Pray

"Please pray for our Mexican global missionary partner who is serving among the Zenu on the main reservation," writes the North Coast Colombia Team. "There are thousands upon thousands who have never heard the gospel, and thankfully, he has received invitations to share with new families. Pray that God will use him as he works among the Zenu."

Batman might have come from a people group in the Maluku islands! There are old stories that say they once believed their people turned into bats at night. While they don't really believe that now, they are still very animistic, trusting in wood, cloth, swords, and other items blessed by the witch doctor to protect them. This people group has welcomed local workers into their village, even saying one worker who has returned multiple times is "now one of their people." They are willing to hear the gospel, but their main objection is that they don't believe in a God that they cannot see and that God would never become human. Please pray for continued favor in this village, that workers may continue to enter and explain the good news of a God who took on human form to redeem us. Pray the Holy Spirit would illuminate their hearts and minds to accept and believe this gospel message and that many Bat people would gather to worship Him.

Give thanks to the Lord that a local church recently voted in and installed a local elder -- the result of many years of prayer! Pray that the Lord will use this man and his family to continue to serve this church in humility and with joy.

Join a university student serving on a volunteer team in southeastern Madagascar in giving thanks to God for a local believer: "Christians of Madagascar live by three words: 'Maharetra hatramin'ny farany,' which means 'Live faithfully until the end!' I have seen so many endure hardship for the gospel: youth and women denied food, their parents' love, the opportunity to attend school, and even being poisoned for their faith in Jesus. Yet, they stay faithful! One of these is Jerusha. She welcomed us into her home the first week of our ministry. She truly made us feel like family! I watched her read her Bible late into the night, faithfully serve her church, and love others. One day, after a teaching about biblical marriage, she told us how hard it was to follow Christ's design for marriage. Faithful marriage is challenging in many parts of Madagascar, where often divorce, adultery, and polygamy are rampant. Jerusha said that she wanted to stay faithful to her husband even though he'd ordered her three times to leave. She wanted to follow God's plan for marriage, not her culture's! I was so encouraged by her love for Christ and for her husband. She truly lived out: 'Maharetra hatramin'ny farany.'"

In February, you were asked to pray as Brother Suraj traveled to the Khunti district in the state of Jharkhand, India, to look for ministry partners. Give thanks to the Lord that Suraj was able to gather a group of around 25 believers in Khunti and cast a vision for reaching the people and places around them! These 25 have been challenged to pray and to evaluate what God would have them to do in fulfilling the Revelation 7:9-10 vision for every nation, tribe, people, and language to worship Jesus. Pray that these men and women will take this challenge seriously and that God will reveal to them where He wants to use them in His kingdom purposes. Ask that they will be able to see the empty fields around them with the same eyes that God sees them and that they will have insight into how to pray for these peoples and places in preparation for bringing them the gospel. Pray that they will return for continued training in how to share the gospel.

"What Would Jesus Do?" Before it was a popular youth slogan, printed on millions of plastic wrist bands, it was a moving novel, written in 1896 by Charles Sheldon. The book relates the story of believing church members who took a serious pledge to let all their actions for one year be done only as they believed Jesus would do. It revolutionized their town. Oh, that Pedi pastors and Pedi believers in northern South Africa would experience a similar move of the Spirit and commit themselves to doing only what Jesus would do! Please join in praying: "Lord, we pray for the Pedi believers, 'for to this [they] have been called, because Christ also suffered for [them], leaving [them] an example, so that [they] might follow in his steps' (1 Peter 2:21 ESV). Please convict Pedi believers of the thoughts, words, attitudes, and actions that they harbor that are not following in Your steps. Bring them to a godly sorrow and repentance. And then raise them up to walk as Jesus did! We ask for revival among the Pedi believers that leads them to share the gospel with all those around them!"

Soukaina, a young North African woman living in Europe, has consistently asked questions about her religion ever since she was a little girl. However, whenever she has searched for answers, she has been told not to investigate or has been disappointed by the answers that she has received. Soukaina longs to know God and is actively seeking answers to those questions that she has held for so long. She recently encountered some believers, and she listened intently as they shared about Jesus. As she continues to meet with these friends, pray that God will reveal Himself to her through His Word, through their conversations, and through her search for truth. Ask Him to give her clarity to see and experience Jesus as "the way, and the truth, and the life" and the only way to the Father (John 14:6). Pray that Soukaina will find new life in Him.

In a country filled with dozens of minority people groups that have been oppressed for decades lives a majority people still finding their place in the world. As conflict in Libya continues in sporadic bursts and the inhabitants strive to live life as best they can despite these circumstances, many are holding on to generations-old prejudices against the different people groups who are not like them but who share the country they all call home. Many Libyan Arabs work, go to school, and interact with individuals from several different people groups every day. Please pray that they will observe believers caring for and showing love to those who are not like them. Ask that they will notice these acts of kindness and attitudes of love and that the Father will soften their hearts to follow Him and, in turn, reach out to others who are not like them. May the love of His people continue to draw more Libyans to the Father.

While continuing to teach and train Timothy, Irene, a local harvest worker, went with him to visit one leader's fellowship of Muslim-background believers. Everyone was surprised when the leader's son, John, joined the fellowship. John asked a question: "If down here I do bad things, then how will I go up to heaven?" Timothy replied: "The reason Jesus came was to save us from our sins. We cannot be saved by our good works so that we may not boast." The discussion then briefly diverted to some Quran verses, but Irene steered the group back to Jesus and why it was necessary that He should die (Hebrews 9:22). John understood the need for a Savior, and Irene said that he needed to make his own decision to follow Jesus. Irene walked John through how Zaccheus repented from his sins and believed. John prayed and received Jesus that day. The whole time, John read the verses himself and was able to explain what he read with some guidance. Irene and Timothy are looking forward to teaching about baptism the next time they meet. Pray for Irene and Timothy as they disciple John and the other believers. Pray for Irene as she trains Timothy.