Pray that the rainy season in the M hills will cause farmers to ponder the Word of God which has been sown like seed in their hearts, and that it will grow and bear fruit: thirty, sixty and a hundred fold.

Praise God for a little M boy who has been coming to hear Bible stories. He seems to be fascinated with Jesus but struggles with being a very naughty little boy. Please pray for him to realise that he needs to be washed from his sins and become a new creation by putting his faith in Christ, and that he will influence the other children by becoming Jesus’ follower.

Praise the Lord that the influential M man’s wife is also ready to follow Jesus with her husband. They are talking over how to share this with the man’s father. Recently the man shared with his Muslim father the recordings of Bible stories “from creation to Christ.” The father listened and did not object to them. Pray that when this family confesses their decision to follow Christ, the father will not be angry but instead will be moved to consider receiving Jesus as his Saviour, too.

A M man has chosen to become a Christian! He brings his son with him to learn the Bible from a missionary, and plans to tell his religiously influential father of his decision. Pray that his wife stands firm with him. Pray that this family can clearly understand salvation through Christ. Pray for their testimony in the community, and that others will follow their example.

A team of believers are meeting to ask God for His guidance about the next few months of ministry among the M. Pray for their unity of heart and mind, and that when they return to the village, God will use them to proclaim boldly the message of salvation through Jesus. Pray that those families whose children received temporary relief from demonic spirits will seek them out to hear about the salvation that results in complete freedom through Christ.

Pray that as the M see that Jesus can drive out demonic spirits; they will seek to know Him personally and be willing to accept Him as their Saviour, renouncing all other allegiances. May they completely leave behind any witchcraft or demonism, any reliance on magic charms or syncretism with Islam. May they be filled with the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ.

A Christian worker showed the Jesus movie on New Year’s Sunday, after showing it on Christmas Day. Twenty kids watched it the first time, and then she played it again for the kids that showed up late—in the end there were almost 50 gathered on the porch in front of her computer. Right now, she thinks it is a good conversation starter and another tool, along with the children’s Bible that gives kids exposure to who Jesus is. Maybe she should show it once a month on a Sunday? Please pray for wisdom, and for the salvation of the children and their families.

On Christmas Day the M believers will meet together for worship. In the afternoon, several have planned to share the gospel with Muslim neighbours who might come visit them. One young woman plans to show the Jesus DVD to the children who visit regularly. Please pray for much fruit from the initiatives of all the believers on Christmas Day.

A certain M family has been hearing the stories of Jesus for over three years. Men, women and children have all received portions of Scripture, sung songs, fellowshiped with Christians. In fact, they live on the same property with an evangelist and his wife! Some seem to have put their faith in Christ, yet still identify themselves as Muslims. Others still do not recognise their own sinfulness nor Jesus’ deity. Please pray that in 2017 the whole family will make the decision to receive Christ as their Saviour and will publicly identify with Him in baptism and discipleship. As Jesus convinced Simon Peter by a large catch of fish, till he fell at his feet and said, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, oh Lord!” may Jesus capture the hearts of those who still trust in their own righteousness, and show them His salvation.

Please continue to pray for the Holy Spirit to prepare hearts and minds to long for and know Jesus. Pray for our team of Christians too—for preparedness, for boldness and obedience in the ways that we live, and for what we share with the people around us. Pray for open doors to share about Jesus during the Christmas season.

A Tanzanian evangelist’s wife will return to the M after a year away. Pray for a warm welcome back from her friends in the community and that she will have many opportunities to share her faith. Pray for the Lord to provide a good education for their young daughter who does not have a very good school to attend in the village. Pray that the evangelist and his wife will have all their needs provided and will see many people come to faith in Christ through their witness. Ask the Lord to build His church among the M.

“For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.”
1 Corinthians 1:18

Pray against work-based salvation and legalism: Pray that the M will understand that hope for forgiveness and acceptance with God is available only through Jesus’ work on the cross.

A M man working on the construction of a missionary’s house with a dozen other workers got caught up in a theological discussion during a break. “Can you cleanse yourself of your own sins?” “Sure,” he boasted. “I can do that.” Another worker who was a Christian answered, “No, you can’t.” Please pray that in the next few weeks as they complete the house, the Lord will lift the veil of blindness that lies over his heart. It is the Spirit of God who convicts of sin, and righteousness, and judgment. Please pray the Spirit will do His work and that this man will recognise cleansing of sin comes only through the blood of Jesus.

“Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, […] that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak. Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time.” Colossians 4:2-5
Pray for BOLD proclamation: Pray that the believers among the M would proclaim the message of the gospel clearly, making the most of every opportunity God places before them. Pray this also for the missionaries as they prepare to move back and be salt and light among the M in whatever ways they can.

An elderly M man died last week. His family were some of the most enthusiastic and receptive to the stories of Jesus, and they received a Bible story book to keep in their home and read out loud to each other after the day’s farming was done. Please pray for them to come to full faith in Christ during this time of thinking about life and death. Pray that they will come to know Jesus, who is the resurrection and the life.

The M have been slaves to Islam and demonic spirits for generations. But these days more and more of them are hearing the Word of God and considering the claims of Jesus. Please pray for the gospel to be made clear to them, and that they will be set free indeed.

Pray for M children to be drawn to Jesus and come to know Him as their Saviour at an early age. Pray for whole families to come to Christ, and that the powers of evil, the fear of death, and the bondage of sin would be broken.

M
Pray that God would raise up 3 local dependable believers who will be storytellers and testers for “Jesus the Rescuer” Bible story set.
Pray for unity between the outreach team and local believers.
Pray that the gospel would be sown widely by outreach trips to at least 30 new villages this next year.

Pray for whole families to come to Christ and that they would have a vision for reaching their own people with the gospel. Pray also that God would give 5 people who can be discipled and trained this next year who can then begin witnessing to and discipling others.

Pray that during this month of Ramadan the M will recognize that all their righteousness is as filthy rags. Pray that they will realize their utter lostness apart from a Savior. Pray that those who have heard the Bible stories which present Jesus as the promised Rescuer will be widely circulated in homes and throughout extended family groups. Pray that many will receive Him.

Pray that the Lord will pour out His Spirit on the M during this month of Ramadan, and that those who are sincerely seeking to draw near to God will find Him through Jesus Christ.

Pray that the Lord will pour out His Spirit on the M during this month of Ramadan, and that those who are sincerely seeking to draw near to God will find Him through Jesus Christ.