Pray God will open the door for the Gospel so that people here can hear the good news. Pray for local and foreign missionaries to return to serve Usandawe, as the need is still great.
Police visit
Last night we had a visit from Central police. The officers came and asked us about what we doing and interrogated the students too. We told them that we are Christians and running a church discipleship program.
They said they heard there are Somalis studying with us. One police officer was a Somali and he asked the Somalis why they were studying the Bible. They threatened to take us all to the police station. We prayed and thankfully they didn’t arrest anyone but they said they will come back again. We have 15 young people with us including 3 Somalis. We believe someone is inciting the police against us because of the MBBs that we are discipling. Please pray for God’s protection and the guidance of the Holy spirit for wisdom on how to move forward.
Medical outreach
We are finishing a medical outreach in a village of mixed Arabs and Neem treating mentally ill and epileptics in the name of the church. While one of us sees patients (50+ preregistered!), another is spending time chatting with those who are waiting. Pray for stamina for the doctor with so many new patients and for open hearts and minds for those listening. My colleague is using film and audio as he talks with people. We pray for many seeds to be sown.
The authority and kindness of God
Praise Jesus for several new believers. One brother asked for prayer for his four year old son who does not speak. A few days later, he came to visit and his son said, “Cookies” and “thank you” and “here it is!” God displayed his authority and power and kindness! This brother (less than a month old) comes several times a week to pray with the other believers and brought his cousin to meet Jesus last Thursday. Rejoice and may each one listen to and obey their Lord.
The Grace of Sabbath Rest
It is rainy season and the Nyamwezi are busy planting their main cash crop of tobacco. Other local farmers are also engaged in planting. There is much to do to plant corn, rice, beans, cassava, peanuts, cabbage, onions, and greens. Every day the land seems to cry out to be a work day- tilling the ground, planting, and weeding. Even Christians may not intentionally pause from their gardens in order to focus on spiritual refreshment and physical rest. Pray that Christians will share God’s plan for a Sabbath rest with their Nyamwezi neighbors, disconnect from their busyness, trust God, and find renewal in fellowship and in worshiping together. May the Nyamwezi find new joy in the grace of God to enter into His rest.
Valentine’s event
Pray for a Valentine’s event that we will hold with Saharawi ladies and believers. May they be touched by the pure love of God.
Pray for interest
Praise God for student S’id who is studying with me. Pray that he would continue studying God’s Word and fully surrender his life to Christ. He is interested and desires to know the truth, pray for clarity and conviction.
Pray for the Women’s English club to be fruitful and a place of bold proclamation. Five new women students are starting classes, pray they are interested in joining the club.
May the Gospel reach them
Sudan is full of UPG’s. Pray for the Gospel to reach them, in spite of the turmoil of war! Pray for pastors and preachers in South Sudan and Sudan to boldly teach the reality of God’s forgiveness of sinners through Christ’s death, and the joy of forgiving others as God has forgiven us. Pray for God to graciously pour out His Holy Spirit and open people’s hearts to His call of mercy, that people may trust His promise of grace and set their hearts on obeying Him.
Resistant and in bondage
The Digo in Tanzania are resistant to gospel-centered outreach initiatives. Pray and ask the Lord to soften the hearts of elders, religious leaders, and local authorities toward Christian workers, removing suspicion, fear, and misunderstanding.
Pray against spiritual bondage rooted in superstition among the Digo. Pray that God would accompany His Word with signs and wonders to counter the dark spiritual influences.
Not fear
Pray for defeat of terrorists and criminals and all who promote and practice violence, including foreign powers. Pray the evil men would repent, tremble before God, throw down their weapons, and cry out to Jesus Christ.
Pray for release of hostages and kidnapping victims. Pray the Lord would protect & help His people, His church, His workers.
Pray for pastors, church leaders, evangelists and workers, that they would not fear, but boldly and wisely proclaim the gospel. Pray that the Lord would guide His people, esp. church and missions, in knowing what to do when faced with increasing violence and danger.
Fled
Please for our local sister who fled to the neighboring country under threat of persecution. Ask God for peace of mind and an open door for her to return home to her family.
