Mohammad Fiaz is an elderly man living in Greater London’s Newham Borough. He is one of the most welcoming and friendly Londoners I’ve ever met. Last July, Jess, the boys, and I joined our dear friends and fellow SEAPC board members Steven and Wei Wei Chang along with their two lovely daughters Noel and Clarissa in Newham for a prayer walk. It was there that we met Mohammad, who invited us to attend his mosque’s prayer service.Newham Borough and East Ham are home to England’s largest Muslim communities. If you take the Hammersmith & City line or the District line on the London Underground and emerge from it into East Ham, you may feel as if you’ve entered a community in Kashmir or Pakistan. It’s an odd feeling at first because the traditional English storefronts, homes, and curbside aesthetics in no way align with the equally moving and beautiful Asian goods, sounds, and smells coming from within them.On that day we asked to pray inside the oldest mosque. We explained that we were Christians and prayed to Jesus and that we had come from America to pray for new friends that God would bring to us. We were first kindly redirected to a more “tourist-friendly and attractive” location by a young man in the mosque.Mohammad stepped in front of the man and said that we were very welcome and that we were his guests. After the service, he welcomed us to the restaurant across the street and offered us lunch. He asked why we were doing what we were doing, and we explained to him that we wanted to bless the United Kingdom and bless his community. We shared what Jesus had done for us and the desire to pray for peace and the love of Jesus Christ to come to Pakistan, Kashmir, and London.He welcomed the thought and agreed to stand and pray with us! What a joy to join hands and pray with him.The world comes to London, and they bring their cultures with them. If God’s people do not reach them with the love of Jesus Christ and the glory of God in prayer, then we will witness a nation and kingdom become even more fragmented, broken, and ultimately lost. The call from London’s Westminster Abbey, that “the Kingdoms of this world would become the Kingdoms of our Lord and Christ” will come to fruition only through prayer.This is a prophecy of righteousness, peace, and prosperity in Christ and one that we will witness come to pass as another generation of UK citizens submit themselves into prayer. We stand strong with London this month and carry a blessing to its citizens in great hope and anticipation that ALL will come to know the true nature of Christ and the power of fellowship in HIM.This month we mobilize prayer across the UK and ask that you stand with us in prayer.

Prayer – what an awesome blessing and privilege! Think about it. We get to dialog with the Creator of the universe and tell Him our most intimate thoughts, knowing that what we say has been received by faithful loving ears. As we speak with our Father and listen to what He has to say, we can trust that He will lovingly mold us into who He has created us to be. We also get to make a positive difference in our universe, just by petitioning Him to right a wrong or an injustice.SEAPC’s vision is to see a world connected through prayer that brings Christ-based change to those in need. Recently, this vision played out as Cambodia connected with the US. This summer, I have the privilege of working with Sophea, one of SEAPC’s interns from Cambodia. I am tutoring Sophea in English, helping him to increase his level of reading, speaking, and writing in English.As I got to know Sophea, I soon realized what an integral part prayer plays in this young man’s life. I asked Sophea to share a bit of his story for you today.

