PRAY FOR PRAYERS

A large group of men and women attended the monthly ecumenical prayer meeting organized by the Women World Day of Prayer Action Group and the Council of Churches in Namibia. This photo was taken yesterday as they meet on the first Sunday.

Praise God for this prayer action. Please intercede for men and women in Namibia to stand in the gap for the nation.

• Ask the Holy Spirit to raise up prayer warriors that will carry the nation in prayer at all hours.
• Pray for a hunger for the Word.
• Pray for men and women who follow in the footsteps of our Lord Jesus Christ.
  

And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints. Ephesians 6:18

Prayer focus on Education

POLITICAL and educational experts on education are meeting in Windhoek at a five-day national conference with more than 1 000 participants. Education is in a crisis. There are currently 600 000 students in Namibia. A worrying trend is a high dropout rate among boys and that the national average in mathematics and English is below 50 per cent.

President Hifikepunye Pohamba said “As a nation we must join each other’s hands to find the most effective manner of overcoming the challenges within Namibia’s education sector."

The single most critical issue that could destroy the Namibian education system is the poor discipline and work ethics of teachers, which results in many pupils being short-changed by about 40 to 50 days of learning per year.

Please intercede for this critical situation. Call upon God for -

• Wisdom for the experts, that they find urgent practical answers to the challenges that education faces.
• The Minister of Education Abraham Iyambo to guide the Namibian education system out of this crisis.
• All regions where the majority of pupils are performing below basic standard.
• The Oshana and Omusati regions which showed a decrease in school enrollment.
• Against the unacceptable lack of discipline and work ethics of teachers.
• A return to biblical based education and practices in Namibia. This is the foundation on which the present leaders of Namibia were raise and educated should return to it as soon as possible.
  

Pray for the nation to join each other’s hands to pray and find the most effective manner of overcoming the challenges within Namibia’s education sector. Pray as the Holy Spirit guides.

Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds ...
Teach them to your children,
talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road,
when you lie down and when you get up ...
so that your days and the days of your children may be many in the land
that the LORD swore to give your forefathers,
as many as the days that the heavens are above the earth.
Deuteronomy 11:18-21

Are you praying for Namibia?

It is winter time in Namibia. In a country that normally enjoys very hot conditions, the cold of winter has a serious impact. Please intercede for the many poor in Namibia who have to walk to school and work early in the morning. Pray that they will have food for energy and warm blankets to cover them at night.

Ask God for wisdom for the government, the church and business to take hands, to address the challenges before us and make Namibia a better place for all.

However, there should be no poor among you,
for in the land the LORD your God is giving you
to possess as your inheritance,
He will richly bless you.
Deuteronomy 15:4

LET THE FIRE FALL AGAIN!

From 21 to 25 April 2011 Intercessors United Namibia will meet for their yearly conference in Ongwendiva. The theme is Let the fire fall again!

Dr Goody Ngwagboso, president of this movement quotes EM Bounds who said: No erudition, no purity of diction, no width of mental outlook, no flowers of eloquence, no grace of person, can atone for lack of fire. Prayer ascends by fire. Flame gives prayer access as well as wings, acceptance as well as energy. There is no incense without fire; no prayer without flame.

You are invited to this conference. For more details, please call 0811279311

• Let us be on our knees for Namibia and this conference. Trust God to flame the spirit of prayer.
  
• Let us search our hearts and clean our hearts. Call on God to raise up intercessors and prayers for Namibia. Let us trust Him for a life style of prayer. Ephesians 6:10-18
  
• Let us be on our knees before the Lord and put our lives on the altar.

Nothing short of being red hot for God,
can keep the glow of heaven in our hearts, these chilly days.
EM Bounds

TAXI STRIKE HITS WINDHOEK

Taxis are seriously part of life in Namibia. For some a source of irritation because the drivers do not always observe traffic rules, for most the only way to get to work and back home.

Many taxi owners and drives took part in an illegal taxi strike yesterday. Strikers were adamant that a strike could help them solve the issue of high fines for traffic violations.

The general mood among the strikers was that fines must be reduced, or thousands of commuters will be left without transport.

• Please pray for the issues at hand to be solved peacefully.
• For taxi drivers to drive responsibly.
• For "others" on the road to be understanding.
• For all road-users to be patient with one another.
• To be the first to give way.

He who heeds discipline shows the way to life, but whoever ignores correction leads others astray. Proverbs 10:17

Photo: Die Republikein http://www.republikein.com.na

WORKING TOGETHER IN 2011

President Hifikepunye Pohamba asked Namibians in his New Year Message to focus on the future and seize opportunities 2011 may bring. He called on Namibians to commit themselves to work harder and help the economy for the common welfare of all.

President Pohamba spoke against the disturbing trend of violence against women, children and elderly. "This brutal crime against the poorest members of society must be strongly rejected," the president said. He has called on Namibians to stand together against this kind and other crimes. They have no place in the Namibian society, he said.

"Our country is governed on the basis of law and order and crime, corruption and dishonesty must be eradicated," President Pohamba said. He also made an appeal on the youth not to participate in alcohol abuse, irresponsible sexual behaviour and criminal activities.

"We will continue to promote the welfare of elderly, women, children and people with disabilities suffer," he said in his New Year message.

Please pray:

• Against violence on helpless women, children and the exploitation of the poor.

• Against crime, corruption and dishonesty

• For enforcement agencies to operate effectively.

• That Namibians will work and promote the welfare of all citizens, especially the poor in 2011 and for God's grace and blessing on Namibia!
  

THE LORD IS MY BANNER

Moses built an altar and called it The LORD is my Banner. Exodus 17:15

A banner is a flag or other piece of cloth bearing a message. It serves as an identification of a group of people or an area of land. It also indicates authority. When a flag is raised, it shows someone has authority in that area. The photo above shows the flag of Namibia, one of the symbols of our constitution.

A banner can also be displayed as a symbol of principles or values. God's setting up a banner over the earth which imports his presence and protection and aid extended to his people. The Bible calls on us to raise a banner in the Name of God, to show that we submit to His authority and the principles found in His Word. His children also know that He holds the future and put their trust in Him.

God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you. So we say with confidence, "The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me? Hebrews 13:5-6

This is our dream for Namibia in 2011, that "The Lord is my Banner" indicates our allegiance -

I pledge allegiance to the Lamb
With all my strength, with all I am.
I will seek to honor His commands
I pledge allegiance to the Lamb.

Let us build an altar of prayer in Namibia in 2011 and call it The LORD is my Banner.

We will shout for joy when you are victorious and will lift up our banners in the name of our God. May the LORD grant all your requests. Psalm 20:5