Pray for believers to be winsome and wise in sharing their faith with their Zaramo friends and neighbors. Ask the Lord to build His church in Zaramo land.
Deliver many!
Pray for a breakthrough amongst the Swahili Arabs. Islam has been a stronghold along the coast of Africa for a thousand years. Pray many would be delivered from the kingdom of darkness into the Kingdom of God’s dear Son.
The Hope Film -Creation to Christ
Please continue to pray for the project to translate The Hope film – Creation to Christ into Som** language. Pray that God may bring together the team that will do this job for His glory. Pray for unity in the team and correct translation of the film from English and that the process will run smoothly and the agreements that will be made between the parties involved will be honoured and glorifying to God. Pray for God’s guidance in the whole process.
Crops
Last year there was not enough rain for crops to grow. This year the rain was enough, but the birds were devastating. People are again at a loss of what to do about the lack of a harvest.
There has been progress in the last month in getting the local believers to have a plot of their own, off of the missionary compound, but there has been some resistance from the community. Pray for wisdom and courage for the believers as they move forward.
New trial date
The believers in prison for their faith are going to trial Oct 1. Please pray the trial would go ahead (and not be postponed again) and the judge would rule for their immediate release.
523 villages reached!
We are overjoyed to witness our Malagasy pastors and evangelists, our faithful co-laborers, sharing the Gospel through the Jesus Film and discipling people afterward.
Villages have been reached, witch doctors converted, cattle thieves transformed, hundreds hearing about Jesus, and, by the power of Christ, churches scattered throughout Bara land. What a joy!
Furthermore, The Antandroy and Mahafaly people are also being reached by our partners.
What an incredible harvest we are seeing, all by the grace of Christ.
This month alone, 12 villages have been reached with the Gospel. Since 2017, that brings the total to 523 villages!
Please pray for abundant fruit from these efforts.
New believer!
On the medical team on the plateau, team member J has been helping local believer
‘Harvey’ to lead a seeker through Romans. This weekend J asked the seeker if he
believed Jesus died for his sins and if he followed Him, and he said yes! Thank Father with us for this wonderful news, and ask for wisdom for ‘Harvey’ in leading him through next steps, as J leaves on home assignment this weekend.
Open doors
Pray for the Lord to go before a new team and prepare many hearts to hear and receive the gospel. Pray for many to open their doors and welcome the team into their homes and into their lives.
Leaders meeting
We want to praise the Lord for the men whom we have been discipling and who are leading the fellowship groups. Three weeks ago we came together to pray for the villages and they decided that we should be coming together to pray once a month. We were so happy for this decision. Also two men who came requested to do TEE (theological education by extension). Please pray for a way forward for them to study and that the Lord will provide books for TEE.
Pastor the flock
Pray for the Gabbra believers who pastor the flock. Ask God to fill them with His spirit daily and enable them to serve with joy. May they ‘exercise oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have them, not for shameful gain, but eagerly; not domineering over those under their charge, but being examples to the flock.’ (1Peter 5:2-3)
Translation workshop
Pray for a translation workshop on translating epistles happening this week. Translators from across the three islands will be coming. May the Lord grant patience, clear communication, and insight as so many different languages and cultures will be present. Pray also for S’rg as he leads the workshop, for peace, protection over logistics and technology, and for fellowship as workshops like this one offer a chance for greater bonding between the translation teams who don’t often see each other in person.
Strongholds
Pray against Islamic strongholds amongst the 40 million Fulani people living across the Sahel of Africa. Pray the Lord would bind the strong man and plunder the house of Islam (Mark 3:27).
Wedding
Please rejoice with us. Last month we celebrated a beautiful wedding of a young couple and in 2 weeks will celebrate another wedding! God is moving in this new generation! Pray for blessing on these new marriages.
Invited to Church
I called an BMB (believer of Muslim background) friend for a meeting to discuss some issues relating to ministry. He was only available on a Sunday and he suggested that we first meet at his church and then talk after the service. I want to thank God that he came with two other BMB friends and we had a great fellowship before, during and after church. Pray that God may come through for some struggles that these brothers are going through. May He open doors that the challenges that are hindering them from getting time to do their work. May He smooth the processes that need to be done. He knows, He cares and may the answers glorify His Name.
