Logos Hope Passenger Ship Safety Certificate

On 3rd December the surveyor will arrive to begin the process of providing the Passenger Ship Safety Certificate for Logos Hope. The process will take up to six days. I would certainly appreciate it if you could spend time on each of these days praying for the team who will be working with the surveyor on Logos Hope and for the right outcome from it all. As we pray we must certainly also be giving thanks to God for His incredible goodness to the ship ministry in recent months. I must say that at the beginning of 2012 I just wondered where we would be in this ministry by the end of the year. God has provided in so many ways, giving people who have tirelessly labored especially through this dry-dock period, giving finances the like of which we could not have imagined at the beginning of the year. There have, of course, been tremendous struggles and stresses over the past year, but God’s faithfulness has been evident to all. If, therefore, between 3rd and 9th December we could spend some time each day in thanksgiving and intercession for the ministry, I would deeply appreciate it. Peter Maiden

In The Midst of Great Hardship

A man from a Christian relief team recently delivered food to a Syrian widow living in a rural Muslim village near the border. When the anxious widow opened her door to him, the Christian explained he had come out of love for God. She told him about her encounter the previous day. While she was sleeping during the night she responded to a knock on the door, but no one was there. After a while she heard the same knocking and went to sit next to the door where she eventually fell asleep. While she was sleeping someone put His hand on her shoulder. He said, 'You don't know Me. You have passed through a great pain. I experienced a great pain, also. But I will not leave you alone. Tomorrow, I will send you someone who will tell you about Me. Listen to him." The widow then began to weep and begged her Christian visitor to "tell me about this Person that I saw in my dream."

Barrenness is a requirement

“God’s first requirement in ministry is barrenness. God looks for people who are incapable of producing life on their own, those who have come to the end of their own striving and honestly admit their true condition. Most of us, not wanting to bear this reproach, go around feigning ‘life.’ Our activities become the substitute for the anointing. Programs replace productivity and prayer. Life seems to abound everywhere, until one looks below the surface and realizes it’s only a veneer - a form of godliness that lacks power. Why does God insist on barrenness as a prerequisite for blessing? Simply because no flesh can glory in it… God has to strip us first so that He alone is glorified.” David Ravenhill

Keeping Prayer Vital, Fresh and Enjoyable. Part 3 Desperate

3. Desperate Having been arrested by the authorities in a Mid East country for witnessing and passing out some scriptures, I learned early on in my missionary life about desperate prayer. Being threatened with expulsion from the country, I cried out in desperation in the men’s bathroom (“toilet” to non-Americans!) for God to give me wisdom in getting out of this situation. And as clear as anything God gave me the words to use and I was able to stay and fulfill my commitment in the country. The Bible shows us that David had instances of desperate prayer, as well as Hannah when praying for a son. Joy Dawson asks the question, “Why Desperate Prayer?” and answers it: • Because the world’s unreached multitudes are in desperate need. • Because hell is desperately real. Hell is desperate people, eternally trapped, with no hope of relief. • Our desperate cries to God on their behalf powerfully influence the lost to make the right choices. Heaven is then more populated and Hell less. • Desperate people pray with intensity and are not self-conscious. As we pray for the issues on our campuses, in our cities and nations, ask God to give a burden so that as we pray we are not just uttering words but our heart’s cry, and we feel the pain and see the lostness and hopelessless of those without Christ. And it rises up in a desperate cry for God to act. Rhonda Hughey writes, “The key of holy desperation for the presence and ministry of Jesus is required in order for us to move out of our complacent, satisfied existence. Desperation is the underlying fuel that ignites our hearts for unity, prayer, worship, and repentance. If we aren’t longing for Jesus, our ministry activities will be routine and hollow. There is certainly no shortage of ideas, plans, methods, books, teachings, programs, and activities in the church; what we are suffering from is a drought of desperation for God!”

