Continue To Pray For Japan!

As exhausted Japanese engineers are scrambled to fix power cables to two crippled nuclear power stations today they are also trying to prevent a deadly radiation release while the country is trying to cope with the deadly earthquake and tsunami aftermath.  The news has stated that there will most likely be some radiation sickness and exposure deaths from this incident.  This is the world worst nuclear accident since the Chernobyl disaster.
There are so many ramifications that are showing up from these disasters.  Some villages and towns have yet to be searched for survivors and recovering the bodies from the earthquake and tsunami.  It's my prayer that the Lord will reveal himself to these grief and disaster stricken people of Japan and draw them to Himself.
Let's continue to be in prayer for those who morn, those who have lost everything, for the hungry and homeless.
As of right now we have not been in contact with any of our contacts in northern Japan, but I urge you to make every effort to help the people in Japan by contributing to those organizations that are on the ground there right now trying to be of assistance in anyway possible.

Japan - Pray for Hope In The Midst Of The Storm!

In the midst of all this destruction, death, loss of possessions, fear and mourning in Japan there is something each of us can do.  Today while in prayer the Lord revealed to me something that we really need to pray about for the Japanese people.

While hundreds of bodies wash ashore in the quake-hit areas; two nuclear power plant building have suffered blasts and problems as well in the third; the very real fears of a nuclear meltdown loom; I was reminded of a four-way conversation I had some with some pastors in northern Japan a year ago.  There concern was for the hundreds of Japanese youth who were committing suicide for fear of failure and loss of hope.  In their culture they see suicide as an honorable thing to do to save face. 

What the Lord reminded me was that we all need to be praying against this spirits of suicide, depression and hopelessness.  Pray that the Lord will reveal Himself to them and give them a hope and a future to these people who have suffered and lost so much.  What the enemy has meant for evil the Lord can turn into good.  Let's pray for HOPE!

PLEASE PRAY FOR THE JAPANESE PEOPLE! EARTHQUAKES / TSUNAMI!

I wanted to write a quick prayer request to remind us all about the events that took place not long ago.  There was a huge earthquake in Japan with several aftershocks; then a second earthquake in a different area of Japan as well.  Between these two earthquakes and aftershocks there have been several people killed. Also, this first earthquake triggered a tsunami, tidal wave, which swept across the Japanese seaboard.  There has been enormous damage and more loss of life.  Please pray for the people who are Christian for their safety and peace in the midst of this devastation.  But also pray for the many people who do not know the Lord, to look for answers in our Savior, that the Lord would reveal Himself to them in a marvelous way.  

Let's Pray For A Myanmar!

I wanted to post today an email out of Myanmar from a pastor that I have been in contact for a couple of years. Great news...God is moving by his Spirit and saving souls.
"Dear friend,
God is greatly moving with us in this season for this season is spiritual harvesting and great rejoicing in His fields. We got the 8 new converted from Buddhist background at last Saturday. We held salvation training in our local church and the new comers responsed the gospel which we preached.
Therefore rejoice with us for God was amazingly moving with us. And then we will hold salvation training in this Saturday with the new comers who are willing to join with our invitation. We hope there will be about 30 Buddhists which are the new comers who interest the gospel.
Please uphold with us in your prayer. We will send you the photos later.
In His service, Paul"
Let us continue to keep these new converts in prayer and pray for the continued outpouring of His Spirit and salvation to a lost and dieing world.


For more information contact us at Youth Quests!

URGENT PRAYER REQUEST! HAITIAN PASTOR

I wanted to post a special prayer request, on this Thanksgiving Day, for Pastor Michel Ilbert Leblanc who lives and ministers in Southwest Haiti in a village near Torbeck.  This is one of the pastors and in the area we worked with this past summer.  From what I understand from Pastor David is that Pastor Michael is very sick and under much persecution.  From personal experience in working with this pastor I wanted you all to know he is a great example of the shepherd caring for flock.  He continually rises early to tend to his fields and work, works with the people throughout the day and late into the night ministering, praying for and waging war with the spiritual forces in the area.  I was extremely impressed with the hardworking humble spirit about him.  Please make it a matter of prayer to specifically prayer for Pastor Michael Ilbert Leblanc, his family and the church there in this village.  Pray for his complete healing, renewed strength and for the Lord to encamp and place a hedge around him.