Laarim Bible!
We are so thankful to have received the Laarim Bible several months ago, containing the entire New Testament and several Old Testament books. It has pointed to the great need for people, especially believers, to learn how to read. There is a very low literacy rate. Pray for those learning to read to persevere and for others to begin learning.
Monthly meetings
Down in the capital the local sisters were meeting monthly to read together and
support each other, but this hasn’t been happening since the main leader ‘Esther’ and
some of the other more confident women travelled. Please ask that, now more
people are back, they would get back into meeting regularly.
Meet face to face
A local believing family stepped out in faith to add a room onto their home for Bible study times. Pray for protection over them and all who come. Pray for hearts to be deeply rooted in the word.
A government official has been meeting online with other believers about 2 years. This person feels ready to meet with someone in person now. Ask for wisdom on making connections. Ask that there would be growing hunger and willingness among the followers to meet face to face
New believer
Pray for *Immanuel, the son of a Digo sheikh who has now come to Christ. He is a secret believer at the moment. Pray for him to grow in his faith and for God to grant him boldness to openly follow Christ in due time.
Basic theology classes
Please pray for the final push for our leaders who are studying basic theology. There are only two months to go…many want to get into their fields! Please pray we can finish well!
Prayers for Toposa
We had one day of prayer and fasting during our IDLF. Please pray with us: 1. For peace between Turkana and Toposa. Recently these old enemies have begun freely visiting one another. We believe it’s God initiative since no government or ngo has been involved in peace discussions only the people themselves and it has been great. 2. Healing- animals are dying and many people are also sick. 3. Witchcraft is a stronghold in new areas that need to be dealt with. 4. Famine- we planted but locusts have invaded our farms. We haven’t harvested for 3 yrs. We don’t know how people will live. 5. Pray for disciples’ businesses to grow. Economic instability is worse in South Sudan due to inflation of dollars vs pounds and for 11 months civil servants have not received their salaries.
Clan and family differences
There are many fights amongst the families and different clans. Pray that they will know that true and lasting love only comes from Jesus. Many He open their eyes to see and believe in Him.
Suicide
There are many deaths by suicide amongst the Somali people group in Eastleigh. These are mainly caused by trauma, finances, and family differences.
Pray for the Light of the world to light up their hearts with love and draw them closer to Himself and to know Him as the only source of true joy and life that satisfies.
Sustainable agriculture training
Foundations for farming is a method of sustainable agriculture and a message of hope and restoration to a hurting people and land. Pray for the success and effectiveness of the training we are giving. Pray for favorable weather conditions and abundant harvests for the farmers involved. Pray for hope, healing, and restoration for those who have been displaced and are rebuilding their lives. Pray for God’s grace and mercy to be evident!
Film translation into Somali
We thank God that He has connected us with an organization that is involved in the translation of an 80 minute film of Creation to Christ. We will be part of a translation team together with about 6 Somali believers. Pray for God’s wisdom, direction and protection as we go through this process. Pray that the project will be completed satisfactorily as it will be a useful tool for evangelism and discipleship wherever we have people working with this people group. Pray for unity and love within the whole team working on this project.
Evangelism trip
Pray for a continued effort to make an evangelism trip to the Akie/Ilataiyok group of Dorobo who live in Tanzania just on the other side of the Kenya border. They continue to move around, as they have done for centuries in search of honey and hunting grounds, and we are now told they are near Lake Magadi. Pray that we can make contact in the months ahead and visit them and show the Jesus film.
Jesus their refuge
Diaspora in Ontario: Pray for these Muslim families from Uganda and Burundi who have recently resettled in Toronto, Canada, and Illinois, USA. May they continue to seek Jesus as their refuge during this time of adaptation to their new environment.
School starting
Today, we begin another school year. The Be Fitia School was established to proclaim Christ and teach children how to read and write. Approximately 230 children have been enrolled. Praise Jesus. That’s another 230 children who will leave the ignorance of illiteracy and the darkness of the lack of knowledge of Christ. Pray for them!
