We thank God that the film project is going well. We are on the last part of the script. Please pray with us that the translation work into S** language will be completed successfully as the Lord gives the MBB translators wisdom, knowledge and understanding in the work. Pray for protection from the enemy and that the team will not give up. Pray that we will be able to transition to the next part of recording the film after the translation is completed, checked and approved.

There has been a wave of killings in Kenya which is deeply concerning, particularly the rising cases of femicide. It appears that it is now in our area. The latest incident in our area involves three S** ladies, (a mother, daughter and a niece). It is suspected to be a case of business rivalry or something to do with family issues. The three mutilated bodies were found in different locations away from our area. Please pray for God’s mercy. Pray that God who gives eternal life through Jesus may reveal Himself to people in our area. May the hearts of the people in the area seek Him and get to know Him. Pray with us that anxiety, fears, and worries may come to an end. May the peace of God and the Light of Jesus and His Word fill this area. Pray that we will be able to resume our work in the area.

I reported recently that my language teacher D.did not want me to mention Jesus. He would really get bothered. I think Jesus must have ‘bothered’ his heart because in a later lesson, I prayed for him in Jesus’s Name.
Then, in our most recent lesson as he was just about to walk out, he stopped and said, “You have not prayed for me today”. He walked to where I was and we prayed. That is God at work!
As he left, I promised him that in future, we would pray at the beginning of the lesson and at the end.
Please continue to pray for this brother.

Pray for my language teacher D** as it appears God is softening his heart to hear more about Jesus. At the beginning he had asked me not to mention that Name. As we discussed more about life issues, God opened his heart to hear and understand more of the issues that we discussed. The greatest surprise came yesterday when he asked me to pray for him and I told him I would pray for him in the Name of Jesus. He had no objection. Pray with me that God will help us seek Him every time we have a class.

Praise God for the release of a local brother who was in jail. Ask that the Father would use him to be a great testimony and instrument to share His word.

Praise God for the calmness in the preparation for the upcoming elections so far. Pray that the election process will be smooth, transparent and peaceful. Pray for the wisdom and security of the workers on ground during this election period. Stand against any evil agent by the enemy towards workers during and after elections.

Please continue to pray for the project to translate The Hope film – Creation to Christ into Som** language. Pray that God may bring together the team that will do this job for His glory. Pray for unity in the team and correct translation of the film from English and that the process will run smoothly and the agreements that will be made between the parties involved will be honoured and glorifying to God. Pray for God’s guidance in the whole process.

I called an BMB (believer of Muslim background) friend for a meeting to discuss some issues relating to ministry. He was only available on a Sunday and he suggested that we first meet at his church and then talk after the service. I want to thank God that he came with two other BMB friends and we had a great fellowship before, during and after church. Pray that God may come through for some struggles that these brothers are going through. May He open doors that the challenges that are hindering them from getting time to do their work. May He smooth the processes that need to be done. He knows, He cares and may the answers glorify His Name.

A local believing family stepped out in faith to add a room onto their home for Bible study times. Pray for protection over them and all who come. Pray for hearts to be deeply rooted in the word.
A government official has been meeting online with other believers about 2 years. This person feels ready to meet with someone in person now. Ask for wisdom on making connections. Ask that there would be growing hunger and willingness among the followers to meet face to face

There are many fights amongst the families and different clans. Pray that they will know that true and lasting love only comes from Jesus. Many He open their eyes to see and believe in Him.

Suicide
There are many deaths by suicide amongst the Somali people group in Eastleigh. These are mainly caused by trauma, finances, and family differences.
Pray for the Light of the world to light up their hearts with love and draw them closer to Himself and to know Him as the only source of true joy and life that satisfies.

We thank God that He has connected us with an organization that is involved in the translation of an 80 minute film of Creation to Christ. We will be part of a translation team together with about 6 Somali believers. Pray for God’s wisdom, direction and protection as we go through this process. Pray that the project will be completed satisfactorily as it will be a useful tool for evangelism and discipleship wherever we have people working with this people group. Pray for unity and love within the whole team working on this project.

We are noticing that a lot of Somali believers are not eager to study God’s Word regularly. Pray that the Holy Spirit will reignite their hearts to continuously seek the truth in the Word and to  fellowship with other believers.

We want to thank God for the launch of a newer and easier version of the New Testament in Somali. It also comes as an App in a form that one can not be tracked.
Pray that God’s Word will reach many Somalis and that their lives will be transformed and matured for His glory. Pray that God will prepare those whose hearts are seeking Him and the truth and that they will find their way to these resources.

My family in Christ, please join us in praying for Erigavo City, where there is a civil war, and many civilians have died and many more displaced. Women and children have been killed in clan-related issues. Pray for peace.

There are high levels of stigma facing children with disabilities, most of them remaining locked in a room in the house, not able to be a part of society. The mother often faces the brunt of this stigma and is even blamed for the child’s disability. Pray for open doors for utilizing local resources and establishing support groups for these moms, demonstrating the love of Jesus and allowing the light of truth to shine.

Education is a really difficult challenge for any believing family. All local schools teach and enforce the dominate faith. If the children of believers do not participate they are ostracized and even endangered. Homeschooling is not a cultural norm and many parents are not educated enough to teach. Pray for creative solutions that allow these kids to both be educated and know truth.

A local brother spent some months this summer in jail. Praise the Lord for his release. Ask for strength and wisdom as he and his family seek to remain in relationship with their tribal structures.

Pray for the mental health of our S students and population. The rate of trauma and mental illness resulting from unidentified trauma and experiences is very high among the S people. We have had several incidences among our students and within families of our community lately, and it is a real struggle. Education about mental illness is not valued and many do not understand what is happening or how best to help. Pray for our center as we navigate how to come alongside the community in this endeavor. Pray for open doors and conversation to be open and honest about these issues (which will hopefully lead to more gospel conversations).

For the S here in our city to come to know Jesus. The curriculum at our center is gospel centered, and there are many stories and verses within the lessons which lead to good, difficult conversations with our S students. Please pray for continued openness to these stories, and for the right students to hear the message behind the lessons. Pray for boldness and wisdom for our teachers and staff involved in teaching to have these important conversations with the S.

Pray for resources for S families; our country is very open to refugees and they are welcome (in theory) but it has become difficult for some to receive proper paper work and refugee status to receive all of the benefits they need for their livelihood and families. Food and medical attention specifically are difficult to come by at times. Pray for the government to continue to do the right thing and grant refugee status if they allow S to enter in to the country freely. Pray for organizations to be in the right places and offer assistance as necessary.

Pray for Islamic leaders. Pray that the Lord would give them a special revelation of who He is and that they in turn would be able to teach truth that sets men free!

Praise God for the increase and growth of S believers in the Horn and elsewhere. Pray they grow in zeal and boldness and the Lord would give them wisdom that will enable the S Church to grow.

Pray for S brothers and sisters imprisoned for their faith. Pray that the Lord would use this for their growth and good and that it would be a testimony to many others fearful of declaring Christ.

Last month we shared of an MBB who was taken back to his country in the Horn. It has now been confirmed that he was taken to the capital city of S* and beaten to death for his faith. Please continue to pray for his loved ones (especially his wife and son) and the S* Christian community. Pray for comfort, strength and encouragement. Pray that our brother’s blood and testimony will cry out from Moga* and the whole Horn region, bringing many more into the Kingdom through the precious blood of the Lamb of God. Our late brother came to faith many years ago when he was seriously sick and lying in a mosque in Yemen and that is when Jesus spoke to him. Pray Jesus  would speak to many more in the mosques.

We are making good progress in connecting an MBB to a group of believers in a church that will enable her to study God’s Word with a group. Pray that she will find friendly and faithful friends who will welcome her and make her feel at home.

