_____________________Monday, November 13, 2006__________________
haha, just chose to pray for Sri Lanka this week, coz i was watching the G.R.A.S.S video and thought Nips's performance was really cute..(and he is from Sri Lanka)...
Sri Lanka
Location: South Asia
Population: 18827054
Capital: Colombo
Income per person: US $800 p.a.
Official language: Sinhala, Tamil
Other languages: 7 total, with 3 Bible translations
Literacy rate: 90%
Major religions: Buddhist (71.9%)
Hindu ( 12 %)
Muslim (8%)
Christian (7.6%)
*The state religion of Buddhism is promoted among the people. Christianity perceived as a foreign imposition
Spiritual focal Points:
-Anaradhapura -- Ancient centre of Buddha, site of sacred Bo tree
-Adam's Peak -- Major HIndu, Buddhist and Muslim pilgrimage site
-Kalaniya (Colombo) -- Key Buddhist temple located near the capital
-Temple of the Tooth (Kandy) -- Location of the sacred tooth relic of Buddha
Prayer points:
-of the 36 thousand villages in Sri Lanka, just a few have churches or witnesses; few of the urban slums have heard the gospel. Pray for laborers in this field
-Religious freedom is limited for Christians, many are persecuted and a number of pastors have been attacked and a few killed. Pray for God's protection, boldness, and the minimizing of persecution
-Pray that recent progress of peace between battlung Sinhalese majority and Tamil separatist minorities will maintain and genuine reconcilation will be achieved through the Prince of Peace
-A Buddhist monk has been elected into parliament. An international Centre of Buddhism is being developed with Thailand and Burma to limit activities of Christian NGOs in the country
-The church pf Sri Lanka is understaffed and under-equippd; pray for an increase of resources, including leadership
-Praise God for an exciting new initiative by many different denominations to cooperate in bold nationwide church planting effort. Pray for continued vision, increased unity, creativity in entering tough areas, and widespread goal-ownership