Keeping Prayer Vital, Fresh and Enjoyable! Part 2 Passionate

2. Passionate “Fan into flame a passion for your name,” sings Tim Hughes, a worship leader from England. This is a prayer I pray many times: “Lord, fill my heart with passion for You and Your presence.” The villagers that night were passionate in their prayers and relationship with the Lord. It was not just a matter of duty but a passionate desire for Him. Just how passionate do we want to be? It is you and I who make that decision, not God. We set the limits, not God. We can go as far as we want, but so often we put barriers up and allow other things to captivate and fascinate our hearts. We are content with so little of God when there is so much more. He is the God of all pleasure. “In your presence there is fullness of joy, and at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” Psalm 16:11) As we meditate on this God of all pleasure and beauty, our hearts cannot fail to grow in our passion and love for Him. It’s what we do in our own time that prepares us for the group times of prayer. We cannot be worshipping idols of entertainment and then expect to be full of passion for God in the prayer room. As our hearts are moved in His presence, everything else pales in comparison. One of the best ways I have found to deepen my passion and love is regular fasting. While fasting is voluntary weakness, it reveals so much the true intents of our hearts. It also makes a statement that I am serious about this relationship and want to grow deeper into the things of God.

Keeping Prayer Fresh, Vital and Enjoyable. Part 1

It was pitch black as we made our way to the prayer meeting. No street lights or lights shone from around the huts. This wasn’t Atlanta, Georgia, but right on the border between Thailand and Burma. There was no electricity. The only light was from candles burning, showing where the meeting was going to take place. Climbing up a bamboo ladder, we joined the assembled village Christians, sitting cross-legged around the perimeter of the room with 8-10 candles in the middle. I was scared the flimsy bamboo mat floor wouldn’t take the weight of four large, Western men. Then I was worried that I would knock over one of the candles and burn the meeting room down! Suffice it to say, neither happened, but what remains with me today are some significant reminders about prayer. We came to bless these faithful people, but actually what they imparted to us was far, far greater. Sitting in that environment brought home to me again how uncomplicated prayer is and yet how profound is the mystery of it. Here are some lessons I’m learning about keeping prayer vital, fresh and enjoyable! 1. Simple We can make prayer and prayer meetings too complicated. In this small hut meeting room, there was no PowerPoint, live music, video clips or pizza! Just simply people committed to meet and pray, knowing that God would meet with them. There was no program or agenda or personalities, or egos–just time spent before the Throne. Richard and I (another Englishman) lead many prayer meetings together, and he coined the phrase that we try and follow for these, which are sometimes a hour long, or two hours, a weekend or 10 days of 24/7. Our prayer meetings are simply Unstaged, Unhurried, Unsafe, Unscripted, but not unprepared. When we come to listen, be guided, by the Holy Spirit and ask the Lord to mess us up, it’s surprising what can happen! It’s not about numbers (there were only maybe 8-10 people in that hut), but in God’s eyes it’s an army. And that’s what counts! I meet with 4-8 people each week early in the morning for prayer. Right at the beginning God told us not to worry about numbers. In His eyes, one plus Himself is a majority! Very often it’s a small group that meets, but that’s enough to pull down strongholds because the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty through God for the pulling down of strongholds. There is nothing there about needing a certain number before that will work. Numbers, size, strength are man’s ways. God’s plumbline is about holiness, humility and unity. Nor is it about location. Anywhere is good enough to pray. We don’t need comfy chairs or kneeling benches. In fact I rarely sit when I am praying. Walking around helps keep me concentrating (and awake!). Jesus used a mountain, a quiet place; Paul used a prison; Koreans use caves; some prayer fanatics in a Southeast Asian country use long-distance buses! It’s not about performance. Jesus said to His disciples, Here’s what I want you to do: Find a quiet, secluded place so you won’t be tempted to role-play before God. Just be there as simply and honestly as you can manage. The focus will shift from you to God, and you will begin to sense His grace. The world is full of so-called prayer warriors who are prayer-ignorant. They’re full of formulas and programs and advice, peddling techniques for getting what you want from God. Don’t fall for that nonsense. This is your Father you are dealing with, and He knows better than you what you need.” Matthew 6:6-8. (The Message) God listens to broken and desperate people with hearts totally dependent on Him. The outward show is nothing. It’s the heart and history we have in God in secret that matters. But it’s about His promises. “For apart from me you can do nothing.” And yet there is a lot of nothing we engage in. We have His promises throughout scripture, and we can know them, memorize them, meditate on them, pray them, and believe them. And lifestyle. Hindus, Muslims and Buddhists have a prayer culture, whereas we Christians have a prayer meeting. God never intended prayer to be merely a value or a duty but a lifestyle. “Engaging in continual prayer and fasting means embracing a way of life before the Lord that challenges everything in us. When the church corporately (or the student group) embraces and approaches prayer as a lifestyle and not a meeting, she will begin to take significant steps toward her ultimate destiny, which involves partnering with God to shape history, affect the spiritual atmosphere, and influence nations.” Dave Sliker Let us learn the secret of crying out to Him day and night to see justice released into our community, nation and world! (Luke 18:7).

