Stockton Peniel: Violence

Stockton, California, has one of the highest crime rates in America. Residents have a 1 in 11 chance of becoming a victim of a violent or property crime. Stockton also has one of the highest unemployment rates in the country. Gang violence, substance abuse, addictions, and transient families are issues faced by thousands of people in this city.

World Gospel Mission is investing in the lives of children and families at risk due to this reign of violence. Through the ministries of The Center, at-risk kids from preschool through high school have a safe place to be after school. The majority of these children are from single-parent families, many of which are consumed by drugs and/or alcohol and the gang lifestyle.

Act: Interested in learning more about the ministries at The Center? You can visit www.wgm.org/thecenter to see what a “normal” day at The Center looks like and to download a speaker outline so you can share this ministry with others in your community.

Interested in hearing more about WGM’s compassionate ministries? Listen to podcasts online or download podcasts to your computer and listen to them later.

Sudan: Sight

A health report in 2005 stated that Sudan has more than half a million blind people out of a total population of 40 million. Undoubtedly this figure has only increased due to having no eye specialists working full time in South Sudan.

Can this trend be stopped? WGM Sudan thinks it can. Sixty percent of blindness is caused by cataracts, which can be treated with surgery, while 18 percent is caused by trachoma, a preventable or treatable disease when diagnosed early. However, another 17 percent of patients have glaucoma, which is not treatable. Those people need extra prayer support. For those whose blindness cannot be treated, the WGM Sudan team has also developed an option of providing them with talking Bibles.

This compassionate outreach provides wonderful opportunities to impact both the physical and spiritual needs of the Sudanese.

ACT: Give someone the gift of sight. With a gift of $200, you can provide cataract surgery for someone in Sudan. Please write account # 25791-CALL on the memo line of your check.

Beginning at 8 a.m., WGM’s Prayer Lifeline will feature a recorded prayer for Sudan. Call 671.7232 (Marion, Indiana, area) or 1.800.426.0846 (toll free) to join the prayer intercession. You may also access this prayer at www.wgm.org/lifeline.

AIF: Youth Suicide

Suicide has become an acceptable response to a desperate life for Native American teens. However, WGM missionaries are actively sharing the hope that can be found in Jesus Christ.

The teen suicide rate on Indian reservations has become an epidemic. Across the nation, Native American teens living on reservations commit suicide at a rate of at least twice the national average. Risk factors include substance abuse, depression, lack of social support, and racial discrimination.

ACT: World Gospel Mission has centralized its American Indian Field (AIF) ministries in Arizona and New Mexico. Consider serving on a short-term missions trip to the American Indian Field. Plan your trip with Noritta Carter at workteams@wgm.org.

Each day, on the WGM website will highlight a specific compassionate ministry. Come back often to learn more and to share your prayer for the field below.

Haiti: Widespread Devastation

At 4:53 p.m. on Tuesday, January 12, 2010, a 7.0-magnitude earthquake struck Haiti 10 miles west of Port-au-Prince, the nation’s capital. With reports of the death toll climbing to 230,000 in February, many Haitians lost their family members, homes, jobs, and sense of peace.

Radio Lumière, World Gospel Mission’s key ministry partner in Haiti, is struggling to stay on the air. As the voice of the Protestant church, Radio Lumière reaches about 90 percent of Haiti as it spreads hope and help to countless in need. This station was largely supported by Haitian believers who sacrificially gave an average of $1 per month to keep Radio Lumière on the air. Of course, that is no longer possible, as many now have absolutely nothing.

ACT: You can support the ministry of Radio Lumière by offering a financial gift to the President’s Crisis Relief Fund. This will help keep the radio station operating and provide for the needs of our Haitian brothers and sisters. Please write account # 41116-CALL on the memo line of your check.

WGM’s Prayer Lifeline will feature a recording of a prayer for Haiti today. Call 671.7232 (Marion, Indiana, area) or 1.800.426.0846 (toll free) to join the prayer intercession.
You may also access these prayers at www.wgm.org/lifeline.

Spain: Immigration

In the last few years, the number of immigrants arriving in Spain has increased dramatically, and Spain now has the second-highest immigration rate in the European Union. In 2007, over 4 million foreign residents lived in Spain, including many from Morocco and Latin America.

Since a huge number of displaced people are looking to make Spain their home, WGM sees the need for those individuals to have a personal relationship with the Lord and a church body to support them in transition.

Has the Lord called you to serve in Spain with your church or Bible study group as part of a work team? Plan to lead a trip next year to Spain. Send your RSVP to Noritta Carter by calling 765-671-7204.

Each day, the WGM website will highlight a specific compassionate ministry. Come back often to learn more and to share your prayer for the field below.

Grenada: Poverty

WGM missionaries in Grenada are ministering through the local church. According to the CIA, the poverty level in Grenada in 2000 stood at 32 percent and has likely risen since that time. Many people are unaware of the fact that this popular vacation spot is experiencing acute poverty and is in need of hearing the gospel.

