Diaspora in Georgia: Pray for the Lord to break down the tight spiritual and social “Jericho walls” that hold Muslims captive in the two local mosques, allowing them freedom to get to know Christians and regularly read Scripture together. Please pray for the salvation of Humor, Ed and Nama this month who are key mosque leaders.
Pluralistic and Passive
Last week one of the well-loved young men of our village died in a tragic motorcycle accident. The whole village is shocked and devastated.
Please pray for the Alagwa, who are very pluralistic and passive about spiritual matters, to actually feel their desperate need for salvation and hope in the face of such tragedy and death.
Heard the gospel
Pray for the 5 people who heard the gospel. Please pray that the Holy Spirit will lead them to a deep understanding and faith.
Pray for Turning to God’s Truth
Pray for believers who live among the Nyamwezi that their lives would be a living letter and testimony to their neighbors. Pray for opportunities to share with their Muslim neighbors physical and spiritual blessings. Pray for receptive minds and ears to the message of Christ and that the Nyamwezi would long for truth that only Jesus can satisfy.
Keen students
Diaspora in Wales: Praise God for the ones who are keen to hear more in the English Conversation Class. Many are hearing and discussing Biblical stories for the first time including Creation, the Fall, Tower of Babel.
Praise God for this year’s new Sewing class curriculum that has provided a more relaxed setting where helpers and students are able to share their joys and challenges as they sew together.
Pray for spiritual fruit from the conversations about Easter in English and Sewing classes.
When to be cautious, when to be bold
One sister talked this week about feeling sometimes she has to hide (especially in the increased pressure to conform this month of fasting). But she senses that, before too long, the body won’t have to hide at all, will be able to meet openly and tell everyone who they are! Pray that it would be so! In the meantime, pray that God would give the body wisdom and discernment about when to be cautious and when to be bold. Pray for them as the island celebrates the end of fasting this week and some scrutiny lifts.
“We don’t have to get married early.”
The youth weekend last month went well. We taught on identity in Christ and boy-girl friendships as well as sexual relationships. The teachings were very much appreciated by the youth. When asked what they liked about the camp, several of the older youth replied, “We don’t have to get married early.” Pray they will remember the things they learned and put them into practice.
Be strengthened
Pray for believers under pressure to recant their faith to be strengthened with might by God’s spirit in the inner man. (Eph 3:16)
Training
Pray for four Fulani followers who face different challenges especially in regard to their faith. I have started a cross cultural training with them. Our first meeting was held at the Fulani conference in the South for 4 days. We plan to meet each month and intentionally call them each week to see how they are doing with the training. Pray for this cross cultural ministry training program that is aimed at preparing them for the cross cultural church ministry task ahead.
Walk in a worthy manner
Pray for the Laarim believers to walk in a manner worthy of Lord, growing in faith, and sharing Truth with others.
Audio Bible
The audio book of Ruth and Mark are being distributed and people are listening to the Word of God in their own language. The book of Genesis is going through a final edit.
Pray that many people would listen to the Word and believe it.
Fire in their hearts
This weekend we are hosting a conference for Bara young people who are Christians. We are expecting 80-100 people to come. Teaching will be done by Bara pastors. The themes are “Missions in my life”, “Suffering for Jesus”, and “How the gospel changes my life”. Please pray for travel mercies- some are traveling from far away, pray the young people will more deeply understand the gospel and will experience a fire in their hearts to share the gospel with others.
Freed from bondage!
When the construction team arrived earlier this year to begin building a home for the evangelist/worship center in a new outreach area, they set up their tents on a parcel of land that the village gave to the church. During this initial construction time, one of the men saw that there was a charm tied onto a tree near the campsite. We prayed over the campsite and then they cut off the charm and burned it right there. Then they proceeded with the planned construction for the remainder of the time and forgot about the charm incident.
Apparently, this charm was placed on the tree years ago by a man in the village. And since that time, this man has been bound by spirits. The day that this charm was cut off and burned, he was freed from his oppression and, according to the village leaders, the entire village was also freed from their bondage. We do serve a living God! Pray this village will use their freedom to follow Jesus!
