PrayerLine
West African Truckers "God is wise in heart and mighty in strength. Who has hardened himself against Him and prospered?" Job 9:4, NKJV Hi, this is Eleanor Witcher of the IMB Prayer Team. The West Africa Trucker Ministry Team is excited when people come alongside to pray. One church recently decided to concentrate their prayers on the Kotokoli (pronounced koh-toh-KOH-lee) people located in three countries along the truck route. The church was blessed when they learned that three Kotokoli recently accepted Christ. Teams of evangelists engage the truckers and disciple them wherever they are required to stop for documents. Truckers often must wait two to six weeks for documents before entering one particular country. It is a hard land spiritually. * Please pray that these teams will be faithful to share their faith with individuals who have never heard. * Ask the Lord to surround these Kotokoli believers with those who will disciple them well. DOWNLOAD
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Search IMB Pray Newsletter 20170509 IMB Prayer Team <[email protected]> To [email protected] Today at 2:08 AM Not rendering correctly? View this email as a web page here. IMB logo IMB PRAY header image The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. James 5:16b, NKJV Print Web Version MAY 8, 2017 English Opens Doors Every week, believers walk through the streets of a South Asian village to share the gospel and prau that they will grasp the truths they are taught. IMB PRAYER REQUESTS Restored Joy Leon* and Lisa*, Mozambican missionaries, lost a child in December—the second child they have lost. Leon later shared: “I was at the end of my rope and ready to just give up, but I begged that Jesus would somehow show me the way forward.” That night he and Lisa experienced the loving, outstretched arms of the Savior. They had been considering leaving their village to take a teaching job in another province. They determined that it was not time for them to leave the place they had been serving and that they were to continue until the Lord released them. Since that day, Lisa has carried a smile; her joy and confidence is in Christ Jesus. Not only has there been restoration for Leon and Lisa, but there have been six others in their village who have recently come to faith in Jesus Christ. Praise God for this, and thank you for your ongoing prayers. (*names changed) PrayerPoints Of the more than 1.6 billion people that make up South Asia, nearly 500 million of them are Muslim. With increasing urbanization, more of the population is gravitating towards cities than ever before. Pray with us for the work among urban Muslims of South Asia. DOWNLOAD PrayerLine Tell One Thousand "Then Agrippa said to Paul, 'You almost persuade me to become a Christian.'" Acts 26:18, NKJV Hi, this is Eleanor Witcher of the IMB Prayer Team. The “Bay” group of believers in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, has responded to God’s call to be “ambassadors for Christ.” They are committed to sharing the gospel with more than 1,000 people over the course of the summer. Thanh* is one person they have already encountered. He will never forget the first time he heard the story of Jesus. He had heard of people called “Christians” before, but he never knew what they believed. Now that he has heard the story, it seems incredible and he doesn’t know whether or not to believe. * Please pray that God will open Thanh’s heart so that he will fully accept the truth pf the gospel. * Intercede for the “Bay” group as they share and that they will see everlasting fruit. (*names changed) To listen to this request, click here. For additional text and audio requests, download pdf here: DOWNLOAD Pray With Missionary Kids! I pray for people that do not know God, I hope they can know God. BRAELYN (East Asian peoples) Please pray as I wait to hear from 2 colleges. Ask God to give me wisdom and discernment in choosing the college that God has for me. Ask God to give me perseverance (endurance) to finish my senior year well. RACHEL, age 17 (Sub-Saharan African peoples) God, thank you for the zoo. MK (East Asian peoples) See full printable newsletter here: DOWNLOAD IMB logo 3806 Monument Ave P.O. Box 6767 Richmond, VA 23230 United States Update Email Preferences Completely Unsubscribe Copyright © 2017 - IMB, SBC. All Rights Reserved Reply Reply to All Forward More Click to reply all Send The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. James 5:16b, NKJV APRIL 10, 2017 The Will of the Lord As Easter approaches, we, as followers of Jesus, take time to meditate more deeply on the death and resurrection of the Lord. Most of the people from Asia Minor, modern day Central Asia, have been taught and believe that God spared Jesus from an agonizing death on the cross. However, we read in Isaiah 53:10 (ESV) that “it was the will of the Lord to crush him.” Please pray that as the story of Easter is shared over the coming days, friends and neighbors will understand the necessity of His sacrificial death and see their need for new life. IMB PRAYER REQUESTS