Diaspora in Hong Kong: Pray for L’s faith; she acknowledges that Christ is within her, but she insists that faith is something personal and belongs to her alone. Pray for God’s guidance in her faith journey, that she may gain more confidence in following Jesus and share her faith with others.
Spiritual Formation
Pray for those believers in Kaabong district who are being discipled as lay leaders. Some recently participated in training at Lotim. The first year students are learning about spiritual formation through spiritual disciplines. Pray that they will grow in their faith and be able to help others to grow in their faith, and to lead people to Jesus.
New people and new believers
Praise God for new people our teammate has been introduced to and that we are sharing with at the hospital – Ab’, Mu’ and Ma’.
Pray for the new believing family – S and A, her sister M and S’s sister. Pray for deeper understanding. S needs more surgery on his leg but has a shortage of money – pray God provides for him.
Pray for other contacts we have as a team – pray that God leads them to the truth.
Breakthrough
Diaspora in Oregon: Praise God for opportunities to share traditions and celebrate Christmas with our new neighbor friends. And what a great time to share the hope we have in Jesus. Pray that the seeds planted will grow in the hearts of those who heard. Many of our friends and teammates are currently in the midst of a 3 day prayer and fasting for our refugee community here in Oregon. Praying for a breakthrough in the lives of many who are struggling. Please join us in prayer.
Praying for persecutors
Please pray for the believers in Imu’ village, just next to us. We thank God for their faith and that their lives are reflecting that they worship God above all else. However that has come at a cost. At first it was threatening, then “fining” them saucepans, clothes, and chickens but twice recently they have been beaten. Their main offense has been refusing to go collect bamboo for the landlord and refusing some of the ceremonies associated with their age group (all cultural practices that don’t honor God). They respond with compassion to their persecutors asking God to, “Forgive them, because they don’t know what they are doing”, and they pray their persecutors, like Saul/Paul, will also encounter Christ. Pray that people would see Christ in our brothers! Pray that these faithful brothers would heal from their injuries and their hearts would be strengthened.
Scripture calendars
Diaspora in England: Praise that we were able to distribute 50 Scripture calendars to our Muslim contacts in the city. Pray the Word would speak to many and draw them to the Savior.
Pray for a positive start to the new term as classes have just started. Pray for open hearts and students wanting to explore Truth.
Projects
Keep praying for the Jiye church that the Lord will sustain them and guide them in obedience. We have seen much fruit recently. The government is currently working on a large dam project at Lopeat. Meanwhile, the translation team, led by Amoni, has completed the book of Jonah and the book of Mark, and they are now working on the book of Luke. They are also preparing for the Jesus Film. Keep praying for the team, the disciples, and the leaders- Loumwa and Amoni. Your prayers are greatly appreciated for Jiye people.
Visits
Diaspora in Ontario: Pray for us as we make some annual reconnection visits with S. families and friends who’ve moved away or moved on since we first met them. Pray that these visits will be fruitful.
God’s work
Pray for God’s work in students’ lives as they begin the Superior 2 (NT) class.
Pray for women to come to the upper-level English Club and wisdom and creative ideas for how to use the time together.
Christmas camp follow-up
Diaspora in France: Our Swiss Christmas Camp from Dec. 22-Dec. 27 was a wonderful time of getting to know the students and sharing how Christmas is our grateful celebration of all that God did when He sent Jesus to live with us on earth! God answered so many prayers and kept everyone safe and healthy throughout the week! The Lord blessed us with many fruitful conversations with students, and many seeds were planted. Some of the students had never heard anything about God or Jesus or Christmas! Thank you for your prayers, we saw the Lord moving!
Pray for the follow-up with some of the students who came to Camp and pray that the Lord would develop a hunger and thirst for His Truth in their hearts.
