Please pray that God will provide for Ugandan missionaries who have been working in the Ik ridge. With insecurity in the area and retirement of some key partners, the future of their work seems uncertain. “We don’t really know how our work will look like or if we will be able to carry on. But we are trusting God. Pray that He will open doors.”
Warmly received
Praise God that the Jesus Film in Alagwaisa has so far been warmly received. Praise God for the way it has given courage to some secret believers to want to share more boldly. May they follow through and share with others. Pray for wisdom as further showings are planned and more than anything, pray that the Holy Spirit would use this tool to reveal the truth of God’s love in Jesus to many people.
Many Say Yes
Pray for people’s yes to be a heart and life changing yes. Many say yes to Jesus the first time they hear the Gospel message. But it may be that they haven’t received Christ in their lives as it is acceptable culturally to lie to gain a relationship. Are they saying yes to Jesus or are they saying yes to relationship with the Gospel bearer? At the end of the day, we find many are not willing to go deeper beyond friendly tolerance of living side by side with God’s people. Pray that the seeds planted and Gospel given will work in their hearts and they will evermore grow dissatisfied with religious practice and crave instead a personal relationship with the risen Lord.
Peace
With the aftermath of Civil War still looming in Northern Mozambique, it took a coalition of troops from SADC as well as Rwanda, the US, and other countries to drive insurgents away from the larger cities. So far, they are fleeing into the jungle and skirmishes have been rather small. There are a lot of talks about rebuilding the nation but this is a highly sensitive issue. Pray with us for peace and for the government to prioritize developing and training Mozambicans.
Diaspora in South America
May the Lord enable His church to intentionally engage with immigrant people, understanding that the presence of the nations among us represents an historic opportunity to be and to proclaim the good news.
Pray for the Senegalese family that we are working with (Ma., Mo. and baby Mo.; Amie, Mam. and Do.).
Pray for Ai. She is Mozambican and Muslim. She is open to the gospel, but she has many fears, including her family.
Pray for wisdom in working with Senegalese, knowing the best moments and ways to approach, and what to say, choosing the moment to present the gospel to them.
“His soul shall abide in well-being, and his offspring shall inherit the land.” (Ps. 2)
Shepherds
Pray for Kalifha, a Laarim man, who is leading the Bible study in Cauwa. Pray for him, and other Laarim believers, to grow to maturity in order that they may “be shepherds of God’s flock…examples to the flock” (1 Peter 5:2,4).
Shown interest
Please pray for my friend and neighbor Mama S. She is a Muslim. She has shown interest in going to a Bible study with me, but has yet to go. Pray she will.
Diaspora in Kentucky
*Praise God for the various evangelistic initiatives to Somali immigrants and refugees in our city. Please pray for ongoing gospel conversations and that Somalis would desire to read the Bible.
” Remember not the sins of my youth or my transgressions; according to your steadfast love remember me, for the sake of your goodness, O LORD!” (Ps. 25:7)
Strive together
Pray that the believers would strive together for the sake of the gospel not frightened by any who oppose them. Praise Jesus for the handful of faithful men who are growing in courage and welcoming others.
R&C
R is one of our best language helpers. She’s been with us for more than 6 months. We are growing close to her family, but when it comes to spiritual matters, they are quite closed. I once asked for help translating the creation story, but there were parts they wouldn’t discuss or even give me the words for, such as the idea of being ‘created in God’s image’. Please ask for openness.
C hasn’t been around for a couple of weeks due to exams but she came back this week and has continued to ask questions about our Book. We are happy to answer but would like to do a more thorough study with her. As she is under 18, we will be seeking permission from her parents and want to also invite the whole family. Ask for a fruitful time together.
Diaspora in UK
* Praise God that the Welsh government has eased restrictions: no social-distancing if we wear masks in public indoor settings. This is the first time since March 2020 that the International Women’s Sewing Group will be back in church working together on sewing machines. Please ask God to provide both helpers and ladies to attend as we seek to share God’s love through Word and deed in these Monday sewing classes.
* We are thankful that one immigrant lady has spread the news about Homework Club in the community. Join us in asking God to provide both teenagers who will come and Christian helpers.
* In this academic year, also pray that God will continue to strengthen relationships between the helpers and families in the Somali community.
Soften his heart
Pray for the translation work as we near the end of John and move towards the book of Acts. Praise God for one of the translators who is continuing to seek Jesus and is keen to share the good news with his friends. Pray for another translator who has recently softened a lot towards Jesus. “Please God, continue to soften his heart that he would follow you with his whole life!”
