Pray for Christians to live among the Ndengereko people in order to share the gospel with them. Pray for the Lord to break down the resistance and reluctance of the Ndengereko to come to Christ. Pray that the Lord will send His Word to them in many forms and ways, so they can learn that anyone who believes in the Lord Jesus Christ will be saved.
Diaspora in Missouri
* Praise God that He is using the gift bags containing produce from the garden to open up spiritual conversations with our African friends.
* Our non-profit’s request to re-zone a downtown building for a community center was denied. Pray for wisdom in the next steps.
* We are having “Welcoming Week” for our diaspora friends this week! We will work on projects together, eat meals together and both harvest and plant at the garden. Pray for the building of relationships and for fruitful conversations.
Equal Interest and Openness
Pray for those Swahili Arabs who are especially proud of their heritage to come to the place of counting all things loss for the sake of gaining Christ, knowing Him, being found in Him. Pray for those who have invested much time in studying their religion to have courage to read and study the Bible with equal interest and openness. Pray that they will have a clear understanding of grace versus works, and receive grace as better.
Walked 45 minutes to church!
Praise God for the daughter of a witchdoctor who has seen us worship on a Sunday from afar and felt very drawn by what she saw. On Sunday she walked the 45 mins to join the worship and really enjoyed it. Please pray for a continued desire within her to seek Jesus and also be discipled. Her mother (the witchdoctor) was extremely positive about her going to church and she herself has listened to scripture many times. Please pray that this would be another step towards this whole family coming to Christ.
Diaspora in UK
* Praise: several ladies from the International women’s sewing group continue to join our Zoom online sewing times. In our most recent sewing time, we shared a brief devotional with the ladies. Pray for a good response.
* Praise: places of worship have been given permission to reopen provided there are social distancing measures in place.
* Pray that hearts will be prompted to seek and find the Lord during these stressful times of the pandemic
* Pray for God to direct us to the activities of his choosing as lockdown restrictions continue to shift week to week and Covid cases are on the rise here
Softer Attitude
The Digo have been known for their resistance to the gospel and adherence to Islam. Pray that they will instead be known for their zeal for Jesus. Pray for the Christians who work among them to notice a softer attitude, a hunger and thirst to be set free, a desire to love and be loved by the living God. Pray for many to be saved.
Diaspora in Portland
*Ethiopian Youth Bible Club. We’ve taught 8 weekly Zoom sessions so far, with 10-15 Ethiopian kids. We interact around music, chronological storying, and videos. Each week, we also meet with our Ethiopian colleagues who had this vision and prepare and pray over the final touches. Please continue to pray for these children to grow in faith.
* Sunday morning tent services—Next door, at our daughter and son-in-law’s home, our team has just launched an outdoor “tent” interactive fellowship as a welcoming place to seek and worship, even for those from other cultural backgrounds. Pray that this will be used of the Lord to grow His Church among the nations.
Break fear
Holy Father, please give courage to your children to speak to family members about the Lord Jesus. We ask especially that fathers and brothers would be ready to hear and believe the gospel, and that the Islamic fear would be broken.
A Movement To Send Them
Please continue to pray for Datooga evangelists and pastors to be sent to all corners of the tribe. Pray that the Lord will raise up those men and women.
Then also please pray for the churches in Tanzania to be filled with a passion to see the Great Commission fulfilled in every tribe in the country, including the Datooga. Pray that it will be their own sons and daughters they send out. Pray they will support them generously, visit them, care for them, and stay in touch with them.
Great Enthusiasm
Praise the Lord for the Christians among the Borana of Kenya, and the churches that have been established, and the Scriptures in their language. Please pray that the Borana believers will have a great enthusiasm for sharing the gospel and Scripture with others. Pray also that through their influence as salt and light, conflict between their tribe and other tribes will die down. May their fellowship with believers from other tribes be a great testimony to the truth of the gospel.
