San Diego County Prayer Focus - Submitted by San Diego Leaders
 
Native American Reservations- San Diego has more Indian reservations (18) than any other county in the United States. The reservations are very small so the total land holding are about 193 square miles of the 4,205 square miles in the county. 20,000 Native Americans live in San Diego County but only a small percentage live on reservation land.
 
Native American churches - There are currently 9 Native American Churches on reservations. Some are Spanish speaking churches. Pray that Christian Native American Leadership will continue to arise. Pray Ezekiel 37 over the reservations.
 
Gambling Casinos-9 large gambling casinos on Native American Reservations. Pray favor on the churches ministering to those in trouble.
 
Pray that the Body of Christ in San Diego County will increase the partnership with Native Churches so our land can be blessed and people set free. Pray that the Church of San Diego County will partner in resources, more than just financial, such as building relationships, listening to their stories, man power, building projects as well as support for new ministries.
 
Churches Under Attack with lawsuits (5). Pray for Justice and wisdom and that strategies will be unlocked that will assist other churches in the state.
 
Pray for increased connection between worshippers and intercessors and the worship/intercession back and forth across the border with Mexico.
 
Major ports of entry-Sea coast, harbor, airways, Interstates 5 begins in San Diego. The Highway 5 corridor is the leading highway for drugs in California.
 
Border Issues- San Diego County and Imperial County border Mexico. Sophisticated tunnels are being uncovered; potential for terrorist to cross. Pray for exposure of the schemes of the enemy and protection for those patrolling the border.
 
Opportunity to befriend Middle Eastern populations - 30,000 Iraqis live in San Diego County (compared to 3,000 in Los Angeles). San Diego has the third largest population of Iraqis in the United States, behind Detroit and Chicago. The majority here are Chaldeans or Assyrians, followed by about 6,000 Kurds, along with a sizable Arab community. (Union Tribune 1-14-05)
 
City of San Diego financial problems due to mishandling of pension fund. Pray for City officials to have integrity and wisdom. Pray spiritual leaders will have favor with civil government.
 
Fight to save the Mt. Solidad Cross War Memorial has galvanized people. Petition gatherers have until April 7 to gather 33,000 signatures from those living in the city limits of San Diego, to try to convince city officials to turn property over to Federal Gov where Cross could be spared. Community is angry. Pray for much wisdom.
 
Revival for the Churches and a Spiritual Awakening to Christ in the cities.
 
Continued Unity among the Churches & Pastors.
 
Pray for Christian marriages to be a witness of life in Christ. Pray for marriage to be affirmed and protected in this County.
 
About San Diego
 
San Diego is the County Seat and the first Capitol in the state under Mexican Rule.
 
San Diego was first settled by Europeans in 1769. Father Junipero Sierra journeyed from Spain and settled the area in order to Christianize the local Indians. To accomplish his work, he founded the California Missions, of which San Diego was the first.
 
After Mexico achieved independence in 1821, San Diego, as well as the rest of present day California, became part of Mexico. An Alcalde or Mayor was the head of the local government. Population at this time was sparse. The Mission and surrounding ranches dominated the San Diego landscape.
 
The next significant event in San Diego history was the Mexican-American War. The 1846 Battle of San Pasqual, the major battle in California, was fought in the Lake Hodges-San Pasqual area. Following the victory of the United States in the War, the Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo in 1848 ceded the areas of California, Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas from Mexico to the United States. With the discovery of gold in Northern California in 1848, the population of California quickly increased. This increase in the number of citizens soon qualified the territory for statehood. California was admitted to the Union in 1850.
 
San Diego de Alcala, the first of the great California Missions, marks the birthplace of Christianity in the far West. It is California's first church. This remarkable and significant historical shrine provides an understanding and appreciation of the introduction of the message of Christ in California. The Cross was first raised on Presidio Hill at the sight of the first mission overlooking Mission Valley.
 
Today the Mission, which was founded in 1769, serves as an active parish church and cultural center for people of all faiths who are welcome to visit and relive the grandeur and excitement of more than two centuries of California history and tradition.
 
For thousands of years, the American Indians lived in this area that we now know as the great state of California. Since all of the maps before the 18th century depicted California as an island, the Spanish explorers saw no reason to make settlements. In 1542, Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo, an explorer commissioned by the monarch of Spain, arrived in San Diego bay and named it San Miguel after the saint whose feast day was closest to the landing according to the Spanish tradition. In 1602 Sebastian Viscaino, leading another Spanish expedition, entered the harbor and renamed it San Diego after Saint Didacus of Alcala, Spain whose feast day was closest to the landing. San Diego was also the name of the flagship for this expedition.
 
Spain had the "right of discovery" to Alta or Upper California but it was not until 1768 when the Russians were seal hunting off the coast of California that King Carlos III of Spain became concerned and made the decision to build settlements. He sent orders to New Spain (Mexico) that expeditions must be sent to Alta California in order to establish Spain's Dominion. It was a political move but the King wanted it to look religious.
 
The Franciscan Friars who were assigned to the Baja missions were chosen to lead the expeditions to Alta California accompanied by the military who would protect them. Father Junipero Sierra was chosen Superior of the Franciscans and Gaspar de Portola was the military leader.
 
Five expeditions were dispatched from New Spain (Mexico) - three expeditions by sea (the San Carlos, the San Antonio and the San Jose) and two land expeditions. The San Carlos and the San Antonio set sail in January and February of 1769.
 
San Diego has one of the best natural harbors on the West Coast. The city is even named for a Spanish ship, the San Diego, which sailed into the harbor on Saint Diego's name day, sixty years after the Spanish had claimed the area.
 
Slowly, San Diego grew into a developed port and a village sprang up around the primary industry, fishing. In the mid nineteenth century, the Mexican War drove the citizens from the town and the port was commandeered by the navy. Still today, the port primarily serves the U. S. Navy, as home to the 3rd Fleet.

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