December 31, 2013

Thank you!  Your prayer, personnel and financial support (Lottie Moon Christmas Offering and Cooperative Program), allowed IMB missionaries to “Sing to the LORD, praise his name, proclaim his salvation day after day” (Psalm 96:1-3) among Sub-Saharan African Peoples during 2013.  His glory and marvellous deeds are being declared by missionaries and by African Believers among our Unreached/Unengaged Peoples!

December 30, 2013

Praising God that thanks to Believers sending, praying and supporting workers* among Unreached/ Unengaged Peoples, the Toposa of South Sudan are receiving spiritual food!  Believers are coming to preach to them, they are hearing the full story of Christmas and they are believing (Romans 10:14). These new Believers were baptized on Christmas Eve!

*Which is why IMB missionaries are so thankful for the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering and the Cooperative Program!

December 29, 2013

Thanks to Believers sending, praying and supporting workers among people who have not had anyone bring the good tidings of Christ’s birth this Toposa child in South Sudan and other Unreached Peoples in our world are now not only enjoying physical food “with glad and sincere hearts” (Acts 2:46), but they are being… (More of this ongoing Lottie Moon story tomorrow.)

December 28, 2013

More of the Christmas celebration which happened among an Unreached People this year thanks to the prayer, personnel and financial (LMCO and the Cooperative Program) support of Southern Baptists.

…freshly made goat gravy! Did you know that an important skill for many missionaries working among Unreached Peoples, such as the Toposa of South Sudan, often includes knowing how to slaughter an animal which will be eaten “together with glad and sincere hearts” (Acts 2:46) after the story of our Saviour’s birth and life is shared?
(Look for more of this Christmas story tomorrow.)

December 27, 2013

More on how Christmas was celebrated in South Sudan, our world’s youngest country: On Christmas Eve and Day, believers among the Toposa (an Unreached People BEING reached) followed the example of the Acts 2 church. They met for worship (yesterday’s post) and they fellowshipped together. Their method of ‘breaking bread’ was to prepare lots of cooked cornmeal to serve with… (more tomorrow)
More on the South Sudan crisis with a set of maps which explains much about the current problems can be found at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-25523946.

December 26, 2013

On Christmas Eve, you prayed for Believers in South Sudan celebrating our Saviour’s birth and sharing His story with thousands of Toposa. As the newest country in our world faces a time of unrest, your prayers are being answered.* The celebrations began in Karkamuge on Christmas Eve with a worship time with adults and kids… (more tomorrow) *http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-25517966

December 25, 2013

The question asked in a holiday song: “Do They Know It's Christmas?” The answer for too many people: NO! But thanks to followers of Christ who desire to be "Totally His … heart, hands, voice,” the greatest gift of all, the gift of eternal life is being shared around our world with the billions of people who do not yet know of our Saviour, Christ the Lord.
What are the Global Needs? Answers found at http://www.imb.org/main/lottie-moon/details.asp?StoryID=11939&LanguageID=1709.

What is the situation among Sub-Saharan African Peoples? Answers found at  http://subsaharanafricanpeoples.imb.org/explore/sub/priority-people-groups. 

December 24, 2013

From missionaries in South Sudan: “Christmas day is approaching and the opportunity to tell the wonderful story of the birth of our Saviour to thousands of Toposa. Yes, I said thousands! This year, we will be in 4 locations giving this life changing message. Pray  for Lokoyo as he leads in Nudwa, John in Lotin, Joseph in Mogos, and me in Karkamuge. Ask God to give us His words and the Toposa to have ears to hear!” 

December 23, 2013

IMB missionaries need your gifts to the LMCO, your prayer support is also needed as we celebrate our Saviour’s birth. A recent prayer time of a missionary family in West Africa offers guidance: The young daughter prayed for a friend whose grandmother took her away from her father because he is a Christian. The father prayed for a youth rejected by family and friends because of his faith in Christ.

December 22, 2013

A story Lottie Moon would have loved from an IMB missionary in Madagascar: "While putting our 2 year old to bed last night she said: 'I need to tell our baby (6 days old) something important.' She went to her sister and said, 'Baby, love Jesus and honor God with all your heart.' I said, 'That is important, thank you for telling her that.' She said, 'Yep, I love Jesus with all my heart.'”

December 21, 2013

From West Africa:  Thanks to your gifts to the Cooperative Program and the LMCO, we are sharing God’s Word with the Jola-fonyi people… You allow us to fulfill God’s call by sharing Bible stories on the radio, encouraging and discipling secret believers,  traveling to villages sharing God’s word and enlisting churches to partner with us to adopt a village to evangelize. 

