"Any concern too small to be turned into a prayer is too small to be made into a burden." - Corrie ten Boom
FROM THE DESK OF: the Director of Communications
The Uttermost staff, like virtually every other office with an internet connection this week, is busy filling out our brackets for the NCAA tournament. March Madness is a ton of fun and the smack talk has already begun, especially with our colleagues overseas who will be rooting for underdogs and Cinderellas from 24 different time zones this year. We'll keep you updated on who's dominating (and getting dominated) over the next few days. May the Lord smile on your brackets and bless you in those tricky 5/12 match ups but to close with the immortal words of Larry Bird, "who's finishing second?"
For the Win[dow],
Bubby Bryan, DOC
VERSE OF THE WEEK: Romans 6:23
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
COUNTRY OF THE WEEK: Vietnam
The conquest of Vietnam by France began in 1858 and was completed by 1884. It became part of French Indochina in 1887. Vietnam declared independence after World War II, but France continued to rule until its 1954 defeat by communist forces under Ho Chi MINH. Under the Geneva Accords of 1954, Vietnam was divided into the communist North and anti-communist South. US economic and military aid to South Vietnam grew through the 1960s in an attempt to bolster the government, but US armed forces were withdrawn following a cease-fire agreement in 1973. Two years later, North Vietnamese forces overran the South reuniting the country under communist rule. Despite the return of peace, for over a decade the country experienced little economic growth because of conservative leadership policies, the persecution and mass exodus of individuals - many of them successful South Vietnamese merchants - and growing international isolation. However, since the enactment of Vietnam's "doi moi" (renovation) policy in 1986, Vietnamese authorities have committed to increased economic liberalization and enacted structural reforms needed to modernize the economy and to produce more competitive, export-driven industries. The communist leaders, however, maintain control on political expression and have resisted outside calls to improve human rights. The country continues to experience small-scale protests from various groups - the vast majority connected to land-use issues, calls for increased political space, and the lack of equitable mechanisms for resolving disputes. Various ethnic minorities, such as the Montagnards of the Central Highlands and the Khmer Krom in the southern delta region, have also held protests. (CIA World Factbook)
PRAYER REQUESTS:
- Pray for effective witness from believers in prison for their faith.
- Pray for unity among Christians and Christian organizations who are seeing an increase in new believers.
- Pray for freedom from government repression of unregistered house churches.
- Pray for the Uttermost workers on the field.
- Pray for the US office.