Diaspora in Hong Kong: We are grateful for the opportunity to invite a Somali man for Bible study in April and for the conversation with his wife. May God guide us in selecting the right materials and timing for the study. Pray the wife will come too.
Please pray for the five Muslim families we are working with closely in April. May they come to know Jesus.
Joy’s marriage
Pray for Joy, an Arab sister in D-town who has now been in the faith for eight years. During Ramadan her husband was being pressured by family once again to divorce her. We’ve heard now that Ramadan is over, an influential family leader is going to be coming to visit them from the capital to deal with this situation. Pray against the Enemy’s plans to destroy Joy’s family. Pray for the Lord to preserve Joy’s marriage and that her husband’s heart would somehow grow even softer to the gospel through this.
Provision of audio Bibles
Pray for the provision of an audio Bible in the Kimwani, Makwe and Koti languages. Pray many will hear the Good News in their own language and believe it.
Small church
Thank God for the small church planted amongst the Fulani and ask for it to grow and mature. Pray for the young leaders currently being discipled – that they too would mature in their faith and that this would seep into all areas of their lives. Ask particularly for them to understand forgiveness and for them to put it into practice in their daily lives.
Young church
We are asking for prayer for the young church here amongst the Laarim. Please pray for the believers to stand upon a firm foundation, that leaders would emerge, and that believers would grow in their giftings. Pray that the church would be unified and that it would grow amidst trials. May the believers depend on the Lord in all things!
We have seen several believers step up and take initiative in leading church gatherings. And even amidst the many challenges to life here, they are committed to learning and growing more and more. We are even working together with them to get a church building put up in the months ahead.
New believers
Diaspora in Florida: Praise for 2 new Chinese believers in the last few weeks and for one who was baptized on March 29th.
Praise for those who continue to study God’s Word. Continue to pray as many will have the opportunity to decide if they want to follow Jesus in the next few weeks.
Pray as we have at least 16 new Chinese Cultural Representatives coming in the next two weeks to our city to start their yearlong program.
Praise for the many opportunities we have had to connect with Muslims during Ramadan. Pray specifically for a Tunisian family we have connected with. Pray they accept an invitation to come to church with us on Easter.
Asking for 12
Lord, give us boldness as a team fueled by a love for you and others. From this, we ask you to give us 12 Acacia people who would be willing to listen to/read the scriptures with us and engage in discussion on a consistent basis. And give the local church a growing desire to partner with us in your work.
Madraza
A big madraza school/center (Islamic teaching center for children, even boarding) is planned to be built in our village. A first load of blocks has been dumped at the site and building has started. Pray against all the schemes that would bring more darkness and bondage. One particular man, AR. is behind much of the funding and pushing for this – he is the same one behind all the problems that our teammates recently had in their village. Pray that God would prevent him from having any success and ability to complete any evil plans that are against God‘s kingdom of light!
Empowering women
‘Made For a Woman’, is an initiative by Indian diaspora businesswomen to empower women artisans in Madagascar. We praise God for initiatives like these.
Pray that relationships between the women of the Indian and Malagasy communities will continue to grow and that Malagasy women will share the blessing of the Gospel with the women from the Indian diaspora community.
Pray women who are seeking for Truth will find the answers in Jesus Christ through the interactions with Malagasy followers of Jesus.
Pray for secret believers in the Karana community that they will be strengthened and encouraged in their faith. Pray for a fellowship of believers to form around them.
Pray for the families of these women who secretly follow Jesus to come to faith as well.
Radio
Our team had to re-record the Bible teaching this week. As ex-Muslims they tend to fall back on Koranic verses when they haven’t prepared properly. This leaves listeners with the false idea that the Koran is authoritative scripture on par with the Bible, when in reality it is a highly deceptive book! Training these young leaders about the importance of preparation in the scriptures is one of my greatest tasks. Please pray for them as they prepare and record weekly Bible lessons.
Stand firm
Currently there are no expats in Tuum town until June. Pray for those we have spoken to that they will be thinking of what we have said about Jesus and how we have lived with them. Pray that while thinking, God will speak to their hearts through his Spirit. Some have received solar powered audio Bibles including two who have accepted Christ (they say) a few years ago. Pray that they will listen to these, and that God will help them understand and grow in their faith or believe. There has been significant opposition to those of us who speak of the gospel. May God guard his people and help them to stand firm.
Ramadan has ended
Pray for greater spiritual hunger now that Ramadan has ended that would lead to genuine questions about Jesus and spiritual conversations.
A Story of Endurance and Faith: John Nakwam’s Journey
Three years ago, John Nakwam came to faith. He later opened a church. However, persecution followed. When Nakwam and others embraced Christ, he was severely beaten and almost lost an eye. Fearing for his life, he fled and found refuge at our school in Naliel, where he is now in Class 4. Not only is he thriving academically, but he is also a key leader in discipling others.
