Last month we were privileged to be a part of sending out South Sudanese missionaries, Luka and Umjuma. It was wonderful to see the church in Torit take steps to send missionaries, we were encouraged and so were Luka and Umjuma. We praise God that they and their children (all seven that they care for!) are settling in well, thriving under Robert and Carol’s leading/mentoring, and even starting to gather the believers in Iboni together for Sunday worship. Pray for a good start to a fruitful ministry. Ask the Lord to build His church in Iboni.
Diaspora in Hong Kong
* S’s friend B died last month and she is seeking for the meaning of life. I visited S and talked about death and the future. Pray for the relationship to continue to develop and the Spirit to open her heart to commit her life to JC.
* Last week, two churches explored whether they will engage with diaspora ministry among African M. Pray for more churches to serve among unreached people in this area.
* Pray for my two Pakistani friends: H has arrhythmia and has to wait for the examination and operation, but recently her problem has gotten serious. Please pray for God’s guidance and healing. S’s husband got a mental illness after coming back from hajj a few years ago. He always beats his wife and refuses to see the doctor. Please pray for God’s protection on this family.
Be the Light!
Praise God for a new church plant led by a recent Nyamwezi Bible student graduate! Pray for ten believers who were baptized in this church to be effective witnesses of the Gospel to their neighbors, most of whom do not know the Lord. Pray that the Holy Spirit will help them to grow in their faith, not standing out for their own sake, but so that those who live around them will be drawn to follow Christ. “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 5:14-16)
Discipling
A young believer (less than a year) has been sharing the gospel with a mother and her five daughters who live next door. She gave them her only copy of the Word and goes often to talk with them. She said, ‘I’m discipling, right?’ So grateful for her obedience and praying that each one who believes will speak the Word of God to their neighbors.
A Mwani church is born!
This is the testimony of Brother S., one of the first converts among the Mwanis, on a visit we made to a refugee resettlement camp with about 15,000 people. On the way to the camp, we were praying and had a fair amount of fear of how these Mwani refugees would receive us. When we arrived, we asked for permission from the government representative to be able to enter and he told us that we should talk to the camp leader, a man we already knew. This man is a Muslim who years and years ago had prevented the name of Christ from being announced in his village… When we arrived to talk at the camp, we said “we have no bread to offer, but we want to talk about an eternal hope that is Insa Almasihi” and to our surprise (and little faith), this Islamic chief said that we can have full access to the refugee camp to share Jesus Christ. He said that those who want to learn about Insa and follow him are free to do so. It is incredible to see God using the most difficult circumstances, including a war, so that His name can be known and glorified among those who have never heard of Jesus. “For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever!” (Rom. 11:36) We remain involved in discipling and evangelizing these refugees. We continue to deliver humanitarian aid (food, construction of houses, etc.), provide basic health care and distribute Audio Bibles. It has been a privilege to organize Bible studies which has allowed relationships to be built and flourish. Amidst all this, and through the utter grace of God, a Mwani church has been born!
Workshop
This week Troy leads a cattle-care workshop near Kapoeta for Toposa believers. Mark Keter, a Kenyan missionary among the Toposa, is bringing his disciples from different villages for a month-long training in various aspects of ministry, including veterinary work. Pray that God will use this training to further equip the Toposa believers for every good work they have been called to. Pray for Troy and Mark and all their planning for this week/month: “May [the Lord] give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed” (Psalm 20:4).
Mark’s training
Our young Latuko friend, Charles, is spending this week with Mark in Kapoeta for further training in Discovery Bible Study and discipleship. It is wonderful to see an older, mature believer like Mark reach out to a young man like Charles to encourage him in ministry and outreach. As Mark trains his Toposa disciples and Charles, pray he will “encourage the young men to be self-controlled,” and that in everything Mark would “set them an example by doing what is good” (Titus 2:6-7).
Four Tribes
Pastors and evangelists from Gabra, Samburu, Rendille, and Turkana are coming to the March module (1st ~ 26th) at Northern Bible Training Center. May the Lord grant the students good health and give them understanding of the word of God, and may they apply it to their lives. May God provide their families’ needs and protect them while the students are here to learn God’s word.
Prayer requests
Please pray with us for:
1. The disciples to receive training
2. Outreach to new villages
3. Provision of school, healthcare, and water
Disciples
Pray for the upcoming Harvest team- we have two Malagasy men who will be trained and discipled for two months here on Nosy Mitsio. Also, pray for the new local school teacher. He is Antakarana and a believer! Pray we can find time in his busy schedule to disciple him.
Prayer requests
Please pray with us for:
1. The disciples’ training in March
2. The disciples’ spiritual growth
3. The disciples’ outreaches in March
Heart for their people
Pray for Steven and Harmony, local believers who were wounded by the Body years ago and retreated from ministry, but are now taking tentative steps to re-engage. Pray for this family, and others like them, to have a heart for reaching their own people.
