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Good afternoon,

BGU students experience the beauty and pain of the Lowell Neighborhood, Fresno's highest poverty, highest crime community, which is seeing tremendous renewal due to the efforts of empowered neighbors and ministry partners.

Brian King of Fresno Street Saints addresses BGU students on the art of reclaiming gang territory through the power of love and involvement. King won the California Endowment Peace Prize last year and his organization has a multi level impact in west Fresno, developing indigenous leaders for the long haul.

As the world hurtles towards urbanization at an ever-increasing pace, there arises the need for further theological reflection on the city. Globalization, international immigration, and densification in cities are having a transformative impact on the urban landscape. Urban mission is at the forefront of many denominations, church planting networks, ministries, and mission organizations yearning for citywide transformation. How are we to think biblically and theologically about the city? View from the Urban Loft will take readers through the development of cities throughout history, act as a guide to navigating the current forces shaping urban environments, and seek to uncover a theology of the city that gives Christians a rationale and a biblical understanding of the meaning and purposes of the city and then how to live in it for the glory of God.

Purchase Sean's book at Amazon.com (kindle version) or from the Wipf and Stock publishers.
Also learn more about the book from the official website and facebook

The following prayer request for Kenya comes from Brian Bakke (Mustard Seed Foundation).

Greetings from the Mustard Seed Americas desk.  I just received a special urgent prayer request for Kenya from Victor.  He wrote me just this minute:

“I would like to request for a special prayer request for  Kenya. The military forces launched its full scale military offensive about two weeks ago against Al-Shabaab have been on a full scale at at war for the past two weeks. Al-Shabaab literally means the "youth or the Boys or the lads" in Arabic.They are a militant terrorist group fighting to overthrow the Somali government. Al Shabaab's strength is estimated to be about 20,000 militants. The group describes itself as waging Jihad against "enemies of Islam".

Unfortunately Al-Shabaab being a terrorist group uses fear and destruction against innocent civilians as a weapon. Already there has been twin grenade attacks which shattered the calm of Nairobi. The first targeted a nightclub early Monday morning, while the second hit commuters waiting to board one of Nairobi’s ubiquitous “matatus”, or minibus taxis. In total, one person was killed and another 32 injured, some critically; one casualty is likely to have his leg amputated, while another might lose sight in one eye.

Pray for God's protection across Nairobi. Pray for calm and courage among Kenyans particularly in Nairobi to continue doing their businesses as usual. Pray for divine intervention that this war will not be long and protracted and that peace shall be found in Somali and Kenyan boarders.”

Lets pray for The Lord to break into this situation and stop the violence and terror.

Dr. Lowell Bakke received this prayer request.  He includes some explanation preceding the request.

I am forwarding a note I received from one of our Theology of Work schools, Institut Superieur de Theologie et de Missiologie - ISTHEMI) in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. Like many of the current Christian leaders in this part of the Congo, including those who are putting this university together, Lazare’s father was a pastor, who, along with this wife, was killed in the Congo killings a few decades ago.  So this attack he speaks of in his note below no doubt brings back terrible memories in that whole region.  Please be praying for the peace of God to embrace the families of those killed and grace-filled courage to the school they represent in this somewhat isolated, rural region of the D R Congo, as well as God-given hope to the 240,000 people who call this region home.    Lowell

From: Lazare Sebitereko  
Sent: Thursday, October 06, 2011 5:05 AM
Subject: Pray with us

Dear Lowell,