Maroamboka village, where we used to live, is the place of witch doctors. Seven of them live and work in and around Maroamboka! Some of them are so powerful that people come all the way from the capital to consult them. In short, Maroamboka was more or less the stronghold of Satan.
And it is precisely in Maroamboka that the church is growing! And it is Maroamboka where people come to hear more about the Gospel. Why? My friend Issa noted that the Lord has a sense of humour. Issa said, “The evil one must have been happy when we left Maroamboka. But it is as if God woke the evil one out of his evil dream by using Maroamboka for His mighty and glorious work.” I like Issa’s conclusion. Pray for the church to continue to grow in size and influence.
Coffee time
Diaspora in Wales: In January, we started a coffee/tea time following the Monday Women’s English Classes. Pray that this informal time of fellowship will deepen a sense of community enabling ladies to meet other teachers and students while using English.
Pray for breakthrough
Diaspora in Germany: Pray for those who are suffering or in need, especially in migrant camps.
Pray for breakthroughs in the lives of people who are lost, lonely, or struggling.
Pray for receptive hearts and meaningful connections in the outreach ministry.
Persecution
The young men leading the church in one Lopit village are still going through persecution. Early in January they were seriously beaten but they have said no to idolatry and are very active in the church. Pray for them to stand firm in their faith, and that the Lord will give a lasting solution in this village where persecution happens often for believers.
Eyes of their hearts opened
Diaspora in Michigan: Pray for Mr. I and Mr. J to have an encounter with God, and for the eyes of their hearts to be opened. Both are spiritually open, but neither have truly accepted Jesus as Lord. Please pray for our Friday night conversation cafe that includes a 30 minute Bible story. Mr K and Mr R are actively searching to know more about the Bible and Mr J said he would believe if he saw a dream of Jesus. Please pray with us for a Bible study group to form with them.
New interest
Praise the Lord for new interest in His word from two friends on the plateau, Mary and Elisheba. We have started studying with Mary but Elisheba has been busy with the election. Ask that, now the election is over, Elisheba would be free to study with us, and that Father would open both their hearts to understand His plan and their need for a Saviour.
Save our friends
Diaspora in Georgia: Pray that the Lord will make it evident that He is moving to save our Ms friends Naya, Amy, Slim, Mia, Kudu and Sue and their families.
Praise the Lord for weekly opportunities to share Scripture with seekers and new believers. Pray for much fruit this month.
Looking for a wizard
One of the young men from our church lost his brother in a cattle raid. The tradition here is that the community usually looks for a “wizard” to hang for the suspected cursing of the one who died in sickness or in raids. The prayer request is that a hanging will not follow this funeral or any other funeral. Pray this evil practice will stop and the light of the Gospel will shine brightly in the church and will show another way to live.
Month-long outreach
The four leaders of the Toposa team have embarked on a one-month apostolic outreach to Lochoa, seeking persons of peace and strengthening the 11 churches in the area. Artis and Jejo, who are currently in Naliel, will later follow up with them and provide the necessary supplies to support the work.
Please pray for the Toposa Apostolic team as they step out in radical obedience, reaching the lost and building up the body of Christ. Also, pray that God provides the needed supplies—Bibles, audio Bibles, and Jesus film—to equip and disciple the people they reach.
Verdict delayed
For some reason, the verdict for those in prison got pushed back to February 18th. Still no word on why. Pray for them. They need super natural peace and strength in Jesus. And let’s not forget their families. They’re longing to be with their loved ones. We’re hoping for a quick & quiet resolution so everyone can come home soon.
PTSD
Diaspora in Hong Kong: Please pray for a Somali Christian and his wife, who does not share his faith. We hope to build a friendship in Christ. Pray for her heart.
Pray for E, a believer from a Muslim background, who is struggling with PTSD and seeking peace in the Word of God.
Dispensary open again
Praise the Lord that Pastor Mahalu in Magambua village was able to invite some Christian medical personnel from the government to re-open the AICT Magambua Dispensary. Care is happening there again with believers treating people and augmenting the witness of the local church. Pray for many to find Jesus there!
