Pray for a group of three or four Alagwa in one area that have started meeting weekly with church members for prayer and teaching. They have also started coming to worship on a Sunday too. They came to Jesus with their need for healing; may they surrender their whole lives to him.
God at work
Multiple villages are facing persecution after turning to Christ. In one village, young warriors are angry at the lack of alcohol, that girls are worshiping God instead of dancing with them, and that their witch doctor has come to faith. Pray for these disciples and their leaders to stand firm in their faith.
Update: God is at work! We just ended church service and it was wonderful. The Lord has done great things after the persecution several weeks ago. The church has grown- we had more than 300 people including youths, who asked for peace!
The Bread of Life
Pray for Mama M. She has an impressive hunger for the Word of God and is often asking questions to understand what she is listening to on the audio Bible. Pray that this hunger won’t be satisfied until she and her family come to confess Jesus Christ as Lord.
Outreach and follow-up
We are starting follow-up and outreach to old areas and new areas on the 28th. We have four different teams of 3 going out with the Jesus Film in different directions. Pray for fruitful ministry and many to come to Christ.
Meeting online
One woman is now meeting with 5 others online and is reading the Word consistently. Another just shared the gospel with a friend online and that friend believed! Please ask that all these online connections would be grounded in the truth of the gospel and ask for increasing consistent discipleship.
2 extended family groups to disciple.
There were 2 extended families groups interested in Bible study before Ramadan, but they wanted to wait until the fast finished. Now they’ve been giving lots of excuses. Meanwhile another family has agreed to 2 studies and invited another visit. Pray that God will get 2 groups going and that the studies will lead those families to receive Jesus as Lord and become strong disciples who will make more disciples!
Believe and Speak
Please pray that each believer would live lives according to the truth of the gospel. And may they believe and speak unashamedly of the gospel.
Gabbra Neighbors
One of the communities in the Hurri Hills of Kenya is populated by the Waata People. This community is very reluctant to receive the Gospel. They follow traditional beliefs and worship evil spirits. Pray for strategically open doors for building relationships and sharing the Good News. Pray that this community may see God’s almighty wonders and turn their hearts to our Lord Jesus!
Bible Stories
Several S. Asian women receive Bible stories on their phones each night. Pray that as they listen, the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ will shine on their hearts and they will receive the Savior as their own.
Evangelism from House to House
Pray for house to house evangelism that will begin among the Rangi people tomorrow, and for new believers Vero and Rebecca to stay strong in their faith in Jesus. Pray for the training of Rangi believers who want to study theology and the Bible, and those who are feeling called into the ministry. Pray for a reproducing, indigenous, Christ-centered church among the Rangi.
Radio Messages Translated
One of the believers from Memba and another Makhuwa Pastor have been helping to translate radio messages from a Christian program. These will be used to make up a book on God’s plan of redemption. It is a bridge book that helps new readers to understand the Bible. Please pray for this translation team. They suffer much to be outspoken believers.
May they call out to Jesus
Pray for this Borana family: Three sons came to Christ. The father took one son to be put in jail, but the mother was able to get him released. Christians have helped the sons. Now a sister has died of cancer. Pray that the father and mother will come to faith in Christ through the ministry of loving Christians at this time of grief. Pray for the sons to stand strong in the faith.
Warriors hostile to the gospel
Among the Jiye, women are receptive to the gospel, but young men are hostile. These men see themselves as warriors, and drunkenness is a stronghold, along with their traditional beliefs. Pray that they would hear God’s call to be warriors for Him and to be filled with the Spirit rather than with alcohol.
Strength to Overcome Trials
J lost his father last week due to sudden death. This young servant of God really goes from trial to trial: house broken into, some family members giving him trouble because he is a believer, pursued with false cases, sickness and now losing his dad. It looks like the evil one is really roaring after him. Please continue to pray and support him. He is doing great work among his people group. Four villages have been reached with quite a few committing their lives to Christ.
Aid for Refugees
Due to terrorist activity, many refugees are arriving in Pemba with just the clothes on their back. As we seek to help them with some basic food supplies, pray that the love of Christ will be displayed through our actions. Ask for divine opportunities to share of the hope that we have amidst the current darkness.
