Please pray for a S. Asian young woman who has had unexplained pain in her right side for two weeks. All medical tests come back clear. Much prayer has been offered for her healing in Jesus’ name and she and her family are listening to the gospel with more openness and hunger than ever before. Pray for the salvation of the large entire Muslim family, and for the young woman’s healing.
Common Violence
Violence is common in the Ndengereko tribe, and security in some villages is minimal. Please pray that the gospel will spread rapidly among the Ndengereko people, and that the Prince of peace will change that culture from lawlessness to dignity and respect.
She Seems To Recognise the Difference
Thank you for continuing to pray for the Muslim widow who is reading Luke and “learning to love Jesus.” Recently she seemed to begin to understand that all other religions are basically about which good works should be done, but Christians are sharing a message that God came and provided salvation for us through the sacrifice of Christ on the cross. Pray for this truth to cause her to reject any system that promotes works-righteousness and declare that all her faith is in Jesus for her salvation.
Divine Appointments
When arriving at new believer Bibi C’s porch to tell God’s Story with her, God brought her searching sister (Mama M) there, along with a neighbor Mama N to hear His Story too. What a joy it was to share some of it as Bibi C chimed in with her remembrance of God’s Story too. This has happened twice! They seem interested to hear more of God’s Story – pray all of this will grow Bibi C in her faith & lead her sister & neighbor to the Savior! Praise God for His divine appointments with the Swahili & pray for more to come!
Malasos are still attacking!
The Malasos are Bara men that steal cattle. Armed with guns and ‘protections’ (witchcraft), they are still causing terror in Betroka and surroundings areas. Even the police are afraid of them. Their witchcraft is very powerfull.Just this week they stole more then 120 bulls, leaving behind sadness, anger, and people thirsty for revenge. Those who raised the livestock are getting more and more bitter.
Please pray for those Bara malasos – they are the very Bara we want to reach with the Gospel – that they can see the evil of their actions and feel the weight of sin, and also the beauty of Christ, who alone can change our lives. Pray that the church will engage in the evangelization of them and in the future, by God’s grace, we may see a huge harvest among these thieves.
Oh to be set free!
The last few weekends have been very LOUD in our village from the ceremonial Islamic circumcision ngoma (dance celebrations). The boys are brought out before the crowd, gifts are bestowed and the dancing begins all weekend long, with loud speakers blasting the thumping music. In the night the dancing becomes lewd acts and the lostness is vivid. There are often angry accusations among families and neighbors afterwards from the sinful actions that took place. Pray that one day the Swahili will be set free to dance to the beat of a different drummer for His Glory and their great joy in Him, with no regrets!
Strong Participants
Please continue praying for five men in the village of Lchakwai who will become faithful followers of Jesus and strong participants in the church.
Two Deaths in a Week
My Muslim S. Asian neighbours had another family member die Tuesday. That is two funerals in a week. I am begging the One who sees from His throne to use these griefs to soften their hearts, give them a deep fear of death, and make them dissatisfied with the explanations they hear. May He reveal which family members’ hearts are becoming more receptive, more willing to look elsewhere for answers to the questions of life and death. May they initiate conversations that show they are hungering and thirsting for His righteousness.
Tribal Clashes for Grazing Lands
Because of the severe drought in Northern Kenya, pastoralists like the Borana have been having clashes with other tribes who also want to graze their animals in areas where some grass still remains. Often, people are killed. Please pray that God will send rain to northern Kenya, and that those Christians among the Borana will refuse to be involved in tribal warfare but instead be agents of peace.
A Strategic Meeting Of Leaders
August 13th, five pastors and evangelists of four different denominations serving among the Rangi community met at our church to pray and strategize on how we can work together as a team to evangelize the Rangi people.
– Thank God that He is answering our prayers for the unity of purpose.
– Pray that God will help us to work together for him despite our differences.
Powerful Prayer for Unity
Before Christ left the earth, He prayed to His Father that believers would be “perfectly one, so that the world may know that You sent Me, and that You loved them even as You loved Me.” Please pray that this supernatural unity would be evident among the Sandawe believers, and that many would be saved as they observe it.
She Confessed That She Believes
Mama & Baba F are our neighbors. You have been praying for almost a year now that they would respond to our witness of Christ’s salvation. They have seen healing in their young daughter, who is walking after prayer for her in Jesus name – when witchdoctors could do nothing. They have seen us cry out to Christ with other believers for our own healing and they have seen Him answer. They have come to us burdened from the broken relationships in their own family and community and we have shared with them the hope we have in Christ the restorer of our most important relationship with Father God. Finally, a few days ago, Mama F, hearing the salvation story yet again, responded for the first time that she believes that Jesus is not only her daughter’s Healer, but also the Savior of the world! REJOICE!!! Pray now for wisdom in how to enfold Mama F into the body of Christ here. Pray for the salvation of their whole family!
Through Her Adult Children
A widowed Muslim lady has great concern for her adult children who are secular and worldly. Recently she has begun reading the Bible. Now her son has told her that he read the Bible in school, as well as other religious books. Her daughter and grandchildren were recently spared in what could have a been a very serious traffic accident. Please pray that each of her children will also be seeking–and finding–the Lord while she does, and that as a family they may come to faith in Christ.
