December 31, 2012

Praising God for chameleons and other African critters which bring lots of joy to Missionary Kids! Thanking God for caring Southern Baptists who provided retreats (ending today) for Sub-Saharan African MKs - a time of focusing on God and fun times with other MKs.

Want a special look at life in Africa designed for kids of all ages?  MADALA*, a chameleon from Zambia, is a star of Africa Tales, a new website for those who want to explore missions in Africa!  *http://africatales.org/tails/madala/

December 30, 2012

Ready for a mini-vacation? If so, take a moment to visit an island where the palm trees sway and God is at work, with a tour guide who is praising God for letting her be a part of His work!

December 29, 2012

When did you “hear the Gospel for the first time”?  Listen to how one missionary relies upon the gifts given to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering to enable the Unreached Wolof People of West Africa to read and hear God’s Stories.

More Lottie Moon Stories at  http://www.imb.org/main/default.asp.

For information on MegaVoices, go to http://www.megavoice.com/

December 28, 2012

A different view of Africa, an unexpected view for many, which may include a roving chicken or goat, but no giraffe, lions or elephants! Take a few moments to view a bit of city life in Sub-Saharan Africa and the conflict between Christianity and traditional religions.

For more videos, stories and photo albums, visit AFRICA STORIES- Ancient Beliefs at http://www.africastories.org/one-life-matters/ancient-beliefs/

December 27, 2012

Continuing with a year-end review of how God is at work among Sub-Saharan African Peoples and how others can join His Work! "Take a 'behind the scenes' look at short-term missionaries using media to share about missions in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Video found at: http://www.africastories.org/hands-on-swaziland/video-hands-on-media/.  

For more on the HANDS ON program, check out: http://www.thetask.org/templates/System/details.asp?id=44564&PID=723638

December 26, 2012

Ever thought about this fact: New Believers in Unreached/ Unengaged People Groups have no worship songs “using their traditional music styles.” Take a few minutes to share the joy of new Believers in Madagascar as they “create their very first scripture songs."

Video found at: http://www.africastories.org/the-harvest/video-scripture-songs/ WHICH includes several great photo albums!

December 25, 2012

Sharing "A Christmas Greeting" from AFRICA STORIES - Our gift to you for supporting God's work in Sub-Saharan Africa!

If you are unable to easily view the video, you can find it at: AfricaStories — Sharing God's Passion for the Peoples of Africa

December 24, 212

Many people will attend Christmas Eve services tonight, including a small group of Songhai Believers in West Africa who have never celebrated our Saviour’s birth with fellow Christians! Pray that this will a time of joy and strengthening for these new Believers of an Unreached Sub-Saharan African People!  For more on reaching the Songhai, check out: WWW.SEEKINGTHESONGHAI.BLOGSPOT.COM

December 23, 2012

One missionary family is thankful for your doing YOUR part in keeping them on the field so they can do THEIR part of God’s Work among the Unreached Lugbara People of Eastern Africa. They are so thankful that they prepared a video to “Thank you for giving to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering”!

December 22, 2012

A team of cookie-baking Christian workers need your prayers!  On a hot tropical African day, they delivered cookies and a copy of the Christmas story to neighbours  people of another faith.  Pray that their neighbours will enjoy the cookies and read the story of peace and hope!

December 21, 2012

A missionary in South Africa needed lots of energy after telling the Christmas story to two groups of orphans/ vulnerable kids.  One group made Christmas cards, learned to play musical chairs and ate pizza.  The second group headed to McDonalds for the playground and Happy Meals!

December 20, 2012

In December, missionaries often ask for prayers as they celebrate Christmas miles and miles away from loved ones. Pray also for missionary families who must be away from their African ‘homes’ this Christmas – those who are currently in the States due to illnesses.

December 19, 2012

New Believers of an Unreached People in West Africa have no Christmas traditions. They do have the greatest story ever told, which includes bits about shepherds, which they understand – They are shepherds! Pray for God’s blessings as they plan ways to worship during the Christmas season.

