Much of the raiding in Karamoja is over livestock but there has also been an increase in raiding houses for whatever goods they can carry off and also poultry or other smaller animals. For my friend C who lives on the very edge of Moroto she has had thieves try to break in her door at least five times since January. Each night she piles as much as she can against the door to block anyone from breaking in. The other night she called me and asked for prayer as the raiders were once again trying to break in. I prayed with her, thinking of Psalm 91 and other Scripture that focuses on God’s protection. The next day she came and said everyone was OK. Shots had been fired at some of her neighbours’ houses but no-one was killed. Please pray for ones living in very vulnerable housing and who struggle for the few belongings they have and yet are targets for such raids. Pray that they will put their trust in Jesus.
Diaspora in UK
Refugees in the Croydon area, a mixture of UPG’s including people from Sudan, the Horn,
Afghanistan, Turkey, Syria, Iran, and Iraq.
This month, the Croydon Refugee Day Centre is starting a new ‘Wednesday Welcome’ drop in session which will focus on relationships and social needs. Please pray for the Lord to draw many refugees to the center with open hearts to hear the gospel.
Draw them back
Pray for a local believer who is struggling with her two teenage daughters. Pray that God would give her patience, wisdom and ability to forgive. Pray that the Spirit would draw these girls back to him and protect them from those who might do them harm.
Diaspora in Portland
Please pray for fruitful conversations as we take a group of internationals to the farm in Trout Lake, WA on Saturday. Also pray that God will be preparing the hearts of our students to hear the Good News this new term.
Godly wisdom
Continue to pray for our new believers. Some of them are facing very difficult challenges and circumstances, and are struggling with discouragement. Pray that they receive godly wisdom on how to proceed and stand firm in the Lord.
Multiplication
Pray for brother Johnson as he ministers among his tribes Suri-Kachipo and Murle.
Pray for disciples Mark and Samuel to be more faithful.
Pray for multiplication in all villages.
Pray for peace in Jonglei state.
Cleanse your children
Cleanse your children, Lord. Deliver them from the old habits and the oppression of the enemy. May they boldly speak the name of Jesus with the authority you give and walk in freedom.
Growth
Thank God for the growth in the area.
Pray for the disciples from this tribe attending the Intensive Discipleship and Leadership Formation training this week.
Thank God for the provision of disciples’ needs.
Training
Pray for three disciples attending the Intensive Discipleship and Leadership Formation training this week.
Pray for Kassengor villages that Simon will be able to help motivate house churches.
Pray for Lord’s provision for Jiye outreach.
Know God’s love
I have made you known to them and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.’ John 17:26
Please pray for the church and believers amongst the Alagwa. May they know God’s love more and more and may they truly love one another. Let their love for one another be known and bring glory to God in their communities.
Preparation for Baptist
Soon we are going to have the first baptism event ever in the Hills. This is a huge step for the ministry. Most people have never seen a baptism and it is our prayer that the Holy Spirit minister to people’s hearts as we teach them about the meaning and importance of baptist for believers.
Also praise God for those who are eager for the date that they will be baptized. Pray for the ministry team. We have been facing so many spiritual forces, may God give us strength and wisdom as we move forward to establish a Christ Centered Church in the Hills.
Hunger
Please pray for local churches as they share food with those who are struggling with hunger. Pray that the food may reach those most in need, and that people may see God’s love and concern for them.
Willing to risk
Sovereign Lord, gather your children together. Give them hearts that are willing to risk meeting young believers, willing to use the gifts of the Spirit to encourage the church, willing to forgive, ready to be transformed.
New teammate
We just met a new member of our team. He is a MBB and a former Sheikh who was in charge of a mosque in a neighbouring country. He has been through Bible school, has studied Hinduism and Buddhism, speaks 8 local languages and now learning sign language. We consider this a blessing and an answer from the Lord of the Harvest to send us labourers into His harvest field! We believe that God wants him to strengthen the team with training in Apologetics. Pray with us that God may be glorified through his teaching and testimony and many will believe and be saved.
Training
Pray for the Intensive Discipleship and Leadership Formation training that starts next week in Naliel:
Pray for the new leaders attending to be motivated to put training into practice.
Pray for the facilitators and the training to be fruitful for the Kingdom.
Outreach
Last weekend, a local church put on a four-day outreach in their village, Ruhatwe, which is situated about two hours from where our team is working. Our team joined them and it was a wonderful opportunity to work alongside the local church and mobilize them to reach their own people. Please pray for those who heard the Word, and that the seeds that were planted would take root and bear fruit. Please pray also for the Ruhatwe church, that they would be encouraged to witness boldly to those around them and to continue to be lights in their community.