Hajj. Day 3

Sacred Act #3: Jamarat (stoning) and Sacrifice As the pilgrims leave Muzdalifah, they pass through Mina again. They head to the three pillars, which represent Satan coming to Abraham three times*, to tempt him to ignore the instructions of God concerning the sacrifice of his son**. Muslims believe that Abraham threw stones at Satan. Using the stones or pebbles that they have collected, they throw them at the pillars, which represent Satan. In the stoning, pilgrims renounce evil and declare their willingness to sacrifice all they have to God. After this battle with Satan, pilgrims will kill a sheep, a goat or maybe a camel in remembrance of God's provision of a sheep sacrificed instead of Abraham's son. This sacrifice ends the formal time of Hajj. It is on this day, as well, that Muslims all over the world will sacrifice a sheep or some other animal. This is the biggest Islamic feast of the year, called Eid el Kabir (literally the Big Feast) or Eid el Adha (the Feast of Sacrifice). Key Scripture to Pray The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him. John said, "Look, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world." John 1:29 CryOut to the Father Ephesians 6 states "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against... the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." Muslims understand there is a spiritual battle caused by Satan. Throwing rocks at Satan during the day of stoning is meaningless apart from the cross and resurrection which defeated Satan. Pray that they would see that only Jesus defeated sin, Satan and death. May they know that in Christ, we have mighty weapons "for the tearing down of strongholds." (2 Corinthians 10:4) Thank the Lord that Muslims see the importance of sacrificing an animal. In the Old Testament, it meant forgiveness of sins. After Jesus died on the cross, animals no longer were sacrificed, for His death covered all of our sins. Pray that Muslims will understand the meaning behind the sacrifice and cross of Jesus. Ask that God would overwhelm people with the truth and reality of Jesus' death on the cross. Ask that the Holy Spirit would move in people's hearts so that they can receive this as truth. Ask God to give Muslims understanding that Christ has overcome all the powers of Satan on the cross and pray that they will experience the reality of that victory in their lives through spontaneous healings and deliverances by calling on Jesus' name. What does the Bible say? * The Bible does not talk about Satan visiting Abraham, nor stones, Genesis 22. ** The Quran does not actually say which son of Abraham it was. It is Islamic tradition that says Ishmael. The Bible says that it was Isaac, Genesis 22.

