Recently, God connected me to 3 MBBs (M. background believers). One of them wants to study the Word with me but he appears to be very busy at his workplace. Pray that the Lord may release him to have time for Bible study. The other one is also busy, and I am so glad he has been sending me daily Bible verses. I thank God for this! I think he also sends them to all his contacts. Pray that God will enable us to have a one-on-one connection so that we can grow together. The 3rd one has a very different approach to the way forward. Maybe that’s God’s way!
May the Lord give us wisdom and clarity of direction to show us the way He wants us to go and what we should do.
Flora and Abuba
Pray that Flora, Fiona’s translator, would choose to follow Jesus. She has heard and translated the gospel message – pray that she would believe it. Ask God to keep reminding her of His Words of truth.
Please pray for Elly’s good friend and disciple, Abuba. She was baptized back in 2017, but recently renewed her profession of faith with the group of women who prayed for salvation with Fiona and Elly last month. The Lord is working in her and transforming her heart and mind. Pray that she will read the Bible Elly left with her and continue to grow in her understanding and faith. Pray that she will be a light in her home to her three children, and to her mother who is heavily involved in witchcraft.
Not Grieving As Others Do
“Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints” (Psalm 116:15). Pray for ready hearts to receive the Gospel message of hope and peace as it is preached to unbelievers during the funeral and wake of a fellow co-worker in Christ. In front of the whole village, God’s grace is clearly explained to many who don’t know Jesus personally. On these occasions, not grieving with the same bitter despair as others do, local Christians have opportunity to explain to all gathered their eternal hope and assurance of salvation in Christ. Pray for spiritual hunger for souls to be ready to place their faith in Christ now. May a new movement begin even through this hard loss!
Body of Christ
Only a few years ago there were very few, if any, Christians among the Laarim. Now every Sunday small groups of believers are meeting in all three of the villages we have team members in. Pray for the church meeting in Cauwa where Noblesse lives, in Yei where Jacob lives, and in Kali where Dan and Joel live, to grow in what it means to be the body of Christ.
Jesus Film
PASTOR MANOELA continues to visit many villages showing the Jesus film. Pray that the village people will not just view this as entertainment, but will consider their need of a Saviour and will be drawn to faith in Christ. Pray for the Holy Spirit’s preparation of hearts in the villages as plans are made for the showing of this film.
13 new believers!
God works in mysterious ways. During their last week in Nagishot, Fiona and Elly met for the last time with a group of young women at the women’s center, where they again presented the gospel message and invited the women to respond. Praise God for 13 young women who accepted Jesus into their lives! We don’t know how these women will be discipled, but we trust God has a plan for their growth, because “The One who calls you is faithful, and he will do it” (1 Thessalonians 5:24). Pray for Abuba, Apule, Ihulang, Nadai, Nojore, Ikuju, Naclai, Atee, Nabui, Akongo, Najore, Flora, and Nakiru.
Jesus came to call sinners
It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.
I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.
Mark 2:17
Pray for the Samburu men in Lchakwai. The Samburu men there are very similar to the Pharisees in the time of Jesus. They know and follow the traditions of Samburu and in doing so believe they are pleasing to God. They pray every morning and evening, and at the beginning and the end of any meeting. They have not killed another Samburu but they do not acknowledge the sins of their hearts. They do not realize their need for reconciliation with God. Pray that Christ will make himself known to a number of these Samburu men, and that they will follow Him with their whole hearts.
Who Will Follow Up?
A number of S. Asian Muslim women have learned much more than they previously knew about the Bible and Jesus in the last few months and years. Their Christian friends have shared the gospel repeatedly with them. But now a number of those Christians are moving out of those neighborhoods. Who will follow up on these women who have softened to the gospel? Who will visit in their homes, have conversations, read Scripture and pray with them? Please pray for the Lord of the harvest to send laborers into the harvest.