Please pray for A.N. an MBB for many years. He needs someone to walk with him and do life together with, especially in Bible study. He is currently receiving many messages on his phone which he forwards to others. Pray that he will get someone with whom they can study the messages together. They are all sermonettes/mini-devotions.

Recently one of our local friends joined some of our sisters for a ladies weekend. They spent extensive time in the word. She seems tender to the good news but hesitant to ask questions in a group. Pray for her heart to open and her eyes to see the truth.

We’ve received news of the kidnapping of an MBB who was taken back to Som**. The kidnapers have contacted the wife who is also an MBB and told her that they want him to denounce his faith in Christ. The persecution is painful. Please pray for God’s strength as A** goes through this pain. Pray that he is able to stand strong. May God also reveal Himself to these persecutors.

Recently one of our brothers was put in jail. The way forward is controversial. Wisdom, courage, and rescue are needed. Pray for him to remain steadfast and ask Father to comfort his wife and kids.

Pray for brothers to find and keep work. Pray they would be an example of the Way of JC and walk in step with the Holy Spirit.

Pray for Belle and Amy as they regularly meet to read the Word with sisters. Many seeds are being sown. Pray that they will bear fruit. Pray against the schemes of the enemy to snatch away the seed.

Pray for marriages between believers. Pray against the old mindset dividing according to status and tribe. Pray the Love of JC will break down divisions and bring unity and a willingness to show honor to others.

Pray for A** (a MBB) who is being discipled by a colleague. She is very passionate about God’s Word. Pray that God will continue to work in her heart as she learns the Word and applies it to her life. She is also eager to share with and bring along some of her contacts to the classes.

Pray for N** (MBB), a friend who is eager to reach out to his unbelieving friends. May God enable us to work together and start meeting individual contacts for one-on-one evangelism.

Praise God for recent gathering of Somali leaders from the East Africa/Horn region. They gathered to develop collaboration strategies and also address the need for the raising up of Shepherds for the growing Somali church globally.
Pray for them as they work to raise up shepherds for the next 3 years that will provide pastoral care each month to 150 believers across Somalia.

Pray for D** who took a copy of the book of Genesis from our training room. He was happier to use the English copy than one is his heart language. May God help us use this copy of the Bible to help him learn English as that is what he really wants to do with it. And may the Words in it reveal God to him and show him His unchanging character and eternal purposes for the world. May the power of the printed Word transform his mind into Words written on his heart and living in his spirit.

There is a new sister in the coast town and she is very isolated. She has a lot of responsibilities at home. Ask for windows of time to open up for her to have fellowship and seek growth.

There is an eager new brother who was recently baptised and is very openly sharing on his social media. Older followers are distressed by his lack of care for his life and are distancing themselves from him. Pray for his discipleship and that he would not be publicly reckless but bold in love toward his neighbors and friends.

Especially during these remaining days of Ramadan, ask that the local believers would know the light of His presence even during nights that feel heavy with darkness. Pray for them to remain anchored in Hope and to have confidence that His immeasurably great power is for them.

For those who have been seeking and reading Truth, the month of Ramadan is often a time of renewed fervor for Islam. We pray for dreams and visions to disrupt their confidence. We pray that all the rituals and practices of this month will give them no assurances, no satisfaction, no hope. We pray for the hearts and minds of seekers to ultimately recognize how empty and powerless they are and how much they need a Savior.

Earlier this month, Musa was on a trip to the city where he was in the final stages of planning to move  there to serve on a team sharing the gospel with Somali people. He was killed in a tragic car accident on the road along the way. He leaves a wife and family mourning his death, along with many others whom he has influenced and impacted through years of ministry.
My cry is this: that in Musa’s place, God would raise up 10, 20, or 100 more men and women who would follow in Musa’s footsteps, to go to places where unless someone goes, lost people will continue to live and die without hearing the gospel of Jesus Christ. Pray the Lord comforts Musa’s family and at the same time raises up a harvest of passionate, compassionate, and transformed workers who will go and share the love of Christ and the power of the gospel among those who are living and dying without knowing Jesus.