Diaspora in Wales: Illiteracy is something the women in our classes work hard at covering up. It remains a source of shame for each lady and their families. Pray for wisdom for how to provide additional assistance beyond Monday and Tuesday classes. Pray for a spiritual awakening that each one will embrace Christ who removes all shame.
Local church
Please pray for the local church as there are many transitions happening at the moment. Please pray especially for Petro and Mama Grace as they take on the leadership. Praise God for the passion God has given them both to minister amongst the Alagwa.
International Student night
Diaspora in Florida: Pray for the International Student night on Jan 13th- pray for good conversations and connections.
And pray for Hannah, a new contact from North Africa, for good conversations with her.
Difficult season
Pray for Pastor P., the pastor of a local church here, and the church leadership. The congregation is going through a difficult season, including a court case, and the leadership needs wisdom and guidance on how to lead the flock well and bring unity to the believers.
Only Jesus
Diaspora in Hong Kong: Please pray for the many Africans I meet in Hong Kong- for their resilience and mental well-being. Whether they are Christians or unbelievers, they are all waiting for relocation or deportation, and many of them are suffering greatly from mental illness or captivity. May they see that Jesus is the only one who can set them free.
Threats
Pray for Mama A and her daughter, both are MBBs. The husband is threatening the daughter that he will not pay for her education until she denounces Jesus Christ, and that he will reclaim back the house initially the Kadhi court had granted to the wife after they divorced when she became a believer. Pray for the safety of the young girl who is currently living with the father.
Peace and reconciliation
Diaspora in Canada: Several families near and dear to us have hurt each other deeply, some very recently, others nursing long term hurts. Impulsive behaviour, deep wounds, and lack of forgiveness have contributed to huge rifts, much pain, and alienation. Please pray that God will intervene in this terrible situation and use us as His agents of “nabadda iyo dib u heshiisiinta” (Peace and reconciliation).
Stand firm!
Mike, the strong believer from our area for many years – working with our team in outreach, and as a Bible translator, is facing a new series of hard temptations. His job, and his wife have been successfully wrenched from him by her family and all of their tactics. Now the community spokesman is offering him a huge monthly salary and a new young wife, if he will only turn back from following Christ. Pray for God‘s strength and joy in the Lord, that Mike may stand firm, and continue to grow in his love relationship with Jesus, and that God will provide for him in every way!
Embrace Jesus
Please pray for Baba Suleiman, a Digo man, and his wife from the Druma tribe. His wife has Christian background and his mother-in-law is a believer. He has been exploring the teaching of Jesus. Please lift him, his wife, and their ten children in your prayer, asking for the grace and understanding to embrace Jesus as their Savior.
Truth take root
Diaspora in Michigan: Praise God for the 27 families who came to the Christmas party. Pray the truth of the gospel of Luke would take root in their hearts.
Break time
Diaspora in Brazil: This is a very strategic break time during the month of January where the university students don’t have classes. The African students have nowhere else to go so this is a great time for Alexandre and Walquíria to invite them into their home. Pray for open hearts and minds!
Be unafraid
Pray that those who hear the truth would believe the truth and follow Jesus unafraid of those who threaten them.
Christmas and Yalda celebrations
Diaspora in Finland: We give praise that the Christmas parties went well.
I was invited to an Iranian traditional Yalda Night celebration after a conversation with an Iranian man at one of the Christmas parties. It was very interesting being the only “foreigner” among about 30 Iranian Muslims. Most were students or professors at the University.
Pray for wisdom in following up with people from the Christmas parties and with 2 of the Iranian men from the Yalda Night party. Pray God would open their hearts to receive Emmanuel.
Increased threats against MBB’s and partners
We have received information that a key suspect linked to terrorist activities targeting Som* Christians was apprehended in Nairobi. Disturbingly, he was temporarily released and is expected to return to court on 10th January.
Authorities have advised for heightened vigilance within the Som* Christian community and partners as they urge the public to stay informed through official channels.
Pray for protection and wisdom for partners as they continue to work in the vineyard without fear.
Drawing Yemenis
Diaspora in Germany: Praise God for 2 new Yemeni friends that I met in another city in Germany. Our visit went wonderfully well with R&M, R gave his life to Jesus today, praise the Lord! Let’s keep praying for him, he is 200 km from us. He was asking if there is someone who can disciple him and he would love to get baptized! He already started talking to the other Yemenis in the Camp.
We know other Yemenis brothers, two are part of Injil and one is leading a group. Praise God how He is drawing Yemenis in Europe.
Trial
Pray for Mama and Baba J., whose 7-month old son has severe disabilities and developmental delays. Pray that their faith in God would be strengthened through this trial in their life.
Came to church
Diaspora in Washington DC: Praise God for a former English student who came to visit us and came with us for a worship service at church. His English has grown tremendously and he seems to be growing in his depth of conversation as well. Praise God for his openness to attend church. Pray the Lord will continue to work in his life and draw him to Himself.
Fulness of Life
Please pray that God would break down the spiritual strongholds which continue to hold Alagwa hearts captive. May they be free to know and follow the One who gave himself fully to bring them fullness of life.
Young disciple
Pray for R. a young Antakarana man who has a heart to reach his own people. Pray for him and his discipleship, and for an upcoming training and mission trip he will be a part of in early January.
3 more families!
Guyo has reported that three more herdsmen‘s families have come into the Light! Pray for growth in faith and knowledge, and protection, and that all these new believers will also share the message of the kingdoms of light and darkness with those they love!
