Please pray for Lotao, a Laarim student whom Jacob had worked with in the village and is currently supporting through secondary school in Kenya. He is in his final year of school (equivalent to grade 12) and is on track to graduate. Lotao stays with a Christian Kenyan family, and Livingston has become like a father to this young man. Thank God for the believers God has put in Lotao’s life – Jacob planted the seeds, Livingston has watered them, but God has made them grow (1 Corinthians 3:7)! Pray that the seeds planted and watered would bear much fruit, and that Lotao would be faithful and obedient to God’s calling on his life.
Pray for open hearts
The team gives thanks for relationships being built with locals despite many being out in their fields most of the time. Pray for open hearts and minds to hear the good news and a great searching for truth and hope, and joy that comes from the Lord only. Continue praying for Ruth and Faye, who have declared their desire to follow Jesus Christ so that they might draw close to God. While Ruth seems happy to hear and consider the Bible, Faye seems uninterested.
Response!
God’s word is shared through daily Bible readings with several Muslim community health workers. May they respond to the truth by believing in Jesus, as their Lord and Savior! May God‘s word go forward with power, with the Holy Spirit, and with deep conviction!
Happy and safe
Praise God that the 9 year old boy that I hosted this summer has returned to the camps happy and safe! The family is very grateful for everything. Please pray for gospel opportunities and openness among this family.
Hit on head
A colleague has been getting to know a local butcher. Turns out he’s an agnostic but open to discussions. However, we just heard that the butcher had a bad accident. He was trying to catch a train and something hit him in the head really hard. He survived but with a lasting head injury. It’s a reminder how short time is to share Truth! Please pray for his recovery and that our colleague would be able to resume their conversations about the Truth!
Leadership training
Pray for the IDLF (intensive discipleship and leadership formation) training that will go for one month in Sept. Fourth generation leaders from TNJ (Toposa, Nyang’atom, and Jiye) will come for deep teaching.
Pray for churches to stand firm and leaders in TNJ, who have experienced minimal persecution but many are discouraged. Pray for them.
Medical outreach report
Thanks for praying for our medical outreach. It was a huge victory for Jesus. Many prayed to receive Jesus. Many asked for prayer to be released from spiritual darkness, and others from attacks and demons. I could go on for days, but want to highlight just one testimony. On the final night in the village of Kiswele, we showed the Jesus film. The film ends with a prayer of repentance; few will come forward publicly. But we recognize that the Word is powerful and speaks and penetrates where others can’t. That last night, one lady listened intently, silently prayed the prayer and went home. That night she had the best restful sleep ever. She woke up, and knew something had changed in her. In the early morning hours, she hurried over to share her knew found joy. There she made it public with our group of pastors that she was a follower of Jesus and wanted to get connected. The joy on her face was worth the past two weeks of challenges. Many, many seeds were planted and the Word has gone out to those previously who had never heard. I gratefully say a huge THANKS. PRAISE and GLORY TO JESUS.
Pray for his salvation
Pray for an elderly man in the village, Mzee I., who is a political leader in the community. Pray the Lord would convict him of his sin and that he would repent and be saved.
Pray for peace
I would like to ask prayers for peace in WA2 and that the local population will be able to meet their needs. Pray also that the WA2 Body will be strengthened and unified, that they will not be scared but will share the Good News. Pray for the Fulani men that the Lord will deliver them from fears and many will turn to Jesus Christ.
Elders
Please pray for the elders in the different communities. They have an important role to play, as they are the ones who take decisions, which affects the different families under their care. Pray that the light of God may shine in their lives, so that His wisdom may guide their decisions and therefore bring life to the people around them.
Needing healing
Pray for local believer B who was seriously injured in a workplace accident. The local body is trying to support him to seek care abroad – pray for healing and provision.
Ebenezer
Thank you for praying for our ‘tormented’ friend Sharon on Monday. We had a lengthy session of prayer and worship with her. She wanted to specifically pray through some material for MBBs on renouncing past religious ties and affirming truths based in the Word. It was an incredible battle. She came under sever attack a couple times, but she persevered and made it through 5 pages of prayers! We know this will be an Ebenezer marker for her. She may still wrestle at times to combat the old held beliefs and strongholds of her years before Jesus. But she continues to hold fast to His power to save. She knows He holds her and is with her
New students
Pray for many potential students to come to interviews tomorrow 8/28. Pray that God would bring those who are ready to hear truth. Pray specifically for female students to come. Pray for K, H, A, and R to continue to seek the truth. They are students and English club attendees, and they are willing to discuss scripture and read it for themselves. Pray God would reveal himself to them.
