Pray that an evangelist and other Rangi believers would be encouraged, equipped, and emboldened during the visit of a missionary today and tomorrow (May 25-26). He’ll be preaching about certain aspects of discipleship from Matthew 10. Pray that the Lord will mightily use the ministry of the Word in the lives of these believers from Muslim backgrounds.
Diaspora in Portland
Please pray for an Egyptian girl we have been working with named M. Her mom came to Christ but they had been separated ever since M was 4 years old due to an abusive father. She has also been baptized but doesn’t seem to really know Christ yet and is dealing with a lot of psychological effects from past trauma. She is currently homeless and we are looking for a Christian family who is willing to take her in and provide daily structure, accountability, discipleship and life mentoring through her issues.
Receive Guidance
A S.Asian woman was deeply impressed by a Christian movie she saw, although she argued against the gospel when her friends shared it with her. Pray that during Ramadan she will receive the guidance that she boasts she asks for every time she prays to Allah…and that the guidance will lead her to faith in Jesus the Son of God.
Persecution continues for Neem believers
A was recently asked to keep away from the grave when his stepmother was being buried because he is not a Muslim. His pain as he told us this was very evident. A.J. tries to help young men who have been on the streets and who often are on drugs or taking alcohol excessively. He faces accusations that he is bringing thieves and troublemakers into the area. Sadly some accusations come from a man who has claimed to be a believer but who lives in both camps to avoid persecution in a way that is offensive to those who are persecuted. Pray that Satan will not have his way in continuing this strife. Pray for wisdom for A.J. as he deals with people struggling with addiction who can be very devious. Pray that in hearing the Good News, they will find new life.
Strongholds be broken!
Please ask for deliverance from the evil one. Several families are suffering because of a family member tormented by evil spirits. Most do not deny their presence. Some do. Ask for repentance from sin that gives permission to the evil one to build strongholds. May covenants and curses that bind them be broken by the Name and blood of Jesus. Ask for conviction for those in authority who have so grieviously hurt the ‘least of these.’ Pray for forgiveness and healing and freedom for the wounded. So so much darkness and sorrow. May they see Jesus with open arms ready to receive them, their names on His scarred hands.
Honey
Pray that the newly translated Word of God would spread from islander to islander. Pray the Truth would penetrate deeply, bringing conviction that cannot be ignored. Pray for those who listen to the Word this month would find it sweet as honey and long for more!
Diaspora in Florida
We have visits to mosques planned with several groups during Ramadan. Pray for good connections and witness.
Pray for FM, an elderly Muslim man, that we had a significant conversation with about who Jesus is.
Captivated by the Scriptures
Recently we have had 3 Discovery Bible Study groups start and gain traction in our town. Last night we invited another couple who we have known to be people of peace for years and they said yes to reading with us next weekend! They are an influential couple in town who are known for their gift of teaching and their kind hearts. Please pray that this fourth study would truly start in this coming week and that this couple’s hearts would be captivated by the Scriptures.
Missionaries arriving!
Pray for our missionary team who are going to live among the Toposa for a long term mission work together with their families. Their names are Julius and Pasquina Magu, Mark and Lonah Keter, Isaiah and Nida Bwala, and Mary Nachii. Most of them are relocating this week to various places among the Toposa. And they will be reaching the Jie, and other unreached communities. Pray for all missionaries and people involved in reaching out with discipleship among the Toposa.
Eating or fasting in faith
Ask for courage as new believers go through their first Ramadan. Many are afraid to tell their families of their faith. Some willfully choose not to fast Ramadan because it is such a huge part of the Muslim identity… yet they want to ‘appear to be fasting’ because they are afraid. Pray for hearts of truth that know when and how to speak with others. (Four previously secret believers found each other thru not fasting Ramadan!) Ask that any eating will be from true faith (not indulgence while feeling guilty). Ask that any fasting will be from true faith (not hypocritical identification with Islam).
Survey Trip
Pray for a trip to some Dorobo villages near Narosura, a town at the base of the Loita Hills. Dorobo pastor Musanga Omerae heard from a friend about these villages and contacted me about doing a survey trip. We are driving out there today, Monday the 20th and should come back Tuesday evening. Pray for safety on the road and for good contacts with the Dorobo in these villages. Pray for open hearts and for a man or woman of peace to accept us and to be a doorway into these villages.
Women’s conference
Please pray for a women’s conference for S. believers meeting this week. Pray for protection, for the Lord’s anointing of the speakers, for encouragement and fellowship for the women.
Ramadan seeking
Pray for the Antakarana as they seek God during the month of Ramadan. May Jesus reveal Himself and His truth.
