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(ZAR-mah) - A year ago, you were asked to pray as plans were being made for "missionary task" trainings to be held in churches in Niger. In October, Missionary Phil Cain and two Nigerien partners will be leading one such training, focusing on "Exit to Partnership." Pray for the men and women who will participate in this training to take hold of the information and apply it and use it in their local churches. Pray for much good fruit to come from all the trainings that have been held this year!
A big training is being held in East Africa every weekend in October. This training is taking place in one of the local church networks. If the leadership of these churches will "catch the vision" and run with it, there can be a new approach to reaching South Asians and a renewed love for their South Asian neighbors. Please pray for those who will come to the training every weekend in October, asking that the Lord will open up their hearts, their minds, and their ears. Pray that He will renew their love for their South Asian neighbors, their Muslim neighbors, and the Somali Muslims who are now in their neighborhoods. Pray for the workers who will be doing the teaching and training to stay healthy.
Durga Puja, one of the largest Hindu festivals in eastern India and Bangladesh, lasts for about 10 days and usually falls in September or October. This year, the main celebration is taking place on October 1-5. Ornate clay or wooden gods draw Hindu worshipers' attention as these worshipers move from one pandal (bamboo-structured temple) to the next, engaging in worship and prayer, feasting, music, and dancing. Because the pandals are beautiful and the festive environment includes special food booths and loud music, some Christians dress up and make the rounds of the pandals just to see the decorations, unaware that there's a spiritual battle in the heavenlies surrounding the Hindu festival. Please ask the Holy Spirit to prompt believers to engage in the spiritual battle by praying for the salvation of their Hindu neighbors and sharing the good news with them. Pray that Hindus will see the futility of worshiping gods that cannot see, hear, or speak. May they have an encounter with the one true God who sees, hears, and knows them. Pray that many will turn from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of the Son.
(car-NAH-tuh-kuh) - This month, several groups of believers will be going to the fields of the Upper Plains and the Lower Plains in an effort to join in the task of reaching the nations. Pray that their hearts will be stirred for the nations as they see and experience local culture and that they will carry this passion back to their home fellowships. Ask the Spirit to prepare those they will be sharing with to listen to and receive truth. As they train others, pray that those followers of Jesus will be obedient to take the gospel to friends and family members in their circles and that many will hear, understand, and join His kingdom.
For IMB representatives across Europe, October is a month of increased prayer and evangelism. Please pray for people in Europe this month who will hear the gospel and receive a copy of God's Word. Pray that they will read it and understand the gospel. Please pray for their protection. Satan is prowling around like a lion, seeking someone to destroy (1 Peter 5:8). And please pray for the ones sharing the gospel. They need protection as well. Pray for their ministries and families who live with them and who live back in the States. Thank you for praying!
Israel looks forward with great reverence and joy to the remaining holidays in October. First will come Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, a time to pray and fast to be written in the Book of life. Then comes the celebration of Succoth, the Feast of Tabernacles. Please pray that during the most solemn of days, the people will be touched by the Holy Spirit and be able to realize that the joy of the Feast of Tabernacles is because their Messiah has indeed come.
Dashain is the biggest religious festival in Nepal among the Hindus. It follows the lunar calendar, so for 2022, it is being celebrated from September 26 to October 9. The significance of this festival is to symbolize the victory of good over evil. In preparation, people thoroughly clean their houses from top to bottom, wear new clothes, and prepare special food for feasting and rejoicing. Pray that the Hindu people of Nepal will come to know Christ and the true victory they can rejoice over in an eternal relationship with the Father, which Christ paved the way for, instead of eternal separation. Pray that their hearts, instead of their physical homes, will be washed clean with the blood of Christ.
A local team of believers is planning one more trip to visit the mountain nomads in early October. Pray for wisdom and good timing to meet with these people on this trip, as many of the families will already be making their two-month-long journey down the mountains to another location. Intercede for the safety of these people and the health of their animals on the roads. Pray that some of these individuals may be found in their secondary location for follow-up.
(mon-GOHL-yun) - Approximately 101,000 of Mongolia's 3.3 million people are 65 years of age or older, and most of them follow the deceptive beliefs of Buddhism and Shamanism. But recently in a small town, several elderly people came to saving faith in Christ, including a man who is blind, and they are eager to learn more and grow in their newfound faith! "Respect for the Elderly Day" will be celebrated in Mongolia on October 1, with medals being presented for lifelong accomplishments. Pray that Christians' hearts will be burdened to share the gospel with their elderly relatives and friends on this day so that these dear ones can know the most important treasure, Jesus.
Please pray as Baptist representatives Charlie and Robin Janney lead a training in the state of Chiapas, Mexico, at the Pastors Institute in Tapachula on October 3-6. They write: "We will be teaching New Hope, a trauma healing training. Pray that the pastors will 'catch the vision' of using this program as a way of entering a new area for church planting as well as a tool to share the gospel with the displaced peoples coming through this area."
(HAHK-uh) - Pray for missionary Glennda Cook, who will be returning from the United States on October 1 to work with the Hakka people in Taiwan. Pray that churches will be encouraged to reach out to the lost Hakka in their communities as well as their own lost family members. Pray for hearts and minds to be opened to the truth of Christ, for light to shine in the darkness, and for Hakka families to be united in Christ.
(sahn-tee-AH-go) - On October 1, a Santiago Team member will host the wives of Baptist pastors at her home for their bimonthly brunch. These women love the Lord, their churches, and the city. Pray that the Santiago Team will be an encouragement to them as they support their husbands and churches.
On the last day of a training conference in Slovenia, Gary signed: "I was so sick and near death. I don't know why I lived, but I wanted to know. I wanted to do good. I wanted to know my purpose in life. I started helping those who are Deaf. The whole concept of church, the Bible, and God was foreign to me--until now!" Gary is Slovenian, a Certified Deaf Interpreter (CDI), and a new believer. When a Deaf person needs to do business with a hearing person, a hearing interpreter is provided. If the Deaf person desires a CDI, then a CDI is hired as well. The CDI watches the interpretation the hearing person gives, then renders the interpretation into the natural sign language of the Deaf. Gary, who is proficient in Slovenian Sign Language, is a sharp, kind, and caring young man. He is eager to learn and render the gospel stories into Slovenian Sign Language so that Deaf Slovenians can know God's purpose for their lives. Pray for Gary that his newfound joy and purpose grows steadily in Christ alone. Praise God that he will be working on the Deaf Slovenian Bible Translation Team.
Due to escalating tensions in the area, some workers had to leave their place of service and now are starting fresh in new places. One couple hopes to mobilize Central Asians to reach the nations and also to mobilize believers in the place where they are now living to reach Central Asians. As they begin this new work, here are some ways you can pray: "Pray for the new church among the refugees here; may they have unity and a gospel focus. Pray for more local leaders for our New Hope trauma healing groups among the refugees. Pray for a planned missions conference in October, asking that the vision of missions sending will be spread among local leaders and that leadership for a sending structure will arise. Pray that we will find partners and avenues for reaching the small Central Asian community in our city."