Night of Power
In this last week of Ramadan, Islanders will be focusing on two main things – many will hit the streets for late night shopping hoping to find some Eid bargains. While others will be found praying and reading the Quran in the mosques all night long. Of particular importance in these last ten days is the Night of Power or Laylat al-Qadr. Thought to be the night of the first revelation of the Q to Mohammed, the Q states that the prayers on this night are worth more than prayers made during a 1000 months. This is the night when sins are forgiven and prayers are answered – some believing that there is a special window of time when God will answer any prayer, if only you can be praying at just the right time. No one is entirely sure when this night is, but it may be this Sunday 9th. Pray with us that many would hear God speaking to them on this night, and they would listen to his voice! “I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd.”
Prayer
Lord, even though the numbers of believers from this community is very low, help those who believe in You to know that they are cherished and loved by You. Help them to trust in Your promise that you are gathering a people from every tribe and tongue and that even where it seems impossible, You are working to fulfill all You have promised. Help them reach out to their brothers and sisters with this assurance. In Jesus Name.
Indigenous leaders training report
We praise God for continuing to help us during this time of training. On Thursday evening during our devotion many students made reconciliation with people they have hurt, they forgave their parents, husbands, and some asked for forgiveness. It was a breakthrough moment. We are experiencing changes among them. We praise God also that on Sunday they went to share the gospel and two people gave their life to Jesus.
Pray for us as we teach how to interpret scripture. Pray for the students to continue to mature.
Third letter from prison
I urge international observers to attend our next court day, it is the day that we will defend ourselves against the accusations, and it is important to have witnesses that day.
We now belief that the police are against us only for believing Jesus is our Lord and Savior. Today the investigator was more into why we follow Jesus and left Islam. And in court he even said, “Leaving Islam is a crime according to Sharia law that we use.”
Prayer requests:
· Pray God will strengthen us during these trials, that we will rejoice in every circumstance that we go through.
· Pray God will change the decision of the government in favor of us.
· The police are against us for leaving Islam, and the main investigator said that we are apostates- pray for a divine intervention, and for God to change the outcome of the court.
“Remember those in prison, as if you were there yourself. Remember also those being mistreated, as if you felt their pain in your own bodies.” Hebrews 13:3
Break through
Pray for a gathering of believers on Thursday. They will break the fast together and spend time praying for the islands, especially for the upcoming night of prayer, that God would break through and draw people to Himself. Pray for good fellowship that would deepen relationships and lead to shared vision and passion for seeing the Kingdom grow. And join them in praying for God to break through and draw many to Himself.
Answered prayer
The Toposa teams going to remote unreached areas have received intense physical persecution. We have been praying and also preparing the teams for how to respond.
We just received word that after the leaders visited the new commissioner to report the persecution and ask for help, the new commissioner, who is Muslim, told them he would intervene and that they should continue to freely share the word of God to the villagers and that he will be standing with them!
Meeting
A few men are meeting weekly to encourage each other and pray together. Ask that they will welcome newer less mature brothers.
Becoming Missionaries
Pray for the Borana who know Jesus to share the gospel with other Borana believers, and with nearby tribes that speak similar languages. Pray that the Lord will use them as cross-cultural missionaries.
Evil ritual
Several women have spoken about a ritual done over them as young girls inviting a spirit to protect them from men. Please ask for deliverance and for this evil ritual to be broken.
Kay’s husband
Kay’s husband asked her why she was not fasting. She responded by reading with him John chapter 10 about Jesus being the Good Shepherd. She told him that since God had already provided this wonderful gift for her through her Good Shepherd, she can fast anytime she wants as praise and thanksgiving to God for this gift. She told him she’s praying for him to also receive this wonderful gift. He was very angry and didn’t speak to her all evening. But the next day he seemed normal again. Pray for wisdom and grace for Kay as she lets her light shine, and pray for her husband and extended family to receive Jesus as Lord and Savior.
Cut up Bible
Please pray for Isabelle. She’s a young Sister who has been shy to proclaim but growing in understanding of her walk with J. Her copy of the Word was stolen and pictures sent to her of it cut up into pieces. It’s really shaken her!! Hoping to see her this week and thankful that she still has access to the Word online for encouragement!
