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Intercessor Guide
O God, with all our hearts, we long for you. Come, transform us to be Christ-centred, Spirit-empowered, Mission-focused people, multiplying disciples everywhere.
May 21
Bible Readings:
Isaiah 60:1–5; Ephesians 5:1–20
Reflection Questions:
- Is your greatest longing for the glory of the Lord to rise upon you and to light up our world? What difference will it make for you when he satisfies that longing?
- Is there any hint of immorality or greed in your life? Any darkness?
- What earthly longings do you need to release to create more space to long for God?
Prayer Prompts:
- That God would awaken our hearts with deep longing and ravenous hunger for more of Him.
- That our hearts would be filled with joy as the glory of God descends upon us.
- That all dark desires would be banished from our hearts and that we would wholeheartedly long for the beauty of God.
- That each people group we’ve prayed for this week (Yazidi, Arab Diaspora, Sasak, Minnan, and Fulani in Senegal) would see the glory of God revealed in Christ.
Listening Prayer:
- Jesus, are there any self-centred longings that need to die and be replaced with Christ-centred ones?
Yazidi:
Although most of the 700,000 Yazidis live in the Middle East, Canada hosts a small population of about 1,500. The Yazidi practice Yazidism, a monotheistic ethnic religion that includes elements common to other faiths, like baptism, fasting, a holy pilgrimage site, and a spring holiday where they decorate eggs. Less than 0.25% of the Yazidi people would consider themselves Christian; however, there is some openness to the Gospel among younger people.
There is a three-level caste system in the Yazidi society, with many dialects across the locations and the castes. Marriages are usually arranged by their parents and kept within the same caste. However, a couple can secretly elope to get around this. Yazidis are incredibly hospitable. They have a unique style of music and dancing
, and they love to dance!
Pray with us:
Living God, we were made for your courts. Father, we bless the Yazidi people with souls that long for your presence, with hearts and flesh that cry out for you, the only true God. We pray that their souls would long after you like the deer pants for water. Would your Spirit awaken their hearts to their need for you? We pray that the Yazidi people would discover that you are the only One who can fully satisfy their hunger and give them the fullness of life. Please grant them a deep desire to know you more. We bless them with the discovery that you are close to them and accessible. Amen.
Arab Diaspora:
Canada has a substantial population of Arab diaspora. Approximately 1 million Arabs living in Canada are from Egypt, Syria, Jordan, Palestine, Lebanon, and Iraq. Many people from the Arab diaspora have left their passport countries for better career opportunities and political stability.
Most Arabs are Muslim and deeply value hospitality, close family ties, and Islamic ideals. They are often resistant and can even be hostile towards gospel witnesses. Believers who convert from a Muslim background are often disowned by family and ostracized by their community. In many cases, even their lives are threatened. The exact number of Muslim background believers is not known but thought to be minimal.
Pray with us:
Father, we bless Arab Muslims with a pouring out of your Spirit through dreams and visions.
May they encounter faithful Christian witnesses. We bless them to understand the kind of peace. you offer. Through entering a relationship with you, we pray that they would experience the peace and freedom that comes from knowing that you have already paid the debt for all sin.
Flood them with your perfect love that washes away all fear. We bless the believers among them with courage, boldness, and perseverance to bear witness to the Gospel—even through suffering and persecution. We bless their witness to bear fruit, resulting in an increased harvest of souls. Amen.
Sasak
Islam is the main religion of the 3.3 million Sasak who predominately live in Indonesia. Only 0.01% of Sasak follow Jesus.
Sasak typically work as farmers, fishers, and artisans. In Sasak culture, family life is fragile because of high divorce rates. When getting married, many Sasak follow the custom of eloping. The woman voluntarily allows herself to be “kidnapped” and “hides” while the “kidnapper” negotiates the wedding terms with her family. After the terms are set, the wedding ceremony follows.
Many Sasak are traumatized by frequent earthquakes, floods, poverty, high maternal mortality rates, and child mortality.
Pray with us:
Father, we thank you for your amazing love for the Sasak. Soften their hearts so that they would understand their need for you. Bless them to know you as their Savior, Sanctifier, Healer, and Coming King.
Beckon them to Yourself, Jesus, and draw them into the intimacy of relationship with you. We ask that they receive an invitation to the wedding supper of the Lamb. Bless them with eternal salvation, we pray. Amen.
Minnan:
Worldwide there are 58.2 million Minnan. 13.4 million Minnan call Taiwan home. The majority religion of Minnan is a mix of Taoism, Buddhism, folk religion, and ancestor worship. Evangelical Christians make up 3.7%. Many Minnan believe that all religions are the same. They are reluctant to follow Jesus if it means forsaking ancestor worship because filial piety is central to Taiwanese culture.
The Taiwanese work very long hours. They prioritize education for their children, and most elementary school students go to cram schools after school.
Approximately 14,000 Minnan Chinese live in Canada. Pray God would work in the hearts of the Minnan living both here and abroad!
Pray with us:
Our Lord, you are the one who opened blind eyes. Would you bless Minnan people with the awareness that what they long for in the depths of their being are you and your salvation? Grant them sight to see you. Open their spiritual eyes to envision God’s plan for their lives and see themselves as worshipers of the One true God.
Show them the risen Jesus in all his glory. Light of the world, break through the darkness, causing every lie to fall, and bless them with visions and dreams of the Saviour of the world. May all praise, honour, and glory be to you! Amen.
Fulani in Senegal:
Fulani pride themselves on being the group that brought Islam across the Sahara to Western Africa.
They are reluctant to leave this heritage behind and renounce Islam to follow Jesus. Senegalese are hospitable, polite, and open to dialogue, and they will quickly listen to the Gospel. However, turning from their own beliefs and practices to exclusively follow Jesus is very difficult. New believers often face persecution and rejection by their families.
Only 0.2% of the 3.9 million Fulani are believers, and there are only a couple of local fellowships among them. There are around 5000 Fulani that reside in Canada.
Pray with us:
Heavenly Father, we thank you for the love you have lavished on us! Please bless the Fulani people with your banner of love.
We long for the Fulani to come into your family, and we call forth their destiny as children of God. Pour out your love on entire families. Bless Fulani marriages to be made whole.
We call forth the new things you are doing. Make a way in the wilderness and let the rivers flow in the desert. We bless Fulani believers who are being persecuted and rejected with great endurance. May they be faithful in sharing your Word despite hardships. Bless the Fulani with a new name, Lord; may they be your beloved, your children! “To the one who overcomes... I will also give him a white stone inscribed with a new name, known only to the one who receives it” (Revelation 2:17). Amen.
Pray the vision prayer with us: