Last night 210 people participated in the conference! Praise God for the interest and enthusiasm of the participants for cross cultural missions. Pray we finish well and strong. Our goal is to equip and empower those the Lord has placed in strategic locations among the UPGs of the coast.
A Miraculous Baby
The young Nyamwezi woman is now 36 weeks pregnant- a month to go before delivery and she is still well. This is her third pregnancy- the first baby died at 7 months, the second died in utero at 22 weeks. There are a lot of hopes placed on this little one! She watched the Easter story on TV, and today we read from Mark and prayed together. Please be praying that the Lord would deepen her faith and that the new baby will be healthy. Pray she and her husband will give all the praise to God, as well as openly confessing their new faith in Christ and living as Christians before their Muslim family.
Battle
Please pray for the communities of Ibahure and Lohutok. These communities are caught in a cycle of revenge killings and cattle raiding and the people are living in much fear. Pray for the Lord to soften hearts to receive Him and the freedom of forgiveness in Him that these issues may be resolved.
Growing interest
On Friday morning, our DBS started with the usual small group from Paulo and Mary’s compound. However minutes later another mother came with 4 of her children and then a group of 4 women joined us. It turns out Mary has been taking our challenge and sharing the Bible Stories with them. These ladies from two nearby compounds wanted to come and see for themselves if what Mary is saying is true. Pray that these families would welcome a DBS in their compounds.
Missions conference
Pray for the Madavu Fellowship conference starting today in Mombasa. They are expecting over 100 workers to attend! Pray for grace and strength for Peter and Esther, who are hosting. Ask the Holy Spirit to minister to his people as they gather together.
Diaspora in SA
Pray for the refugees that have resettled in São Paulo. We want to see God touch them as they seek to learn the language, get jobs, and adjust to a new culture. We pray that they will come to know Jesus. And pray for the two workers that are ministering among them there.
A Friend Led A Friend to Christ
Praising God for the new Zigua believer who joined us for worship yesterday morning! The best part? He was brought to faith through the sharing of the first indigenous believer among our community! We are currently working through a plan for discipleship. Please pray for that.
Outreach to the Alagwa
A team of students from two Bible schools will be visiting for outreach ministry the Alagwa people in the town of Kondoa on the 25th to the 29th April 2018. We want God to use all of us for the ministry of encouragement, prayers, presence, as well as doing all that will benefit the body of Christ there (the Christian team living among this people group). Pray for good results by the Holy Spirit, good health and the unity of the team. Thanks!
May her family know The Truth
Pray for one island sister that has been under increased negative scrutiny from family members because of her leadership role in the body here. Pray for courage and wisdom for her and softened hearts for her family.
Following His Call
Praise God for answered prayers! Upon his request, J has been released from his role in the government. This frees him up to follow what he believes is God’s call on his life: to translate the Bible into his people’s heart language: Suri (also known as Kachipo).
Pray for him and the team as they plan and start translating the Bible. Pray for unity, grace to learn together, and the necessary preparations needed.
Needing courage
Continue to ask for courage for new believers. Each one who has told family and friends has received threats. Pray against a spirit of fear. Ask that each recognize that nothing can separate them from the love of Christ. Ask that they would not fear him who harms only the body. Pray for peaceful hearts that choose to be anxious about nothing but in everything give thanks and turn to Jesus in prayer.
Highly Offensive
While our people believe that Jesus ascended into heaven and is alive and with God today, they were taught that He never actually died, making our Good Friday and Easter celebrations highly offensive. Especially when we proclaim that someone they see as a perfect prophet not only died but was crucified on a cross. Please pray that this Easter season many would hear and understand the beauty of a Savior who was willing to be humiliated and put to shame on our behalf. Pray they would understand that He did it as an act of Love for us.
Guests Came
Praise God that even though one invited guest did not attend the Easter service, four others came and watched the Jesus film with the Rangi evangelist’s family. Please pray for their salvation.
To see and hear
Pray that the Nyang’atom would see the sacrifice that Jesus made for them on the cross, and they would hear His voice calling to them.
Translators
Pray for those involved in translation to treasure the Word as they study and to clearly and accurately translate.
Physical and Spiritual Hunger
As food becomes more and more scarce, pray that their physical hunger will remind the Lokwa of their spiritual hunger, and that they will turn to the Bread of Life to satisfy them (John 6:35).
Reading His Word During the Week
Please pray that God would put a deep desire in the hearts of the M believers to really know Jesus and to read His word during the week.
The Spirit Drawing Men
Please continue to pray with us for Samburu men to seek to know Jesus. Pray especially that some men will dare to attend church. Several men have said that they will come, but we are still waiting to see them on Sunday. We have considered a meeting just for the men. Pray for wisdom as to how we can reach out to the Samburu men. Pray for God’s Spirit to work in the men and draw them to Jesus.
A New Group That May Become A Church
Pray for the new Digo fellowship group that we are meeting with on Saturday. Pray that they continue to grow and that this will develop into a church gathering. Praise God for this group of people who are studying God’s Word together.
Evangelism forum
Please pray for a 2-day evangelism training forum we are hosting in April in partnership with Operation Mobilization, to train African -Canadian believers how to reach out to Muslim and other Canadians.
Food Insecurity
Food insecurity rises as the dry season continues and many are worried their loved ones, especially the children and elderly, will perish from starvation. Pray that those who need food the most will get it, and that the Toposa will see and give the credit to God’s grace and love for them.
Indigenous Leaders
Pray that God touches the hearts of Nyamwezi church members to be leaders in the church and convicts them to reach out to their communities.
Can We Watch It Together?
A S. Asian widow brought with her the DVD of Jesus’ life. “You gave this to me but I don’t have a way to watch it, so I want to watch it with you today.” Before we watched, we read the account of Jesus’ death and resurrection from Luke 22-24. Then we began the video. Two other Muslim neighbour women arrived and watched it with us. Why was Jesus the Messiah, and how can someone have eternal life through Him? They listened intently and stayed to the end. Please pray that these women, each of whom has now heard the gospel numerous times, will decide to become a follower of the Saviour and receive eternal life.
Boldly sharing!
Several weeks ago we ‘dunked’ a brother. He is boldly sharing his faith and has men studying with him. He is also distributing micro-SD cards with portions of scripture and the Jesus Film on them to those who have been eagerly asking for them. Pray for many to believe!
Disciples are making disciples!
In Fort Dauphin, Madagascar, and the surrounding bush villages, much thought, discussion and planning has gone into the process of making disciples. There is continuing discussion on best practices and consideration of what needs to change. Two years ago a group consisting of the six leaders over Antandroy and Antanosy work met together. Recently, another group of leaders over these same two regions met. This time there were 30 leaders! The gospel is spreading! Disciples are making disciples! Workers and leaders alike are being raised up! Pray for God’s continued guidance and blessing.
To fear the LORD
Psalm 33:18-19 says “But the eyes of the LORD are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love, to deliver them from death and keep them alive in famine.” Pray that the Nyang’atom learn to fear the LORD and see that He watches over them.
Good Friday
On this Good Friday, pray for many opportunities to share the story of Jesus’s death and resurrection; most people here believe that God rescued Jesus from the cross by substituting Judas in his place. Pray that God would open blind eyes to the truth and as people hear the good news they would not only believe that Jesus died, but that he died for them. Pray that many islanders’ hearts would be broken as they discover a God who came to seek and save the lost.
Not So Secret
Praise God for the ladies’ Bible study group in one area, which came out of the desire of a “secret” believer that many other neighbours would hear God’s word. Pray for this believer, that she would grow in Jesus and would seek to run this group completely on her own.
Hope at Easter
As Easter comes, pray that the Kachipo will come to know the One who died for their sins and wants to give them new, full life (John 14:6). Pray that they would place their hope in Christ alone.
Parents sharing with children
Ask for courage for the new believing parents to share the truth with their children despite the risk of them speaking with other relatives.
Easter Guest
Pray for a Rangi Muslim woman who will be with an evangelist at Easter. Pray that she may hear the gospel and put her faith in the Saviour, with her family.
Working Together as Christians
Praise God that a group of churches in Kilwa Masoko have recognised that it is time for them to be reaching out and sharing the gospel in villages of the area that are entirely unreached. Please pray for wisdom in how to do this, open doors, and much progress in an area that has been mostly Islamic for hundreds of years. Please pray that the Holy Spirit will produce a movement to faith in Christ.
Accept by faith
Ask for humility and a willingness to receive by faith the clear truth of the gospel along with the mysteries of God that in our finiteness can never be fully understood.
Reading the Bible
Please pray for a young M woman who received a Bible and has been reading it. Now she is asking her Christian friend to meet with her so that they can discuss it together. Pray for other women to join them and for the entrance of God’s Word to bring light.
Desperate for a Job
Please pray for a S. Asian family who are in desperate need of a job for the husband. They are believers in Christ who came out of Hinduism. Pray that the Lord will provide a job for him that is not only a means of supporting his family but also an avenue for ministry and leading people to Christ .
A Church Moves
Pray for the church in one Digo village as we plan to move on Easter Sunday. Pray for unity and for strength for M and his wife as they will without doubt receive much pressure for hosting the church in their home from now on.
Seeing the Light
Ask God to open the eyes of the Nyang’atom to see the Light of the World (John 8:12), that they may never walk in darkness but have the light of life.
Samburu Women Eager For Baptism
Praise God that 20 Samburu women, or more, are attending our Sunday services. There has been talk of baptism. At least two of the women are eager to be baptized. There has also been talk of building a church building. However, the funds for that are lacking as the women strive to get enough money to buy the food they need. Pray that God will lead and give us wisdom as to how to go forward.
Finding new believers!
About a month ago I heard about a small group of Kanembu believers gathering here in the capital. Previously we had been told there were only around five believers amongst the whole UPG (750,000). We are encouraged to hear about this other small group (about five) that have come to faith through the testimonies of other Chadian believers.
Diaspora in SA
Please ask God to open the eyes of the Church in South America and to see the great opportunity they have to reach out to the refugees and migrants from African-UPG’s right on their doorstep.
We want to see God opening more doors for our Unit to minister to refugee groups all over South America. We want to be creative in reaching out to them. Please pray for us.