Recently, during a school break, Nakwam chose to go to Mogos, an unreached area, to share the Gospel. Though some elders welcomed the message, the youth violently opposed them. Nakwam was beaten so severely that he was left for dead. But by God’s power, he regained strength and, instead of running away, returned to the same village to proclaim the resurrection of Jesus. Today, a strong church stands in Kachinga, and seven of its disciples are now attending our IDLF training!
The greatest joy today is that Nakwam baptized 12 students—young disciples he and his team have led to faith in our school. Pray for them and for John!
Easter Festival
Diaspora in France: We’re launching registrations for the Easter Festival- for 5 days we’ll be going to the Alps with students and families to stay together and celebrate Easter, proclaiming the message of the resurrection. Pray that the students God wants at this festival will come and be touched by the Gospel.
Pray that God will provide the financial support for the 4000 euros needed for this festival.
Students
Pray for the students’ hearts as they encounter the prophecies of Jesus and the death and resurrection of Jesus (OT and NT classes respectively).
Pray for focus for and engagement by the students.
Pray for former students to reflect on and be reminded of truth they have heard, even during Ramadan as they may be thinking more about their relationship with God.
Jesus film and rain
A group of believers meets every Thursday and they went to do evangelism in a small village not too far away. Please pray for the impact of the Jesus film in the lives of these villagers.
It hasn’t rained enough this year. Let’s pray that it rains enough again (but without cyclones or floods) to save this year’s rice!
Outreach requested
Pray for a group of Okiek/Dorobo at Nessuet on the edge of the Mau Forest near Njoro. They have asked for our Dorobo Outreach team to visit them and show the Jesus Film. Pray for Pastor Musanga Omerae and Pastor Silas Bargokwet as they organize this outreach weekend. May many respond to the Gospel and be saved!
Increasing hardness
We grieve the increasing hardness of several backslidden disciples. Pray for a softening of their hearts, a desire to listen to the Word and an openness to be prayed for. I am truly frightened by the hardening I see in one in particular, a real rejection of, and trampling upon, the grace she once knew and the Savior whose sweetness she once tasted. I believe that though it may seem to us hopeless and far too late, the One who is the Resurrection and the Life may yet have the last word. Pray for us as well to be strengthened and persevere sharing that Christ alone is who we need.
Still in prison
Continue to pray for the persecuted believers in prison. May they know the Lamb of God more intimately in their suffering. When the enemy whispers doubts: ‘Is He really the one?’ (Matt 11:3)… may the truth ring through their souls: Jesus is the Messiah who opens blind eyes and sets captive free.
Night of Power
This night is Laylat al-Qadr – the Night of Power. Islanders especially seek God’s power and revelation tonight, believing also that tonight they can receive forgiveness of all past sins. Pray that God would reveal through dreams and visions the way to true forgiveness. Ask that in His love for islanders He would not remain silent, but that tonight God would speak to islanders, and that islanders would respond to His voice.
Meeting today!
Praise Jesus for our brother who met other local believers (from a city two hours away) for the first time this week! He was so encouraged to hear about believers gathering in other cities and wanted to do the same here, but had heard of none until yesterday. Praise Jesus he now has the number of a local brother in his same city and hopes to meet him today. Pray they would meet! Pray that the Amazigh would prioritize meeting together to pray!
The “Night of Power”
Tonight or Thursday night is the ‘Night of Power’ in the cousin’s month of fasting, depending on when they started. Prayers and good deeds performed on this night are considered to be of greater value than all the prayers and good deeds done in a thousand months. This night is also known as the “Night of Destiny,” when many believe that their fate for the following year is determined. Therefore, it is especially important for cousins to pray for forgiveness and blessings on this night, and many will pray throughout the night. It is also a time to seek forgiveness from others, to forgive others, and to repair relationships.
As we approach this climactic religious time for our cousins, please ask Father to prepare their hearts to meet Him. As they do their ritual readings and prayers, bowing on their rugs, ask that Father confront them with visions of the Son saying, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life.’ and that they will choose to follow Him!
4 F’s for prayer
Pray for “4 F’s” for Somalis :
Fellowship: an established and consistent meeting of local brothers/sisters.
Families: especially for marriages to happen between believers to raise up believing families, also for whole families to come to faith.
Fog: referring to the veil that the enemy has put over the minds and hearts of unbelievers (2 Cor 4:4), that it would be lifted, the fog would be cleared.
Foreigners: for the workers who are here to be unified, joyful, protected against discouragement and burnout, refreshed.
Gathering around the table
This month of Ramadan, Algerians are gathering around the table every evening for spiritual conversations. They are longing to strengthen the bonds of love, brotherhood, and family ties. They do not know that a table conversation with God Himself is possible. They don’t realize that He has made a way for them to be reconciled to Himself through Jesus’ death and resurrection.
