Dwell In Safety

I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.
Psalm 4:8 (NIV)

Burma is one of four countries actively laying landmines and it faces one of the most severe landmine problems in the world today. Though there is hope that recent ceasefire agreements will include landmine bans, their effects will be a problem for many years.

This week a landmine exploded near the Alpha Camp Children’s Home. No one from the camp was injured, and the administrator wrote,

“We’re glad there was no shooting or mortar attacks which would have really put our kids in danger.”

Please Pray:

  • For God’s continued protection over the residents of the Alpha Camp Children’s Home
  • That the junta ceases to use the women and children of minority ethnic groups as mine sweepers
  • That the federal government, regional governments, military junta and ethnic group armies all cease to lay active mines
  • For prosthesis support and victim assistance

Healed Wounds

“But I will restore you to health and heal your wounds,” declares the LORD
Jer 30:17 (NIV)

“Miriam”, one of our faithful distributors, provides food and spiritual encouragement for 180 families inside North Korea. Upon the completion of her last delivery, she slipped on some ice and broke her arm, temporarily sidelining her activities. She has written to ask you to pray for her network,

“(Since Kim Jong-il’s death) reports are that it’s pretty bleak, increasing numbers of families are without food. Maybe all the media attention to the event will draw people’s attention for how things really are.”

Please Pray:

  • For God to provide an alternate operative to deliver food to Miriam’s network while she heals
  • That Miriam is fully restored to good health, and that her arm fully heals
  • For the spiritual strength of the Christians inside North Korea, especially as they face trials and uncertainties with the regime changes

Acts of Justice

The LORD is known by his acts of justice; the wicked are ensnared by the work of
their hands.
Psalm 9:16 (NIV)

A hydro-electric dam is being built in the Karen State of Burma and has already displaced one village. Upon completion it will flood at least 12 additional villages. Karen State is one of the areas where Christianity still has a hold, and the displacement of these villages is further evidence of the desire to ethnically cleanse the country. Additionally, the project is funded by Asia World Company, an organization run by men who are under targeted sanctions from the United States Treasury as some of the world’s key heroin traffickers dating back to the early 1970’s.

Please Pray:

  • That the federal government intervenes with the Toh Boh Dam project as it did with the Myitsone Dam in Kachin State, so that affected villagers don’t lose their homes or their livelihood
  • That any illicit funders of Asia World Company  are brought to justice
  • Proverbs 21:15 “When justice is done, it brings joy to the righteous but terror to evildoers.”

We Give Thanks to Your Holy Name

Cry out, “Save us, God our Savior; gather us and deliver us from the nations,
that we may give thanks to your holy name, and glory in your praise.”
1 Chronicles 16:35

Thank you for your faithful prayers. We’ve just received exciting news:

“(Mrs. Kwon) is in SK going through background check up by NIS (Korea CIA).  We are not sure when she will be released but she is safe”

When you prayed for this Alpha Relief operative in August, she had just entered China to gather food and medical supplies for the North Korean underground church. While there, she learned she was no longer safe in either her North Korean hometown or in China. Now secure in South Korea she will attend a resettlement program and integrate into South Korean culture.

Please:

  • Give God the glory and praise for her journey to South Korea
  • Pray that Mrs. Kwon senses God’s presence during her resettlement
  • Pray for her family in North Korea to be protected from North Korean authorities

A Time For Every Activity

God will bring into judgment
both the righteous and the wicked,
for there will be a time for every activity,
a time to judge every deed.

Ecclesiastes 3:17

In God’s perfect timing, He arranged for the welfare of many underground Christians by having successful food deliveries made just prior to Kim Jong-il’s death. North Korea’s borders were tightened in the days before the death announcement, with guards posted every four meters in some areas. We have received reports from our networks, including the following prayer request:

“Please keep our (operatives and their underground church) customers in prayer due to the sudden major changes about the boss for the other side. All public gathering such as even street markets have been forcibly closed, including the borders. We praise the Lord that one (operative) just got back safely a few days ago before the changes happened, so hopefully the customers got food for a little while.”

Please Pray:

  • In thanksgiving that God went before the operatives to make their deliveries successful
  • For the underground church members, that they remain safe, undetected, and well
  • That God uses this time of uncertainty as opportunity for North Korean Christians to share His message of Hope, Love and Salvation