“We are either in the process of resisting God’s truth or in the process of being shaped and molded by His truth.”
FROM THE DESK OF: the Director of Communications
The US women's national team won the World Cup on Sunday, beating Japan 5-2. Millions watched the game on TV, which drew record-breaking crowds. Experts are now predicting a huge uptick in participation in youth soccer leagues across the country. Many are suggesting that the generation of girls inspired by the last American World Cup champs (1999) are now mothers themselves, pushing the momentum of women's soccer towards their own children with a renewed enthusiasm. The sport of soccer in particular and women's athletics in general are riding an enormous wave of support.
However, during the trophy presentation, much was made of the women presenters, dressed in black, skimpy dresses. Despite so many advances, the celebration itself was an a subtle reminder to the millions of young girls that women can still be exploited.
Only the gospel creates a culture where women are truly valued and not exploited, truly honored and not used. A day is coming when we can celebrate fully. That will be a good day.
For the Win[dow],
Bubby Bryan, DOC
VERSE OF THE WEEK: Romans 6:4
"We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life."
COUNTRY OF THE WEEK: Mongolia
The Mongols gained fame in the 13th century when under Chinggis KHAAN they established a huge Eurasian empire through conquest. After his death the empire was divided into several powerful Mongol states, but these broke apart in the 14th century. The Mongols eventually retired to their original steppe homelands and in the late 17th century came under Chinese rule. Mongolia won its independence in 1921 with Soviet backing and a communist regime was installed in 1924. The modern country of Mongolia, however, represents only part of the Mongols' historical homeland; more ethnic Mongolians live in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region in the People's Republic of China than in Mongolia. Following a peaceful democratic revolution in 1990, the ex-communist Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party (MPRP) won elections in 1990 and 1992, but was defeated by the Democratic Union Coalition (DUC) in the 1996 parliamentary election. The MPRP won an overwhelming majority in the 2000 parliamentary election, but the party lost seats in the 2004 election and shared power with democratic coalition parties from 2004-08. The MPRP regained a solid majority in the 2008 parliamentary elections but nevertheless formed a coalition government with the Democratic Party (DP) that lasted until January 2012. In 2009, current President ELBEGDORJ of the DP was elected to office and was re-elected for his second term in June 2013. In 2010, the MPRP voted to retake the name of the Mongolian People's Party (MPP), a name it used in the early 1920s. Shortly thereafter, a new party was formed by former president ENKHBAYAR, who had been a member of the MPP, which confusingly adopted for itself the MPRP name. In the 2012 Parliamentary elections, a coalition of four political parties led by the DP, gained control of the Parliament. The coalition dissolved in November 2014 when then Prime Minster ALTANKHUYAG was voted out of office by Parliament. A new grand coalition—which includes the DP, MPP, MPRP, Mongolian National Democratic Party, and the Civil Will Green Party—was formed in December under the leadership of Prime Minister SAIKHANBILEG. (CIA World Factbook)
PRAYER REQUESTS:
- Pray for effective leadership training accessible by those in remote areas.
- Pray for more leaders to disciple new believers in culturally appropriate ways.
- Pray for liberation from shamanistic and occult practices through Jesus Christ
- Pray for the Uttermost workers on the field.
- Pray for the US office.