A couple of days ago I was unexpectedly blessed when I sat down in my best friend’s shop to read the story of Jesus and Bartimaeus to her and an older, partially blind gentleman happened to walk up and start listening to our story. Those few minutes of his listening turned into getting to share 4 stories from the Word and all of us discussing them together. Both of them have asked to continue hearing stories and see great value in the lessons they teach. Pray that as Swahili people hear stories of Truth, they would be captivated not only by the wisdom, but by the person of Jesus. Pray they would see the Truth of who He is in each story we share.
Great need for Godly teachers
Our Christian schools need godly Christian teachers. Pray for God to work in the hearts of teachers and that the fruit of the Spirit will be evident in their lives. Pray that mature Christian teachers can be found who are willing and able to teach at Tirrim school and share the gospel with Rendille students.
Seeking prayer in the wrong place.
Recently a Digo woman came seeking a large loan so she could travel to another town and have a spiritual leader pray over her. She has been unable to sleep for many months, but the doctors can find nothing wrong with her physically. When prayer in the name of Jesus was offered instead of the loan, she was unable to accept it and went away.
Please pray that these disturbances will be used by the Holy Spirit to open her heart. Pray the Lord will appear to her in a dream.
Heavy Spiritual Warfare
Spiritual warfare is being felt very heavily right now. One Ik man has been going missing for hours or days at a time and always coming back in a trance. His family is very worried and has called in a local witch doctor to aid in his healing. Another young girl had been having pain in her knees and neck since getting injured in the river. The Ik have a lot of superstitions surrounding rivers, so an exorcism was performed on her. Pray that the Ik can see that Jesus is Lord over all of creation, and that they have nothing to fear about the rivers when He is their God. Pray also that they be freed of spiritual oppression and possession and come to Christ for all their needs as He alone is the great healer.
Remove the Veil
“Lord, remove the veil from the eyes of the Nyamwezi and give them a longing to know your truth, that they may have new life in Jesus.”
We are thirsty!!!!
“Fernando, our people are thirsty. Could you come to our village to broadcast the film Jesus?”
People are becoming tired of their old ways, specially when they see that all the witchcraft they use isn’t able to protect them from evil. Demons keep attacking many Bara villages. Could you pray that God would touch their hearts to turn to Him? That God would manifest his power and love among Bara people so they would leave behind all their witchcraft practices and become followers of Christ?
Already Roofing the Classroom
Thank God for his blessing, because we are already roofing a classroom, and now join me to pray for finishing the floor, windows, doors and plaster. This is a place for Muslim high school students to come after school for tutoring and to learn about Jesus Christ. Thank you and be blessed in Jesus Christ.
May the Husbands and Children Love Jesus, too.
Pray for two households with believing wives who listen to recordings of Bible stories in Alagwaisa and Scriptures in Swahili in the evenings together with other family members. Pray for their husbands and children to be drawn to Jesus too.
Frequently Moving
Because the Datooga are pastoralists, during seasons of drought they move their animals to other grazing areas. It is hard, therefore, for people to study the Bible consistently over many months. Pray for those who are producing recordings of Bible stories, that even when the pastoralists move, they may continue to hear and grow in their knowledge of the Word of God.
The King of Glory
Please pray for the Spirit’s work of salvation in people’s hearts in the village of Wairo. A film titled “King of Glory” has been shown in two parts recently. Pray that people will realise Jesus Christ is the King of Glory and will turn to Him for forgiveness of sins and salvation.
Asking Questions
Please pray for a high school student named Hassan. He is a Muslim. He’s been in a Christian school for years, so has heard a lot about the Bible. Recently, he’s been asking lots of questions in Bible class and last week he asked to come talk about the Bible. I was excited and prayed a lot before he came, but by the time it worked out for us to meet, I think he got cold feet. We talked, but mainly about his family, not about the Bible. He knows the door is open for him to come any time. There’s a real spiritual battle going on for his heart and mind. Please pray for God’s power to overcome. He’s a nice boy, hard working and needs Jesus!
Families Discovering the Love of God
Please pray for opportunities to share Jesus with family groups. Sometimes it can be hard to find times when everyone is together. Pray that as families discover the love of God they can choose to follow together and support one another.