Praise God for curious women!
I was chatting with a couple women in a shop and when I mentioned Jesus, they immediately said: ‘We don’t know much about Jesus, will you tell us about him?’. And so I shared the big story of the Bible, building up for them a picture of why Jesus came. Her friend was in and out of the conversation, customers came and went but Karla was engaged and asking questions. Today I popped by her shop again and without any prompting she told me that I really needed to teach them more, and how her friend had said that they needed to gather others together and really learn about these things! Praise God for curious hearts! Pray that they would put their idea in action, and we would be able to meet together to study God’s word. Pray that as they discover more of who God is, their hearts will be captivated with a love for him.
Ups and Downs
Every people group has ups and downs. Every work has its ebb and flow. Please pray that those who have begun to seek Christ among the M will not retreat and lose interest, but will steadily pursue the knowledge of the Lord.
A Woman, A Man, and A Famine
First, I continue Bible discussions with Salamada, and she says she continues to love Jesus, so please join us in praying for her. Second, pray for Yusuph, who says he feels the call of God to serve Jesus and needs to now attend Bible school. Lastly, please pray for the Rangi as it is a time of great famine and the people of Busi are really suffering for lack of food. Pray for God to provide. Thank you, and may God bless you for praying.
Let us stand with our brother
A young man is now in prison because he chose to follow Jesus and speak the gospel. Pray that “because of his chains other brothers and sisters will speak the Word more courageously and fearlessly.” Pray that “through our prayers and the help of the Spirit this will turn out for his deliverance” and that he will “have sufficient courage so that Christ will be exalted in his body whether by life or by death.” Phil 1
Meeting in a Living Room
Praise God for many Gabbra people attending Sunday morning services in a missionary’s living room. Pray for each of them to come to personal faith in Jesus Christ as their Saviour, and pray that a church building can soon be built for them.
ReJoice: A new Way is coming
“We are tired of the life we live … we want a new life a new way.” That was the phrase we heard from one leader of a Bara village. The evangelist of a local church has been working among them, and now the fruit is appearing!
We are seeing the work and power of Christ acting in the midst of darkness, bringing light to Bara people! More then 40 people accepted Christ, throwing out their witchcraft. Now we can say, “The land that was in Darkness has seen a great Light!”
The Church of Christ is flourishing in the most distant places among a people that did not know the Savior but now we have the same faith, the same love …. the same Cross!
As She Struggles With MS
Please pray for the salvation of a S. Asian woman who has been diagnosed with MS. Pray that she will ask her Christian friends to pray for her again, since through their prayers she had a dramatic reversal some time ago. Pray that she will realise medicine is limited, science is imperfect, but Jesus never fails.
Death and Discouragement
In less than 2 weeks, eight people have died in the village where Melias, the Malagasy missionary, ministers among the Tanala. Four of them were believers and leaders of the new church. The others were their relatives. Pray for the encouragement of the believers and Melias. And for the Lord to have mercy on this village. Oh Lord, stretch out Your hand and heal!
As Lights In The World
Pray that in those Zaramo villages where there is not yet any witness of Christ, Christians will be sent to share the gospel. Pray that Zaramo Christians will live as children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked generation, among whom they shine as lights in the world.
She Laughs
She & her husband sell doves from their home so that their neighbors may take them to their Islamic witchdoctors to have them sacrificed & drink the fresh blood in search of healing in mind and body. Our teammate has testified to her that we do not depend on the blood of any animal for healing, but that we depend upon Jesus’ blood – the blood of God’s sinless Son, to give us forgiveness and healing for eternal life. And she laughs. Today she heard that I have prayed for another’s healing, God has answered those prayers, and she sincerely asks me to pray for her aching knees. I tell her I can pray for her right now, today on her porch! She laughs again and says she has work to do. As I leave the sound of her laughter remains with me… reminding me of a certain Sarah who, at first, laughed – not quite believing the promise brought to her in her old age by those foreign visitors …. Please pray for all the Swahili to come to know the true healer of their souls, that they would not depend on the blood of doves, but on the blood of The Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.
He Read All Three In High School
Please pray for a young S. Asian man who read parts of the Quran, the Bible and Sanskrit when he was a student in high school. He is nominally Muslim. Pray that, now with a Bible in his house, he will read it again and be saved. Pray for the salvation of his widowed mother, who lives with him and is also interested.
Five Men From God
Pray that God will raise up 5 men in a small village who will boldly confess their faith in Christ and be the leaders of the small church. So far the church has only women and children in it.
Which are the Ones?
Please pray for wisdom to know which M people will be the ones who become faithful disciples of Jesus, good storytellers and leaders and examples who can disciple others, also. Pray that these people will emerge and will receive training, encouragement and discipleship.