Repent and come back to God
Rehuasi’s is the first video testimony of this year. Psalm 66:16 is an invitation that says:
“Come and hear, all you who fear God, and I will tell what He has done for my soul.”
The Bible is also a living invitation for us to know Him and to testify of His great love. This is exactly what happened with Rehuasi—a former cattle thief, once involved in the cultural practices of witchcraft among the Bara people, who encountered Christ and today serves as one of the evangelists.
Pray for Rehuasi and his ministry. Pray for those who watch his testimony. May many more Bara come to faith!
Click to see Rehuasi’s testimony:
Considering getting ‘dunked’
Praise God that ‘Ma Fiona’ on the plateau is considering getting ‘dunked’, as well as ‘Ma Fae’ who has believed for a while now. Pray that they would both get a clear confirmation from God that this is His will and have courage to declare their commitment. (Dunkings here are semi-public events: of course we do not seek attention, but there is no way of guaranteeing complete privacy at the river or sea.)
Hosting boy again
Pray for the little boy that the worker will host for the 4th consecutive summer, Lord willing. May this be the summer of salvation. Ask the Spirit to bring to his mind the stories he has heard and soften his heart to believe.
Many are believing!
Two older men believed about two months ago… one married to the other’s sister. They spoke to their wives and neighbors and they believed. Each had an older daughter who hadn’t yet believed but last week after receiving several audio passages of Scripture said, ‘We gather as a family with our neighbors to hear these and I send them to my friends. Every one who hears these says they are wonderful. The Lord God Jesus is powerful!” Pray for the Lord to continue to gather His people together and mature and strengthen new believers.
John
A leader in the church on Nosy Mitsio was able to attend a meeting in Nosy Be with other Malagasy missionaries in a time of worship and sharing strategy. He was greatly encouraged as he is the only faithful Antakarana believer in his whole village. Pray for John as he faithfully shares Jesus with his community.
Translation projects
Please pray for the Lopit Bible translations projects that are happening. Pray for wisdom and discernment in how to best communicate God’s truth.
Pray for the schools to function well so that literacy will improve. When translations come out, pray that people will accept them and understand them even if there are differences in dialect. Pray that audio versions will soon become available. Pray that the Lopit would grow in their love and knowledge of God’s Word.
Feeling light.
One young woman couldn’t sleep because of terrible dreams in which she contemplated suicide. She was so afraid to go to sleep. After a brother and sister told her that she could find rest and peace in Jesus, she began to request them to pray over her. She was able to sleep. As she read the Scriptures she had received, she fell in love with Jesus. Today she read aloud from John 1: 3 and prayed with such joy and hope and said she felt light, like flying. Pray for this new sister and those like her who are new in the faith that they will abide in Jesus and bear much fruit. She said today she wants to tell her younger sister.
Floods
Please pray for all the people in Mossurize ( I’m betting most of Mozambique as well)- recent rains have flooded many of the crops which are the Ndau’s livelihood. So much has been lost. Please pray for us for wisdom how to help.
Times of connection
Diaspora in Oregon: Praise for some wonderful gatherings around Christmas both in homes and larger groups met together. We were incredibly blessed by the relationships and the growth in them that we’ve seen over the past year. What a joy!
Pray for more opportunities to share scripture and discuss things of Jesus with our friends. Pray for times of connection that surprise us and go far beyond anything we could ever ask, think or imagine!
Lacking Leaders
Please pray for a village church outside of Tabora that has a thriving youth group who love to sing in the choir, but there isn’t anyone who is willing to continue to lead the church as elders or deacons, even though members have served in these positions in the recent past. The lay pastor/evangelist would like to hold a congregational vote, but no one is coming to vote or to step forward to serve. Please pray for a renewed call to serve the church and for encouragement for the lay pastor to not be discouraged. Pray that God will raise up those with proven character to be inclined to serve with servant leadership and compassion for the Nyamwezi who do not yet know Jesus.
Lonely
Diaspora in France: On Christmas Day an international student from Lebanon came for dinner and spent the evening with us. She is a newish believer and knows very few Christians in Paris. She has been here only two months and it’s her first time away from home. Pray the Holy Spirit will strengthen and encourage this new young sister, growing her faith despite loneliness and being mocked in her workplace (an internship) because of her faith in Jesus.
