Day 207: Country Focus Portugal

 DAY 207

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 Thirty    Wednesday 7 October 2020

Country Focus: Portugal

Portugal became an independent kingdom in 1143, a republic in 1910, and a parliamentary democracy in 1974. Throughout its lengthy history the Roman Catholic Church was the official religion, but in 1974 that relationship changed, although it still retains certain privileges. With the Roman Catholic Church laying claim to approximately 90% of the population, even if nominally for many, the remaining 10% are divided between evangelical and Pentecostal denominations and cults – LDS and Jehovah’s Witnesses, as well as growing numbers turning to new age teachings to satisfy their spiritual hunger. One of the biggest challenges for the evangelical community made up of mostly small congregations is the acquisition of a building, as this communicates legitimacy in Portuguese culture.   

Prayer Focus 
+ Acrimonious church splits plague many of the already small congregations.
+ Pray for a healing of relationships and a shift of focus to what really matters.
+ Pray for the acquisition of buildings for many small congregations, a sign of legitimacy. 
+ Pray for outreach to ethnic minorities, the large number who have come from former Portuguese colonies, for gypsies, and for Eastern Europeans who have come seeking work.
+ Pray for those seeking to reach young people, some using sports as an entre into their lives, as growing numbers of youth are turning to drugs to meet their spiritual needs.
+ Pray for the handful of small Christian bookstores across the country that growing numbers of individuals will enter them seeking spiritual food, purchase and read Christian literature.
+ Pray for quality training for leadership, and for more leaders willing to be trained.    

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.” 
Jesus – Matthew 9:37-38.
For additional information on praying for Portugal
go to operationworld.org.

Reflective question: Will you pray the next seven days for these ‘Portuguese prayer requests?’
                                                                                                                                            
Reflective Scripture: Psalm 107:20 – “He sent out His Word and healed them;…”

Reflective hymn: 
“Send the Light” – Charles Gabriel (1856-1932)
Let us pray that grace may everywhere abound: 
“Send the light! Send the light!”
And a Christ-like spirit everywhere be found: 
“Send the light! Send the light!”
Send the light, the blessed Gospel light, 
let it shine from shore to shore.