“I have three brothers. My parents died when I was very young. My brothers and I were separated. At first I lived with my mom’s parents, but they also died. In order to survive I lived with other people. I had to look after six cows. I wasn’t able to do anything or go anywhere until the cows were taken care of. I couldn’t attend school regularly. I didn’t have enough food to eat. I was hated by some kids. I was beaten by the home owner. I felt lost and had no hope. I felt very lonely.I went to live with my dad’s parents, but they didn’t have the money to take care of me. Years later I was sent to a New Hope for Orphans children’s home by my grandparents. In the first weeks I was there I missed my grandparents. As time went on I started to open up, and made friends with some of the other kids. I felt joy and peace. I felt loved and cared for. Being in this children’s home turned my life around. I gave my life to my heavenly Father, Jesus Christ. I began to pray often. I had enough food to eat, and the house parents looked after me. I was now able to attend school regularly. I graduated from the Human Resource University in Phom Penh in April 2019. I am training to be a teacher and leader. I would like to make a positive Christian impact on people in my home country of Cambodia. I heard about the chance to intern with South East Asia Prayer Center in the US.”Sophea’s life was indeed heading in a very positive direction, and he was discovering what an important role prayer plays in his life. In light of that, Sophea has recorded some of the prayers that he lifted up before coming to the US.“I prayed that the internship would happen if it was God’s will. ““I prayed that I would pass the visa interview so that I could come to the US.”“I prayed for a safe trip because it was my first time to come to the US.”“I prayed that I would develop myself to better serve with SEAPC in Cambodia.”“I prayed that I would finish the internship smoothly.”“I prayed that I would learn the steps to publish a book.”“I prayed that I would improve my translation skills.”An encouraging lesson for Sophea was to see firsthand how personally and creatively God answers our prayers, including the ones above. Four Cambodian young adults were approved to be part of the SEAPC internship program by the leaders in Cambodia. All four went to the visa appointment to see if the officials would grant them a visa. Only Sophea got approved for a visa to come to the US. Additionally, when God answered some of Sophea’s prayers for opportunities to sharpen his translating skills, He also answered the cry of the SEAPC staff to find a much needed translator for some training materials for the house parents in Cambodia. Sophea is doing an excellent job with this translation project.The time spent in the US has given Sophea the hands-on opportunity to experience the American culture on several levels. He says:“It is such an honor to be here. America is a beautiful country. I love the views of the countryside where I am staying. The designs of the houses in the US are different than in Cambodia. Cambodia usually builds taller houses. The people who I have met are very friendly and helpful. I don’t like the American food because it is blander than Cambodian food. I prefer my Cambodian papaya salad more than American salad. But I do love the American lifestyle. I admire the way Americans drive, work, and communicate. I sometimes wonder how they can have so much stuff to talk about. In Cambodia we listen more than speak. We don’t talk too much with elderly people. I enjoy seeing and learning about other cultures.”This internship has been a positive experience for Sophea. He has experienced stretching times as well as times that have put a smile on his face. It has been a joy to see the power of prayer make such a great difference in the life of a young man who has traveled all the way from Cambodia. Sophea shared some of his final thoughts as he closes out his time here.“I have been here for five weeks already. I have come to understand some of the American culture. During this period, I have improved my English skills as well. My speaking skills are improving because I speak English every day. According to the lessons that I am learning with SEAPC, I am learning about leadership characteristics. As Christian leaders we need to be bold and to be meek. We need to live as an example to others. Jesus is our example. I have learned about budgeting and branding also. I have learned about some of the strategies connected to the SEAPC’s Raising Kids program. Discussing the core values of SEAPC gave me new understanding about teamwork. I am looking forward to seeing God’s plan for my future. I am open to what He has for me. There is a scripture that means a lot to me. It is Philippians 4:13: 'I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.'When I go back to Cambodia I will apply all the things I have learned from the internship to my work in Cambodia. There are a couple of things I would like to do. One thing is to translate an English language book I read, into Khmer. This book empowered me, and I feel that it can help other Cambodian youth. Also, I would like to start up a publishing company in my country. But first I have to do a lot of research on publishing companies and to do a lot of planning. I pray that God will continue to direct me as I ask Him in prayer.”Prayer is a powerful conduit between us and our Father in heaven, and also between brothers and sisters the world over. Different times I have found that when I asked God for something, He answered above and beyond what I asked for. This was definitely the case with our prayer for translation of the house parent training materials. Sophea received invaluable on-the-job translation opportunities, and at the same time SEAPC received an answer to a long-time prayer for a much needed translator. I see Sophea as a living breathing example of SEAPC’s vision concerning prayer.This young Cambodian man has an exciting future ahead of him! His heart to reach out and minister to those in his home country coupled with his discipline to seek God’s face for direction and inspiration, will platform him to advance God’s kingdom globally. Sophea truly has inspired me to become bolder and more expectant in what I pray for.