Asking about Christmas
Pray for Pastor J – a Karana friend reached out to him to ask about Christmas. Pray that this door remains open for the sharing of the Good News of Jesus.
Study the Bible
Diaspora in France: Pray that *Asha, a student from Morocco with whom we have become good friends, will start studying the Bible with me. We can see God working in both her and her family.
Worth more than many sparrows.
Today several brothers listened to Matthew 10. They prayed for those who are suffering and in prison for the name of Jesus. Please pray for those who have denied Jesus in pain or fear. And for those facing suffering. May they know their hairs are counted by God and He sees every sparrow that falls… and they are worth more than many sparrows.
Follow up
Pray as we follow up with patients and visit some in their homes and share the gospel. Pray they may see Jesus working in their lives and call out to Him for salvation.
Christmas camp went well
Diaspora in France: Our winter Christmas Camp went really well, praise God! The Lord worked out all of the details and provided the way for all of our students, team members, and volunteers to come, some even in spite of challenges. Pray that the Gospel seeds that were planted will take root and grow!
Another attack this morning
Please pray urgently for the people in Narus, South Sudan. It was attacked again this morning at 4:00 AM. Our disciples have run to villages for safety. Rebels attacked Narus at 4 am but they retreated because of government troops. They came back again at day time.
We are asking for:
God’s protection over civilians, leaders, and our teams.
Peace and stability in the area.
Safety and wisdom for those responding.
Comfort for families who are afraid and affected.
Pray that God will use our disciples while in villages for His glory and the salvation of many.
Pray for provision
Pray for the love of Jesus to transform the hearts of those perpetrating violence and war, for miraculous provision of healthcare, food and water, and for protection and comfort for the masses of displaced Sudanese.
Continue to touch hearts
Diaspora in Finland: Praise for a good turnout and really good Christmas services. Pray that God will continue to use these special times together to touch the hearts of the people who don’t know Jesus yet.
Open their hearts
Diaspora in Florida: Praise God that I have re-established relationships with the two local imams and have been able to resume mosque visits. Pray for the Lord to open the imans’ hearts to the gospel.
Translation work
Pray for our translation work. We’re checking Galatians and Titus, and trying to get the new Matthew, Luke, and 1 Timothy apps up and engaged with! Pray many will find and use the apps to read the Word in their heart language, and that they would believe the message.
Pray for TikTok followers to follow Jesus
Continue to pray for my friend D. He now has 20k followers on TikTok. Pray that God will transform his heart to know and love Jesus and D’s 20k followers will also know, love and follow Jesus.
Fear
Diaspora in Wales: We have noticed an increasing presence of fear among the immigrant and asylum-seeking communities due primarily to the highly publicised political forums against asylum-seekers and immigrants in the U.K. Pray that the Christmas salvation message shared in the English and Sewing classes will stir hearts as we continue discussions this month.
Open hearts
Diaspora in Alberta: Pray as the new semester starts tomorrow Jan 12 at the New Canadian Hub. Pray for wisdom as we meet new ESL students, so that we would know who to invest our time with. Ask the Lord to open hearts for gospel conversations.
Students engaging with scripture
Classes for Superior 1 and 2, as well as Character 2, begin tomorrow January 12th.
Pray for wisdom and clarity for the teachers as they share God’s Word and connections with their students. Pray for the hearts of the students as they read and engage with Scripture.
More workers
Pray for the discipleship network around the area to increase so that many can hear the gospel. Pray for more workers to engage in the area for the harvest is plentiful!
Learn from the words of Jesus
Diaspora in Minnesota: Pray for some Muslim friends to join ‘The Journey to the Mountain’ and learn from the words of Jesus. Ask the Spirit to speak to many and draw them to Jesus.
Beginning of a church
Diaspora in Michigan: PTL for a good Christmas gathering with our Afghan friends. Pray for a regular Bible study among Afghans that would be the beginning of a church.
Remember those in prison
‘Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them, and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body.’ (Heb. 13:3) And remember their families and the other believers living under threat.
