Pray for an openness in our community as we as a team and as Christians interact with people here. Pray for an openness to hearing the gospel and that their eyes will be opened, and they can turn from darkness to light. Pray that God would break the power and chains of satan and they would turn from being under the power of satan to God so that they can receive forgiveness for their sins and find their place among those who are being sanctified by their faith. (Acts 26:18)
Oral Bibles
Over the next 13 months, Nuba Wahid Cluster project will engage 31 different languages in various ways, including starting new translation projects, revising existing New Testaments, developing “JESUS” film scripts and more. They will also work to build capacity in churches for ongoing and sustainable Bible translation and Scripture engagement. Much of the Nuba church’s approach to make the Bible accessible to their communities is through oral Bible translation. Literacy levels are low across the region, and the easiest and clearest way of sharing the gospel will be through oral-based translation and distribution. Join us in praying that God will continue to equip Nuba churches for the journey that lies ahead of them, with many volunteers joining the work, so that people can access Scripture soon. The soil is ready for seeds to be planted!
Living water
Pray that the Muslims who thirst today will find living water so that they may never be thirsty again.
Starting up again
Diaspora in Hong Kong: Praise for the Injil class that has resumed after a temporary halt for few months. Praise God that this month, we are pleased to see that our student, L, has shown even greater acceptance of Jesus than before. Pray for her growth in Christ.
Pray for reconnecting with a Bible literacy program, as we are preparing to start a class with a young M child who has difficulty in reading. Pray that the love of God will be manifested through this service.
Conference
Pray for provision for an upcoming conference for African missionaries and believers from Muslim background. Pray each one would be encouraged in the Lord and further equipped in their ministry.
What is God doing?
There is an unhealthy increase of South Asian Muslims into Madagascar who are moving into rural areas and building mosques where churches have stood. Pray that the church leaders in Tana will see this challenge as an opportunity to share the Gospel. Pray that God will show us what He is already doing among the Karana of Tana.
Winds of change
The Island national anthem declares that they are one people, one religion, one blood – to be an islander is to be a Muslim and islanders are very proud of their Islamic heritage and identity. However, recently a controversy stirred when an Island historian showed that the original wording did not include ‘one religion’ but was rather one tongue or language. Words shape us and the national anthem is sung regularly (particularly by children). Pray with us that this month the winds of change would really blow through these islands and long held ideas and beliefs would be uprooted. Pray that a new chapter in Island history would begin and ask God to reveal himself through the power of the Holy Sprit.
Salvation and help
Diaspora in Georgia: Pray for the salvation of my ESL level 3 students as we read through the gospel of John. Pray for a clear testimony from each one of faith in Jesus by the time class ends in May.
Pray for the Lord to bring Africans and Muslims who need help to the pregnancy resource center.
Lokai
I praise the Lord for the Laarim believers. I also give thanks that conflict between neighboring people groups have lessened and people are moving around more freely without the constant concern of being attacked.
I was recently encouraged by Lokai, a young Laarim believer who is in his second year of secondary school. He spent Christmas with us before he returned to school. He eagerly joined me for every ministry activity and has expressed a desire to go into full-time ministry after his schooling. Please pray for Lokai and his future.
Have mercy Lord!
The UN estimates 10.7 million people have fled their homes, 1.7 million beyond Sudan; 18.5 million live in acute hunger, 5 million in emergency hunger; i.e., likely to die within 6 weeks if not helped. In Khartoum, some received money from abroad, but now have no internet access. Shops are empty anyway, and people fear to leave home. Only 37% of farmland was cultivated last year. WFP has given food to 7 million people. So far it has only 4% of its 2024 budget. Recently Ukraine donated, and Germany transported 7.6 million kg of wheat flour, but it’s impossible to get food to many of the needy. Pray for God to have mercy.
