Week of January 4, 2016

“Nothing tends more to cement the hearts of Christians than praying together. Never do they love one another so well as when they witness the outpouring of each other’s hearts in prayer.”

— Charles Finney

---

FROM THE DESK OF: the Director of Communications

The holidays are behind us. The bowl games are over. Time to get back to the normal rhythms of life. Which for us is recruiting and sending sports missionaries to restricted access countries. Our prayer for 2016 is similar to what we find in the book of Ezra. Everyone whose spirit is stirred up we want to send. Our prayer is that the Lord would stir up like He never has before...

For the Win[dow],

Bubby Bryan, DOC

VERSE OF THE WEEK: Ezra 1:5

Then rose up the heads of the fathers' houses of Judah and Benjamin and the priests and the Levites, everyone whose spirit God had stirred to to up to rebuild the house of the LORD that is in Jerusalem.

COUNTRY OF THE WEEK: Libya

The Italians supplanted the Ottoman Turks in the area around Tripoli in 1911 and did not relinquish their hold until 1943 when defeated in World War II. Libya then passed to UN administration and achieved independence in 1951. Following a 1969 military coup, Col. Muammar al-QADHAFI assumed leadership and began to espouse his political system at home, which was a combination of socialism and Islam. During the 1970s, QADHAFI used oil revenues to promote his ideology outside Libya, supporting subversive and terrorist activities that included the downing of two airliners - one over Scotland, another in Northern Africa - and a discotheque bombing in Berlin. UN sanctions in 1992 isolated QADHAFI politically and economically following the attacks; sanctions were lifted in 2003 following Libyan acceptance of responsibility for the bombings and agreement to claimant compensation. QADHAFI also agreed to end Libya's program to develop weapons of mass destruction, and he made significant strides in normalizing relations with Western nations. Unrest that began in several Middle Eastern and North African countries in late 2010 erupted in Libyan cities in early 2011. QADHAFI's brutal crackdown on protesters spawned a civil war that triggered UN authorization of air and naval intervention by the international community. After months of seesaw fighting between government and opposition forces, the QADHAFI regime was toppled in mid-2011 and replaced by a transitional government. Libya in 2012 formed a new parliament and elected a new prime minister. The country subsequently elected a new parliament in 2014, but remnants of the outgoing legislature refused to leave office and created a rival government.

Joshua Project Profile

Prayercast Profile

 

PRAYER REQUESTS:

• Pray for a unified government that will rebuild the nation with justice and peace.
• Pray for the tiny Libyan Church to be united and established despite intense persecution.
• Pray for Jesus to reveal Himself to moderate and extremist Muslims alike.
• Pray for the Uttermost workers in the field.
• Pray for the US office.

Week of December 21, 2015

“Worship and intercession must go together, the one is impossible without the other. Intercession means that we rouse ourselves up to get the mind of Christ about the one for whom we pray.”

— Oswald Chambers

---

FROM THE DESK OF: the Director of Communications

From myself and the Uttermost staff in the US Office, we want to wish you and yours a very Merry Christmas! We hope the blog has shed some light on the topics and places where we focus our time and energy around the world. May 2016 be the year where the Kingdom breaks through in profound ways!

See y'all next year. For the Win[dow],

Bubby Bryan, DOC 

VERSE OF THE WEEK: Isaiah 9:6

"For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."
 

COUNTRY OF THE WEEK: Rwanda

In 1959, three years before independence from Belgium, the majority ethnic group, the Hutus, overthrew the ruling Tutsi king. Over the next several years, thousands of Tutsis were killed, and some 150,000 driven into exile in neighboring countries. The children of these exiles later formed a rebel group, the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF), and began a civil war in 1990. The war, along with several political and economic upheavals, exacerbated ethnic tensions, culminating in April 1994 in a state-orchestrated genocide, in which Rwandans killed up to a million of their fellow citizens, including approximately three-quarters of the Tutsi population. The genocide ended later that same year when the predominantly Tutsi RPF, operating out of Uganda and northern Rwanda, defeated the national army and Hutu militias, and established an RPF-led government of national unity. Approximately 2 million Hutu refugees - many fearing Tutsi retribution - fled to neighboring Burundi, Tanzania, Uganda, and former Zaire. Since then, most of the refugees have returned to Rwanda, but several thousand remained in the neighboring Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC, the former Zaire) and formed an extremist insurgency bent on retaking Rwanda, much as the RPF did in 1990. Rwanda held its first local elections in 1999 and its first post-genocide presidential and legislative elections in 2003. Rwanda in 2009 staged a joint military operation with the Congolese Army in DRC to rout out the Hutu extremist insurgency there, and Kigali and Kinshasa restored diplomatic relations. Rwanda also joined the Commonwealth in late 2009 and assumed a nonpermanent seat on the UN Security Council for the 2013-14 term. (CIA World Factbook)

Joshua Project Profile

Prayercast Profile

PRAYER REQUESTS:

• Pray for the Church to lead in national repentance, reconciliation, and healing.
• Pray for the provision and hope for widows, orphans, and other continued victims of the genocide.
• Pray for committed believers to stand firm in the face of cultural and tribal pressures.
• Pray for the Uttermost workers in the field.
• Pray for the US office.

