(WAH-soo-loo) - Just last month, the Lord protected two of the main Wassulu villages from jihadist attacks or the kidnapping of villagers. This has been an issue almost daily in other areas of the nation. Give thanks to God for the intervention and timing of authorities who apprehended the perpetrators! Please continue to intercede for the various methods being used to share the gospel of Jesus Christ among the Wassulu, ranging from individual conversations to radio broadcasts. For the latter, pray that even the evil ones will hear the good news across the airwaves and that there will be an awakening among those men. Pray for God's protection over the two radio stations that are open to the Wassulu broadcasts, asking that they will not be stopped from broadcasting Bible teachings and the declaration of the gospel.
http://www.imb.org/sub-saharan-africa/ wassuluprayeradvocates@gmail.comPlease pray for a 16-year-old Maba girl named Yuli who recently heard the gospel, believed, repented, and began discipleship. Before she became a believer, Yuli had run away from her Muslim home because she was upset that her widower father was planning to re-marry. When she was living in another town with a boyfriend, she met two young believing women. They shared the gospel with her, and Yuli believed. She stayed with the believing women to continue learning from the Bible. A week later, Yuli returned home to her father to ask if he would give permission for her to continue traveling with the believing women. He did not give permission, but thankfully he did not try to force her to deny Christ. Please pray that Yuli will continue to read the Word and that the Holy Spirit in her will illuminate the truths of Scripture to her. Pray that local believers will be able to connect with Yuli again when they return to the Maba area this month.
"Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth" (2 Timothy 2:15 ESV). Please continue praying for the students at the Theological Education by Extension centers who are finishing work on their current and last book in the eight-book series. Ask for them not to grow weary and to work hard to complete it. Intercede also for the other students who still have more books to finish. Pray that they will be encouraged by their leaders weekly as they learn more and more and apply it in their daily lives.
http://www.imb.org/sub-saharan-africa/(OO-tar pra-DESH) - Pray for Paul and Silas, two brothers in Christ who experienced persecution for sharing the good news. Even though they experienced opposition and physical pain, they rejoiced "that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name" (Acts 5:41 ESV). Pray that this experience will strengthen their faith and that they will continue to proclaim the truth wherever they go. Pray also for those who hurt them, asking that the message shared with them will take root in their hearts and convict them to repent and believe.
A small fellowship is going through a difficult time due to distrust of a local brother. He has said and done some things that have hurt other brothers and sisters and have caused disunity to settle upon the body. To this point, he hasn't taken responsibility for his actions or shown a heart of repentance. Some of the other brothers and sisters are even beginning to doubt his salvation, which leads to even deeper mistrust. Pray that the Holy Spirit will convict this brother of his wrongdoing and that he will admit his sin and confess it to God and those he has hurt. Pray that relationships within the local body will be restored. Pray that the leaders of the fellowship will have wisdom in knowing how best to move forward in this situation. Ask God to use this difficult season to bring Him glory, grow His church, and proclaim His name.
(van-COO-ver) - Recently, the Lord orchestrated a miraculous encounter. When a Central Asian couple witnessed the complete transformation of their friend after coming to faith in Jesus, the couple became interested and wanted to know more. So, they visited a church that they had driven by before. They had noticed it because the grounds were well kept and there was a fence around the playground, which communicated to the couple that the congregation cared about the community. During the worship service, a young woman ran back to the couple and gave them a hug. It turned out this sister in Christ had been their neighbor the year before. Since that first Sunday, the couple has been attending the church every week and have had deep discussions with believers after the services. They are also attending a weekly online Bible study led by IMB representatives in their heart language. All this is undoing the many lies they have heard about Jesus. Please pray for this couple and other Central Asians in Vancouver to come to faith in Christ.
Please pray for the Map People, especially during this dry season. The rivers are a lifeline for the indigenous peoples of northern Brazil, and they are drying up fast. This means that many reservations will be struggling to get food and water.
Marcus and Eva are brand new Global Missionary Partners (GMPs). They are set to complete their pre-field training this month and travel to their country of service. They have asked us to pray for their upcoming language study. The challenging part is that they must study together for four hours a day, so their child must attend preschool. So far, their little one has not tolerated separation from his parents. They also ask us to pray for their relationships with others once they arrive. Ask that the Lord will prepare a person of peace -- one who will befriend them and help them adjust and open doors for them to share the gospel as they learn language. Pray for the whole family as they make this huge leap of faith to serve in a country very different from their own, in obedience to the calling of the Lord on their lives. "Sing to the Lord, bless his name; tell of his salvation from day to day. Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples!" (Psalm 96:2-3 ESV).
pray4APAC@imb.orgDuring the seasonal break from school in West Africa, many of the students return to their family villages, but some remain in the city near their school. A group of Deaf youth who remained in the city participated in a field trip that involved visiting nearby agricultural areas. They learned about raising animals, planting and harvesting crops, and using the resources of the land--all while seeds of God's Word were being sown in their hearts and minds. Please pray for these Deaf students as they look toward finding future work and livelihoods to sustain them and their families. May the seeds of God's Word continue to grow and flourish in their hearts.
hopeanchors@protonmail.comPlease pray for three student volunteers who will serve among the Coffee People this month. These three young women have been trained in evangelism and discipleship and are being sent to partner with the team on the field. Pray that God will use them mightily on the Baptist Nursing College campus where they will live and interact with students daily. As of this year, 60% of the student population comes from an unbelieving background. Additionally, most of those from a Christian background need to be discipled in their faith. These volunteer students will partner with a faithful campus mentor to reach out, build relationships, and share the good news. Ask for creativity in ministry, encouragement for national partners currently serving there, and for a harvest of many young lives as the team plows this spiritual field and plants gospel seeds.
iam4sea@live.comA worker writes: "Many of us are working to be more deeply involved in local churches. It takes time and patience and wisdom to do this well. Please ask the Spirit to guide and direct and show us how to love and serve and participate well not only during regular meeting times, but also outside of church times. Pray for us to see how to go deep and really get to know people. Petition for opportunities to grow in the Word and in prayer together. Pray for our hearts to be truly knit together to see God's kingdom come in the places where we live."
centralasianpeoples@protonmail.com(BANG-ah-lohr) - Please pray for Sarojin and Ambika as they labor hard in Bangalore with a new church plant, trying to reach a nearby community. The tuition center that they run after school each day is opening doors to the community. Parents and children are coming to church, but these adults and children have been through so much difficulty that the emotional weight is heavy for this couple to bear. Pray that there will be other individuals or another couple who will desire to co-labor with them to share some of the load of leading these new believers and of reaching deeper into the community to share the gospel with those who don't know Christ.