Pray for an outpouring of God’s Spirit in O hearts – that many will be drawn to Jesus and become His strong disciples!
Praise for T
Praise God for T, a young woman from my community, who chose to respond to Jesus’ call to follow Him. She sees the Holy Spirit at work in her life in that she no longer gets angry with her mother-in-law when she makes a remark to her! She has already come to worship twice but for the moment she will first be taught by the women of the Christian family, in order to be ready to face all the remarks that await her when it will be obvious to all that she is part of the Christians.
Prepare them to receive
Diaspora in Georgia:
Lord, please deepen friendships with Amna, Misha, Huma, Saba and their families. Thank you for the prayers you have answered already, demonstrating to them that you are the living God. Open doors for the gospel and for consistent Scripture engagement. Prepare them to receive Jesus as their Savior.
Come Follow Me
We have two MBB engaging with our pastor and regularly working through the “Njoo Nifuate” (Come, Follow Me) program – designed specifically for believers of a Islamic background. Please pray for their progress and understanding, and that this may build them up in their faith going forward. Pray also that we, as a team, may know how to best use the tools available to us to reach the people we are working with.
Want to follow
Pray for ‘Faye’, ‘Ruth’ and ‘Jane’ who have said they want to follow the Lord. Pray that God will transform their hearts and give them a great thirst to understand more and to know God better. All are illiterate and one has no telephone. Pray that we can meet regularly to study, especially during this difficult time of Ramadan. They are not at a level of faith to not fast.
Dissatisfied
Diaspora in Minnesota:
Pray for Mr. H. who is dissatisfied with Islam and its strict tenants. Pray that he seeks after the truth and understands the gospel.
Burden
Jonah & Sandy and their little boy John are probably the neighbors we spend the most time with. They could be our kids. We have fun together and they are grateful to have some “adopted” grandparents nearby. They are a bit disillusioned with the belief system here. Sandy has said how fasting is such a burden and she feels God loves her anyway – and she is right! Pray for more conversations that point her to understanding that Jesus is the way the truth and the life. AND that we will be able to read the word together.
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Matthew 11:28-30
Church in Beangezoka.
The church leader died suddenly two years ago, and a young man called John, had to take over. He is keen to learn and to lead the church. He regularly gets sermons and Bible studies provided by our own local radio station, which he uses to minister to the church. He also follows a regional theological training.
The church has recently got two new young couples, who are still in the stage of finding their way in Christian faith. Praise the Lord for them.
Please pray for John and a few faithful believers.
Boldly share
Pray for new and prior O believers to be filled with God’s Spirit of wisdom and understanding to boldly share the truth of Grace to save – not works – and to stand firm and strong in God’s full armor against all persecution or temptations of Ramadan!
May salvation come
It’s been two weeks since the start of Ramadan. In my community, most of the men and a lot of the women are fasting. Please pray the Lord Jesus reveals Himself to them in dreams, visions, and whatever other way He chooses. Pray for B, a son of the chief who has been trained as an imam. Pray that in his sincere search for forgiveness and God’s approval, he will find the True and only Way. Pray for the chief’s other children and wives that salvation would come to this family and many others as well.
Afraid to come
Recently several community members have shared that they want to learn more about the Bible and come to our Sunday gatherings but they are afraid of the spirits inside of them and that they will be angry and even kill them. Others are afraid of spouses not being OK with it. Pray for the Holy Spirit to move in a mighty way and that these barriers will be broken down. Pray many would come this Sunday!
Gathering Friday
Pray for island believers on i3 as they gather Friday to remember and celebrate together Jesus’ death and resurrection. We expect around 70 people. Pray that it would be wonderful time of fellowship, filling all with this good news and the joy to share it with others.
Easter bags
Diaspora in Michigan:
Our annual Easter bags are being handed out to 48 families April 3-16, with the help of local volunteers. Pray the gospel seeds sown would bear fruit, and it would foster relationships too.
Easter events
Diaspora in California:
Pray for activities with International Students during the month of April. Specifically pray for Easter events this week. May we explain the Easter story clearly and may hearts be open to understand and receive the gospel.
Pray for several students, some Christians and some Hindus, who are meeting in small groups for Bible Study. Ask the Lord to speak to them in His word.
Burned
Our partnership with the FJKM ( Presbyterian church of Madagascar) has been fruitful. In February we visited a village together in the region of Anaviavy. The famine was killing people. We went with relief supplies and donated rice. The Bara of this village said: “No one has helped us! Thanks for helping.”
The result is last March, 40 Bara came to Christ, burned their witchcraft things and are being discipled. Praise the Lord.
Trainings
We continue to have trainings for the local followers about once a month. In the trainings, we teach the importance of abiding, prayer, sharing the Good News, and Bible study. Pray for discernment in how to encourage participants to hold each other accountable Pray for the participants to continue growing in their love for His Word and may their lives be continually transformed by His Good News.
Planned from beginning
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.