I need to be born again
There is an elder in a village that A, E & S have been reaching out to who consistently comes for Bible sharing and prayers. Often he says he has forgotten what he heard, or doesn’t seem to understand well. However, earlier this week after S shared about what it means to be born again, he said, “Now I know why I have been coming all this time. It was so I would understand that I need to be born again.” Praise God for this wonderful encouragement and pray for this elder to grow in his relationship with Christ.
Courage to follow
Pray against fear for many who have heard truth or have scripture sd cards and even Bibles. May the word not return void. May people recognize the Truth and have courage to follow.
Truth about Easter
Diaspora in Florida: Pray for the International student night tomorrow March 23rd for many to come and hear the truth about Easter.
Turned her back
Pray for Mama S., who used to be very involved at a local church but has since turned her back on the church and her faith. We still see a heart for God in her and pray she would turn back to the One True God.
Submit to God
Our hearts desire and prayer to God for the O is that they will be saved! We testify about the O that many of them are zealous for God – but their zeal is not based on knowledge. Since they do not know the righteousness of God (through Jesus), they seek to establish their own, and so they do not submit to God’s righteousness. Christ is the fulfillment of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes.
(Paraphrased from Rom. 10:1-4). Pray that many O will submit to their need for God’s Gift of Salvation and Righteousness through Jesus our Lord!
Oral Bible
A team of local translators are working on orally translating the Bible for Sakalava and other northern tribes. This is in the form of audio recordings. Pray that the team would have wisdom, unity, and perseverance as they translate. Pray that God’s word would go forth to reach many, many people.
Recently translated, recorded, and being used!
One team member is getting to share with a group of men in his village regularly. He has been able to use recently translated and recorded scripture as he meets with them. Praise Him for this opportunity, and also for the newly created resources that are being used. May their hearts respond.
Planting seeds
Traditionally, the Gabbra are pastoralists. During the last drought, many of their animals died. Some of the Gabbra are now planting crops to provide for their family. Praise God for good rains to water their crops over this last year. Pray for the Gabbra as they continue to learn about planting and harvesting, and preparing the land for the next rainy season. Pray for the Gabbra Christians, that just as they plant seeds in the ground, they would be sharing about God and planting seeds in the hearts of their neighbours.
New believers
Diaspora in Ontario: Please pray for new Iranian believers Rush*, Deddy* and wife Abby* to grow in their faith following Jesus and as they share the gospel with their friends and family back in Iran.
Dreams and visions
Pray for dreams and visions of Jesus for the people. Pray for God to show our team what’s really in the hearts of the people so they can effectively share with them.
Respond to Gospel
Pray that every person of South Asian origin in Tana- Muslim or Hindu- will have the opportunity to respond to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Pray for one of two believers in Tana we know of, from South Asian background. Pray that her husband would respond to the Gospel message of Hope . Pray for daily encouragement and growth in the faith.
Hope
Please continue to pray for the believers in jail for their faith. Pray that the God hope fills them with all joy and peace as they trust in Him, so that they may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. (Romans 15:13) And pray they will be delivered!
Audio Bible distribution
Distribution of a partial audio Bible in the local dialect has started. SD memory cards are loaded with that and some Malagasy worship music and the Jesus film. Pray that those who received it will listen regularly and that true word of God will take hold in their hearts.
Studying together
Pray for an Alagwa secret believer who is beginning to study the Word together with some of his relatives and friends. Pray for him to facilitate a group coming to Christ together.
TEE
Robert is now leading eight Lopit men in four different villages in TEE (Theological Education by Extension). Remember these men in your prayers, “asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give [them] the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that [they] may know him better” (Ephesians 1:17). Pray for Clement, a Lopit believer, who has agreed to lead two young men through the TEE classes in his village of Ibahore. Pray that God will continue to raise up Lopit believers to lead His church amongst their own people!
Ramadan
Pray for the women I meet with, some won’t want to study the Bible until Ramadan is over. Pray that God may reveal himself to them.