December 20, 2013

12 Days of Lottie: Because You Give* – Mini-stories (with a few downloadable posters) sharing twelve of the overwhelming “medical, physical, evangelical and spiritual needs found in Sub-Saharan Africa” and how your “gifts to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering are helping meet those needs.”  * http://subsaharanafricanpeoples.imb.org/resources/sub/12-days-of-lottie

December 19, 2013

From workers in South Africa: The Lottie Moon Christmas Offering “allows us to be here and share the Good News of Christmas the whole year through.  We are thankful for you who give through the Cooperative Program and the LMCO.” Those hearing and sharing the Good News include these kids at a Sunday School party in Soweto! 

December 18, 2013

Because you give to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering, workers in Senegal can share this praise: Three radio stations in three different villages are broadcasting Bible stories twice a week in Jola-fonyi. Jola people are hearing God's word and we pray their hearts will be ready to accept Jesus as their Savior. 

September 17, 2013

Update #2 from last Tuesday’s (10th) thank you from new workers: “We had a good language evaluation last week and will move to our place of service in February! Pray for continued progress with the language. Thanks for giving to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering – those gifts prepare and allow us the funds to share truth with those who have not heard!”

December 16, 013

Update from last Tuesday's (10th) thank you for the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering from new workers: “We are thankful again for our medical care provided thanks to the LMCO! Our youngest son has malaria and typhoid. Pray for healing and strength for him and for protection from illness for the rest of the family.”

December 15, 2013

Lottie Moon would have loved how three Missionary Kids were recently “Totally His… heart, hands and voice.” After their Mom read a book at a Baptist preschool in Portuguese about a duck, they sang with the kids, gave them ‘duck’ masks to colour and admired their art work, while praising God for the work he is doing among the Unreached Peoples of Mozambique!

December 14, 2013

From IMB workers: Last year, your giving to the LMCO enabled us to live in South Sudan, teaching the truth of Christ to many who had never heard and finding out about people groups, large and small, still needing to hear the truth. Your giving provided the heavy-duty truck and you fixed the air conditioner in it. THANK YOU! With temperatures of 110*+ -- well…

December 13, 2013

Thanks from IMB workers: Your gifts to the Cooperative Program and LMCO make it possible for us to work with the Deaf as we share the Best Story Ever Told.  Pray for a group meeting to craft and videotape 21 of His Stories in South African Sign Language.  Pray that all will have strength, focus, and His presence. 

December 12, 2013

Special Nudge to Action today for Sub-Saharan African Peoples: A NUDGE to interest you and your church in joining the work in our Father’s Harvest Field as an Engaging or Partnering Church committed to advancing evangelism and church planting among an Unreached People?  Learn more at http://subsaharanafricanpeoples.imb.org/connect/view/step-by-step.

December 11, 2013

From the heart of an IMB worker among Sub-Saharan African Peoples:  "We are grateful for those of you and your churches who participate in the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering.  We pray that this year's offering will enable our organization to send more workers to the harvest field!"

December 10, 2013

From new workers among SSAPeoples: We are thankful for the Lottie Moon Christmas offering … which enables us to be here and provides us with all of our needs… a truck that runs great (with AC!), a house over our heads, superb language training, and wonderful medical care for our family – which one of our kids has already needed!

September 9, 2013

“The best Christmas ever.”  That is how a Missionary Kid described his first Christmas living among Unreached Sub-Saharan African peoples! For a bit of joy, take a few moments to read how missionaries supported by the LMCO and local believers celebrate Christmas in South Sudan at http://subsaharanafricanpeoples.imb.org/stories/view/under-the-church-tree. 

December 8, 2013

In one year, the LMCO “and Cooperative Program enabled missionaries and their national partners to present the Gospel to more than 1,400,000 individuals; baptize more than 266,000 new believers; start more than 24,000 churches and engage 133 new people groups.” More good news to celebrate at http://www.imb.org/main/lottie-moon/details.asp?StoryID=11938&LanguageID=1709.

December 7, 2013

Another reason to give to the LMCO: Little is known about the Unreached Ngbandi-Ngiri people of the Democratic Republic of the Congo – Funds are needed by missionaries desiring to learn about these “people of the forest", their culture worldview, in order to make a viable plan to plant Gospel seeds among them. For more about the Ngbandi-Ngiri people, visit http://exploringtheland.blogspot.com/2013/12/ngiri-people-of-democratic-republic-of.html.