Opened Eyes
A S. Asian woman insists that the Bible has been changed and following Allah is the only way to paradise. Pray for her eyes to be opened during the month of Ramadan as she fasts. Pray she will see the hopelessness of earning her salvation through good works. Pray for her to see Jesus as the only Savior.
Court case
Court went fairly well Thursday. Thanks for praying. There were at least 2 observers from the UN, but not as many international observers as last time and no ambassadors. Next court date is tomorrow, Sunday, May 2nd.
The police presented the evidence they had against our brothers and sister. The primary investigator was supposed to be a witness today but he was absent. Another witness was sick and also absent.
The final court date is set for Sunday. It is possible the witnesses absent Thursday will testify then. Sunday is also the day that our brother and sister will have the chance to defend themselves in court. While it is possible that the judge will give a verdict on Sunday, it is not expected. Most likely the judge will deliberate and return with a verdict on another day.
Let us keep asking and believing for release and for the character and testimony of our brothers and sister facing persecution. Here are some specific requests: favor with the judge, continued absence of witnesses, increased presence of international observers and ambassadors, for wisdom and boldness in preparing their defense, and for the HS to fill the courtroom.
Medical ministry opportunities
For the O. Pray for J and M, a Muslim teacher who engaged with a gospel presentation sharing time for an hour as IV fluids dripped into his sick wife, who was also listening and asking questions from her bed. Pray that the Holy Spirit would use these seeds, and so many like them to penetrate and enlighten peoples’ hearts, and draw them to respond by receiving Jesus’ love and saving grace!
Let there be Light
Pray for outreach among the young generation, that they might see the Light and become effective witnesses to their own people.
Pray for people to be willing to help with translation work. And pray as people read God’s word in their own language, they would be struck to the heart and believe the Gospel message.
Asking for Soft Ground
Ask the Lord of the Harvest for soft ground where seeds have been planted among the Nyamwezi. Pray over areas where there have been distributions of audio Bibles and written Bibles among villages surrounding Tabora. Pray for listening groups and those reading Scripture would be profoundly moved by the truth encountered. Pray that the seed will go in and weeds will easily come out. Ask the Lord for eternal fruit that will be thirty, sixty, and a hundredfold. Pray for reaching the goal of 10,000 Bibles distributed among the Nyamwezi.
Like Nicodemus
Pray that the Zigua Muslims will seek out Christians during Ramadan to ask them to explain the reason for the hope that is in them. Pray that there will be many like Nicodemus who could not rest until he had talked to Jesus. Pray that when they hear about how to be born again, they will understand and enter into the kingdom of God.
A Great Work
Pray that the Zaramo believers will discover that during this month of Ramadan the Holy Spirit is doing a great work in answer to their prayers, bringing many Zaramo Muslims to faith in Christ, setting them free from dead works to serve the living God and rejoice in Him. Pray that the Zaramo churches will plant many more churches, to the glory of God.
Unity
Please pray for unity between our Christian church leaders from the
different Gabbra clans. These traditional allegiances tend to tear the Church apart and
stifle its growth.
Self-Improvement
Pray for a Muslim family keeping the Ramadan fast, who are trying earnestly to “self-improve” through denial of the flesh. Pray that the futility of their efforts will be made crystal clear to them. Pray that they will despair of ever attaining holiness. And pray that despair will lead them to want a Savior, who grants us His holiness.
Prayers
Praise Jesus for a group of Berber women who are praying daily together during the month of Ramadan. Pray for others to be brought in to this sweet time.
Believers and Churches
Pray for the Ndengereko to hear the gospel, come to faith in Christ, be discipled, and form vibrant, strong churches that multiply all along the coast of Tanzania. Pray for a wide movement to Christ among the Ndengereko. Pray that those who have opposed Christ in the past will receive Him soon.
