Ramadan has just started in our community, meaning many are fasting and taking part in the prayers. Please pray for God to show up in mighty ways during this time. Pray for boldness for the young local church, pray for dreams and visions, pray for wisdom as our team spends time with our friends and neighbours during this month long fast.
Women Gathering
We praise Jesus for the Women’s Gathering that recently happened. Ladies from 5 different Gabbra communities came together to pray, worship and be ministered to by the Word of God.
Many women came to an Evangelical Church for the first time, women who are starting a new journey in their relationship with Christ, because they are understanding that our choices today can change the entire course of our history.
They were very moved by the fact that the men prepared their meals and served them (which is not part of their culture).
Continue praying for God’s transformation in the hearts of Gabbra families and may many be a witness of God to others daily.
Diaspora in Minnesota
* We have been asked to help start an ESL program for 15 Afghan refugees. Pray for wisdom as we begin this class in the next few weeks. Pray for opportunities to share Christ and for open hearts to receive this good news.
* Pray for increased connections among our Somali friends through Ramadan, even though connecting with them will be harder.
Let the little children come
We are really seeing fruit in our children ministry: we have a children’s group each Friday and more than 50 children come. We also had a children’s camp last summer with 50 children and a special event at Christmas with 240 children! Please pray these children will trust in Christ.
Also pray for a musicians’ group which meets each week for discipleship. Pray they will grow strong and mature in their faith.
Believe
Ask that believers believe and therefore speak because they know that the One who raised Jesus will raise them also (2 Cor 4). May they increase in faith; speak what they believe; know the certainty of the gospel (Christ’s death and resurrection) and not fear because God raises the dead. What can mere humans do to us?
Diaspora in Hong Kong
* During this wave of the pandemic many refugee families need assistance, especially for kids. We were thankful that a church offered to provide them with packages of food and other necessities, and they even helped deliver them. It opened a door for the gospel.
* Thank God our Chinese classes have just finished, though we encountered many technical problems since our African students used phones only and their wifi was not so stable. However, they keep on learning Chinese.
* Our Chinese class will change the schedule during Ramadan. When I talked with my students whether they will take off Ramadan for spiritual retreat as their annual leave. They were so excited to talk about it. Pray for us to seize every opportunity to share our faith with them.
* A few members of a church want to help the Chinese class- pray for vision to see UPG’s know Jesus.
Know nothing except Jesus
We are becoming more aware of the effects of prosperity teaching, from the obvious to the subtle. We see this in church members and also seekers and believers in the community. This can come through the radio, phones, or sadly through church sermons. Please pray for the true gospel to be fully embraced and for believers to resolve “to know nothing… except Jesus Christ and him crucified.” I Corinthians 2,2
Stroke
We have prayed for *Rivkah over the last 11 years. She is a secret believer in her 60’s and had a stroke about 2 months ago. She is unable to walk unaided and also has problems with her speech. She has moved to live with her daughter who lives in a satellite village at the other side of town. Pray for her in her recovery and for wisdom as she and her family make decisions. Pray that she might seek healing and strength through Jesus and learn to put her full trust in Him.
Bible study training
The Lord says, “My name will be great among the nations, from where the sun rises to where it sets” (Malachi 1:11). Please pray for the students of the Kingdom builders school to go out from their training and make known the great name of Jesus among the peoples of this nation. Pray for the Lord to bring new students, possibly men and women like Lukolong in Nagishot who need more training in Bible study and sharing methods. Pray God will give Steve, Gina, and the leadership team wisdom to know how to offer this training to those who do not live in Torit.
Breakthrough!
Pray for Lasting Fruit from a wonderful 5 days of Kids Club with so much Gospel truth shared to over 200 kids! May the kids remember their memory verses, and many of them share with their families & bring about Response! Pray breakthrough prayers for us & our AIC team – for a breakthrough of God’s Spirit drawing many O to become strong disciples of Jesus who will make more disciples – starting that Disciple Making Movement in O-land!
Cast off
Pray that each believer would cast off the old ways of thinking where lies are acceptable, where you are justified by good deeds, where safety is in silence. Pray that each would put on the righteousness of Christ, who is truth, who justifies by faith, who casts out fear with perfect love.
Translation Underway!
The first ever translation of the Old Testament into the Nyamwezi language is underway! Pray for the translation team as they meet together daily translating the book of Genesis. Pray for the team to work well together, for clear thinking and wisdom in accuracy, and be committed to the longer work of translating the entire Bible.
Call on Jesus
Pray for Logwe, a Laarim believer who is facing much stress in his life. Pray that he would remain firmly trusting in the Lord and walking with Him. Pray that he would know “The Lord is near to all who call on Him, to all who call on Him in truth” (Psalm 145:18), and that he would call on Jesus for help in times of trouble.
Ramadan starts April 2
Ramadan starts April 2. Pray that many will find Jesus satisfies their deepest longings.
Also, ask that the devil will not discourage local followers during Ramadan.
power of darkness
Please pray for my friend M K who lost his business due to power of witchcraft. Imani spoke to him concerning God’s word and what it says about the power of darkness. He plans to have a session with him every day to teach him more about God’s word. Pray that God would prepare his heart to receive His word.