God’s drawing
Pray for M, a new O Community Health Worker who is getting much prayer and exposure to the Gospel- may God draw her and her extended family to Jesus as His strong disciples who would be used to make more disciples!
He supplies every need
Our friends are already worrying about food scarcity during the rainy season. Pray that they would stay focused on gratitude and would know hope that is far more dependable than the weather.
All of our neighbors have small gardens in their yards, and we have been able to share seeds with them. Please pray that God will continue to multiply the harvests here both in terms of food and in people’s hearts. We believe that He supplies every need.
Diaspora in South Carolina
* Through our friends in Kenya we have learned that some of their relatives are living in our area. They are Sikhs but not so devout. Our Sikh friend in Kenya is a believer but none of his relatives in Kenya or the US are believers. Pray that God will give wisdom as we look for ways to connect with them.
* Continue to pray for the new church plant in that area to have a burden and outreach to these migrants coming into the US.
“Consider my affliction and my trouble, and forgive all my sin.” (Ps. 25:18)
Diaspora in Portland
* We are starting the school year, and are excited to begin classes again! We would appreciate prayer that the classes would go smoothly and that we would have lots of students coming this year.
* We are starting to find times to meet with students outside of class. Please pray for Jesus-centered conversations during these times!
“My eyes are ever towrd the LORD, for he will pluck my feet out of the net.” (Ps. 25:15)
Audio Bibles
Audio Bibles with 55 Bible stories and 17 Bible songs in the Toposa language are ready to go out to the Toposa. Women are using these audio bibles to lead Bible storying groups and are making new disciples and disciple makers. Praise God! Pray for the distribution of these audio Bibles, that they will get in the hands of those who will be receptive to the Truth and will “acknowledge God…and serve him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind” (1 Chronicles 28:9).
Pray for believers
Paul declared in his letter to the Colossian believers that “since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding” (1:9). Let us remember the Laarim believers today and pray this same prayer for them. Pray today for Maria, Kalifha, Loduko, Lokolong, Lowuyo, Yaba, Kileng and others (God knows their names!).
Children’s Bible
Rachel and Mama F. are Muslim ladies who live across the street me. They frequently ask to read my children’s bible and on occasion ask me questions about it. Pray the Lord would speak to them in His Word.
New pastor
Praise God for our new AICT pastor who is spending time learning language and culture here. Pray that God will continue to strengthen and envision him as he serves here.
God
God’s drawing: Pray for M, a new O Community Health Worker who is getting much prayer and exposure to the Gospel- may God draw her and her extended family to Jesus as His strong disciples who would be used to make more disciples!
Be faithful
Pray for the church in Chukudum to be faithful in going up the mountain on Sundays for prayers. Pray that even in the absence of missionaries and local pastors, the believers in Nagishot would “continue to work out [their] salvation with fear and trembling” (Philippians 2:12), and that God would work in them “to act according to His good purpose” (2:13).
Diaspora in Wisconsin
* Praise the Lord for a very successful soccer tournament and a great family picnic. Pray that the relationships built during these two events will bear fruit for the Kingdom.
* Pray for our workers’ Fall kick off meeting at our house on September 19th. We are thankful for the many workers that have joined our team and we pray that they will be encouraged to continue doing ministry.
“Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I an lonely and afflicted.” (Ps. 25:16)
Youth program
Please pray for the youth program that Noblesse is leading. Pray that these young people would be captivated by the message of God’s love for them, “so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us” (Acts 17:27).
Diaspora in Calif, USA
* Praise for a good camping trip and good conversations in August. Pray for continued relationships and that the truth that was spoken will be acted upon.
* Pray for unity among our team working with International Students as we begin a new semester. Pray for new students to join us. Pray for the planned beach day September 18 which will include surfing lessons!
Needing deliverance
I attended a wedding this week where my good friend’s mom manifested demons. I’ve offered to pray for her mom in Jesus’s name. Her mom has said thank you but refused, stating that they’ve already done prayers and just “don’t know why they won’t leave”. Only Jesus can do it. Pray for an opportunity for her to be delivered from the kingdom of darkness into light!
School open
We give thanks for the opening of the Ohilang school. Some of the teachers are involved in the weekly Bible study with Marlene. Pray that they and Marlene would set an example of living out their faith in the school and community. Pray the school will run consistently, despite many distractions.
Be Brave
It is not uncommon for Muslim Background Believers to have messy lives (like the rest of us broken-but-being-transformed people) so lifestyle choices are often complex. Pray for *Euodia that she will know God’s leading and presence as she makes decisions. Pray that she might be brave and open to what God has for her.
