Muslim men from Saudi Arabia came to Kondoa to pass out meat at the mosques. One man told Gideon that instead of bringing peace among the people, they are making everyone fight. Pray this will turn people to the True Peacemaker.
Change hearts
Pray that believers would have a right perspective of suffering. Ask that they not fear, that they keep on speaking and are not silent, that they would believe that the Holy Spirit is powerful to change hearts. Acts 18
Diaspora in US
* I have been doing in-home ESL tutoring with an Afghan man. Pray for our weekly meetings, that our relationship would grow and we would talk about matters of eternal significance.
* Pray for our continued relationship with our Somali truck driving friend, MH. He passed his citizenship interview. Pray for a receptive and soft heart when he hears Gospel truths.
Jesus loves us. He will return someday.
While Jacob was away for nearly a month, he had Paulo stay on his compound. Paulo is the elder of the gathering of believers in Yei village. When Jacob sat down to talk with him, he begin singing a simple song he had composed while Jacob was away. The song in Laarim simply says, “Jesus loves us. He will return some day.” Paulo’s grandson told Jacob that his grandfather had come up with this song to encourage himself while he was staying at the compound alone. Pray for Paulo, that the Lord will continue to put a song in his heart and be the friend that is always near.
Breakthrough prayer
Pray for a breakthrough of God’s Spirit convicting, drawing and opening many O eyes to see and really perceive, their ears to hear, and their hearts to understand and turn and be healed! May God draw many O to become strong disciples of Jesus who will make more disciples – starting a Disciple Making Movement in O-land!
Bible stories with the Tepeth
Please pray for Ugandan missionaries Lawrence and Simple as they start a bible study series for Tepeth communities next month. Please pray that these stories will have an impact on the communities they share in and that many will believe. Please also pray for an interpreter who is able to go with them.
They are also wanting to use audio bibles for community discipleship. Pray that the audio bibles will help communities grow in their relationship with Christ, as they hear the Word of God in their language.
Heralds of the gospel
Jesus, we ask for generations of believers where parents and grandparents share their faith with their children without a spirit of fear, but with power, love and self-discipline. May they be willing to join in the suffering for the gospel, by the power of God. May they remember that you have saved them and called them to a holy life—not because of anything they have done but because of your own purpose and grace. Jesus, may they be heralds and teachers of this gospel. (2 Tim 1)
New leaders
Our local church has just gone through the process of appointing the first local elders and deacons. Please pray for these individuals as they serve in new positions and learn what it looks like to lead and encourage others within the body of Christ.
Kairos
Over the next two weekends, there is a missions seminar called Kairos that will be held in Kondoa. Pray this will spur on the Christians here to reach their Rangi Muslims and to give them a better perspective of world missions and the Great Commission, that they would cross the street and cross borders for Jesus’ sake.
Healing
A teenage Som* boy who has been living with our neighbour was admitted at Kijabe hospital and the family expected that his cancerous leg would be amputated. Happily, the doctors decided otherwise. The boy is currently back home and will return next week for chemo. The family has been very open to prayers. They are excited by the improvement of this young man’s health as he can now walk! He is getting better. Praise the Lord!
We are trusting the Lord for total healing. Pray with us.
Become a core group
Praise God for three women who have been discipled for some time in one neighbourhood and are now more and more looking to study God’s word and pray together. Please pray that they would become the core from which a group of believers and seekers could develop one day soon! Pray for the courage and conviction for each of them to be baptised this year.
Opposition
Pray for the believers in Beangezoka. After the pastor died suddenly in December 2019, the young man he was discipling was unexpectedly thrust into the pastorate. Pray for him, John, and the pastor’s wife, Theresa, and the other believers to stand firm against opposition in the village from ancestor worshippers. Ask the Lord to help John as he pastors the church.
Proclaiming Faith through Baptism
Praise God for baptisms that took place in the Tabora region during Passion Week. Some of these baptisms are the first believers in their families. Pray for U’s family who are Nyamwezi, do not yet know Jesus, and would not come to his baptism. Pray for other sincere seekers to be encouraged by U’s public testimony to follow Christ, and even now during Ramadan, to make the same commitment to become followers of Jesus. Pray for U and the eight other believers baptized with him that they would persevere through tribulations and powerfully proclaim the Gospel to the people around them.
Diaspora in Atlanta
* Ask the Lord to introduce each one of us on the Atlanta team to an unsaved UPG African.
* Pray that the Lord would save these Muslim friends: E., H., M., and A.
Diaspora in Detroit
* We have been working with about 30 Afghan families at a local hotel for 6 weeks. Pray for fruitful ministry and many to really listen to the gospel.
* Pray for Mr I who was asking me to “show him the proof in hand” that Jesus was real. May Jesus reveal Himself to him in a powerful way! Pray for Mr. F who recently accepted the Bible and showed interest in the story of Exodus. May he be freed from bondage of Islam!
