Please pray for Jacob’s disciple and dear friend, Lokolong. A week ago he developed some pain in the hip area that gradually worsened to the point that his mobility has become greatly limited. It is very painful for him to stand up from a sitting position and walking is very difficult as well. Pray that Lokolong receives the right medical advice and treatment in Torit, and would be able to continue his work in the gardens. In the midst of this challenging time, Jacob has been grateful to spend more time with his friend, having some good times in the Word and prayer, often with other fellow believers. Pray God would use Lokolong’s struggles with illness and pain to learn to trust: “My (God’s) grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9).
Believe the good news
Pray for the students who graduated last Saturday to believe the good news they have heard about Jesus. Ask God to reveal himself to them and that they will have visions or dreams of Jesus. Pray that they will be bold in speaking about what they are learning and will ask questions.
Pray that relationships with students will continue even after graduation. Students have been invited to continue to study more stories, so pray that many of them will want to study more.
Evangelizing on Saturday
Three local pastors gather together every Saturday. We share the Word of God with each other and go out to spread the gospel. Please pray for us that God may fill us with the Holy Spirit, increase our passion for the lost, and empower us to boldly proclaim His truth. Pray that the Digo tribe receives the gospel, comes out of darkness into the light, and is transformed by the power of the Word, bringing glory to Him.
Returning to be a blessing
Today Sambivelo will return to his village. We brought him to the capital city to be trained as a healthcare worker and he has completed his training. We gave a lot of medical care whilst living in the village. Sambivelo is ready to do the same. Pray he would be a blessing to his people.
Receive an inheritance
These people have been created by our Loving Father, yet the vast majority have been blinded by folk Islam and ancestor worship–they need Jesus Christ! Pray that God will move his hand within this people group, that he would use his Word, his messengers, and his Spirit to transform them and bring them into his kingdom. Pray Acts 26:18 over them: “I am sending you, to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Me.”
Eid al Adha
Today is a big day across the Muslim world as many slaughter a sheep in remembrance of Abraham killing the ram. Some do it just because ‘they’ve always done it’ and don’t even know why…missing the symbolism we know from the OT. Others hope it will count in their favor before Allah when he weighs their sins. Many this year can’t afford a sheep because of rising costs and worry what their neighbors and Allah will think. Pray that they’d see the hopelessness of working for their salvation and realize their need for a Savior outside of themselves, The Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.
Reading together
Please pray for Ma Dorcas and her family, whom I’m trying to start storying with up on the plateau. There is definitely interest, but it is a chaotic household. The most recent ‘setback’ is that once again a relative has taken their Book to read for themselves. In a way this is great news! But I long for us to read together. Also keep praying for Matthew and Harvey, brothers on the plateau who fell out a long time ago. There are possible plans for them to meet – please pray for reconciliation.
Church teams report
Praise God for nine area church teams who went to the Nyamwezi villages of Igalula, Msiliembe, Utulaideka, and Kipalapala. For three days in each location, the teams faithfully proclaimed the Gospel house to house, sang and praised God in the village centers, and taught the Word. There was objection to the Message and though tolerant of the activities, leaders discouraged attendance, but God led some to come and turn their lives around. Prayers were answered, twenty-six new believers have put their trust in Jesus! New land was purchased at Igalula as believers seek a place to worship together. In Msiliembe believers who had been apart came together again to rebuild their church. Pray for one more outreach this weekend, to Goweko, for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit in that town!
Some have heard
Though animism/ancestor worship is the dominant religious practice among the Antanosy, praise the Lord for those who have heard about Jesus Christ and received the gift of salvation. Despite being in a remote location, and there being very little evangelism there, pray that those who have found Christ and follow him would continue to grow through the work of the Holy Spirit. Pray for missionaries, especially for Malagasy believers, to answer the call to missions! Ask the Lord to send his people to serve and reach more Antanosy; ask for a church planting team and for a Bible translation project to begin.
Under constant threat.
Amazigh (Berbers): Pray for believers living under constant threat of being imprisoned… that they would know how to proclaim the gospel boldly to the ones God brings to them.
Visit
Praise God for the opportunity to visit with a new S friend in her home. Please pray for her housing situation and for the Lord to provide her with the blessing of a child.
New life
We are so thankful for men and women from all over the world—including African countries!-who have answered the call to bring the gospel to the Sakalava people. One young missionary man shares how encouraged he is for the opportunities to testify in the name of Jesus Christ. He was able to tell one Sakalava friend about the attributes of God and what the Bible says about the end of days. Another friend, as a result of their discussions about the Good News, has begun to attend church. God will fulfill his promise that his word will not go out void. Pray that it would cut these dear friends to the bone and marrow, bringing new life in the Prince of Peace!