Syncretism
Syncretism is the mix of religions. We saw many times in the Bible that even Israel practiced this: “… they pray to the Lord, but also sacrificed in the hills…” Could you pray that those Bara that are turning to Christ, will be changed in a such way, that their old religious practices will be thrown aside and only Jesus will be exalted, consulted, and worshiped!
Still Discovering who Jesus Really Is
The Muslim widow who loves Jesus and has started praying in His name still does not believe He is the Son of God, just an amazing prophet. But whenever she reads the Bible, she listens and learns and thinks about what she read. Pray that she will continue reading the Bible and that she will believe it, and realise the things her religion taught her about Jesus are not true.
Drawn to the Son
Pray for whole Nyamwezi families who are drawn to the Son, hearing chronologically stories about God’s character and man’s need for a Savior. Also the Jesus Film has been shown to numerous groups in public places. The response is unclear except that the film is watched with attention to what is being spoken. Some are requesting to see the again, and if it might be shown at their homes so their entire household and neighbors may see the film. Pray that those curious would know the Truth, and that the Truth will set them free.
Impact their Lives
Please pray for the Alagwa involved in the translation week last month. Pray especially for those who are not believers; may the word of God continue to impact their lives and turn their hearts to him.
May This Man Follow Christ
A young Samburu man is good friends with Christian missionaries in his area. Recently he got married and they attended the wedding. Pray that he and four other men will openly follow Christ and become open, committed members of the local church, which so far is only attended by women and children.
Growing Leaders
As the new Mahafaly churches work to disciple their “children churches,” they have chosen two leaders to study God’s Word more in-depth. These leaders will then teach the other leaders. In the last month, two other leaders have felt God’s call to take this next step. Praise God!
Pray for:
– the churches as they confirm and support these (possibly) four leaders.
– protection for the families of these leaders.
– wisdom for all the leaders as they disciple new believers in villages where they’ve planted churches.
– passion for all the churches to press out to the furthest reaches of the Mahafaly: the town of Ampanihy.
Persisting in Seeking Jesus
Please pray for an older Alagwa lady in one village, who is really persisting in seeking Jesus. Recently, when troubled by demonic attack, she asked a team member to pray for her. The team member also encouraged her to pray for herself, which she did in the name of Jesus. Soon after, she was released and was able to get up and just carry on her daily activities! Please pray for this lady, that she would continue to grow in her hunger for Jesus and would be emboldened to commit her whole life to Jesus.
Rendille Breakthrough Prayer
“Break the power of Islam over Rendille hearts and minds by opening their eyes to the truth of Your Word.”
Starting To See The Answers!
Praise God! He is answering our breakthrough prayer for the Swahili … for “whole Swahili families to turn to Jesus with faith that endures and bears fruit.” Mama & Baba F have welcomed the believers into their home for prayer, joined them for Sunday worship & are openly following Jesus! Please pray for their spiritual & physical protection and for their children to follow Jesus soon. Pray their faith would endure & bear fruit!
Now please pray the same for new believer Mama S – that her husband would come to faith in Jesus & her children would be free to follow Jesus too! Her husband comes from a well established & respected Muslim family here & the resistance will be strong against them. But He that is in us is greater than he that is in the world! Praise the Lord!
Rangi Breakthrough Prayer
“Lord, may Your Spirit convict the Rangi of their sin, Your righteousness, and the coming judgment, in such a way that they can understand and believe.”
Please Close Down the Class
Several S. Asian women attend an Islamics class that reinforces their belief in Islam and seems to provide them with reasons not to believe the Bible. Please pray that the Lord will close down the class, and that they will realise their teachers are not telling them the truth. Pray that instead their trust will be transferred to God’s Word and His Son, Jesus Christ.
A Language Teacher Ponders
Pray for a Digo man who has taught missionaries how to speak his language for over ten years. By using the Bible as their study guide, he has been exposed to the truths in it over and over. He seems to be pondering it seriously these days. Pray for him to cross over from death into life by putting his faith in Christ.
