Praise for ongoing internet contacts from a young Somali believer who was baptized in Kenya last year and is now part of small house church in a city in eastern Ethiopia. Pray for his growth in grace and knowledge of the Gospel.
Cross Cultural Missionaries
The Borana have been traditional enemies of the Gabbra, often at war with one another. Pray for the Borana churches to continue to reproduce, for leaders to be trained, and for the Borana believers to have a passion to reach across tribal lines and carry the gospel to the Gabbra, who are particularly open and receptive to the gospel just now. Pray for Jesus Christ to work mighty reconciliation between them.
Diaspora in Missouri
We have set a date for our first trauma healing group. It will be February 21-23. Please pray for the preparations and that each individual who comes will find healing in the Son.
One of our ESL classes has requested conversation partners for the students outside of class and JR has offered to help with this need. Pray for opportunities to connect with several of the students and build relationships with them.
Resistance Overcome
Pray for the Datooga churches to continue to multiply and for those Datooga communities that have been extremely resistant to the gospel to become open to it. Pray for long-term evangelists and missionaries who will not only come to stay a year or two in villages that are unreached, but for those who can stay a long time until leaders are trained who can continue planting new churches.
Diaspora in Canada
Praise for great gospel conversations with our Muslim friends this month. Particularly with three Algerian men (Ra, Lo and AbH) and an Algerian woman (Ka)
Praise for continued progress, good discussions and times of fellowship through our Al Massira introductory Bible study with an Algerian couple, Ri (believer) and Fa (still Muslim). After spending the last several months in the Old Testament we finally arrived at the birth of Jesus.
February 15 we are hosting a “Winter Carnival” for the families of Impact Kids (our kids drop-in program), their friends, and the community. Pray that all the planning and details go smoothly and that many people would sign up to come. Pray that this event would deepen our and the local church’s presence in the community and that those who come would feel the love of Christ through the Christian volunteers who will be running the event. Please also pray that through this event, many would sign up for our ESL courses and Kids drop-in program, through which we have the opportunity to deepen friendships and share the gospel.
Please pray for Ab H, an Algerian Berber, who is a devout Muslim. This week we discussed the gospel for four hours together. Please pray that the Holy Spirit would open his eyes to the truth!
Diaspora in Florida
Praise God for opportunities to share the gospel at a Winter’s Tea (lead by believers) and a cooking demonstration (lead by Muslim women)
Pray for God to supply a center for us to do ministry. We need wisdom on the right place to use.
Pray for DM as he travels to India February 15-23 to encourage and challenge his leadership team. There are some problem areas to deal with, pray for wisdom.
Mighty Mercy Poured Out
Recent unseasonal rains have caused floods and a lot of damage in local villages. A new church plant is located in one of these villages, the evangelist family who live there currently have 5 other families living with them! They say many have lost homes, or are at least displaced until the waters recede, but even then there will be lots of damage as many homes are simple mud buildings. The Lord is using even this though, as there have been many opportunities to share the Gospel and minister to those in need. Be praying for the Lord to strengthen and encourage the evangelist family and the new church plant out in the village – May the love of Christ shine through them as they help their community. Be praying for our team and church partners, that we would be able to know the best ways to serve and support them, both through supplies and prayers. Be praying for many to come to faith, for opened eyes to see Christ and His great love for the lost and for each unsaved person individually. May He pour out His mercy as mightily as He has poured out the rains!!
Divisions Completely Overcome in Jesus’ Name
Pray for the Lord to work mightily among Somali believers (and also among those Christians who are trying to reach them with the gospel), breaking down all that hinders them from coming to Christ and being completely “united in Him.” Pray for strongholds of Satan to be broken down in the name of Jesus.
Her Son Is Ill
Pray for a S. Asian neighbor whose son is suddenly ill. She needs the Lord Jesus as her Savior but is afraid to leave Islam. Please pray that this and all her circumstances may convince her that Jesus is truly the Savior who can be trusted with her whole life.
