On July 9th, Southern Sudan will celebrate its Independence Day. This is a history making event and one that can turn this country toward Christ. The Baptist Mission of Southern Sudan invites you to join us for 8 days of prayer, starting on July 3rd going through July 10th . We have attached a prayer guide for you to use anyway you would like. Also, there is a short video that can be used to promote this very important event. Copy and paste the below link into your browser. Please let us know if there is any way we can help you. Feel free to share this with anyone you think would be interesting in praying. Thank you in advance for praying!
http://www.4shared.com/file/al_yHxQU/mobile.html
Week of Prayer for the New Republic of Southern Sudan
“Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.” Jeremiah 29:12
1
Day One: July 3rd Wisdom for Leaders
Salva Kiir Mayardit is the current president of Southern Sudan. He is poised to lead the new country of the Republic of South Sudan. Omar al-Bashir is the current president of the Republic of Sudan. Pray for wisdom and discernment as these leaders prepare their people for this long awaited separation. Pray for guidance as both of these men make daily decisions that affect the lives of millions of people.
Ephesians 1: 17-18
Day Two: July 4th Peace and Stability
A referendum on independence for Southern Sudan was held in January 2011, with 98% of the electorate opting for secession. Southern Sudan is expected to become an independent country on 9 July, 2011. The country is expected to be called Republic of South Sudan. Forty years of Civil War has killed roughly 2 million people, while disease, famine, and displacement have affected 4 million others. The conflict officially ended with the signing of a peace agreement in January 2005. Pray for peace as the separation occurs and the South becomes an independent nation. Pray for the stability of both countries as they learn to take care of themselves.
Colossians 3:15
Day Three: July 5th
Light in the Darkness
Southern Sudan is known as a Christian nation. What that means to many Sudanese is that they are non-Muslims. When asked if they are followers of Christ, they do not understand. Animism and African traditional religion are the heart of most Sudanese. Pray for the existing churches that they will be a light in the darkness. Pray for the hearts of the Sudanese to be changed.
1 John 1:6-7
Day Four: July 6th Patience with Change
Many Southern Sudanese have an optimistic view of what independence means. They have high hopes for the new country, but many are clinging to the image of a stable and well-established nation to emerge immediately upon Independence Day. It is good that many have such a vision for South Sudan, but it is important that they hold to realistic expectations for the time it will take for these dreams to come to fruition. Pray for patience as it takes time for South Sudan to become a new nation. Pray for trust in God as their Sovereign Lord, and trust in His plans for this new country. Pray for perseverance to work to improve and build up South Sudan, even when it seems impossible.
Philippians 3:12-14
Day Five: July 7th Unity
The tribes of Southern Sudan have fought and killed one another for many years over cattle. The tribes of this nation must stop the violence in order to embrace peace among one another. Pray for unity among the tribes of Southern Sudan. Pray for unity among the churches in all of Sudan.
Psalm 133:1 1 Corinthians 1:10
Day Six: July 8th Pray as We Pray
On the day before independence, the Toposa Team is going to be visiting various villages and districts in the Kapoeta area to lead prayer groups. We will be encouraging people to pray, and we will be leading times of prayer throughout the day. We also hope to stop and pray for all the government officials in Naskal, as this is the town where the office of the commissioner of Kapoeta North County is located. Pray for open doors in villages, districts, and government offices for prayer and the gospel Pray that prayer leads people to trust in God more and more Pray that the Toposa Team would be good examples of servants of Christ as they pray and lead others in prayer
Philippians 4:6-7
Day Seven: July 9th *INDEPENDENCE DAY*
Celebrations Independence Day for Southern Sudan will mean celebration in many parts of the new country, and the Southern Sudanese have many reasons to rejoice today. However, please be in prayer that as the Southern Sudanese celebrate their new independence, they would rejoice safely and respectfully. As the people learn to rejoice in newfound freedom, please pray also that they would learn to rejoice in the Lord as their ultimate source of freedom. Pray for peaceful celebrations in the large cities of Southern Sudan. Pray that celebrations would be respectful and appropriate and that excessive drinking is not a problem. Pray that rejoicing in freedom as a country would lead many individuals to a place of rejoicing in freedom in the Lord.
1 Chronicles 16:35
Day Eight: July 10th Open Doors
While the Lord is not hindered by boundaries of any kind, please pray that He would provide opportunities through what is happening in Sudan this week for the gospel to be made known in both Sudan and in Southern Sudan. Pray that many would come to recognize the Lord’s sovereignty and provision, to rely on Him alone as the only sure foundation, and to give Him the glory that He deserves. Pray that the Lord would use this time in the history of Sudan to remove barriers to the gospel’s spread in both Sudan and in Southern Sudan. Pray that those in both nations would hear and be receptive to His Word. Pray that many from all Sudanese tribes and tongues would come to understand His glory.
Colossians 4:2-3 Romans 8:20-21
