Praise God that three Nyang’atom believers are currently being trained in disciple multiplication for another two months in Naliel, South Sudan, together with 10 others from neighboring tribes Jiye and Toposa. This is a monumental occurrence since these three tribes have historically been enemies. What a testimony to the power of the Gospel!
Diaspora in Canada
Pray for a Somali seeker friend to find Jesus, and realize she’s already been sought out by Him. Also for her to find suitable housing soon.
Pray for a Somali believer who has separated from his family and isn’t making efforts to get back together. Please pray for reconciliation and restoration.
Pray for another mature Somali believer whose daughter is dating a Muslim man. Pray with us that they will realize the danger of this, and repent and that Jesus will be glorified.
training and outreach
Pray for Joseph and Nakelio who are leading a discipleship training program and follow up among the Jiye for the next 3 months. Pray for much fruit.
Diaspora in Detroit
Praise for technology that is allowing us to stay connected with our Muslim friends.
In lieu of doing an Easter event, we are going to put out an Easter bag with a bunch of goodies for the kids and some evangelistic materials too. Pray they will be well received.
Our Muslim friends are scared, please pray our church team can cast Christ-like hope in their lives.
Pray for new opportunities to reach out to our friends during this weird and difficult time.
Pray for our online ESL classes which we hope to start this week.
As a team we have continued to stay in touch with all of our friends through an online chat/video platform. This is helping us stay connected with them. This has been the most helpful.
Visiting Restrictions
Pray for the Spirit to draw many. Due to the spread of Corona, our team is unable to visit our Mwani friends and neighbors. Pray that in this time of our physical absence, God will continue drawing many to Himself–through dreams, the audio Bible, etc. Pray that God will continue to work in the lives of those who attended the Mwani meeting in February and for creativity in how to continue discipling in the midst of limited social interactions.
Diaspora in Missouri
Praise God that He continues to open doors for the community garden in Noel. Pray that the garden will be a place of peace and rest during this difficult time and that it will open opportunities for spiritual discussions.
Pray that I will serve the Noel community well in my position as Health Director and that strong relationships will be built with the diaspora community as we walk through this pandemic together.
Also pray for Mo to seek after the Lord with all his heart.
Baptism
Praise God for 79 believers being baptized! Among these mostly Toposa believers were 2 Jiye leaders. Praise God for what He is doing among these people groups!
Diaspora in UK
Praise for the opportunity to connect with people electronically.
Praise for an opportunity to rethink our ministry activities amid social-distancing measures.
Praise that the international women’s sewing group has been asked to make face masks for local health care workers since there continues to be inadequate Personal Protective Equipment supplies.
Pray that people will be spiritually hungry to have a relationship with God through Jesus.
Hard hearts
The O do not like the idea of social distancing- most refuse to stop shaking hands in greeting, saying that it shows a lack of faith in God not to touch. They’re quite convinced they’re right. Hard hearted even! Pray that God will soften hard hearts to His eternal truths of salvation through Jesus alone! May the Holy Spirit draw many into His kingdom of light while they still have the opportunity to receive His grace in all of His truth.
Diaspora in Portland
Pray for our precious volunteers who are continuing online classes with the Pamoja students and regular phone calls to see how they are doing.
Pray that this will be a great time for them to develop deeper relationships with the students and that God will use them to share the lasting hope we have in Jesus.
A Mighty Flame
Pray for the Digo who have been listening to the gospel and the Scriptures to realize the fallacies of Islam and put their trust in Jesus Christ as their only way to God. Pray that their zeal for Him and their love for Him will be a mighty flame. Pray that many churches may be established in all the Digo villages, so that everyone has an opportunity to hear the gospel.
Diaspora in USA
Praise: During this time of “staying at home”, A., our Hindu friend, has been live streaming our church’s services on his own! Pray for him to receive God’s gift of salvation.
Pray for the Friday night Zoom meetings with International Students to be well attended and that we can find creative ways to reach out to students and share the gospel remotely.
Too Ambitious?
Ten new towns, ten new missionaries, ten new churches planted by the end of the year. Is that too ambitious a project? No matter what troubles come, no matter what the barriers are, may the Lord do abundantly above all that the Datooga believers and evangelists and pastors ask or think, and glorify the name of Jesus greatly.
Diaspora in Wisconsin
Our challenge is to find new ways to keep in touch with our friends here in Barron at the same time keep each other safe. Pray for opportunities to keep in touch with our Somali friends and to have spiritual conversations regarding the Christian’s eternal hope.