Disciples
Please pray for Mama and Baba Jaki. They were already following Jesus when we arrived in 2010. Thank God for their perseverance, despite many challenges. They live in a village close to Madebe and desire to see a church planted in that village too. Please pray for them to abide in Jesus and know Him more and to have courage and wisdom as they witness in their community. Pray for Mama Jaki to have a hunger to draw closer to Jesus and for Baba Jaki as he prepares to preach tomorrow morning at the church gathering.
Picnic
Diaspora in Michigan: Praise God for the many gospel oriented conversations that are happening, pray the Word of God grows into faith in Christ in many hearts.
Pray for our picnic on Sunday 8/27. We are expecting 40-60 families to come join us. May God use this time together to deepen relationships and open opportunities for gospel conversations that would continue.
Discipleship
A missionary couple recently left to pursue further studies. Whilst here they were involved in reaching out to four rural communities together with one of the churches in town. Last week the church met with key members from those four villages to see how they can continue to engage and support the communities. It was agreed these key members from the four villages would come once a week to town to learn from God’s Word, and carry back what they have learnt to their communities. Please pray for the 9 people who will be coming from these communities and for the church as they disciple them.
Church construction
A new church building is currently in construction. We have been gathering in a small building and it has become too small for the number of people that have been participating. Please pray for safety as we move forward with the construction, for wisdom for the workers and smooth logistics.
Pray that the believers of this church continue shining God’s presence among themselves and their community and many more will come to Jesus in this location.
Outreach
We had a community-wide outreach back in June, and it was a great opportunity to do evangelism with the local church, show the Jesus Film and encourage one another. Since then, we’ve been able to do several children outreaches and showings of the Jesus Film in out lying villages, and we’re planning another one for August 26. Please pray for us as we continue to follow-up on recent outreaches and prepare for the next one. Pray the seeds of the gospel would fall on good soil and bear much fruit for His glory.
Serve the living God
As I walk through nearby villages, I see trees set apart and sometimes even surrounded by strong walls, with cow skulls hanging from the branches. Sometimes food offerings are left there. This is all related to the ancestral worship. Let us pray that the Tsimihety people will see the light of Jesus Christ, and serve the living God rather than the dead.
Way to have fellowship
Continue praying for Z, who has heard enough to understand but who is reluctant to go against her family.
Pray for Z’s brother “Oswald,” who is a language helper for one of the team. He declares that he’s a Muslim but not really into religion as he sees his sister Z severely handicapped. Pray that in language study and chatting afterward, he might hear and understand that following Christ is not just religion but a living way to have fellowship with God.
IDLF
Pray for the IDLF (intensive discipleship and leadership formation) training that will go for one month in Sept. Fourth generation leaders from TNJ (Toposa, Nyang’atom, and Jiye) will come for deep teaching.
Pray for churches to stand firm and leaders in TNJ, who have experienced minimal persecution but many are discouraged. Pray for them.
Sharing testimony
Tomorrow (Wednesday) Lucia and her son, both Laarim believers who have been in Torit for the last few years, will be going out to Kimatong for 10 days to visit family and members of the community she is from. They are both very excited for the opportunity to share their faith and testimony with the Laarim. Pray that the story of what God has done in their lives would deeply impact all who hear them, and that God would open hearts to receive his gift of grace.
That they may stand
Continue to pray for our local brothers & sisters in prison for their faith. Historically, they have 2 choices…to recant OR stay in prison, which may lead to the death sentence. Pray for them to stand strong in the face of extreme pressure and persecution.
Surrender to Jesus
Please pray for Mama Zubeda and her family. Mama Zubeda is a believer and shares the recorded Bible passages in Alagwaisa with her family particularly. She loves Jesus and listening to the Bible too.
She asked her husband if she could get baptised, but he said not yet. (He is not a believer, and isn’t ok even to be prayed for, although he also really enjoys listening to scripture.)
Please pray for Mama Zubeda to grow in her understanding of God’s love for her and that she take time to listen to the Holy Spirit. Please pray for boldness and courage to obey him. Please also pray for her husband, Dosla, and their 12 children to surrender to Jesus.
Tormented
Would you join us in asking again for Sharon to be freed from a tormenting evil spirit and that all former ties would be broken? We are going to be fasting today and then from 4 pm onward asking again for the Holy Spirit to give release and victory. We know He is able to deliver fully. May His name be exalted and our sister be delivered and strengthened.
Ministries
Thank God for the opportunity to serve in local schools. Pray that many students will be transformed.
