May we ask for your prayer for the nations of Iraq and Syria that are suffering so much from the predations of ISIS? We have our attention on the recent terrorist incursions into France and the USA, but large parts of Iraq and Syria are the ISIS headquarters where everyday can be a terror for millions of people who are confined there under their brutal sway.  

One of our dear Iraqi friends has just sent the following urgent prayer concerns that are being forwarded on to you to ask for your help in prayer. As we pray, things will be different. It is crucial to keep covering both of these nations in daily prayer until the situation is stabilized and these ISIS terrorist thugs are completely overthrown and crushed. We pray that in the process many of them will also turn to Jesus Christ if possible. Such praying for this part of the world will also positively affect the security situation in our own nations. 

Here is our friend’s message from Baghdad. 

Dear in Christ Jesus,

Greetings. The latest news does not show relief in the situations, especially after advancing of the Turkish troops from the north all the way down to nearby Mosul city (60-80 km inside the border). There are much exchange of accusations and words and warnings. 

We need your prayers; supplications and intercessory:

1. Keep pressure of the governmental troops on Isis all the way to drive them out of the Anbar.

2. Prevent spark of clashes and exchange of fire with the Turkish troops and then have two wars within the country.

3. Help us to support the huge waves of Internally Displaced Families, especially with freezing winter hitting the nation suddenly.

4. The recent deteriorated situations has triggered a nation-wide move of migration of both Christians and non- Christians from all the country. We as a church works to keep them and through imparting words of hope.

We need your prayers to support us during this difficult time.

Should you receive a Word from the Lord, then feed us to be uplifted, thank you.

May the Lord Jesus Christ shine upon your life daily, Amen.

The Syrian Circle

Anniversary Edition

December 14, 2015 

This month we celebrate the one-year anniversary of The Syrian Circle launch, intended to bring awareness to Christ’s Church and spark a prayer initiative for the 31 days of December 2014.  As you know, God used the response of you and thousands of others to continue weekly until late 2015.  

We could not have guessed all that this year would hold for the Syrian & Iraqi refugees.  As things have gotten worse each week, with little hope for their immediate future – we continue to hear of the miraculous works of God in the midst of the ugliness.  Looking back one year later, we have confidence that many of our specific prayers are being answered. 

1. His Church and the world are paying far greater attention. 

• It is in the headlines. It’s both dividing nations and uniting others. It’s impacting politics in a number of nations, through pictures “going viral” of a little boy whose life was snuffed out too soon. We are grateful today it’s much harder to ignore.
• Multiple new Christian initiatives have stepped into vacuums to address issues and send workers -  and many organizations have shifted to focus their prayer, personnel, programs and resources towards the crisis.          

2. We asked God to bring supernatural comfort and to meet the physical needs for food, warmth and welcome.  Even though there is still much need, we’ve seen many groups step into the gap.  

3. Specifically responding to our prayers for God to use this crisis to open hearts to consider Jesus, we receive reports weekly that there is unprecedented response to the Prince of Peace.  God is revealing himself among all age-groups, in many locations, with new disciples that includes some of the radicals themselves.  

4. We petitioned together for a new generation of Syrians to be raised up who will know and follow the Lord Jesus.  Large numbers of young men are making their way to Germany, where it’s possible to hear the message.  A number of schools (formal and informal) have been started by believers in various locations.  Along with their education, refugee children are learning and singing about Jesus.  

It’s been an amazing year to see how God’s people have responded, both to giving and going – as well as praying.

We rejoice as we see God’s amazing handiwork in the midst of and in spite of the chaos. Churches, both western and national, have responded with great compassion, sacrifice and focus for aid and effective outreaches.

God’s people are generous people! 

All the giving through The Syrian Circle has been distributed to effective on-the-ground teams to help with the following needs: 

• Food & water
• Winterization items in the camps – hats, socks, gloves, scarves, coats, shoes  and blankets
• Schooling for children – supplies and equipment.
• Vocational training for single Moms
• Bibles and audio playing units with Christian videos & teaching materials 
• Evangelism & Discipleship materials  

Our team is so thankful to GOD for the privilege  and to YOU for being part of this season of intercession.

Because of your faithfulness, we know you are as convinced as we are that prayer is a revolution!  We remember Karl Barth’s reminder that “To clasp the hands in prayer is the beginning of an uprising against the disorder of the world.”  

So what’s next?  

Let’s be part of the revolution.  We plan to continue to provide perspective and prayer points. However, we would like to hear from you through a short 5-question survey to determine the most helpful way to do that and serve you.    

Please click here HERE to take the brief survey or paste this url into your browser https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/LCHVRYR

With gratefulness,

Carol Davis, for The Chase Team