Hajj Day 2

Hajj Day 2 Sacred Act 2: Wuqoof (standing at Arafat) In the morning after prayers, the pilgrims proceed to the Plain of Arafat. It is believed that Muhammad delivered his final sermon from a hill above this plain during his last pilgrimage. Here, pilgrims perform the central ritual of the Hajj, the standing, or wukoof, to atone for sins. The pilgrims face Mecca and pray from noon to sundown. These prayers are done in a prescribed way: they should remember God, ask for forgiveness and pray other Islamic prayers. Muslims believe that they leave this day cleansed of sin*, which also brings freedom from shame. Shame is a great burden to most Muslims. But with this act, they believe honor is restored. As the sun sets, the people are not required to quote any prescribed prayers. During this time, pilgrims are to be alone with Allah. They ask that their sins and lifelong shortcomings be forgiven. At sunset, a cannon sounds. Pilgrims leave Mount Arafat going to Muzdalifah, where they sleep or stay up all night under the stars. On the way, they can pick up stones and pebbles for the next day's ritual. Many Muslims not on the Hajj fast on this day of wuqoof. Key Scripture to Pray Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, you and all the people in your house. Acts 16:31 CryOut to the Father At least five times a day, devout Muslims say these words, "Show us the straight way, the way of those on whom Thou hast bestowed Thy Grace, those whose [portion] is not wrath, and who go not astray." Pray that God will answer their prayer in such a way that they can grasp God's grace through Jesus Christ, that they will see He is the straight way. As the pilgrims head to Muzdalifah, may what happened to Paul in Romans 7:7-13 well up in them, that theirs sins would continue to overwhelm them. Pray for conviction of sin deep in their hearts and minds. Pray that God would reveal His heart - that He is grieved by our sin, but that He offers a way to receive His forgiveness. Jesus takes guilt and shame away which brings real freedom. Pray that God would reveal His heart of love for the people. He loves them so much. Pray that people will have encounters of God's love for them. Pray that God will speak to them in dreams and visions, as they spend the second night of the Hajj praying for their shortcomings and needs. Ask God for an open heaven for many who are genuinely seeking an encounter with God. What does the Bible say? * The Bible talks about sins being cleansed by the blood of Jesus. Matthew 26:28, Acts 2:38, 1 John 1:7

Egypt Prayer Gathering

This from Jericho Walls International Prayer Network Earlier this month about 10,000 Christian young people came from all across Egypt for three days to worship the Lord and to seek God's blessing for their country. The worshipers, mostly ranging from ages 13 to 30, gathered from 10 o'clock in the morning until 8 each evening. Many traveled hundreds of miles to the worship site in the middle of the desert north of Cairo. "To sit among over 10,000 young people, worship with them in a roaring holy noise, listen to powerful and challenging messages and pray for God's powerful presence in our lives; really, it is hard to describe in words," says a Christian leader. "Sitting at the very back of the small soccer stadium gave me a good view of the scene. Thousands were sitting to my right, thousands to my left and thousands more in the middle. Hardly any empty gaps! Pray to the Lord that He will continue to strengthen Christians in Egypt and give them boldness and courage. Pray that the amount of Christian youth will increase in number. Pray that these young people will continue to grow in the knowledge of God the Father and Jesus Christ whom He has sent.

Extraordinary prayer

We live in extraordinary circumstances. It is time for extraordinary prayer. We worship an extraordinary God who has extraordinary promises for those who love Him. We have an extraordinary commission and mandate. Let us then expect extraordinary results. Life's opportunities come to us packaged as impossibilities - but let us worship this God for whom nothing is impossible. • Extraordinary prayer demand extraordinary intensity in prayer. It is prayer with your whole heart, your mind and all your strength. It is prayer with tears, deep travail and desperation. • Extraordinary prayer demand more time than usual. It demands more than the usual 5 or 10 minutes people spend in prayer. It demands prayer times where I pray until my heart has been prayed up, until I am saturated with God and until I know I have broken through to God's throne. It is to pray until we receive answers, no matter how long it takes. • Extraordinary prayer demands that people pray in larger numbers than before. The apostle Paul calls entire congregations to prayer. We read in 2 Cor.1:11 that the prayers of many bring gracious favor from God. When people pray together, God breaks their will and they come in line with the will of God. They hear God corporately in their prayer times. Let us mobilize entire congregations to stand before God and call on His Name. • Extraordinary prayer demands extraordinary perseverance. Prayer from a heart that knows God and believes in Him, is prayer that does not become discouraged. It is prayer that never takes "no" for an answer and knows that our God answers prayer. Keep on standing. Persevere in prayer.