Global leaders believe that the success of Middle East Peace Plan, the Belt and Road Initiative, and the future of the European Union all rely heavily on the blessing of the Crown and strategic partnership with the United Kingdom.What does that have to do with prayer, and furthermore with South East Asia Prayer Center?Many of the decisions made inside the various buildings of England's Westminster government district have had a historical global impact. One bold declaration, inscribed in gold above the altar within the district's Westminster Abbey, reads "The Kingdoms of this world shall become the Kingdoms of our Lord and Christ." The choice and action to submit their Kingdom beneath this charge—this decision to announce the Church's participation in the fulfillment of the prophecy given to John in Revelation 11 and further to release its commissioning throughout the Kingdom directly descending from King and Queen knelt at the altar to missionaries spread across each continent—changed the world. It created avenues for global exchange, platforms for technological advancements, and opportunities for common good among the nations.I was recently asked by an independent review commissioned by the foreign office to visit Westminster Abbey to give testimony of Christian persecution. The church beautifully boasts 1,000 years of history and its massive collection of 3,300 crypts can leave any weary traveler dizzy. I looked for the engraving at the altar while I was there. To my surprise, neither the minister on that day nor the curator were aware of the inscription or could locate it. We approached the altar and found a cloth veil, displayed for the Easter season, completely covering it. Not being permitted to remove the veil, the curator led us to photo collections of the Abbey where a recent picture of the altar revealed the truth. “Look here,” he said with joy. “It is actually written on the altar. May the Kingdoms of this world become the Kingdoms of our Lord and Christ.” Amazed, he shook his head and thanked us for bringing this to his attention.After meeting the leadership at the Abbey, my colleague and I decided to take some time to pray. Questions filled my spirit, "Does every great global vision for righteousness really begin with prayer? What prayer meeting took place in this sanctuary that fueled the Kingdom's desire to fill the earth with righteousness? How many times did revival come to the United Kingdom to bring new life and to restore righteousness to this vision? Could it happen again? Is it happening now, and are we a small part of it?"In 2018 SEAPC registered as a charitable organization within the United Kingdom. Many friends asked me why. I had to ask myself, "Are we doing this to find additional human and material resources to complete the health and education responsibilities we have in the nations? Is this to boast in the expansion of the organization and its success? Even worse, are we going through these efforts because my wife loves London and has a very cute and healthy love for the Royals?"The truthful reason behind SEAPC's focused prayer for the United Kingdom came to me in 2012, while our family was submitted into City Harvest School of Theology in Singapore. At that time, our dear friend Oi-Yin Sung entered into our lives and introduced the current spiritual needs of London, her hometown, into our lives. She has a passion for Christ and a similar missions heart, upbringing, and commitment to serve Him. We became fast friends, and a vision to mobilize prayer in the UK was birthed in my heart. Oi-Yin has served SEAPC masterfully in many varied capacities since 2012 and has caused this ministry to grow in many ways, including the official registration and launch of SEAPC UK.This July we return to London, with friends from the nations, to pray for God's mighty spirit to revive the vision of His Kingdom's reality among His people. Jesus spent most of His teaching ministry on the earth describing this Kingdom of Heaven that The Revelation speaks of. It is an eternal Kingdom that is full of righteousness, peace, and truth; a Kingdom He would make available to all men who would receive Him.July 1-7, we will make the prayer journey from Winchester to Salisbury, walk across Bristol, and release the Glory of God, delivering His grace and compassion to those in need and attending several planned events. Please join us in prayer and stand with us to believe that this generation across the UK will decide to submit their lives into a greater Kingdom and through that unite the nations in righteousness, peace, and truth.

“I [Jesus] have come that they may have LIFE, and have it more abundantly…” – John 10:10

This year, Pray Americas focuses on the fervent desire of God to sweep our nation with an entrenched Culture of Life. This culture carries great blessings and equally great consequences. The culture of life is one that insists on the protection of life as a part of the image of God. It must never be compromised or contaminated. To do so would give an invitation for the devourer mentioned in John 10 to enter in and have his way among us. We don’t want any part of him or his presence in our nation.