Week of December 7, 2015

“Pursuing prayer is prayer on a mission. It is diligent, fervent, constant, persevering, determined, and convinced.”

— David Bryant

---

FROM THE DESK OF: the Director of Communications

Seventy-four years ago this week Japan attacked Pearl Harbor, pulling the United States into World War II and changing the face of world history forever. One day changed the lives of millions and altered the course of nations. Who knows what lies in the days ahead, certainly there are new threats and dangers but the God who guided us in the past and redeemed the carnage of world wars will surely continue to be faithful today and beyond.

For the Win[dow],

Bubby Bryan, DOC

VERSE OF THE WEEK: Psalm 40:1-3

"I waited patiently for the Lord;  he inclined to me and heard my cry.He drew me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure. He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the Lord."

COUNTRY OF THE WEEK: Yemen

North Yemen became independent from the Ottoman Empire in 1918. The British, who had set up a protectorate area around the southern port of Aden in the 19th century, withdrew in 1967 from what became South Yemen. Three years later, the southern government adopted a Marxist orientation. The massive exodus of hundreds of thousands of Yemenis from the south to the north contributed to two decades of hostility between the states. The two countries were formally unified as the Republic of Yemen in 1990. A southern secessionist movement and brief civil war in 1994 was quickly subdued. In 2000, Saudi Arabia and Yemen agreed to delineate their border. Fighting in the northwest between the government and the Huthis, a Zaydi Shia minority, began in 2004 and has since resulted in six rounds of fighting that ended in early 2010 with a cease-fire. The southern secessionist movement was revitalized in 2008. Public rallies in Sana'a against then President SALIH - inspired by similar demonstrations in Tunisia and Egypt - slowly built momentum starting in late January 2011 fueled by complaints over high unemployment, poor economic conditions, and corruption. By the following month, some protests had resulted in violence, and the demonstrations had spread to other major cities. By March the opposition had hardened its demands and was unifying behind calls for SALIH's immediate ouster. In in late April 2011. the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), in an attempt to mediate the crisis in Yemen, proposed the GGC Initiative, an agreement in which the president would step down in exchange for immunity from prosecution. SALIH's refusal to sign an agreement led to further violence. The UN Security Council passed Resolution 2014 in October 2011 calling for an end to the violence and completing a power transfer deal. In late November 2011, SALIH signed the GCC Initiative to step down and to transfer some of his powers to Vice President Abd Rabuh Mansur HADI. Following HADI's election victory in February 2012, SALIH formally transferred his powers. In accordance with the GCC initiative, Yemen launched a National Dialogue Conference (NDC) in March 2013 to discuss key constitutional, political, and social issues. HADI concluded the NDC in January 2014. Subsequent steps in the transition process include constitutional drafting, a constitutional referendum, and national elections. Since the Arab Awakening in 2011, the Huthis have expanded their influence, culminating in a major offensive against military units and tribes affiliated with their Yemeni rivals and enabling their forces to overrun the capital, Sana'a, in September 2014. In January 2015, the Huthis attacked the presidential palace and President HADI's residence and surrounded key government facilities, prompting HADI and the cabinet to submit their resignations. HADI fled to Aden, and in late February he rescinded his resignation. He subsequently escaped to Saudi Arabia and asked the GCC to intervene militarily in Yemen to protect the legitimate government from the Huthis. In late March, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia launched Operation Decisive Storm, a series of airstrikes against Huthi and Huthi-affiliated forces. In late April, the Saudi Government announced completion of the operation and initiated Operation Restoring Hope, which focuses on humanitarian aid and a return to political dialogue. As of late April 2015, the Huthis controlled much of western Yemen. (CIA World Factbook)

Joshua Project Profile

Prayercast Profile

PRAYER REQUESTS:

• Pray for the Gospel to go forth in power despite current legal restrictions.
• Pray for freedom from the narcotic qat that holds 80% of Yemeni adults captive.
• Pray for the desperate economic situation to ignite a longing for lasting hope and security.
• Pray for the Uttermost workers in the field.
• Pray for the US office.

