Daily prayers
Cees and Mirjam serve in Kotido, Uganda, to engage the Karimojong people for Christ. In a recent newsletter, Cees and Mirjam shared this beautiful insight into how God is speaking to the Karimonjong people: Maria prays for the light of the Holy Spirit and presses the button on the Proclaimer (audio Bible). The words of Luke 19 ring out in clear Ngakarimojong. When the story of Zacchaeus is finished, Maria asks, “What did you hear?” There is a moment of silence. One answers, “A voice.” “Very good. What did the voice say?” “Something about a man who climbed a tree.” The whole group laughs. In the end, we listen to the same story five times, and each time we remember more. Then someone asks “Is that voice in that little box the voice of God?” Maria explains that God has given His words to people so they can get to know Him personally. “Does God speak Ngakarimojong, then?” asks a mother in surprise. Another observes, “Jesus went to visit Zacchaeus. (Pointing to the Proclaimer) I think He visited us today!” It is moving to see a group of people encounter the words of the Living God for the very first time. Amazement, discomfort, joy, fear… I see a range of emotions in their eyes. Maria sets a date for their next listening session and concludes with prayer. Maria is one of 34 leaders who have started a Bible listening group. She cannot read or write. Praise God that this Proclaimer empowers her to bring Him close to her people, where there is no church. Ask that as more hear the Word, they will come to proclaim Jesus as Lord and Saviour.
Simon and Miriam are serving in Antananarivo, Madagascar, encouraging and equipping the Malagasy church for mission and reaching out to vulnerable women. Praise God that one of the women has started a new course with Miriam’s team and is making good progress. Please pray that she will know the transforming power of God’s love during this time in their care. On the other hand, things with their other women have been incredibly difficult, which has left the staff feeling rather discouraged. It can be easy to be taken advantage of, and hard to know who is in greatest need of their time and resources. To this end, they are moving forward with plans for a central business in which to employ the women. They have found a local lady to teach them how to make natural soap so they can begin trialling recipes together. Ask the Lord to provide the funds and the people to help, and that Miriam will be able to trust these plans into His care.
Claudia serves the local church in Beira, Mozambique, in leadership training. She is grateful for God’s guidance in the matter of what to preach next at the 20 congregations of her church. She will offer the topic of fasting as a workshop, but preach on the armour of God, particularly the sword of the Spirit, God’s word, which many people there do not really know. In a conversation with ladies at church, she found how deeply important this topic is. Please pray for her as she prepares both her Sunday message and the workshop on fasting.
Elle is part of a medical ministry team on the Indian Ocean Islands. She is not able to visit one of the women she reads the Bible with at the moment, because she lives on a steep hillside, and the path to her house has mostly fallen away. She isn’t comfortable having visitors risk themselves on the remaining path, so until a new one is built, Elle can’t get to her house. Please pray that this new path is completed soon, and that Elle can continue to have a relationship with this woman in the meantime when she visits her market stall.
Amelia serves in West Africa, sharing the gospel with those in a region that is very opposed to the message of Jesus Christ. Please continue to pray for the church in the South. One of the leaders, Sidi, and two younger (non-believing) men from his household have been in prison for a couple of months. They were arrested after a man who came to attack them died after being chased away. There are conflicting accounts as to what happened and how he died, but Sidi (despite not being involved in the pursuit) and these two men were both arrested. Sidi has now been released due to ill health, but the two young men arrested with him are still in prison, and the court case is still pending. So please continue to pray, asking God to use the months that have passed to cool emotions in the community, and so create space for justice to be done. Pray too for the two young men still in prison, ask that God would use the hardships of this time to open their hearts to him. Ask the Lord to comfort and strengthen the wider community of believers who are continuing to endure threats and persecution, and that local leaders may stand with them against violence and threats.
Pray for the 67,000 Dorobo people who live in the forests and mountainous areas of the Rift Valley in Kenya. Praise God that there are at least 25 churches among the Dorobo, with over 20 trained pastors. Pray for the Dorobo pastors and evangelists as they minister to those in their care and travel to share the Gospel.
Dave and Cristyn serve at Moffat Bible College in Kijabe, Kenya. This term Dave is teaching Intro to Greek – a new course for him, and Introduction to Missions. Cristyn is teaching Project Management again, with a larger class than she was expecting! Amidst the chaos of a shorter term (they leave for a brief Home Assignment in the UK 3 weeks before the end of term so are cramming their teaching into 8 weeks not 11), they are in constant prayer for the country of Kenya. Last week there were transport strikes due to higher fuel prices, in which it’s estimated more than 30 people were killed. Next year is a presidential election and many in the community are fearing division and outbreaks of violence around that. Also, the Ebola outbreak has made its way to Uganda which neighbours Kenya. Whilst none of these things affect them directly, many of their Kenyan friends and neighbours are feeling anxious and uncertain in a challenging economic climate. Please pray for upcoming election cycles, restraint by police with protestors, integrity for the country’s leadership, boldness and unity for the church, and that the Ebola outbreak would be short-lived and geographically restricted. Ask the Lord to give Dave and Cristyn strength as they try to condense their courses and prepare to come with their children to the UK.
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