Troubled Man
A neighbor came to dinner. His family is out of town and for ten days he had no one to cook for him. He is truly concerned about the world- the wickedness, the immorality, the cheating and lying and greed and violence. In every country and every culture he travels to he sees it. He worries about his children, and the next generation. Only religion, he said, would bring peace to the world. He means his religion, not ours. But it opened a door to share with him the transformation we saw in one culture when we took the gospel to a UPG. He listened. Please pray we can keep sharing with him and his family so one day he can know the Prince of Peace and not be afraid and troubled any more.
The Good Fight
Please pray for our 37 evangelists from FLM (Lutheran Church of Madagascar) and FJKM (Reformed Church of Madagascar) who have been trained in Missions and Evangelism. Pray that they will use all the tools they were given and in the power of the Holy Spirit will boldly share the Gospel, going to the villages where Christ is not already known. Also pray that our partners will focus on unity and working together for the sake of Christ, leaving behind all intrigue, envy, and unholiness. May they fight the good fight and show the church how to be more gospel-centered and mission minded.
Rock of Salvation
O unshakable Father, many Arabs are facing uncertainty and death because of unrest and disease. Thank you for your patience as you long for their repentance. Please strengthen your children to abide and then to speak the gospel compelled by love. Would you reveal yourself as the Rock of Salvation and shake all that is shakable.
A Flood Coming Into the Kingdom
Father, please call the Somali to Yourself. It is unrealistic and definitely impossible for us as humans, but because You are God, You can accomplish the unrealistic and the impossible. So, we come to You in Jesus Name and ask that, in Your mercy and grace, and for Your glory alone, please “bare Your holy arm” and show Your awesome power by bringing the Somali people from every corner of the world into Your kingdom. By December, 2020, would You call so many Somali people to Yourself, that the flood speaks for itself, that they are a “reached” UPG. Amen.
And we ask God that You work among local believers in powerful ways. Grant them wisdom, guidance, and freedom from fear.
Bold believer
Our bold new sister has been sharing online and two from other cities have come to Jesus so far. One was threatened by his family but he has stood firm saying nothing can turn him from Jesus. Please pray that these young believers (and those we don’t hear of) would abide in the Word and be deeply grounded and not fear.
Diaspora in Spain
* Pray for Th., an African immigrant who has completed his resettlement program, but still cannot find work. He is now homeless and living with a friend temporarily.
* Pray for sports to be allowed to continue this fall. Two of my biggest outreach opportunities here in Spain are through sports. I am helping to coach a football team of African migrants. Also, right before quarantine, I had just joined the coaching team for a football club of underprivileged kids and reconnected with the kids of several Sahrawi immigrant families I met during AIM’s sports camp last year. Pray that we can get these clubs going again.
* Pray for a meeting I have coming up soon. I was just invited yesterday to sit down with a Muslim refugee friend and the imam of the local mosque in Jerez to discuss Jesus, the Bible, and the Qur’an.
Diaspora in Portland
Pray for protection from the mosque warning people on the WhatsApp group to stay away from receiving services from our English center. Pray that this would reveal those who are open and seeking. Pray for boldness.
Pray as we are planning to start in person classes September 8 following the governors guidelines. It will be challenging. Please pray for all of the logistics and staff in order to make that happen.
Pray for the Algerian believer that he would grow in his faith. Please pray for the Somali lady that is coming to our Sunday fellowship that she would come to know the Lord
Ready to die for Jesus
Praise God for the strategic meeting between 100 Toposa leaders that took place in mid-August in Naliel. They appointed 6 to oversee the Toposa movement. Praise God that some even walked 96 kilometers over two days to meet. Pray against the increased persecution that has emerged in 4 areas with severe attacks and beatings. Pray for the believers that testify that they are ready to die for Jesus as they continue to meet. May this fuel even more hunger and thirst for righteousness. May the Kingdom of God be made manifest in every Toposa village. Please also pray for the Toposa, Nyangatom and Jiye (TNJ) cluster strategy coordination team as they meet. Pray for effective distribution of needed resources such as Jesus Film solar backpacks, audio Bibles and chronological Bible story cloths. Pray for the on-going training of disciple-multipliers from each group and the fulfillment of their commitment to engage 72 new villages by the end of 2020.