Week of November 30, 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

In light of the recent shootings in California, there has been a lot of push back on prayer as an appropriate response. In some circles prayer is seen as a toothless platitude devoid of any actual action. Pitting prayer against action is unnecessary. Both are required and neither negates the other. In our sports work in restricted access contexts we must bath our actions in prayer in order to see any supernatural fruit and yet there is still the work of being a physical, incarnational witness that is required. That is actually the most Christlike response we can have - a deep, prayerful dependence on the Father with physical, tangible response.

For the Win[dow],

Bubby Bryan, DOC

VERSE OF THE WEEK: Hebrews 1:1-4

"Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs."

COUNTRY OF THE WEEK: Egypt

The regularity and richness of the annual Nile River flood, coupled with semi-isolation provided by deserts to the east and west, allowed for the development of one of the world's great civilizations. A unified kingdom arose circa 3200 B.C., and a series of dynasties ruled in Egypt for the next three millennia. The last native dynasty fell to the Persians in 341 B.C., who in turn were replaced by the Greeks, Romans, and Byzantines. It was the Arabs who introduced Islam and the Arabic language in the 7th century and who ruled for the next six centuries. A local military caste, the Mamluks took control about 1250 and continued to govern after the conquest of Egypt by the Ottoman Turks in 1517. Completion of the Suez Canal in 1869 elevated Egypt as an important world transportation hub. Ostensibly to protect its investments, Britain seized control of Egypt's government in 1882, but nominal allegiance to the Ottoman Empire continued until 1914. Partially independent from the UK in 1922, Egypt acquired full sovereignty from Britain in 1952. The completion of the Aswan High Dam in 1971 and the resultant Lake Nasser have altered the time-honored place of the Nile River in the agriculture and ecology of Egypt. A rapidly growing population (the largest in the Arab world), limited arable land, and dependence on the Nile all continue to overtax resources and stress society. The government has struggled to meet the demands of Egypt's population through economic reform and massive investment in communications and physical infrastructure.

Inspired by the 2010 Tunisian revolution, Egyptian opposition groups led demonstrations and labor strikes countrywide, culminating in President Hosni MUBARAK's ouster. Egypt's military assumed national leadership until a new parliament was in place in early 2012; later that same year, Mohammed MORSI won the presidential election. Following often violent protests throughout the spring of 2013 against MORSI's government and the Muslim Brotherhood, and massive antigovernment demonstrations, the Egyptian Armed Forces intervened and removed MORSI from power in July 2013 and replaced him with interim president Adly MANSOUR. In January 2014, voters approved a new constitution by referendum and in May 2014 elected Abdel Fattah Al SISI president. Legislative elections are expected by the end of 2015.

Joshua Project Profile

Prayercast Profile

PRAYER REQUESTS:

• Pray for a strong and trustworthy government that will act in the interest of all its people.
• Pray for Coptic Christians to receive the encouragement and boldness they need to stand firm before their oppressors.
• Pray for Muslim-background believers to share Christ's love with their families and neighbors.
• Pray for the Uttermost workers in the field.
• Pray for the US office.

Week of November 16, 2015

“To get nations back on their feet, we must first get down on our knees.”

— Billy Graham

---

FROM THE DESK OF: the Director of Communications

Over the weekend the world witnessed another terrorist attack in Paris. These were the most violent attacks in France since World War II. ISIS has claimed responsibility and France has promised swift action. These attacks are not unique, as ISIS has been slaughtering thousands of people for some time; but when terrorism happens in a global, first world destination -- as opposed to war torn, Middle Eastern countries -- people start to pay attention. We must continue to pray that the Lord saves men like Saul of Tarsus in order to produce men like the Apostle Paul.

For the Win[dow],

Bubby Bryan

VERSE OF THE WEEK: Colossians 1:15-16

"He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him."

COUNTRY OF THE WEEK: Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia is the birthplace of Islam and home to Islam's two holiest shrines in Mecca and Medina. The king's official title is the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques. The modern Saudi state was founded in 1932 by ABD AL-AZIZ bin Abd al-Rahman Al SAUD (Ibn Saud) after a 30-year campaign to unify most of the Arabian Peninsula. One of his male descendants rules the country today, as required by the country's 1992 Basic Law. King SALMAN bin Abd al-Aziz ascended to the throne in 2015 and placed the first next-generation prince, MUHAMMAD BIN NAYIF bin Abd al-Aziz, in the line of succession as Crown Prince. Following Iraq's invasion of Kuwait in 1990, Saudi Arabia accepted the Kuwaiti royal family and 400,000 refugees while allowing Western and Arab troops to deploy on its soil for the liberation of Kuwait the following year. The continuing presence of foreign troops on Saudi soil after the liberation of Kuwait became a source of tension between the royal family and the public until all operational US troops left the country in 2003. Major terrorist attacks in May and November 2003 spurred a strong on-going campaign against domestic terrorism and extremism.