Faithful Perseverance
Pray that God will help new Zaramo believers continue in faith as they study God’s Word and grow in grace and the knowledge of Him. Pray for faithful perseverance.
Witch doctors being saved!
Witch doctors are the order of the day among the Toposa. Since the gospel has entered many villages, most of them have gotten saved! Some are church leaders now. At one baptism of 60 people, most of them were witch doctors! Praise God for what he is doing and pray for these leaders to be used by God to bring many to Him.
Lokine
Pray for Lokine, our person of peace among the Ik. Ask God to continue to work in his life and establish him in the faith and make him a blessing to his people.
Prayers for Nyang’atom
Pray for disciples in Lotimor and Kauto
Pray for new churches and believers in Kauto
Pray for teams to be able to visit Lotimor soon
Pray for provision of a motorbike for visits
A New Thing!
All through Ramadan and Eid and now carrying into these following days, it has been a really special season for the Y community! There is an outpouring of the HS that I haven’t seen in my years of being here! They are having dreams and visions (and we are too in regards to them!) and they are responding to the Word. I’ve had several people come forth on their own and ask me out right to share The Story with them or teach them about the Book. We’re seeing healings and other answers. I’ve had many new Y relationships brought across my path which I sense are all really divine connections, and I have several relationships that were previously really hardened and opposed to the Good News and the Word now really softening to it. It’s a beautiful beautiful season! And we want more! More of His Spirit and power and love and truth being poured out on these precious people. Please especially remember “Julia” and my Y momma- two women that have either had a dream or were in a prophetic dream.
Christianity is good, but
A friend from the local church went into the market to share the word of God. That itself is a positive sign as the church has not been active that way. Two ladies told her that they see that Christianity is good. There is love, people come and share the word of God in the market, there is not the violence and vengeance that they see amongst their own people. But… “We couldn’t change. Muslim is what we are and have been.”
Please pray for the Neem that their eyes will be opened. So many people here do not understand anything of their belief system but go through the motions of praying and fasting etc. believing that is what helps them, while also wearing many charms and living in fear of being attacked by bad spirits. Meanwhile, vengeance and violence and corruption is rife.
Prayers for Jiye
Pray for disciples in Kasengor, Lopyat and Buma among the Jiye.
Pray for peace with neighbors
Pray for God’s provision of desperately needed hospital, schools, and water.
Pray for faithfulness in the disciples’ lives.
Pray for the Jiye disciples in refugee camps.
Open Hearts and Open Homes
During this pandemic time, good things have been happening in Ambatozavavy – Nosybe with the church plant. Instead of having church service in one place, we now have house church three times a week. Christians are keen to lead meetings in turns and their close neighbours are not shy to attend. Also, new people are more interested and want to host the gatherings in their homes too. God is good!
Diaspora in Portland
Pray for our friend K. from Syria who is struggling with leukemia- it got worse during Ramadan. Please pray that God will open his heart to the Gospel. He is very religious.
Pray for open hearts as the team passes out Trader Joe bread- that their Muslim friends will find Jesus to be their Bread of Life.
Knowledge of the Truth
Please pray for a S. Asian family who are having some interpersonal struggles, to come to the knowledge of the truth that is in Jesus and realize He is the answer to their needs. Pray that they will give up their reliance on Islam and put all that behind them, and that they will eagerly embrace the Way of Jesus.
Indigenous Workers
Please pray that God may raise up Zaramo believers who will devote themselves to the work of the ministry in a town called Mzenga.
Roots that Run Deep
We ask the Lord for wisdom for our Pastor as he shepherds our little flock and as he interacts with non believers in the community. We ask for words of life fitted to the hearer that are given at the right time as he and other church members interact with those in the community. We ask the Lord to consolidate the faith of our community of believers giving them roots that run deep and will keep them through the storms of life. We ask for the transforming work of the Holy Spirit in their lives to be made visible to those around that the presence and power of the Lord would be undeniable. We ask for breaking of the chains that keep non believers from the Lord.
Diaspora in Wisconsin
We rejoice at the profession of faith of Ali6 and his baptism 3 weeks ago. Through Scripture reading and discussions during ESL, he accepted the Lord and soon after decided to be baptized. Pray for his growth in the Lord.
