Pray for ‘Heather’, Nicola’, Mary’ and ‘Hannah’ with whom I have been going through a film from creation to Christ which explains how God has planned a saviour since the beginning and shows how sin brings sadness and destruction. Pray that this might lead them to see their need for Jesus and the lack of hope in their own religion.
Love and Joy
Sarah (Fred’s wife) has been a huge blessing to us, bringing us meals, helping Julia host events, and sharing her life with us. She faithfully does her prayers and diligently tries to follow their beliefs requirements, but she has no hope. Please ask that Father would show her that He personally loves her and wants to free her from this life of bondage and fear, and has provided a means for that freedom through His Son. Ask that she would understand that her motivation for spirituality can be love and joy rather than fear and shame. Ask that we would have opportunities to discuss His truth with her.
“So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”
John 8:36
Dreams and visions
Pray for all those fasting in Wonderland that as they seek God’s favour and spend time contemplating their relationship with God and seeking forgiveness that they would have a revelation of their loving Father who provides a way of forgiveness and a relationship through Jesus. Pray for dreams and visions.
True God
“Brothers and sisters, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for the Israelites (and the Karana) is that they may be saved. For I can testify about them that they are zealous for God, but their zeal is not based on knowledge. Since they did not know the righteousness of God and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness. Christ is the culmination of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes.” (Romans 10). Pray that God will show the Karana during this month of Ramadan the god they serve is not the true God, and that the Holy Spirit will speak and touch them so that they will meet the True God in their hearts, i.e. Jesus Christ.
Set apart
Please pray for David’s weekly visit with Kalifa as they spend time in God’s Word and in prayer. Pray that this is a mutually edifying time for both David and Kalifa. Kalifa’s wife, Naji, is not a believer, so please pray that Kalifa’s life as a Christian would encourage and inspire Naji to commit her life to Jesus as well. Pray that the Lord would also use the time Tessa spends with her as a time of discipling her into the Kingdom of Light. Pray that Kalifa, Naji, and their children would be a family that follows Jesus, choosing to be set apart as children of the Light.
Navigating Ramadan
Pray for Antakarana believers known and unknown as they navigate Ramadan in their communities. May they be winsome and wise in their interactions.
Family following
Recently we saw a new family choose to follow Jesus together. Praise the Lord! Please pray for them as they grow in understanding and knowledge about God and His Word. They live a significant distance away from the village and the church (as do many other believers), so please remember to pray for all of them in their isolation – that they may stand firm in Jesus and value highly fellowship with other believers.
Lies
Pray for Muslims to know the truth that sets them free from the spiritual bondage of Islam. These people are spiritually blind- from the time that they are young they are indoctrinated in the ways of Islam and taught many lies about Christianity. Pray for them to know the Truth – the truth of who Jesus really is and what he accomplished for them on the cross. Pray that they encounter Christ and that they would see the lies of Islam.
Ladies gathering
Praise God for the two friends who came to the ladies gathering! Praise God that it was a precious time of sharing, listening and laughing. Pray for continued deepening of relationships and that I could read the Scriptures with one lady who mentioned having read some before.
I AM the Way
Fred and his family have been good friends, almost like family. He checks in on us, drops off food, is available and helpful for whatever we need. Fred is a networker and he seems to know everyone. But, he is missing a very important relationship! Please pray that, during these days of heightened sensitivity to the spiritual world, Fred would have an encounter with Jesus. Ask that Father would give us the words to help point him to the most important person he will ever meet! John 14:6 “Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
Resurrection Power
Pray for the team and all O believers to be filled with God’s Spirit of wisdom and revelation, to be growing, to know Him better, and to know and share His hope, riches and incomparably great Resurrection Power with many other O! (Eph.1:15-23). Pray that many O will be drawn to Jesus through them!
Isolated
Pray for Christians from a Muslim background who usually site this month as being one of the most difficult times for them as they are isolated and not a part of the nightly communal meals and festivities that mark this month. Pray that the Body of Christ would support and encourage these believers during this month and that they would find true community amongst their Christian brothers and sisters.
Meeting
Pray for a new brother who has been meeting with others. This new group has experienced some persecution, including being taken to the police and forced to pay a fine. Pray for wisdom for them as they make decisions about where and how to meet without giving in to fear.
