Week of September 21, 2015

“All vital praying makes a drain on a man’s vitality. True intercession is a sacrifice, a bleeding sacrifice.”

— J.H. Jowett

---

FROM THE DESK OF: the Director of Communications

Some days your soul feels like it's covered in clouds. There is a persistent drizzle that wont let up. It seems like you haven't seen the sun in months. Sometimes the Lord is nowhere to be found. Faith is knowing - choosing to believe that the sun is behind the clouds, even though all the evidence suggests the sun is gone forever. Faith is a choice.

For the Win[dow],

Bubby Bryan, DOC

VERSE OF THE WEEK: Isaiah 30:20

"And though the Lord give you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, yet your Teacher will not his himself anymore, but your eyes shall see your Teacher."

COUNTRY OF THE WEEK: Myanmar (Burma)

Various ethnic Burmese and ethnic minority city-states or kingdoms occupied the present borders through the 19th century. Over a period of 62 years (1824-1886), Britain conquered Burma and incorporated the country into its Indian Empire. Burma was administered as a province of India until 1937 when it became a separate, self-governing colony; in 1948, Burma attained independence from the British Commonwealth. Gen. NE WIN dominated the government from 1962 to 1988, first as military ruler, then as self-appointed president, and later as political kingpin. In response to widespread civil unrest, NE WIN resigned in 1988, but within months the military crushed student-led protests and took power.

Multiparty legislative elections in 1990 resulted in the main opposition party - the National League for Democracy (NLD) - winning a landslide victory. Instead of handing over power, the junta placed NLD leader (and Nobel Peace Prize recipient) AUNG SAN SUU KYI (ASSK) under house arrest from 1989 to 1995, 2000 to 2002, and from May 2003 to November 2010. In late September 2007, the ruling junta brutally suppressed protests over increased fuel prices led by prodemocracy activists and Buddhist monks, killing at least 13 people and arresting thousands for participating in the demonstrations. In early May 2008, Burma was struck by Cyclone Nargis, which left over 138,000 dead and tens of thousands injured and homeless. Despite this tragedy, the junta proceeded with its May constitutional referendum, the first vote in Burma since 1990. Parliamentary elections held in November 2010, considered flawed by many in the international community, saw the ruling Union Solidarity and Development Party garner over 75% of the seats.

Parliament convened in January 2011 and selected former Prime Minister THEIN SEIN as president. Although the vast majority of national-level appointees named by THEIN SEIN are former or current military officers, the government has initiated a series of political and economic reforms leading to a substantial opening of the long-isolated country. These reforms have included releasing hundreds of political prisoners, concluding negotiations on a draft nationwide cease-fire with the country’s various ethnic armed groups, pursuing legal reform, and gradually reducing restrictions on freedom of the press, association, and civil society. At least due in part to these reforms, ASSK was elected to parliament in April 2012, and now serves as chair of the Committee for Rule of Law and Tranquility. Most political parties have begun building their institutions in preparation for the next round of general elections, scheduled for late 2015. The country served as chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) for 2014. (CIA World Factbook)

Joshua Project Profile

Prayercast Profile

PRAYER REQUESTS:

• Pray for peace and justice to reign in an impoverished land whose ethnically diverse peoples have suffered greatly.
• Pray for effective evangelism that would penetrate the hearts of a staunchly Buddhist majority.
• Pray for those believers who face tremendous harassment and persecution for their Christian faith.
• Pray for the Uttermost workers on the field.
• Pray for the US office.

Week of September 14, 2015

“When you are in the dark, listen, and God will give you a very precious message…”

— Oswald Chambers

---

FROM THE DESK OF: the Director of Communications

One of the great strengths of our organization is that our reps are scattered literally all over the world, serving in various capacities, focusing on various sports. Also one of our great weaknesses is that our reps are scattered all over the world. Communications, time zones, different focuses make cohesion difficult. Continue to pray for the development of our ever growing, ever changing team.

For the Win[dow],

Bubby Bryan, DOC

VERSE OF THE WEEK: 1 Samuel 16:7

"But the Lord said to Samuel, do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart."