Peace, Truth, and no more Fear
Last Sunday we met with the new believers and asked them what was so sweet to them about their new faith. One said now that he trusts in Jesus, he is at peace because he knows Jesus is sovereign over his life and so anything that happens to him is in Jesus’ control. Another shared that it is so good to be able to know and understand truth from God’s Word. His wives both expressed that now they are not afraid, before they lived in fear of spirits, of the dead, of ghosts, of going places, and of meeting new people. Now they have no fear because Jesus is with them. Now there is peace in their home, unlike their neighbors and relatives who are constantly in conflict with one another.
Praise God for these new believers and pray they will continue experience the sweetness of Jesus and share it with others.
Inroads into Men’s Hearts
Pray for effective outreach to S. Asian men with the gospel. Many times their wives are in contact with Christians but unless the men also hear and respond to God’s Word, whole families are not saved. Pray for inroads to their hearts, and for contact and conversations with Christians who will share Christ with them.
This Land Is Being Shaken
There’s been about a year and a half since a Bible Study was started in a certain Gabbra community where the majority of the people are Muslims. And through the faithfulness of some believers, this land has seen the power of our Sovereign Lord through the Christians’ testimony and Jesus’ miracles. “Since we began gathering to pray and study the Word of God, this land is being shaken and people wonder who is this God we serve.” Please continue to pray that each believer in this land be a faithful witness of Jesus’ love, mercy and power over all darkness.
Reading the Bible
The books of Genesis, Ruth, and Mark in the Bible have been translated into Icetod. Although most of the Ik have not been taught to read their language, some men know how to read in English or the neighboring language of Nga-Karimojong. With some encouragement, they have attempted to read these books of the Bible, and get so excited when they realize they can read it! They have been really excited to read the Bible in their heart language. After reading the book of Mark, one pastor exclaimed “This is what I preached about on Sunday, but it’s in my language!” Please pray for continued excitement and interest in the Bible in Icetod, that the Ik have an unquenchable thirst for the word of God!
A Hopeless Ceremony
Today I was invited to attend the final funeral ceremony for the elderly brother of 2 good friends – Bibi C (an elderly new believer) & Binti O (who has agreed to have me come share God’s Story with her). While I sat, I could observe the men outside with the Imam (mosque leader) chanting Arabic rites over incense to Allah. I asked the ladies what he was saying, but none spoke Arabic & they could only guess that he was pleading with Allah to be favorable to the dead man & grant him entrance into paradise, because after this ceremony there was nothing else that could be done for the salvation of the dead man.
Pray for God to keep opening the doors, keep giving us the words to bring hope to the hopeless. Pray the seeds of the gospel will take root in the hearts of our beloved neighbors. Jesus Christ changes everything!
Sad and Feeling Alone
The boy mentioned earlier, Abdi, came to his senses after much prayer. He has left Korr to be with his parents who live elsewhere. He still needs prayer. The school is allowing him to return the end of August when our final term begins, but he is returning under a number of conditions. Pray for the young man – he is sad and feels alone in the world. His family has given up on him, basically due to his anger issues. He needs Jesus. May this last term be one that touches his heart.
Veil to be removed
As an Arab woman listened to the story of how a friend had heard of Jesus and come into the light. She said that she was interested but frustrated when she heard about the Trinity. Please pray for the veil to be removed and for God to reveal Himself to her and others like her as Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Turning to the Living God
Pray that the Zigua will turn from Islam, from witchcraft, from traditions and from anything else that they have trusted in, and will put their hope in the Living God and worship His Son Jesus and look eagerly for His soon return.
Water!
Praise God for successful drilling of a borehole that has brought forth plentiful water to a village where fresh water was inaccessible. It is wonderful that so many are blessed immediately and may drink from this well! All are amazed and rejoicing to see fresh water come forth from ground that has long been dry. May villagers recognize that this water is from God and desire to know Him. Pray for continued proclamation of the Gospel in the area and receptive hearts to receive living water (John 7:37-39)
Home For a Week
During Kenya elections, a S. Asian family are all home for a week, school and work cancelled. Pray that there will be many open doors to share Christ with them as they spend their free time with Christian friends.
Deeply Loyal and Newly Interested
One of the men in our town has been a deeply loyal friend and neighbor to all of us over the years. He has been wrestling to find the Truth for years, going back and forth between following Islam but intrigued by Jesus. A few months ago a short term team came to visit our town and a couple of them have been able to stay in touch with this man. Because of their conversations, he recently said he has been inspired to start reading the Bble again. Please pray that as he engages the Word of God, the Spirit will open his eyes to its Truth and lead him to surrender his life to Jesus.
Needing to hold fast
As family members threatened death and fellow believers were followed and also threatened, he turned to the small group of believers and said, “I’m ready to die for Jesus, are you? ” Ask that believers would hold tightly to Jesus!
Pastor Bargokwet in Keringet
Pray for Pastor Silas Bargokwet as he oversees six church plants in the Keringet Forest. Pray for strength and wisdom to serve these scattered churches. Pray for young leaders he can disciple to be future church leaders.
Protection and Safety
Pray for the Somalis in Kenya for their protection and safety. The outcome of the Kenyan elections is so unpredictable. They are fearful that they will be removed from this country. Let’s pray that the leader elected by the people for the people will be compassionate enough for them to stay in this country.