Prayer Update For Haiti!

Port-Au-Prince, Haiti -- The death toll this morning rose to at least 1,344 in the cholera outbreak in Haiti that has sickened almost 57,000 people, the Haitian government said Monday.
This information came as international health officials predicted that the scale of Haiti's cholera epidemic will exceed initial estimates of 200,000 over coming months.
"Having seen how the bacteria is behaving in this environment with these people, having seen just how poor and how hungry the people are, we know we have to revise our numbers up," said Nyka Alexander, a spokeswoman for the World Health Organization, in a phone call with CNN.
Health workers say the Haitian population lacks immunity to cholera and Haitian medical workers lack experience treating the infection because the bacterium has not been detected on the island in more than a century.

With the violence spreading across Haiti and the impoverished country's weak health and sanitation systems are only compounding the problem. The perfect storm for cholera in Haiti. "Another factor why this epidemic has spread as far as it has and why it will continue to spread, is dirty water, poor sanitation, no toilets, malnutrition and poor access to health centers," Alexander said. "People have to walk five hours to a health center and if you have diarrhea you're not going to make it."

PLEASE PRAY FOR THE HAITIAN PEOPLE! CHOLERA OUTBREAK!

I know I have asked for prayer earlier this month regarding cholera epidemic sweeping through the populace.  Now there are at least 1,200 Haitians that have already died from the bacterial disease and there are more than 19,500 cases countrywide, according to the Ministry of Health.  As the mortality rate for cholera patients edged up from 7 percent to more than 9 percent in recent days, graves on the outskirts of the capital were being filled with multiple white body bags near where the earthquake victims were buried.  Some relief that had been held up has been released to help with this outbreak.  However, with 1.5 million people still homeless after the quake, plus an ongoing cholera epidemic this nation and the people really need our prayers.  I am asking you to really make it a mater of prayer.

Tropical Storm or Hurrican Tomas Approaching Haiti

Within the next 4 to 6 hours this storm is going to hit Haiti.  Please pray for the people throughout the nation.  Many people are still living in tent cities and makeshift shelters that will not take the wind and deluge of rain.  This will most likely effect the entire nation.  With this storm approaching a nation hit by the earthquake several months ago and now the Cholera epidemic the situation could worsen without the hand of the Lord making a difference in the nation and the people.

Prayer for Haiti and Indonesia - Cholera Outbreak - Volcanic Eruption - Tsunami

This last week there are two main concerns that I have been praying for and I wanted to share these disasters with you as well for your assistance and prayer.  One is the Cholera outbreak in Haiti and the other in the tsunami that hit Indonesia as well as the volcanic eruption.  Of course you have heard of these in the news recently and the needs that have arisen for help and support for both of these areas.


There has been several people killed and the lose of homes and businesses from both the tidal wave and the eruption in this country.  Pray for the survivors to reach out to the Lord and come to know Him in a real personal way.  Pray that the supplies and assistance will get to the ones in need.  Pray for the survivors in their time of grief.


The cholera outbreak in Haiti is a real concern as many babies and children have been the most effected.  The hospitals are flooded with the sick and there have been many deaths.  Pray for the people to reach out the Jesus for the help and assistance as in Psalms chapter 91.  Pleases pray that the medicines, supplies, water treatment facilities and sanitation eduction to reach the most susceptible groups quickly.


Then the most important thing of all to pray for is that His Kingdom be magnified and expanded upon the earth and that the lost and dieing are ministered to in every area of the world.  For more information on how to help, support or assist in these efforts please contact Youth Quests International.

YOUR PRAYERS ARE EFFECTIVE!