Precious holy intimacy
Continue to pray for those imprisoned for leaving Islam to follow Jesus. May they have precious holy intimacy with Christ more than they have ever known. Protect their hearts from lies of the accuser and his followers. Pray they would be released.
Divorced
Diaspora in Washington DC: Pray for S, a new believer. Her husband has divorced her because of her faith. They have joint custody of their daughter. She is fearful of her husband’s influence over their daughter. Pray for S to grow strong in the Lord and for her daughter to believe as well.
“Explorers arrive in Namibia!”
Praise the Lord that a group of African missionaries from Zambia were able to participate in an exploration of ministries in Namibia. This is an encouraging answer to prayers for more harvesters, so please pray that these faithful men would be led by the Holy Spirit to work amongst the San, both to evangelize and to nurture the growth of San believers there. Also continue to pray for the translation work, that many more Bible stories would be effectively translated, distributed and shared across San land.
Christian marriage
Praise for the wedding of two island believers this past weekend in a Jesus- centered ceremony on i1. They will shortly be returning to i3 and combining their families of 6 kids. Pray for their marriage; that they would establish good patterns of relating to one another. Pray for their kids in this big transition, especially the 2 moving to i3 after several years on i1.
Growth in faith
Praise God for the growth in faith among the Makhuwa Nahara! One local believer has been convicted to tear off the amulets that his superstitious family members placed on his child, who has been sick. He told missionaries there, “I will not fear the spirits in the name of Jesus.” Lift up this man of faith and his family, that the Lord would bring healing and blessing beyond measure, and that many more would trust in our Healer God. Lift up another Christ-follower who has been leading a group of seeking “cousins” from the majority religion. They meet weekly, and there are altogether about 10 men and women studying scripture together in order to understand more about “Isa al Masih”. Ask for the Holy Spirit to guide them into repentance, deliverance, and freedom in the Lord Jesus.
Shaken
Amazigh (Berbers). There have been some shaken by the bold public choice of some to follow Jesus. Although there is much suffering, praise Jesus for even Muslim family members who acknowledge the choice was made deliberately and thoughtfully and with joy. Ask for many to hear Jesus’ voice calling them.
Trip report
Praise God for a wonderful trip to visit the Falata (a Fulani tribe) people in South Sudan. Praise Him for many opportunities to share the Good News. Pray for gospel seeds to bear fruit.
Ask the Father to send workers to live among the Falata as nomadic pastoralists.
Ask the Father to establish His church among the Falata.
Pray for L
Hong Kong Diaspora:
Father God, please strengthen the faith of this homeless Muslim single woman, L, who loves reading the Gospel but struggles to believe in Jesus’ miracles. Lord, may you provide for her physical needs, including shelter, food, and safety, and surround her with people who love and care for her. Open her heart to the truth of the Gospel, and help her to see the love and power of Jesus. Show her the depth of your grace and mercy, and draw her close to you.
Seeds Sown Long Ago
Praise God for Gospel seeds sown long ago and the work of the Holy Spirit still reaping a harvest today! A Nyamwezi man said he adhered to the Islamic religion of his wife, but would like to become a follower of Christ. He said he had an old book from his Christian father, and he has continued to read it. It was a copy of a Swedish Free Mission hymn book written in the Nyamwezi language. He reads it frequently even though he doesn’t know the tunes because the words hold great meaning to him. Pray that he will keep seeking the Truth and hear more Gospel teachings, and that the Holy Spirit will change his heart to make a decision to receive Christ as his Savior. Pray he will read the Bible, too, and treasure it even more than his father’s hymn book!
Reason for our hope
Diaspora in Wales:
Pray for the upcoming end-of-term activities for Women’s Sewing (June 26th) and English (June 27th) classes.
Please ask God to open hearts and minds of the attendees as we discuss the reason for our Hope through Jesus Christ.
Workers for the Gabbra land
Pray for more full time missionaries for Gabbra land. There are so many new opportunities for sharing the Gospel, discipleship, woman ministry and other projects.
Pray that soon these needs will be met. Also pray that the Kenyan church will be committed to support local workers.
God is at work!
Our children ministry is growing! Last week about 1,200 children came. Thanks Jesus. Pray for the Holy Spirit to work in their lives.
The past 3 weeks our local team has shown the Jesus Film in 26 new villages and 40 people accepted Christ in Salaza (the village we went to last month with Pastor Emanoela) and 32 people in Ananbomary, with the work of Pastor Tomoeira.