Pray for God to open the eyes of our teacher
At the end of today’s Som* language class, our teacher shared at length how he has been listening to Genesis on audio and how it compares to the Qur’an. He quoted their book which says that those in doubt should ask those who read the Taurat and Gospel (Injil) before them (that is Christians). He also said that a Muslim who does not believe in Jesus or the stories of Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, David, is not a true Muslim!
Let us pray for him that God may open his inner eyes, ears and heart as he listens to the audio and reads the Scriptures, … and as we seek God’s help to share more with him regarding the Way, the Truth and the Life. He already has the Bible in Arabic and Som.*
Diaspora in France
* Praise God, we’ve been able to restart French classes and homework help. We currently have 15-20 students from 6 countries in the French classes, and we’ve matched many of them with language partners in our church. Pray for the Lord to open our students’ hearts to Truth.
* There’s news of potential new restrictions on March 6. Many of us are already struggling with the 6pm curfew. Please pray for patience and renewed creativity and focus.
* The French government has started the process to institute a law geared towards fighting radical Islam, which will affect Evangelical churches as well, with implications for missionary work in France. A government leader also highlighted the Evangelical church as a serious threat, although that statement was later withdrawn. Please pray for wisdom for both government leadership, and that the Evangelical church would grow in faith and love regardless of what happens.
Stand firm
Pray for *Euodia our dear sister in Lord! She converted to Islam years ago but was baptized in 2019 during DBS and for 18 months was discipled by our team members. We appreciate her boldness in sharing her own faith with Muslim friends. In the last few months with no team members on location she has struggled. Pray that her faith be strengthened and she will have courage to stand firm no matter what the circumstances. Phil 4:1
Translators
Pray for the translators as they continue to work on the gospel of John. Pray that the Muslim translators would understand who Jesus truly is as they grapple with the work of translation and that the Christian translators also would grow in the depth of their understanding of and love for Jesus.
Diaspora in Portland
* Please continue to pray for our friend Mr. A. He is doing much better spiritually and emotionally. His wife has agreed to give him a second chance and is willing to come to the U.S. and see how things work out. He is applying for a visa and will be returning to Algeria to help her fill out the paperwork and come to the U.S. Please pray that God will open her heart to Jesus as she is not a believer.
* Please pray that S. and M. from Somalia will come to know the Lord. They are part of our Discovery bible Study.
* Pray for health and strength and wisdom for our team as we reach out to the diaspora community.
Needing rain and workers
We got about 2.5 inches of rain Monday morning. People were able to collect some water, and they are very happy for that. Please pray that this is just the start of more rain.
There are many villages in Gabbra land with open doors for the Gospel. However the workers are few. As the Lord has taught us to pray for more workers to His harvest, we would appreciate you joining us for more passionate, bold and equipped workers to engage reaching the nomadic and other people in the desert and mountains of Northern Kenya.
Prayer
“Oh Lord, enlighten the eyes of many O hearts and draw them to come to Jesus and to become His strong disciples who will make more disciples! In Jesus powerful name, amen.”
Oh Church, arise!
“And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by His Spirit.” Eph 2 v22
Please pray for the church as it continues to struggle. Pray especially for restored relationships between some members and for a vision to be the body of Christ together in their community for the glory of God.
Pray for one family who have understood the good news of Jesus for some time but are not yet ready to follow him. Their children are struggling with multiple demonic attacks – please pray that they will turn to Jesus for help, the only one who has the power to set them free.
Prayer requests
Please pray with us for:
1. The disciples’ spiritual growth
2. The leaders’ Training in March
3. Peace with neighbors
4. Provision of health and education facilities
5. Water in remote villages
Persevering in prayer!
Our friend Z has made very little progress with her physical rehab from her stroke. We have had great opportunities to love through our deeds and our words. So far the family have remained resistant to Jesus. They are planning to move her back to the home village of her oldest brother, H, the leader we have also been praying for. That will be better for her long-term physical care. Persevere with us in praying for God’s healing grace for a physical and spiritual miracle: for salvation and that she would be able to walk again!
Wells and Pastors
Lord, please guide and direct the people making decisions over the wells and give them wisdom and compassion.
Lord, please encourage and bless the pastors and translators as they minister through hardships.
Rain and restrictions
The Churches are not meeting again due to Covid. Many people’s fields were destroyed with the latest rain. It has been raining again for a couple of days and has stopped a day ago. Please pray for the pastors as they try and tend to the “flock” with all the Covid restrictions. Pray for the team as they visit believers at their homes and do “mobile church”. May the Church be strengthened and blessed.