December 18, 2012

From a missionary in Sub-Saharan Africa: "I want to thank you for those without a voice, the orphan, the one suffering with HIV/AIDS, and the people groups who have yet to be engaged with the gospel of Jesus Christ. Your prayers and your giving to the Lottie Moon Christmas offering make it possible for missionaries to be God's heart, His hands, and His voice to those hurting around the world."

December 17, 2012

Christmas in parts of Africa: Chickens being delivered atop cars, on bikes, etc., and promotions with grand prizes of goats!  Pray that as African Believers celebrate their Saviour’s birth, they will be strong witnesses of their Father’s gifts of peace and joy!

December 16, 2012

Last week a dream came true for IMB missionaries among the Being Reached Samburu People – with the support of the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering, three Samburu Believers travelled with a missionary to share the Gospel with their Unreached Neighbours,  the Ilchamus People! (Photo: Ilchamus Grandmother with her grandkids ‘holding’ Lottie!)

December 15, 2012

Did you know that many of the Unreached Peoples of Sub-Saharan Africa live along the Indian Ocean?  Did you know that the Lottie Moon Offering helps Believers reach these Peoples, who are often unsuccessfully searching for peace and joy through other faiths?

December 14, 2012

Finale answer: What does partnership mean to you?* “Partnership is a God-sized process… it demonstrates how God connects missionaries and churches with lost people who need… the Gospel.  All the glory goes to Him… God is moving and the best is yet to come!”  *Iowa Baptist Missions” Nov 2012

That is Lottie Digges Moon posing with the goats and the young Lugbara young women learning to share their Good News!

December 13, 2012

“What does a partnership mean to you?” Missionary’s 3^rd reply in the “Iowa Baptist Missions” (Nov 2012):  “Partnership brings an intentional focus on lostness …. creating an environment in their church for specific training to prepare workers to invest their lives among the Lugbara for two weeks or longer… (allowing) missionaries to multiply our efforts because new workers are being trained year round.”

The missionary’s 1^st and 2^nd replies were shared earlier this week.  More information on how to be an Engaging Church, at http://www.imbafrica.org/partneringchurch/index.php

December 12, 2012

“What does a partnership mean to you?” Missionary’s 2^nd reply in the “Iowa Baptist Missions” (Nov 2012):  “Partnership is about relationships. Partner churches are choosing to walk alongside us to see what we see and that brings encouragement, creative dialogue and ongoing deepening relationships with nationals.”  

Look for the missionary’s 3^rd reply tomorrow – the 1^st was shared on the 10th!  More information on how to be a partnering church, at http://www.imbafrica.org/partneringchurch/index.php

December 11, 2012

A Journeyman praises God for opportunities to be her Father’s Heart, Hands and Voice while auditing classes at an African university. Pray for wisdom as she interacts with professors and students of other or NO faiths and makes/disciples/mentors Believers!

December 10, 2012

“What does a partnership mean to you?” Missionary’s reply in the IOWA BAPTIST MISSIONS (Nov 2012): “First, partnership is about prayer. We depend on committed, well informed churches who understand our people and our daily struggles to keep lifting us up in prayer.” 

Look for the missionary’s 2nd and 3rd reply later this week! More information on how to “Embrace the Ends of the Earth” at http://www.imbafrica.org/peoplegroups/

December 9, 2012

Teaching adjectives and adverbs is one way Believers in Cape Town seek to BE HIS HEART, HIS HANDS, HIS VOICE.  Their students, refugees from places such as Rwanda, Burundi, and the DRCongo, must learn English to get a job or attend local schools in South Africa.  

December 8, 2012

Unique opportunities to Be His Heart, His Hands, His Voice by connecting kids and adults with missions are found at AFRICA TALES - http://africatales.org/.  Madala (a green Chameleon), Suloliko (a Zebra Duiker wearing purple), and their friends are waiting to guide kids in loving and praying for the peoples of Africa!

