Elijah Project: Day 11

All of the following information comes from Operation World by Jason Mandryke and is in no way my own work. 

Country: Australia

I love Australia. Don’t get me wrong, I love America too, but I really can’t wait to live in Australia. It’s home to some of the nicest, friendliest people you’ll meet (even in the airports) with, yes I'll say it, some of the coolest accents.

Go just once and suddenly you’ll find yourself missing it when you’re not there. Even more, I really feel like God is moving in Australia, especially within the youth. He’s stirring something. So let’s pray into it, shall we?

Australia is a Parliamentary Democracy and is home to a wide range of ethnics groups that have full freedom of religion. The ecological standing at the country is extremely unstable with many droughts and bush fires wiping out much of the country. 

What to pray for:

1) Praise God for the many political leaders that base decisions on the morals that come through their faith in Christ.

2) Traditionally Christian, Australia is now characterized by their diversity and secularism of  values. New Age ideals have created a very “pick and choose” trend of religion throughout the country where religion itself has become very individualized.

·   Due to a growth in immigration and a very multicultural environment, there are many aspects of other religions being accepted and mixed in with Christianity. 

3) Australia’s ecology is one of the most fragile in the world. There are many efforts to preserve what they can, but the country is finding itself slowly dwindling. Pray for good stewardship for the people and favor for the land.

4) The church. Only 10% of professing Christians actually attend church.

·      Pray for a mentality of truth in love in dealing with the secular issues such as human origin, sexuality, and an existence of God.

·      Unity among churches. There is great conflict over issues such as homosexuality, women being ordained, as well as other issues, all leading to more and more division.

·      A heart for world missions throughout every denomination as well as local missions teams to specific ethnics groups in neighboring communities. ( Muslims, Chinese, Jews, and Vietnamese are all growing cultures.)

5) Aborigines- there is great unrest among the native Aboriginals about land rights as the original Australian people. Prime ministers have been working towards better feelings towards one another. Hateful acts of white Australians are often offset by many missionaries that come deliberately to show love. Pray for understanding among both people groups as well as an acceptance of love between both.

·    Many Aboriginals are Christian, and church leaders are working to blend Christian values with Aboriginal culture as a means of worship and outreach. Translations are being compiled for the many indigenous languages spoken.

6) Pray for a heart and means of training for student ministry throughout Australia. Along with that, pray for the Christian youth to have a heart not only for their community, but for world missions as well. 

What the Lord put on my heart:

Father I just want to pray specifically into unity among churches. I pray against the mentality of “numbers”. That they wouldn’t seek to outgrow neighboring churches, that they wouldn’t fight among one another, but that they would join together under You and You alone. Father I pray that they would be a light. It’s no wonder that so many are beginning to pick and choose the aspects of their own personal religion when churches are arguing and splitting over issues among themselves anyway. I pray that there would just be a humbling among Australian churches and growing love for the people.

I pray that the churches wouldn’t judge those who come seeking. That they wouldn’t look down upon them for a way of life or for beliefs, but that they would see through your eyes. I pray for the youth among churches, that they would be raised according to your word, but not sheltered from the world and society around them. Instead I pray that they would be shining lights and display to their friends what true followers of Christ look like. That they aren’t out there to scream about hell, but to love like Christ. I pray that the youth of Australia would learn the Bible for themselves. Read it and study it with their own eyes instead of just listening to what others tell them. That they would learn to seek out your heart for issues and not just pick a side to take. But that they would form decisions from your Holy Spirit.