Anyone, Anytime, Anywhere
Pray for the various Christians who have learned to share the gospel with Somali people using a method called “Any 3.” Pray that as they share the story of the first and last sacrifices, the Holy Spirit will call many Somalis to Jesus Christ.
Evangelistic Outreach At A Business
Please pray for evangelistic outreach among the Zaramo through a coffee shop and photography. Pray specifically for the salvation of two men: Mzee Mbondo, and Katundu. Pray that their hearts will be prepared and that they will receive Christ as their Savior.
100 audio players
Praise God for 100 audio players loaded with our Bible story set in the M language. These players can be a great resource for those that can’t read and for groups to listen to God’s Word together. Pray for the distribution of these player and teaching people how to use them for Bible study. Pray for many to believe God’s word and be saved!
Lord, Open The Town Of Mangasta
Thank you for praying for the disciple-making training seminar among Sandawe Christians! I’ve been in touch with Pastor Musa and Seseja, and they said the seminar itself finished really well. We still haven’t gotten permission yet from Mangasta village leadership to do an evangelistic outreach in this key, strategic town. Pray that we’d be able to build good relationships with the Mangasta leadership. Pray that a land issue would be resolved amiably. Keep praying for the Lord’s timing, and for Him to remove barriers for the outreach so that we can take the good news of God’s love and salvation in Christ to the people of Mangasta.
Time of testing
This is a particularly testing month for local believers as they come under extra scrutiny and pressure to conform. The vast majority are isolated from one another and walk a lonely path. Pray today for their encouragement; pray that the additional pressure would only serve to press them ever closer to Jesus. Pray that they would remember the hope that they have; ask for wisdom and boldness in sharing this hope.
Needing unity
The Amazigh are struggling to retain their identity and language and are often more open to the gospel because of their history. As new Amazigh believers gather, there are those who want to only speak Tamazight… and others who grew up in a time it was forbidden to learn it… and know only Arabic and some basics. Pray that above any cultural identity will be their identity as those who love and follow Jesus. Pray for growing love and deeper community that extends grace and understanding. Ask that Tamazight not be an issue of division.
Final decision
We have shared about C before- he appreciates our prayers and he has experienced our prayers work! He wants us to keep praying for him. He has read the Bible verses that we send to him, he still remembers them.
Three days ago, we had an opportunity to share the gospel with him again.
This time he was more open to us and we told him that only Jesus is the way to God. We invited him to pray to Jesus and accept Him to be his saviour. He knew that Jesus is saviour although he hasn’t made the final decision!!
Please continue to pray for him especially this Ramadan, pray that Jesus speaks to him directly and he can make the final decision!
New Life!
Praise God that M and his wife and 3 kids have made a decision to receive God’s gift and follow Jesus! Pray for wise and intentional discipleship and enveloping them into the loving, though small, community of the body of Christ in their village. Pray for God’s protection – M’s father had threatened then relented from the decision to burn his son’s house.
May friendships grow
The Karana (Gujarati) are known as being astute business people. Not all Karana are mega-rich, though. Many of them are smaller business owners just making a living. The Karana started coming to Madagascar in the 17th Century, so have deep roots here and a tight community. Pray for friendships to develop among Christian colleagues. Pray for Malagasy believers to reach out and continue to build relationships with the Karana in their communities.
Kids listening too.
The intern kids arrive for afternoon Bible story & play time at our home each weekday. Slowly more neighborhood kids (of our new or secret believers) have begun to join the intern kids in listening to the Chronological Gospel story from creation to Christ. Please pray the Lord would keep sending them to hear the beautiful story of the Gospel and that they would have a firm foundation established in the truth for all their lives unto salvation. Pray for us as we prepare for the upcoming seminar on Chronological Bible Storying for the intern families as well.
Poor harvest
Please pray for the Sandawe people as most are anticipating a poor harvest this year. The rains were sporadic and not enough to produce well. Ask that provision will be made for their physical needs and that this will be an opportunity for them to see God at work, the One True God who is LORD over all things.
Hungry for Forgiveness
A S. Asian Hindu man seemed hungry for forgiveness of sins. He was told, “There is a Savior, who loves you very much. Seek Him! His name is Jesus.” Please pray that he will seek the Savior and come to faith in Him.
Gospel of Luke
Menja, our translator, finished the translation of the gospel of Luke into Tanala. Now we need to check chosen words for accuracy. There are 41 stories. We are still working on separate Bible verses to go along with the stories as memory verses. Please pray for this process.
Needing fellowship
Please pray for B, a Neem believer. Saved only 2yrs ago he has recently decided to move away from our big town where it is easier to find fellowship and encouragement to a rural area where he hopes to find work. Challenges in his life have included death threats from his family and pressure to keep away from Christians. Pray that he will find fellowship to help him grow in his faith and that he might be able to share his new-found love for JC with people whose hearts God has prepared.