Eager brother
There is an eager new brother who was recently baptised and is very openly sharing on his social media. Older followers are distressed by his lack of care for his life and are distancing themselves from him. Pray for his discipleship and that he would not be publicly reckless but bold in love toward his neighbors and friends.
See the Love
Pray for staff at the hospital who are Muslim. They are daily witnessing what it means to be a Christian health worker. Pray that they would be drawn to the love they see in their colleagues’ hearts as they interact with patients. Pray especially for M, a Muslim nurse consultant who seems open and curious.
Give a defense
Pray for Christians in Sudan, (who are often targeted), to ‘not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled, but … always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks a reason for [their] hope’. 1 Peter 3:14-15.
Pray in the name of Jesus
Diaspora in Hong Kong: Recently, we have developed close connections with several Rwandan and Yemeni families through our resettlement assistance efforts. Praise the Lord for the privilege of sharing delightful meals and engaging in meaningful conversations with these Muslim families during Ramadan. Praise for them allowing us to pray for them in the name of Jesus. Pray the Lord will open their hearts to the gospel.
Studying the Bible
Pray for two young men, S. and K., who are studying the Bible chronologically with one of the missionaries. Pray their hearts would be opened to God’s Truth.
Christ-centered Churches Among All Peoples
Praise God for two new churches under construction receiving roofs! These two churches are in Tabora and Uyui District. Praise God for local believers committed to seeing these churches finished and for donors who have helped with the roofs! Pray that the structures would provide permanent points of outreach among the Nyamwezi. Pray for believers to welcome Nyamwezi and all peoples in their area into fellowship in Christ.
Training
Please pray for our local sister, Rachel, who is in West Africa for training. She thought she would be away for 1 month but it turns out the training is 2 months long so she will not be back until the end of April. Please pray for her children who are still here being watched by other folks. Pray the training is worth it!
Bread of Life
Please pray for the Saharawi who are fasting for Ramadan. May they come to know Jesus as the bread of life!
Threats intensifying
Threats against us and our team and local believers are intensifying. Pray for the safety and protection of all believers and especially for the home guards and chiefs who are risking much to provide increased security for us. Pray that these security risks will be used by God to bring new life & to draw many O into His Kingdom of Light! Pray that God would convict the men intent on doing harm and they would repent and find Life in Him.
Gospel conversations
Diaspora in California: Pray for international students and volunteers who will be traveling to Yosemite National Park April 5-7. Pray for gospel conversations throughout the weekend and safety while travelling and hiking.
Pray for salvation for students Chris and Thomas in particular. They come regularly and have heard the gospel but appear to have no interest in spiritual matters.
Night of Power
April 5th or 6th is a night known as the “Night of Power.” Many Muslims will pray through the night hoping to gain special favor with God. Pray for the Holy Spirt to reveal Himself to many, and for revelation that we can receive special favor with God through His Son Jesus Christ.
One Miracle Night
For those interested in praying more for the Night of Power- the most holy night of Ramadan where many Muslims pray all night seeking God’s forgiveness and blessing, please see the prayer guide:
Dear Friends,
Please join us in earnest prayer for Muslims around the world, this Friday, 5 April.
The IPC has put together excellent material for promoting One Miracle Night – the Global Day of Prayer for the Muslim World.
For more info, prayer guides and 24 hour prayer schedule led by leaders around the world, visit:
Inability to save themselves
Pray for the Alagwa, as they’re finishing up the Ramadan fast, to know their spiritual need and inability to save themselves.
Pray for the young believers to keep listening to their Audio-Bibles, sharing their faith, and growing in relationship with Jesus.
Good news
Diaspora in England: Praise for the opportunity to share the Easter message at last week’s English classes. When I asked if anyone could sum up what I’d said, a Muslim woman said: “It’s good news”. I hadn’t even used that expression! Pray for faith to believe.