God is the source of life, therefore life is not to be altered by human hands. We are the stewards of life, not the owners of it. As a grateful father of five children, I continue to learn how holy and sacred life is to God himself. As a dad, I love the significance found in the meaning of the word “life” found in John 10:10. This word “zoe” in the Greek text means the eternal life of God found in our physical and spiritual being. It references the quality of life that God as a good father planned for all creation to enjoy. This is a higher perspective. It is the perspective of the Father’s eyes upon His children.

We must pray for our nation with this same sight! Praying from this vantage point changes the way we pray in both intensity and the joyful expectation in our hearts.

Our standard of life must be rooted in the standard that our Father made it to be. In our nation, there is heavy pressure to compromise and bend the value and sacredness of life to fit human standards and definitions in many different areas. Our goal as children of our Father is to protect all fellow image-bearers of God. We are those that stand in the gap for life from the womb to the tomb and into eternity! Praying for and carrying the culture of life is an essential part of bearing the image of God.

This year as you join us for Pray Americas, we are praying for you!

We pray that the fearless love and the boldness of our Father will strengthen you. Let it give you the courage to pray for and carry a culture of life into the culture that surrounds you. You will feel the change as you do! You will see eyes around you open to what life is according to our Father’s heart.

Did you know that SEAPC is affiliated with ministries around the world? As part of an ongoing blog series, we'll be introducing you to each of the ministries over the next few months, and we're excited for you to learn how to better pray for and support them!

Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12

SEAPC is active all over the world, bringing hope to the hopeless. Men and women whom God has called from all nations stand in the gap daily with ministry, healthcare, education, and parenting needs. Other non-profits serve under the SEAPC umbrella as well to address global issues. But what about the needs right next door?The hometown of SEAPC, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is a mecca for business, healthcare, and education. And yet it also grapples with poverty, unbelief, and homelessness. Into this breach stepped a new ministry, Light in My City, the most recent addition to the SEAPC family of affiliates.[caption id="attachment_4451" align="aligncenter" width="768"]

Pastor Erik Wiesemann at the Homeless Memorial on Grant Street and Fort Pitt Boulevard in Pittsburgh.[/caption]Erik Wiesemann, founder of Light in My City, is a kindergarten teacher with eclectic hobbies such as playing the ukulele and doing yo-yo tricks. He also has a pastoral degree from Liberty University. Several years ago he started a school club, All Wound Up, where he teaches yo-yo skills to the fourth graders. Through this, he has brought in over $20,000 for local charities. The Sunday before Christmas 2018 he accompanied one of these charities into downtown Pittsburgh. For the first time, he was confronted with the reality of homelessness. Rats, filth, hunger, hopelessness, drugs, alcohol, mental illness, danger—all became very real.God called him to serve under the bridges and in the isolated places where many won’t venture.Everyone has a street name. And a story. Erik has found some of those stories being played out as God uses him. Those he serves have now become part of his story. Names and a few details have been changed to protect identities, but the following are two examples of the highs and lows of this outreach.Many years ago combat veteran, Beetle, was strolling through the city with his young daughter. A man threw a bottle and hit the girl. In the altercation that followed, Beetle ended up incarcerated. His daughter went into foster care. In prison he found Jesus and earned a seminary degree. After his release the halfway house where he lived caught fire; he lost everything—including his daughter’s birth certificate—and ended up homeless.Light in My City, through a set of circumstances orchestrated by God, has found him a job, provided clothing, and become a friend. Beetle is in the process of replacing his daughter’s birth certificate so that he can begin visits with her. Recently, he was asked to give his testimony at a small church. Afterwards, a man approached him to say how much it touched his heart. And that he remembered Beetle. He had been the arresting officer the night Beetle went to prison.God is using Beetle to reach others for the Kingdom. He now has a real home, not just on earth but also for eternity. It’s a great story of redemption. But not all stories from the streets are happy ones.In her early twenties and of slight build, Lily grappled with life on the streets through substance abuse. Most of the clothing handed out by charities was either for men—who comprise the largest segment of the homeless—or much too large. Light in My City found small sizes for her, prayed with her, and nurtured her artistic skills. On a subsequent Sunday outreach, the news reached Pastor Erik before he got to Lily’s tent. Four nights earlier, she had been assaulted. And she hung herself. Without having accepted Jesus. It’s a heartbreaking story of a light forever extinguished.So what, exactly, is the mission of Light in My City?Pastor Erik identified an unmet need. Light. Certainly the light of Jesus. He buys Bibles, highlights key passages, and hands them out as he prays with people. There is also a need for light in the long, dark nights. After painstaking research, he purchased solar/hand-crank lanterns with radios. The goal is to provide “light, dignity, and safety.” Lanterns are distributed all over the city and in secluded locations.Pastor Erik says that we can all help by, “showing the same grace, mercy, and love to the homeless as you would want shown to you. They are people with families, feelings, and dreams. I have been blessed in my time working on the streets to have met many, many wonderful people.”There is no limit of opportunities to support missions, both local and global. Through prayer, God leads each of us to where we can best use our time, talents, and treasures. When we obey Him, the giving becomes a joyful blessing not only to others, but also to us.Imagine a vast encampment as a dark island in the center of the bright city lights. One by one, that darkness is being banished as lanterns are distributed. And with God’s blessing, the darkness of sin and estrangement from the Lord is being overcome as well. One man saw a need and—along with others of like mind—is heeding God’s call to fill it. Join with them. Bring on the light!

Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path. Psalm 119:105

More information about this affiliate is available at: www.lightinmycity.org. 100% of all contributions go to purchase lanterns. If you feel led, donations can be made via Light in My City’s website.

I do not like to be told what I should do. When I hear someone say, “You know what you should do?” an off switch shuts off my hearing and my brain. Perhaps I am a true child of the sixties.Why? Because usually such a person takes no thought about my age, experience, or situation. They just expound from their point of view.I have learned to counter this by asking, “if you were me, what would you do?” This seems to slow them down a bit before they rant about their choice for me.Life today is full of choices. The mundane: What to wear, where to go, when to leave, what route to take have little real result. What to eat, what to drink, when to sleep, what exercise program to use, these have a little more importance because they affect our health and our body is the package that contains the great gift of life. If we take care of it, it takes care of us. So, we balance protein and fat and carbs in a healthy diet and we choose to turn off the TV or power down the laptop so we can get enough rest. We take the steps instead of the elevator so we can keep the heart working, for without it life gets pretty short.In a few words, we choose in favor of our lives.God told Moses “I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore CHOOSE LIFE that both you and your descendants may live.” (Deuteronomy 30:19)I was deeply touched by the article in the New York Times by Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal published June 13, 2019 about her inner turmoil concerning her abortion. And never having been in her situation, I do not take liberty to judge her in any way and, in actual fact, have no idea what I would do if it was me.That being said, there are those who, without regard to her personal situation and the risk of her child, will champion her right to decision and parade her as a heroine of the right to choose. What the Honorable Congresswoman was able to clearly relate was the anguish of having to make the choice.Our nation is divided over this choice. I think the choice for life is the wiser choice. So, I am beginning to pray for those who think differently. That is: to go to their headquarters and park legally and turn on some worship, and pray for them. No man is my enemy. Though I feel very strongly on this issue, I realize that there is a force that brings death and a Savior who gives life and so, in the meekness of the Lamb, I will do what He is doing at the right hand of the Father who said “CHOOSE LIFE.”The Governor of my state of Pennsylvania has publicly declared that he will veto any bill that prohibits the right to choose an abortion. I invite you to join with me in this gentle initiative to locate centers of life-taking activity and have a little quiet prayer time there. Pray. Just pray!In my food, exercise, and life choices, but more importantly in my spiritual walk, I CHOOSE LIFE.

