Elijah Project: Day 12

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

Country: Christmas, Keeling, and Norfolk Islands

Three small Islands off the coast of Australia. In fact, Australia actually gives them the aid to keep them going. Population averages around 1000 on Christmas Island, 700 on Keeling, and 2000 on Norfolk.

While tourism certainly boosts the economy, the islands depend on the mining of phosphate, the farming of coconuts, and self sufficient agriculture.

What to pray for:

1) The isolation of the islands make Christian ministry very difficult. Pray for God to move throughout the churches for a heart to reach out to the people of the islands themselves. Also pray against natural disaster as isolation hinders immediate help from Australia.

Country: Austria

Austria is known for beauty, culture, art and music. With the Alps along their southern border and the Danube River running through the north, there’s much to see. They run on a balance of tourism, agricultural, industrial and commercial sectors. There is freedom of religion throughout, with a constitutional relationship between the catholic church and the state.

What to pray for:

1) The presence of the living God

·      Although Austria has one of the highest percentages of those who believe in God, the church and number of evangelical believers is steadily declining. High rates of suicide, abortion, and alcoholism display a need for biblical foundation.

2) Catholic and Lutheran church numbers are falling drastically. There is slight growth in the evangelical/ charismatic churches, but the numbers still remain very low.

·      Within these growing churches, there is a great need for pastors. There is little training taking place and as congregations multiply, there is no shepherd for the sheep.

·      Austria potentially has more believers serving outside of their country than within. Pray for Austrians as well as outsiders that are willing to come train and teach in an area of such great need.

3) There are many immigrants and refugees piling back into Austria after WWII. Pray that Austrian believers will greet these strangers with compassion and love.