Jesus spoke to religious leaders in Matthew 21:28-32 about a son who said to his father he would work in the vineyard but did not. Another son said he would not work, but later repented and went. There are many similarities in this context among Nyamwezi who say they believe but there is no evidence of this belief. Others wait and repent a long time after an invitation is given. Please pray none would be fearful and would quickly embrace the cost to follow Jesus. Pray that God would lavish Himself upon those who turn their lives in immediate obedience to the Living Word. The Lord God is a good Father who is patient even with deferred obedience, but pray for an outpouring of the Spirit and many would trust Christ without delay. Even if their “yes to Jesus” makes no sense to their neighbors, pray new believers would show inexplicable joy, transformation, and new life in Christ.
Diaspora in Canada
* Praise for about 300 bikes given away over the summer, and significant relationships built in the process.
* Thanks also for solution to our storage problem for the winter – a school that has a large Yazidi population has a settlement worker, who requested our help with getting bikes into the hands of the kids there. I am working on finding a time when I can interact with this community to repair and distribute bikes.
* Pray that conversations around our back yard fire pit, bike rides, and continued Jesus conversations will happen with our many new found friends.
* Pray for safety and wisdom as we continue to engage with our many friends who have requested tutoring and help with educating their newcomer children.
Wider Perspective
Pray that hearts of Christians living among the Rangi would burn within them as Jesus opens wider their perspective of His mission to the nations. Just like Jesus’ interaction with two disciples on a road leading to Emmaus. Telling them, “repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in His name to all nations” (Lk 24:47) Pray that they would find ways to reach out to the Rangi living in their neighborhoods.
Diaspora in Florida
Pray God’s Spirit would open the hearts of two Imams, A and S, with whom Da and Ke are working.
Please also give thanks with us for a very successful outreach picnic: The imam left the picnic smiling. I texted him after I got home: “A, thank you for bringing your people tonight. I really enjoyed it.” The imam replied: “You’re welcome Ke. We felt the same way. You guys are awesome.” So, seeds planted, relationships begun or strengthened. We are grateful to God for what He has done.
Longing for More Than Rules
Pray for S. Asians who are trying to keep all the rules of Islam to find that their efforts are in vain. Pray that they will realize the Law makes nothing perfect. Pray they will long for more than rules and regulations, and that they will be led to Jesus who can give them the Spirit to write His laws on their hearts and enable them to do it.
Diaspora in Detroit
* Beyond our group there is momentum for a new Arabic- speaking Muslim Background Believers’ church in Dearborn. Let’s pray this into reality!
* A lot of classes are starting for us this month including 3 citizenship classes. We want these to be a gateway into relationships that the gospel might be shared.
* Please pray for wisdom to know what to prioritize especially in these days of online schooling.
* Wisdom on if and what to do for Thanksgiving and Christmas events.
Diaspora in France
* Continue praying for an open door for the kid’s club (Sept 26) that had to be postponed for the third time because of reinforced covid restrictions. Pray for heart preparation of the children and parents for the eventual opportunity.
* Pray for a good restart of a smaller kid’s club on Oct 14 in another center.
* Praise for good weather and new students as our international cafe club was held in the park for 3 Friday’s while the usual center was unavailable. Pray for the Word to take root in those who stay after for the study.
* Pray for the covid cases to lessen and no further restrictions. This city is one of two with the highest cases in France and more clamping down on activities have been put in place. Continue praying for opportunities to proclaim truth and hearing well with the mask challenges.
Good Friends
Pray for Sarah, a young sister, as we try to connect her with another sister her age. Pray for a good friendship to develop between them and their families. May they be able to support one another and grow in their faith together.
Freedom for the captives
Pray in Jesus name against the schemes, flaming arrows, darkness and deception our enemy uses to keep people in fear and bondage in his kingdom of darkness. May the Good News which is widely shared be received and believed – setting the captives free! Bringing joy instead of despair! and beauty rather than ashes (and all of Isaiah 61:1-3 fulfilled)!
Hungry to Seek Jesus For Themselves
Please pray for the many people who have bought a memory card or audio player with portions of Scripture and Bible stories in Alagwaisa, as well as Swahili Scriptures. Pray that many people would not just enjoy the stories but be hungry to seek Jesus for themselves.
Diaspora in Washington
* Pray with us for English tutoring outreaches on Friday, Saturday, and Monday of each week. We are partnering volunteers with our students, (& their families), by gathering in area parks close to student’s homes to practice English and fellowship. Pray that we and our students are blessed with wisdom and understanding from our LORD God. (Proverbs 3:13)
* Pray for the Bible lessons we’re teaching each week with our students. We trust God’s word to accomplish God’s purposes. (Isaiah 55:11)
* We praise God that His Holy Spirit is working among UPGs in this area and they are thirsting for the good news of Jesus.
The Well
Please keep praying for a well we are drilling here in the village. We have faced many problems. The drill broke three times, the compressor of the truck malfunctioned and water has not come out as planned (1,5 m cubic/ hr). Moreover, some people are against the construction of the well (like Tobiah and Sanballat in the book of Nehemiah). Please pray that in the middle of all this distress, God will give water to bless our children, farmers and the sick Bara people of Toby Betesda.