“The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”

This is a phrase that originates in the King James version of James 5:16.The two words, “effectual” and “fervent,” are actually translated from a single Greek word, energeo (ἐνεργέω), a cousin to our word for “energy.” Generally speaking, it conveys the idea of “energizing,” similar to an electrical current that brings energy to a circuit.When applied to the passage, this suggests a type of prayer that is “passionate, heartfelt, heated, persistent” and so forth. The Amplified Bible, renders it another way that’s especially illuminating: “The earnest (heartfelt, continued) prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available [dynamic in its working]” (James 5:16 TAB).This is the type of prayer that changes cultures. Heartfelt persistent praying will transform and change our culture.I’m reminded of two incidents that have made a dramatic difference in our state and community.A few years ago, SEAPC Pray Americas focused on our state capitals. There were just a few of us who made the trek down I-71 to Columbus to pray for our state. We released our faith in fervent prayer that things would change in Ohio, we stood on God’s promises, and believed that our State would began to change for the better. Now, two years later, Ohio’s government has passed laws that are pointing the state towards a culture of life. Effectual, fervent prayer was the difference.My second recollection was an Attack Lambs Seminar in Youngstown led by Matt Geppert that caused us to hit the streets of Youngstown and ask for the rebuilding of the ancient ruins. We have seen Youngstown’s transformation begin at the University and we’re believing that this transformation will continue throughout the region.Yes, prayer is the answer for societal transformation. Be fervent about your prayer life.

"In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters." - Genesis 1:1From the very beginning, God created order from chaos. He took an empty, formless, dark nothing and from it made everything. Think about the world you know. From amoeba to elephant, from the Pacific Ocean to the summit of Mount Everest, from hamsters to humans—all have a symmetry that only our all-powerful God could create. But the perfection God created in humanity succumbed to sin."And (God) he said, 'Behold, I am making a covenant. Before all your people I will do marvels, such as have not been created in all the earth or in any nation. And all the people among whom you are shall see the work of the Lord, for it is an awesome thing that I will do with you.'" - Genesis 34:10God saw the chaos that sin created in His peoples’ lives. Out of love and His perfect nature He provided Ten Commandments, a promise to bring order into the chaos of lives shattered by sin. These laws gave a framework for right living and for a relationship with Him. But the relationship that God created succumbed to sin."For God so loved the world that He gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him." - John 3:16-17Finally, God paid the ultimate sacrifice to redeem His wayward humanity from the chaos of their lost lives. Jesus—sinless, obedient, divine—conquered death and the grave to bring perfect order and peace to those who accept him.Biblical history and theological precepts are great. But our world today seems to be in total chaos. War, terrorism, hunger, abortion, hatred, depravity—the list is seemingly endless. We were brought into this perfect world, and we messed it up. God’s rules are ignored. We were sent a Savior, and many reject him. What is a believer to do? Because the Bible makes it clear: God’s people are His plan to bring the lost to Him.SEAPC is working to fulfill that mandate in concrete ways around the globe through multiple ministry outreaches. Small steps, forged in prayer, are being taken to identify needs and combat the chaos of lives that have yet to meet Jesus.Nepali farmers in the Himalayas have a chaotic existence. One poor village where the SEAPC medical team had visited experienced a devastating landslide soon after. The entire town became buried under rubble. Houses, outbuildings, cook pots, everything gone. Everyday issues such as grinding poverty, rocky soil, government neglect, and other factors make it difficult for families to live.SEAPC became acquainted with Man Dai, a believer in Kathmandu who came from and has a heart for the rural communities. Working with him and others, a family was identified who wanted to have a goat farm. With funds donated through SEAPC, he purchased fifteen goats. These reproduced into a herd of sixty. He now has ninety goats, some ready to give birth again, which will bring the herd to 100.The farmer is selling goats to others who will now prosper. He uses and sells the goat milk. With that income he planted a vegetable garden, bought chickens, and opened a small grocery for his village. He has provided work for his neighbors, some of whom hope to become beekeepers.Man Dai, who visits and is a conduit between the villages and SEAPC says, “Thank God for His provision.”

