After sharing the Jesus film with one family, we are now receiving requests from others who also want to watch it. Pray for this seed to be watered by the Holy Spirit and that the people’s hearts will be opened to understand what they see. Alongside this, the Bible story set is still in its infancy but the local workers are faithful and it’s going very well. Pray for this group of people as we wrestle with scripture, culture and sharing the good news in a clear, understandable and reproducible way.
Translating the Book of John
Please pray for the Alagwa translators currently working on the book of John. May those translators who are not believers yet come to trust in Jesus as they work. Please pray for many Alagwa to recognise their need to repent and come to Jesus. May they know Jesus the Truth who can set them free.
A New Church Ready to Begin
Praise the Lord. We had done evangelism and showed Jesus film at a Dorobo area called Ilkilorit several years ago near the Tanzania border. AIC evangelists followed up. We just heard they’re ready to start a new church there as soon as the Kenya government opens up permission for churches to meet. Pray for the Dorobo man who invited us for the first visit, and his family. Pray the Lord’s blessing on this new church.
Diaspora in Missouri
Praise that several people whom we have formed relationships with through the garden are interested in having extended outings together. We are planning trips to botanical gardens and parks with walking trails and lakes.
There has been a large surge of Covid cases in Noel, especially among the diaspora communities. Pray that the Lord would protect these who are ill from serious complications and that He would use this virus to draw many in these communities to Himself.
Ongoing Multiplication and Discipleship
A Rendille graduate of the Northern Bible Training Center is waiting for his new ministry assignment. While he is waiting, he got permission from the chiefs to hold Sunday services for a small number of people, and has trained them to go to their villages and share the message he gave in the church. On Sundays, the youth in the surrounding villages share what they’ve heard, and on Mondays, the mothers meet to share what they heard.This new pastor also gained permission to hold sport events within the village. If anyone comes to play from outside the village, the game has to end, but as long as it stays within the village they can play. The new pastor is using this to share the Gospel with young men before they play. Praise God for working through the COVID19 restrictions!
Diaspora in UK
Please pray for four men from the local refugee community who I am meeting with one to one for English Language classes. All of them appear resistant in some way to the Gospel but at the same time they are open about the needs in their lives.
Please pray for the city of Leicester which is one of the most multicultural cities in the UK. The various communities include a large number of people from North Africa and the Horn. The area has been hit hard by Covid, currently around 1 in 10 of all the new UK cases are from the Leicester area. Pray in particular for the churches and those involved in outreach and community work in the city to have an open door for effective ministry.
Praying for the Nyamwezi
Lord we ask that your spirit be at work in believers, drawing them closer to you and calling them to live lives that more fully reflect who you are. We ask that you would give them boldness and courage to speak your words of truth when opportunities arise with their neighbours and friends. Father we ask for our muslim brothers and sisters that they would increasingly find that their religion does not meet their needs, that it is an endless striving for what they cannot achieve leaving them disappointed and disheartened. Lord in this soil we ask that your seed be planted, take root, and flourish!
Diaspora in Canada
Please pray for many local youth who have requested bikes from our bike ministry. Please pray that contacts made repairing, donating, and lending bikes will lead to further conversations about our Hope in Jesus.
Please pray for young Somali Christians who are struggling with addictions,. I have once again been allowed to visit one in jail – he is facing serious charges. Please pray that words of repentance may turn to a heart of repentance and a new life in Jesus.
Diaspora in Detroit
Pray for the 2 in- home English classes in Bloomfield Hills. Pray we can sow gospel seeds in these new relationships. We have 6 in-home classes going.
Please pray for opportunities to come together for the Jr/Sr High kids to serve at a thrift shop alongside youth group kids this summer. Please pray for a soccer coordinator for the last week of July too. We are hoping to have a tournament for this same group of kids.
Praise Jesus for food delivery opportunity during this time of uncertainty. Please pray that it will lead to new relationships for our team of volunteers. As we try to be the hands and feet of Jesus, may we proclaim God’s good news.
Love of Jesus for Them
Please pray for 7 ladies who recently watched the Mary Magdalena version of the Jesus film at my house. Several of them have seemed somewhat closed off to spiritual discussions in the past but were all willing to watch the film with me. One lady in particular seemed moved by it. Please pray that the Holy Spirit would keep reminding them of the Gospel message they heard and the love that Jesus has for each of them individually, especially as women. Pray that God would draw them to Jesus so that they would receive Him as their Savior!
Two More Churches Planted
The churches in Sandawe areas continue to spread the gospel, and continue to plant churches, praise God! Two more have been planted in the villages of Handa and Mabanzini. And there are a couple more lay leaders who are planning to take a Bible course. One pastor also hosted an eye surgery clinic last week. Please continue to pray for the churches and the work that will continue among the Sandawe people.
WhatsApp opportunities
God always does amazing things even in a very difficult situation!