Papua New Guinea:

With a focus on church mobilization, most of the activities of OM Papua New Guinea (PNG) revolve around the recruiting and training of local believers for world missions. Monthly meetings on world missions are taken in churches, and quarterly prayer meetings are held as combined church events. The OM PNG team also speaks at Bible colleges and youth camps, and missions conferences and seminars are organized regularly. A short-term team is hosted in PNG annually, and a one-month missions training program offered to new recruits. An annual “Barnabas Weekend” geared towards sending churches, partners and donors is also planned. “One of the greatest challenges the [local] church is facing is how to deal with other religious groups that are coming into PNG,” continued Kini. “We have other faiths that are also targeting PNG and as a result, many believers are leaving the church. On top of that, the church is faced with the challenge of social and health issues, and the response in terms of practical help is very slow and limited. The main concern now is that the church does not have a strong voice in some of the national issues that are affecting our nation. It remains silent and is not vocal to protect Christian beliefs and practices. Godly leadership, stewardship and sound biblical teaching are [also] often lacking.” There are currently 11 Papua New Guineans serving in Zambia, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, Thailand and on the OM ship. With only three full-time workers in the home office, the OM PNG team is busy! Pray that more people would join the OM PNG team, and for an increase in personal support and fundraising. Praise God for the 11 PNGs on the field, and for the impact they are making through their lives and ministry.

MEETING ON THE MOUNTAIN - Turkey:

Harry and Hope, two believers from the plains of Anatolia, Turkey, came to know the Lord through the Bible Correspondence Course (BCC) eight years ago. The persecution they've experienced from their village has been severe, and they were finally forced to move onto a lonely hillside. But their witness continues to radiate, and they begged the staff at the BCC to help serve food and share the Good News with their neighbors. Imagine the shock of the BCC staff to learn that this couple had invited over 100 people to the event. The mayor's assistant arranged the loan of chairs and tables and brought them to the mountain top. Though the place was baron of houses-except a few small sheds for shepherds-more than 50 people came. They listened to worship songs, watched a drama and heard a message about the lost son. Believers shared their testimonies and people asked questions. Many villagers said they were touched. Several cried during the drama and one confessed he was like the lost son. Though Harry and Hope have suffered much persecution, people still come to them for prayer. Please pray that Harry and Hope would be strengthened amidst persecution. Pray also that their testimony would continue go out widely

Haiti: On 18 August, Marc-Hancy Saint Charles, a Haitian missionary serving with OM since January 2010, was shot and killed during an apparent robbery in Port-au-Prince. He had recently made a bank withdrawal to purchase materials for an OM project to build a roof for a church in a nearby village. Marc served with OM France from 1989 to 1990 and on Logos II from 1990 to 1991. He then served as Evangelism Pastor at the Baptist Tabernacle in Delmas. After the 2010 earthquake, Marc joined the OM Caribbean team as an Island Coordinator. He leaves behind his wife Jocelyn, son Christo (15), and daughter Stassie (13). We remain steadfast in our mission, and Marc’s, to mobilize the church and to see the name of Jesus Christ carried to those who do not know him. Haiti struggles with civil unrest from poor living conditions and failed economic policies. Major crime continues to rise, especially in the Port-au-Prince area. During the third week of August, there were 22 murders, 31 robberies, and five kidnappings tied to various NGOs. Yet churches and other groups that OM has partnered with continue to see great fruit. Trinity Baptist Church in Limonade baptized nine new believers on the day Marc was killed. Churches continue to grow and the sustainable businesses that OM has helped start are doing well. Many churches, schools, orphanages, and local farmers are seeing significant income as a result of OM’s sustainable business initiatives. Pray for Marc’s family as they come to terms with this huge loss Pray that through his life and witness many would find Christ

