CBC Happenings

CBC Happenings
NORTHERN AFRICA AND THE MIDDLE EAST. Dear Intercessors, Thank you for your fervent prayers for the situation in the Middle East. After being trapped for more than a week in Beirut as Israeli-Hezbollah fighting raged, 19 tired and relieved Southern Baptist volunteers arrived in Cyprus from Lebanon early July 21 and later traveled on to the United States. The two volunteer groups had been participating in various summer ministries with Lebanese Baptists through churches in Beirut when cross-border bombing and rocket attacks broke out between Hezbollah guerrillas based in southern Lebanon and Israeli forces. “They were elated to be out of Lebanon and praising the Lord for His protection,” John Brady, IMB regional leader for Northern Africa and the Middle East, said. “They’re heartbroken for the people in the Middle East, and they’re praying God will resolve this tragic situation soon.” Todd Bradley, one of the volunteers and an associate pr ofessor at Criswell College in Dallas, called the situation in the region “very sad.” He added, “It’s not a matter of whose side you’re on. You love these people here, and they’re watching their country be systematically destroyed, and it’s hard to watch.” Southern Baptist workers in the Middle East are appealing for continuing prayer. “Please lift up the precious people who are not boarding ships out this week,” said one worker in the region. “Pray for those whose lives have been turned upside down so much that it seems the norm. They have no peace. (But) expect to hear in the coming weeks how God is going to be doing great works among the people here. Just from this past week, we have seen Him working in the midst of this turmoil, bringing people together and His Word being shared with many who are in such need of His peace and hope.” Again, thank you for your faithful perseverance in prayer. For futur e updates on the Middle East situation, please refer to the CompassionNet website and click on the Urgent button. http://www.imb.org/compassionnet/
---International Mission Board

Prayer Request, IMB

URGENT PRAYER UPDATEINTERNATIONAL MISSION BOARD
JULY 19, 2006
NORTHERN AFRICA AND THE MIDDLE EAST.

Amid the shouts of fear and fury as rockets rain down on Israel and Lebanon, a deeper cry is rising to God from Christian believers in the Middle East: “Lord, bring peace!” Not just political or military peace, which may or may not ever come, but the peace only God can bring through Jesus Christ. One believer in the region asks, “Pray that God’s light will shine through followers of Jesus during these days and nights of trouble in the Middle East. Ask that believers in Jesus will find rest and hope in the promises of God’s Word. Pray that they will have His perspective and guidance to know how to minister in Jesus’ name to the many hurting people around them.” God knew that this was coming. God is standing in the midst of this. We need to pray that war will not stop the things God is doing. Currently, all Southern Baptist workers in the region are accounted for and safe. Meanwhile, Lebanese Chri stians are delivering food and New Testaments to shelters housing civilians fleeing the fighting in southern Lebanon. They are asking for prayer for their safety and the continuation of this ministry to terrified refugees. Hatred, fear and violence are potent forces, particularly in the Middle East, but they cannot defeat the power of prayer. Middle Eastern believers are claiming that power--and they hope Christians around the world will join them in this dark hour. [excerpted from Erich Bridges’ Baptist Press article, “As rockets fall, prayers for ‘true peace’ rise from Christians in the Middle East”]
---International Mission Board3806 Monument AvenueRichmond, VA 23230
Thank you so much for being on call and instantly responsive to this need and all urgent prayer requests.

Send any questions to: imb@imb.org.