Evidence of the grace of God
Marino, one of the early Laarim converts, hosts a church service in his compound. Recently I visited and about 40 people, predominantly children, but also a group of youth, and a few adults came. All sang heartily and were attentive to my teaching. Marino’s son, Daniel, a primary 4 student, read “feeding the 5000” story from the Laarim New Testament. This reminded me of my recent reading from Acts: “When he arrived and saw the evidence of the grace of God, he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts” Acts 11:23. Please pray for the growing number of Laarim who have believed and turned to the Lord!
Empower the youth
In a town where opportunities are scarce for young people, Jana dedicates Sundays to instilling wisdom through Bible teachings and practical skills like frying ‘mofo-sakay.’ It’s more than a snack; it’s a strategy to draw them closer to the transformative message of Jesus. Please pray for these teenagers. “Empower the youth of Betroka with grace and knowledge in the face of adversity.”
Repent and believe
Pray for humility to listen to God, to believe that He has authority and speaks the truth in Scripture. Ask for repentance from rejecting God’s grace and from oppressing the weak.
Seek Him!
Praise that there were lots of chances to share about the birth of Jesus and all that was said about Him at His birth. Pray that those who heard would have a growing desire to learn more about Jesus and would seek Him!
Cookies
Pray that many ladies would come to an evening of cookie decorating and be able to hear the Christmas story.
Forgiveness!
Thank you for praying for reconciliation. The two Fulani brothers have forgiven each other! Together they organized a Christmas celebration for the entire community- a powerful testimony to their reconciliation. People from the village came and were able to hear the Christmas message. I spent some special time with the children and also told them the story of Christmas with illustrations. Let’s pray that these seeds of the Good News fall into hearts ready to welcome it.
Women meeting
Diaspora in Canada: A small group of North African women meet twice a month to share a meal and discuss a theme. We take a biblical text to begin the discussion. 4 women participate regularly and really enjoy this time. Pray for them, that the Holy Spirit enlightens them and gives wisdom in the discussions.
Parable of the sower
Continue praying for Ruth who still enjoys hearing the word of God and says she has no fear now. (Persecution from neighbours made life difficult for her before but wasn’t violent in any way.) Today, hearing the parable of the sower, she said she wanted to be somebody who followed God well and produced fruit in her life. Pray that this might be so and for her husband that she might be able to explain to him so that he will want to follow too. She has just delivered her 6th child.
Demon possession
Pray for S., who has struggled with demon possession for years and has asked the believers in the village for prayer. Yet he refuses to believe the gospel and turn toward the God who can deliver him. Pray for salvation and healing.
Have mercy
Diaspora in Hong Kong: Please pray for Y, an Indonesian Muslim who is married to a Malian Muslim. Her weary soul yearns for You. May You show us the way to share the gospel with her.
Pray for L as we have been reading the Injil, but her mind has not been stable. We ask for Your mercy upon her.
Released from fear
Pray that believers would be released from fear and that they would stand firm in Jesus…even in persecution.
Source of Hope and Salvation
Pray for Mama Hamisi, a Digo woman, who attended church seeking healing for her sick child. Although her daughter has not experienced physical healing, Mama Hamisi continues to listen to the word of God. Please pray for Mama Hamisi and her daughter, asking that they come to know Jesus as their ultimate source of hope and salvation.
Chance to share
Diaspora in Minnesota: Praise God I was given a chance to share at the Somali Community Center event. Pray for opportunities to have follow up conversations.
Counter culture
Pray for the Spirit to work in the hearts of our local brothers and sisters. Walking counter to the ingrained culture is so difficult. The ways in which their core cultural norms are opposite to the way of Jesus, stunts the growth in Christlikeness. Division, pride, and hardness are valued where as unity, humility, gentleness and kindness are not.
New believers
In Ambilobe there has been fruitful evangelism in rural villages by Malagasy Christians trying to reach the Antakarana. Pray for the Disciple Makers and the new believers that they will grow in faith.
Sweet times
Pray for opportunities to love on neighbors and friends this week as many people are very against the idea of “Christmas” thinking it has to do with drunkenness and debauchery. Pray for sweet times of sharing cookies and time and the Truth of Jesus with all we meet.
Winter camp
Diaspora in France: Pray for the AEM International Student winter camp from
27th Dec – 2nd Jan. Pray for many students to register and for the team as they prepare the program and share the Gospel and live as Christian community for the week. This has proven to be an excellent time for students who have been participating in the international students gatherings throughout the year to go deeper in discovering Christ and his church.
Pray for those in prison
Pray for those who are still in prison for the sake of the gospel to have sweet intimate times with Jesus, be used mightily to reveal the glory of God… and that God would reunite them with their families soon!
Listening with interest
Pray for ‘Beth’ who has been listening to parts of the good news with interest. Just this last week her husband divorced her. Where can she go? Who will help her? She told me that she has kept everything in her head that we talked about and saw (parts of the Jesus film) last week and is thinking about it. Pray that I can continue to talk with her after she has travelled to ask her brothers for help. Pray that God will console her in her difficult situation. Her husband had not been giving her anything to live on for two years so maybe he is no loss except that living without a husband means a low status in this community. Pray that she will believe!
Preaching over Christmas
Yesterday I started my trip to Njombe with Matthew and Joel. This is a week long trip where we will be preaching over the Christmas Holiday. Plan is to be back next Wednesday evening. Pray for the Holy Spirit to move in the hearts of the people as they hear the Word preached. That they would be challenged to be witnesses to the Hope that is within them to their Muslim neighbors.