Remain strong
Please pray for the small Digo church here as the team transitions out, that they would remain strong, and even thrive on their own. The Lord is building His Church! Pray many will be added to those who are being saved.
Meeting together
A family of believers going through their first Ramadan and an older believer are gathering for the first time to read, eat and pray this Sunday evening. May this increase their boldness, their longing for fellowship, their knowledge and love for the Lord Jesus.
Vision
Angelo, an educated Laarim youth who has assisted much in outreach among his own people, is regularly helping in the local clinic. He has a vision to study to become a clinical officer, and thus support himself in doing ministry. Pray for God’s direction in his life and blessing on his ministry.
Sewing project
There’s a wonderful mobilization among the ladies for community development. God has placed a beautiful sense of unity among them. A sewing project started in April. Please pray for the ladies who are volunteering to come and start the project, pray for the local Gabbra lady who learned to sew to assist the volunteers with language and culture. Pray that this ministry will be an amazing opportunity to share the Gospel through words, love and actions.
The Gospel at a Wedding
A young South Asian woman heard the gospel from two Christian women at a Muslim wedding brunch. Please pray for the Lord to put her in contact with other Christians who can keep sharing the Word of Life, and that she will put her faith in Christ.
Pray for seeds being sown
Please pray for a community in Karamoja called Langariama. Someone there just received an audio Bible this week. Please pray that hearts are prepared and softened to receive the seeds of the Word and produce much fruit!
Confusion
Many Arabs are in times of turmoil because of hatred or war. Fighting is forbidden during Ramadan. Several have voiced their confusion as they flee violence and try to find a place of peace to fast. Pray that this will tear down the white-washed wall (Ez 13) and expose the false prophets who say ‘Peace’ where there is no peace. Pray that the church in these lands would rise up with words of hope and truth and with practical help and compassion.
A new believer!
Praise the Lord for M.! He found some of our teammates the other day and said, “I need to be a Christian. Something deep in my heart moves when I hear Christian songs or speakers. I know that this is truth.” After confirming that this was truly his desire, we stood over him and prayed as he made Jesus the Lord of his life. Pray that he would be encouraged in his new faith and would tell others about life in Christ! Pray this would be the start of a move of God among the Zigua people.
Prayers for deepening relationships
Pray for Shad, a colleague of A’s, who is open to discussion and gladly accepted a copy of the Word. Ask for more opportunities to share and for the relationship to deepen.
Also pray for Ann. She says even thought she grew up in a muslim home, she always knew there was something different for her. When C started sharing with her, she realized Jesus was the One she had been seeking! Rejoice with us, and pray her new faith would grow deep roots.
Family under attack
Mama S is beginning to grow in her relationship with the Lord – gaining confidence of who she is in Christ and intimacy with God in her prayer life with Him. Her children have a growing heart for Jesus as well. Although neither she nor her children are allowed yet to worship openly with us, we have seen a softening in her husband toward the gospel. But please pray for the protection of their marriage! People, including her in-laws, have begun to spread vicious rumors about Mama S’s character in the village with the goal of inciting her husband to divorce her. On their porch one afternoon, God opened the door to talk frankly with Baba S about what we saw clearly as a satanic attack to divide and destroy their family. Praise God Baba S acknowledged that this was true and he would not give up on his family! We know satan still wants to devour their family. Please pray for the Lord’s protection and salvation over their whole family.
Drought opening doors
Keep praying for an end to the drought- people are still struggling to eat and animals are weak. Yet, thank God that some rain as fallen in a few places so some heads are starting to recover, but broad rains are needed. The drought has allowed greater openings for the gospel -more and more villages are asking for Bible study, almost weekly new villages send elders to us to ask for them to be taught. Word has gotten around that Jesus is real! As an example two villages have told me so far “we love you (our elders) coming because you know God! When you pray God answers. Please teach us more!”
Jesus film dubbing preparation
Pray for Mike and the team making final preparations on the Jesus film script/translation and that God will provide for all the details and the O speakers needed for the various roles. Pray that this will be a powerful tool for advancing God’s kingdom in O land.
Seeking recognition
There are 18 Malagasy tribes. The Karana (Gujarati) are calling to be recognised as the 19th tribe of Madagascar. Madagascar is the home of many Karana families who have lived there for generations, largely unreached with the gospel. God recognizes them! PLEASE PRAY THAT EVERY KARANA PERSON WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO RESPOND TO THE GOOD NEWS OF JESUS CHRIST. And that the Malagasy church will have a burden to reach out to them.