Tuesday /Thursday activities
Diaspora in France: Pray for our weekly activities which take place every Tuesday and Thursday. May we be the salt and light of Christ for the students during these times. Pray for good talks with students and for the Lord to open their hearts to the gospel.
Verdict
The believers in prison in Libya for their faith will appear before the judge on Tuesday and hear the verdict. Please pray the Lord would trouble the judge and those involved in deciding the sentence and they would ‘let His people go’. Pray for their unconditional release and reunion with their families.
Engage
Pray for creative ways to engage the locals who are seeking the truth, without being a threat to their community. Ask for more laborers to engage the locals through different platforms.
People of light
We have been helping an islander and her aunt who travelled to the mainland for medical care. Give thanks for this opportunity to serve an islander and show Jesus’s love – the doctor treating them is also a believer! Ask that their interaction with so many people of light would impact them deeply and bring them to Jesus. Ask for wisdom for the doctor and a good medical outcome.
Retreat follow-up
Praise God that my Saharawi friend and her daughters came to the retreat as they planned. The Holy Spirit was clearly working and we have had some fruitful conversations since. Please pray Jesus appears to them in dreams and visions and calls them to Himself.
Tide turning!
The village of Tsiombivohitra where I went almost weekly (for years) to teach and preach the Bible stories, now has a large group of Christians. When I used to go there were only two young people who believed in Jesus.
Sometime last year, the sown seed seems to have taken root. First, the young couple started coming to Maroamboka on Sunday mornings to seek the Lord with the brothers and sisters in the FLM church. But not much later, they started bringing about 20 people from Tsiombivohitra. The tide in Tsiombivohitra village seems to have turned. It is just a small village which means that the believers are slowly becoming the majority. They have now agreed with the FLM leadership to build a sister congregation in Tsiombivohitra.
But this village is not the only one where people are coming to a living faith in Christ. There are plans to build a church in at least two more villages. Praise the Lord He is building His church! Pray for these new believers to walk in the ways of the Lord.
Children’s ministry
Pray for the impact of the Compassion International program, that is being run with the support of many of the believers from AICT Magambua church, that many children from the community will come to faith in Christ through the witness and care of this ministry.
Translation
The translation team is working hard and making good progress. Pray the Lord will continue to bless and enable them to make a good translation.
Pray the Lord would protect the team and this work from those who oppose us. Ask the Lord to convict one woman in particular who is causing us trouble. May she repent!
Book of Exodus: Hope for Redemption
Thankful for the Pioneer Bible Translation team who have recently published the book of Exodus in the Nyamwezi language. Pray for those who read it to understand how God’s acts of salvation in Exodus begin to reveal His divine purpose to redeem and guide. May the Nyamwezi know that God longs to free them from bondage and lead them into the Promised Land.
Build Your church
Pray for the believers to grow in deeper understanding God’s love and the significance of the cross and resurrection that reveals God’s depth of love for us all. More opposition is expected with religious leaders in the area as they try to grab the new lambs and drag them back into the kingdom of darkness. Pray that the NBs will not just endure persecution, but thrive in faith and in their dependence on Jesus and embrace the persecution.
May God’s Church be built and thrive here! We trust that the gates of hell will not prevail against it–as Jesus promised.
Boldness in sharing
We seek your prayers for safety of our brothers who continue to boldly share the gospel in S** language on the streets. May God prepare the hearts of those who will listen and believe the Truth.
Divine intervention
Pray for guidance for religious leaders to speak messages of peace and reconciliation instead of inciting conflict.
Pray for solidarity among different ethnic and religious groups, fostering understanding and cooperation in these challenging times.
Pray for divine intervention to change hearts and minds, leading to a cessation of hostilities and a pathway to dialogue.
Monthly meeting
Pray for our monthly meetings that will begin the first week of February. Pray for the spirit of God to take control in the meetings and that the body of Christ will he equipped for the ministry.