December 7, 2012

Did you know that you can still travel from ‘here to Timbuktu’? A great city in the ancient Islamic Songhai Empire, Timbuktu is now a regional capital of Mali. Your prayers are needed today as “a new kingdom is being built among the Songhai” People of central West Africa, so take a few minutes to read “Everything Jesus says, that’s what I want to do” – http://www.imb.org/main/news/details.asp?StoryID=10902&LanguageID=1709

December 6, 2012

“Pray for boldness for believers in persecution as they proclaim Christ.”  But how do we pray for those facing a “worst persecution”?  Find answers at BELIEVERS IN PERSECUTION – http://www.imb.org/main/pray/page.asp?StoryID=10718&LanguageID=1709.

Make sure you view the “WANT TO LEARN MORE?” links at the bottom of the "Believers in Persecution" page!

December 5, 2012

Thanks to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering one new worker has funds to study the difficult language of her Unreached People and funds to travel to the homes of new friends among her People, where she meets even more People in need of hearing the stories of her Father!

December 4, 2012

Take a break from your busy day and take a safari to visit the Maasai People of Tanzania!  Google Map is your tour guide as you pray over two areas where the IMB Maasai Team has shared the gospel! “Maasai Virtual Prayer Walk” is found at http://t.co/FiFhF1oo.

You can learn more at the TZ Maasai Connection blog at http://www.tzmaasaiconnection.blogspot.com/ or look for TZ Maasai Connection on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/groups/116586508383372/?fref=ts

December 3, 2012

"Literacy rates in the countries that make up the Zambezi Cluster* vary from 51 % to 80 %. These rates are much lower in the rural areas. Pray for literacy classes in our cluster to be a blessing to all who attend. Pray that the Christian students who attend will grow in their knowledge and love for the Lord Jesus. Pray that those who are not Christians would hear, understand, and desire to believe and follow Jesus."

* Shared by the Zambezi Cluster/IMB (Angola, Malawi, Mozambique, and Zambia) at https://www.facebook.com/ZambeziClusterPrayerNeeds. IF you’re not on Facebook, simply click CLOSE on the lower corner of the big square that appears, if you are on FACEBOOK, log in and hit LIKE!

December 2, 2012

Gifts to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering enable workers to define reached, unreached and unengaged people groups.  Do you know why this is needed?  What is the difference between reached, unreached and unengaged people groups? Find the answers at “Research for a Reason” at http://www.africastories.org/the-road-less-traveled/research-for-a-reason/.
Praise God that the little boy in the photo is a member of a Reached Sub-Saharan African People who are learning to reach their People and neighboring People Groups!

December 1, 2012

WORLD AIDS DAY - Would you like to read a success story of how Believers in Sub-Saharan Africa are oBEdiently serving as HIS HEART, HANDS and VOICE by helping school children affected by AIDS? If so, take a minute or two to go to  School Exercise Books – Helping children affected by AIDS at http://www.baptistglobalresponse.com/projects/view/school_exercise_books

November 30, 2012

Want to hear/view stories of how lives are renewed as Believers oBEdiently serve as our Father's HEART, HANDS, and VOICE? Then you want to visit Africa Stories and "A Life Restored in Africa" at http://www.africastories.org/a-life-renewed/interactive/

November 29, 2012

Spotted yesterday in a Sub-Saharan African rural home! How many Bible stories do you remember about a cup, water, light or fire? One of the reasons why Bible Storying is an incredible tool for sharing our Father’s Good News with the Unreached Peoples of Africa!

Want to know more? Take three minutes to view BIBLE STORYING WITH THE NAFANA at http://www.imb.org/main/downloads/flashvideos.asp?mvid=4801&mvidext=flv

November 28, 2012

A desire to obey God and Be His Heart, Hands and Voice in the slums of Nairobi, led to SEMA (Swahili for to say, to speak) LEATHERWORKS offering employment to men dedicated to evangelism, discipleship and church planting.  For more on this special ministry, go to http://www.semaleatherworks.com/

November 27, 2012

Request from a family seeking “to be obedient, to BE His heart, hands and voice” among a Sub-Saharan African Unreached People: Pray for guidance as we minister in villages facing difficult times - no electricity or water, limited petrol, failed crops and rampant witchcraft.