December 6, 2013

Lottie Moon relied on letters sent by boat to share what God was doing in His harvest field and how to join in His work. Praise God today for the internet and instant sharing of prayer praises and requests, such as how to pray for the peoples of South Africa as they mourn the death of Nelson Mandela at http://www.commissionstories.com/africa/stories/view/first-person-reflections-on-nelson-mandelas-legacy?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=farewell-madiba.

December 5, 2013

A different perspective of the LMCO from a young woman born on the mission field, whose parents’ salaries, housing, vehicle, budgets, etc. came from the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering and the Cooperative Program - A different perspective of what it means to be "Totally His … heart, hands, voice” -  A different perspective shared as a LOTTIE MOON SUCCESS STORY.*

* https://www.facebook.com/notes/bert-yates/a-lottie-moon-success-story/10153550112250223

December 4, 2013

Thanks to the support of the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering, a missionary ethnodoxologist is helping 6 Kenya Baptist Theological College voice students, each from a different people group, write new songs in their heart language.  Pray for them as they adapt one of their songs to include their 6 different languages, each with their own verse, to sing at their upcoming graduation!

December 3, 2013

Don’t miss An unlikely partnership, today’s featured story during the 2013 Week of Prayer for International Missionaries – the story of how a church in Georgia are embracing the Deaf Malagasy of Madagascar – the story of a U.S church who is committed to being “Totally His … heart, hands, voice.”

Make sure you visit the suggested links with more of this story, which includes No irony in hearing church reaching Deaf Malagasy and the multimedia story package on Warren Baptist and the Deaf Malagasy, Leap of faith.

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An unlikely partnership – http://www.imb.org/main/lottie-moon/weekofprayerview.asp?PageNavID=112&StoryID=11771&LanguageID=1709

WEEK OF PRAYER: No irony in hearing church reaching Deaf Malagasy  –  http://imb.org/main/news/details.asp?StoryID=12208&LanguageID=1709#.Up0QacRDuSo

Leap of faith – http://www.commissionstories.com/africa/stories/view/love-transcends-language-among-the-deaf-of-madagascar

December 2, 2013

From IMB workers among Sub-Saharan African Peoples: We are able to sit across the table from precious, patient nationals who are teaching us their heart language so we can share the gospel with those who have never heard... in a way they can understand because of your generosity in giving to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering. Thank you so, so much!

December 1, 2013

Thanks to the faithful giving of Southern Baptist to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering and Cooperative Program, Troy Lewis sees a difference in the lives he is able to touch. His special joy is watching those he touches, touching the lives of others as they share the love of Christ. Read more of Troy’s story at AIDS Stricken in Zambia: ‘Salvation to the least of these’* or view his story at ‘Salvation to the least of these.”**
* AIDS Stricken in Zambia: ‘Salvation to the least of these’ - http://www.imb.org/main/news/details.asp?StoryID=12628&LanguageID=1709#.UpooS8RDuSp
** ‘Salvation to the least of these” - http://vimeo.com/69090617

Thanksgiving Weekend

If you want to know what "a few of our nearly 5,000 missionaries... do for Thanksgiving, what they miss most about Thanksgiving in the U.S. and how you can pray for them during the holidays" and during the Lottie Moon Christmas Season, then take time this weekend to read the many short stories shared at THANKSGIVING THROUGH THE EYES OF IMB MISSIONARIES.*
*http://www.commissionstories.com/stories/view/thanksgiving-through-the-eyes-of-imb-missionaries1 .

November 28, 2013

A thank you from IMB workers among Sub-Saharan African Peoples to our supporters, our partners who enable us to do what God has called us to do in His harvest field:  “We thank OUR God every time we remember you.  In all our prayers for all of you, we always pray with joy BECAUSE of your PARTNERSHIP in the gospel” (Philippians 1:3-5).
Added thanks:  The moms of these two animated kids are the cooks at a Baptist Bible School in Sub-Saharan Africa, which means their sons are already hearing the gospel!

November 27, 2013

Shared by AFRICA STORIES during their Week of Thankfulness:  "Jerry was able to dig two wells for a village in South Sudan, which resulted in the apprehensive villagers trusting him. We praise God for letting us be a part of His plan for the people in that village.” 
For more words of gratitude from IMB missionaries during this Week of Thankfulness, visit https://www.facebook.com/africastories .

November 26, 2013

Why are IMB missionaries in Sub-Saharan Africa thankful for Southern Baptists? Because thanks to the support of Southern Baptists they get to share the Gospel with the 2,826 people groups in the 65 countries of Sub-Saharan Africa, which STILL includes more than 1,762 People Groups with a population of less than 2% evangelical Christians.

