WORLD LEADERS. “Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence” (1 Timothy 2:1-2). Please pray today for President Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan (east of Iran, north of Pakistan).

PORTO ALEGRE, BRAZIL (all-LEH-gree). The Metropolitan Porto Alegre Area in South Brazil is home to more than 5 million urban Gauchos, less than 1 percent of whom have a saving relationship with Jesus Christ. September is a key month in the history of the Gaucho people, as it serves as the anniversary of their failed civil war against Brazil many years ago. This war has marked the psyche of the Gauchos, and millions will turn out to celebrate their culture and heritage in civil war reenactments and celebrations this month. “September Month of Prayer for the Gaucho People” recognizes the spiritual significance of this month and draws together believers across geographical and denominational lines to take a stand and declare, through prayer, that September is a turning point when the people who have lived in darkness will see a great light, and that the Gospel will take firm root and spread throughout this needy land. Team Gaucho asks: “Pray that God will raise up intercessors this month to stand with us and the Gauchos before the throne of God. Daily prayer updates will be posted on our website and on the Facebook group ‘September Month of Prayer for the Gaucho People’ throughout the month.”

RAPID ENTRY ADVANCE PROGRAM (REAP) ECUADOR. Please pray for a volunteer team from Alabama as they travel to the difficult-to-reach area of Tagualo. Please ask the Lord to give the team opportunities to meet new people with whom they can begin Bible studies and share the Word of God. Ask God to move in a mighty way in the hearts of the people of Tagualo.

martinezfamily@pobox.com

NORTH AFRICANS OF PARIS, FRANCE (PAIR-is). September is when France moves into full swing again after summer’s break from activities. For Muslims in France, the return of cool weather is a welcome relief. The fatigue that accompanies days of fasting can be all the more difficult when it’s hot. The Ramadan fast will end around September 10. The last week of Ramadan is one of intensity and celebration. September 5 this year is especially holy to Muslims, and it is known as the “Night of Power.” Muslims believe that God will spend this night laying out the plan for the next year of their lives. Sincere Muslims will spend this night in intense prayer, beseeching God to bless them with a good year. Team Paris has been joined this week by two volunteers who are deeply committed to prayer. Pray with them for those Muslims of Paris who are genuinely seeking to know God and His interaction in their lives. Ask that these seekers will come in contact with members of Team Paris. Pray that they will accept God’s provision for their eternity, and not just His provision for their next year.

TUAREG OF NORTHERN AFRICA (TWAR-eg). Workers among the Tuareg are helping with food relief during this rough year in the Sahel region. While distributing food, they are talking about the God who provides. Give thanks to God that rains are falling on the pasturelands of the Tuareg shepherds this year and relieving some of the suffering.

ENGAGING CHURCHES - WEST AFRICA. “J, the translator who helps our team communicate with the SA people of Guinea, is visiting in the United States,” writes Wrightsdale Baptist Church of Peach Bottom, Pa. “What a joy it is to meet him! Please pray for him as he speaks to churches about the work in Africa among the SA. Also petition for safe travel while he is here in the States and when he leaves to return home.”

FUTA TORO FULANI OF WEST AFRICA (FU-tah TOH-roh fu-LAH-nee). Rejoice as God uses a couple in their “golden years” to meet a need. Please remember this retired couple from Oklahoma, who arrived in West Africa on Sept. 1, as they experience their first Muslim country. For two weeks, they will be working in the villages of “San Antonio” and “Pittsburgh.” Pray that God will provide many opportunities for “her” to share her testimony, Bible stories, and the Gospel as she teaches 25 African women how to quilt. Pray that God’s Spirit will simplify His gift of salvation to the understanding of these women. Remember “him” as he begins to build relationships with African men, working side by side with them in the fields and sharing with them as they rest. Pray that God will give these men a hunger for the truth, using visions and dreams. Pray that this retired couple will be a living example to us all, as they participate in their tenth mission trip, of what God can accomplish through dedicated lives . . . even after retirement.

LOZI OF ZAMBIA AND NAMIBIA (LOH-zee). How many Bibles do you own? How many commentaries, devotional guides, and Bible study books clutter your shelves and desktops? In the United States, we have the fantastic blessing of being able to read and study the Bible in a variety of ways, learning from a variety of teachers, preachers and authors. Do we realize what a privilege it is to have so much sound biblical knowledge at our fingertips? In western Zambia, the pastors and lay leaders are grateful just to own a Bible. But there is a lack of mature Christians who encourage the pastors to read their Bibles, who explain the deep theological passages to them, and who show them how to study Scripture inductively, accurately and passionately. Scriptures are often naively taken out of context or used in an inappropriate manner simply because the national pastors haven’t been trained how to “wield their swords”! Mature Christian men from Tennessee have come to help disciple the Lozi church leaders. During the first five days of September, the first Baptist Bible College in western Zambia is taking place. Leaders from several area churches around Mongu town have come together for an intense week of learning how to study the Bible, how to apply its truths, and how to preach a sermon from a passage of Scripture. Pray for the Baptist Bible College. Ask the Holy Spirit to lead the national church leaders into a deeper understanding of the truths of Christ.