Taking with God
Last month Marlene made several trips back and forth to Ohilang from Torit to close up ministry and help move Umjuma and her children back to Torit. On one occasion she met with a dear old lady that she has known for years. Over the years, Marlene has shared with this woman parts of the gospel, but on this occasion while talking about the passing of Luka, Marlene was able to share with “T” her sure hope that she will see Luka again in eternity. Marlene then shared the whole gospel, creation to Christ, with “T”. As they were talking it became evident that “T” had stopped speaking to Marlene and had started talking with God! This felt like a great gift to Marlene in the midst of much loss and sorrow over the last weeks. Pray for “T” to grow in her trust in the Lord, and that He will teach her through His Spirit.
Diaspora in Portland
* A couple weeks ago, “S” and “E” (“S” is an MBB) sent me an invitation to their farewell Open House. They are preparing to move to another city, closer to his job. We will really miss him! But I wish you could have been at their farewell last Sunday! We joined other families who filled their home with lively conversations, all of us discovering how God had used His Family assisting these refugees (S & E) in following Jesus in a new land and with a new language. Keep your eyes and hearts open! Is God tapping you to be part of His encouragement team?
Struggles
Ancestral worship is a strong force across Madagascar; some Sakalava church members continue to follow these practices. Pray for missionaries to have the wisdom in approaching them about this. Pray the Holy Spirit will convict them of their sin. Many couples in the village are struggling in their marriages and young girls get pregnant very early. Pray for God’s blessing on a training being offered about what the Bible teaches about marriage and relationships between boys and girls. Pray for open hearts.
Bible study
I was recently asked by a friend to read the Bible together with her each week. This was a big encouragement because I had been asking God how I could share more intentionally with her. Each week she invites neighbours to come, and we read John’s gospel. There have been some challenges, but it now seems that there is a core group of women who come regularly. Please pray that the Holy Spirit will lead during these times, and that each of us will grow closer to Christ.
Partial healing
Lucia and her son, Marino, spent most of March in Juba getting treatment for a condition that has left Marino unable to speak for over a year. He needed surgery to remove growths from his larynx. We thank God that the surgery went well, however not all could be removed at once and Marino is still not speaking much above a whisper. We also thank God that the biopsy of the masses did not reveal any cancerous cells. The surgeon has told Lucia to return to Juba in May/June for further surgery. This has been a difficult journey for Lucia and her son, but she has not wavered in her belief that God has been her help and strength through it all – “Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens!” (Psalm 68:19). Please pray that God would heal Marino completely, that his voice would be restored, and he would use his mouth to speak the praises of God.
Diaspora in Europe
* We praise God for new believers in Jerez and a few Muslim seekers involved in a Bible study. Please pray for faith to grow.
* Pray for new Ukrainian refugees arriving at our partner church Tharsis Betel in Jerez this week. Pray for God’s people to minister to them and ask the Lord to open many hearts to the gospel.
New believers
We praise God as we have gained several new believers in our community over the last month! That said, recently two of the young women chose to move away to the city for work. Please pray as they’re now away from us, that they would continue to pursue and discover their new faith and that they would plug in to a local church. Pray for the other new believers here, to stand firm and keep their joy, especially when facing pressure from Muslim family members and the community.
Local body
Please lift up the local body and local leaders to be Spirit led, humble, obedient followers as they lead others.
needing inner healing
Please pray for one believer, baptised some years ago, who is continuing to struggle with the damage done to her in the past, demonic oppression and the challenges of living as a single mother who was rejected by her husband many years ago, and the only believer in her community. Please pray for increased inner healing and increased boldness to resist the devil and his lies. May this lady grasp more and more profoundly God’s huge mercy to her and so present herself fully as a living sacrifice (Romans 12 v 1).
Seeking God
Petera, a Malagasy teammate, and his team praise the Lord that the many cyclones this season have not effected the rice harvest. Pray for them as they engage with the community during Ramadan, the Muslim month of fasting. Pray for the Holy Spirit to change hearts as people seek God in a special way during the month.
Diaspora in Calif, USA
* Pray for the 20 students from India and 1 from Germany who attended a 3-day retreat in the mountains during their spring break. Pray that the Word of God that was spoken would penetrate their souls and cause them to turn from idol worship and become followers of Jesus.
* Pray for the Easter outreach planned for students. May those who attend be willing and able to hear God’s voice and turn to Jesus for salvation.
Diaspora in Florida
Several visits to mosques and homes are planned for Ramadan. Pray for Gospel opportunities and soften hearts to be willing to hear that Jesus is more than a prophet. Pray that they would initiate these conversations with true sincerity.
Story telling
Global Link Afrika missionaries Ambrose and Esther write: “We are in stage three of story telling in the villages of Natopojo and Namalera. In the second stage we shared stories about the fall and God’s judgement. Most people were sad about what happened and the state of the world today. We see a yearning for answers/solutions. Pray that the Holy Spirit will birth faith in the hearts of the people from the communities as we share the news about the promised saviour.”
Diaspora in Canada
* Please pray for our Muslim friends during Ramadan to have visions of Jesus, and for us to continue to engage them productively during this time.