Seek and find
Pray for the Muslim community here as Ramadan has started this week. Pray that many Muslims, as they fast and pray for the forgiveness of their sins, would seek and find the True God.
Be awakened to God
Dry season in Kimatong means village life has quieted down. Many have migrated with their cattle to a more viable source of water and grazeable land. Other Laarim have gone to the trading center of Loryok, a four-hour walk from the village. Due to the poor harvest, food is not always easy to find. Life is hard for these people! Please pray for the needs of the Laarim to be met. And pray that such need would awaken many to turn to God and recognize their deeper needs, so that they come to know what they were truly created for.
St Patrick’s Day
Diaspora in California: Pray for the St Patrick’s day dinner (March 15) and the Easter picnic (March 30) with the International students. Pray for students to come and for the gospel to be clearly presented and received.
Quiet them with His love
‘He will quiet you with his love’. This is a particularly testing month for local believers as they come under extra scrutiny and pressure to conform. Many are isolated from one another and walk a lonely path. Pray that the additional pressure would only serve to press them ever closer to Jesus, and that He would quiet them with his love.
Bible study
Diaspora in France: Pray for a Bible study we have started with 3 students. Praise for the encouragement of how the Lord is working in their lives. Pray nothing will interfere with meeting regularly.
School for children
We have started a school and children’s ministry in the ‘forest village’. I want to see a new generation from this village—a generation who knows the true God in their heart language, a generation educated from an early age that we hope, in God’s providence, will help them in their future lives.
Last Christmas, before the school break, we organized a small party for the kids. I was so moved to see one little boy volunteering to pray. He prays to the true God in his own language. I trust God is in all of this. Please pray for these children and their school.
Gabbra pastors
Please pray for 3 Gabbra men who are serving as pastors in different villages. Each of these men have been discipled by missionaries and have completed formal Bible training. Requests have been submitted for each of them to receive a pastor’s license, but the process is being delayed. Pray that these three men would continue to grow in their faith as they teach others, and that they would all be granted licenses to be formal pastors.
Mr. M.
Pray for Mr M, may God open his heart. Pray for him to trust God with his financial problems.
Pray for the salvation of all Karana people of Madagascar, may the Lord help them to seek Him.
Publicly identified with Jesus
Pray for many of the secret believers and seekers who are trying to decide if they should fast Ramadan or not this year. Pray for courage to be publicly identified with Jesus.
Need a savior
For those who have been seeking and reading Truth, the month of Ramadan is often a time of renewed fervor for Islam. We pray for dreams and visions to disrupt their confidence. We pray that all the rituals and practices of this month will give them no assurances, no satisfaction, no hope. We pray for the hearts and minds of seekers to ultimately recognize how empty and powerless they are and how much they need a Savior.
Severe drought
Please pray for the drought affecting all our districts. The Ndau are subsistence farmers, and we are in a very severe drought. Beloved brothers and sisters in 5 areas have lost all their crops due to no rain! Please pray with us in faith for God’s provision in this new year- everything from last year is gone.
Bread
Since our school began in 2019, the World Food Program have been promising a feeding program for the students. We praise God that they have responded and now provide a meal for our children in school among the Toposa. Pray these children will also feast on the Bread of Life and share Him with their families.
Demonstrate compassion
Pray for the local believers in Nuba Mountains to respond to the needs of the communities and demonstrate compassion.
Pray for our partners on the ground in developing a strategy plan and be equipped to serve the affected communities.
Pray that these internally displaced persons (IDPs) will be catered to and ministered to according to their needs.
Healed in Jesus’ name
Praise the Lord for some wonderful opportunities to share Truth with people in the community. We have an initiative of going out three times a week in pairs and looking for opportunities to share Truth with people. We’ve had some encouraging conversations and prayed for people in the name of Jesus. We had one particularly exciting incident in which a young woman was healed, and she later was quick to attribute it to the prayer in Jesus’ name. Pray for her and many others to follow Jesus.
