There are still a lot of restrictions in place here regarding meeting people inside buildings, but we are free to meet people outside. As a result, and with the warm weather, my diary is more or less full. We give thanks for this. Pray for fruitful conversations.
Urgent prayer alarm
There has been another persecution at Nabois church. When people were gathered, youths came in and they beat the believers mercilessly. One of the disciples has run 15km to escape. Please pray for healing and strength for the believers and for conviction of sin for the youth.
Growing Up
Pray for the M people who know Jesus Christ as their Savior to be growing in their knowledge of God’s Word as they meet together. May they love and care for one another. May they share the gospel widely with their friends and families and neighbors. May the Lord raise up many disciples among the M people!
Diaspora in UK
Praise: good participation from the 2 ladies who attend the Zoom English class where we use Bible stories in our lessons
Praise: several ladies from the International women’s sewing group joined our 1st ever Zoom online sewing time.
Praise: the weekly international student Bible study time has had 5-10 participants joining the Zoom time with many of them back in their home country.
Pray that there would be spiritual fruit from all of these activities .
Drinking Tea
Three women who need Jesus came to tea. While we were together, we read the account of Jacob’s flight and subsequent marriage to Leah and Rachel. We discussed family dynamics and each woman shared a situation in her family that is painful to her. That gave us an opportunity to pray for the Lord to work in those relationships. Please pray that the women will see answers to prayer and that they will put their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Diapora in Florida
After having dinner with M friends, we feel we’ve deepened our relationship and have a clearer understanding of where the husband and wife of the family are spiritually. He’s very confused. She has seen a vision of Jesus that was very significant to her, some years ago. Very importantly, the husband of the family now understands that the Bible was not tampered with in order to hide Islamic teaching. However, he is going to do some research, so I will need to do some too. Ask that God will water the seeds planted and that the evil one will not snatch them away.
Diaspora in Kentucky
Praise: That our house in Louisville is in the perfect location: we bump into Somalis everywhere we go! Pray for building relationships with our Somali neighbors.
Pray for open doors to the Somali community and open hearts to the Gospel. Pray for Mrs. F and Mrs. X.
Redemption and Rain
Pray for all the strategies God has given us to reach the Bara: Children’s ministry, Farming God’s Way, The Jesus Film, Social Relief, Audio Bibles and Training. May God use them to glorify Himself and may support never lack for these projects. Please also pray for our coworkers in the field to be strengthened and emboldened during this time of Covid-19 as food prices have increased and there is a lack of support due to the closing of churches. We also ask for rain. This has been a difficult year. The drought has dried up vegetation and famine has started creeping in. Abundant rain is needed so that the Bara can plant and have food. We are desperate for an overflow of God’s grace in a dry and thirsty land.
Success in Three Villages
Pray that the Sandawe believers and church leaders will continue to share the gospel widely and freely with those who still need Christ. Pray for the three villages that have been identified for church plants, and pray that those who are trying to start churches in those villages will have wonderful success.
Relationship forever
‘Lord Jesus, please continue working in the heart of my good friend and student Mo.
As we studied ‘relationship’ in leadership, he got so excited and asked how we can keep our relationship going forever.
I pray that as we continue to study together with the other students, we will be able to share how this is possible by surrendering our lives to Jesus, and we will all live together forever with Him in heaven.’
Leave Old Things Behind
Pray that a Samburu pastor who is visiting a village with a new church plant will not grow weary in well-doing but persevere and that the men in that village will be converted to Christ. Pray that the areas of Samburu land that do not yet have a gospel witness will soon have evangelists, pastors and missionaries living among them. Pray especially that the Samburu will be willing to leave behind any traditions or practices that are opposed to Christ.
Diaspora in Portland
Yesterday an Algerian man had a very serious conversation with MC about what following Jesus is all about. Today we can praise the Lord that “we can call him our brother in Christ”. Please continue to pray for this man to be grounded in the Word and that his new faith will lead others to the saving knowledge of Jesus.
A Place of Refuge
The city of Pemba has received thousands of refugees and many residents have offered shelter even though they barely have enough room for their own families. We have started meeting with a group of believers committed to helping these families not only with food and clothing, but also with the Gospel- seeking to disciple this group which is predominantly Muslim. Please pray that God would guide this process and that those whom He has brought here would come to know the true Savior.
Courageous
Pray that those believers among the Ndengereko who are being called by God to share the gospel with neighbors and with their families will obey the Holy Spirit, even if they face persecution for Jesus’ sake. Pray that their courageous witness will impress those who see and will convince them that the gospel is true.
Groups of Believers Multiply
Pray that the M believers will continue to study the Word of God. Pray that the groups of believers will multiply. Pray that many who used to follow Islam will soon follow Jesus.