The Significance of Places and Events Thousands of Palestinians live in the shadow of Bethlehem, the Shepherds’ Fields, the Temple Mount, Calvary, and the garden of the resurrection. As they pass by such places, they have no idea that Jesus loves them and gave Himself to pay for their sins. They don’t know the significance of the places and events most precious to His followers. It is ironic that multitudes living near biblical sites don’t know the One who makes these sites meaningful. Please pray for Palestinians who live in the land of the Bible but have no truth. Pray that the truth of the gospel will be planted deeply in Palestinian lives and that a vast harvest will be reached. Ask that Muslim-background believers will be unified in Jesus and begin a church-planting movement among Palestinians. PrayerPoints OneLife is a human needs ministry of the IMB mobilizing committed advocates to meet specific, urgent human needs through intercessory prayer, financial support, and sacrificial service. Join us in praying this month for OneLife projects all around the world. "So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying out, 'Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!'" John 12: 13, ESV Many of the churches in Flanders, the Flemish- or Dutch-speaking area of Belgium, are small and generally do not work together or meet together for fellowship. However, for the past few years, many of the churches have gathered for a combined Easter service. This combined meeting helps church members realize that they are part of a greater church family with the common goal of praising the Lord and seeing His kingdom grow. This is a real encouragement, as some have memberships of less than 10. Pray that as they meet together this year, they will draw strength from each other to be about the work of the Lord. Pray With Missionary Kids! Pray for me as I attend a private school just around the corner from our house. Ask God for a few best friends this year in 2nd grade. Ask God to help me be kind and a good example to the other students and that they would treat me kindly, as it has taken some getting used to how kids play here. CATARINA, age 7 (Sub-Saharan African peoples) Prayer Request: Please for my friend *Matt, that he would read the Bible and believe in God. ANTON, age 11 (European peoples) Pray for my mom and dad as they reach out to the people we live among. Pray for my parents as they raise me and my siblings to become Godly people. EMILY, age 12 (Sub-Saharan African peoples) Update Email Preferences Completely Unsubscribe Copyright © 2017 - IMB, SBC. All Rights Reserved Reply Reply to All Forward More To CC/BCC [email protected] Friday, January 20, 2017
GOD REMOVED A HEART OF STONE "And I will give them one heart and put a new spirit within them; I will remove their heart of stone from their bodies and give them a heart of flesh." Ezekiel 11:19, HCSB The upper prayer room of the Jerusalem Prayer Center is a place of silent prayer, but recently words were spoken there that awed a young man and solidified his belief in God’s love for him. Three years ago, that young man was in a bad place, far from the Lord. His aunt and uncle came to the prayer center and now returned with extended family members, including this young man. The family sang together and then spent time upstairs in silent prayer. As they prepared to leave, the young man’s aunt took him to the “intercession” area, a corner containing a basket of rocks and markers. She shared with him that three years ago, she had written his name on a stone. She cried out to God, asking God to soften her nephew’s heart. The nephew came down the stairs, bursting to share with staff how his aunt’s prayer had been answered. The words from Ezekiel had come to pass; God had removed his heart of stone. God had even called him into ministry. Pray that God will soften the hearts of others whose names are written on stones in the upper prayer room. Ask God to protect this young man as he ministers in a foreign land. Wednesday, January 11, 2017
To hear an mp3 recording of the PrayerLine, click here. http://media1.imbresources.org/files/254/25483/25483-132514.mp3 HER CONFESSION BROUGHT REJOICING “Every day the Lord added to them those who were being saved." Acts 2:47b, HCSB Jade is a relatively new Christian who likes to hang around Beam and Chun’s house, contacting people online and playing games on her tablet. Jade and her friends are Deaf believers in South Asia. One member of the group told the Pentecost story and explained that “3,000 believed and were baptized that day.” Worker Bethany Forrester then asked Jade why she had decided to follow Jesus. Jade signed without her usual hesitation. She signed boldly and confessed many of the sins that made her realize she needed a Savior. There was great rejoicing in the church that day. Pray that Jade will continue to learn and be on fire for the Lord. PRAYERLINE: PRAY FOR PEOPLE IN JAPAN AND MONGOLIA AS THEY SEEK THE REAL MEANING OF CHRISTIMAS.12/12/2016 Monday, December 12, 2016
“Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:10b-11, NASB) Hi, this is Eleanor Witcher of IMB’s prayer team, joining you in prayer for East Asian peoples. “Merry Christmas” banners in English are seen in many shops throughout Mongolia in December, but very few Mongolian people in this traditionally Shamanist, Tibetan Buddhist, and atheistic country--in which less than 5 percent of the 3 million citizens are followers of Jesus--know the meaning of these words. Many of the traditions that surround Christmas were brought from Russia during Soviet times and transferred to New Year’s Day so as not to put an emphasis on anything “religious.” With the desire to help Mongolians understand the true meaning of Christmas, a team of visiting university students will brave the cold of Mongolia over their Christmas break to share about Jesus. Many Japanese love to see the bright illuminations all across the city of Tokyo from now until December 26. Hearing Christmas songs in department stores and coffee shops has become the norm. Do the Japanese really understand the deeper meaning behind the season? The answer is: not usually. Some may have gone to Christian kindergartens and participated in the yearly Christmas play and sung the songs about the baby Jesus. Others might have attended a Christian high school or college, where they were exposed to the nativity story. But when the average person is asked, most will say, “Santa Claus, Christmas cake, and presents for children.” Missionaries all across Tokyo spend the month of December sharing the true story of God’s plan for redemption and salvation, beginning with the birth of the Christ child. * Please pray for those planning these outreach events in Japan and especially for those coming to hear the Good News. * Ask God to direct these students as they travel through harsh conditions, and ask Him to prepare Mongolian hearts to hear and receive the Good News of Jesus. * Rejoice in the Savior who has been born for all Wednesday, December 7, 2016
“There are, it may be, so many kinds of languages in the world, and none of them is without significance.” (1 Corinthians 14:10, NKJV) Hi, this is Eleanor Witcher of IMB’s prayer team, asking you to pray for language students. There was no mistaking the sound of frantic footsteps climbing the stairs to the third level. Breathless, Lily* came stumbling into the classroom full of intermediate-level language students. It was the first day of class, they had made a round of introductions, and the last participant was sharing her story. Happy to have finally reached the class, albeit an hour late, Lily sat down and released a heavy sigh. Looking around with big, round, shiny eyes, she then smiled to reveal a mouth full of teeth. It was now her turn for an introduction. “My name is Lily, and I am a Shawiya from Algeria. I want to learn more French, but the lady at another school told me that there was no place for me.” Lily paused, then continued with, “Is there a place for me here?” Many Crimean Tatar individuals in one group of English classes have been brought up in nominally Muslim families but are now looking in other directions for meaning in life. Popular considerations are Eastern religions, yoga, or humanistic philosophies. Their view of Christianity is skewed by what they’ve grown up around: a highly liturgical, often antagonistic, and as they see it, corrupt orthodoxy that holds no relevance for them. Every Sunday night, several Great Commission Christian partners come together to host a free English Club in Moscow, Russia. At the end of each lesson, they close by sharing truth from God’s Word in both English and Russian. Approximately 35 to 45 people from diverse backgrounds join each week. * Please pray for the people visiting the English Club in Moscow, asking that they will be open to the Good News. * Intercede for Christian workers to live out and share biblical truth with Crimean Tatar students. * Pray for a friendship to develop between this Shawiya Berber woman, Lily, and this believer so that Lily can hear the truth of the gospel. (*name changed) Wednesday, November 16, 2016
“Philip found Nathanael and said to him, ‘We have found him of whom Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth.’” (John 1:45a, NKJV) Hi, this is Eleanor Witcher of IMB’s prayer team, asking you to pray for new believers. One night, Peter* had a dream he couldn’t forget. As he began searching for the meaning, Peter encountered a foreign brother who gave him a film about Jesus. His dream finally made sense. This young Moroccan Arab had to follow the Savior. Months passed, and Peter remained firm in his faith but had no one to disciple him until, nearly a year after starting his journey, a seemingly chance meeting put him in touch with believers living nearby. With each Bible study, he obeys and applies what the Word teaches. Though his father is strongly opposed to the gospel, Peter’s faith has not been shaken and he has become even bolder. There is no church where he lives, but through his testimony, the Lord can build the church around him from his family, friends, and co-workers. One day while at a cafe in a neighboring town, Peter met another man who also knows the Lord. That man challenged Peter to think of a friend who might be excited to hear about Jesus and with whom he could share. They prayed for boldness and faithfulness, and off Peter went to tell his friend, Timothy.