Diaspora in Portland
* Please pray for our DBS on Sunday mornings, that God will open up S./M.’s heart to understanding the Gospel. She and her son come from the Horn. Please also pray for A. that he would grow in his faith in Jesus. Please pray for his wife to be able to come join him from N. Africa. Please pray as we intentionally invite other diaspora friends to join our study.
* Please pray for opportunities to share stories from God’s Word with our diaspora friends.
Very Ill
Please pray for a Tanzanian evangelist to the Rangi people whose young wife is very ill. They have labored faithfully for many years to bring the gospel to these Muslim people and the husband is begging the Lord to heal his wife. Please pray that her recovery will be complete, and that many will come to faith in Christ through their testimony.
Diaspora in Kentucky
* Praise God for a growing relationship with Mr. A who is an immigrant from our hometown in the Horn.
* Praise for a group of people who meet monthly to pray for Somalis and engage them with the Gospel.
* Praise for a growing understanding of the lay of the land in Louisville and potential opportunities for outreach.
* Pray for peace in the city and opportunities to point people to Christ during this time of pain and protests.
* Pray for opportunities for JJ to connect with Somali women. Wisdom in how to order our days.
Identity in Christ
Our Mwani friend A gave his life to Jesus and since then his family despises him. In Mwani culture, your identity is defined by the community you are a part of so if your family rejects you, the whole community rejects you and with that benefits like food, work, housing etc. stop. Pray for A and many Mwani like him who struggle with identity and acceptance after deciding to follow Christ.
Diaspora in UK
* Starting from October 1st I am going to try to move some of my English teaching which has been done outside in local parks inside to a local church venue. Please pray for the transition.
*Praise that the international women’s sewing and international university student Bible study groups are expanding through online access. Please pray that those attending would see their need for a Saviour and turn to Jesus.
Bible translation
Pray for Mike and others who continue to work towards the completion of the Jesus film and other Bible translation projects – pray that the Holy Spirit will anoint them with wisdom, discernment and ability to see the O. scriptures accurately translated and engaged with on a large scale. Also pray for Mike’s wife to be growing and genuine in putting Christ first in her life!
Diaspora in Canada
* Praise for N (Moroccan who recently believed) being baptized two weeks ago at our church. She is now being further discipled. She is already inviting her friends/family to church and sharing the gospel.
* Praise for a space (rented gym) to have our Impactkids.ca program with 10 North African children signed up for our first drop-in last Saturday October 3rd
* Praise for a space (church) to have our English conversation classes- first one Saturday October 10th.
* Pray for our Impact Kids- that we will do well from a COVID-19 perspective, connect well with the families, and that the seeds of the gospel would take root in the kids’ hearts through the story of Noah.
* Pray for a good group of North Africans to sign up to our English conversation classes, that God would call those whom he is already at work in.
Continue To Grow In Jesus
Pray for the Alagwa church elders, that they will continue to grow in Jesus and develop especially in the areas of teaching and preaching.
Miraculous Peace and Quiet
Please pray for a Rangi woman named Mama S. She is very curious and has agreed to study a set of chronological Bible Stories with me. The first two times I have gone to study with her the Lord has miraculously provided peace and quiet so that we can read without interruption. (I say miraculously because her house has many women and children and it’s often difficult to even hold a conversation.) Some of the other nearby ladies have joined to listen too. Pray that all of their hearts would be moved by Truth and would want to hear about Jesus, and pray for continued miraculous times of quiet to study together.
Diaspora in France
Praise God for the opening of the community center/café: Le Quai 67! Business is fairly slow at the moment, but we are starting to meet people in the community. Oct 2 we started French classes and today we start a time for moms and young children!
I recently met a North African woman from the neighborhood. She has two young children and is longing for community. We met for coffee and connected really well.
I’ve met with several friends at the café over the past week- it’s a great connecting place! Praise God for several Gospel conversations with friends.
Ambassadors
Pray again for the Lord to send ambassadors of the gospel to the Ndengereko people so they may hear and be saved.
Diaspora in Missouri
* Praise God for the good turnout for our Welcoming Week events. We are thankful for the relationships that were formed and nurtured and for the fruitful conversations.
* Our non-profit board will be meeting on October 8th to discuss and plan how to move forward with the community center in Noel. Please pray for wisdom as we consider the next steps.
* We will be having a closing event at the garden on October 25th. This will be a Fall themed event for families. Pray that many will come and that the Lord will guide and direct our time together.
Story of Noah
Praise that the app highlighting the story of Noah has been downloaded by many people over the past month! Pray that those who have downloaded it will listen and engage with the word of God.
Bless the Beautiful Feet
Please pray that the M who are sitting in darkness will see a great light, on those in the shadow of death a light will dawn, the light of Jesus Christ. Pray that in small villages where Jesus has never been heard of, in these days the gospel will be coming. May the Lord bless the feet of those who announce glad tidings of good things.