COUNTRY OF THE WEEK: Turkey

Modern Turkey was founded in 1923 from the Anatolian remnants of the defeated Ottoman Empire by national hero Mustafa KEMAL, who was later honored with the title Ataturk or "Father of the Turks." Under his leadership, the country adopted wide-ranging social, legal, and political reforms. After a period of one-party rule, an experiment with multi-party politics led to the 1950 election victory of the opposition Democratic Party and the peaceful transfer of power. Since then, Turkish political parties have multiplied, but democracy has been fractured by periods of instability and intermittent military coups (1960, 1971, 1980), which in each case eventually resulted in a return of political power to civilians. In 1997, the military again helped engineer the ouster - popularly dubbed a "post-modern coup" - of the then Islamic-oriented government. Turkey intervened militarily on Cyprus in 1974 to prevent a Greek takeover of the island and has since acted as patron state to the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus," which only Turkey recognizes. A separatist insurgency begun in 1984 by the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) - now known as the Kurdistan People's Congress or Kongra-Gel (KGK) - dominated the Turkish military's attention and claimed more than 30,000 lives. After the capture of the group's leader in 1999, the insurgents largely withdrew from Turkey mainly to northern Iraq. In 2013, the PKK and the Turkish Government agreed to a cease-fire that continues despite slow progress in ongoing peace talks. Turkey joined the UN in 1945 and in 1952 it became a member of NATO. In 1963, Turkey became an associate member of the European Community; it began accession membership talks with the EU in 2005. Over the past decade, economic reforms have contributed to a quickly growing economy. (CIA World Factbook)

Joshua Project Profile

Prayercast Profile

PRAYER REQUESTS:

• Pray for a radical change in deep-seated prejudices and biases against Christianity.
• Pray for wise leadership to peacefully navigate the tense rivalry between staunch nationalists and radical Islamists.
• Pray for the work of evangelism to go forth in power despite increased hostilities and bitter persecution toward believers.
• Pray for the Uttermost workers in the field.
• Pray for the US office.

Week of September 7, 2015

“Men may spurn our appeals, reject our message, oppose our arguments, despise our persons, but they are helpless against our prayers.”

— J. Sidlow Baxter

---

FROM THE DESK OF: the Director of Communications

BE ADVISED: THE NFL RETURNS TONIGHT. THAT IS ALL.

For the Win[dow],

Bubby Bryan, DOC

VERSE OF THE WEEK: Deuteronomy 6:5

You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.

COUNTRY OF THE WEEK: Somolia

Britain withdrew from British Somaliland in 1960 to allow its protectorate to join with Italian Somaliland and form the new nation of Somalia. In 1969, a coup headed by Mohamed SIAD Barre ushered in an authoritarian socialist rule characterized by the persecution, jailing, and torture of political opponents and dissidents. After the regime's collapse early in 1991, Somalia descended into turmoil, factional fighting, and anarchy. In May 1991, northern clans declared an independent Republic of Somaliland that now includes the administrative regions of Awdal, Woqooyi Galbeed, Togdheer, Sanaag, and Sool. Although not recognized by any government, this entity has maintained a stable existence and continues efforts to establish a constitutional democracy, including holding municipal, parliamentary, and presidential elections. The regions of Bari, Nugaal, and northern Mudug comprise a neighboring semi-autonomous state of Puntland, which has been self-governing since 1998 but does not aim at independence; it has also made strides toward reconstructing a legitimate, representative government but has suffered some civil strife. Puntland disputes its border with Somaliland as it also claims the regions of Sool and Sanaag, and portions of Togdheer. Beginning in 1993, a two-year UN humanitarian effort (primarily in south-central Somalia) was able to alleviate famine conditions, but when the UN withdrew in 1995, having suffered significant casualties, order still had not been restored. In 2000, the Somalia National Peace Conference (SNPC) held in Djibouti resulted in the formation of an interim government, known as the Transitional National Government (TNG). When the TNG failed to establish adequate security or governing institutions, the Government of Kenya, under the auspices of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), led a subsequent peace process that concluded in October 2004 with the election of Abdullahi YUSUF Ahmed as President of a second interim government, known as the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) of the Somali Republic. The TFG included a 275-member parliamentary body, known as the Transitional Federal Parliament (TFP). President YUSUF resigned late in 2008 while United Nations-sponsored talks between the TFG and the opposition Alliance for the Re-Liberation of Somalia (ARS) were underway in Djibouti. In January 2009, following the creation of a TFG-ARS unity government, Ethiopian military forces, which had entered Somalia in December 2006 to support the TFG in the face of advances by the opposition Islamic Courts Union (ICU), withdrew from the country. The TFP was doubled in size to 550 seats with the addition of 200 ARS and 75 civil society members of parliament. The expanded parliament elected Sheikh SHARIF Sheikh Ahmed, the former ICU and ARS chairman as president in January 2009. The creation of the TFG was based on the Transitional Federal Charter (TFC), which outlined a five-year mandate leading to the establishment of a new Somali constitution and a transition to a representative government following national elections. In 2009, the TFP amended the TFC to extend TFG's mandate until 2011 and in 2011 Somali principals agreed to institute political transition by August 2012. The transition process ended in September 2012 when clan elders replaced the TFP by appointing 275 members to a new parliament who subsequently elected a new president. (CIA World Factbook)