Prayer for Sudan
Father God, we cry out for peace in Sudan and an end to this conflict. May it not give extremists a renewed foothold in the country. Encourage believers at this time, particularly those who are despondent, weary and hurt. Pour fresh hope into their hearts. Be a place of refuge for Your children, meet their every need and strengthen their faith. During this time of uncertainty and unrest, help our brothers and sisters to be beacons of light that draw others to You. Amen. (Open Doors)
Openness to the Word
Diaspora in Michigan: Pray for continued openness and receptivity to the Word. Some good signs have been shown, and we would love to see a growing hunger and thirst from both Arabs and Afghans we interact with.
Pray for the re-start of the conversation café January 10th that it would be well attended and people would be open to discuss spiritual topics.
Hearing and sentencing
Thank you for praying with us.
*The hearing did take place.
*The lawyers presented the case.
*The defendants were all present.
These are actually quite big milestones. It has been a long road to even get to having people show up and hear the case, but the final result of the hearings was to declare that the verdict would be given on Feb 4, 2025.
Please pray for mercy and for all the prisoners imprisoned for their faith to be released unconditionally.
Come to know
Several of us are reading the Word with different locals. Praise Him for these opportunities and pray that many will come to know the true God.
CBS
Praise God for the recently completed course on how to lead Ccmmunity Bible Studies (CBS) in our churches. Twenty-one leaders (pastors and elders) came to the Malewa River campsite and received instruction on how to use CBS in their churches. Pray for the leaders who will be starting Bible studies in the new year. And pray for a follow up seminar that is being planned to teach this type of Bible study to adults who are not yet able to read.
Learn from God’s Word
The Didinga New Testament with the Old Testament books of Genesis, Exodus 1-24, Ruth and Jonah was dedicated in March of 2018. There are audio files for these books and the Jesus film. Pray for this people group to read and learn from God’s Word and be taught. May they see in the lives of true Christians the great light of God’s plan for how to live their lives and know his love.
Work continues
The translation of Genesis is still ongoing. Pray for God’s blessings on the process.
The new pastor in our area is very interested in using the translated work. Pray the scriptures would speak to many people.
Some mission schools are interested in sending students to our area to gain some field experience. Pray for some to be called to reach the Tanala!
Church to be one
Pray for believers to learn how to trust and be trustworthy, to speak the truth and believe others, to forgive when hurt and to ask for forgiveness quickly. We pray with Jesus for the Arab church to be one, to use the gifts given for the encouragement of the body, to gather faithfully.
Come to know Jesus
A new group of women have started their three-month training in raffia crafts. This is to help them produce an income outside of prostitution or for those who have come out of prison. Please pray for the trainers as they witness to these women daily, that they may come to know Jesus as Lord.
Helping new immigrants
Diaspora in Brazil: Praise God He continues to bring immigrant families to us. I meet so many recently arriving families and help them settle. Pray for opportunities to share Hope with them.
Pray for B for opportunities to connect with these women and create friendships. She has been able to walk with women through their prenatal care and labor and delivery.
Translation work
Pay that the church in Timu (among the IK) will stay together to see the word of God translated in their language. There’s an org that has already been active in starting the Bible translation into IK – pray that the church will come together to help the org continue.
Translation update
Thank God for enabling us to distribute the book of Mark and audio across the countries. South Sudan and Ethiopia.
Praying request:
1- We are now doing consultant check for the book of Luke to chapter 18. Please pray for that to be completed after Christmas.
2- Pray for the team’s motivation to complete New Testament.
3- Pray for the health of the team.
Grow in knowledge
We had a really encouraging visit with the wife of a New Bel. She said it was the first time she ever heard the Christmas story! She’s also making great progress with memory verses and praying together.
One of the other New Bel’s wife and stepsister came into the light this week. Our first follow up visit was ok, but with frequent disruptions from a crew of cute 3 year olds. Pray that each seeker and NBs will grow in knowledge and understanding and closeness with our Savior.
Draw many
Pray for short- termers and our hospital staff as we deal with severely sick patients this month- especially when they don’t get better. Help us to be Jesus to our patients and families. Help us to trust in God as He is sovereign in it all. Pray God would draw many patients and family members to Himself.
See the love of Jesus
Please pray for the people in Kilwa as the team continues in relationship building, that the local people will see the love of Jesus for them.