True Destiny
Yesterday I sent a message to my good friend and class mate Mu* who was bereaved last week. I asked him how he would like us to pray for him. He said we should pray for his auntie (who recently died) and also pray for the whole family. My prayer request is that the family may know, believe and understand the true destiny of those who depart from us after putting their trust in Jesus. May the family be willing to hear more from us on the good news of those who have surrendered their lives to Jesus.
Unlocking the Hearts
Pray for the Digo of Kenya and Tanzania to meet many Christians from other tribes who do not look down on them but who love them with the compassion of Jesus. Pray that the friendship and kindness of those Christians will be the key to unlock the hearts of the Digo to Jesus. Pray that the Word of God will be shared freely and that anyone who might try to prevent Digo people who are seeking salvation will not be able to hold them back or intimidate them.
Judgement Day
The Jesus Film has been largely broadcasted in more than 100 Bara villages. Please pray that the Holy Spirit will remind the thousands who have watched the Judgement Day and that He who sits on the throne is merciful. Pray that the light of truth will penetrate through the darkest lands and bring salvation to the very last village in Madagascar. May God strengthen the church by bringing a revival of holiness and love for the kingdom of Christ. May He awaken His church, open doors to spread the Gospel and provide new strategies to reach His people.
A Strategic Plan
Praise the Lord for a widespread nationwide survey that has almost been completed among the Datooga of Tanzania. It seems there are pockets of reproducing Christ-centered churches in many areas and approximately 1% believers so far. Praise the Lord for the plan to put Tanzanian Christians in ten strategic towns and villages so they can do outreach and start churches. Pray for the Lord to greatly bless this project.
Steadfast in Him
A few days ago, we visited R and F who were recently transformed by Christ. F and M are R’s young nieces who were beaten by their father because of their faith in Jesus. After much familial pressure, M returned to Islam, but F and R have remained steadfast, continuing to follow Jesus. Their family has persecuted, abused and continues to threaten R and F but despite the circumstances they have remained steadfast in the Lord. Pray that R and F will remain strong in following after Jesus! And that M will repent to return to Jesus.
Strong and Courageous
Please pray for the Holy Spirit to make the Borana believers strong and courageous, not trembling or being afraid in any way, to speak the word of God boldly without fear, and that many others will be saved through their testimony.
Confusion and Trouble
Pray for the salvation of a S. Asian lady who received a gospel of John. Her husband has lost his job and the family is experiencing many difficulties. In their confusion they are asking a “Koranic expert” to discern who has an evil eye against them. Pray that they will turn to Jesus instead of to Islam for answers and protection.
Doubtful but Open
Please pray for a Rangi man named Baba Z. He has been asking questions about Jesus recently. God has opened the door to read some Scripture as well as the story of the Two Kingdoms together. He is doubtful but open for discussions. Please ask the Holy Spirit to stir his heart and open His eyes to see his need for Jesus as Savior.
Spiritual Breakthroughs
“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 realm.” Please pray for spiritual breakthrough amongst the Alagwa. Pray for the many Alagwa who are still bound by evil spirits. Pray for freedom and for many eyes to be opened to the truth of Jesus their Redeemer.
Need a breakthrough!
It’s been so long, so let’s intensify asking, seeking, and knocking for three more strong O. disciples yet this year to join the four who are currently faithfully desiring to obey God in every way. Pray for the beginning of a disciple -making movement! Keep praying for O. eyes to really see, and O. ears to listen, hear and understand, and O. hearts to turn and be healed. In Jesus name and power! Amen.
fasting and praying
Their father is sick with kidney disease and diabetes… and the believing sisters and mom are fasting and praying for his healing so that he has the opportunity to believe. Please ask for growing faith and growing boldness to witness. And like them, ask for each believer to be bold to tell their families.
This Week’s Questions
Please pray that South Asians who have Christian friends will contact those friends this week and ask questions about their faith and the reasons they believe in Jesus Christ. Pray that the Lord will lead those Christians to give accurate and clear testimony of Jesus and His love. Pray for the Holy Spirit to turn them from darkness to His glorious light.
Neem m’ssionary!
Pray for B, a relatively recent Neem believer, who has taken a 9 months Bible/evangelism training and just set off to be a missionary! He says he hopes to reach leaders particularly. Pray for him that he will be full of courage and discernment and compassion. As a child, he was one of those beggar boys carrying the bowls around to take back gifts to his ‘Faki’ from whom he learnt the Koran. May God use him and his knowledge of our cousins’ faith richly.
Pray for those he seeks to reach, steeped in fear of spirits and evil eye, trapped by tradition, and with little idea of God. May God open their minds and hearts and give visions and dreams to them which will turn them to Christ. May God open the doors for many more to work amongst this group.
Hunger and Thirst
Please pray for those who have sown in tears among the Zigua to reap a great harvest in joy. Pray for the Zigua to hunger and thirst for righteousness. Pray that Jesus will show them that He became sin for them so they could become the righteousness of God in Him. Pray they will come to Jesus for their hunger to be filled.