Open to Friendship
Please pray for a S. Asian family who seem to be more and more open to friendship with their Christian neighbors. Pray that they will be interested in studying the Bible and comparing it with their holy book and that the Holy Spirit will open their eyes to who Jesus really is and what is the true Way to God.
Diaspora in USA
ESL classes are starting the first week of Sept. Pray for a good turn out of immigrants to study English. Pray for good conversations about eternal things.
Sept. 13-20 is Welcome Week at the new RAISE house; we’ll be introducing immigrants to RAISE services and activities and providing lunch during the week.
Es. has had several opportunities to pray with immigrants as she goes door to door for Census 2020. Pray for these brief connections to bear fruit.
Hard Times
Please pray for an Alagwa believer whose husband (not a believer) is moving to divorce her. Please join his wife in praying for her husband’s heart to be changed, for him to follow Jesus. Pray too that she would lean on Jesus and continue to trust him. That God would use these hard times to cause growth in her.
He Reached Out to Reconnect
We were concerned that our Somali language teacher was getting rather quiet and saying he was busy. We prayed for God to reconnect us and last night he sent a text to find out how we are doing! … and wants to resume the language classes. We praise God for answering our prayer and reconnecting us with our friend. Sometime back we presented this brother with a Somali Bible and we pray that God will give us opportunities to delve into His Word with him. We also thank God for the leadership, guitar, and computer classes which are going very well. They have really connected us with these Somali friends.
One Bold Man
Praise God for the way an Alagwa church elder is growing in his boldness to witness and teach. May God continue to encourage him and give him strength and courage.
The God who Heals
We have had opportunities to share concerning God – the One who Heals – and about prayer.
The LORD intervened with healing – answering our prayers for a critical covid patient!
Ask for many more miraculous encounters for these people with Jesus.
Ask that many will see His power at work, first-hand, in our community.
Ask that the encounters will bring them to a quest for truth and a significant spiritual crossroad in life.
Prayer for Nyamwezi
May many Nyamwezi receive the gospel from the Christians living among them.
Burning Desire
Please pray for a young Arab Swahili man who keeps pursuing me (I believe he wants to convert me…which is great!) Pray that he would have a burning desire for the Truth and Jesus would reveal Himself. Pray that our conversations about the Kingdom of Light versus darkness would penetrate deep.
A Man Named Andrew
An evangelist named Andrew is still faithfully working among the Zigua. He is in a course that will lead to his ordination as a pastor in a couple weeks which will mean he can provide the Lord’s Supper and baptize Zigua believers! Pray for him!
Taking on the Vision
Covid-19 has sadly halted many things. This includes literacy classes in the villages. Please pray that God would raise up the right people to become teachers who will take on the vision of reading the Bible in their native language. Thankfully, the radio broadcasts have continued to run smoothly. However, Nelson (one of the announcers), needs to relocate to a new piece of land due to a dispute. Please ask for guidance in this matter and that God will provide additional ways to sustain his family. May the team soldier on with power and strength which comes from above.
Prayer for Unity in Outreach
Lord, thank You for the unity You have given the local churches in Kilwa and the vision they have for reaching the unreached villages in the Kilwa district with the Gospel. Please, preserve their unity and keep them united by Your Spirit and protect them from any attacks of the enemy who would seek to cause disunity and conflict. Give them strength to continue in the work You have called them to and help each of Your children in Kilwa to keep their eyes fixed on Jesus. Grant them Your wisdom and may they shine like bright lights in the midst of the darkness, being witnesses for Jesus with their lives and love. In Jesus name and for His glory, amen.
Strength to overcome
Pray for the Fulani believers:
May they grow strong and be good ambassadors to their own people.
May God give them strength to overcome rejection within their own family unit.