King ABDALLAH from 2005 to 2015 incrementally modernized the Kingdom - driven by personal ideology and political pragmatism - through a series of social and economic initiatives, including expanding employment and social opportunities for women, attracting foreign investment, increasing the role of the private sector in the economy, and discouraging businesses from hiring foreign workers. The Arab Spring inspired protests - increasing in number since 2011 but usually small in size - over primarily domestic issues among Saudi Arabia's majority Sunni population. Riyadh has taken a cautious but firm approach by arresting some protesters but releasing most of them quickly, and by using its state-sponsored clerics to counter political and Islamist activism. In addition, Saudi Arabia has seen protests among Shias in the Eastern Province, who have protested primarily against the detention of political prisoners, endemic discrimination, and Bahraini and Saudi Government actions in Bahrain. Protests are met by a strong police presence, with some arrests, but not the level of bloodshed seen in protests elsewhere in the region.

In response to the unrest, King ABDALLAH in February and March 2011 announced a series of benefits for Saudi citizens including funds to build affordable housing, salary increases for government workers, and unemployment entitlements. To promote increased political participation, the government held elections nationwide in September 2011 for half the members of 285 municipal councils - a body that holds little influence in the Saudi Government. Also in September 2011, King ABDALLAH announced that women will be allowed to run for and vote in future municipal elections - first held in 2005 - and serve as full members of the advisory Consultative Council. The country remains a leading producer of oil and natural gas and holds about 16% of the world's proven oil reserves. The government continues to pursue economic reform and diversification, particularly since Saudi Arabia's accession to the WTO in 2005, and promotes foreign investment in the kingdom. A burgeoning population, aquifer depletion, and an economy largely dependent on petroleum output and prices are ongoing governmental concerns. (CIA World Factbook)

Joshua Project Profile

Prayercast Profile

PRAYER REQUESTS:

• Pray for the Lord Jesus to miraculously demolish the stronghold of Islam in this nation.
• Pray for massive Islamic missionary efforts to be thwarted.
• Pray for true religious freedom and the curbing of heinous human rights abuses.
• Pray for the Uttermost workers in the field.
• Pray for the US office.

Week of November 9, 2015

“God shapes the world by prayer. The more praying there is in the world the better the world will be, the mightier the forces against evil…”

— E.M Bounds

---

FROM THE DESK OF: the Director of Communications

Another example of the power of sports: Last week, a black graduate student began a hunger strike in protest of the way the administration dismissed the serious nature of racial issues on their campus. This matter was considered only of local interest and was limited to the campus... until the Missouri football team stood in solidarity with the hunger strike and pledged to boycott all football activities until the president was fired or resigned. This is now a national headline. And just moments ago, the Missouri President resigned. Sports is a powerful vehicle. 

For the Win[dow]

Bubby Bryan, DOC

VERSE OF THE WEEK: Philippians 2:3

"Do nothing from rivalry or conceit but in humility count others more significant than yourselves."

COUNTRY OF THE WEEK: Chad

Chad, part of France's African holdings until 1960, endured three decades of civil warfare, as well as invasions by Libya, before peace was restored in 1990. The government eventually drafted a democratic constitution and held flawed presidential elections in 1996 and 2001. In 1998, a rebellion broke out in northern Chad, which has sporadically flared up despite several peace agreements between the government and insurgents. In June 2005, President Idriss DEBY held a referendum successfully removing constitutional term limits and won another controversial election in 2006. Sporadic rebel campaigns continued throughout 2006 and 2007. The capital experienced a significant insurrection in early 2008, but has had no significant rebel threats since then, in part due to Chad's 2010 rapprochement with Sudan, which previously used Chadian rebels as proxies. DEBY in 2011 was reelected to his fourth term in an election that international observers described as proceeding without incident. In January 2014, Chad began a two-year rotation on the UN Security Council. (CIA World Factbook)

Joshua Project Profile

Prayercast Profile

PRAYER REQUESTS:

• Pray for the Church to be both burdened and equipped for evangelism among an increasing Muslim majority.
• Pray for pioneer missionaries to persevere in difficult places in order to reach the unreached.
• Pray for integrity and honesty to rule the nation and displace government corruption.
• Pray for the Uttermost workers on the field.
• Pray for the US office.