer Illustration:
Haiti grows and exports mangoes.  I asked the students to remember the Haitian people when they saw or ate a mango over the next few weeks.


Compassion's Ministry in Haiti

Compassion's work in Haiti began in 1968. Currently, more than 66,700 children participate in 240 child development centers. Compassion partners with churches to help them provide Haitian children with the opportunity to rise above their circumstances and become all God has created them to be.  To find out more about Compassion's ministry in Haiti, click here.


Chris

Global Awareness

Our youth pastor has asked me to share with the students about countries of the world.  He asked me to talk for about 5 minutes, twice a month.  The goal is to increase their awareness of what life is like for those in developing countries.  Although this is not specific to the ministry of Compassion International, it gives us an opportunity to learn, and pray for, others in the world.  I will use this blog to summarize the talk that I give the students in the youth group.  For each country I try to discuss the following:  statistics about the country, people groups, prayer needs, and an illustration to help us remember to pray for the country.

The focus last week was on Afghanistan.

Statistics*:
 

•Population:  29 million

•Capitol:  Kabul

•Life Expectancy:  44 years

•Religions

–Muslim:  99.85%

–Non-religious:  0.07%

–Christian:  0.05%

*Source:  Operation World by Jason Mandryk

People Groups

Pashtun

Tajik

Hazara

Challenges for Prayer

• Violence
• Women's Rights
• Religious Persecution
• Drugs 

Prayer Illustration

During these cold Wisconsin winter months, I asked the students to remember the people of Afghanistan whenever they used a blanket, quilt, or afghan to keep themselves warm.  

Due to the presence of the United States military in Afghanistan, I also asked that they remember to pray for the protection of our troops as they serve.

Chris