Pray for growing relationships with the many kids who hang around Dan and Joel’s compound, especially Lowuyo, Dominik, Lokwar and Lomua. Pray that as Dan and Joel live out what is to follow Jesus, their lives and their Words would preach the gospel and draw these boys to relationship with God.
Bible School Students
Pray for twelve Bible school students, as they return home to their village ministry sites among the Nyamwezi. Each has studied evangelism and discipleship activities. Pray they would put into practice what they have learned, that the Lord would use them to lead others to Christ. Pray that new groups would be formed to discover and learn God’s Word together. “Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.” (John 17:17)
Luka improving
We thank God that Luka was able to go to Juba last month for medical treatment. He received a new concoction for his skin rash that seems to be helping. Please continue to ask the Lord for complete healing. Pray that through Luka and Umjuma’s discipleship, the believers in Iboni will become a strong, unified body of Christ among the Lopit.
Noblesse
Noblesse has felt a tremendous amount of suffering and loss as he has seen many of his disciples either leave for refugee camps or killed in raids. When he was with us in Torit last month, he shared how deeply connected he feels to his community in Chauwa, so these losses have been significant. Pray that Noblesse would be comforted by “the Father of compassion…who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we have received from God” (2 Corinthians 1:3-4).
Hearing the Gospel
Pray for Stacey – a teammate met her at the gym and with follow up conversations helped her get the Word on her phone. They will start reading together.
Also, a pregnant lady fainted in town this week- teammates sat with her while waiting for her husband to come. He arrived, stayed to chat and they both heard the full gospel message – probably for the first time… including others who had also stayed around to help the lady. Pray for them to want to know more.
Loss
I want to ask for prayer for one of my friends from the coast of Kenya. Her mother-in-law, who was an influential family matriarch, passed away very unexpectedly last week. My friend shared that her whole family is struggling to process the loss. Please pray the Holy Spirit will use this opportunity to reveal His Truth to them, and that Jesus might even visit her, her daughters, and her husband in their dreams.
Seminar
Pray for the 12 Dorobo pastors who are having a three- day seminar this week on how to set up a Savings and Credit Cooperative to help with the chronic poverty in their community. There are many scriptural applications in the teaching. Pray these men will be instrumental in bringing positive change in the lives of the Dorobo members of our AIC churches.
Translation work
The books of Genesis and Exodus are now complete in Lopit and work on Mark has begun. The translation team are hopeful to have a draft of Mark by the end of year. As more and more of the Bible is translated into Lopit, pray that, “the unfolding of [God’s] Word gives light; it gives understanding to the simple” (Psalm 119:130).
Diaspora in Missouri
Pray for “MH” who works at a meat packing plant in SW Missouri. Recently he has experienced stomach problems and is seeking medical consultations. He’s planning to move to another state so he can get a job driving commercial trucks but the stomach problem has prevented him from moving. Pray that MH will hear the Gospel from his Christian friend before he moves.
Diaspora in Canada
Calgary and Edmonton, Canada have a combined Muslim population of 230,000. Many of them come from North Africa. Some of their children will be attending an August summer camp in Alberta. Pray that the Holy Spirit would be working on their hearts, preparing them for the Gospel truths they will hear at camp.
Bible being translated
The completion of the Laarim Bible is on track for 2023. Pray for the translation team to persevere and work hard to finish, and for good cooperation from the community as they do language checks. As the Laarim hear God’s Word in their mother tongue, pray for them to declare: “How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! I gain understanding from your precepts; therefore I hate every wrong path” (Psalm 119:103).
Diaspora in USA
There are several thousand Somalis living in Louisville, Kentucky. Many work at meat processing plants and own small businesses. Pray for divine meetings and crossing paths with local church members so they can experience God’s love in deed and in truth.
New pastors!
We serve among the Samburu in Maralal, Kenya. A few weeks ago, eight men were licensed as pastors! Please pray for unity among the pastors and workers, and that their love for one another will show that they are truly disciples of Jesus (John 13:35).
Diaspora in Canada
An Eritrean family’s eldest son in Toronto has been showing interest in Bible discussions. May his interest lead him to the Gospel and his need for salvation in Jesus Christ. Pray for his family to enter in to his interest and hear the Gospel as well.
