Praise

“You feel comfortable talking about your convictions and this makes it a good subject for our English conversation classes”. This is the way one of our friends starts her English classes for the locals. This week, she again had the opportunity to talk about our Holy Book, answering questions from students. The questions dealt with the misconceptions the locals have about the Bible. Praise God for faithful Christians who, by their style of living and by their words at work and outside of work, do witness about God.

Prayer

Our Father never promised us trouble free lives. He did, however, promise to be with us always. Do lift up a man who is going through extreme struggles at this time. Ask that he will be aware of the Father’s presence. Ask that he will be at peace. Ask that he will have freedom from his trials.

As students finish exams and begin their summer holidays, many will go to the movie store and buy DVDs. They will watch movies from the West. Ask that they will be drawn to movies that honor God, movies that show His concern for them, and that have a message which shares the Good News.

As many tentmakers are travelling away from their countries of service this summer, pray that those they disciple and encourage will continue steadfast in faith, and find satisfying spiritual input and grace.

The teachers at a language school have a lot of exposure to believing students. Pray they notice the differences in these students and question them about why their actions are not like other people from their countries. Also pray for the students to be good testimonies to their teachers.

A worker here has had a string of good spiritual conversations with local Muslims as he makes his regular rounds at coffee shops seeking “men of peace”, Please pray for these conversations to lead to much more.

Testimony

“Dan” was invited to dinner by “Abdullah”, along with several of his local friends. One of those friends warned Dan ahead of time, that some of them wanted to use the occasion to talk to him about his faith and Islam, and that he didn’t agree with their plan. As it turned out, Dan took the opportunity to tell the men about the necessity of Jesus’ payment for our salvation. He shared how keeping account of the number of our sins missed the point. We need to be given a new nature, and that is only possible when One from the outside changes us.

The next day, Abdullah called Dan, hoping that the interaction had not been troublesome to him. As a matter of fact, Abdullah continued, he had been given a new view of Jesus, and actually wanted to learn more! Pray that God will bring Abdullah into a personal relationship with the One about whom he wants to know more.

Praise

Praise God for the healing of “Ahmed” who was diagnosed with croup. This opened the door for us to go to “Mohammed and Fatima’s” home to pray for him.

Prayer

Let us lift up all the nationals who have heard the Story of the Son, but have not received it. Many have heard, the seeds have been spread, but the seeds have not taken root. Pray that further contact would be made with these nationals, and that the words of the Father would pierce their hearts and take root.

Car accidents are so common in this part of the world. Pray for those who are facing long roads of recovery, or a life without a limb, or paralysis. Pray too for families who need to help & encourage those going through this.

A very poor woman has been given a sewing machine and several bags of material to help her develop a business to support her family. Ask that she will see these provisions as gifts from God. Ask that her business will thrive and that her family needs will be met. Ask that her Faith will grow in the process.

Devastating fires seem to be common recently. Pray for those who have lost loved ones in fires, and for those recovering. Pray that believing staff at hospitals may have opportunities to share the Good News with these people.

During the summer holidays, many young men become restless, looking for something to fill their time. They are” ripe” for recruitment from groups who want to create havoc in the land. Ask that the young men will not be drawn into these groups. Ask that they will hear about Someone who loves them and has a plan for their lives, a plan which will bring peace and salvation.

Testimony

A fan in the corner, the television on a football channel (not the World Cup though, that is too expensive) and ‘Abu R’ and myself in a corner surrounded by another 15 men. ‘Abu R’ explains that he wants to read the Bible himself and not just depend on his teachers who tell him that the Bible is corrupted. The rest of the group are doing their own things but it is clear that they are cautiously following our discussion. We exchange telephone numbers so that I can arrange a Bible for him, and then I leave. ‘Abu R’ will have probably had to defend his opinions before the group who would discourage the slightest interest for any other religion. Pray for ‘Abu R’, that he will research the Bible himself and that God will speak to him through it.

Praise

There was an outcry of praise when we heard that God had made provisions for a visa for one of the local brothers. There had been great struggle in prayer over the last months for this visa. It is clear for us that God intervened. Pray for this small family as they move to study and live in a country where the church is widely available. God has proved that He answers prayer. We pray now with more confidence for the wife’s conversion to the Christian faith. Pray that the brother will be accepted in a local community of believers where he can grow in knowledge and be discipled into mature faith and Christian leadership.

Prayer

People from all over the world are in South Africa watching the World Cup football tournaments. Probably many from the AP are also attending the games, cheering for their favourite teams. Ask that they will meet people who love the Saviour and will strike up conversations with them. Ask that they will hear the Gospel and accept it, taking what they have heard back to their families at home.

While sipping on our Starbucks coffee’s the other day, B. listened to the concept of dying and starting a new live with Christ. As soon as he heard we were in the same job field, he poured out his heart. The divorce of his parents, the negative comments of his father towards him, his lack of friends, his failure to succeed in his studies…. Very unusual for an Arab to open up like that. He mentioned that he had read the Bible, also very unusual in a country where the Bible is a forbidden book. Will you pray for B., that God will do an unusual thing in his life and keep bombarding him with the news that Christ is his only hope to change his life?