DBS
Praise God for the continuing discovery Bible studies led by team members, Maria, Logwe, and others. Pray for more local leaders to take the message to still unreached areas of Laarim, and even beyond!
Plentiful Harvest
From Dukana: please pray for more workers in the Vineyard! Villages are asking for Bible teachers to come each week as they hear the radio and hear testimonials from others. We want to be consistent and reach all but we are few!
Angelo
Angelo, who helped us immensely with language and translation, continues to lead multiple discovery Bible studies each week, along with working at the local clinic. Pray for his strength physically, emotionally, and spiritually. He will travel soon to Kenya to explore the option of schooling later this year, to become a trained medical provider for his people.
Reading with Neighborhood Kids
Recently, the neighborhood kids have been coming around more and more frequently. We read a few stories together (always starting with a Bible story). They seem genuinely interested in reading together! Pray that the Lord would bless His word and truth as these children listen. That it would be like seed on good soil which takes root and bears fruit. That the children will grow up clinging to truths like “Jesus loves me because He died for me”, and “God is always listening to our prayer when we cry out for His help”, or “God is always with His people so we don’t need to be afraid”. May God use this younger generation to become passionate followers of Jesus in this place as they grow older!!
A Perfect Opportunity
When I arrived at my friend’s house she was writing down verses from the Qur’an having to do with men and women’s roles. As we talked, it became evident she was doing it not only so she could be a good wife, but also so she could point out to her husband when he was not following their holy book! And I thought to myself: “They have a form of godliness but have denied its power.” Even if their book tells them to do good, it has no answer to the question, “But how?” Try harder. Try harder. Try harder. Please pray for this woman and her family as they read the Bible I left with them, that they may see the light of Christ and believe in Him.
Complete Deliverance Needed
Please pray for one lady who has been suffering with many demons for a long time. She was in her field and felt a demonic attack, and for some reason unknown to her the words “Jesus help me” came out of her mouth. Later on, one of our team “got lost” on the way to pray for the lady’s neighbor, ended up at her house instead that evening, and prayed for her. She came to church and was prayed for again the next Sunday. Please keep praying for her as she seeks Jesus and the complete healing she now knows only Jesus can bring.
Mission trip
Please continue praying for our team. Julius is now in Kakuma Refugee camp. We are starting discipleship among S.Sudanees in the camp. There are people from the Jie, Toposa, Didinga, Nubians( Kanyauro tribe) and Lotuko tribes. We are connecting with the groups and seeking for people of peace and soon we will start training them. Pray for receptiveness and for many to embrace God’s Word. Julius will be there for a week before he heads back to Naliel to followup with other groups. One of Julius needs is to get a motorbike to help him in his work. With God all things are possible.
Update on family struggling with demon
Last night about 20 believers (local, expat, and Malagasy) gathered in the family’s home to worship and cast out the evil spirit living there in the house. It had been attacking the daughter since Tuesday night – but from the outside, it couldn’t ‘enter’ her because she is a child of God! We sang, proclaimed the good news, and prayed. The spirit left! They all slept wonderfully! PTL! Pray still for the Muslim dad who was there in the midst of it all – he has great joy that his daughter is free but he doesn’t yet know that there is far greater joy awaiting him if only he would open his heart to Jesus.
Needing salvation and healing
Please pray for Z, a 15yr old Neem girl who has been lying on a mattress for about 4 years unable to move her arms, hands or legs because of calcification of her joints. She heard the gospel last week and seemed interested to find a source of hope in her desperate situation. Pray that when I return I can do Bible studies with her and that she will find the hope of life eternal which surpasses all other hope. Pray for healing too and for her family. How heart breaking would it be to be stuck like that with all your life ahead of you or to see your daughter stuck like that with nothing you can do about it?
Pray also for team members for this fledgling team (one member!) about to move into a Neem village.