Freedom Climb update

Fox & Friends is interviewing live 3 members of The Freedom Climb tomorrow at 0722. Freedom Climb was the climb of Mt. Kilimanjaro last month. Freedom climbers raised awareness, prayers, and finances for women and children being oppressed, enslaved, exploited and trafficked. Several bullet points from the Freedom Climb:

1. over $300,000 through this event for projects that will affect 10,000 women and children this year in 18 countries.
2. Perhaps a Kilimanjaro record: 91% of the climbers, all women, reached the peak (not a one was a professional or hobbyist climber). This is being submitted to Guinness Book of Records.
3. It is the biggest secular media attention getter OM has ever experienced. We’re willing to surrender our ship sinking and prison encounters adventures for that!
4. This is just the start.

The Freedom Climb

Climbers Interviewed on Fox and Friends Tomorrow
Cathey Anderson, Tina Yeager, and Madison Baczewski, are being interviewed tomorrow morning, February 15th, by Fox & Friends! Tune into Fox News at 0722a.m. EST to see their live interview.

TURKEY: THE 1881 PROJECT

Last July 2011, Turkey's Bible Correspondence Course (BCC) launched an 18 month initiative to challenge residents of all of the country's 81 provinces to consider the claims of Christ. More than a third of these provinces have no meeting of believers; many have no known believers at all. The BCC is working with international volunteer church and youth groups, giving training and advice as well as furnishing literature and other media to be distributed in each province. For more info or to sign up for prayer updates or even join live prayer meetings in Istanbul every 81 days, see: http://the1881project.org

Pray for Syria

Hundreds die in fresh civil unrest in Syria

Syria, the United States has closed its embassy in Damascus, Syria after hundreds were killed in renewed civil conflict there. The announcement came two days after Russia and China vetoed a U.N. Security Council plan authored by the Arab League in an attempt to end 11 months of violence.

Yesterday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov held talks with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on a solution to the crisis; all the while Syrian forces resumed bombarding the protest hotbed of Homs. More than 300 people reportedly died in the violence, including women and children.

Tom Doyle with E3 Partners says, "We know believers there, and it's extremely difficult. Some are predicting that the Assad regime will fall; others are saying he will dig in and never go down. So it doesn't look like any end in sight."

Doyle says since the unrest, Christians have been left alone by the government. However, believers still have to deal with the day-to-day violence. The climate for change is perfect for people to turn to Christ. "We're hearing the nominal Christians, Muslims, Alawite, Druze, in Syria are much more open to hearing about Christ. In fact, in some cases, they are seeking out Christians."

According to Viva Global Prayer Children playing innocently outside their homes, or trying to be helpful by doing chores or running errands in the community... these are the latest victims of Syria's conflict as violence in the nation rages on.

CryOut to the Father
• Pray that God will cause the Gospel to grow like wildfire in these Muslim strongholds
• Pray for the Believers in Syria to stay faithful and strong
• Pray for the safety and security of believers
• Pray for the Government and other leaders who are busy with negotiations
• Pray for God to use the uncertainty to draw people to seek the truth more urgently
• Pray that children will be protected amidst the continuing violence
Sources: Global Day of Prayer, Mission News Network, Viva Global Prayer

Panama Update

Panama begins the process of recovery

After a week of riots, fires, road blockages, shortage of food and fuel, looting local businesses and much tension throughout the country, Panama woke up this morning in a state of hopeful expectation. Pending the signature of the President on the agreement between government and the indigenous, things are cautiously getting back to order throughout the country.

The protests of the indigenous tribe Gnöbe Buglé in the western part of Panamá caused great problems to the OM team in the Province of Chiriquí. Last week, a group of protesters blocked the only highway between Chiriquí and the country’s capital, Panamá City. The Gnöbe Buglé are upset with the government for approving hydropower and mining developments in the region. They want President Martinelli to exclude the indigenous area from the industry to protect the natural environment.

