Pray that the Ndengereko will become deeply dissatisfied with Islam, with secularism, with materialism, and with witchcraft. Pray that their search will lead them to Jesus, and that they will not fear what man can do to them if they choose to put their faith in Him.
Spirit of fear
Lord Jesus, remove the spirit of fear that paralyzes believers and keeps them from witnessing, from preaching, from identifying with You. May the charade of pretending to be Muslim for the sake of ease or safety be stopped in the name Jesus. May each believer love Jesus more than life, more than honoring their family.
Protection
Please pray that the M believers will continue spreading the Word of God. Pray for protection from the evil one, from divisions and factions, from doctrinal deviations. Pray that as they share the gospel many others will believe.
Past and Future
Please pray that the Digo people will welcome missionaries who come to teach them about Jesus. Pray for more missionaries to come work among them. Pray that as they have been known for their zeal for Islam in the past, in the future they will be known for their zeal for Jesus.
Grieving and suffering
Please ask that God would increase the faith of believers who are being persecuted or grieving. Several have said, ‘If God cared and was powerful, he would have stepped in.’ One wrote: ‘God is not useful.’ Please pray that each see that God is not expected to obey us (even if our orders are framed in prayer) or our definition of good. Ask that each one know the true goodness of God and surrender to His higher better way despite suffering.
The Good Shepherd
Pray for the Datooga in shepherding camps to listen to the Scripture portions and stories that have been recorded in their language. Pray for them to hear clearly the voice of Jesus, the Good Shepherd, calling them into His fold. Pray also that as shepherds mix with one another, the believers will share the gospel with those who have not yet heard it.
Rain
The Toposa see the spiritual world controlling the rain. For example, if you sacrifice a chicken the rain will come. If you are a Believer and refuse to sacrifice a chicken, you are the one who kept the rain from coming. When there was no rain it was because the evangelist brought the Gospel to our village. Pray for the Lord to intervene and bring freedom to the captives. Pray that many would listen to the Gospel and believe, and worship the One True God who showers us with all kinds of blessings- including rain!
Growing faith
Praise Jesus for the growing faith of several sisters and their mom. Ask for their three brothers to also believe and for men and women to be able to gather in their home to worship Jesus.
Children’s Bible
We’ve brought out a children’s Bible in Swahili and have been reading it to the neighborhood children and some have really taken an interest. One particular boy, Jared, has really enjoyed listening to the stories. Pray that he, and others of this young generation, would see the Truth, recognize it and accept it.
One in Christ
Pray for the Holy Spirit to give Borana and Gabbra Christians many opportunities to demonstrate their oneness in Christ, that has broken down the barriers of the dividing wall that existed between them. Pray that through this unity and love, many others may be saved as they recognize who Jesus really is.
New work
Pray for the work among the marginalized Fongoro people of Sudan and Chad.
Pray for growth of the gospel spreading among Fongoro.
Pray for new believers to grow mature in Christ and to influence their community by gospel proclamation in word and deed.
Pray for new believers experiencing persecution or rejection among their community.
Pray for the team ministering among the Fongoro to have an open door for fruitful ministry.
Meeting faithfully
Praise Jesus for the Arab men who are meeting together faithfully. Ask for couples, families, and women to be able to join in. Transportation and gender separation make this a huge challenge.
News from evangelist
From an evangelist among the Zaramo: Praise the Lord Jesus! I am so grateful to see how Jesus is doing wonders here. I am well, and continuing with the ministry. People are receiving Jesus. Pray for the work of Jesus in Mzenga. Pray for me.
Healer
As our friends come to the end of one month of fasting (Ramadhan), we pray that Jesus, the Great Physician and Healer, will heal their spiritual blindness. I particularly want to mention my good friends: Moh, Mun, Naj, Abd, Ham, Iss, Abu, Suf, Ali, Kass, Ahm, Yaa, and Hak.
May they see the true Light and have their hearts transformed.
Diaspora in Portland
In these last few days of Ramadan, please be praying for the immigrant and refugee community in Portland, OR. Pray for the imams and the spiritual leaders in the area to encounter Jesus in deep, profound ways and for their hearts to be softened toward the beautiful truth of the Gospel. Pray that their hearts would be unsettled, leading them to a place of peace in the arms of the Father.
Meeting and Sharing
As the month of fasting comes to an end this week, pray for continued opportunities to meet with friends in their homes and to share in their lives in special ways. Pray that Jesus will work in their hearts and that many will come to know and trust in Him.
Update on trial
God has answered our prayers and the judge has moved forward with this case telling both sides that the case will not be changed from now on (no moving to use sharia law), the verdict will be given according to the constitution, and the judge was very sympathetic to our cause. All glory to God! The judge will give his verdict after the Eid holiday on today. Let’s keep praying for this case, the judge, our friends, and for great news after Eid!
Translation check
Pray for consult checking of the translation that is happening this week. Pray for good internet connection as the outside consultant will be video chatting into the meetings. Pray for good communication, good energy levels through hot afternoons and ultimately a faithful and dynamic translation.
Gathering
Joy’s mother’s died several months ago. She doesn’t know if her mother put her faith in Him and regrets not sharing more with her. As the family gathers for the Eid holiday on Thursday, Joy wants to share with her father and family. They know she is a believer. Pray for boldness and wisdom for Joy and open hearts for the family to really listen and engage.
Teacher training
Marlene had an excellent week in Mura, Lopit doing a teachers’ training course. William, a Lopit man from this village, is starting a secondary school (grade 9-12) for his community, and Marlene was able to spend the week with the teachers (who all profess faith in Jesus), encouraging them to see the classroom as a place for the light of Jesus to penetrate the darkness. Pray for the teachers to grow in their faith and to have courage to stand for Jesus in the school and the community. Pray for William as he leads the school and the church in Mura, Lopit, that God will give him endurance, courage, and faith.
Believers to grow in Christ
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.