Choosing elders
Pray for pastor Julien of the Baptist church in Mandritsara.
He is about to nominate new elders. For wisdom from above for him, that he will discern God’s will, and that the members will also know God’s will and approve.
Ramadan pressure
Pray for believers who are living with Muslim family members during Ramadan. Pray that they not deny Jesus, that they do not fear, that they find deep satisfaction in Jesus, the Bread of Life.
Marriage and relationships
We have heard that some church members continue ancestral worship. We need wisdom to find how to talk to them. 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. We would like to give a training about what the Bible teaches about marriage and relationships between boys and girls. Pray for open hearts.
Hosting youth conference
The Mossurize youth have been chosen to host the country’s Annual Youth Conference in August for the American Board Church! Please pray for us as this will be the first conference out in the “bush”, and the first time for our humble youth group to host! We only have 5 months to prepare! Please pray for all of us spiritually and physically!
Please pray for revival and the Lord’s presence on this conference and the blessed opportunity to minister on such a large scale!
Mid-week groups
Please pray for the team and church leadership as we launch new mid-week groups in the church with a whole church seminar on 9th April. We have a vision to see these groups intentionally encourage:
* more personal growth in church members’ relationship with Jesus
* more accountability with one another
* and more reaching out to their neighbours and communities.
May your Kingdom come, may your will be done, Father, amongst the Alagwa!
Jesus Film testimony
The Jesus film was shown in a new Gabbra settlement where the majority of people worship Ayana (a god of darkness).
As we were visiting and getting prepared to start the film, a group of Ayana believers started playing their drums and worshiping evil spirits. We stayed in prayer and played Gospel songs that declare God’s salvation. After starting the film, the loud drums stopped and we had a great number of people coming to watch the Life of Jesus. Afterwards we asked for questions or comments and an elder said: “We had heard about the name of Jesus, but now that we’ve seen Him, can start to believe in Him”.
Pray that Jesus’ power be manifested in this village, that the light of Jesus shine and darkness flees. And that as they remember the story of Jesus and His sacrifice, they turn their lives to our Savior Jesus Christ.
Seeking God
I have heard from Petera, (Malagasy team mates), and he said they praise the Lord that the many cyclones this season have not effected the rice harvest. He asked for prayer as they engage with the community during ramadan. Pray for the Holy Spirit to change hearts as people seek God during the upcoming month.
Enthusiastic
Pray for a family who was visited by a team member and a local believer and shared Truth with the family. The little 8 year old girl excitedly stated that she would share this story with her dad when he got home. Please keep praying for more and more opportunities to share with this family and for all of them to share in this little girl’s enthusiasm about sharing the Truth about Jesus.
Reading the Bible
Mama S. has shown a willingness to read the Bible with Shara. Pray that God would continue to draw her closer to Him and that they would have deep and intentional times of Scripture studying.
Pray for the Christian women of our street, that we would continue to build each other up and pray together for a breakthrough of the Gospel amongst our neighbors.
Needing rescue
May those who are prideful in their education and wealth be humbled and recognize their need to be rescued by Jesus the Lamb of God. May those studying Scripture believe that the Word from God is true; Jesus is the Son of God, perfect and holy; He did die, his substitutionary death satisfies the wrath of God; He did rise and overcome death and sin.
Pray for the Jesus Film project.
About 232 villages have already watched the Jesus Film, but we are starting to have some kind of demonic resistance to visit villages.
Please pray that we will find a “highway” for the Jesus Film to be broadcast in Bara villages.
Pray for fruit among the villagers and that the name of Christ grow glorious among them.
Diaspora in Canada
* We work with North Africans (Arabs and Berbers from Morocco, Tunisia and Algeria). Please pray for the Holy Spirit to convict unbelievers of their need of a Saviour, and to thirst for Jesus. Please pray for the believers to become more involved in church and ministry.
* We launched a new ESL Course based on the TV series The Chosen. We have approximately 10 students who have joined us over the last 3 weeks- 8 across North Africa, with an Iranian woman and a woman from Russia. Please pray for the Lord to use this course, this TV series to draw them to Jesus and that in our discussions and scripture reading, that they would come to know Jesus. Please pray for many to join a subsequent Bible study.
Equip and strengthen
“Look, there on the mountains, the feet of one who brings good news, who proclaims peace” (Nahum 1:15). Jordan was very encouraged by his time with Lukolong in Nagishot. He was able to join in the Sunday morning service that includes Lukolong’s wife, one elderly man from the community, and many children and youth (overflowing the small church building!). While Lukolong would love to pursue finishing his primary education (equivalent to grade 8), he feels compelled to remain in Nagishot and continue to lead this young church. Pray that he will be equipped and strengthened to do so.
Child of God
We studied John 1 with Missy today. The Holy Spirit helped her understand the passage especially confirming her “right to be called a child of God” as Jesus had called her “His daughter” in her dream.
