Day 19: North Asia

30 Days of Prayer for Global Awakening

Verses for contemplation: 1 John 4

Greek missionaries from the Byzantine Empire introduced Christianity to Kievan Rus in the 9th century. Now, the Russian Orthodox Church is the most prevalent religion of North Asia. Notable growth occurred among Protestants after World War I, when Russian prisoners came to Christ through the ministry of German missionaries, and then returned home to share the Good News.

The Stalinist repression in the 1930s closed Protestant churches and arrested believers. But after World War II, with more than 26 million Russians dead, cities reduced to rubble, and famine, sickness, homelessness and crime prevalent, a Great Awakening arose. Reports of 250,000 baptisms in 1946 surged to 540,000 in 1958. Many more conversions were not recorded because severe persecution by the USSR’s Communist regime drove Christianity underground. Authorities shut down churches and arrested believers, sending them to mental hospitals or prisons, where many were tortured to renounce their faith.

Since the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, today’s Russia is close to 59% Christian, with 185 distinct people groups, 116 of those unreached with the Gospel. (Notice that number has lowered since this map was created below. Praise God!)

These days, Russia is daily in the news because of war with Ukraine and talks with U.S. President Trump about how to end that war. During these past two weeks of concentrated prayer for the nations, Russia has suffered many drone attacks and blackouts in cities throughout the country. February 24 marked four years since they invaded Ukraine and began this devastating war which has cost nearly half a million Russian lives and about 2 million military casualties total on both sides. (See our Pray for Ukraine and Russia page.)

Prayer points to consider:

• 116 unreached peoples
• War with Ukraine
• Oppressive government
• Excessive force against protesters
• Censorship of internet, media
• Labor and sex trafficking
• Forced labor of North Koreans
• Travel restrictions
• Effects of war (such as PTSD, grief, vast numbers of households left fatherless)

Prayer starter:

Lord, please have mercy on the oppressed, especially victims of sex and labor trafficking who are routinely detained, deported, and prosecuted for activity they were forced to participate in. Be near to them in their time of need. Speak to them and draw them to Yourself. Heal their hearts and lead both them and their abusers to salvation. Protect those in harm’s way and open the path for their escape. Bring Christians to help them along the way. Bless believers so abundantly, they will abundantly bless those around them. Protect them from harm and empower them to share Your truth. Make a way for Your Gospel to reach into every language so all will have the chance to be saved. Steal into every home and heart, exposing Yourself in intimate ways, and lighting up their darkness. As the things people have placed their hope and trust in crumble, step in and show them Your love in personal ways. Invade their darkness with Your light. Give them a hunger to know You so fervent they will search for You with all their hearts and find You. When they reach for the bottle, may they grab a Bible instead. When they lash out at others, may they find Your grace. When they seek truth, may they hear testimonies of Your goodness. Raise up leaders who love You. May those who have trusted in their country place their hope now in the Kingdom that never passes away. Bring Christian counselors to help those devastated by war and trauma to healing. Wipe away their tears with the joy of salvation, and send away their fears with the power of Your love. Even now, Lord, prepare the way for post-war Russia to rise up with yet another Great Awakening. Yes, Lord, please stop the war, rescue the peoples of that nation from evil, and awaken all of Russia to You.

Parallel Prayer: Our 30 Days of Prayer for Global Awakening coincides with Ramadan. February 18-March 19, Muslims throughout the world are fasting and seeking God right now. Let’s pray they find Him! 

Of the 116 unreached people groups in Russia, 65 are Muslim, most of whom have never heard Your Good News. Lord, have mercy, please. Make a way where there seems to be no way for them to know You. Meet them in their dreams. Get the Bible translated into their many languages. Call out people to pray for them and take them Your Good News in a way they can easily understand. Grow within them a craving for You so strong, they will travel far and wide to find someone to tell them about Jesus. Then satisfy them with Your love and salvation. Bring whole villages to faith, and transform whole people groups to have Your name written upon their hearts. Yes, we ask You for a mighty movement of Your Spirit among the Islamic peoples of Russia. May Your Kingdom come to every tribe and heart.

Dinner and a Prayer: Each day during these 30 days, we share with you ideas for special family prayer times, including a suggested menu to go with that day’s prayer theme. Today’s suggestions:

Search the internet to choose recipes from Russia. Research that country and then talk about barriers to the Gospel; then pray together. Menu suggestions: Russian borscht, Russian black bread, Russian tea cakes

As you research today’s region of the world for prayer, type in u0022Russiau0022 in our Search engine to find more prayer points.

Search

You can also go to Joshua Project and click on Russia on the map to discover more about their unreached peoples.

If you would like to plan ahead for international meals, see the “Dinner and a Prayer” section at the bottom of our 30 Days page or in the back of your 30 Days of Prayer for Global Awakening, Vol 2 book.

For suggestions on how to have an even fuller experience this month, check out our 30 Days and So You Think You Can’t Fast pages here at the Prayer Wall.

For deep devotional Bible studies on overcoming anxiety and trauma. see Delight to Be a Woman of Wonder (the men’s version is Dare to Be a Mighty Warrior, for couples who want to study together) and Delight to Be a Woman of God at MoreThanAConquerorBooks.com.

More books for all ages from MoreThanAConquerorBooks.com:

Mikaela Vincent and her husband are missionaries who live by faith, trusting in God to provide for their needs as they pray for and share Christ with the nations. If you would like to help their ministry through giving a donation, shopping at Mikaela’s online bookstore, praying for them or inviting them to speak at your church, retreat or other event, click the buttons below:

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