Joshua Project Profile

Prayercast Profile

PRAYER REQUESTS:

• Pray for the believing minority who suffer great persecution and martyrdom.
• Pray for courage and strength for those who are boldly sharing their faith.
• Pray for safe fellowship and encouragement for isolated believers.
• Pray for the Uttermost workers in the field.
• Pray for the US office.

Week of August 31, 2015

“To pray well is the better half of the study.”

— Martin Luther

---

FROM THE DESK OF: the Director of Communications

I've read articles about Libyan refugees trying to make it to Europe before. I've read about the corruption and violence they are fleeing. But today I saw pictures. I saw pictures of dead Libyan children washed ashore. I'm a new father and I cant see those children without thinking of my own. I really don't have the right words. That kind of horror is simply inaccessible to me. There's no way to tie this up with a bow. There's no lesson or call to action. Just lament. 

How long O Lord?

For the Win[dow],

Bubby Bryan, DOC

VERSE OF THE WEEK: Psalm 22:14-16

"I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint; my heart is like wax; it is melted within my breast; my strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to my jaws; you lay me in the dust of death. For dogs encompass me; a company of evildoers encircles me; they have pierced my hands and feet..."

COUNTRY OF THE WEEK: North Korea

An independent kingdom for much of its long history, Korea was occupied by Japan beginning in 1905 following the Russo-Japanese War. Five years later, Japan formally annexed the entire peninsula. Following World War II, Korea was split with the northern half coming under Soviet-sponsored communist control. After failing in the Korean War (1950-53) to conquer the US-backed Republic of Korea (ROK) in the southern portion by force, North Korea (DPRK), under its founder President KIM Il Sung, adopted a policy of ostensible diplomatic and economic "self-reliance" as a check against outside influence. The DPRK demonized the US as the ultimate threat to its social system through state-funded propaganda, and molded political, economic, and military policies around the core ideological objective of eventual unification of Korea under Pyongyang's control. KIM Il Sung's son, KIM Jong Il, was officially designated as his father's successor in 1980, assuming a growing political and managerial role until the elder KIM's death in 1994. KIM Jong Un was publicly unveiled as his father's successor in 2010. Following KIM Jong Il's death in 2011, KIM Jong Un quickly assumed power and has now taken on most of his father's former titles and duties. After decades of economic mismanagement and resource misallocation, the DPRK since the mid-1990s has relied heavily on international aid to feed its population. The DPRK began to ease restrictions to allow semi-private markets, starting in 2002, but then sought to roll back the scale of economic reforms in 2005 and 2009. North Korea's history of regional military provocations; proliferation of military-related items; long-range missile development; WMD programs including tests of nuclear devices in 2006, 2009, and 2013; and massive conventional armed forces are of major concern to the international community. The regime in 2013 announced a new policy calling for the simultaneous development of its nuclear weapons program and its economy. (CIA World Factbook)

Joshua Project Profile

Prayercast Profile

PRAYER REQUESTS:

• Pray for Almighty God to deliver a nation long-enslaved by a brutal regime.
• Pray for the Church to persevere and multiply amid horrific persecution.
• Pray for Truth to reign and liberate the nation from the regime's indoctrination and lies.
• Pray for the Uttermost workers on the field.
• Pray for the US office.