We have had zoom Bible study with a Somali couple in the LA area and two young Somali men in central France. We are encouraged by their desire to grow in their faith.
Building the church
An elder from a community in Nosybe has requested that a church be built so that villagers would have more than just Islam. Praise God for His amazing intervention!
Diaspora in France
Pray specifically for two families we have been visiting for a while, that the language barrier will no longer be a problem as they learn French quickly and that they will understand the grace Jesus has for them.
Pray also for the international students we are befriending, there are quite a few wanting to read the Bible with us in the upcoming days.
WhatsApp Cell Group
During this time of isolation and social distancing, some Islanders set up a WhatsApp group for local believers to send out encouragement each day during the month of Ramadan. It is a huge step in the right direction of connecting islander believers and giving them a place to go for prayer and for encouragement in their own languages. Please pray that more members will be added to this group.
Diaspora in Portland
Our Ethiopian friends desperately want help for the children in their Oromo Church. These kids are caught between cultures–church services use their parents’ tribal language and focus on sensational topics, not real Bible teaching; and the kids meanwhile are growing up in an English-speaking Western culture. We are concerned for the biblically illiterate parents as well. We need wisdom how to make connections, how to truly help…from the outside.
Diaspora in USA
Praise God for a very encouraging response to the gift bags we delivered to 16 graduating international students in California. Pray that we would be able to connect with students over the summer months. They are eager to go hiking, surfing and camping! Pray for the seeds that have been sown to bear fruit in their lives.
Made in God’s image
Oftentimes in Karamoja a woman’s value comes from having children. Please pray that the Karimojong will come to understand that God made women in his own image and that, because of this, they have inherent value and dignity.
Ten Evangelists for Ten Villages
Please pray that ten evangelists or missionaries can be placed in ten Datooga villages without a church by the end of 2020. Pray that the Lord will greatly strengthen and provide for these brave volunteers. Pray that the Datooga will have a reproducing, indigenous, Christ-centered church.
May they be Filled
Please pray that the Lord will bless the efforts of Christians to share the gospel with the Zaramo people. Pray that they will have a hunger and thirst for righteousness, and that they will be filled, as He promised. Pray for the salvation of a man named Mbondo and his family, as the Christian evangelist continues to share Jesus and his Word with them. Pray that very soon they will confess faith in Christ.
Diaspora in Philadelphia
Pray for us as we work to maintain connections with Muslim friends during this time of COVID19.
Pray for the food outreach in Philidelphia to bring new relationships with Muslim families. Pray that there will be some good contacts with people who are sincerely seeking a relationship with God.
New leaders and new groups!
We have been able to add three more developing leaders to The Catalyst team. The Catalyst team now has leaders from the N, S, E, W, and Central areas within this people group. Also there has been at least two new groups started in the last two months through some of these leaders training others, resulting in new generations. Each of these new groups are in a village where there was no group meeting before. The people in these discipleship groups are meeting regularly to study God’s word and as a result are coming to Christ out of I$lam. Praise Jesus!
Please pray for Christ to be formed in these new believers and they would be envisioned and empowered to bring the gospel to the rest of their people, in this generation. Pray that as a result, whole communities would be transformed through their witness and the power of the Gospel.
Diaspora in France
Praise for recent phone calls from island women after a long absence in Marseille. Pray for timely visits and conversations to spur them on the path of knowing Jesus personally.
Pray for direction in ministry for these months ahead, negotiating the challenges of masks and peoples’ continued anxiety regarding the virus, sometimes distancing people even further. Pray for ears to hear well, both physically and spiritually.
Pray for relationships to deepen and wisdom in opportunities to share the Good News with neighbors and islanders; for spoken words to point clearly to the hope and joy of life in Christ.
Only In Jesus
Pray that as Muslim S. Asians return to their usual schedule after the end of Ramadan, the Lord will continue to speak to them about the things He was trying to bring to their attention during that month of seeking to draw near to Him. Pray that they will seek Him and find Him as they seek with their whole heart, and that they will realize salvation is found only in Jesus.