Jesus film
Pastor Josphat Musanga showed the Jesus film at his home on February 6th and six teens accepted the Lord and committed to follow him. The film was shown again at the Mbeuti Primary School on February 17th, and Shel and Pastor Musanga are planning to show the film again in the Narosura area on March 6th. Pray for fruit from showing this film in areas that have not yet been reached with the Gospel.
Miracle
‘Natalie’ has had poor health for over a year, requiring frequent, and sometimes lengthy, hospital stays. She already had breathing issues and maybe a weak heart, then got Covid. She was discharged from hospital, but readmitted soon afterwards. I believe the Lord spared her life through many prayers. Her husband agreed it’s a miracle. She returned home a few days ago, and is doing well at the moment. Pray for more opportunities to share truth with her and her family.
Covid benefits
Covid restrictions have led many people to spend much more time online. Many are “stumbling” upon Truth, which is causing them to ask questions. Pray the Lord will lead all of us believers to find the true seekers (not those who just want to debate) who desire to learn Truth.
Growing
Our friend Ezra is growing in discipleship and wants to learn how to share his faith. We praise God for this step. Pray for our time together, that he will become a disciple who makes disciples.
Prayer requests
Please pray with us for:
1. The disciples’ training this month and March
2. The disciples’ outreach in the villages
3. The disciples’ spiritual growth
4. The disciples’ families’ needs and God’s provision
5. Peace with neighbors
6. Pray against the spirit of persecution of believers
Repent and surrender
“ For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” Eph 6 ,12
There seem to be spiritual battles raging in many Alagwa communities. Pray for those who are being deceived by the pull of the witchdoctor and “medicine” of the religious leaders. May their eyes be opened to see that they are just enslaving themselves, not getting true healing. Pray for one disciple particularly who has been using “medicine” from the religious leader. May she repent and surrender to Jesus even more fully than before.
Missions Conference
Please pray for 3 young Karimojong men who are spending the week in Kampala at a missions conference. Pray for a 100-fold harvest of fruit in their lives for Christ! Pray that they are protected from the enemy’s attacks, and that God’s grace will work mightily in them and through them!
Suffering
A group of believers have been detained for 45 days. It looks like their trial is delayed at least another month. Please pray Psalm 9 over them:
The Lord is a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you.
Be gracious to me, O Lord! See my affliction from those who hate me, O you who lift me up from the gates of death, that I may recount all your praises.
Arise, O Lord! Let not man prevail; let the nations be judged before you! Let the nations know that they are but men!
God is Stronger!
Praise God for his faithful show of power in one community. A disciple was faced with a close family member seeking to put curse on her and her children leading to death. Whilst initially terrified, she was encouraged by understanding from God’s word that this was a spiritual battle and that God is stronger than Satan! The family member tried two different witchdoctors, and was not able to curse her. She later said that because she belongs to God, she is no longer afraid. May this demonstration of God’s power impact many in her community. Please also join her in praying that this family member will also come to know and follow Jesus.
RAIN NEEDED!
Lord! Please send heavy rains to Korr!!!
Cleansing for Sins
A S. Asian woman thinks that suffering expiates sins. She constantly tries to find ways to do good deeds so that in the day of judgment she will not have so many sins to pay for. Please pray that this week the Holy Spirit will help her realize it is not suffering nor good deeds that cleanses sins, but the precious blood of Jesus Christ. Pray for a great breakthrough in her understanding of salvation.
New Disciple in Christ
Please pray for a new believer who has left his former ways and is embracing time to learn about Jesus. His home family rejected his new beliefs and was beating him. He has taken shelter offered among other believers as he desires to set a new course for his life in Christ. Please pray for him, and his persecutors to know Christ too! May God give him strength through the difficulties and pray for the Spirit of God to touch his life. Pray for a solid foundation in the Word of God and for the teacher discipling him.
Interested but Afraid
A S. Asian woman is always interested in the Bible when she is with me but resists meeting regularly to study it more systematically. She is afraid to find out too much about it, even though she is drawn to it. Pray for a breakthrough.
update on Frank
As Frank continues his clinical officer training, pray that God would put those in his path with a powerful witness of Jesus’ love and grace. Pray that Frank would be drawn to come to Jesus as Savior and make him Lord of his life. Pray that Frank would become useful to God as a strong disciple of Jesus among his own O family and communities!
Circumcision and Spiritual Emphasis
Lord! Please use circumcision time to reveal Yourself and draw people into relationship with you!
Lord! Please use Spiritual Emphasis Weekend in Tirrim Secondary School to soften hearts and allow the gospel to transform lives!!
Meeting for coffee
Pray for a couple of S. Asian young women who are meeting regularly with a missionary woman. Pray that they will be willing for this social time to become a time when they can read the Scriptures together. Pray that they will have a deep hunger to have peace with God through Jesus Christ. Pray that all attachment to Islam will be broken in Jesus’ name.