Ask the Lord to come to their tables and speak truth into their hearts that will shape their lives for eternity.
Breakthrough prayer
Join us in praying our breakthrough prayer: “Father would you raise up M disciple-makers who will catalyze a movement that spreads throughout their people and beyond.”
Soccer outreach
A band of believers began to meet last August in a new outreach village where there was no church. They began simply by gathering together youth to play soccer, shared their testimony as Christians, and showed the Jesus Film at night. From the outreach, new believers have begun to join in fellowship gathering under a simple tarp held up by poles. Pray for these believers as they grow in faith, the leaders who walk across a flooded river to get there, and for the believers to work in unity as they desire to gather stones and make bricks for a permanent church structure. Pray that they will share with their neighbors about belonging to a new family in Christ.
Rule-following
Pray for dissatisfaction in religious rule-following, and a deep conviction of the impossibility of human effort to make one righteous. Pray for revival and revelation of Jesus among the experts in Islamic law.
Pray for the Algerian community leaders who seek to be agents of reconciliation. Pray that the Lord reveals to them their limitations, and their need for the Messiah Jesus who brings lasting peace.
Pressure
Lift up brothers and sisters during this season of Ramadan, that God will give them wisdom to navigate the pressure from their close community.
Awakening
Pray for an awakening in the hearts of islanders. We pray for radical transformation through power encounters with Jesus, especially during this month of fasting. We are praying for the foundations of Islam to be exposed as cracked and faulty. We are praying for islanders to feel the freedom to ask questions and to go searching for answers. We pray for the local island body to be free from fear in the name of Jesus and may they boldly live out their faith with their eyes fixed on Him. Pray with us!
Enchantment
We’ve just been reflecting on how the reciting of the Koran is actually an enchantment of sorts and so we pray all the more for a breaking of the spiritual darkness as Muslims recite it each evening of Ramadan and again during the night of power on Thursday. Please pray with us.
Seek the true God
Pray for the influential Karana Muslim community in Diego (northern Madagascar) to seek for the true God during this month of Ramadan.
Pray that the Karana who have heard the Gospel will turn to follow Christ.
Pray that Malagasy employees of the Karana community will pray for their employers and their families and share the hope they have in Christ.
2 new families!
Diaspora in Michigan: Praise the Lord for new Afghan believers. God is so faithful. 2 families expressed faith this month and are being discipled by us and another church. May the Lord bring to completion the good work He started!
new tool
After many years of praying and working towards the goal of completing the dubbing of the Jesus film into the O language, we suddenly heard that it is ready for a final review! We praise the Lord and pray that this wonderful tool will be complete, finalized and ready for use – and that it will bear much eternal fruit!
Film project
The film translation of Creation to Christ (from English to Somali) was completed and sent to the producers some time back. We are waiting approval so that the film can be recorded and distributed worldwide where Somalis as located. Please pray for fast tracking of this process so that those waiting for the film and other materials can get them quickly.
Pray for us
Pray for our Muslim neighbours.
Pray for spiritual warfare during Ramadan.
Pray for opportunities to share the good news in this time of Ramadan.
Bible recording for the Makhuwa Nahara
Making the recordings for these players is quite an involved process. It requires finding people who are literate and able to meet regularly, translate, record and transcribe the scriptures from other languages such as Portuguese, Makhuwa or even in our case Koinonia Greek! The current Nahara team leaders are all literate ex-Muslims. Such people have been hard to find, but over the years, the Lord has graciously brought them across our path. After several years of sowing the word and
walking long roads of discipleship we eventually have a most capable team.
Praise The Lord for this team and pray that they would shine the light of Jesus and many more would come to The Lord through their life.
Reveal Yourself Lord
Pray for the Rangi Muslims during the season of Ramadan — pray that the Lord will reveal Himself to many through dreams, visions, and personal conviction.
Welcoming help
The elders of one of the smaller towns are welcoming help with the young men in their community addicted to qat (a leafy plant chewed for its stimulant effect). This is delicate since the economy is so tied to this import. Pray that through this tangible help, this community would hear the Good News and be empowered by the spirit to turn from the destructive addiction to qat, from darkness and embrace true Joy, light, and truth.
12 willing to study
Pray with us for 12 Acacia people who’d be willing to engage in scripture with us whether listening or reading together.
Pray for our team as we seek to connect with local believers more during Ramadan as many Muslims are sleeping during the day. Pray for growth in relationships with church people.
Pray during Ramadan
Pray that during this time of Ramadan, there would be a powerful outpouring and work of the Holy Spirit, through power encounters and truth encounters among the Karana, who follow the teachings of Islam.
Pray that a culturally relevant expression of the Church of Christ would emerge among the Karana, which would be rooted in the assurance of their faith in Christ Jesus and that the Karana believers would be able to stand firm against persecution.
