Prayer Update 432
GIVE THANKS TO THE LORD
“O give thanks to the Lord for He is good; for His steadfast love endures forever” (Psalm 136)
13. Relatively free from racism
Every country faces difficulties between people of different races not entirely accepting each other as equals. Usually it is between the majority racial group and minorities; sometimes it is between the main racial group and the first people of the land; or between immigrant groups; or between people born in the country and immigrants, and so on. Praise God that New Zealand is relatively free of major racist problems, but we do need to continue to pray that racial differences between people of whatever backgrounds will not become major points of division, bitterness, jealousy, discrimination or violence. Pray for peace between our people – all our people, of whatever ethnic background – God created us all; God loves us all and we are all equal in the sight of God. May we also be equal in the sight of one another!
“KINGDOM COME”
A Peter Jackson film called “Kingdom Come”, about the life of Jesus, is being produced in New Zealand – part of it in his Wellington studios and other parts will be shot in different parts of the country (e.g., Lake Benmore will be the Sea of Galilee). Please pray for the production of this film – that it will be accurate in its account of the life of Jesus and will be God-glorifying (though that is possibly not the main reason it is being produced!) The filming begins early in the new year. Pray for the international success of the film and that all the finance required for it will be forthcoming.
CHRISTIAN BROADCASTING ASSOCIATION
Please help CBA broadcast the real meaning of Christmas to many thousands of people over the Christmas period. CBA needs your prayers and, if possible, your financial help to make this possible. CBA will have New Zealand’s largest commercial radio audience for 12 hours on Christmas Day (6 am to 6 pm), nationwide, plus six hours on Christmas Eve (6 pm to midnight). Please pray that CBA will help shed the true light of the birth of Jesus Christ and the Christian faith to an expected audience of over 250,000 listeners! Pray that the entrance of God’s Word, the Truth and the Light of the World will enter the hearts and lives of many people for the first time this Christmas. www.cba.org.nz
RHEMA BROADCASTING
Pray too for the various ministries of Rhema Broadcasting Association as it enters its 31st year of ministry. It seems that now more than ever we need to bring the words of Jesus to the people of New Zealand. Christians, young and old, need to be encouraged in their faith, and those who have not yet heard or understood the Gospel message need to have it within reach. That is the beauty of radio and TV – it is everywhere, even behind closed doors; even in prisons. Please pray that these broadcasts will be filled with truth and grace, and that God’s love will be evident to all. Pray for Rhema, Southern Star, Life fm, The Word, Shine TV and Word for Today. Pray for both Christians and (especially) not-yet Christians who hear these stations, that they will receive God’s Word and Spirit into their hearts and lives, and be drawn closer to Him.
NEW GOVERNMENT
The new Government has got off to a good quick start but has a lot of major issues to face, especially in the economic area – employment, taxes, interest rates, housing, handling the recession, and so on. While most of us will probably have moderately long holidays, many MPs will be working most of the time Parliament is in recess. Please pray for wise, fair decisions to be made – ones which will especially help those people who are struggling to make ends meet, whether financially, healthwise, in their families, jobs, homes or wherever.