Recently a woman believed, and decided to join our fellowship. The following day she was told to reject her new faith or else suffer a divorce. Ask God to help her overcome this challenge. Ask God to open her family members’ eyes to Truth.
Mike’s wife
Pray again for Mike, the O MBB working with Bible translation. He’s had to leave his family behind while he lives a ways away to do his work and be trained. Pray for his wife who has claimed to receive Jesus, but continues to struggle against the persecution of family relationships that want to draw her back and keep her strong in Islam. Pray that God would strengthen her with knowledge and wisdom and depth of intimate relationship with Him – and that she would be a strong disciple of Jesus and also be a disciple who makes more disciples!
Passing the Test
Malagasy missionary Petera has been with a group of students this week to take them to their major exams. These had been delayed because of COVID-19. Most children form Nosy Mitsio can’t pass the assessment but Petera has been tutoring them and sharing Bible stories as well. Pray for favour as they take their tests and that success will lead to more trust and opening of doors to share the gospel.
Partnering
Pray for the partnering process with local churches:
We need wisdom on how to best partner with the local churches.
We desire to love well the different local church workers we invite to partner with us.
May those invited to participate with us, learn together with us – in order to reach out to their own people.
Sharing Boldly
Pray for Zaramo Christians to share the gospel boldly with friends and neighbors who are worried and upset by these uncertain times. Pray for the Lord to provide for Christian families and that as they share with those who are in need, they will also be able to share the Word of God. Pray for those Christians from other tribes who live among the Zaramo to love them well and share the gospel of Christ with them.
Regardless
A S. Asian Muslim woman claims she just wants to know what pleases God and what is the truth, regardless of what her society or family or peers say. Please pray that she may be sincere in that desire, and that as she seeks God she will find Him through faith in Christ, as she seeks with her whole heart.
Diaspora in Canada
We have had a wonderful response to our offer of free bikes to neighbourhood kids, both of kids and young adults seeking bikes, and churches donating them. This has developed into friendship and an informal faith study (not yet Bible study but getting there) with several Somali young men who meet with me at least 3 times a week. Pray that this will grow both in size and depth.
Pray for several Somali Christian friends who are experiencing stress during this COVID crisis. Please pray for them to look to the Lord, and for us to minister to them in Spirit and in truth.
Diaspora in Portland
Praise God, I was able to share the story of Ruth with my Libyan neighbor before she moved, emphasizing the truth that God is always with us even when we think He has abandoned us. I was also able to share with her the hope that I have as a Christian that when I die I will be with Him for eternity. Pray for more conversations about the Lord as I continue to have contact with her.
Pray with us for who God wants to have move into the now vacant apartment.
Pray for wisdom on what our ESL program should look like for the fall and for an adequate number of like-minded volunteers who desire to “bring lasting HOPE” to so many lost in darkness.
God will make a way, where there seems to be no way. He works in ways we cannot see. He will make a way….!
First Love
In the name of the Lord Jesus, we ask that older Arab believers would humbly repent of
*silence because of fear,
*an unwillingness to risk discipling young believers
*choosing isolation over fellowship
Please refresh their first love and overwhelm them with a passion to disciple and be discipled.
Focus on Jesus
Pray for a Christian couple who are sharing the gospel among the Zigua people. Pray that through them many Zigua will come to know Christ and become His faithful disciples and followers. Pray that many churches can be started among the Zigua people, and that they will leave behind their former religion and ways. Pray that all their focus will be on the Lord Jesus Christ.
Diaspora in Detroit
Praise God for the new ministry of food distribution. Pray we would be able to meet physical needs in a God honoring way AND step into the relational space to share God’s good truth. We serve about 20 families a week right now. With C19 stuff shutting down group events for the kids, pray our team would be able to find ways to connect not only with the adults, but kids of the families too.
On Sunday August 30th we are planning a back to school picnic. Please pray for many to attend and for wisdom for us as we decide what and whom to include and exclude for our event.
Praise God for an in-home ESL program we just started with 5 new ladies.
