Elijah Project: Day 11

All of the following information comes from Operation World by Jason Mandryke and is in no way my own work. 

Country: Australia

Australia is my home away from home. I hope and pray that the Lord will direct me back there soon. Growing up I always had a huge desire to go there and visit. Once I finally made it there last year to do my DTS (Discipleship Training School) with YWAM (Youth With A Mission) I fell in love with it. I have a heart for Australia and the people there and I'm so excited to know more of how to pray for this nation. 

Australia is a Parliamentary Democracy and is home to a wide range of ethnics groups that have full freedom of religion. The ecological standing at the country is extremely unstable with many droughts and bush fires wiping out much of the country. 

What to pray for:

1) Praise God for the many political leaders that base decisions on the morals that come through their faith in Christ.

2) Traditionally Christian, Australia is now characterized by their diversity and secularism of  values. New Age ideals have created a very “pick and choose” trend of religion throughout the country where religion itself has become very individualized.

·   Due to a growth in immigration and a very multicultural environment, there are many aspects of other religions being accepted and mixed in with Christianity. 

3) Australia’s ecology is one of the most fragile in the world. There are many efforts to preserve what they can, but the country is finding itself slowly dwindling. Pray for good stewardship for the people and favor for the land.

4) The church. Only 10% of professing Christians actually attend church.

·      Pray for a mentality of truth in love in dealing with the secular issues such as human origin, sexuality, and an existence of God.

·      Unity among churches. There is great conflict over issues such as homosexuality, women being ordained, as well as other issues, all leading to more and more division.

·      A heart for world missions throughout every denomination as well as local missions teams to specific ethnics groups in neighboring communities. ( Muslims, Chinese, Jews, and Vietnamese are all growing cultures.)

5) Aborigines- there is great unrest among the native Aboriginals about land rights as the original Australian people. Prime ministers have been working towards better feelings towards one another. Hateful acts of white Australians are often offset by many missionaries that come deliberately to show love. Pray for understanding among both people groups as well as an acceptance of love between both.

·    Many Aboriginals are Christian, and church leaders are working to blend Christian values with Aboriginal culture as a means of worship and outreach. Translations are being compiled for the many indigenous languages spoken.

6) Pray for a heart and means of training for student ministry throughout Australia. Along with that, pray for the Christian youth to have a heart not only for their community, but for world missions as well. 

What I am praying for Australia today:

Father I pray for the heart of a servant in each member of the Australian church. Inspire your people, show them how to have a passionate faith and how to follow you radically. Whether it be in the monotony of a "normal life" or overseas on a mission trip, I pray for a sold out radical faith. Unify the church. I pray against competition and fighting over things that don't truly matter in your kingdom. Unify your people in their love and desire to follow and obey you. Make it all about you, show the believers in Australia that it is completely and totally about you. Lord I pray for a desire in each heart to reflect this truth with their lives.

Thank you for the opportunity Australian people have for missions. They are so so close to so many nations who need you desperately. I pray for a heart for the nations, for the unreached, the unloved. Give people boldness and faith to get up and go. To take advantage of how close they are geographically to so many needy nations. Provide Father, don't let money or lack of money get in the way of people going. I pray for the gift of faith among the church in Australia, show them that you do and will provide. Teach them to pray in expectation and to move forward in faith. Father breathe your everlasting life into places in this country that are dead or dying. I pray for so much fruit to come from Australia this year. Thank you for what you are doing there and for the youth that are on fire for you there. Let this nation be a light unto the world.