CHINA. Thank God for the many volunteers who impacted lives all over China this summer. Pray that as they return home, they will continue to reflect on what God taught them. Ask that as He calls some of them to even deeper involvement, they will respond willingly. Pray that Chinese people who accepted Christ as a result of their witness will grow into Christian maturity.

SOUTHERN CROSS PROJECT (SCP), EAST ASIAN PEOPLES. A new Southern Cross Project to distribute Bibles to mainland Chinese tourists is opening up in Taipei, Taiwan. However, this cannot be done without volunteers who can come throughout the year to pass out Bibles. Pray that churches and individuals will find ways to come out and partner with personnel on the ground to help put the Gospel into the hands of Chinese tourists in Taiwan.

STUDENT CITY, EAST ASIA. Please pray that students returning to school will be open to the Gospel message and that the student believers will be bold in their witness.

endsoftheearth@psmail.net

SHAN OF THE PACIFIC RIM. In July, you were asked to pray for a believer named T who had gone to a neighboring country to help support his family after the death of his father and who wanted to return home to help his family rebuild their house following a fire and a damaging windstorm. Give thanks to the Lord that T was able to return home and share Truth with his family. His younger brother, P, has possibly decided to follow Jesus. Pray as a worker goes to visit the J family to find out more details about their situation and to encourage T and P.

SOUTHEAST ASIAN UNENGAGED PEOPLES. Imagine a large, thriving city of approximately 100,000 people with only one small church to visit on Sunday mornings. Considering the number of churches in any city in the United States, having only one church would surely seem odd. But that is the case in the areas belonging to the Katang people of Laos. Among the least-reached peoples, the Katang have no Bibles or Bible portions and no personnel working among them. They are fearful of the spirit world and venerate their ancestors. Please pray that many Katang will have the opportunity to hear the truth of God’s Word. Ask the Lord to mobilize the tiny minority of believers in the country to reach out to their own people with the words of life. And pray that the Katang will someday have the Scriptures in their heart language.

KASHMIRI MUSLIMS OF INDIA (KASH-meer-ee). “Bong, Bong, Bong . . . it was still dark outside, but the drummer hired by our neighborhood was determined to wake us up at 4 a.m. It was time for everyone to get up, cook, and eat breakfast before the call to prayer, when the daily fast began. During the month of Ramadan, many Kashmiris spend more time praying, reading their scriptures, repenting of their sin, and ‘trying their best’ to get right with God. On the ‘Night of Power,’ people stay up for an all-night vigil to seek God’s blessings. Please pray for a powerful movement of God’s Spirit during this night in the lives and hearts of Kashmiris who have suffered so much violence and killing in recent months. Pray that dreams and visions of the Prince of Peace will come to the many mothers who have lost their sons during clashes with military forces, and ask that the living Savior will rescue Kashmiris from the desperation around and within them.”

MUSLIMS OF KARNATAKA STATE, INDIA (CAR-not-ick-ah). Last month you were asked to pray for M as he distributed Bangla Bibles in the city where he lives. He was able to do that with relative ease. Give thanks to God for M’s hard work and boldness in getting God’s Word into the hands of so many Bengali Muslims! Please continue to pray for M as he shares with those who received these Bibles in their own language. Ask God to open their hearts to the truth and help them to believe in Jesus for salvation. Pray that those who believe will begin to meet regularly for Bible study and form house churches. M would like to distribute more Bangla Bibles during Ramadan, so please pray that the Lord will make that possible. A large number of Urdu New Testaments have been donated for distribution. Please pray that M will be willing to give these out as well to people who can read them, and ask that others like M will join in distributing them to Urdu-speaking Muslims. These precious books need to be taken out of their boxes and placed in the hands of Muslims who are able and willing to read them.

SOUTH ASIAN PEOPLES. People are on the move! More than 37 million South Asians live outside their home countries of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, the Maldives, Nepal and Bhutan. To where have they moved? They have made new homes in Southeast Asia, Africa, Europe and North America (including the Caribbean). They strive to keep their faith, language and culture alive through each generation. Much effort and wealth are poured into cultural and religious programs and buildings. One of the major faiths is Islam, whose adherents observe a yearly 30-day fast, called the holy month of Ramadan. The last days of the fast will be September 2-9, a time when many are searching for special “revelations” from their God. Some will stay up all night, praying for a vision. In this season of seeking, please pray that the Holy Spirit will be at work in many hearts, even giving them visions of Jesus calling them to Himself. “Come to Me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28, HCSB). Please pray that they will be attracted to Jesus and desire to hear His words. Please pray that Jesus will build His church among these South Asian Muslims in all the places they now live.

LAST FRONTIER. The fall opening of the private university for which you have been praying is in the last stage of preparation. The president and vice presidents of the university have been appointed, the students are ready, and the professors are busy preparing course syllabi. However, there are still some things that need to be done before the opening. Please pray that the school will be ready with all the requirements on time and that God’s kingdom will be set up in the darkness for Him to say, “Let there be light” (see Genesis 1:3).