Amazingly, her housemates noticed such a change in her that they guessed she’s a Follower!! When they confronted her about it this week, she knew she couldn’t hide the Truth so she spoke plainly and openly… and rather than being aggressive as she’d feared, they were peaceful and asked questions. Pray the Lord would open their hearts to the Truth.
Reconnect
Please pray with us for Is** who is a MBB but says he is now not religious and does not like his background people. We pray God will touch his heart and create time so that we can walk this journey together and disciple him. There is also another brother, (call him E**), also a MBB but who always appears to be busy each time we connect on the phone. He will either not answer the phone or answer to say he is busy. God, you alone, know what E** is going through. Please reconnect us so that we can walk together for the extension of your Kingdom.
New believers
We are praising the Lord. Three Swahili ladies came to Jesus! Pray for them to grow in knowing Jesus Christ and trusting in Him. Also keep praying for a boy who confessed Jesus as his personal savior.
Access to the Word
Pray for a great movement among the Body here on Vanilla Island. Pray that the Lord will continue to strengthen the believers through His Word and presence. Many are being encouraged as they get access to more and more scripture in their language. Pray the Lord will use this to grow His small gathering here on the island.
Diaspora in Philadelphia
* We find that the ESL students (including our Sudanese friends) have meaningful things to say or ask during and after holiday events. Pray for the impact on their minds and hearts this Easter.
* Please pray for the English ministry that students will continue to grow in knowledge of our God during the Bible portion of each lesson.
* Pray for the K family and their daughter who was in crisis. She has come home from the hospital, and we are thankful that she is able to function and hold a conversation. Nevertheless, it is still a long road of healing and trying to find help for her to be able to move forward. Please pray for wisdom as we navigate all the mental and spiritual dynamics and please pray that, amidst all of the difficulties, Christ would be made known to their family.
Discipling
It has been good to have Chuck and Shelley, former Pioneer missionaries among the Lopit, back in Lohutok for a couple of months. They have spent quite a lot of time with Paulo going through several TEE (Theological Education) books, as well as time with Thomas and Clement encouraging and teaching them. We thank God that despite several years away, their passion for discipling the Lopit has remained. Pray that those they have discipled in the past and during this stay will continue as faithful followers of Jesus.
Diaspora in Canada
* For peace and reconciliation, and a longing for our Christian brothers and sisters here to seek unity.
* For healing for the wounds of addiction and mental illness among our friends.
* For me to engage and bless the young men in our area who are failing in school and have been involved with gangs. Our friend M in particular is having a tough time finding work with his police record.
* For wounded kids of believing families who are drifting/running from Jesus, to come back.
* For increased openness among our Muslim friends in our neighboring apartments, and for the time spent there in tutoring, befriending, and teaching ESL, to bear Gospel fruit.
Bible translation
Pray that Bible translation work will be blessed and empowered by God, with accuracy and good natural flow in the O language. Pray for O and J, the main translators, that they and their wives will be strong in the Lord. The Jesus film in O has been delayed over and over- pray against the powers of this dark world that work and scheme to keep the O in bondage and darkness! May God’s Word go forward with power, with the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction!
Do not fear, I am with you
Last month Jordan traveled to Chukudum and Nagishot with Eunice of the Evangelical Free Church and Bishop Lagos of the AIC Church. One of the purposes of the trip was for the bishop to spend time with the local church in Chukudum and its pastor, Jacob Lodio. This was an encouraging time for all! Jacob has been discipling a number of youths who are now leading services at prayer centers in Didinga villages outside of Chukudum. As the believers continue to reach out with the gospel despite challenges and opposition, pray for them: “’Be strong, all you people of the land…and work. For I am with you,’ declares the Lord Almighty…’And my Spirit remains among you. Do not fear’” (Haggai 2:4).
Biblical Foundations
Praise God for land and building permissions for a Bible school at the center of Nyamwezi land! May the Lord bless this training center. Pray for new students to enroll who will have a heart to take the Gospel to every village where the Gospel has not yet been preached. As the classroom foundation is laid brick by brick, pray the same kind of spiritually solid Biblical foundation will be built in the lives of emerging church leaders trained at this site. Pray God’s blessing and protection over the teaching staff. Pray for fifty students already trained and sent out for their ministries to bear much fruit.
Sharpen each other in faith
Lolimo is a young man in the village of Yei where Jacob lives. He is one of Jacob’s regular visitors. Even though Lolimo is only in second grade, he is able to read Laarim. This is truly good news for a mostly illiterate community! Pray this young man will read the Scriptures that have been translated into Laarim and share what he is learning with others. Jacob is encouraged by Lolimo’s growing faith and love for Jesus. Pray that he and his brother, Logwe, would sharpen each other in their faith.
Breakthrough
Pray for the Vijana choir that Shara is a part of. Pray they would become passionate about sharing the Gospel with their unreached neighbors.
Jared is seeing relationships with Pastors develop. Pray for unity across different denominations. Pray for a breakthrough in the disunity, judgements, and hurts of Kondoa Pastors and healing of relationships.
