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.
Fellowship Under the Tree
Please pray for Papa M and his family. That the seeds of faith would grow in them. Pray that the church under the tree would grow and reach many Muslims and that those who have started to attend the meetings will remain strong in the Lord. As people like Papa M overcome their fear of the spirits, may the light in their hearts draw many in the community closer to freedom in Christ.
He’s on a Two Week Journey
A pastor and missionary to the Datooga is on a two-week trip through a vast area of their tribal homeland, looking for ten strategic locations to send missionary pastors to plant churches. Please pray for safety on his journey and a warm welcome from villages that still need the gospel. Pray for the Lord to raise up and provide support for the pastors who will go. Pray for the word of God to spread rapidly among the Datooga.
Still Spreading
Large areas of Samburu have received the gospel, churches have been planted, and leaders well trained in the Scriptures. But the Samburu tribe covers a very large area, and there are still many villages and towns without the gospel or a church, where old ways and traditions keep people from pledging their loyalty to Jesus. Pray for those who are working to take the gospel to them.
Sharing face to face
Two believers just recently shared their testimonies face to face with friends. Praise Jesus for their increasing courage. Ask for God to guard the truth spoken and to bring life.
Discovering the Bible
Pray for those who are discovering the Bible through reading it with their Christian friends, that they will put their faith in Christ and find Him faithful to make them His strong and courageous witnesses, even to the ends of the earth.
The Prince of Peace
Please continue to pray that those Borana believers who know Christ will be messengers of peace to their communities, and that as Borana people come to know the Prince of Peace, they will carry the gospel to other tribes around them who have been traditional enemies for generations.
Closed Borders
As Madagascar continues with closed borders due to Covid-19, pray for provision for the people who are affected by the shut down of the tourism industry and regional travel.
Water Catchment
A water catchment is being built by a group of faithful believers in a Gabbra community. This water project aims to bless many families during drought season. These believers have faced so much opposition by non believers, but they have shown humility and have been praying that those who have been mocking them would repent and follow Jesus. Our prayer is that through this water catchment, many who are thirsty will come, experience God’s love and provision and will desire to drink from the Living Water.
Meeting Weekly
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.