Sunrise Bible study
Marlene has recently been able to start a bible study with her neighbors in Ohilang, meeting every Monday and Friday morning just after sunrise. Pray that everyone will be faithful to come, be eager to learn, and will grow in their understanding of who God is.
Diaspora in France
Pray for the Indian Ocean Islanders that live in Marseille, France. Pray that they will meet Christians who share the Good News. Pray that the Spirit will implant specific spiritual truth in their hearts that will lead them to Jesus.
Still in prison
Please continue to pray for our friends in prison for their faith. They have still not had their final hearing. Pray the Lord would sustain and encourage them, and give courage to the judge to do what is right.
Peace
There has been a series of riots and violence across the island caused by the indigenous people not welcoming the immigrant population, who are largely clandestine. Pray that the local believers would model Christ’s unconditional love and peace. Pray that the different gatherings of believers would be a safe place and somewhere to find true security and refuge in Christ for people of all backgrounds.
Bored and Lonely
A young Muslim South Asian woman has been hearing the gospel for about five years, since she was fifteen. Recently she asked questions for two hours and eagerly received a Bible of her own. Her parents both work all day, and she is home alone, studying online. She said she is very bored and lonely. Please pray that she will find God’s Word fascinating, and that Jesus will cure her loneliness with His friendship. Pray that she will want to continue to ask questions and become a disciple of Jesus.
A baptism!
Praise the Lord that A, a mum of three, has publicly declared her faith in Christ and been baptised! Pray she would stand strong in her faith even amidst opposition from family. Pray she would boldly share her testimony with her neighbours and friends.
Good Gospel Conversation
Bobby was able to have a good gospel sharing conversation with a couple of men the other day that are both Muslim. He was able to share and read scripture with them. Pray that the Holy Spirit would convict them and they would be open to accepting who Jesus is and what he has done for them.
Not Understanding
A young S. Asian woman comes from a divorced home. Her father is Saudi and her mother is Tanzanian. She was married as the second wife to a middle aged man, whose children from his first marriage are her age and disrespect her. She miscarried her first two babies and has not been able to get pregnant again. Recently she heard the gospel and read Scripture. She asked good questions, but seemed not to understand the spiritual concepts at all. She received a Bible. Please pray she will read it and that the Holy Spirit will give her an understanding of the deep things of God. Pray that she and her family will be rescued from the domain of darkness and transferred to the kingdom of God’s beloved Son.
Prodigal son
Moh., who initiated and brought students together for our English class, has been seeking to understand some English phrases/words. He sends me messages on WhatsApp, and I reply. Recently he asked me the meaning of ‘prodigal son’. This was a great opportunity to add to my answer the way the father forgives his son when he returns and welcomes him home, … God also waits for humans to realise that they have done wrong and ask for forgiveness and welcomes them back when they do.
Pray that when we meet physically, he will want to know more. Pray that God will put into his heart similar questions where we will only be able to get the answers from the Bible.
Local language used at school
The French government is encouraging local languages to be used in schools so that children grow up with a stronger understanding of their mother tongue. Pray that this would play a part in raising a generation with greater literacy and an opportunity for them to read and understand Bible stories in their heart language.
Resistance
A S. Asian woman has heard the gospel a number of times and received a Bible. She loves to spend time with people of other ethnicities and religions. In fact, she prefers outsiders to Muslims. But she resists putting her faith in Jesus as her Savior and says she is trusting her religion to save her and does not want to change. Please pray for a breakthrough.
May fear not rule
Continue to pray that fear not rule and that as people suffer for the sake of Jesus, they will not deny him.
Gospel of Luke
Praise the Lord that the first printing of the Gospel of Luke in Antanala has been completed, and that work on the book of Acts has begun. Pray that as the Antanala read and hear God’s word in their own language, it would take root in their hearts. Pray that they would find eternal freedom from their deep-rooted fears by putting their trust in Christ as their Savior.
Opposition
An Antakarana believer walked 4 hours to attend a fellowship group in a far-off village. Pray for wisdom as plans are being made to visit this man’s village to see about gathering the few believers there for fellowship. Ask for God’s wisdom to bring unity through their common ties to Christ. Pray against the attacks of the enemy, which are in full swing in this Muslim community: the village headman is now forbidding the teaching of Bible stories (previously permitted). Pray that this situation would give further opportunity to share the gospel, and that the Lord would keep the door for witness and discipleship open on this Little Island. Please also lift up P & F, Malagasy missionaries working amongst the Antakarana: they receive little support which isn’t enough to meet their personal needs, so pray for abundant provision from Jehovah Jireh.
