The Brazilian World Cup team has several outspoken evangelical Christian players. At times, they face persecution for their faith, particularly the high-profile Kaká. Pray for these godly men, who desire to be ambassadors for Christ even as they use their skills to represent their nation on the soccer pitch.

Kaká has produced a multi-language 45-minute DVD of his life and testimony and has donated tens of thousands of these for Christian groups to distribute during the World Cup. Pray that many people who receive this gift at the Brazil-Chile match tonight will have a desire to watch the DVD. Pray they will be drawn to Christ through what they see and hear.

Ghana’s victory over the United States in Saturday’s second round match has been a huge boost to the spirits of South Africans, who were terribly disappointed when Bafana Bafana failed to go through at the end of the group matches. Africans around the continent are pinning their hopes on The Black Stars of Ghana, and the Ghanaians have massive support from every corner of Africa.

Intercede for Christian athletes on the Ghanaian team to handle well the pressure that comes with high expectations. Pray they will have many opportunities to share that being faithful to Jesus is far more important than winning the World Cup.

DURBAN, South Africa — Their laughter can be heard rolling over the hills and through the houses of Newlands East, a Coloured* neighborhood. Children, barefoot and dressed in worn clothes, scramble for a turn in the bounce house at an outreach event prior to the showing of the highly-anticipated Brazil vs. Portugal match.

The outreach, which was coordinated by several churches working together through an organization called The Ultimate Goal, is designed to use soccer as a platform to reach the Coloured people of Durban.

*Coloured refers to a defined people group unique to southern Africa.

Pray for players on the South Korean World Cup team, who are out of the tournament due to a second round defeat at the hands of Uruguay. A number of South Korean players are evangelical Christians. Pray that these followers of Jesus will deal with defeat in a godly manner, and that this will lead non-believers on their team to question them about their peace and joy in the face of disappointment.

Photo courtesy of FIFA LOC.

Soweto, a huge township that is part of greater Johannesburg, is close to Soccer City stadium. Followers of Christ are committed to planting at least two new churches in different parts of Soweto by the end of the World Cup. Pray for them to accomplish this goal.

South African Christians in the Johannesburg area are welcoming World Cup visitors as they fly into O.R. Tambo International Airport, praying for them and offering a place for guests to learn more about the Lord. Churches located near O.R. Tambo refurbished the airport’s Christian prayer room and followers of Jesus are prayerwalking the terminals and manning the prayer room daily from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.

The response has been amazing. There is a waiting list of people wanting Bibles! Pray that a way will be found to provide copies of the Word of God for those who desire it.

Pray for Patricia, Gerald, Dhano, Joan, Hans, Thobeka, Len, Tendayi and other Christians who are faithfully keeping this ministry going and making a way for visitors to see the Lord Jesus lifted up from the moment they arrive in South Africa.

Bloemfontein is one of South Africa’s three capital cities. For 100 years it has served as the judicial capital of the country. Located in the Free State province, Bloemfontein was founded by Dutch and English settlers almost 200 years ago, and at one point it was a safe haven for tribes fleeing from Shaka Zulu.

Pray that decisions made in Bloemfontein will provide justice and safety for all citizens of South Africa.

Dysfunctional families exist in every society. In many a South African village family, alcohol abuse on the part of an unemployed father means a young boy must drop out of school to become the family’s
breadwinner. Meanwhile the boy’s younger sisters take care of toddlers so their mother can work in the fields growing subsistence crops. It is not unusual for a 14-year-old girl to be a wife and mother.

In South African cities, a man who has left behind his wife and children in a neighboring country to take a job in South Africa often takes another wife after he arrives and produces children with her. His time, energy and resources are strained beyond his ability to provide, and families in both countries suffer.

Lifestyles such as these contribute to the incredibly high incidence of HIV/AIDS that continues to devastate thousands of families in South Africa.

Pray for South African families who need God’s healing touch. Intercede for Christian families, that parents will train their children in the ways of the Lord and that children will choose to trust and obey Him in all of life’s decisions.

There are four major platinum mines in the world, and one of them is in Rustenburg. Despite this fact, there is a lot of poverty and unemployment in the area. Pray that citizens of Rustenburg will come to know that, in God’s sight, they are more valuable than the most precious of metals.

Most of South Africa is praying for clear skies and the warmest possible weather during the World Cup, but the Eastern Cape province has experienced a severe drought for the past three years. When their Holiday Bible Club out-of-doors activities had to be cancelled because of rain, participating Eastern Cape children rejoiced instead of complaining! Ask God to continue to open the heavens and bless the land with refreshing and nourishing rains. Pray that He will be acknowledged as the gracious Giver of all good things.