DAY 144: World Prayer Focus: South Korea

DAY 144

Faith in the Midst of a Pandemic

A series of daily reflections for people of faith

by Rev. Robert Bayley, Interim Pastor

Patuxent Presbyterian Church, California, Maryland

pastorrobert@paxpres.org

Week Twenty-one Wednesday 5 August 2020

World Prayer Focus: South Korea

Korea is a land of contradictions. Home to Presbyterian, Methodist and Pentecostal (Assemblies of God) megachurches, their Christian witness is sometimes weakened by histories of internal strife and church splits. Huge Presbyterian congregations of 10,000-20,000 are known for their weekday 5:00 AM hour long prayer meetings, but such churches have at times been less than consistent in their witness to the larger Korean society. It remains that six of the ten largest congregations in the world are in South Korea and all are fervently evangelical in their faith and missions focus. South Korea is second only to the United States in the sending of missionaries around the world, increasingly going into places where Americans, with our growing ‘us first’ and at times hostile attitudes toward other countries and cultures have made us less than welcome.

Prayer Concerns

+ For church members and leaders to catch strife when it begins and seek servant’s hearts.

+ For the thousands of Korean missionaries around the world, many in hostile countries.

+ For a growing generation gap between traditional society and imported western decadence.

+ That the Holy Spirit will protect the passion of over 150 missionary sending agencies.

+ For young Koreans studying in Korea and elsewhere preparing for full time Christian service.

+ For an impact on church and society of the publications of over 150 Christian publishers.

+ For the burden of the Korean church for their relatives in oppressive North Korea.

+ For 3.6 million youth in over 400 universities – the need is great for more Christian workers.

For the full country profile and prayer needs

for South Korea go to operationworld.org.

Jesus’ Prayer Request each Wednesday:

“’The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” Matthew 9:37-38.

Reflective question: Read Matthew 28:16-20. Which part speaks most personally to you? Why?

Reflective Scripture: Matthew 28:19 – “Go and make disciples of all nations,…”

Reflective hymn:

“Lord, You Give the Great Commission” – Jeffrey Rowthorn (1934-    )

Lord, you give the Great Commission: “Heal the sick and preach the Word.”

Lest the church neglect its mission, and the gospel go unheard,

Help us witness to your purpose, with renewed integrity:

With the Spirit’s gifts empower us for the work of ministry.