Persecution and resistance
Pray for Elia and the team among the Jiye. There is persecution and resistance and Mary the key leader was persecuted recently. Catholic leaders went and instructed the people negatively about the Gospel work which caused a negative perspective to emerge. Elia has been very effective and fruitbearing among the Jiye. He and the recently trained students from Harbigners Bible School in Kenya, have talked with the elders and community to clear things up and refute the Catholic accusations. Despite all of this, of the nine churches, 4 are going on well but one has died. Pray for the team of locals to have encouragement and persevering faith. Pray for them as their Jesus Film equipment has not been working well and is losing its charge quickly and takes 5 days to charge. They need new equipment. Thank you for praying.
Holding tightly
One brother is in prison now and standing firm holding tightly to Jesus . Ask that he will not deny Christ and that the believers who hear would be encouraged to be more bold in witnessing.
Jesus’ Commission Obeyed
Praise the Lord for the M who have come to faith in Christ and been baptized. Continue to pray that the Lord will bring a movement of M people who are disciples of Jesus, and that each one will share in Jesus’ commission to make disciples to the ends of the earth.
Ik
Pray for the disciples to grow and be well trained. Pray for our outreach to new villages to be fruitful. Ask God to bless the Ik with a school, health, and water.
2nd letter from prison
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
Speaking on behalf of my husband and I, I am sending you this letter from prison for having faith in Jesus Christ, and following as our Lord and Savior.
We send this letter to all our brothers and sisters united in the blood of Jesus Christ.
May grace and mercy be with all of you in Jesus Christ.
My husband and I would like to share with you our situation in prison and how God is with us in every situation.
When my husband was arrested he was put in solitary confinement as a punishment, but he spent the time with God, and he is happy for the trials that he is going through now.
A week ago he was taken out of his solitary confinement, and they put in a large room with 17 people in it. The officer told inmates to stay away from him since he is a follower of Jesus, and then inmates told him to stay and sleep near bathroom, which is unclean and dirty place, he accepted and stayed there. While he was sitting there, he found four Ethiopian believers that were arrested with him. One of them recognized him and quickly came and hugged him, and they became five believers in that room.
They prayed together for a while and then the prison guards removed him and they brought him back to his previous lonely room.
Brothers and sisters, God is with us at all times and all of us as followers Christ, we expect trials as Christ foretold us. He is our Good Shepherd. The Lord is always with us.
On the day of our trial, the Lord gave us strength and a happy and fearless face and we stood in front of the devil with the weapons of God.
And God will be with us to the end.
Brothers and sisters, pray for us without ceasing.
May the blessings of Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.
“Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.” (James 1:12)
Needing a breakthrough
Please ask for specific revelations for the men from our two communities who are caught in fear, even though some of them recognize He is the Way. May they be delivered from fear!
I have a special burden for the religious leaders in our communities and the surrounding ones. Please pray for a breakthrough and that Father will open their eyes.
The end of May should be the beginning of the rainy season, please ask the Creator to give enough water and a good harvest.
The work of God
Ask the Spirit to bring conviction of sin and a holy fear of judgement that leads to repentance. Pray during Ramadan, that as the Rangi try to please God and do good works, that God would reveal to them that “the work of God is this: to believe in the One He has sent.” John 6:29
Famous
Pray that as the Digo people have been known for their zeal for Islam, that in the future they will be famous for their zeal for Jesus Christ. Pray that during this Ramadan month He will reveal Himself to them as the powerful sovereign Savior and Lord.
Grief and Gospel
John’s grandmother passed away on Monday. Please ask the Lord to give John physical and spiritual strength and stamina as he speaks with numerous visitors all week long. May the Great Physician continue healing his body, and protect him from COVID, especially with all the extra people around who have come from various places.
When someone dies, the Suri primarily show support by coming to visit, sit with, comfort and encourage the bereaved – some for nearly a week.
Please ask the Holy Spirit to open the spiritual eyes and ears and hearts of many Suri people, to understand and receive the Good News with great joy! May the seed of the death of John’s grandmother, and opportunities to share with the mourners the reason for the hope within him, bear much lasting fruit for the Kingdom!
Prince of Peace
Please pray that the Swahili Arabs who are fasting this month will find they have no peace, that they will long for peace, and that the Prince of Peace will disclose Himself to them as their only hope.
