(an-uh-TOHL-yuh) - Pray for Grey and Chuck, two mature believers, as they seek to meet together with several believing men from their church for discipleship. Pray that Adam and Michael will see the importance of this discipleship relationship and make a commitment to meeting together.

The Theological Education Team writes: "Thank the Lord with us that many students who have completed two years of work in Theological Education by Extension classes will graduate in early December! They have persevered and will receive a certificate indicating their completion of this work. Please intercede for them as they use the knowledge and understanding they have gained through their studies. Pray 2 Timothy 2:15 (ESV) for all of them: '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.'"

God is moving in a state in southern India, as five unengaged, unreached people groups with believers among them have been identified. Reports indicate that two of these people groups have large numbers of believers in them, so this month, follow-ups will occur to meet these believers and gauge their understanding and fruitfulness. Please pray for these follow-up efforts. If these reports are verified, then both of these groups will be able to come off the unengaged, unreached people groups list!

(sloh-VAH-kee-uhns) - "During December, the women's group from a church in Bratislava will be having advent celebrations," shares a Baptist representative in Slovakia. "This will be a sweet time of celebrating our Savior in community with singing, Bible study, crafts, and food. We are praying for deepened relationships with the Lord, the women in our community, and to keep the focus on Christ during this busy season."

Zahra is being sifted. She has declared that she is no longer a believer after making the decision to follow Jesus a couple of years ago. Megan is heartbroken. She was part of Zahra's baptism a year ago. She has read and studied God's Word with her. There is hope, however. Zahra has continued to send text messages to Megan. She wants to meet with her. The question remains: Is Zahra denying Christ, or does she simply fear her family? Pray for Zahra and others like her just as Jesus prayed for Peter before his denial: "But I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers" (Luke 22:32 ESV). Pray for disciple makers to stand strong and not to become discouraged as they disciple new believers from difficult backgrounds in a difficult place.

"As the year is winding down, there are opportunities for special outreach events during Christmas! Pray for opportunities to build deeper relationships with the new students that have recently been coming to the language center. Pray that they will be open to having spiritual discussions and that we will have a chance to share the gospel with them."

"It's complicated--my relationship with Islam, that is. I'm not sure what I believe anymore." These are words spoken by a college student whom a believer met in a nearby city. Growing up, the young woman was told that she was Muslim. She tried to follow the rules. She wore the "hijab" (head covering), prayed the prayers, fasted during the Islamic month of Ramadan, and gave to the poor. But something was missing. She shared, "You see, if love is conditional, is it really love at all?" The believer told her the story of Jesus and how the Bible explains that God sent Him to be humanity's sacrifice for sin, a Savior to be a substitute in our place, and that she's right: God is loving and doesn't accept us based on our ability to follow the law. She said that she understood, yet that's where her seeking ended. She thanked the believer for telling her the story and said that she had never heard it before. Pray that Hiba will continue to think about the story of Jesus and that God will draw her to Himself. Pray that she will know and understand the freedom that comes from following Christ.

Believers in the "Valley of Treasures" have been trying to start gathering periodically for time in the Word, prayer, and worship. While some of these believers are members of local churches, others do not have a local church they are a part of yet. There are many factors that have to be considered when gathering together, so please pray for those planning the timing of these meetings, and ask for the Lord's favor to communicate well during these times. Even more importantly, pray that each believer will grow in their love for Jesus as they all seek Him together.

"In America, we recently celebrated a beloved public holiday known as 'Thanksgiving.' Did you know that there is a similarly named day celebrated in Japan at the same time? It is called 'Labor Thanksgiving Day.' The origin of this day was an ancient festival to give thanks to the goddess of abundant crops. The emperor would offer new crops to the goddess and partake of some of them himself. The date November 23 was set in 1873. This custom continues today, primarily at the level of the imperial family partaking in the ceremony. After World War II, the day was redefined to celebrate production, being appreciative of the opportunity to work, and thanking each other. Being thankful for what you have is an important part of everyday Japanese life. However, the big question is: Whom should we thank? And, why? Join us in praying, 'Lord, help the Japanese to know the Living God to the degree that they will praise this God from whom all blessings flow. Move Japanese Christians to thank the one true God for all of life so that He alone will receive the glory and honor for His abundant blessings showered upon all daily."

(cry-MEE-un tuh-TARS) - Give thanks to God that more and more gospel resources are available online and accessible to Crimean Tatars! In this season of Christmas, ask God to draw Crimean Tatar seekers to find and view gospel resources online (including the Christmas story!) and ask spiritual questions.

(BAH-mah) - Christmastime has come, and that gives believers in Myanmar a great opportunity to share the good news with the people around them, who typically know nothing about Jesus. The Buddhists of Myanmar may not know Jesus, but they have had small peeks at Christmas through online media, and they are very interested to know more about it. All they know now are gifts, Christmas trees, and Santa Claus, but believers know that this is not the essential meaning of Christmas. During this time of year, local believers have great opportunity to share more openly in a place that is typically hostile to the gospel. Please pray for them and their church as they seek to make Him known during this time of year. These are some of the busiest times of year for ministry, and they can be exhausting. Ask that these believers will fully communicate the joy and hope that Christians experience because of the precious gift of the birth, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Pray that the gospel will be clearly shared and understood and that hearts will be changed.

(BAH-soo-too) - Kyle and Kim Totty, serving on the Basotho Team in the Mokhotlong district of Lesotho, request prayer for the church in the Khubelu Valley that has outgrown their current meeting place, has sacrificially raised funds, and has begun work on building a church building! "We have a volunteer team from Virginia coming soon to assist the church members with the construction. There are many believers in different villages who still do not have a church within walking distance. We are seeing the potential for at least a couple of these villages to have their own churches in the future. Please pray that God will raise up leaders to shepherd the churches in these communities." "So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was being built up. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it multiplied" (Acts 9:31 ESV).