We are not allowed to go back to a normal classroom because of this coronavirus. However, God has opened another door for us to continue the English class. Using WhatsApp to call not only allows us to continue the one -on- one English class, but we have more opportunities to share the good news. Pray for Kha who has watched the Jesus film and asked a lot of questions about Jesus.
Also, please pray for Ay who is struggling with family issues. Recently she accepted to pray in the name of Jesus and to watch Jesus film.
Pray God opens these two ladies’ eyes, the Holy Spirit touches their hearts, and they know that Jesus is their saviour!
Diaspora in Portland
Pray for ongoing opportunities to speak into the lives of our Muslim friends. Some are struggling with cancer and others have the COVID virus now.
Pray that God will open up hearts to the Good News during this time of fear and uncertainty.
May he find the Bible to be true
We have a Hindu friend whose father had a very real experience with Jesus but doesn’t seem to fully understand that he cannot follow both Jesus and Hinduism. We have been “storying” through the Bible with our friend and her father for the past 6 weeks or so. They engage with the stories well, especially the daughter, and understand Jesus to be both powerful and loving. But they don’t seem to see their need to follow Jesus as Savior. Our friend’s brother is very antagonistic. He claims to be an atheist and criticizes the Bible. He has decided to give our family a “presentation” on why the Bible is false and what he believes to be true, which he has planned for this week. We are praying that he as prepares his presentation, he would find the Bible to be true and give his heart to Jesus, along with his sister and father. Please pray with us that God would work mightily in the lives of these friends.
Diaspora in Wisconsin
We have started meeting face to face in small settings for ESL classes and faith discussions.
Last week I met up with two of the Somali youth religious leaders to discuss faith. We are thankful for the opportunity to share truth. They are asking for a follow up meeting. Pray that the Lord would continue convicting them of their need of the Savior.
Hunger for God’s Word
A group of Samburu men met to hear God’s word on Saturday mornings from February 2019 until January 2020. A number of them acknowledged that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. However, traditional celebrations and Covid-19 disrupted those meetings. Last Saturday, these men were again invited to come to the tree to hear God’s Word but no one came. Pray that God will put a hunger to know God in the hearts of those men. Pray that they will once again meet and commit to following Jesus as Lord.
Diaspora in France
Praise for some recent opportunities to share the full Truth with island friends. Pray for the Spirit to open their hearts to Himself with constant reminders of His Word spoken to them.
Pray for direction in ministry for these summer months and onward. Pray for relationships with hearts who are seeking, openness for conversation and for ability to hear well with the mask challenges.
Holy Spirit, Work in Hearts
Pray for the work of the Holy Spirit in the hearts and families of S. Asian Muslim women. May they receive the Scriptures and listen to them. May the Holy Spirit convince them of sin, righteousness, and judgment, and that Jesus is indeed the Savior and Son of God. May their families also seek Christ together, and be willing to leave extended families and “communities” for the reward of gaining Christ.
Hoping to Re-Open Soon
Pray as our AIC Dorobo churches plan for re-opening. All our small churches have been asked by the area bishop to raise 5,000 shillings ($46) to buy a digital thermometer as part of Covid-19 protocol, so that when churches are allowed to open, they will take temperatures before allowing people into church. It’s a good practical step, but hard on churches with little cash economy. So pray that our Dorobo churches can leap this hurdle on the way to re-opening. In the meantime, our pastors have been visiting members and encouraging family prayer and Bible study. Praise the Lord!
To Seek and to Save the Lost
Praise God for two Alagwa ladies who were really impacted by Jesus’ words in Luke 19:10 this week: The Son of God has come to seek and save the lost. They have each committed to share God’s word with one friend a few times a week. Pray that God will prompt them to do that and make those times fruitful.
Prayers for Toposa
Pray for all the disciples among the Toposa to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord
Pray for the recent outreaches and new groups that have started
Pray for second and third generation of disciples (disciples who make disciples).
Pray for disciples’ target to reach many new villages to be successful.
A Team, And Open Doors
A team of Christians have been invited to come live in a village near the coast that is 99% Muslim. Team leaders have been found to lead the team. Team members are being recruited from other countries. But immigration for them might be difficult. Please pray that God will “open for them doors that no one can shut,” and that the village who are begging for people to come teach them about Jesus will have their hunger and thirst for righteousness satisfied.
Private Conversations
During this time when large gatherings are forbidden, Christian friends of Somalis are having more private conversations with them on the phone. This has revealed the hunger that Somalis have to know more about Jesus. Please pray for many of them to come to faith in Him during this time, and to share the gospel with others even if they are afraid.
Intense Social Pressure
South Asians who are Muslim are very fearful to leave their religion and their communities. There is intense social pressure to conform, and many dire threats against them if they choose to leave Islam, especially the threat that they will go to hell if they do. Whenever anyone seems to become open to the gospel, others put pressure on them to stop. Please pray for a breakthrough, for freedom for those who are hungry to find spiritual Bread.