Week of August 24, 2015

“The prayer power has never been tried to its full capacity…if we want to see might wonders of divine power and grace wrought in the place of weakness, failure and disappointment, let us answer God’s standing challenge, “Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and might things which thou knowest not.”

— J. Hudson Taylor

---

FROM THE DESK OF: the Director of Communications

My Facebook feed is full of first day of school pictures this week. On ESPN there's an endless loop of back to school sales and school supplies commercials. It almost feels like New Years. Fresh start, new beginnings. Every football team in the country is 0-0 right now. Optimism and hope abound. I'm reminded that for those in Christ, this is true of us all the time. There is no condemnation and forgiveness is available every. single. day. Clean slate. What a beautiful reality to live in. 

For the Win[dow],

Bubby Bryan, DOC

VERSE OF THE WEEK: Lamentations 3:22-23

"The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness."

COUNTRY OF THE WEEK: Iran

Known as Persia until 1935, Iran became an Islamic republic in 1979 after the ruling monarchy was overthrown and Shah Mohammad Reza PAHLAVI was forced into exile. Conservative clerical forces led by Ayatollah Ruhollah KHOMEINI established a theocratic system of government with ultimate political authority vested in a learned religious scholar referred to commonly as the Supreme Leader who, according to the constitution, is accountable only to the Assembly of Experts - a popularly elected 86-member body of clerics. US-Iranian relations became strained when a group of Iranian students seized the US Embassy in Tehran in November 1979 and held embassy personnel hostages until mid-January 1981. The US cut off diplomatic relations with Iran in April 1980. During the period 1980-88, Iran fought a bloody, indecisive war with Iraq that eventually expanded into the Persian Gulf and led to clashes between US Navy and Iranian military forces. Iran has been designated a state sponsor of terrorism for its activities in Lebanon and elsewhere in the world and remains subject to US, UN, and EU economic sanctions and export controls because of its continued involvement in terrorism and concerns over possible military dimensions of its nuclear program. Following the election of reformer Hojjat ol-Eslam Mohammad KHATAMI as president in 1997 and a reformist Majles (legislature) in 2000, a campaign to foster political reform in response to popular dissatisfaction was initiated. The movement floundered as conservative politicians, supported by the Supreme Leader, unelected institutions of authority like the Council of Guardians, and the security services reversed and blocked reform measures while increasing security repression. Starting with nationwide municipal elections in 2003 and continuing through Majles elections in 2004, conservatives reestablished control over Iran's elected government institutions, which culminated with the August 2005 inauguration of hardliner Mahmud AHMADI-NEJAD as president. His controversial reelection in June 2009 sparked nationwide protests over allegations of electoral fraud. These protests were quickly suppressed, and the political opposition that arose as a consequence of AHMADI-NEJAD's election was repressed. Deteriorating economic conditions due primarily to government mismanagement and international sanctions prompted at least two major economically based protests in July and October 2012, but Iran's internal security situation remained stable. President AHMADI-NEJAD's independent streak angered regime establishment figures, including the Supreme Leader, leading to conservative opposition to his agenda for the last year of his presidency, and an alienation of his political supporters. In June 2013 Iranians elected a moderate conservative cleric, Dr. Hasan Fereidun RUHANI to the presidency. He is a long-time senior member in the regime, but has made promises of reforming society and Iran's foreign policy. The UN Security Council has passed a number of resolutions calling for Iran to suspend its uranium enrichment and reprocessing activities and comply with its IAEA obligations and responsibilities, but in November 2013 the five permanent members, plus Germany, (P5+1) signed a joint plan with Iran to provide the country with incremental relief from international pressure for positive steps toward transparency of their nuclear program. (CIA World Factbook)

Joshua Project Profile

Prayercast Profile

PRAYER REQUESTS:

• Pray for a great harvest resulting from faithful believers sharing bold accounts of their faith.
• Pray for the church to rapidly multiply and mature despite horrendous persecution against non-Muslim peoples.
• Pray for Christians around the world to seize unprecedented opportunities to infiltrate Iran with the Gospel via Internet, TV, and media.
• Pray for the Uttermost workers in the field.
• Pray for the US office.