Now His Wife and Son are Sick
Pray for a faithful Rangi evangelist. His father died a couple of weeks ago. His wife and six year old son are now sick. Pray for the Lord to heal his family. Praise the Lord that in the last days before his father passed away, he gave testimony that Jesus was His Savior and Lord. Pray for the evangelist to be encouraged as he works faithfully to share the gospel with the people in his town who are 95% Muslim. May the Lord strengthen and encourage him and his family.
Classes on Leadership
Please pray for classes on leadership which started with 2 Somali college students who have a hunger for information/knowledge. They are close friends. Pray that God may direct the discussion in ways that allow us teachers to talk about God’s leadership and guidance in our own lives, and His saving grace and mercy.
The Hope of the Gospel
Please pray for the Gabbra of Kenya during this time of Covid-19. Public meetings have been greatly restricted, so the believers and new churches are having a hard time meeting. Groups that used to gather to worship the Lord and prepare for baptism have stopped. Pray that there will be creative ways for believers to keep learning the Word of God, meeting together however possible in order to encourage each other and share the gospel with others. Pray for the Gabbra believers to rapidly multiply as they share the hope of the gospel.
Using his gift
Last month Michael took a break from his ministry in Imatong to go visit his home village in Lopit. He is one of very few believers in Imohulwa. Pray that his words and life continue to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ to his family and friends, and that many from there would turn to Jesus through Michael’s witness among them. Pray that Michael would “use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms” (1 Peter 4:10), so that if he speaks, he speaks the very words of God, and if he serves he does it with the strength God provides, “so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ” (4:11).
Diaspora in Florida
I talked to my Imam friend. He’s struggling emotionally due to several problems–people not coming to the mosque, his 5 year immigration process on hold, his son not able to get financial aid to attend college as a non-citizen, etc. I read God’s Word with him and prayed for him. He became emotional and said that was precious to him and just what he needed. He told me he’s reading Detrick Bonhoeffer’s “The Cost of Discipleship”, which he loves. But he’s so down (depressed) he doesn’t have the strength to discuss it. I was able to talk to him about the power of Jesus over evil spirits and the need to choose God over the fear of man because these are issues my son is facing. I have been open with him about my son’s struggles. Please keep praying for my imam friend.
Angelo
Angelo is a valuable member of the Kimatong team. As a Laarim believer who was educated in Torit, he has both the language (English, Juba Arabic, Laarim), and the commitment to the Lord needed to be a witness for Jesus among the Laarim. He has been working at the local clinic and is planning to go for training as a clinical officer in order to better serve the community. This plan has been disrupted by the closure of schools, but in the meantime, he continues to preach the gospel and disciple new believers. Praise the Lord! Pray the Lord will pave the way for him to move forward in furthering his education, all for the glory of God.
Farming project
Pray for the ongoing farming project:
Strength for trainers doing farming with believers in the bush.
Wisdom and capacity for the farmers in planning their farms, on their own, in the coming years.
The believers to learn to love and help one another.
Diaspora in Canada
Mo, a new Algerian believer, got baptised on August 9th in Montreal. Please pray for him in his new faith. Pray for both growth and new life.
Evangelist’s open door
Yesterday I got time to visit an old man, Mzee K, who is suffering from a headache for 20 yrs now. I talked to him about the promise of the Lord Jesus to the people who believe in him. I prayed with his family and they asked me to teach them and pray for them. Now I’m asking Jesus to guide me through on how I can teach and show the presence of Jesus to the entire family. PRAY FOR ME
Diaspora in USA
Pray for more opportunities to share the gospel with International Students in Lakewood, California during this season of Covid restrictions. Pray we will be encouragers and a light that attracts them to Jesus
Dubbing of Jesus Film
Mike is an 0 MBB who is gifted in working with Bible translation. He is key in helping organize the O Jesus film dubbing. There have been many delays – so pray for God‘s timing and the right people willing to dub the voices. And pray that the work may be completed accurately and well, and that the O Jesus film will be a tool God uses to advance his Kingdom in O land.
Diaspora in Brazil
Pray for S. in Foz do Iguaçu, with the borders of Argentina and Paraguay closed, the challenges are greater as immigrants have a lot of limitations to work and to get help in Brazil.
Pray that God will continue to involve the Brazilian churches to be ministering among refugees and immigrants.
Pray for their deliverance and salvation!
“Please help, I don’t know how to share this but our family is being oppressed by bad spirits. They even physically harm us and we wake up with scratches. We are really worried and don’t believe in such witchcraft.” This was a voice mail I received from a South Asian Muslim family in Nairobi. We have been sharing the Gospel with them for over 25 years. They have yet to put their full trust in Jesus and have been overwhelmed with health and financial crisis for years. Pray for a believer from a Muslim background who lives in the same neighborhood who will visit them today (Tuesday) to pray for deliverance and share the Gospel. Pray that this is the time for their salvation. Pray that they fully surrender to Jesus and received deliverance.