All They Need
The Zigua need Jesus. There are a few believers among them, and a few evangelists and missionaries from other tribes. They need the Scriptures in their language, and they need to have freedom from Islam. Pray for the Holy Spirit to have mercy on the Zigua and provide all they need to receive the Savior and grow in Him.
Diaspora in Portland
Pray for our Ethiopian friends and colleagues, W&K, who just lost the baby they eagerly anticipated arriving later this summer. They are now walking through their grief, so we delayed our launching of the Zoom family Bible studies for several of their Ethiopian church families. But they are eager to begin very soon. Pray for wisdom to do it well, and as partners with them.
Diaspora in France
Please pray for Rose, a friend in the Middle East that I have been studying off and on with by text. Her daughter was just diagnosed with autism, and she’s really struggling with what that means for her daughter. Please pray that God would guide our conversations and open her eyes to Jesus.
We hope to open our community center July 31! Please pray that the two inspections happen quickly and without problem, that our sign would be approved, and that we would be able to finish everything that needs to be done by opening day. Pray this will be a safe place where people feel welcome and free to explore and find Truth.
A New Wave
Western missionaries came and began a good work among the Zaramo, but in time they went to other places and ministries, other unreached tribes. Many believers were left behind, and national workers came to keep reaching the Zaramo for Jesus. But a new wave of workers are needed. Pray for those who still minister among the Zaramo not to lose heart or grow weary. Pray for many others to join them. Pray that in each town and village the Zaramo people will be able to find a thriving group of believers who can share the good news of Jesus.
Unexpected Hurdles
A team of missionaries has begun the process of leaving their home countries to come live among the Rangi and share Christ’s love, but immigration difficulties are holding them back. Please pray that the Lord Jesus will put before them an “open door that no one can shut.”
Diaspora in Portland
Please pray for opportunities for spiritual conversations with a Libyan neighbor. She will be moving to Indiana mid-July. I don’t think she has ever heard the gospel. It is on my heart to share this with her before she moves. Please pray that God will move in a very clear way to allow this to happen.
Please pray that God will provide an international neighbor to move in when my Libyan neighbor leaves.
Restrictions
Many Gabbra villages have begun turning to Christ from folk Islam. They are asking for evangelists and pastors to be sent to teach them the Bible. But the restrictions on gatherings have made evangelism and Bible teaching more difficult these days. Pray for the Word of God to continue to spread rapidly through radio programs, and that soon people can meet together again.
Diaspora in Philadelphia
We had a 4th of July picnic and invited friends from North Africa. Pray for the people who came the we would have good follow-up conversations.
I met a young guy from Morocco who is a neighbor. Pray for his heart to be open to hearing truth. And for times to hang out with him.
Diaspora in USA
Please pray for continued opportunities to share the gospel with International Students in small groups in Lakewoord, CA. Pray that the campground site we reserved for our annual camping trip in August with students will open up or that we would find an good alternative option.
Feasting on the Word
Thank God for one Alagwa man who taught the word of God to a few people using an audio player last week. Pray that he will continue to teach others and also feast on God’s word himself.
Caring for People
Pray that the Lord will have mercy on North Madagascar and will continue to keep the virus from spreading. Many people are coming to churches in the cities because they are afraid, so pray that the churches there can welcome them, share the gospel, and care for them.
Delivered
A young Rangi woman was recently delivered from evil spirits. Pray that she will put her faith in the Lord Jesus Christ so she will be protected by the Son of God from the evil one. Pray for many Rangi people to come to faith in Christ, confess Him openly, and be delivered from Islam.
Just a Start
They were an unreached tribe. Christians went and shared the good news, and a small group of believers began gathering. For a while, there were baptisms and even a small church. But the missionaries and church outreach workers have all left. More are needed in order to complete this good work that began and then halted. Pray for the Lord of the harvest to send them.
Courage and Hope
The ongoing terrorist attacks in Northern Mozambique continue to spread fear and uproot many Mwani men and women from their homes. Pray that the Lord will encourage isolated believers and give them courage to spread the Gospel even while the land is troubled.
Young widow
Pray for a young widow woman, M, who has studied the Bible with us a lot, but doesn’t seem to have a real hunger to learn more and grow. Now she has been making some decisions which have led most of the village to conclude that she is living immorally. Pray that she will seek God‘s leading in all her decisions, and obey and be pure, and wholeheartedly decide to follow Jesus and become a strong disciple!
Another sister!
One more sister has believed! It was beautiful to watch her biological sisters pray over her, tears streaming down their faces as she confessed that Jesus Christ is Lord. Please ask for the rest of the family (men included) to believe and may many more families turn to Christ together.