November 26, 2012

“I want to be a missionary when I grow up!  Is it fun… how dangerous is it?”  A missionary to EAST AFRICAN PEOPLES answer: “I also wanted to be a missionary when I was in the 5th grade.  It can be dangerous, but it IS FUN to Be His Heart, Hands and Voice!”

November 25, 2012

Day 14 THANKS from Africa Stories: "New to the area, our women’s prayer retreat was special in many ways. When women pray together, you hear their hearts. Thanks to those who provided funds so we could meet, encourage one another and return to the work God called us to do." - Jeri of East Africa
*** Africa Stories is found at http://www.africastories.org/

November 24, 2012

Nudge to do a bit of research today!  Would you like to 'experience' languages spoken by Unreached Peoples? The above is the Bible used by the Lugbara People. World Scriptures reports that: "Lugbara is spoken by 488,000 people: 288,000 in Democratic Republic of Congo, 200,000 in Uganda."

For more about the Lugbara and other Peoples, check out:

http://www.worldscriptures.org/index2.html or

http://www.joshuaproject.net/languages.php?rol3=lgg or

START YOUR OWN SEARCH on the internet!

Would you like to hear the Bible in another language?  Check out  http://worldbibles.org/language_detail/eng/lgg/Lugbara !

Thanksgiving Day, November 22, 2012

Thanksgiving greetings from East Africa, with a special thanks from the IMB women who recently received the gift of Prayer Retreats in their sub-clusters thanks to the financial gifts of Southern Baptists in the States! For a view joyful scenes of what added to one of those retreats, check out Thanksgiving - Psalm 118 at https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151505000150130.597467.685050129&type=1&l=375eb07f30. (Can be viewed by non-users of Facebook.)

November 21, 2012

As a missionary played with an East African toddler, his Mom said, “May I share my praise with you? When I was pregnant, I learned that I am HIV positive.  I’m praising God today because my doctor told me last week that my son is HIV negative!”

November 20, 2012

What missionaries among Unreached Peoples in South Sudan did BEFORE going to ‘church’ last Sunday: Treated a child spit on by a cobra, medicated two people for malaria, took a sick lady home, hosted a government official, and much, much more!

November 19, 2012

A missionary in East Africa is “thankful for mosquito nets! Those little creatures love me…they are out there, wanting in…the net protects me from their bite as I sleep… John 17 shares Jesus' desire for God to protect us from the evil one…looking for someone to devour.”  

November 18, 2012

“Foxes have dens and birds have nests” Matthew 8:20.  Pray for insight and wisdom as new missionaries to Sub-Saharan Africa prepare their nests, homes where they can rest and replenish their strength as they minister among peoples with differing cultures and traditions.

November 17, 2012

IMB workers and Kenyan Baptist leaders once made a survey trip to a village in southern Sudan, but doors did not open for work. Yesterday, one of those missionaries took new IMB workers to meet one of those Kenyan Baptist leaders, who continued praying as his church ministered to Sudanese refugees. Praise God for this new couple who will soon BE our Father’s Heart, Hands and Voice in the little village in South Sudan that was ‘surveyed’ 25 years ago!

November 16, 2012

“Amazing grace! How sweet the sound...” What did one missionary find AMAZING this week? What sounds did he hear at the time? Six people praising God as they were baptized as the waves of Indian Ocean splashed, crashed and swirled around them!

