North Korea
Please lift up in prayer one whose situation is extremely difficult. That is Kenneth Jun-Ho Bae whom we have mentioned before. He is under arrest in North Korea and is sentenced to death for espionage. He is a tour operator based in California and a Christian who was taken as he was leaving North Korea with his tour. It is unlikely that his sentence will be carried out and the North may try to use him as a pawn but there is no recent news so we do not know more about his situation. I am sure, though, that it is very difficult for him. Please keep him in your prayers.
The political situation is very troubling but I do not believe that Kim Jong Un is the least interested in attacking either the United States or South Korea and no one is about to attack him, at least not under the present circumstances. Even though he declares a "state of war", this has been the technical situation all along. The fighting ended in 1953 with a truce, not a peace treaty. The North has been trying to get a treaty through the years but the young leader is making it more difficult rather than easier for himself. The most troubling thing to me and to others is that he does not have either his father's or his grandfather's experience in international or domestic politics. He is young and very inexperienced. I also wonder if he has the intelligence of either Kim Jong Il or Kim Il Sung, both of whom were very intelligent men with great skill at knowing how far to push and get what they want and when to back off. The young leader seems at times to be almost a victim of his own rhetoric. My greatest concern is that he has no one who will or can tell him the truth and that he will do something to trigger an accidental war that most likely be his complete undoing.
The people of North Korea have been under great strain for a number of weeks now as he has ratcheted up the tension and put the whole country on top alert status. This is taking a great toll on the people as they are forced to participate in drills that take them away from earning their own living while not providing them with anything else. The countryside is also being devastated as military units wipe out young forests and steal for their own food. In the meantime, the soldiers themselves are having a rough time of it as they are forced to do things for which they received not training--like driving trucks. Because of the lack of fuel, drivers never have any experience in driving, sometimes for the whole duration of their time in the military, and the trucks have straw in the tires for lack of new ones. They often use trucks converted to burn wood gas. These pour out clouds of smoke and can only move at about 20 miles per hour or so. One person even quipped that they'd mobilize faster using ox carts. The people are complaining more and more as the situation deteriorates. The Leader is doing all of this, it seems, to secure his position internally--with the forlorn hope of getting the U.S. to negotiate with him directly. He well may go too far and stir up more trouble for himself.
What is even more absurd is that North Korea has people in China trying to drum up tourist business and who are assuring everyone that there is no danger of war.
For anyone who is interested in following things inside North Korea, I recommend www.dailynk.com. The website opens in Korean but there is a link to the English version as well as Chinese and Japanese pages. Most of the links above are to articles here. Korean versions of most of them can also be found on the site.
All in all the situation is, in many ways, more pathetic then dangerous but danger cannot be ruled out. On the other hand, all of this is taking a great toll on the ordinary people of North Korea. Keep them in your prayers and do pray that Kim Jong Un will back down and the situation stabilize.
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Malaysia General Elections on May 5
Malaysia’s Prime Minister Najib Razak has dissolved parliament, Wednesday, April 3rd paving the way for a long-anticipated general election that could be the closest the ruling coalition has faced in its 56-year rule since independence.
Najib's National Front (Barisan National) coalition lost its two-thirds parliamentary majority for the first time in 2008 elections and faces a confident three-party opposition alliance led by former deputy Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.
The general election is expected to be held on May 5th following a two-week campaign period.
• PRAY for God’s rule and reign to become an increasing reality across Malaysia, and in the lives of increasing numbers of Malaysians of all races.
• PRAY for the men and women standing for election, a number of them believers, to not only run an honest campaign, but for those elected to be true to their word.
• PRAY for the thousands of believers in East Malaysia whose votes are expected to be critical in the outcome of the election.
• PRAY the elections will lead to a season wherein the people may live peaceful lives in all godliness and holiness, a season of increased religious freedom for all races, a season of justice and righteousness.
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Additional prayer concerns sent by a Malaysian friend:
1. Peace & harmony during and after elections
2. Righteous candidates to be elected to every parliamentary seat and every state assembly seat
3. New government will respect people's rights, uphold justice, incorruptibility, ethics and freedom to believe
4. New government to be good stewards and wisely manage our national debt
5. Men and women to be elected who will be peacemakers, foster reconciliation and unity.
6. Pray against extremists from being elected.
7. Members of the media will publish news truthfully and with integrity giving factual information.
8. Church will rise up to pray.
9. Church will be united an love one another during this time.
10. Church to participate in the voting process and encourage members to participate in the voting process.
11. Young people constitute 43% of the population. 3 million new voters are below 40. Pray for them as they vote for the first time. My son and daughter are also first time voters.
12. Every election official of the Election Commission, police, RELA and army will act justly during campaigning and uphold peace and order.
13. Election officials especially polling and counting against to serve diligently and honorably.
14. Citizens to vote for men and women of righteousness, God's choice.
15. God's Spirit to overshadow our voters when casting the ballot.
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Sri Lanka
Pray for the Church in Sri Lanka! Pray for continued freedom of religion. Pray for wisdom and courage for believers.
Campaign against suppression of minorities
March 26, 2013
An online campaign has been launched seeking the intervention of President Mahinda Rajapaksa to protect the liberties of Sri Lanka’s minorities and to defend their interests against hate speech and hate acts such as those committed by Bodu Bala Sena, Sinhala Ravava and other such hate groups.
The online campaign calls on the President to take decisive action by publicly condemning the hate campaign of Buddhist extremists and hate groups.
http://colombogazette.com/2013/03/26
It also urges the government to continue to proclaim publicly that the minorities are equal citizens and equitable stakeholders in the country. The online petition also calls on the police to take necessary action to stop incidents of harassment against minorities and their businesses.
The Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) has said on Sunday that Sri Lanka is not a multiracial or multi-religious country but a Sinhala Buddhist country.
Speaking at the Bodu Bala Sena convention in Panadura, the venerable Medagoda Abayathissa thero urged the Sinhalese to protect the nation and not let other races or religions take over.
The monk also urged Sinhalese families to have at least 5-6 children so that the Sinhalese Buddhist population grows in order to protect the Sinhala race and Buddhism in Sri Lanka.
Meanwhile Secretary of the Bodu Bala Sena, the venerable Galaboda at the Gnanasara thera said that Sri Lanka should be ready to rally against Christian and Muslim extremist groups operating in the country. (Colombo Gazette)
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Christian Prisoners in Sudans Jails
The government has been cracking down on Christian workers in Khartoum. They deported around 150 foreign workers. It is hard to know how many national Christian workers have been arrested. Estimated number is around 55.
We will appreciate prayer:
1 for the release of the believers
2 for God's presesnce to be with them
3 for grace and strength for their families in Sudan
4 for religious freedom in Sudan
5 that God will expose the atrocities of this regime
6 the people of Darfur, Nuba Mountain and Blue Nile provinces who are under aerial bombardments and attacks by the armed forces of the government of Sudan
7 Human rights activists and politicians who seek freedom and justice and are now in prison for their stand against the atrocities of the government.
8 the government officials to have a ‘Saul-experience’. Genesis 50:20 You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.