Week of August 10, 2015

“The great people of the earth today are the people who pray, (not) those who talk about prayer…but I mean those who take time and pray.”

— S.D. Gordon

---

FROM THE DESK OF: the Director of Communications

We talk about sports being a "universal language" that we use to introduce the gospel to places where it is not already known. Sports crosses language, culture, gender barriers better than any other platform but its important to remember that sports aren't a silver bullet. There are good reasons these places we work are unreached. Its hard. Culture and tradition are set against us. Not to mention powers and principalities. Please pray for our reps in the field. Satan is pleased with the status quo and is actively working against our projects and placements. Sports is our tool but the Spirit is our power.

For the Win[dow],

Bubby Bryan

VERSE OF THE WEEK: Amos 5:23-24

"Take away from me the noise of your songs; to the melody of your harps I will not listen. But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like and ever-flowing stream."

COUNTRY OF THE WEEK: Iran

Known as Persia until 1935, Iran became an Islamic republic in 1979 after the ruling monarchy was overthrown and Shah Mohammad Reza PAHLAVI was forced into exile. Conservative clerical forces led by Ayatollah Ruhollah KHOMEINI established a theocratic system of government with ultimate political authority vested in a learned religious scholar referred to commonly as the Supreme Leader who, according to the constitution, is accountable only to the Assembly of Experts - a popularly elected 86-member body of clerics. US-Iranian relations became strained when a group of Iranian students seized the US Embassy in Tehran in November 1979 and held embassy personnel hostages until mid-January 1981. The US cut off diplomatic relations with Iran in April 1980. During the period 1980-88, Iran fought a bloody, indecisive war with Iraq that eventually expanded into the Persian Gulf and led to clashes between US Navy and Iranian military forces. Iran has been designated a state sponsor of terrorism for its activities in Lebanon and elsewhere in the world and remains subject to US, UN, and EU economic sanctions and export controls because of its continued involvement in terrorism and concerns over possible military dimensions of its nuclear program. Following the election of reformer Hojjat ol-Eslam Mohammad KHATAMI as president in 1997 and a reformist Majles (legislature) in 2000, a campaign to foster political reform in response to popular dissatisfaction was initiated. The movement floundered as conservative politicians, supported by the Supreme Leader, unelected institutions of authority like the Council of Guardians, and the security services reversed and blocked reform measures while increasing security repression. Starting with nationwide municipal elections in 2003 and continuing through Majles elections in 2004, conservatives reestablished control over Iran's elected government institutions, which culminated with the August 2005 inauguration of hardliner Mahmud AHMADI-NEJAD as president. His controversial reelection in June 2009 sparked nationwide protests over allegations of electoral fraud. These protests were quickly suppressed, and the political opposition that arose as a consequence of AHMADI-NEJAD's election was repressed. Deteriorating economic conditions due primarily to government mismanagement and international sanctions prompted at least two major economically based protests in July and October 2012, but Iran's internal security situation remained stable. President AHMADI-NEJAD's independent streak angered regime establishment figures, including the Supreme Leader, leading to conservative opposition to his agenda for the last year of his presidency, and an alienation of his political supporters. In June 2013 Iranians elected a moderate conservative cleric, Dr. Hasan Fereidun RUHANI to the presidency. He is a long-time senior member in the regime, but has made promises of reforming society and Iran's foreign policy. The UN Security Council has passed a number of resolutions calling for Iran to suspend its uranium enrichment and reprocessing activities and comply with its IAEA obligations and responsibilities, but in November 2013 the five permanent members, plus Germany, (P5+1) signed a joint plan with Iran to provide the country with incremental relief from international pressure for positive steps toward transparency of their nuclear program. (CIA World Factbook)

Joshua Project Profile

Prayercast Profile

PRAYER REQUESTS:

• Pray for a great harvest resulting from faithful believers sharing bold accounts of their faith.
• Pray for the church to rapidly multiply and mature despite horrendous persecution against non-Muslim peoples.
• Pray for Christians around the world to seize unprecedented opportunities to infiltrate Iran with the Gospel via Internet, TV, and media.
• Pray for Uttermost workers in the field.
• Pray for the US office.