* Timothy was not only excited to hear about the Way--he chose to follow it. Now there are two men who are growing in their faith, and Timothy has been encouraged to tell a friend about Jesus. * Please pray for Timothy that he will be obedient to his training and share Jesus with a friend. * Intercede for Peter as he grows in his faith and teaches others to do the same. * Ask the Lord to show you someone you need to speak to, saying, I have found him, Jesus of Nazareth. (*name changed) Monday, November 14, 2016 To hear an mp3 recording of the PrayerLine, click here. http://media1.imbresources.org/files/254/25445/25445-132465.mp3 “For the sake of my brothers and my friends, I will now say, 'May peace be within you.' For the sake of the house of the Lord our God, I will seek your good.” (Psalm 122:8-9, NASB) Hi, this is Eleanor Witcher of IMB’s prayer team, joining you in prayer for unreached people groups. The Nuer of South Sudan are close cultural brothers to the Dinka of South Sudan. They share a love of cattle keeping; a similar language; and intense, strong personalities. Many of them can see no difference between the two people groups apart from scars that adorn their foreheads. But they also share a long history of hate for one another, with many of them having been killed just for belonging to the opposing people group. The Nuer live by the thousands in protection camps in South Sudan and refugee camps in surrounding countries. For generations, all they have known is war, and they have been taught by their fathers to hate the Dinka, as their fathers’ fathers taught them the same. The vision for the Nuer is to have transformed communities where love is shown for both their friends and their enemies. Across the globe in a far more peaceful environment, a hilly region in southern Brazil is referred to as the “Brazilian Ukraine.” Brazil has the third-largest Ukrainian population outside of the country itself, which numbers around 500,000. Seventy percent of Brazil’s Ukrainians live in agricultural communities known as “colonies,” which are isolated and, in many respects, closely resemble western Ukrainian villages of the 19th century. The majority of the people belong to the Roman Catholic Church, which is the center of culture for them in Brazil. Less than .5 percent claim a relationship with Jesus Christ, and there is no one reaching them. * Please pray that God will burden the hearts of believers to come and share the gospel with this people group. Intercede that God will give these Ukrainians a desire to know Him personally. * Intercede for healing among the Nuer people and pray for believers and future missionaries to bring the gospel. * Pray for the day that both the Nuer and the Dinka worship God together as brothers. [email protected] is subscribed to PrayerLine. If you wish to no longer receive this eLetter click unsubscribe Friday, October 21
“Be imitators of God, as dearly loved children. And walk in love, as the Messiah also loved us and gave Himself for us, a sacrificial and fragrant offering to God.” (Ephesians 5:1, HCSB) Hi, this is Eleanor Witcher of IMB’s prayer team, asking you to pray for growth as people study God’s Word. Workers with the Bambara of Mali write, “In July, as you lifted us up in prayer, we were able to visit ‘Far Village.’ There are two people groups living in this village that usually don’t live well together, but here they seem to get along just fine. We’ve been working here for just over a year now, and when we come, a group always gathers no matter what they are doing. Whether farming or harvesting their crops, they come to listen and talk. One of the groups living here is known to be very proud, and it’s usually very difficult for these people to walk ‘the Jesus Road.’ When we visited, one of these people told us that he was ready to follow the Jesus Road. He had even asked his father for permission and wanted an SD card with Bible stories so that his wife could listen to them. This man is now the first in his village to follow the Jesus Road.” Fifteen people are crammed into a sweltering hot, tiny living room in Abidjan, Cote D’Ivoire. Every available bench and chair is in use, and children are sitting on the floor. What a joy it is to see believers who want to hear God’s Word so much that they are willing to do whatever it takes. They hope to find a meeting place that will better meet their needs for years to come. * Please pray for small groups in Abidjan, asking that missionary Mike McAfee will have the wisdom to lead them. * Intercede for Sam* as he grows in his newfound faith and for the others in “Far Village” as they continue to consider the Jesus Road. * Ask God to help you imitate Him and walk in love. (*name changed |
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