Praise that our parenting class ‘taster’ session went well this week. 9 women came to the session (7 S0m@li, 2 Sudanese). Pray that they would all return when the course starts on 16 April.
New believers!
Persecution and threats are increasing. Pray that the new believers will not fear, but will grow in knowledge, faith and understanding, that they will boldly declare God’s Grace to be saved and forgiven because of Jesus’ work on the cross. One couple had to go into hiding for a time because of threats. Pray that they become strong in prayer and hiding God’s Word in their hearts!
Remaining days
Especially during these remaining days of Ramadan, ask that the local believers would know the light of His presence even during nights that feel heavy with darkness. Pray for them to remain anchored in Hope and to have confidence that His immeasurably great power is for them.
Rainmaker
We are leading a Discovery Bible Study on the compound of the rainmaker in Iboni every Wednesday. We thank God that this man has welcomed us to come and share from the Word of God, and we pray that he would humble himself before the One and Only God, and “Ask the Lord for rain in the springtime; [for] it is the Lord who sends the thunderstorms. He gives showers of rain to all people, and plants of the field to everyone” (Zechariah 10:1).
Easter seeds
Pray that the seeds planted during Easter conversations would grow and lead to many islanders knowing the Risen Savior. Pray for the i3 body as they decide the best day and way to meet as a larger group and whether to wait for the fasting month to end before doing so. May the Spirit guide!
Take the next step
A couple who are shop owners are open and interested in conversation about spiritual things but not willing to take the next step. Pray for Pastor Her’a who meets with them regularly to not become discouraged and pray for God to give the couple the courage to take next steps to follow Jesus.
Grow in Love
Please pray for the Laarim believers to grow in their love for God and one another. Pray that they receive strength to stand against the pressure to partake in sinful peer group practices or temptations. Pray for courage in their hearts to trust the Lord in all hardships. And that when they fail, may they by the Spirit recognize and confess their sin and keep walking with Christ.
Standing firm
The situation of one of the sisters here is difficult, she suffers violence from her husband and pressure from the family who hope that she renounces her faith. She continues to stand firm, refuses to renounce her faith and testifies in exchange for persecution. Pray for this sister, that she will be carried by God, that the hearts of her husband and her family will be touched and that their attitude will change. Let’s also pray for the small assembly of brothers and sisters, that it grows and becomes independent.
Cyclone!
A violent cyclone is currently hitting Madagascar. There is damage in our village, houses destroyed, the road ruined, several boats have been destroyed because of the intensity of the waves, people can no longer work and lack money. The cyclone is even more violent on the East coast of Madagascar, Pray for the protection of the people, for courage to deal with the consequences of this cyclone, that the Church of Christ can show love and find ways to help and to bless these populations affected by the destruction. May God give us the wisdom to manage the urgent and countless needs of our neighbors, friends, brothers and sisters from the church of our village.
Truly seek
Pray for the youth we work with, that they will truly seek the Lord and find him.
Soup and Bible
Diaspora in Finland: I started a soup and Bible program. Praise for a few Moroccan M’s, that I have been building relationships with, have come. Pray for wisdom in how to build these relationships more and that their hearts would open for the Lord.
Persecution and grief
Pray for Mike, an O believer who has been persecuted for his faith. He grieves over having his wife taken away from him and given to another man. May the Joy of the Lord be his strength! May the fellowship of sharing in Christ’s sufferings bring Mike and all of us into deeper intimacy with Jesus as we realize fully that He is worthy of our sacrifices and suffering.
Pray in Jesus’ power and authority against all the schemes and flaming arrows of our enemy the devil, to keep the O People in bondage and darkness.
Pour out their hearts
Each evening islanders will spend up to several hours completing extra sets of ritual prayers. Pray that these prayers would leave them feeling empty and dissatisfied. Pray that they would long for a relationship with God. Pray that they would begin to pour out their hearts to him in their own language and own words.
Inflation
Inflation has hit Madagascar hard and people are struggling to buy daily necessities. Please pray that God would provide, especially for the Christians, local pastors, and missionaries.
