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Someone shared an Open Doors prayer request with you. Learn more at http://www.OpenDoorsUSA.org/PRAYERAPP. Christians target of Boko Haram attack in Cameroon Friends, the Nguetchewe Catholic Mission was the target of a Boko Haram attack in northern Cameroon on August 1, according to CRTV, the national broadcaster of Cameroon. The attack left 17 people dead and involved two suicide bombings—including one by a young girl who came into an area where women and children were hiding before detonating her bomb.  According to a church leader in Nguetchewe, at least seven of the victims were from the evangelical Christian community. “We got reports that one other member who was injured and was taken to hospital has passed away, but I am still to confirm,” he shared. So far, Open Doors has been able to confirm this group of victims were between the ages of 3 and 18, and included both boys and girls. One family lost three members and another two.  The government has recorded 87 Boko Haram attacks in areas along the Nigerian border so far this year. According to the UNHCR, these attacks have severely affected the more than 300,000 internally displaced people and 115,000 Nigerian refugees. Please pray for all who are now trying to come to terms with the losses they suffered in this brutal attack.  Pray for the the Lord to strengthen and encourage the Nguetchewe community in the midst of this situation. Pray for church leaders to have wisdom as they minister in these circumstances. *Representative names and photos are sometimes used to protect identity.

Titus 3:4-9 (ESV) " 4 But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. 8 The saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works. These things are excellent and profitable for people. 9 But avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless."

(Competent to Counsel) A Christian sins if he becomes a static, sedentary person who fears positive biblical change and frantically clings to the past, either in his personality growth, in his life decisions, or in his manner of living. To resist sanctifying change is to resist and grieve the Holy Spirit. The scriptural doctrine of sanctification necessarily involves growth in holiness. Christians must change in order to become more like Christ. Growth means changing into the fulness of the stature of Christ. In principle it is true that believers have been declared perfect in Christ, but now they must grow more like Christ in practice. New truths discovered in the study of the Scriptures must become new practices woven into the fabric of one’s daily life.