The Roman Catholic Church has been deeply impacted by charismatic renewal. Many came to a living, personal faith in Christ. Pray that charismatic Catholics may be able to inject greater spirituality through their ‘re-evangelization’ programme. The great majority of Costa Ricans remain very nominal in their faith and in spiritual need — immorality, alcoholism and spiritist practices are widespread.

Christian influence has been strong for 150 years. The integration of secular and religious leadership created what are virtually theocratic states. Church attendance is high, but few have assurance of salvation.  Pray for a new infusion of spiritual life.

Ireland’s ancient Celtic Church and its missionaries took the gospel to many nations in Europe one and a half millennia ago. Then followed centuries of suffering, oppression, violence and bloodshed at the hands of the Vikings and the British. Sadly the long conflict has, in the eyes of the world, been portrayed as religious in origin. Pray that:

• The wounds and divisions in Irish society might be healed and the whole of Ireland be at peace.

• All Christians might work toward communal reconciliation.

• Ireland’s ancient spiritual heritage might be restored for the blessing of the world.

The Coptic Church is by far the largest body of Christians in the Middle East and is a strategic key for the evangelization of the area. Pray for the leadership of the Church. They need a close walk with God and wisdom in handling the Muslim authorities, Islamist persecution and the questioning world.

Pioneer work among the small jungle tribes attracted worldwide attention in 1956 when five missionaries were killed by the primitive Waorani (Auca). Nearly all these tribes and others such as the Shuar and Zaparo now have churches and the Scriptures. Pray for:

• The neutralization of intense anti-missionary propaganda from humanistic anthropologists, leftist agitators, traders and jungle exploiters. At times opposition has curtailed Christian ministry and Bible translation work.

• The efforts by Indian believers to preserve their lands from irresponsible oil exploration.

• The maturing of the jungle churches to cope with modernity and the onslaught of the Spanish and Quichua cultures.

Leadership for the churches is a constant challenge. Emigration of the gifted and moneyed to Puerto Rico and the USA is a loss the growing churches can ill afford. Pray for vision, commitment and stickability for all called to Christian work.