Join Us in Uniting Churches Around the World for Prayer & Witness in May 2023

Join Us in Uniting Churches Around the World for Prayer & Witness in May 2023

Greetings to you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ! The Advent Season when we reflect on the meaning of Christmas seems like an ideal time to share this “save the date” with you that aims to unite our efforts for 2023 to share the good news of Jesus Christ’s coming into this world. Earlier this year, we launched the first annual Season of Global Witness & Disciple-Making in the month of May. It emerged from a number of conversations with global organizations and initiatives that all seek to mobilize local churches and believers to pray and share the gospel with their neighbors. As a movement that has sought to unite evangelical churches for more than 175 years, the WEA – together with all the regional and national Evangelical Alliances in 143 countries – is natural partners in such an initiative. After all, we seek unity not simply for the sake of unity but because Jesus prayed for unity, so that the world would believe (John 17:20-23)! Because of the unique role that National Alliances can play in mobilizing churches, I would like to share with you early on the schedule for the coming year, which you can see below. We hope you will join us in praying for the Holy Spirit to move the global body of Christ and for every believer to be encouraged to use this season to intentionally witness to those around them. There will be more information and helpful resources provided in the coming months leading up to May. Thank you in advance for your participation! Sincerely in Christ,

Bishop Dr Thomas Schirrmacher Secretary General World Evangelical Alliance

PENTECOST 2023 Pray and Go! Join 120 million believers: To pray and share about Jesus launching a decade to reach everyone by 2033 Acts 1.8 YOU WILL RECEIVE POWER AND BE HIS WITNESSES About 2000 years ago, 120 Believers were praying on the initial Pentecost and the place was shaking. What would happen if 120 million believers were to pray and go into the world to witness? May 9: Day of the Bible MAY 18-27 GLOBAL UPPER ROOM  May 18: Ascension Thursday. Starting 10 days of prayer.  A covenant to pray together asking the Lord of the Harvest to empower His church for a decade of prayer and evangelism. Luke 10:2 MAY 27-28 PENTECOST WEEKEND 2023 May 27: Go Day. We call every believer to be a witness for Christ.  May 28: Go Decade launch, as well as Church Planting Sunday.  Continue to pray and share the Gospel as a lifestyle.  Everyone can reach someone. Together we can reach the world.

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Week of Prayer 2021 in Europe Focuses on “Bible Engagement”

By Evangelical Focus 

One more year, the European Evangelical Alliance (EEA) invites all European Christians to participate in the Week of Prayer (WOP).

The 2021 Week of Prayer, which has been coordinated by the International Bible Society and the Swiss Evangelical Alliance, will take place from 10 – 17 January 2021, under the theme “Bible Engagement”.

“Throughout 8 days participants are invited to engage with the Bible following the verbs: read, live, share, invite, think, experience, hear, worship. The material contains a biblical devotion as well as prayer topics, a suggested prayer and a reflection for each day”, the EEA explains.

Thomas Bucher, General Secretary of the European Evangelical Alliance, pointed out that “when I read through it, I thought to myself: yes, the bible takes us closer to God, to our sisters and brothers, our neighbours and to our own souls. It roots us in our creator and in all of his creation”.

“It is my prayer that as a result of this Week of Prayer you will engage with new vigour with the Word of God and that it will do its mighty work in you and bring the fruit it promises to bring”, he added.

The Evangelical Alliance Week of Prayer is an old tradition, going back to the year after the launch of Evangelical Alliance in 1846.

Praying throughout Europe

Many European Evangelical alliances has published a guide for the WOP in their own languages and are encouraging Christians in their countries to participate.

“Prayer remains less attractive than other more dynamic spiritual activities for the majority of Christians. I hope this week will be a good start to the year for every believer, every evangelical church and all God’s people in Spain”, says Israel Montes, coordinator of the prayer group of the Spanish Evangelical Alliance.

According to Christian Blanc, president of French Evangelical Alliance (CNEF), “praying is the best way to express to God our real dependence. Without His help and grace, the best intentions, those that sometimes animate us at the beginning of the New Year, are doomed to failure”.

“Let us therefore pray for our churches and for our works. Let us ask God to make us, his children, faithful and powerful witnesses. Let us intercede for our nation and those who govern it”, he adds.

“We are convinced that praying, thanking, lamenting and listening to God’s Word together moves something in the praying person himself, but also in the world”, Andi Bachmann-Roth, General Secretary of the Swiss Evangelical Alliance stresses.

The 2021 Week of Prayer resources can be download in several languages at the EEA website and are also available as a Bible Plan on YouVersion app.

The Holy Week in Lockdown - Reflecting on the Cross and Resurrection during a Pandemic

Your Daily Devotional for Today

As our whole world is consumed by a novel coronavirus and the fear and suffering it has brought to millions of people, we enter the final week of the Lenten season. This is “Holy Week” — the time when we remember Jesus’ last week of life on earth, his death on the cross, and his resurrection to life on Easter Sunday.

These were the darkest days in Jesus’ life, yet he gave comfort and hope to his fearful disciples. Then, to their shock, he died. But what appeared to be a failure and a curse from God turned into the greatest victory as Jesus rose to life!

How can we apply what happened two thousand years ago to our lives today? How can we find hope and encouragement in a world overrun by uncertainty and fear?

We have prepared a brief devotional for each day from Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday, following the Gospel of John from chapter 12 to chapter 20. Each devotional connects an element of what Jesus said or did to the current crisis and includes a few questions for you to reflect on or discuss with friends or family.

Each day also offers a brief look at what is happening in different parts of the world as believers and churches respond to the pandemic in various ways. We will also be posting short videos on our Facebook page (fb.com/worldea) that will be a great way for you to start the devotional.

We encourage you to spend a few minutes each day with this guide (available in English, French, Spanish and shortly also in Russian): worldea.org/devotionals

We trust that it will give you a new perspective on the current situation. May it be enriching to you, may it give you hope and strength, and most of all, may it bring you closer to God!

Sincerely,

Bp Efraim Tendero
Secretary General / CEO
World Evangelical Alliance


Today's Video

With the pandemic removing so many of life’s distractions, people are reflecting on questions of their meaning and purpose in life. God has provided us with a source of meaning and purpose that overcomes anything the world can throw at us. As today’s devotional points out, people all over the world are gripped by anxiety and fear. But if we know Jesus Christ, even though the future is uncertain, we don’t have to fear!

Watch the Video

Palm Sunday: John 12 - Believe in the Light!

Today, people all over the world are gripped by anxiety and fear. [...] Daily news updates paint a bleak picture of increasing infections and deaths, and hope for a vaccine seems far away. In this passage, Jesus was facing the darkest moment of his life. He entered Jerusalem knowing that these would be his last days on earth. Darkness was closing in as religious leaders plotted to kill him and his disciples still did not understand what was about to happen (verse 16), yet Jesus fully and unshakingly trusted in God.

Read the Devotional