Soften their hearts
Pray that the Lord would soften the hearts’ of the village leaders to let the children come and learn. The kids have a desire to learn about the Bible.
New church
The whole village of Olpiro (Datooga village in Ngorongoro) will be moved to Handeni Tanga. Because of this movement, the AICT is planting a new church in the new area. Meshack, one of the students who recently graduated from Geita Christian College will go to work as a missionary in that new area. Pray for Meshack, that God will provide what he needs to settle in Handeni, and pray for the Datooga that they will know Jesus in the new area.
Critical time
One of the believers I have mentored recently went to a Bible training with his wife. But after just a few days the wife left him. They have had some challenges in their marriage for the last two years. The husband still wants to continue with his studies despite the fact that his wife left him. Pray that God will reveal himself to this man and his wife at this critical time.
Translation
The translation team has drafted the Gospels of Luke, Matthew and Mark, Acts of the Apostles and Colossians.
Although all these portions of Scripture have been drafted, they still need to be tested in the community and in villages surrounding Mandritsara. Since it is the aim of the translators that their Tsimihety Bible translation speaks to the unchurched as well as to the churched members of the community, more testing among the unchurched is necessary.
Please pray for the team:
• that there would be good communication both within the team and with the translation consultants working with them.
• that they would get good constructive criticism as they check their drafts in the community.
• that by the end of the year the team would have the Gospel of Luke ready to publish and distribute.
• as they read the portions of the Bible in their own language, that many Tsimihety will come to God and know Jesus as their Saviour.
Separated from God
Pray for these people, whose animistic and folk Islamic practices keep them separated from God. Ask the One True God to give them insight to see the hopelessness of this idolatry, and to reveal to them that the Son of God has come to give them eternal life (I John 5:20-21). There are Muslim Background Believers (MBBs) amongst the Nahara; they are using the local radio to bring the Gospel across the region. Ask our Sovereign God to open the ears and hearts of many Nahara, and that they would abandon Islam and exchange their old lives for new ones in Christ.
Read
Pray for people to read and understand the Bibles they were given during the outreach a couple months ago. Ask the Lord to build His church among the Sandawe.
Youth outreach
A youth outreach is being planned for October. Please pray for preparations and that this event may be impactful within the community!
Families of God
Pray for encouragement for small church gatherings of believers. In some places it may only be two to three families who are led in worship by a local evangelist. However, some evangelists are growing weary and discouraged to lead the handful of people who come to the Sunday service, and see even fewer who participate in other church activities. Pray that those meeting will be faithful and their faith will grow in the promises of God. Pray for whole households to come to faith in Jesus and attend together on Sundays. Pray as they meet that they will encourage one another and be led well by the evangelist. Pray for unity and working together to expand the reach of the Gospel message to their unreached neighbors. Many of these smaller churches are also working to build a permanent structure as a meeting place. Pray that this will be a joy to see what God is doing amongst them. “And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.” Galatians 6:9
Young girl
Su* is a young girl, around age 10, who has lately been speaking a lot about Jesus. Our youngest daughter has had conversations with her about salvation and they have read scripture together. Today she told me that when she grows up and leaves her parents’ home she will become a Christian. Please pray for her that she will know exactly why she needs Jesus and that she would have the confidence to follow Him.
Coming to faith
Pra!se God for the news shared by a local brother about how he keeps hearing about islanders who are coming to faith overseas – but are too afraid to share their faith with others. The other day he was in a taxi with someone who was back from their studies in a nearby country where they study at a Catholic college – he was quick to assure others in the taxi that he was still a Muslim. However, he ended up getting out of the car at the same time as D and told him that he was actually a believer! Pray for courage for these new believers to meet with others and share the good things God has done for them with their family and friends.
Gospel of John
Praise God I have just heard that the gospel of John translation is now fully approved! Please pray for all the translators as they study God’s word: may they be changed. Pray for all who will read John, that the Lord will grant them faith to believe.
Draw them
This week, we will have a few days of traveling and visiting with Mike and Faith. Mike is asking good questions about truth. Please pray that the Holy Spirit will work in both of their hearts, drawing them to Himself.
What do they understand?