It now has been reported that the first 9 trucks of fresh produce from the province of Chiriquí have made their way to Panama City in the early hours of the morning, after a week of no commercial trading throughout the country.

All of this is good news for the team of OM Panama. This means that they should be able to resume normal activity in their daily operations. It also means that the OMers from around the world who have been in Volcán this week for the OM Latin America Finance Forum will be able to travel freely to catch their busses and flights back home.

Climbing For Freedom -Day 3

“I’m feeling kind of excellent…I think everyone is acclimating really well…just one step at a time, everybody is just moving, moving, moving.” –Madison
The Freedom Climbers have completed Day 3 of the climb! Right now, they are resting at 14,206 feet in their camp at Mawenzi Tarn Hut.

Tomorrow and Sunday from 6pm Saturday to 6am Sunday is the hardest part of the climb. The ladies will be climbing and walking for 12 hours so they can reach the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro and then begin to descend. Please pray for their health, energy, and safety. Also, please pray for the women and children for whom they are climbing. Pray that they will be set free!

The Freedom Climb prayer requests

Prayer Requests for Today:

1. Please pray for one of the international climbers who is having trouble with the strenuous cardio workout, as well as the altitude. She only has sneakers to wear, whereas the other ladies have hiking boots. Pray for supernatural strength, and protection for her feet. Pray that she wouldn’t get altitude sickness.
2. Pray for a good night’s sleep. The next two days will be the toughest part of the climb, and the women will need to be very well rested.
3. Pray that the women will stay warm through the night, and during the day as they further approach the summit and the temperature drops.
4. Pray that God will continue to be speaking to the women throughout the climb, and showing them His goodness and mercy.
5. Pray for the women and children worldwide trapped in cycles of oppression, abuse, and trafficking.
6. Pray that this effort would bring hope and help to 10,000 women and children this year!!!

Scripture for Today:
“Surely God is my help; the Lord is the one who sustains me.” – Psalm 54:4

The Freedom Climb is underway

Today, Human Trafficking Awareness Day in the US, 47 women representing many ages and nationalities begin their ascent of Mt. Kilimanjaro with the aim of highlighting this important issue and supporting initiatives that will break the cycle of despair. The Freedom Climb was initiated by OM and a number of OM women are taking part. As you can imagine this is an extremely tough climb and they would value your intercession. More details about the climb, the cause and the climbers at:
www.thefreedomclimb.net

The Freedom Climb

This morning our office was blessed to pray for and commission 3 of our own women working in the office, plus 46 others, who leave for Kenya on Sunday. The task is to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro at 5,895 metres or 19,341 feet. One of the women is 70 years old. Amazing! The goal is something else: Freedom.

What is THE FREEDOM CLIMB? Women from across the globe will begin their ascent of Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania on January 11, 2012, the National Human Trafficking Awareness Day in the U.S. Climbers will be raising awareness, prayers, and finances for women and children being oppressed, enslaved, exploited and trafficked. The Freedom Climb goal for 2012 is to affect the lives of 10,000 women through projects that break the cycles of poverty, shame, slavery, and despair. These projects include micro-loans, education, skills training, and protection from exploitation. Included is an OM project in Nepal.

Why Mt. Kilimanjaro? The highest mountain in Africa, its summit is known as Uhuru Peak. Uhuru is the Swahili word for freedom. Climbing Kilimanjaro is symbolic of the huge climb to freedom faced daily by millions of enslaved women and children worldwide. Kilimanjaro is the highest mountain on the African continent.

Why a climb? The story of women from different cultures, climbing Kilimanjaro on behalf of other women, to raise interest about human trafficking. As the story continues to be told, many will hear the cry for freedom of women and children being oppressed. The climb will be documented each day, escalating the voice of advocacy on behalf of women’s freedom issues. And this is what the Lord compels His children to do, to “speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves” and “see that they get justice.” (Proverbs 31:8-9 NLT)

www.thefreedomclimb.net