The physical void in this small community in Nepal has been filled. The spiritual darkness is being overcome by the Lord.Order out of chaos.Kashmir, India, a region of great beauty where God’s creation is manifest in towering mountains, rushing streams, and verdant valleys. It is also a place where there is violence and political unrest that has left the predominantly Muslim community in turmoil. And has resulted in many being blinded by flying bullets.Pastor K, the Church of North India, and other believers are working with SEAPC as plans are finalized for a Blind School in Srinagar. With the expertise of Cecelia Manning and The Western Pennsylvania School for Blind Children, the dream of bringing functional living to the blind will soon be a reality.A building will be renovated and filled with equipment, teachers will be prepared, and community youth will learn to navigate and provide for themselves in the world. They will learn about Jesus. And even though their eyesight will not be restored, light will flood their souls through the Lord.Also in Kashmir, John Bishop Memorial Hospital is bringing babies into the world in a safe, clean environment. The Nursing School is preparing young Muslim women to be healthcare professionals. They also are participating in daily devotions. In spite of local violence and endemic unrest, this Christian hospital and school are praying for each new baby and pouring Jesus into each student. The uproar of political agendas rages outside the hospital grounds. Inside there is calm and peace.Order out of chaos.Medical emergencies are times of great stress. Even in the United States, where there is an ambulance and trauma center nearby, chaos describes any disaster.In Banteay Meanchey Province in northwest Cambodia, emergency services are vastly different. When a medical emergency arises, it is up to the people on site to manage it. Even in the schools, there are no trained professionals to handle injuries.Zoeanna Shorthouse and SEAPC are working on this. Zoeanna has developed a program to teach basics of healthcare to local women who will go on to get a nursing certification. As the program progresses, the plan is to have a school nurse in each of the 488 schools in Banteay Meanchey.On his recent trip to the area, Matt Geppert delivered the initial 30 of almost 500 first aid kits to be used in schools. Proper equipment, combined with professional training, will mean better healthcare for the students in this province. What once would have been situations fraught with anxiety, upset, and potentially lethal outcomes will now be managed in the best way possible.

Because people have answered God’s call, emergency situations and healthcare in general will be improved. Lives may be saved.Order out of chaos.What can we, as ordinary believers, do? First of all, no believer is ‘ordinary.’ We are children of the Triune God, His hands and feet to His creation. Not only have we been given a divine mandate, we have also been given access to divine power.Pray. There are countless situations that need your intervention.Give. Goats, bees, Blind School, Nursing School, first aid kits—all needs to be filled.Go. Mission trips are scheduled this year. Join a medical team as a healthcare professional or a prayer partner. Be part of ministry, construction, children’s outreaches.God has created an amazing world for us to nurture. He has given us a framework in which to function. And He has sent us a Savior to banish the darkness with the light of salvation. Let’s join with believers around the world to bring peace and joy in our generation.In other words, order out of chaos."The nations rage, the kingdoms totter; he utters his voice, the earth melts. The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress." - Psalm 46:6-7