God at work!
There is talk that the Muslims in town do not want to be Muslim any more and there is no explanation they can give as to why!
Gideon is talking to an older Rangi Muslim. He acted interested in the Bible and who Jesus is. He went and bought a Bible and has asked Gideon to help him understand it. Praise God for how He is working. Pray He draws many to Himself.
A local man goes into ministry!
Praise God that D, from a local village, is being ordained into ministry by one of the churches. Pray he would be a testimony to God’s power as he serves the church and his community. Pray that his wider family and friends would ask questions and be open to hearing more about the gospel.
Suffering Greatly
A South Asian Muslim mother is suffering extreme loneliness and depression. Her husband lost his job and is in poor health. He is often unkind in how he talks to her. Their only daughter is a preschool teacher whose income goes to cover rent. The mother is asking for Bible stories to be sent daily to her through her phone. Please pray that she will call out to Jesus and discover that He is truly a strong and sufficient Savior.
Newborns
Praise God for answering prayer on “Clove Island,” giving boldness and compassion to local believers, which has led to more Islanders accepting Christ as their Lord and Savior! Pray for the brothers and sisters there to be led by the Holy Spirit in discipling these “newborns” and in intentionally meeting and modelling what it looks like to be a Follower there. Pray that the local body would start more regular fellowship times. Pray that they would continue to develop their own unique, culturally appropriate ways to fellowship in and follow Christ.
Perseverance and grace
Ask for perseverance and grace for believing spouses. And for courage/wisdom/trust to know how to meet together for fellowship.
Sick with Covid
A South Asian Muslim family have gone to be near their in-laws who are sick in the hospital with Covid. They have heard the gospel repeatedly and received Christian literature and Bibles. The fear is that the family will have much interpersonal conflict if the in-laws pass away. There are many inheritance issues to settle. Pray that the Lord will speak to them during this time of heightened stress and anxiety, showing them that Islam is a false way and that Jesus is the way, the truth and the life.
Reading the Word
The Muslim watchman at a friend’s house asked very directly for a Bible, as he has time to read. The first Bible we took he could not read, because of the small print. We took a big print Bible to him tonight and he was very grateful. We pray that God’s Word will not return void, but bring enlightenment and real revelation of JESUS HIS Savior.
Lamb of God
Pray that as believers get ready to celebrate the Eid next month, they will reject the spirit of Islam, identify with Jesus and boldly tell their friends/family about the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.
Kidnapping
In the news for the last two weeks there are reports about S@mali girls and children being kidnapped, and abused or murdered if ransom is not paid. One of the girls was kidnapped in the capital, with serious injuries, but now thankfully she has been rescued by policemen. However, there are still some girls missing. Please pray for them.
This news makes our students and other S@malis living in the neighbourhood very frightened. May God protect them and pray the kidnapping gang will be arrested soon.
Shining Out with the Word of Life!
Praise God for new church plants that are growing! One church hosted a Vacation Bible School with 57 local children attending, another church plant has grown to 23 adults attending plus children, another church plant is praising God for four local leaders who have stepped up to oversee church affairs. And these new churches are reaching out to neighboring areas, beginning Bible studies groups and more churches. Pray that these village churches will stand strong, evangelize in their surrounding areas, and the Holy Spirit will lead men and women yet unsaved to repentance and salvation.
“The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.” 1 Peter 2:3
New opportunities
Praise the Lord that despite having to leave ministry amongst the Mwani of Pemba, Rachel has made connections with several Mwani in Nampula! Pray for boldness and open doors to share the gospel with these new friends, who have had seeds sown in the past by others like Steve E. Pray for continued eagerness for these Mwani to study the gospel in their heart language with Rachel, that as they hear more about the Living God they would accept his free invitation into the Kingdom!
Time
Please pray for 3 MBB’s (M* background believers) that God may give them time so that we can share our lives and walk together. They are busy trying to balance their work and travels and time to connect with us. Pray that God may give them time for fellowship and friendship with our team.