Fast
Last week our community began their month-long Ramadan fast. Please pray that during this intentional month of seeking to please Allah, many would come to know the Holy God who cares for them and desires to be known by them. Please pray for us as a team to use the opportunities this time represents to speak of God and His love for His people.
Ruth
Praise the Lord the book of Ruth is almost complete in the very close dialect on Nosy Be. Pray it will be widely read and the message of a kinsman redeemer would intrigue many!
Pray for the team as they plan what book to do next and as they also work on Psalms.
Working together
We want to thank God for a very successful prayer retreat with Som** believers and some missionaries.
We were about 40 in the group for 4 days. What a joy to network with our brothers and sisters as we all praised our God (sang many songs in Somali) and prayed for fruitfulness in the conduct of the Body of Christ among ourselves. The prayers were based on the whole book of Ephesians. Lessons on unity and love in our diversity came out very strongly. Pray with us that God may continue to unite us and grow His Kingdom through us, as we work together as a team in His vineyard.
Intense
This month of Ramadan is typically very intense…
-for those who are truly longing for a relationship with or help from Allah- it is not uncommon for Jesus to meet these earnest seekers in dreams and visions.
-for the moderate Muslim, the month often serves as a religious ‘shot in the arm’… a hope that strict adherence will serve as penance for the other 11 months of the year lived less intentionally.
-for those who are disillusioned with Islam and religion in general- the perceived hypocrisy can leave them feeling further disillusioned, even outright disgust.
-for those who have chosen to believe and put their faith in Christ, it is an especially intense month. There are copious amounts of pressure to conform.
Pray the Lord would meet with each one in a special way this month.
Cast him not away
Please pray for Clive, a brother up on the plateau, who has stopped meeting with the other believers and started going to the mosque again. There are no other believers in his town that we know of. Please ask God to renew a right spirit within him, cast him not away from His presence, take not his Holy Spirit from him, restore to him the joy of his salvation and uphold him with a willing spirit. (Ps 51:10-12)
Let go
Three women are reading Scripture, eagerly asking questions and walking towards Jesus… but they are afraid to let go of Islam and believe Jesus is God. Pray that they would read Scripture with faith and believe God speaks the truth even when He is too awesome to comprehend (i.e. the Trinity).
True and honest
Ask for courage for each believer to identify with Jesus even during the Islamic traditions of Ramadan. May they know how to honor and serve family while still being true and honest about following Jesus.
Little church
There’s a little church at Ambodimadiro. They are maybe 10 people, not more.
The church has existed maybe 25 years.
There has been a better time, with more people. The trouble is they don’t have proper leadership.
Please pray for Catherine and Christine, the two pillars of the church. That they keep on standing firm.
Pray for their husbands , Edmond and Jean. That they may grow in their faith and may become leaders.
Give thanks for another church here in Mandritsara who will begin this month to go one Sunday per month to Ambodimadiro to preach and support the little flock.
Pray that they may grow, both in faith and numbers.
Transformation
Pray for the ladies I am discipling. We are using the discipleship book called, “Come Follow Me’ in Swahili. Pray for consistent attendance and life transformation.
Pray also for sister X, who is still a Muslim, but is studying John with me. Pray that she will encounter the Truth.
Why care?
What is Ramadan and why should we, as Christians, care? During the entire month of Ramadan, friends here fast every day from dawn to sunset. It is meant to be a time of spiritual discipline — of deep contemplation of one’s relationship with God, extra prayer, increased charity and generosity, and intense study of their holy book. As they begin to quiet themselves and fast today, ask that Father would reveal himself to those who diligently seek Him. Ask for dreams and visions of Jesus.
“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.” Matthew 7:7-8
Training team
Pray that the training team would continue to train believers in Darfur and Khartoum. Pray for unity among the team and for leaders to continue serving the Lord faithfully.
Four Gospels
The plan for this year is to record the four Gospels. Both audio and printed copies to be distributed to the communities in both Ethiopia and South Sudan.
Pray the advisor check, the consultant check, and the community review of the four Gospels to be done and then the printing and recording.
Pray for the Jesus video in our language to be done.
Pray for the team’s work ahead and also community to receive the gospel.
Pray for me as team leader for wisdom for leadership.
