Step outside and smell the city: cats, men's cologne, cigarette smoke, fresh-baked bread, car exhaust, and spiced coffee. See older women dressed all in black selling lemons and fresh mint on every street corner, men walking by selling tissues from their pockets or sunglasses from racks atop their heads, and children playing soccer or grabbing bags of chips from kiosks. Most are Muslim, with an Orthodox Christian minority. They are all taught to follow and not to question, to "check the boxes" and hope that their goodness outweighs their bad in the end. Drivers honk their horns in patterns that indicate their own language, understood by each cyclist, bus, and donkey cart in the street. One motorcycle is transporting a new door, another seats a family of four with an infant asleep in its mother's arms. There are fast food restaurants, shawarma (Middle Eastern sandwich) vendors, and sushi carts, a wild mix of the expected and unexpected. It's overwhelming, exciting, disheartening, burdening. There are resources available, including the Word written in their heart language, but many don't know how to access it. There is much work to be done, many seeds to be sown. Pray for the salvation of the urban Arabs.

Have you ever heard of the term "Chreasters"? This is a somewhat humorous term referring to people who only go to church on Christmas and Easter. Many Persian people in the Western diaspora are "Chreasters"--however, in a good way. Finally being away from the cultural Islam of their homeland, Christmas and Easter become very important celebrations to Persians, as those seeking to know more about Christianity will excitedly go to church, with many hearing the story of Jesus for the first time in their lives. Please pray for all the Persian people attending church for the first time this month. Pray for local churches to reach out to Persians and invite them to their celebrations. Finally, pray that this month will be the first step that many Persians take on a journey that leads to salvation as they learn more about the love of Christ.

(OH-sah-kah) - You prayed for the new church plant in October. Starting a new church comes with many challenges, and it can take a while for a core group to be established. This new church plant in Osaka is holding new membership classes because they want to draw members who agree with the church's doctrine. They also hope the new membership classes will give them an opportunity to get to know the members well so they can be shepherded well by church leadership. Pray that, through the Christmas season, new people will come to the church and people will be saved, baptized, and added to the church. Pray for the foundation to be healthy and that it will continue to grow in a healthy way. Thank you for praying.

The Lord's grace and power are evident in Younes's life as he studies God's Word and shares the gospel with his neighbors. When he became a follower of Jesus a few years ago, his family rejected him. He had to leave his community and move to a new country. Despite the rejection of many loved ones, Younes has experienced great joy and freedom in knowing and following Jesus. Please ask God to provide a faithful community of believers to encourage and support Younes. Pray for strength, comfort, and perseverance for Younes and other believers who have been persecuted and rejected by family because of their faith. "Therefore let those who suffer according to God's will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good" (1 Peter 4:19 ESV).

The Salar people are predominantly agriculturally focused, but many are also involved in the restaurant and transportation industries. The economy in Xunhua has improved dramatically in the past decade, allowing many Salar to purchase homes and send their children to college for the first time. At the same time, there has been a renewed dedication to their Islamic beliefs and practice. Islam is a determining factor in how they live their everyday lives. Pray that the Salar people will put their hope in Christ. "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also" (Matthew 6:19-21 ESV).

"Please pray for the drought that is going on in the Amazon region of Brazil. Many people, animals, and plants are suffering due to a lack of rain and clean drinking water. The levels in the rivers here are very low, so many communities and reservations are not able to get essentials like water, food, and medical supplies because boats that bring these things cannot transport them. Pray for us and for our church family during this season of drought. Many are living day-by-day, trying to survive the dry, hot temperatures. Pray that our church will be a light for Christ during this difficult time."

(li-LONG-way) - "Depending on the website you look at, Malawi is ranked somewhere within the top 10 poorest countries in the world," writes the Malawi Team. "Almost everyone here relies on subsistence farming in some way to provide for themselves and their families. The rainy season typically begins in mid-December, but some years, it comes quite late. Please join with us in praying for good rains to come in good time for the fields of Malawi. There are times when too much or too heavy rains fall and flood fields, and seeds are washed away. We know that God is the one who provides rain for the field, strength for the farmer, and produce for the harvest. As you pray for the physical rain and health of the fields in Malawi, pray for the spiritual fields here, as well. Intercede for us as we faithfully plant and water the hearts of Malawians whom we are discipling or with whom we are sharing the gospel. Please ask God to continue to provide the increase."

(EE-sahn) - "Most Isaan people have heard of Christmas. In fact, many of them describe it as the 'American New Year celebration.' The Isaan Team takes advantage of this unique opportunity to share the true meaning of Christmas and God's perfect gift of salvation. Please pray for the planning, preparation, and execution of these events that will take place in villages in the four provinces in which we work. We are thankful for gifts to the Lottie Moon offering and other offerings that provide the means to host these events."

"Multiple sites around the world are seeking healthcare personnel to serve as healthcare strategists. These sent-out ones will work with church-planting teams already on the ground, helping them to assess the human needs around them and devise strategies that meet those needs and extend the church-planting efforts of the team. Ask the Father to send His people out into these roles so that we may be better able to preach and heal."

(KON-ah-kree) - There are six Baptist churches in Guinea, with four being in the capital city of Conakry and two located just outside the city. Worker Benjamin recently met with the pastors from two of these churches, and they expressed their desire to meet more often, working together to guard the unity of the local Guinean church. Even though it is difficult for Pastor Sam to travel into the city, he is willing to meet once a month in order to pray together and "vision cast" for the future of the Baptist churches. Workers write: "We thank God for these talks, and we thank God for these faithful pastors! Pray with Benjamin as he meets with these pastors each month, specifically the next meeting on December 8. Pray for these pastors as they shepherd the local church, and ask the Lord to give them a vision for the future and for the unity and growth of the Baptist churches in Guinea."

(chin-NIGH) - Some believers in Chennai have been asking the Lord of the harvest to "send out laborers into His harvest" (Matthew 9:38 NKJV) in their city. Join them in giving thanks to God for providing such laborers through a family that had to relocate to Chennai due to persecution. While this family has gone through much suffering over the past months, the wife has begun partnering with a "sent one" in the city to share the good news. This is in answer to much prayer for partners in ministry!

(KAYP town) - Refugees flee their home countries out of fear and desperation in hopes of a better life for themselves and their families in South Africa. One such family began with Cyntia and her husband running from the Congo. They received refugee status in 2004, only to have the South Africans hate them and kill her husband. Cyntia has five single-orphan children and her mother for whom to care. She tried selling fresh grilled meat on the corner, but hoodlums stole her grill and meat. One day, Cyntia heard about a Bible study that missionaries teach two streets from her home. She attended, seeking to know God better. Cyntia is a Christian. She trusted God to provide for her family. When she arrived at the Bible study, she found people who cared for her. Cyntia found God was not too busy for her family. The next day, the orphan assistance fund approved help and provided food for her children. Cyntia cried on the missionary's shoulder. Thank you for caring about giving to destitute families. Please pray for Cyntia, asking that she will get a job for which she has applied. Pray for her children to come to know Jesus as their Savior.