Cattle camps
The cattle and cattle keepers (and many others) have gone to the cattle camps, which are about five hours’ walk from the village. Pray for safety there from raiders, and that they themselves will not be raiders.
Some of the believers, including Lokolong, have also gone to the cattle camps. There they will depend more on the stories and songs they’ve already heard, and the Holy Spirit within. Pray for them to be faithful to follow Jesus there, and share readily with those around them.
Baptism
Three Arab and two Berber new believers are now talking about baptism. Please ask for unity and trust and discernment for each one to know what to do together/separately. Ask for obedience and growing faith.
Demon be gone in Jesus Name!
There is a family struggling with a demon tormenting their teenage daughter. After two intense prayer sessions, last night the demon left. However, several hours later, a demon returned. Satan wants to steal our faith in God’s ability to change this island. There is a clear choice before us, not just to stand in faith but to sound a full volume battle cry declaring that our God will be victorious. I think there is more at stake here than just freedom for this girl and for her family.
In battles there are turning points and I wonder in the long uphill struggle that is ministry here on the island, whether this is such a moment. If it is, we need to seize it, we need to stir others to join. I think this is a moment to step out. Please pray!
A Firm Foundation for this New Believer
A man from a nearby village joined us for worship this week and came saying he was ready to receive Christ! Pray for a firm foundation for his new faith and that his wife and children would receive salvation as well!
Sisters and Moms
Pray that God would continue to give boldness to his children to speak with their families! A set of sisters keep bringing their mom to hear the gospel and one courageously explained personally the gospel to her mom two days ago and her mom seemed ready to hear more. She said her third sister would believe if she heard, but her oldest believing sister is afraid for her to tell her.
In a separate family, the believing daughter is afraid to tell her family… but she brought a foreigner to share… and the mom wants to study the Word! The daughter also wants to invite a local sister to join in. Praise God for this boldness! May God continue to draw families to Himself!
memory cards
Lift up the work of producing memory cards for people in the village with portions of scripture and words from gospel songs on them. Ask that those who receive them really would commit them to memory and start to hide God’s word in their hearts.
Immanuel
We give thanks for several baptisms over Christmas. We also celebrated a number of believers who completed discipleship training. One is the wife of Immanuel. This couple desires to move to Mangasta to minister there. We thank the Lord that they seem to be working through some marriage difficulties and their passion for the gospel to come to Mangasta has been rekindled. Immanuel has not gone through the training but desires to do so. Pray that he will have that opportunity and that other barriers in Mangasta will be broken down.
Clear Presentation
Please pray for the Holy Spirit to continue to work in many hearts in one village where the gospel was shared as part of a Christmas celebration. People were told that Jesus is God’s way for us to be restored to Him. Pray that more people will understand that there is only one path, and that they will choose to follow Christ. Pray for those who have already understood this with their minds, that they will surrender their lives to Jesus.
New disciples!
Pray for Peter Peta, the man of peace and elder that first welcomed the mission team that came to do a survey last April, as he trains and equips 10 new Jiye disciples.
Pray for the mission team of Toposa and Nyangatom disciple makers as they prepare to return for a second mission to visit and encourage these new believers and simple churches they have started.
A Time of Transition
Please pray for a Muslim S. Asian family who are going through a time of transition as their oldest daughter gets married today. Pray for the Lord to touch their hearts and reveal to them the truth of the gospel, the truth of who Jesus really is, and the truth of salvation through grace by faith, not by works.
Preaching Through Agriculture
Pray for my new plan of preaching through agriculture, using God’s ways of farming. I teach people new ways of farming and through this people are coming to Jesus. Pray for two families: the Mbondo family and Malaika family. These are people who have experienced the love of Jesus. Pray for salvation for many Zaramo people.