Ultimatum
Please pray for a young Christian woman who has been separated from her (Christian) husband for almost 2 years. She is currently studying at a Christian-run sewing school. The head of the school called me yesterday to say that she had a long and intense conversation with the young woman last Saturday because she refuses to return to her husband even though he wants her to return. The director gave the young woman an ultimatum telling her to go pray and pour out her heart before God (her discontent, her pain) and to pray for her husband. She clearly told her that they, as the head of the school, do not support her in her decision and are very disappointed because they welcomed her as their own daughter. The young woman must give her answer today. Please pray for a miracle and that she chooses to trust God who can transform their relationship.
Grow in service
Pray for the saved on our island to grow in service to one another and in the knowledge of God. May they grow in using their spiritual gifts in love, patience, and humility for the good of the whole body. There are many different small expressions of the church around the capital region. May those who teach and shepherd teach and shepherd with the measure they have been gifted, encouraging all to serve with the gifts Jesus has given them that they may grow in the full knowledge of God, being mature in Christ who is the head.
Pierce hearts
Diaspora in Florida: Pray for the Spirit to pierce the hearts of my imam friends.
Craft project
Praise God that a project to teach vulnerable women to make raffia crafts as a means of income has begun and is going really well. The women are studying God’s word together daily. Please pray that they would put their trust in Jesus!
Oct 1 trial date
The trial has once again been postponed. The new date is Oct 1. Please pray for encouragement for the brothers and sister in prison for their faith. May they know the precious presence of the Lord Jesus in a profound way. Pray God would care for their families. And pray for their deliverance!
Discipleship
We are noticing that a lot of Somali believers are not eager to study God’s Word regularly. Pray that the Holy Spirit will reignite their hearts to continuously seek the truth in the Word and to fellowship with other believers.
Lord build your church!
The new believers seem to be getting more and more verbal persecutions and pushback from the community and their families. My visits with three of the ladies yesterday felt discouraging and like they are withdrawing! Pray for all of their protection, and that the joy of the Lord would be their strength and that the Holy Spirit would fill them with wisdom in all of their responses and choices and decisions! Pray for wisdom and strength for us as well! So far the men have expressed some of the challenges they’re facing, but have still been faithful in coming for study, etc. Pray especially for the main shepherd leader and his family! May God build his church here and make it strong and help it grow!
Missionary teachers sent
A select group of local educators underwent rigorous training in specialized missionary teaching techniques and were recently deployed to remote areas of Nuba Mountains, Sudan, to make a difference in the lives of children who have limited access to quality education.
Pray for the missionary teachers to make a positive impact and bring about transformation in the lives of the children they teach and the communities they serve. Ask for God’s wisdom to guide their educational initiatives, empower their students, and inspire lasting change for the better.
Sheikh
Pray for *Joseph, a Digo sheikh who came to Christ. However, after his people persecuted him, and he seems to have gone back to his former ways. Pray for the Spirit of God to convict him afresh and give him boldness and help him find a livelihood independent of the Muslim community.
False prophet
Please pray for the church to remain faithful. A strong new false prophet from Zimbabwe has come and many are running to attend his services and see what he can do. Please pray for perseverance in the faith!
Sharing gospel and farming
We keep seeing God provide more opportunities to share the gospel. For the last three months Farming work has provided a good platform to share the gospel. Thanks for praying for the field day. We had around seven young people come. After visiting the farms, we sat, then Aron and Clement began to share the gospel with the young men. Please pray that the gospel will transform their hearts. End of the month we will be visiting their villages and do a follow up.
Full surrender
A group of four Y men have been meeting weekly to study the Bible. They had been given the book by a Y follower and out of respect for him they decided to read it together. One has decided the Book and words of Jesus are true. The others’ faith journey are ongoing but they are near the kingdom too. Pray for full surrender.
ESL students
Diaspora in Georgia: Please pray for the salvation of the ESL students the Lord sends our team this year, and that He will bring Africans and Muslims to us who will not be afraid to attend English classes in a church, nor read the Bible.
Pray for the salvation of three Pakistani families I’ve made friends with.
New Testament in Somali
We want to thank God for the launch of a newer and easier version of the New Testament in Somali. It also comes as an App in a form that one can not be tracked.
Pray that God’s Word will reach many Somalis and that their lives will be transformed and matured for His glory. Pray that God will prepare those whose hearts are seeking Him and the truth and that they will find their way to these resources.