Thank God for the Youth program. Pray that those who are still in bondage to drugs will be set free by Christ.
Pray for the women’s ministry. Some women are facing challenges, pray that God will help them stand firm.
Value, worth, and honor
Diaspora in Spain: Praise for continued conversations with an S friend about value, worth and honor. Please pray that she would come to see the high price that Christ has paid to redeem her.
Islanders abroad
Rachel has returned from the islands so the family is reunited and we continue to visit each week as we have done for the past 9 years. They have heard many stories in that time and we have seen increasing understanding. Continue to remember them that they would recognise their need of a change of heart. Pray too for us that we would know what to share with them each week.
Hospital outreach
The youth from one of the churches are planning to start visiting patients in the hospital. They hope to be able to pray together with patients and also show love in practical way by giving out soap and sugar. Please pray for opportunities to show and speak of Christ’s love, and for the opportunity for discipleship among the youth.
“And when he [the Holy Spirit] comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgement.” John 16:8
Please pray for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit amongst the Karimojong, that there will be conviction of the realities of sin, righteousness and judgement. May there be a deep understanding of why Jesus came and what he offers to us.
Come along side
Diaspora in France: Praise God for the deep discussions we’ve had with various friends when they have visited us at home.
Pray for wisdom with one Iranian friend who is seriously struggling in her faith and believes God doesn’t love her anymore because of the hardships she’s experiencing. Pray for her heart and for us as we come alongside her.
Rebuffed
There is a village near us that hasn’t yet experienced the Truth that sets free. During this past week, one of our ministry partners went there with a team to share their faith (all from their own tribe). However, the team was sent away, as the village does NOT accept Christians among themselves.
Today, in the neighboring village, where we have weekly Bible studies, we had an amazing time of prayer, declaring salvation over the lives of those villagers.
Pray with us, cry out for God’s manifestation to them, that ministering angels visit them and that soon, we hear testimonies to the Glory of our Father God!
Isolated
There are a few brothers and sisters who have no connection with other local followers. The suspicion and fear and lack of trust is profound. Pray for those in isolation. Ask for them to be willing to seek fellowship around the Word.
Meal
Diaspora in Florida: Praise my friendship with a young Muslim man “Larry” continues to grow in love and in truth. Pray that God would pierce Larry’s darkness of mind and heart with the light of the gospel.
Pray for the Aug 19 meal with Baptist Church and Islamic Center. The imam will talk for 15 minutes about Jesus in the Quran and the pastor will talk for 15 minutes about Jesus in the Bible. This was the imam’s idea!
Holiday Club
Pray for the children and young people who attended the holiday club in July and August, that they ponder what they heard and respond to the Lord calling them to trust and follow Him.
Pray for those from Ambodimadiro who are studying the Bible through T.E.E. – that they might grow in their faith and love for the Lord.
Darfur update
Regarding the security situation in Darfur, western Sudan: In Darfur there is still fighting and many displaced people are there because of the war. I thank God because DCA is still doing a good ministry among the Sudanese community in this situation. In the past 3 months,13 people accepted Christ and 147 heard the Good news. Pray many more will accept Christ. And pray for an end to the war.
Point to the Light
Pray for the local elementary school that serves 800 Rangi children. Pray for more Christian teachers and helpers to point the students to the light. Pray for the children to hear and accept the good news.
Camps
This year our 2 summer camps are Aug. 14-19 for teenagers, and 21-26 for children. We thank you for praying for these camps: that hearts may be transformed, that we will all be protected from any accident or illness, that the staff will be committed and united and that we will all have the joy and strength to carry out this ministry.
Translation projects
Continue to pray for the Bible translation projects among the Sandawe and the Rangi. Fred and Karen, SIL missionaries, have moved to Dodoma and will be working with the Sandawe and Rangi Bible translation projects. Pray for good progress. Also pray for plans to come together for a Missions Awareness conference for AICT (Africa Inland Church Tanzania) upper leadership.
Fired
Please pray for our sister Joy. She managed to get a cleaning job this summer but was fired for talking with her colleagues about Jesus. Ask for peace and courage in the face of this disappointment. Pray also that her husband Simon, who is not a believer, would come to see that Jesus is worth it!
Church building
Construction of the church building in our community continues. Please pray for God’s provision in all needed resources – workers, knowledge, funds, equipment, etc. Please pray also that the local church would continue to take ownership of this project and not become discouraged.
We have several new seekers reaching out and asking questions. Please pray that they would become convicted by the Truth of the gospel and seek to grow in their knowledge about Jesus.