Man in white
A teammate just had a conversation with a woman who had a dream of a man in white who told her to “Come”! The woman didn’t understand what it meant but she and our teammate plan to start reading the Word. PTL!!! He is doing amazing things! Pray she will come!
Needing a safe house
Please pray for a Som** believer named ‘S’ who is being pursued by her mother because of her faith. Her mum is furious and has been calling her names.
‘S’ is worried, fearful and looking confused. It is a serious threat. Pray for God’s peace, comfort and protection. Pray for a safe-house. She is married and has two young children. Also pray that God may touch the heart of this mother, ‘R’, so that she may get to know Jesus as her Lord and Saviour.
Translation check
There is a translation consultant here for two weeks doing a check of some of the translated Scripture. They are working alongside team and local translators. Pray for wisdom in this process as they make decisions about the text. Pray for good communication and for sessions to be led by the Holy Spirit. Pray too for the local translators who still haven’t trusted Jesus to be drawn to Him through this process. Pray for the translation project to continue to bring His truth and grace into this dark place.
Ramadan starting
The month of fasting for Muslims starts either Wed or Thursday depending on when the moon is sighted. This is an important month for Muslims when they seek to fulfill their obligation to fast from sunrise to sunset. Pray as they seek to please God in this ‘work’, their ears would be opened to hear Jesus saying, “The work of God is this: to believe in the One He has sent.” John 6:29
English classes
Diaspora in England:
My English teaching with S’mali women is going well. The class is full and the women are very motivated and enthusiastic! Pray for opportunities to start sharing my faith in a natural and low-key way.
Fellowship with One Another
Praise God for eight villages with believers starting new church plants. These outreach points are where new believers may join others in fellowship with the family of God. Pray for whole families to come! “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.” 1 John 1:5
Local clinic
Pray for Love’s involvement at the local clinic in Kimatong. She tries to go there weekly to pray with the staff and patients, and to be an encouragement. Pray that the staff will welcome her involvement, and that this will open doors of opportunities to share hope in Jesus with the patients. Please pray for this clinic – staffing has been cutback recently due to decreased funding from the sponsoring NGO. Pray that those who remain will be faithful and given strength to manage the workload.
Gospel of Mark
An app of the gospel of Mark has been released on the islands. Pray that it would be shared from islander to islander and that many would be drawn to Jesus as they read and listen to the gospel.
Training went well.
Praise God for a successful Kingdom Business and DMM training in Darfur. Participants learned how to develop Kingdom Businesses to support their disciple making and church planting efforts. The training inspired leaders to share the gospel and seek men/women of peace among each community and village in their city and nation. Pray for much fruit!
Parenting course
Diaspora in England:
I’m running a parenting course at a local church for 6 weeks, which started on 23 February. Ten women have signed up, all S’ mali. Please pray for the course to go well and for a good connection with the women.
Gathering
Please pray for an upcoming gathering that I will host with my Saharawi friends and local believers. Pray that good connections are made and that God will be glorified.
Restoration conference
Please pray for our first congress of local church leadership of Mossurize District. From today through the 19th, leaders of Sunday school up to the pastors will meet in Macumba. The topic will be Restoration, the main speaker Rev. António Combo. Pray we would be restored!
Rain!
We are very grateful to the Lord for the rain that Gabbra land has gotten the last 3 days.
The dry season lasted for a long period and most of the families lost all their herds and struggled without water and food. As we celebrate the rain, we are all celebrating not just a new season, but the fact that life is coming back. Grass will grow back, animals will get stronger and people will be able to have their needs provided.
Thank you for your prayers for Northern Kenya and the Gabbra people. Please continue praying for enough rain that will fill up the cisterns.
Marriages needing help
We are on a week of prayer and fasting. You can join us by praying for some key people in the church whose marriages are being tested.
In addition, the last two weeks the believers shared their vision with us. Pray that God’s will will be fulfilled in those visions.
Explaining Easter
Diaspora in Wales:
Praise for how God is providing good attendance among attendees and volunteers in the English, Sewing, and Homework Club classes.
Praise for the opportunity for teachers to explain Easter in their English and Sewing classes this term. Ask for good discussion time and receptive hearts to the Easter message shared by each teacher in the classes.
Praise for literacy classes that are new to the Women’s English program. We are seeing real progress among women who do not read or write in any language.