Staying In
Please pray for a S. Asian family who are in stay-at-home mode these days. They now have been given a Bible and a number of Christian books, as well as some books discussing differences between Christianity and Islam. Pray that they will avidly read and discuss and be convinced that Jesus is truly the Son of God and that they can have eternal life through believing in His Name.
More than Conquerors
Pray that flooding, locusts, terrorist threats and Covid-19 will not halt the spread of the gospel among the Borana, nor weaken the churches. Pray that instead in all these things they will be more than conquerors through Him who loved them.
Desperate
Please pray for Mozambicans walking through extremely hard times. Famines, floods, sickness, and extreme hunger have been the reality the last couple of years. Please pray! Pray for understanding and against despair. It is so hard to explain that the Bible tells us these things are the beginning pains of the return of Christ Jesus and to remain strong! Please pray for perseverance, and great faith in the provision of the Lord to sustain us all until His return.
Wide Radio Outreach During Times of Trouble
Please lift up our radio station at this time, BHB Chalbi FM. With all services and gathering on hold by Government request, we have moved all our outreaches and services ‘on air’ with lots of interactive programs. It is a huge increased load to our studio staff and to our power capabilities (due to ongoing rains and overcast skies, our solar and wind power sources are failing to keep up). So pray for power and for the radio staff to be able to keep up. Also, pray for more and more listeners and open hearts to hear the Good News! This may be their only life line at the moment.
Certain Truth in Uncertain Times
We are still waiting for the first confirmed case of COVID19. We do not know how this is going to progress.
This is a key time for sharing truth with people, and I’ve had some great opportunities in the last few days. Ask for wisdom in our interactions with people. Given that it’s such a social culture, people are unlikely to self-isolate. The normal practice if someone is ill is to go and visit them! Pray for protection on our own health, and that we will not infect others unawares. One of the things we can do is help people understand what’s going on, and advise them about precautions, and model those ourselves.
Some other considerations: What will translation work look like if we try to do it remotely? How can we encourage followers who live in other villages, and get resources to them? Ask that this will be a time of growth for them, and a time when many people seek the Lord.
Fear not
Pray for all the believers here during these uncertain days of Covid19. Pray for bold witness and peace. We are standing by this verse – Isaiah 41.9-10:
I brought you from the ends of the earth and called you from its farthest corners.
I said, you are my servant. I have chosen and not rejected you; do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am you God; I will strengthen you; I will surely help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Children’s Outreach
On Saturday mornings, the team in Pemba has started a ministry in two neighbourhoods, gathering children together. Through bible stories and singing songs, our prayer is that this simple outreach would serve as a witness not just to the kids, but to their parents as well.
construction
Building plans are under way for an evangelist’s home in Lahoda where there is a fledgling church. Let’s ask that this building will soon be complete so that an evangelist can minister there permanently.
Floods and Viruses Alike
Yesterday, our team leader went to deliver supplies to help a village a few hours away that has been severely affected by the flooding in our area, as many other villages have been. We are also seeing some of our local friends and neighbors becoming worried about COVID-19. Our prayer is that through all of these things, floods and viruses alike, the Lord would use them to reveal to these precious peoples that the only solid foundation in this crazy world is Christ and His Word. May the uncertainty and fear drive people to seek for truth that brings real and unshakable hope, to find the God who is truly sovereign over everything and will never leave or forsake us, and Whose perfect love casts out fear. May God use all these things to draw the lost to Himself.
Foundation
An old man came by this morning and we told him we would pray for him. He told us that the foundation to life is faith in Jesus! He’s been listening to an audio Bible for some time.
A Free Exchange of Ideas
A S. Asian woman and her daughters recently discussed Islam with a Christian friend and loved the open exchange of ideas, discovering where the points of disparity exist. They all agreed that it is important to investigate whether the Bible or the Qur’an is true, and that it is each individual’s duty to discover the truth and follow it, no matter the cost. Please pray that as they continue on this journey, their search will lead them to recognize the reliability of the Bible and the errors in Islam, and that they will put their faith in Jesus Christ, having counted the cost and not turning back.
Heart to serve
Lift up Brother A, a Mwani man who, together with his family, is set on serving the Lord in his church as well as helping the team of workers with outreach. Ask the Lord to keep giving him a greater love for the Word and a creativity in how to best reach his own people.
Debating
Sharing the gospel with the O in a little different way – including the story of the two kingdoms, light and darkness, has really resonated with many O people who say they want the light! Pray for two family groups who are debating whether they are willing to study this story more in depth. Pray that they will choose to study God‘s word, and seek to find, understand and receive God‘s gift of light through Jesus.