* Pray for “I”, who is boldly proclaiming his faith in his homeland. Please pray for him to stay strong in faith, and boldly, gently, respectfully, proclaim Jesus.
* Pray for “A” whose paranoia has increased markedly lately – please pray for his willingness to seek treatment for this and addictions. His love for Jesus is still very evident.
* Pray for “A” and “H” – brothers who lost their Christian Mom a few years ago. “H” is a believer who struggles with mental illness and loneliness and has begun coming to church with me lately. “A” is a self-avowed unbeliever now but is still eager to talk with me. Please pray for his healing from a debilitating immune disorder, and for a genuine heart change to seek after Jesus.
Witnesses
A new team of 11 missionaries is spreading the good news amongst the Mwani people. Pray for their neighbors, shop keepers, and others they meet to have open hearts to friendship and gospel conversations. Ask Father to bring seeking friends to each one. Pray for the Lord to build His church among the Mwani.
Encounter Jesus
Faith is a girl from this people group who is studying medicine in Khartoum. She returned from Khartoum for a month recently because of the recent coup in Sudan and the closure of the medical school. She has now returned and begun her final module and should graduate and return to this area mid 2022. Pray her faith in God will grow as she encounters Jesus.
Salvation
Our hearts’ desire and prayer for the O is that they may be saved. We can testify about them that many of them are zealous for God – but their zeal is not based on knowledge. Since they do not know the righteousness of God (through Jesus), they seek to establish their own, and so they do not submit to God’s righteousness. Christ (the Messiah) is the fulfillment of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes. Pray that many O will submit to God’s Gift of Salvation and Righteousness through Jesus the Messiah!
Open his heart
We are getting to know a man in his 30’s named ‘L’. He has come to our house and heard the Word. Pray that the Father opens his heart to see the beauty of the Son and the Good News.
The moon has been sighted!
“O mwezi uoneha!” The cry goes up as people pass the word onto their family and neighbors: “The moon has been sighted!” Ramadan has begun. For Islanders not a drop of water or a crumb of food will pass their lips from sunrise to sunset for 30 days. They will even endeavor to spit out rather than swallow their own saliva. It’s a long and strenuous month as Muslims all over the world seek to please God and earn points with their efforts. Please pray for the 700,000 people who hail from these Islands. Pray that their tomorrow will be different from today through coming to faith in Christ our Lord. Lift up the small but growing number of Island believers across the nation, that they would be protected by the Lord of Hosts as they boldly and courageously proclaim Christ as their Lord and Savior and share how he has transformed their lives.
Healing
Praise God for a secret believer in one village who prayed on her own for her own healing, after having sustained an injury which continued to cause significant and debilitating pain at times. God graciously and instantly healed her some weeks ago and she has not had any pain since. Please pray that she would continue to see more clearly the God who loves her and cling to him. May she be transformed from one degree of glory to another.
Diaspora in France
* Pray for H and J: two students we are walking with and mentoring. Every day they are coming closer to the Lord. Pray for soften hearts.
No points required!
We trust God that there will be a move of God among the Karana people in Madagascar, who play such an influential role in the economy of the country, despite being a minority. Being a Muslim people group, they are celebrating the month of fasting: Ramadan. Attending ritual prayers, fasting from sunrise to sunset for 30 days, being a more serious Muslim—all in order to earn as many “good points” to outweigh the bad on the scale they’ll have to answer to on Judgement Day. Pray that many Karana will be reconciled to the God who loves them and provided the free gift of salvation for them—no points required!
Pray for peace
Please continue to lift up Elia as he provides leadership for several Toposa churches. He asks for prayer for peace in the church and freedom from persecution, that he and his evangelists would be strong and faithful as leaders, for literacy and education for the children. He comments that illiteracy among the Toposa is very high, which contributes to the challenges in the church. Pray for Elia and the other Christian leaders, that their “bows remain steady, [their] strong arms stay limber, because of the hand of the Mighty One of Jacob, because of the Shepherd, the Rock of Israel…who helps you” (Genesis 49:24-25).
Diaspora in Canada
* Praise God that through 7 personal Zoom “faith discussions” in February and March the whole plan of salvation was shared with B., a newly graduated Nigerian Muslim engineer. B. was not ready to put his faith in Christ at the end of the talks, but on his own asked if we could do a weekly Bible study with him. Pray that the Spirit of God would convince and convict B. during a chapter-by-chapter study in Mark’s Gospel.
We carry the hope of Christ and His salvation
Join us in fervent prayer for the Nahara- that they would hear and believe. That we would boldly believe and declare the message of the cross. That the Muslim Nahara would leave their fetishes and receive the freedom of the Gospel. Also, a cyclone hit our area and many homes are down. With the increased rain, malaria is rampant and omicron-flu is present in force. These challenges come at a time when fields need tilling and care is at its peak; without this people go hungry. Many people have lost their crops due to flooding. Pray that the people of this region will pull through this challenging time, that we will stand strong with them, and that the gospel of Christ will ultimately triumph and bring life to this region.
