Continue to pray for the local fellowship on one of the islands as they face intensified pressure including a pronouncement from the Mosque spouting lies and calling for one of them to be kicked out of the country.  Pr for wisdom and courage in the midst of this.  Praise God that the pressure has increased their commitment to prayer, pray that they would know His presence with them like never before.

Praise God for new believers on one island. Groups have been meeting, families are showing interest and listening to Bible stories together and older believers are being inspired and challenged by what they see. However there have been reports that some brothers and sisters have been bothered by authorities and are now afraid to meet regularly. This has not yet been confirmed but is likely to happen sooner or later. Pray for wisdom, courage, faith and joy in the midst of adversity and fear.

Pray for those who hear the Christmas story this month, whether for the first time or the tenth. Pray that many would be amazed by what they hear and want to know more of this man who had such a birth. Pray that those who hear it would share it with their own families and friends. Pray also for local believers as they celebrate Christmas. Pray for times of joy as they come together. Pr that Gd would gift them with the creativity to see what island celebrations should look like. Pray for those who are without fellowship; pr that they would be overcome with joy that Jesus came to seek them out.

Many islanders live lives that are overshadowed by the fear of madjini (evil spirits). Women tend to be more involved than men and often madjini are passed from generation to generation. Recently whole classes in a certain school have been overpowered by madjini. Ask God to stretch out his hand in a mighty way and rescue prisoners from the darkness. Pray also that local believers would be empowered by the Holy Spirit to cast out demons and that many here would recognise that there is power in the name of Jesus.

Pray for those who have just come back from the Hajj pilgrimage, many went in search of forgiveness of sins. Pray that as they return home they would recognise that nothing has changed in their hearts, that they still have no freedom from the power of sin. Pray that they would cry out to God for a true and lasting forgiveness. The pilgrimage ends with the festival of Eid when they will remember the willingness of Abraham to sacrifice his son. Pray that Gd would give many islanders the faith to believe in Jesus’ willing sacrifice for them.

Here on the island the ‘Big Wedding’ season is coming to an end. For the past month or so islanders have lived and breathed weddings. These weddings are long, lavish events that consist of conspicuous displays of wealth and are the primary way to achieve status in island society. Pray that as island life returns back to normal many would recognise an emptiness in their hearts that has not been filled by all the festivities. Pray that many would recognise and repent of the envy in their hearts towards those higher up the status ladder. Pray that God would show them the path to lasting joy and a lasting position of honour.