A while back people prayed that a trip to take Neem Bible stories into some local villages would take place after being postponed several times. It did take place but unfortunately, the SD cards were forgotten! Some useful contacts were made and the word of God shared. A return trip including other villages is planned for 7th – 9th January. Please pray again that the stories will be accepted, listened to and reflected upon and that many will understand their need for Christ

Please pray that peace will reign between the Arabs and the Neem in Northern Chad in a gold mining area. 30 were killed in clashes in the last few days of December and this last week, ‘dozens’ have been killed in fresh fighting. We’ve been told soldiers have been sent to sort it out. It is certain that many people here have relatives and friends that have been killed. There is intermarriage between these two tribes who have been fighting each other intermittently for decades. Pray that there will be a lasting peace and for those touched by the deaths of loved ones to consider their eternal destiny and turn to the one Saviour.

Visiting a Neem town recently, the SD cards of stories were well received. A church there made up of believers and church attenders from Southern Chad has planned to ‘do evangelism’ in a village of Neem people and Chadian Arabs from 27th December for 3 days. The church is very southern in its way of doing church and many of the 60 people who attend on Sundays do not speak Arabic. Please pray that this enterprise will be effective in reaching the people and will inspire the people who go to trust more in God and to make contacts with people in their own Neem town rather than staying in their small Christian enclave. The religious leaders of the receiving village were already objecting to their going a week ago but the administrative authorities gave permission. Pray that this effort will not antagonise but rather win souls.

Please pray for translation of the Bible into Neem. It seems that it is forever blocked. Pray that no fear or other distraction will stop the checking of the Genesis translation- (completed many years ago but not published) in December.

This past week I heard about M – a young man who has been seriously studying the Quran from a young age. He has traveled to the Middle East to further his knowledge of the Quran and was teaching others here in the capital city. Through M’s own intense study of the Quran he gained an interest in Jesus Christ and eventually realized that Jesus is the way to salvation. M secretly sought out Christians and a church where he could find answers to his many questions. Not long ago he even took the step of being baptized. Family members soon found out about his new faith and  beat him and locked him up several times. A local church recently decided to help him head back to his home area in eastern Chad but after being dropped off at the bus park, relatives found him trying to escape and they beat him and took all of his stuff and destroyed it. A fellow brother in Christ took care of M’s wounds and this past week helped this brother to again secretly travel out east. M was able to get on the bus but there has been no word since his departure – we are fearful that he was found by family members and that they have done something to him. Please pray for M and that his faith would stay strong despite whatever he may be going through at the moment. There is a small MBB church in his hometown out east that is led by some men from his same people group. Pray that if he has made it out there, that he would somehow be able to connect with this church.

There are plans to take the Neem ‘Creation to Christ’ recordings to several Neem villages next week where there is no witness. 2-3 times before this has been tried and hasn’t worked out. This time one guy essential to the plan is unwell. Pray that he will be well enough to go and that those who hear will want to listen to the full set of 40 stories and that they will believe what they hear and put their trust in Jesus.

There is no Neem scripture published although two books were translated. Recently however, a set of 40 chronological stories was completed and is available on micro SD cards to put in phones. Twice there have been plans to go out into local Neem villages to let people listen to these stories accompanied by two of 3 Neem-speaking believers. On both occasions the trip was postponed. Pray that these stories will bear much fruit and that, when rainy season is finished, such a trip can be accomplished.