There are special areas of prayer for several areas, people and places that could use your prayers worldwide.  YOUR PRAYERS ARE EFFECTIVE!
"Jas 5:16-18 … The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.  Elijah was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months.  And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit." NKJV


Pakistan:  The people of Pakistan will feel the effects of the flooding more months.  This country and people will have been hit hard by the loss of life, homes and shelters, crops and their way of life.  It has been said that the disaster in Pakistan is greater than most of the disasters for this year, including the earthquake in Haiti, all put together.  With all these things going, then there is the persecution of the Christians and the withholding aid for them on top of all this.


Haiti:  Although the earthquake was so many months ago, there is so much that still has yet to be done.  There were three groups that went down to the Southwest part of Haiti this year associated with Youth Quests and there has been success in starting the sustainable agricultural projects, improving a couple of homes and ministering to, evangelizing and showing the Jesus Film to many people within the village and surrounding areas.  There are also mission trips to Haiti planned for two areas of Haiti for 2011.  Contact us for more information if you are interested.


Peru:  There was an earthquake in Peru south of Lima that woke up a missionary in Piura, several hundred miles away in the northern part of Peru.  The epicenter was near the city Chincha which lost all phone and cell phone communication to the whole city among other things.  Youth Quests has a missions trip to Peru this summer in Piura and much was accomplished through Jesus Christ working through us.  Youth Quests is currently planning to return to Peru for a medical missions trip in January of 2011 and then another work/evangelism missions trip for the summer of 2011.


Africa:  This year Youth Quests has donated to help with feeding the hungry and ministry outreaches to a ministry in northwestern Kenya.  We would love to continue help with the less fortunate and ministry outreaches in this area.  Also, it is our desire to take a Kenya missions trip team there this coming summer of 2011 to help out with these efforts.  Please pray for these requests for Kenya.


Please pray for these several areas and requests, as well as, the several other areas of outreach and missions that Youth Quests is working with.  This is your chance to be a partner with us in these successful outreaches and the vision to touch many lives for the gospel of Christ.  Contact us for more information at Youth Quests International.

A Florida Pastor States He Would Publicly Burn The Quran - Is that a Christian Act?

Today was the day this pastor was to burn the Quran.  After many news reports on the web, TV and in print regarding this intent the following news report came out on Yahoo News:  "NEW YORK – A Florida pastor says his church will "not today, not ever" burn a Quran, even if a mosque is built near ground zero.

Pastor ***** ***** had threatened to burn the Muslim holy book on the anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks over plans to build an Islamic center near where terrorists brought down the World Trade Center nine years ago.

He flew to New York and appeared on NBC's "Today" show. He says that his Gainesville, Fla., church's goal was "to expose that there is an element of Islam that is very dangerous and very radical."

He tells NBC that "we have definitely accomplished that mission." He says no meeting is planned with the imam leading the center but he hopes one will take place.

A "Burn a Koran Day" banner outside his church has been taken down." 

(Copied from: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/quran_burning)

I have been very concerned over this news regarding these statements and actions.  I have been concerned for our missionaries and indigenous pastor who are laboring in harms way and the needless risk that has been placed upon them.  I know I have been praying that this would not happen, but I wanted your opinions on what you think is right?  What do you think is Christian behavior?  And I also wanted to ask you to pray for us as a nation, the Christian missionaries or even people taking short term mission trips, which are diligently working to share the Love of Christ to a lost and dying world.

Before you answer lets look a few scripture from the Word of God in light of a Christian.  The word Christian means to be like Christ.  (Wikipedia states: The Greek word Χριστιανός (christianos) -meaning "follower of Christ")

(Heb 12:14) Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:

Gal 5:19-26 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.  And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.  If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.  Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.

Mat. 5:9  Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.

John 3:16-17  For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.  For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

Mar 12:30  And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. 

Mar 12:31  And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.

1Jn 4:18  There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. 

1Jn 4:19  We love him, because he first loved us. 

1Jn 4:20  If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?

Jesus condemned religious intolerance.  When He and His disciples entered a Samaritan village, and the Samaritans were less than hospitable, James and John told Jesus they wanted to call down fire from heaven on the whole place (see Luke 9:54).  Jesus flatly rebuked them, saying "You do not know what kind of spirit you are of; for the Son of Man did not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them." (v.55-56, NASB).