Diaspora in Minnesota
We praise God for a lot of relationships that have been made in this last month. Finally it seems that people are out and meeting each other.
Pray for the follow up to the meeting held August 7 with the head of the Somali association here in Rochester. Please pray that there could be good lasting cooperation and building of meaningful relationships.
Courage to be obedient
Lodai is a young Didinga man who has been an active member of the church in Torit for years. This year he was in Uganda at a Bible college until all schools closed due to Covid19. He expresses a desire to share the gospel among his people in Nagishot but has not made any active steps towards that. Would you pray that God would put a clear calling upon his life, and that Lodai would have the faith and courage to be obedient to that calling?
Ministering in Practical Ways
Please pray for the Borana churches as they try to share the Word of God with villages near and far who still need the gospel. Pray that the Borana believers will have many opportunities to minister in practical ways to their neighbors with Jesus’ love. Pray that family groups will meet every evening to read God’s Word and pray, and that those who are fearful and lost will join them. Pray for the Borana believers to multiply rapidly.
Diaspora in Canada
Praise: 2 Moroccans and 2 Algerians are (Lord willing) going to be baptized in the next few weeks.
Pray for these four individuals: M. (Algerian, 30s), G. (Algerian, 30s), N. (Moroccan, 50s) and S. (Moroccan, 50s). They are very new in their faith. Please pray for grace to stand in the midst of persecution (earthly and spiritual), their integration into local churches, and sanctification.
Praise: This morning we got a request for two Arabic Bibles. A husband and wife have requested an Arabic Bible, from al-Hayat.tv, that came to me. I just contacted them and they are excited for the Bible. Pray that this would lead to a Bible study with this couple.
Diaspora in France
Pray for connections with hearts who are seeking, for openness in conversations, and hearing well with mask challenges. “Lord, make hearts tender to be receptive to the Gospel.”
Pray for the opportunity to be a part in the opening of the community center in Strasbourg the last 2 weeks of August. Pray that I will be an encouragement and help as ME’s team launches this new outreach. “Lord, be honored and magnified and made known in this community center.”
One Small School
Tanzania is one of the few countries in the world that has kept its schools open, and among the Zigua one small Christian school is holding forth the word of life in a Muslim community. Pray for many families to come to faith in Jesus the Christ through the influence and instruction of that school and the Tanzanian believers who run it.
Diaspora in Missouri
Pray for A, a Somali cousin who is considering giving his life to Christ. May the Lord continue drawing A to Himself.
Possibly Coming
A missionary couple hopes to come visit the Digo soon to see if they might work among them long-term. This would be a huge encouragement to other Christian workers and Digo believers who are few. Please pray for the Lord to enable their travel and speak to their hearts as they explore possibilities for ministry.
Diaspora in Canada
Please lift up N & L in Toronto as they start a weekly Bible study with 3 Sikh men who recently came to the Lord. N. led one to Christ through an evangelistic social media ad in the first weeks of the covid crisis.
Pray for B & C in Winnipeg. They have practically adopted an 18-year-old Somali who was severely traumatized by the war in his homeland. Pray that this young man’s heart would soften to the Gospel as he spends time with B & C and their kids, and as B. joins his Somali soccer team.
G & K in Montreal have just completed the Bridges video series on Muslim evangelism with 22 French Canadians. Fifteen of the grads have made new North African friends, and 5 have already given away Arabic Bibles. Pray for much fruit among these new Québécois evangelists.
A Woman of Faith
V is a woman of such faith and energy. However, she is discouraged by her family – particularly by her sisters who were all brought up in the faith but none of whom are actively following now. She is persistent in prayer, bold in calling them out, and loving in the way she serves them. But she is disheartened at their closed ears. Not to be stopped though, she instead pours into her daughters and nieces. She is currently staying with her sister and every morning she and her two daughters (aged 13 and 5) all read the word, sing and pray together. Just recently, another sister has also started joining them. Pray for her as she disciples these ladies! Please also pray for her physical needs – she needs to find a new house and also a job that allows her to be a present mum for her two girls. Life is not easy for her, but her joy in the Lord is an inspiration and a challenge.
Enlightened
Pray for those South Asians who are beginning to investigate the Bible to realize it is reliable and true. Pray that when they read the words of Jesus and encounter His claims, they will be enlightened and suddenly realize it is the truth. Pray that they will count all things loss compared to the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus the Lord, and follow Him.
Larger Than He Thought
A pastor has been surveying a large area where the Datooga live to see where to put ten new pastors or evangelists to share the gospel and start churches. He has spent over a month surveying the area and has discovered there are even more villages and towns with Datooga people who are still unreached than he initially thought. He will take some time to survey even more territory. Apparently the Datooga are a large group and there are still many parts of the tribe that need the gospel. Pray for many Christian witnesses to go to all these different areas and share God’s Word with those who still have no way to hear it.