November 15, 2012

After falling into an overflowing birdbath, the bird flapped and fussed for minutes! Claim God’s guidance and peace for Believers in Sub-Saharan Africa who are overwhelmed by mire and deep waters as they lead all on earth to praising Him. (Psalm 69:14, 34)

November 14, 2012

“Ran into some high water…Lots of really rough patches.”  Posted by missionaries to Sub-Saharan Africa driving to their home among an Unreached People. PRAY!  These comments also describe what they face as they work at REACHING the Samburu  and other Peoples.

November 13, 2012

"I am the light of the world.” (John 8:12).  Millions and millions of people are celebrating “The Festival of Lights” today.  Clues to how to join them in praying for the “light of life” can be found at http://www3.kumc.edu/diversity/ethnic_relig/diwali.html

November 12, 2012

FACT: Over 50% of Sub-Saharan African peoples are considered unreached. FACT: God is at work among the peoples of Africa! QUESTION: Do you want to be a part of His love and salvation reaching these peoples? ANSWERS shared at http://imbafrica.org/!

November 11, 2012

Do you know how to take/make a “vision trip”? Or, what does it mean to “adopt an unreached people group”?  Members of a Baptist Church in California know and they are eager to explain it to you at  http://www.africastories.org/the-road-less-traveled/the-vision-trip/#story

November 10, 2012

To view today's photo, go to "A New Orphan Cared For" and learn how Baptist Global Response is “Connecting people in need with people who care” and how you can be one of those “people who care.”
---   ---   ---   ---   ---
http://www.baptistglobalresponse.com/news/view/a_new_orphan_cared_for

November 9, 2012

Special nudges for a few days. Do you want to know how God is at work in our world and how you can join in?  One easy way is to keep up with the current news.  If you have a heart for Sub-Saharan Africa, check out ALL AFRICA, an on-line newspaper, at http://allafrica.com/.

November 8, 2012

Two thousand years ago, Jesus was watched closely as He served His Father. Today, God’s children are watched closely as they serve Him. Pray that the actions of Believers in Sub-Saharan Africa will guide others to knowing and glorifying our Father.

November 7, 2012

“Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another." (Hebrews 10:25 NIV)  Pray for encouragement for Believers among Unreached Peoples, those who lack opportunities to fellowship with other Believers.

November 6, 2012

Ephesians 5:16-20 missionary challenge:  Do I make “the most of every opportunity?” Do I seek “the Lord’s will?”  Do I allow His spirit to fill me?  Do I “sing and make music in (my) heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God... for everything?”

November 5, 2012

"Talked with my hubby, who is at a meeting in a beautiful place. As we talked, he said, 'There is a zebra walking around me. No, TWO!' Amazing sights we get to see, up close and personal. Thank you God for allowing us to be in East Africa."

November 4, 2012

The little one is not alone; he is following his big brother! Pray that mature Believers will respond to God’s call to teach, disciple and guide new followers of Christ in Sub-Saharan Africa, especially new Believers among Unreached People Groups.

November 3, 2012

Heart throbs of a missionary in Sub-Saharan Africa:   “Darkness surrounds us.  Poverty is everywhere. AIDS is killing people left and right.  Clean water is hard to find.  Progress is so slow. Reminders of why we are here.  May they see the light in us.”

November 2, 2012

Note sent ‘home’ from new missionaries to East Africa: “It never fails - when it has been one of those ‘Boy, I miss home days’, an encouraging letter arrives… exactly what we needed. Thank you. You still love and pray for us, and that is enough!”

November 1, 2012

“What is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them?” (Psalm 8:4) Praising God today for the perks and joys He provides daily to Believers in Sub-Saharan Africa, assurances of His love and concern.  (Yesterday's guest at-the-window beside-the-desk of a missionary after a very tiring day.)

October 31, 2012

Spotted yesterday in an East African grocery store. A missionary’s reaction: Never seen this in our part of the world AND it is on the shelf at the right time, not around another ‘holiday’ which usually happens!
Her next thoughts: Thanks to TV/DVD’s and travel, people are learning of others' special days. Another tool Believers can use! The shop owners and those of other faiths love to discuss American culture, which can easily lead to more important discussions!