God is at work!
Pray for fruit
Thank God for the trainings and vision casting Mark has done in Juba and Doro camp in Blue Nile area. Pray for fruit from the visits.
Thank God for the faithfulness of disciples.
Pray for rain in most areas.
Thank God for peace between neighbours.
Pray for provision for disciples in Toposa land.
Books have arrived!
We have received our first shipment of Genesis and Exodus! For the first time we have scripture in bound books that look beautiful and like respected Holy books in this island’s local dialect. Brought over from Tanzania by a friend on a boat. More coming in his next shipment. Please pray for these first books to be the start for all scripture to be made into such respectable books. Pray for the others to come without issue. Pray for safe distribution amongst believers and beyond!
Find fertile soil
As many locals prepare for their summer holidays and travel around the country, ask that they would encounter believers and willingly talk about Jesus. Often when they aren’t in their own neighbourhoods being observed who they talk to and what they talk about, there can be a greater willingness to discuss important issues. Ask that many seeds would be planted this summer which would find fertile soil.
New outreach
Our evangelism team will visit Amboasary region (Mahafaly). Pray for a good visit and opportunities to share the Gospel with this UPG in south Madagascar.
Pray for the conference which will be held with the FJKM church in Mahafaly-land. May God awaken His church and built it so the local believers can reach the Mahafaly people for Christ.
Hunger for righteousness
Please pray for a hunger in the believers who belong to the church to know Christ (Philippians 3 v 10). As the pastor seeks new ways of getting them to apply God’s truth in their lives, may the Holy Spirit bring an awareness of compromise and repentance.
Successful event
Praise God for a successful event with Saharawi ladies! Many came and heard about the source of their true value. Please pray for soft hearts and ears to hear more in future conversations.
Kids camps
Diaspora in Canada:
Pray for MAC kids camps this summer. I am hoping to sign up 150 pre-teens and teenagers for camps in Ontario and Alberta. Please pray that the Lord will lead children ready to listen openly to the gospel, for the their salvation and changed lives to follow Jesus faithfully.
Please pray for the Holy Spirit to lead me in preaching the right message through street evangelism at street corners.
Baptism in prison!
Please pray for the discipleship of the Tsimihety happening in the local prisons. There have been recent baptisms amongst both the men and women! Pray these would become men and women of deep faith and for the transformative love of Christ to work in their lives. Pray for pastors and Christian workers who visit the prisoners to have great courage and love for the people.
How best to support?
There is disagreement about how best to support those being persecuted. Some argue for extraction, others look toward the future and believe endurance is the way. Pray for unity. Pray that the Name would be exalted and made known.
Pray for Samuel and Mark
Pray for the villages of Rumit, Meun, Moga, Kakumogo, Ngameri and Saraga that the Lord will send more servants to share the gospel.
THANK GOD for peace between Murle, Suri, and Anywak.
Thank God for Samuel and Mark as they are being mentored by David. Pray that they will be obedient and bear much fruit.
Weddings!
Pray for two upcoming wedding celebrations, one between two workers and one between two locals. Pray that plans would come together and that there would be a true sense of a community coming together to celebrate. Pray too that these events would give a richer vision of what marriage is, and how the island body can celebrate them together.
Bara of Ihorombe
This is still a very dark land. The Gospel has not yet been proclaimed there though we have a few churches in the area.
Please pray for a revival in the local churches and believers so that they can accomplish their task of reaching their own people.
Women ministry in the Hills
Many of the ladies who were once Muslim now call Jesus their saviour and follow the Christian faith, while still holding to the title of Muslim outside of the group for fear of backlash in their families and the community.
Please pray that they will feel totally free from fear and may they feel Jesus’ protection.
Christian friends
Diaspora in Canada:
Pray for several of our S Christian families suffering stress due to mental and physical illness, and challenges with wandering children. Pray for harmony, forgiveness and for the lost to return home.
Pray for two young S women, to connect with Christian women friends this summer. Both eagerly desire to be friends with English speakers.
Pray for their welfare
Jeremiah 29:7 says, “But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile and pray to the Lord on its behalf for in its welfare you will find your welfare.” Thank you for joining us to pray for the “welfare “ of the cities of the Arab Swahili people. Pray for the followers of Jesus (exiles) in these cities as we seek to embody the presence of Jesus in our lives here.
The joy of the Lord
Pray for the O AIC team and O believers to walk with the Joy of the Lord giving them much strength to give much wonderful testimony of the grace of God through Jesus! Pray many others would believe and be saved.