God is Love!  What is love?  What is the opposite of love?  Many people would say hatred, but it's really selfishness.  Hatred comes from the root of selfishness.  

Now I ask you these questions:

Was this act out of love or selfishness?

Do you think this mans actions and words promote peace, love and joy?

Do you think this mans actions and words will draw the lost to Christ or drive them away?

Do you think these actions and words promote peace or discord?

Do you think these actions and words endanger unnecessarily the lives of our missionaries on the mission fields?

This pastor was saying, just a day or two previously even though much of the churches congregation leaving the church, that he was going to go on with this and burn the Quran no matter what and today stating that "his church will "not today, not ever" burn a Quran, even if a mosque is built near ground zero"… and says that his Gainesville, Fla., church's goal was "to expose that there is an element of Islam that is very dangerous and very radical."  I ask you what is it when someone states one thing, then says that he was not going to do it?

Is this the behavior of someone who is to be Christ-like?

What does the book of wisdom, Proverbs, say about someone who stirs up strife and contention?

Let’s pray that there will some confession of wrong and asking for forgiveness instead saying that he never intended to do this act.

Let’s pray that the people of the world who are lost will see the love of Christ in us who really are Christians and know that everyone calling themselves a Christian may not be Christians.

To conclude let us take these scriptures to heart and live them: 1Jn 4:7-8  Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.  He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.

Pray For China, It's People and the Trip in 2011

We have an amazing cultural and educational exchange trip planned for Southwestern China and the Beijing area for the summer of 2011 with a group from Florida.  The plans are to spend a couple of days in Beijing and travel by train to the southwest area where we will be sharing with local minorities and after a about a week we will travel back to the Beijing area where we will be sharing there until our return home.  Check out the China Cultural Trip event on Facebook.

Please keep this trip, all the participants in your prayers and the local people of the areas where we will be.  You may find out more about this trip and the opportunities to participate yourself, help those who wish to go and/or donate to these projects or others at Youth Quests International

For more information on estimated costs and other information go to China Cultural Trip page at YQI.  If you would like to schedule a trip to China please contact us for information and possible dates that will work for your group at Contact Us.

Prayer for New Zealand and Guatemala

With the huge quake in Christchurch, New Zealand, damages to the buildings and other areas the people could use our prayers and encouragement.
Guatemala has been having several mudslide all summer and the latest one was yesterday.  With people loosing their lives and family members missing, homes destroyed and the loss of income the Guatemalan people could also use our prayers and support.

Continue Prayer For Kenya Ministries

Remember to continue to pray for Pastor Lucas, his family and the ministry in Northwestern Kenya.  They are in need of assistance and your prayers for the ministry and it's outreaches.

Floods Continue In Pakistan!

More than 21 million Pakistani children and women are affected by the worst monsoon flooding ever in northern Pakistan. Over the past four weeks floods have damaged, destroyed or cut off thousands of villages and communities and caused extensive damage to roads and bridges. Tens of thousands of children and families remain marooned in villages without clean water, adequate shelter, medical care and dangerously low supplies of food.
According to current update by Pakistani TV channels, India has released more water towards Pakistan which caused new destructions in many areas.
They still need our prayers!

Bhutan Pastor and His Wife In Need of Your Prayers

Today I wanted to bring to your attention to a very small country, but very closed to the gospel from the government and very much in need of hearing the Good News and the Love of Jesus, Bhutan.  Also today I wanted share with you a very special prayer request from a Christian minister whom we have been communicating with for a few years.

Here is the letter I received today:  "I write to you this with great sense of urgency.
My wife Reeta and I have been going through very testing times for the last few months.
I need a vey special and urgent constant prayer my wife, She have been carrying for over two months now. She is diabetics and we are monitoring her sugar level. Doctors have admitted her to the hospital off and on. Please pray for her. We are trusting God for the normal health of both the mother and the baby.