New Sister in Christ
A huge praise! A couple of days ago a teammate and I were joined by our pastor’s wife on a trip to town to get Bibi a medical check in preparation for surgery. Bibi has responded to the gospel over the last 10 months of sharing it with her. Our pastor’s wife spoke with her and confirmed her understanding, and then she led her in praying a prayer of confession of her salvation in Jesus Christ. A sweet taste of heaven filled the car! Please pray that Bibi can now keep her blood pressure stable for surgery. A young lady who was healed from cancer and came to Christ at our church is now staying with Bibi at the hospital to care for her needs. Praise God for the body of Christ! Please pray for a successful surgery and recovery for Bibi! And for her to grow in her relationship with Jesus!
A godly wife
We have been praying for Kristofa for a couple of years at least. God has answered those prayers in wonderful ways. He is serving as an evangelist in a the fledgling church of Tumbelo. He desires a godly wife. Let’s ask the Lord to lead him to a godly woman who shares his calling and will be a helper in the work.
Diaspora in Brazil
Praise God with us for our Refugee Christmas Campaign. We had 5 nights bringing refugees to our home and went to visit those who could not come at their home. We blessed 54 refugees from 12 African countries with food and each one of them received a Bible, including the Muslims.
Pray for God to reveal Himself to those reading the Bible for the first time and that the Christmas message preached and the demonstration of care and love will continue to speak in their hearts.
Pray for the cities of Foz do Iguaçu and Caxias do Sul where we will start the Diaspora Ministry with the local church in March.
Oh Lord have mercy
In the past 3 weeks alone approximately 20 persons have died in relation to attacks by the extremist group in North Eastern and part of coastal region in Kenya.
Kamuthe Resource Center was attacked and 3 non- local teachers were killed. Saretho primary school was attacked and four pupils or 3 pupils and one teacher were killed. Rumors have it that the group is threatening to attack more places here. Pray for God’s mercy and that the Lord would rebuke these terrorists and they would repent.
The extremist agenda is to get the non-local Christians out of the region.
Several schools have closed and teachers have fled because of insecurity.
Diaspora in UK
Please pray for spiritual interest among internationals following the various Christmas story presentations. That there will be Spirit-led conversations with university students at the Friday night cafes.
Pray for the provision of Christian volunteers to help secondary school immigrant students with homework. That the volunteers will be proclaimers of the Gospel and will be excited to be part of filling this ministry need.
School Is Beginning
Praise the Lord! On New Years Day, 38 Rendille were baptized and publicly professed their trust in Jesus!
It’s time for another year of school at Tirrim. There was an in depth leadership meeting to discuss last year, and how to move forward this year. Goals, finances, academic and spiritual matters were all addressed and we are excited about how God will move in 2020 at Tirrim to develop the Christian leaders of the future and continue growing the church.
Diaspora in Portland
Please pray for one lady in particular who has expressed appreciation and interest when RC shared the Good News with her, for more opportunities to talk with her, and that God will continue to work in her heart.
Built up in their Most Holy Faith
Please pray that Borana people will be growing in their knowledge of the Word of God, built up in their most holy faith, sharing the gospel with their neighbors, families and friends. Pray that as more and more people come to faith in Christ, the decades of tribal warfare with other nomadic peoples will become a thing of the past. May Christ be their peace.
Breakthrough prayer
Lord we pray for salvation and baptism stories to flow from The Diaspora Region and that we may see 3rd generation reproducing disciples in every Diaspora Region unit.
Survey
Please pray for a survey this week of the Datooga people. Pray it is clear how many believers are in the tribe, whether the churches are reproducing and Christ-centered, and that the survey team will return with stories of how God is at work. Pray that the survey team will have a chance to share the gospel along the way and encourage believers who are planting new congregations.
Diaspora in Portland
I’ve met with Sam, my Iranian Christian brother, and we talked with my Iranian student with cancer, on Dec 28th. Pray for the student’s focus and openness and more opportunities to share.
Pray for follow-up among those who heard the Christmas stories in December.