“The report went on to say, ‘his severe and deteriorating internalized mental health problems… combined with atypical preoccupation with violence… access to deadly weapons…. Provided a recipe for mass murder.’”And, so, Adam Lanza went down in US history as the perpetrator of the deadliest mass shooting at either a grade school or high school and the fourth deadliest mass shooting by a single person in U.S. history.The event at Sandy Hook caught the attention of South East Asia Prayer Center for several reasons beyond the shock and trauma of so many children struck down in the seeming safety of their school building. Several of our staff have elementary and preschool children and the faces of anguish struck deep into our hearts. December 14, 2012 will always be remembered as the day we decided that as a prayer ministry we should equip churches and parents with solid answers to the questions of what could have happened to fill the heart of a 20-year-old in a quiet and peaceful community to commit such a heinous act. And how we can prevent such things from occurring.Ephesians 6:12 gives us some of the answers. Therein are listed four forces that work in a “tag team” relationship determined to eliminate the image of God from the earth. Man, created in the image of God, becomes the target of their campaign. The Greek words and a simple definition disclose how this young man became so filled with hate that he would kill his mother, children, and then himself.Archas is the first question, and asks “who has preeminence?” Who has control? Who has power? As a sufferer of Asperger’s, Adam was on the outside. He never fit in a group. He had poor social skills and was a social pariah.Exousias is the second term and it is the “right to speak.” Adam had no voice, or felt that he had none. He just never fit in.Kosmokratos is the third force, and plays to the question, “Who will rule?” Those on the Autism spectrum as was Adam will constantly struggle with this question. Acting out in a violent manner allows a moment of control.Pneumatika tae Poneerias, the fourth force, is the Greek for Spirits of Malice (the desire or action that harms another human being). The question was asked if Adam planned his attack and the answer was indeed there was malice aforethought. What filled his mind and heart? This spirit.At SEAPC we are deeply involved in training people to work with children who have Autism. We also believe that prayer changes people and further that the church is here to restrain these forces from harming humanity. 2 Thessalonians 2:7 teaches us that the mystery of lawlessness is already at work, but the one who now restrains it will continue until he is taken out of the way. The Holy Spirit works through the church to restrain the evil.The Adam Lanzas of this world need to be embraced by a loving local church. They need the strong example of men who walk with integrity and pray with power.With this in mind we set June 15 through July 25 as Pray Americas and have mobilized local churches and prayer teams to walk the campuses of their schools and build a prayer wall against these forces. Are all children with Asperger’s or another spectrum illness potential mass-killers? No, most definitely not. But ALL need to be embraced, not shunned; encouraged, not condemned. Loved with attention and lots of hugs. They are vulnerable in a society that worships the great and discards those perceived to be weaker.We have traveled every State of the US, Canada, and Mexico. We continue to reach out to churches and prayer groups. Our training materials on how to walk and pray in your neighborhood and schools are available. Together we can make this year the year of breakthrough. We can take action. For practical guide on malice prevention, please contact SEAPC. We are ready to stand with you for America.

God recently showed me, in a very personal way, that His ways are not always our ways.As part of a 10-year agreement that SEAPC has with the Chinese government to help develop a standard of care for children living with autism in China, the SEAPC CARE project was developed. As part of SEAPC CARE, the US office periodically hosts small groups of Chinese teachers to come to the States to receive additional training and experience with working with children with autism. Earlier this month, five teachers chosen by the Beijing Association for the Rehabilitation of Autistic Children traveled to Pittsburgh to augment their teaching skills. They had an extremely busy time of visiting and observing several Pittsburgh schools and medical clinics, as well as at partner behavioral services centers.Even in the midst of the Chinese teachers’ intensely busy schedule, I was given the great opportunity to work with them a bit to help improve their English language comprehension skills.One of my first tutoring sessions went in an unusually different direction. I had a great lesson plan—or so I thought—but apparently God had a different plan. I was getting my proverbial “ducks in a row” to begin the lesson. Due to an unfortunate circumstance, one of my students quite suddenly left the room in a highly emotional state.Oh no – what should I do? The student with the untimely exit was supposed to be a “key player” in my lesson plan. Five pairs of eyes focused in on me. I quickly sent up a silent prayer.After praying, I felt as if I was supposed to forget about my carefully crafted lesson plan, and just ask each of them a very simple question.“During your time here in the states what is one thing you found that you like the best?”Things were a bit awkward as they were still trying to process the sudden exit that had just occurred, but all of the teachers answered my question.Each of their answers involved a certain food they had discovered to be part of the American culture, and several answers named a particular fruit. At this point I interjected a comment that surprisingly and interestingly lightened up the mood in the room. I said, “I love bananas and so does my dog.”I guess dogs in China don’t eat bananas! The cloud that seemed to cover the room quickly dissipated as gales of laughter broke out. In fact, a couple the students laughed so hard that tears coursed down their cheeks. I was even drawn into the irresistible bouts of laughter.How reassuring it is to know that God really can use anything—even the image of a dog eating a banana—to accomplish His purposes!