Water and Bread of Life
This is a time of protracted drought and hunger among the Gabbra. Please pray that they will discover Jesus is their water of life, their bread of life. Usually famine conditions distract people from listening to God’s Word. Instead, more and more Gabbra are gathering on Sundays to hear it. Pray for the Lord to have mercy and send rain, and pray for their spiritual interest to endure.
Fearlessly Gathering to Worship
Please pray that those Somali who are believers will find safe places and groups to worship with. Pray that instead of fearing betrayal they will long, like the Lord Jesus did, to be together with their friends and family in Christ. Pray for the salvation of whole extended families. Pray for spiritual breakthroughs so that many come to Christ together, and support one another as the early Christians did in the book of Acts.
Two Tribes As One
Borana people have not always gotten along with Gabbra people, although they speak basically the same language. In Christ, however, may this generational sin gradually be replaced by a deep love and a realisation that they are “one blood,” one family of God. May Christians from both tribes share the gospel eagerly with those from the other. May this love persuade others to also believe the gospel and come to faith in Christ.
Bara for Christ!!!!!
At least 300 hundred people in the village of Benato and 200 people in the village of Matsiso have watched the Jesus Film this week. Could you please pray that the devil doesn’t take the seeds of the gospel away? And that God uses this ministry to bring people to Himself?
As Families
Please pray for opportunities to share Jesus with family groups. Sometimes it can be hard to find times when everyone is together. Pray that as families discover the love of God they can choose to follow Jesus together and support one another.
May They Read Diligently
A M man and his family have made the decision to follow Christ. Recently they received a Bible story book. While their teacher is on leave, pray they will read the book diligently and grow in their confidence that Jesus Christ is trustworthy.
Nyamwezi Breakthrough Prayer
“Lord, remove the veil from the eyes of the Nyamwezi and give them a longing to know your truth, that they may have new life in Jesus.”
Study groups
Give thanks for the 5 Discovery Bible Study groups who meet across three Lopit villages. Pray that the Lord would use these study times to teach the hearts of those who attend and draw them more and more into fellowship with Him. Pray that the Lord may use these Bible studies to grow His church amongst the Lopit and that they may result in more disciples who desire to reach out to their communities and beyond.
Samburu Breakthrough Prayer
“Please give five men to the church at Lchakwai in 2017.”
Answered prayer in aid
God is answering our prayer request of last month for local believers to show love to the Mbororo refugees. When AIM Air flew to Zemio, CAR last month, some of the local Zande believers who had fled to Congo for refuge were able to come out of hiding and talk to our missionary who had brought them a small amount of aid. When he said he hoped he could bring more next month the Christians replied, « Be sure to bring some for the Mbororo refugees as well. » Pray that this will be possible.
Emboldened to Commit Her Life
Please pray for an older Alagwa lady in one village, who is really persisting in seeking Jesus. Recently, when troubled by demonic attack, she asked a team member to pray for her. The team member also encouraged her to pray for herself, which she did in the name of Jesus. Soon after, she was released and was able to get up and just carry on her daily activities! Please pray for this lady, that she would continue to grow in her hunger for Jesus and would be emboldened to commit her whole life to Jesus.
Eagerly Awaiting God’s Word
This coming week we will be checking Proof 3 of the complete Rendille New Testament. Several copies will also be going to Rendille for community checking in several villages. At the end of October, any last-minute changes that might emerge will be done. Once those have been processed and checked, the New Testament will be ready to go for printing! Praise God for his faithfulness in watching over this process. The growing Rendille church is eagerly awaiting God’s Word. Pray for good success.
Ambassadors Needed
Pray that the Spirit will raise up Christians to take the Word of God to the Ndengereko, who are still largely Muslim. Pray for the Lord to send His ambassadors and representatives to love them and share the gospel. Pray that their hearts will be ready to receive it and bear fruit.
Datooga Breakthrough Prayer
“May the Datooga people come to know Jesus as the Good Shepherd who laid down His life for the sheep.”
Swahili Breakthrough Prayer
“Lord, may whole Swahili families turn to Jesus with faith that endures and bears fruit.”
The Meaning of Life
Please pray that the Lord will cause many Zaramo to be asking themselves what is the meaning of life, and that the Lord will raise up Christians to share that all things are from, through, and for Christ. May many Zaramo embrace Him as their joy and their salvation.