Inspired to love
Mzee M lives in my neighborhood. He is an older Muslim man with a welcoming personality. He has been a very good listener when it comes to spiritual conversation. He accepts prayer in Jesus name. His wife’s knees are bad and I was able to give them a box seat toilet. I read scripture and told them because of the love of Jesus I wanted to help. I explained that it wasn’t that I was a rich Mzungu but because of Christ’s love which inspires his followers to love their neighbors. May the Lord Jesus open this man’s eyes to salvation!
True repentance
This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel says: “ In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, but you would have none of it.”
May the Holy Spirit bring deep conviction to the Alagwa of lostness and sin and bring them to true repentance and therefore rest.
Diaspora in Washington
* Pray with us for our Afghan students and their families and friends. We praise God he provided safe passage back to the USA for all our students who went to visit this summer! We continue to pray for Afghan Christians who are being threatened by the Taliban and for others who qualify for evacuation due to danger; but who have been unable to leave.
“The friendship of the LORD is for those who fear him, and he makes known to them his covenant.”
Firm Foundation
Several families have gathered to begin a church plant in their village, meeting under a mango tree. They have been taught by a teacher who volunteers his Sundays to lead this congregation. Pray for these families as they grow in faith and reach out to their community. One of the villagers has given land to build a church, praise God! On designated church work days the families have gathered together to build the walls of their new church. The foundation stones are first hand dug from up on the hill, rolled down, lifted and piled up, and then placed around for the perimeter of the foundation. Pray that as they build the church on a firm foundation, that their lives likewise will be unified in Christ, built and lived out upon His firm foundation. (Ephesians 2:19-22)
Diaspora in Florida
* The Faith of Abraham Study Bible Notes project is crawling forward. Please pray for wisdom for the web developer. The project is also underfunded. Please pray for God’s abundant provision.
* Our imams seem to have withdrawn. Please pray for a renewal of contacts with them.
* One of our mosques is building a new masjid immediately next door to a Baptist church. The Orlando team has finally been able to begin a relationship with the new pastor of that church. Pray that they will seize the opportunity that God has brought them.
“For your name’s sake, O LORD, pardon my guilt, for it is great. Who is the man who fears the LORD? Him will he instruct in the way that he should choose.” (Ps. 25:11, 12)
Diaspora in France
* Praise:
* Z has been baptized! This is a student that has been hearing the Gospel for the last 5 years. It was a blessing to be a part of this day.
* The team is growing and the Lord is sending new workers.
* Prayer requests:
* Pray for M, another student, who has been walking her journey for a while. Pray that she will have the boldness to take that final step and that the Lord will take the scales off her eyes.
* Pray for our new school year. We will be meeting many new students soon. Pray the Lord will lead us to those searching.
“All the paths of the LORD are steadfast love and faithfulness, for those who keep his covenant and his testimonies.” (Ps. 25:10)
Breakthrough prayer: Growing!
A big encouragement through O MBB team-mates Y&S beginning work in a new village! May the Holy Spirit pour in and through them with the wisdom and power of the message of the Messiah and the cross! Pray for breakthrough response- that God will make things grow!
Diaspora in Minnesota
* Pray for our volunteer teams as we welcome new refugees to our city. Pray that the teams can be equipped and welcome the new refugees well.
* Pray for Mr. A. He has opened up about some hard things in his past. He saw some visions during Ramadan. He is close to the truth. Pray he continues to seek.
“Good and upright is the LORD; therefore he instructs sinner in the way.” (Ps. 25:8)
Sending church
This weekend Luka and Umjuma will be in Torit to share about their ministry and their needs with the church. Pray that their stories of what God is doing among the Lopit will encourage and bless the church. Pray they will also have the courage and boldness to share about their needs – both physical and spiritual. Ask God to work in the Torit AIC church to step up their commitment to support missionaries so they can remain in these tough places.
Diaspora in Portland
Praise God with us for the baptism of Mr A on Sunday. A small intimate group with 2 other North African believers attended the baptism. Pray for this brother in Christ as he goes to his home in North Africa to reconcile with his wife who is Muslim. Pray for his safety and safe return to USA with his wife.
Training
Pray for the training in Naliel of all disciples from different parts of the land that lasts for one month. Pray that the Lord will be glorified amongst us.
Pray this week for safety and health as we collect all these disciples.
And pray for all the facilitators to be filled with the Spirit.
Trapped and Unhappy
The young S. Asian woman is devoutly Muslim. But her religious beliefs are not bringing relief from the problems and stresses in her life these days. She feels trapped, unhappy and frustrated. And she is talking to her Christian friend about it. Please pray that her stress and distress will lead her to consider whether there is anywhere to find love, joy and peace in the world, and that she will come to faith in Jesus Christ.