Jesus Film
Praise God for Pastor John Kashu who has been showing the Jesus film around the Mau Forest near his home church of Oloolbung’aiko. Each showing results in new believers. Pray for good follow up in the local churches and for suitable transportation for Pastor Kashu to carry on this ministry.
Renewed contact
Diaspora in Ontario: A local imam has renewed contact with me. He attended church with me for one of his comparative religion classes. Pray for this renewed friendship to grow and to result in Gospel fruit. I have begun to visit this friend’s mosque. Pray for relationships to be built and good opportunities to wisely, gently, and boldly to share our Hope there in the coming months. Most of our UPG friends attend there.
Heard the gospel
Pray for those who have heard the gospel story and now travel to see family over the next month. Pray that they will continue to seek and to hear the message of Christ this Christmas season.
Joyfully throw off deceit
May those who have just begun to hear stories of Jesus not reject the truth when they compare it to the lies they have been told for centuries. May they joyfully throw off all deceit and all sin that easily entangles, and follow Jesus, the truth, running the race set before them.
Open hearts
Diaspora in Michigan: Pray for open hearts to seek the Truth. We’ve had several families stay for the Bible stories every Friday night at the end of our Conversation Cafe. Pray this interest will continue to grow.
Interested
Pray for Ham’ and Mool’ who are interested in Jesus Christ. May the Holy Spirit work in their lives and draw them to Jesus.
Seeking midwives
Praise the Lord for the new maternity building being officially opened at the Good News Hospital! Now we are seeking some more great midwives in order to fully staff the unit. Please pray that we would find the right midwives to employ, and for development of the midwifery team both spiritually, and in their midwifery practice so they can serve the families of Mandritsara with love and diligence.
Sharon
Praise God for the spiritual progress of Sharon, our local sister, and pray the Lord will establish her in His word.
Value school
Pray that the community will see the value in supporting the Timu primary school. And to value getting an education in their locality. I am part of a team teaching at the school.
TikTok
Diaspora in Ontario: Please continue to pray for some of our UPG Christian friends and we who have been mentioned by name, and location, as enemies of Islam on TikTok. Our friends are still quite concerned and fearful. Please pray for the Spirit to restore confidence, boldness, and wisdom in dealing with this. Pray for me as I continue to mentor and encourage one of the younger members of this family. 4 grandchildren of the family have renounced their faith in Jesus. Pray for them to return.
Persecution
Pray for two churches that are under persecution now in Toposa- Nakeon under Bongo and Nakurkur under Namurpus. Some of the disciples’ leaders are under trial. Please pray for them.
A new way
Pockets of violence have erupted on several islands over the past few weeks, due to
old rivalries, misunderstandings, poverty. Pray with us for the peace of the Lord to reign in the islands. May He show people that there are better ways of dealing with conflict.
May they see that violence only serves the darkness, and the Dark One himself. May
they see in Jesus a new way of showing strength through humility and forgiveness.
Obsessive thoughts
Pray against a spirit of jealousy and obsessive thoughts in the lives of several local brothers. We see how their minds are being held captive by lies. Ask that the Rescuer will break through and return to them the ability to think reasonable, truth-filled thoughts. May they be released from these blinded and destructive patterns of thinking and doing.
Mighty work of the Spirit
Praise Jesus for the mighty work of the Spirit in the lives of new believers. Pray that those who don’t read well, and those who do, will choose to listen to or read the word of God and learn how to commune with him. One man asked yesterday, ‘If we get interrupted when we are praying, is that ok?’ He was relieved to know we can continually turn back to God in prayer and prayed with a brother for his family’s salvation.
Learning to read using the Bible
Praise God for a group of six adult literacy learners at Songoroi on Eburru mountain, who are learning how to read using the Bible as their main text. Pray that as they read the Word, they will come to a true faith in Jesus. The group recently sang some songs for a visiting team from the US. This adult literacy program started after a seminar in August at our Malewa River campsite. Pray for other adult literacy classes that have also been started.
