Sunday

LORD WILLING: WE'LL DO SOMETHING!

Today at TriEak Parmeshwar Mandali, our Bhutanese-Nepali church -- a refugee church -- we are going to have a discussion about three huge global challenges.  We will discuss HIV/AIDS, Human Trafficking, and Unreached People Groups / Diaspora.  We will talk, pray, and ask God what He would have us do.  That's right, the congregation is entirely refugee, poor, new followers of Christ. Considered by most to be mere objects of charity. No, we are in Christ. Christ has something for us. We will rise up and do something.

Last night, I appointed three of the churches leaders to be conversation leaders today.  Each will lead the conversations and prayers about each of the key challenges.  The rest of the congregation will be divided into three groups that will spend about 15-20 minutes on each topic.  At the end, the leaders will report back on what they have heard from God and His Church.  Below, is the conversation outline that will be given by the leaders. It is Palm Sunday. Hosanna to the King! Save us! A good time to ask the Lord how He wants to use us as an instrument and vessel of His salvation to those who are crying out around the world.


Basic Facts and Information about Human Trafficking

What are the Facts?

1. It is estimated that there are approximately 27 million slaves around the world.[1]
2. Around half of trafficking victims in the world are under the age of 18.[2]
3. The average cost of a slave around the world is $90.[3]
4. According to some estimates, approximately 80% of trafficking involves sexual exploitation, and 19% involves labor exploitation.[4]
5. Trafficking victims normally don't get help because they think that they or their families will be hurt by their traffickers, or that they will be deported.[5]
6. In Nepal, every year 10-15 thousand women are trafficked to India alone.[6]

How can we pray?

The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound;
(Isaiah 61:1)
·         Pray  that God will end human trafficking in the world.
·         Pray that God will use governments and churches around the world to stop human trafficking.
·         Pray that God will show our church what we must do.

What can we do as followers of Jesus?

What are some small things we can do this year about human trafficking?
What are some big things that we could do if God really helped us?


Basic Facts and Information about HIV/AIDS

What are the Facts?

1. More than 30 million people in the world today have HIV/AIDS.[7]
2. HIV/AIDS is among the leading causes of death worldwide and the number one cause of death in Sub-Saharan Africa.[8]
3. HIV/AIDS cases have been reported in all regions of the world, but the large majority of people living with the disease (approximately 95%) reside in low-and middle-income countries.[9]
4. More than 2/3rds of people in the world with HIV/AIDS are in Africa.[10]
5. More than 2 million children in the world have HIV/AIDS. More than 200,000 die every year.[11]
6. 15 million children across the world have lost one or both parents to HIV/AIDS.[12]
7. Asia is believed to have nearly 5 million people living with HIV/AIDS, with India accounting for 2.4 million cases.[13]
8. HIV/AIDS is a growing problem in Nepal because of poor education. Most Nepalis (80%) who have AIDS don’t know that they do.[14]

How can we pray?

And proclaim as you go, saying, 'The kingdom of heaven is at hand.' Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received without paying; give without pay.
(Matthew 10:7-8)
·         Pray  that God will use governments, churches, scientists, doctors, and others to end HIV/AIDS by discovering a cure.
·         Pray that medicines will be available to the poor in the world who have HIV/AIDS.
·         Pray that good education will be provided around the world that will help stop the spread of HIV/AIDS.
·         Pray that God will show our church what we must do.

What can we do as followers of Jesus?

What are some small things we can do this year about human trafficking?
What are some big things that we could do if God really helped us?

Basic Facts and Information about Unreached Peoples & Diaspora

What are the Facts?

1. A “people group” is a group of people that share certain things like language, ethnicity/race/caste, or other cultural traditions.  For evangelistic purposes, a people group is the largest group within which the gospel can spread without facing obstacles of understanding or acceptance. There are about 16,000 people groups in the world.[15]
2. An “Unreached People Group” is any people group in which less than 2% of the population follows Jesus. There are more than 6,000 of these in the world.[16] In Nepal, there are many unreached people groups. Some include: Magar, Maithili, Darjee, and many others. Bhutan also has many unreached people groups including the Dzongkhas, Sherpas, and Lhotshampas.[17]
3. There are only about 100,000 missionaries in the world. Only 3% of them are working among unreached people groups. There is a great need to send more missionaries.[18]
4. An “unengaged unreached people group” is an unreached people group that has no missionaries or churches. Most of these people have no opportunity to hear the message of Jesus in a way they can understand.  No one is trying to reach them![19]
5. Today, more than 214 million people live outside their home country. These are diaspora or “scattered” people. Many are from unreached people groups.[20]
6. Nepalis live in countries all over the world. 600,000 live in India. 215,000 live in Saudia Arabia. 125,000 live in Malaysia.  73,000 live in Hong Kong.  2,000 live in South Africa. More than 50,000 live in the USA. Most of these people do not know Jesus and have no one to tell them.[21]

How can we pray?

And Jesus said to them, "Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.
(Mark 16:15)
·         Pray that God will send more missionaries to the unreached people groups of the world.
·         Pray that the Bible will be translated into every language in the world so that everyone can understand.
·         Pray that followers of Jesus in every nation will reach out with love, friendship, and the message of Jesus to immigrants.
·         Pray that God will show our church what we must do.

What can we do as followers of Jesus?

What are some small things we can do this year about human trafficking?
What are some big things that we could do if God really helped us?



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