We had a wonderful time reconnecting with “Jason & Nancy” and the group. We’ve made plans for a joint vacation in September. We are looking forward towards this time with them. It will be intense, but we also know we will have much opportunity to talk about our Best Friend and to live-out His love and grace. Pray that holidays will be given to all so that we can travel as a group.

Many students are graduating from university. As there are few jobs available, it can be a discouraging time for those who are job hunting. Ask that many will find work. Ask that they will realize that God cares about their future and loves them.

Pray for the hostages who have now been held for over a year. Pray for news of them to be confirmed and that they might be released. Pray for the two rescued girls who are adjusting to their home culture.

Testimony

A young lady who never felt an interest to get to know foreigners, saw a western girl buying some food. She felt something inside her urge her to talk to this girl. She thought, “Maybe I can introduce her to what I believe”. She gained courage and introduced herself. The two quickly became friends and she invited the visitor to her home. Many meals were shared together, many conversations about beliefs occurred and the young lady asked for a Book. While reading it, she believed the Good News. Thank the Lord that she listened to that “inner voice” telling her to meet the other girl. Ask that she will grow in faith and that her family will also believe.

Praise

It was a joy to be part of the Global Day of Prayer in our city. There were over 25 congregations who participated. In this gathering, we saw people from many tribes and nations praying and worshipping together. The joy for us is in knowing that one day, we will see people bowing before His throne from every tribe, tongue and nation.

Prayer

A writer for the local newspaper, wrote an article about the tribes of this country. He described the tension between those loyal to their tribes versus those loyal to the government of the nation. One man stated, “We from the tribes are not traitors. We just have more devotion to our tribe than to the land we live on.” Pray for the people as they work through these differences. Ask the Father to show them his love for all those who are part of the human race, the tribe that began with Adam.

Ask God to network people together who are believing in Christ, and also to those who are seeking. Pray for God-ordained meetings between people who can have fellowship together. Pray for those who are secretly and quietly believing in Christ to come into fellowship with others like them.

This city is known as one of the centres of Islamic religion. The inhabitants are known for their extreme ideas about Islam and how Muslims should live.
(A) One person from that area made the comment that locals are either a part of those who have those extreme ideas or they are so “fed up” with these views that they choose the opposite life style. Will you pray for the latter group, that they discover Jesus and the God that He reveals? Will you pray for this city, that God will work mightily among the religious leaders in this city?

Pray for ‘Val’ as she travels to a neighboring country to minister to the Chinese congregation there.

While driving through the countryside, it was evident that there has been much rain recently. The fields are green and the plants look healthy. Water is a wonderful blessing! Pray that the Good News will also “rain down” on this country. Ask that ways to spread the News to many will be successful. Ask that TV and radio programs will not be blocked and that people will hear the messages from them.

Testimony

‘Ahmed’, a local Muslim, came to his professor, and the professor enjoyed the opportunity to share the gospel with him. Ahmed said that he had gone to a church before, looking for truth, but it seemed odd to him. The professor suggested that there are good churches and not-so-good churches. Ahmed asked sincerely for some websites where he could hear worthy teaching. Pray that the Word of God presented will lead him to salvation.

Praise

We’ve lived in our home for 6 years and this is the first time we’ve seen our cactus bloom. We’ve also witnessed glimpses of ‘flowers’ blooming in the lives of our friends here, being slowly but surely transformed by the love and grace of our Lord Jesus! Now may the desert blossom more with the flowers of His love and truth!

Prayer

Recently, several young women became involved in a heated discussion about Christianity and Islam. Though they parted as friends, it was evident that they did not agree with each other. Only the Holy Spirit can turn hearts to Himself. Ask that those who do not believe will listen to His urgings. Ask that they will have dreams about the One who died for their sins.

Pearls are a great part of our history. Men dove for pearls in the Persian Gulf, risking their lives to collect the pearls, which could be sold to meet their needs. Ask that the people will hear about the “Pearl of Great Price” and the One who gave His life for them.

Road traffic accidents are very common here. Arabs seem to drive their cars as they used to drive their camels…… This leads to a shocking number of deaths in traffic. Pray for N. who drove his bus into a wall while dialling a number on his mobile phone, 30 people needed to be hospitalized. Pray that this will bring N to his knees, asking forgiveness from Jesus.

This country is very wealthy. With oil and natural gas revenues, the people of this land have plenty. What about their spiritual needs? Ask that they will hear about the Savior who gives salvation and inner peace, which no riches can give.

‘Hassan’, a Muslim, shared with a tentmaker how he had been living in sin in another country, until his father found out about it and brought him back home to the Gulf. He confessed that he still struggles, though less than before, and wished he could find a Bible in Arabic. When the tentmaker presented him with a New Testament some days later, he exclaimed with excitement, “Yes!” Pray for the power of God’s Word to lead him to salvation.

Testimony

Today I visited one of my friends. ‘Susan’ and I have had a friendship for several years. Years ago, she also had a friendship with Christians, and it did open her heart. Although she has a Bible, and has read in it, she still does not understand the message fully. I discover so much fear to even try to understand.

Some people have cut their relationship with Susan, because she is my friend…..she imagines what would happen if she would start to believe in Jesus.

But there are so many difficulties in her life. Today she poured out her heart to me…..Oh, may she call on the Lord in her need. Please pray for her to embrace a Saviour who can meet her deepest needs with His love.