Mission- Cyprus

Brief History - Cyprus

Cyprus is located in Middle East, an island in the Mediterranean Sea, south of Turkey.               

Population (2018) – 1,189,085
Capital – Nicosia

Ethnic Background

• Greek - 77%
• Turkish - 18% 
• Other - 5%

Cyprus has two communities and official languages, Greek and Turkish. Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots share a lot in common in their culture but also have differences. However, the two communities have distinct religions and religious cultures, with the Greek Cypriots traditionally being Greek Orthodox and Turkish Cypriots traditionally being Sunni Muslims, which has partly hindered cultural exchange. Greek Cypriots have influences from Greece and Christianity, while Turkish Cypriots have influences from Turkey and Islam.

Exports - citrus, potatoes, pharmaceuticals, cement, clothing
Imports - consumer goods, petroleum and lubricants, machinery, transport equipment.

Cyprus  which its Greek name was Kypros has been rich in resources especially Cooper and contribute a great factor to the early arrival of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the Island in the 1st Century

Christian commitment was strong in Cyprus from the beginning. After the stoning of Stephen in Jerusalem Acts 11:19-21, followers of The Way arrived on the island. It was from there Christianity was brought to Antioch, and the Good News spread but now reverse is the case. Presently there are chaos, insecurity, community wars.

Prayers

Titus 2:11 “For the grace of God (His unmerited favor and blessing) has come forward (appeared) for the deliverance from sin and the eternal salvation for all mankind.”

1 Timothy 2:1,3-4 “I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them 3 For such [praying] is good and right, and [it is] pleasing and acceptable to God our Savior, 4 Who wishes all men to be saved and [increasingly] to perceive and recognize and discern and know precisely and correctly the [divine] Truth.

• Thank Him that the grace that brought about salvation appear anew to men and women in Cyprus
• Thank Him for the work of your gospel that has begun
• Lord your wish is that all men will be save, please in your mercy open a new entrance of your gospel in that land, let it be prevalent in every aspect of Cypriot life both old and young. 
• Help them to rediscover Christ personally, the misery of the gospel will be reveal to them 
• I pray that the winds of change will clarify the new options of the old gospel lying within the very fabric of their society, but accepted and often dismissed as commonplace.
• I pray that the words of Jesus will come alive and become personal to every as my Cypriot
• Lord let the wind of complete gospel begin to blow again in Cyprus
• Acts 11:20 “However, some of the believers who went to Antioch from Cyprus and Cyrene began preaching to the Gentiles[f] about the Lord Jesus. 21 The power of the Lord was with them, and a large number of these Gentiles believed and turned to the Lord.”
• Lord raise men and women holy spirit filled like of old that will proclaim your true gospel in Cyprus 
• Pray for missionaries to stay focused on God and His plans above all else. Matt 6:33
• Pray for missionaries to spend much time in the Word and ask God to give them discernment. 2 Tim 2:15
• Pray for missionaries to regularly seek examination by God and to repent from any errors that have crept into their lives. Psalm 139:23-24
• Humility: Pray for missionaries to have a spirit of humility and to willingly ask God for wisdom in carrying out their assignment. James 1:5
• Purity: Pray for missionaries to be so renewed by God’s Word that no sin will have dominion over them. Psalm 119:133
• Boldness: Pray for boldness in the missionaries when they share the gospel or preach
• Pray for the Ministers to point people to Jesus and not seek undue recognition for themselves. Matt 5:16
• Pray for RCCG Foreign missions ministers to model a life of dependence on God. Pro. 3:5-6
• Resist temptation: Pray for them to be quick to take the escape routes God provides when temptation sneaks up on them. 1 Cor 10:13b
• Retreat with God: Pray for them to take personal prayer retreats to get their direction from Him. Isa 50:4
• Pray for grace that the workers will be able to stand firm under affliction and to look forward