Day 31
East Timor
Elijah was a human being, even as we are. When he prayed earnestly that it would not rain, it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. And then when he prayed again, the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops. Father God, we pray that You would raise up some Christian leaders in East Timor who are like Elijah. Men and women of integrity and humility. People of prayer and fasting. People who know God’s heart because they seek Your heart and spend time with You. And when they speak and when they pray, we ask that many will listen and pay attention because what they hear is right and true and important to pay attention to. May their words and prayers stir up revival in this land (The Bible, James 5:17-18).
The country, also known as Timor-Leste, had a bloody 24-year resistance against Indonesian occupiers, gaining independence officially in 2002. In stark contrast to this turbulent past, East Timor peacefully transferred power to a younger generation of leaders in the 2017 presidential elections. However, the nation has failed to form a secure, strong government since the 2018 parliamentary elections. The membership of the governing coalition changed again in 2020. Half of the country, with a population of only 1.3 million people, still lives in extreme poverty. High levels of youth unemployment fuel gang violence. With around 95% of its population being Roman Catholic, it is one of only two predominantly Christian nations in Southeast Asia. Churches face no persecution.