In times such as this, our faith is being attacked by fears and doubts within, what doctors say, the word of discouragement that comes from outside and the reasons that seem valid
God has been encouraging through His words. Faith is beyond reasons. God is able to perform miracles beyond our comprehension.
Current prayer requests:

• Healing of my wife from Diabetes
• Our Bhutan churches, that they may withstand all persecutions and persist in it’s goal of winning the community
• Students to whom we have been reaching out to with the gospel.
• The door for evangelism may be open and grow."

Please pray for these needs and that the walls of deception, persecution and the strongholds of the enemy be brought down!

For more information on how you may help go to: Youth Quests International or Christian Mission Trips or go to the Christian Social Network for Missions.

Continual Rains / Mudslides / Effects of the Flooding Hit the 10/40 Window

While watching the news early this morning I was struck by the numerous disasters in Asia and rising tensions in the Middle East and around the world.  The death toll rising, sickness and disease, homeless, starving and numerous millions of families hurt in one way or another or morning for lost loved ones from these recent events.

Continued rains and mudslides in China, the deluge continues in Pakistan and a school collapsed in northern India from excessive rains.  With all these disasters, many have died, more that twenty million affected in Pakistan alone, the short term conditions are deplorable and disease is spreading in Pakistan and may elsewhere as a result of these conditions.

We need to pray for all these things and people and especially for the Christians in these areas. In Pakistan alone I have received several reports from inside of Pakistan from pastors that the aid that is coming in is far less than what is needed to even sustain them, but the relief that is coming is not being distributed to the Christian population in this country. 

Pray that the Lord will supernaturally sustain the Christians in these areas as a witness to the lost and dying that there is a God who loves them and wants them to know Him.  Pray that the doors will open for the Christian aid agencies to be able to go in freely with out restriction to serve, assist, and bring aid and the Word of the Lord.
Youth Quests

Disastrous Floods In China

This week there were some very disastrous floods in China.  Please pray for the people who are in some very difficult situations and especially for the families of the many that died and the ones who are missing. 

China has seen several disasters over the last couple of years with many people and families affected.  Let’s hold up our brothers and sisters in prayer, finances or even go on a mission trip to China.  Contact us at Youth Quests International for any questions or requests you may have.

Haitian Mission Project Updates and Prayer Requests

Hello from Youth Quests,
I am writing to let you know the progress of the Haitian project we are involved with, the current needs and prayer requests, as well as, our future plans for this project.
The previous team had worked on some crucial and much needed improvements for the following teams who will be working on the projects in this local village area.  They were involved in ministry to the local people as well. The team arriving in the village near Torbeck in just a few days will greatly appreciate all the previous team has done in preparation for them.

Project Updates and Prayer Requests

Will you pray about the following needs? The dollar amounts mentioned are still needed for the projects.) For donations go to: http://hopeforhaiti.shutterfly.com/news

Water Well
While we were there, we were able to talk with some government officials about drilling a well in preparation for the orphanage we are planning on building there in the area.  Even though they said that they only drill on government or public lands, they agreed to drill the well for a very reasonable $2000.00 for the orphanage project.  We are praising the Lord for this good source of water for the orphanage and ministry.  Pray for the project to progress and the doors to stay open as well as the funds to come in for this project for a good water source for the people.

Poultry Business
The team leaving for Torbeck on July 18th will be working on building the poultry business. The aim of this business is supporting the pastors to be self-sustaining in working with the local people and income generating for the operation of the orphanage.  As of right now, we are currently $2000 short on funds to get this poultry business fully up and running complete with facilities, equipment, chicks and feed.  

Orphanage Projection
We are currently in contact with a Christian man who has been building several homes in Haiti in cooperation with the Haitian government.  He has agreed to build the orphanage in this area employing local people and using good materials for the low cost of $15 per square foot!  Our goal is to start with a 2000 square foot facility that would only cost $30,000; then with the water available, the orphanage would be in a good position to be a blessing to many in that area.

Adoption in Progress
Orphans in this area need hope and a future; currently it is our turn to help an orphan girl be adopted into a Christian family in the USA.  The lawyers in the country have been working on the adoption. All the family needs is another $3,000.00 to complete the adoption process.

Thank you so much for your interest in missions and may the Lord richly bless you,
Haiti Mission Trips  from  Youth Quests International