Party in Heaven! Rejoice!
Saida came to our house and told me and the leader of our church plant that she is tired of worshipping spirits and wants to come to Jesus and go to church. She wanted to burn her witchcraft equipment. After talking to her and explaining the way of salvation, she accepted Christ as her saviour and the instruments used for witchcraft were burned the next day! She and her husband are now coming to church and worshipping with us.
Discipleship and training
A young Sandawe couple has recently moved to southern Tanzania for a year long internship that includes not only discipleship but also training in agricultural methods. Please pray for a good adjustment for Immanuel and Janet and that they will learn much during this time.
Baptism
Pray for the believers who are having baptism classes. Pray that they continue to understand and strengthen their faith in the Lord Jesus. Praise God for our brothers and sisters that are willing to declare Jesus Christ as their Saviour and Lord of their lives in public. Pray that through this event many others will desire a new life in Jesus.
Fear
The last 24 hours have caused much fear among the Mwani people. Last night, the first case of COVID19 was diagnosed here in Mozambique and then beginning early this morning, insurgents captured a Mwani city in the north. Pray for wisdom in how to respond to these situations and for God to have mercy on the many suffering people who don’t yet know Him.
A Significant Dream
A week ago we had a dear friend who has been studying the Scriptures come to us distraught after discovering that her husband had taken a girlfriend, presumably to eventually marry her as a second wife. She shared with us and went home. That evening she had a dream of a man in all white, surrounded by very bright light, who came and told her that he was leaving her with his peace. When she asked who he was, he told her that soon she would know. Please pray with us that the “man in white” would continue to reveal His full identity to her and that she would truly receive His lasting, eternal, soul-securing peace.
News from evangelist
Please pray for the Lord to bless the kindergarten children as we open the school. Please pray that my wife and I will have the heart to continue working for the Lord here. Please pray that the ministry can continue in our village in spite of many challenges. Pray for me to be able to continue receiving higher education and for my son to be able to begin first grade.
Declare what she has seen and heard
Please pray for a Muslim woman who agreed to pray that the Living God would reveal Himself. Pray that she will not shrink back from declaring what she has seen and heard during those days of prayer, and that she will decide to follow Jesus in spite of the cost.
Reaching out to a Neighbor
Please pray for a disciple who has started to reach out to his neighbour, serving him and sharing God’s love with him. May God’s Spirit give him wisdom and boldness. May his neighbour turn to Jesus.
Radio proclamation
Pray for Radio Nuru, our radio station in Northern Mozambique that declares biblical truth. Pray for those working in broadcasting and production and that through this the good news will reach those who don’t have access to the Gospel in other ways.
Diaspora in Portland
Pray that God will open up the hearts and minds of several North African families M&JC have been working with from Libya and Egypt. Pray that God will also reveal Himself to them in dreams and visions.
Pray that God will open up hearts to receive the Good News amongst all of our friends from the North African region.
Pray that whole families would come to faith in Christ and that they would be instrumental in leading their communities to Christ when they go back home to their countries of origin.
New pastor
One of the pastorates in the Sandawe area is undergoing leadership transition. Please pray for both leaders and church members to adjust well to change and that passion for the lost will grow in this area.
Grief and Questions
Alexis has faced many challenges since he started Bible School here in Tana in preparation for serving the Lord full time. He left his wife and eight children back in Nosybe which was not an easy thing to do. This past week, Alexis was called back to Nosybe because his two year old daughter was very sick. Sadly the little girl died on Wednesday before Alexis made it back. Please pray for Alexis and Mbotizara (his wife) in this time of grief, may they find God is sufficient in this great time of loss. Alexis and Mbotizara are the first people to become Christians in their family and village. People in the village do not understand why Alexis has left his family for Bible Study in Tana. Now they have many thoughts concerning the death of his daughter, some thinking it is a curse from his ancestors, others are wondering if his studies are making him rich. We thank the Lord that Alexis is standing strong in his faith, and believes God is in control of everything. Please pray for the people of this village, that they will be challenged by Alexis’ life and testimony and they will come to believe in his God. Also pray for Alexis and his family during these remaining months of studies that they will remain well and that he will be able to focus on his studies.
Holy leaders
Pray for Thomas and Clement in Imoluha. They are faithfully leading the church in this Lopit village, and they recognize the need for others in the church to grow in their faith and participate in the ministry. Please pray for the Lord to raise up workers from within the church. And pray that as these men “make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with [God]” (2 Peter 3:14), their wives would see their example and come to a sincere faith in Jesus.