Work amongst Neem has ups and downs. Recently a lady declared that she wanted to follow Jesus. Unschooled in everything including matters relating to God, she had never heard of Jesus Christ until I came along. How much does she understand? I’ve explained but I don’t know. Another lady who also says she wants to follow Him seems fairly keen to hear about God. Today, however, when I asked directly, she said she didn’t know why Jesus came. And I thought I had explained clearly enough. Back to the drawing board.
Farming season is upon us and so finding people in their homes is hard. Pray that I can meet weekly with these ladies and a 3rd who was the first to want to follow. She seems to have understood the basics but now is less interested to understand more.
Pray that I can share our story – God’s story – in a way that is understandable and relevant to them.
Diaspora in Detroit
Please pray for our family Picnic on 8/28. We usually have around 200 at this event. Please pray for clear gospel conversations and for details to come together.
Please pray for boldness to proclaim the Word in all our summer get togethers!
Bring them into Your kingdom
The attacks in the Cabo Delgado province of Mozambique continued throughout June and July 2022. Many young people have been corrupted by armed groups, which pay them to carry out actions that not only destabilize the country, but also the rest of the continent. Still, these attacks are subsiding due to Rwandan forces intervening. Many have endured trauma, others have lost their homes, most of their possessions, and all hope. The AIM team in Nampula continues to work with those who fled and have relocated there. Pray for these Mwani refugees, that the suffering, hardship, loss and grief would drive them into arms of the Most Compassionate, the Most Loving, the best Heart-Healer: Jesus Christ; and that he would bring them into his blessed Kingdom.
Sentenced
We know of 2 followers recently sentenced. One brother at the coast for 3 years and here in the capital a young 18yo sister, who was turned in by her mom, got 5years.
Advocacy groups are attempting to get involved and appeal. Pray for mercy and their faith to remain strong.
Light of Life
As long as the Karana-Gujarati follow Islam, they are in deep darkness. Intercede for them, that the people dwelling in darkness will see a great light, that those dwelling in the shadow of death, a light will dawn! (Matthew 4:16) Ask the Lord Jesus, the Light of the World, to reveal himself to them: through the Malagasy church (pray for Malagasy believers’ hearts to be moved with compassion to reach out to the Karana people), through dreams and visions, through Christ-centered social media/radio programs, and through his very Spirit, that instead of walking in darkness, they would have the Light of Life.
Lift up their eyes
Ask the Lord to save the Makwe, to shatter the fears of this animistic people group, and to instead fill them with peace and freedom in Christ. Ask him to send more missionaries to bring Jesus’ way, his truth, and his life that they may be transformed, reborn in him. O God, may you not forget the Makwe people; engrave them on the palm of your hand. Cause their destroyers to leave. May the Makwe lift up their eyes, look around, and see You! (From Isaiah 49: 15-18)
Embrace Him completely
Community programs continue across Sakalava, including children’s programs, Bible studies led by Malagasy missionaries, and incarnational ministry: seeds are being sown, and spiritual growth is happening amongst the people here. Lift up all of those who are ministered to and witnessed to would be strengthened, healed, cared for and most of all, found. That those who are found by the Good Shepherd would embrace him completely and enter into his fold, and share all that he has done for them with even more Sakalava—for His praise and glory!
Peace
We want to give thanks to God for peace that has prevailed in Kenya before, during and after the national elections. We are now excited that we will resume our classes and physical contact with our students and S.* friends. They were not willing to meet until after the results were announced and all was peaceful. We thank God that we all prayed, He heard, and He answered. Glory be to God!
Lord save me!
Jesus recently gave a close friend a dream of him walking on the water and Peter going out to him and then crying out, “Lord save me!” She said at first she thought she wanted to say that to him!! And then she thought, “No, that’s not for me, I can’t.” And then she was overcome by fear and woke up. We are asking that she would be more afraid of not calling out to him and having him rescue her, than she is of her community.
Recent deaths
Several recent community deaths from hypertension, stroke, and cancer are causing many to ponder and worry about their future. May God draw them to respond to Jesus as their only hope of eternal peace and mercy through salvation!
Hold fast
Pray for believers to hold fast to the hope they have in Jesus and not waver. Pray for mature believers to help the younger ones.
At the feet of Jesus
Pray for the family of new believers (Ma ‘Aisha’ and daughters) as they learn what it means to follow Jesus. We recently studied the story of Mary and Martha and they were taken with the idea of what it means to spend time ‘at the feet of Jesus’. Pray that they would experience a growing relationship with Jesus as they spend time in the word and prayer.