100 people
Our gym is holding a competition on February 8th. Please pray for the planning of this, for the athletes, and that the gospel message that will be preached on the day of the event will reach the ears of at least 100 people.
Impact
Pray for our GAP training program coming up in February. Pray for provision for those wanting to attend and for a great impact on their lives and others as well.
Pray for preparations for a consultation meeting of BMBs and workers which will be held in April.
Saved and Delivered
Pray for the Bara children who come to the children’s ministry that they can understand Christ and be saved. Pray for their families too. Most of time, children are forced to participate of the rituals and witchcraft. Pray for deliverance!
Peace through the cross
Ask for deliverance for those ensnared by magic charms, and false prophets who say ‘peace when there is no peace.’ (Ezekiel 13) Pray that they will know the Lord, that the white-washed flimsy refuge of Islam would be swept away, exposed as worthless and empty. We pray for many to hear the truth of the gospel and receive true peace with God through the cross.
Foundations crumble
Pray that many islanders would search for truth. May God give them boldness to seek answers. May many be set free from the darkness of Islam. May the foundations that have been shaken by recent events continue to crack and crumble. May the name of Jesus be exalted in this place.
Dreams of Jesus
A local friend is having regular dreams of Jesus. He says he feels like he is starting to follow him. Pray that he will commit to read the Word and seek fellowship.
Jesus Film
The Jesus Film is being broadcast among the Antandroy. Pray God would open their hearts to listen to the Gospel and be saved.
Deep relationships
Diaspora in Florida: Praise for the progress in relationships with local Muslims. 1. All three of our imam friends can explain the facts of the gospel to us. Pray for them to come to faith in Jesus this year and for their mosques to follow them to Jesus.
L has been able to discern the learning hindrances in each of the students she is tutoring, and devise a strategy to get the students moving forward. This has deeply impacted those Muslim families. One of her students is the niece of an imam. Pray for spiritual opportunities in the deep relationships L is forming with the parents of her students.
Pray for peace
There is rising tension in Dilling, Nuba Region due to SAF attacks, causing fear and instability, particularly with some Islamic leaders inciting conflict against SPLA and Christians in the Nuba Mountains. Pray for peace to be restored in Dilling and surrounding areas, calming tensions and preventing further violence. Ask for protection over innocent civilians in all affected regions, especially those targeted due to their ethnicity or beliefs.
Getting ready for Bible teaching
Please pray for the Lord to prepare a group of people to receive Biblical teaching — chronological, systematic teaching from Genesis to Revelation. Pray the harvest would be ripe when the missionaries are ready to start teaching in the tribal language.
Pray for the Lord to divinely appoint language helpers for the missionaries who would not only help them learn the tribal tongue but also be open to eventually receive the Gospel and become followers of Jesus.
Poor in Spirit
We ask for humility, and for the strongholds of power and control to be broken. May they become poor in Spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of God.
Lambs
Praise God for a few more brand-new lambs in Jesus.
With this fruit, the challenge to disciple them is big, messy and time consuming. The devil is also not pleased and working hard to destroy and discourage some of the new believers – pray for their protection. Pray that the believers will hunger after Jesus and learn to abide in Him and grow in faith and godly practice.
Partnership
Pray for the Mahafaly people. We are still finding partners that are eager to go and share the Jesus film in their land. We have one church starting the work. Pray for a good partnership and for many Mahafaly people to believe the message.
New government
Pray that the new government will be favorable towards the local believers who are already known and still live here in their country. Pray for their protection and encouragement and the the Lord would add to their number!
Week of prayer and fasting
Pray that the Spirit of God will guide the body as they take one week of prayer and fasting. We pray that broken marriages within the body of Christ will be restored and the parties involved will understand the true meaning of Biblical Marriage. Recently one of the daughters of a follower who we also knew was a follower was married to a ‘cousin’. Pray for this family, that they will understand the true meaning of love, forgiveness and identity in Christ.