WGM began working in Grenada in 2009 when veteran missionary couple Tim and Diane Bennett, who had spent 21 years in Papua New Guinea, moved to the island to help a new church plant. Grenada considers itself a Christian nation, but although many attend church, it doesn’t mean they have a personal relationship with Jesus. With the Lord’s help, WGM Grenada hopes to change that.

The national church in Grenada could use your teamwork. Commit to praying for church growth on this vacation destination over the next two weeks.

Interested in hearing more about WGM’s compassionate ministries? Listen to podcasts online or download podcasts to your computer and listen to them later.

Uganda: Rural Education

Approximately 90 kilometers east of Uganda’s capital city, Kampala, are the Buvuma Islands, a chain of over 50 islands in Lake Victoria. WGM Uganda first arrived on Buvuma in 1999. Most adults living on the island are illiterate and cannot speak English, Uganda’s official language.

WGM Uganda discovered that those living on the island did not have the same access to educational and health facilities as the people on the mainland. Because of this, WGM Uganda started Kikongo Primary School on the Buvuma Islands with the purpose of providing a quality primary education in a Christian atmosphere for children in this remote area of the country. Currently, 250 children, including 100 orphans, attend Kikongo Primary School. These students are in first through seventh grades and vary in age from 5 to 15.

A $12-per-month donation will provide an orphan with a good education, a loving Christian environment, textbooks, and school lunches. Give kids hope and a chance to hear the gospel. By mailing a check for $144, you will sponsor a Ugandan orphan for an entire year. Please write account # 23340-CALL on the memo line of your check.

To learn more about the Concert of Prayer visit the WGM website at www.wgm.org/call.

Argentina: Youth Ministries

Like youth around the world, young people in Argentina are bombarded with temptations and lifestyle choices. WGM Argentina wants to give this vibrant generation a hope that can only be found in Christ. “Wherever we go, the Argentine people are concerned about their youth,” shared Ron and Bonnie Gouge, field leaders in Argentina. “As we [WGM Argentina] have shared some of our projects and ways that we hope to work with youth, the Argentine people have responded positively.”

WGM Argentina desperately needs new, young missionaries to help share the message of salvation and redemption through Jesus with the youth of Argentina. Learn how you can be a part of this ministry at www.wgm.org/argentina.

SHARE: Click comments to tell us how you are using the concert of prayer in a small group, a Sunday School class, or another creative way.

El Salvador: Healthcare

Offering preventative healthcare screening and teaching other healthy lifestyle practices while treating, curing, and responding to the physical needs of patients can change a community.

WGM El Salvador is the operating partner of the David V. King Memorial Clinic in Jucuapa, El Salvador. The project is under construction and slated for completion in October 2010 and should begin operating in early 2011. The clinic will provide two operating rooms and two procedure rooms for ambulatory surgeries as well as an area for general healthcare and dialysis. The ministry will also include a mobile clinic that will go into Eastern El Salvadoran communities to do health education, dental restoration, and health screening and diagnosis. Each patient will be offered the opportunity to learn about God's plan for their lives while receiving medical attention.

Career opportunities for serving in El Salvador are available. Could God be calling you to use your medical skills and education in El Salvador? Contact us at recruiting@wgm.org to apply for or obtain more information about these opportunities.

Interested in hearing more about WGM’s compassionate ministries? Listen to podcasts online or download podcasts to your computer and listen to them later. You will need iTunes to download the podcasts.

Men's Ministries

People in the Virgin Islands enjoy the same freedom of religion as people in the U.S. The greatest need for the church in St. Croix is revival. The Christian Union Church in St. Croix is also facing the challenge of reaching out to men. Although it is globally common for women to outnumber men in churches, on the island of St. Croix the disparity is especially extreme. The church hopes that by focusing on ministering to boys and young men, they will eventually step up to leadership positions.

Short-term missions trips are available to St. Croix. Is He asking you to reach out to the people of St. Croix? Plan a trip at www.wgm.org/teams.

Beginning at 8 a.m., WGM’s Prayer Lifeline will feature a recording of each day’s prayer. Call 671.7232 (Marion, Indiana, area) or 1.800.426.0846(toll free) to join the prayer intercession.You may also access these prayers at www.wgm.org/lifeline.

The Middle East: Religious Freedom

It is estimated that roughly 360 million people live in the Middle East, the majority of whom are Muslim. Mass evangelism is illegal in most Middle Eastern countries. However, Christian radio broadcasts, economic conditions, and increased exposure to the rest of the world are creating a new generation of seekers.

The Lord has opened a door for WGM to minister in the Middle East. Main outreaches to the people of the Middle East include church ministries through evangelism, discipleship, and church planting.

ACT: Scripture instructs us to pray for the persecuted church. Read Psalm 122:6.

JOIN THE CONCERT: Each day, the WGM website will highlight a specific compassionate ministry. Visit www.wgm.org/concert to learn more and to share your prayer for the field.

T Minus 6

The countdown for the concert event of the year is underway! Just six more days until believers around the world pray together lifting WGM's compassionate ministry needs before the throne.

If you have your magazine you are ready to go. If you have misplaced your magazine never fear. You can catch the action each day at www.wgm.org/call.

See you at the concert!