EXPLORE Priority People Groups of Sub-Saharan Africa - http://subsaharanafricanpeoples.imb.org/explore/sub/priority-people-groups .

November 25, 2013

As you give to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering, know that your missionaries are also very thankful for your prayers, as shared last week by a worker in Zambia: “We made it safely to Lusaka!!! Ran off the road by one big truck and 3 goats barely escaped death... But we are here! Thank you all for praying!”

November 24, 2013

Good News from Durban, South Africa, shared via FB* by worker supported by the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering: “Obedient in baptism. Naydene, from Tuesday night's Cell Group, was baptized this past Sunday at a pool in their housing complex. Cell Group families attended… with fellowship afterwards.”

*DUET – Durban Prayer Network - https://www.facebook.com/groups/397108007046775/

November 23, 2013

"Because of the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering, I am able to drive about 10 miles outside the city and meet with adults who have never had the chance to go to school. I get to teach them to read which grants many opportunities to share with them about Jesus. Mary P., Malawi ."  For more THANKS TO LOTTIE MOON stories, visit https://www.facebook.com/ZambeziClusterPrayerNeeds.

November 22, 2103

Praise shared this week by a worker in West Africa supported by the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering: “Two new brothers literally came out of nowhere to talk to us. It was so obvious that God was calling them out of darkness. After sharing with them they quickly believed and their eternities are now forever changed!”

November 21, 2013

“That’s just … exciting discipleship… to watch someone grow from being just a ‘churchy’ background kind of person to… being committed to obey even the call to go and be a witness among another people.” Take a few moments to read the testimony of a worker helping Kenyan students share their faith; an awesome view of how God is at work among Sub-Saharan African Peoples thanks to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering at http://www.commissionstories.com/africa/stories/view/southern-baptists-help-kenyan-students-share-their-faith!

November 20, 2013

Why give to this year’s Lottie Moon Christmas Offering?  BECAUSE “more than half the world’s people groups are still unreached and people are dying every day without ever having heard the Gospel.”  In Sub-Saharan Africa, of the 2,826 people groups, more than 1,700 are still among the unreached! 

For more quick information on why and how to give to Lottie, check out http://www.imb.org/main/lottie-moon/details.asp?StoryID=11952&LanguageID=1709.

November 19, 2013

Claim Psalm 5:11 today for God’s workers whose hearts’ desire is to live Psalm 96:1-3, to “Sing to the Lord, praise his name; proclaim his salvation… declare his glory among the nations”? Pray that they will find gladness as they take refuge in him and a renewed joy as they sense the protection he spreads over them.  

November 17, 2013

Report from the Songhai of West Africa:  “While discipling a believer in his village, a man from a neighbouring village passed by… a God ordained moment as this man had been waiting to hear our message for years!  He quickly believed.  As our other believer talked to him about baptism one day, he said, ‘Could I do that now?’  He was baptized and is growing in his faith.”

November 16, 2013

Photographer: A Missionary Kid who has just begun kindergarten in Sub-Saharan Africa.  Her dad’s comment:  “She captured this beautiful pic of the sun rising over our town on the way to school… before spontaneously bursting into song singing ‘How Great is Our God!’”

November 15, 2013

What do two pastors who embraced an Unengaged, Unreached People Group in West Africa tell others who want to embrace a people group?  “’Just go.’ Identify a UUPG, take a vision trip and… ask God if this is where He wants you to be. But buckle up… this journey will change you forever.”  Reading their testimony* may also change you forever!  

* http://www.commissionstories.com/africa/stories/view/pastors-partner-to-embrace-unengaged-unreached-people-group

November 14, 2013

SSAPeoples November Prayer Emphasis: The main sources of income of the Shila, who live in Zambia along Lake Mweru, is fishing and farming. Will you claim Mark 1:17 and Luke 10:2 for this people? Pray that those God is calling to be fishers of men and workers in His harvest field among the Shila will respond.

November 13, 2013

Update from the workers you prayed for Nov 4th as they moved to work among the Yao people of Mozambique: “We made it! Thanks for lifting us up to our mighty God who created this beautiful mountain that stands in our back yard. We don't have electricity but we have internet through cell phone towers. Gotta love it!”  

Added blessing of living in a house provided by LOTTIE MOON:  We have officially been woken up in the middle of the night by monkeys playing on the roof.

November 12, 2013

From Cape Town, South Africa: Another great day! One of our refugee men came for his first TEE (Theological Education by Extension) lesson. He had read for weeks so my husband taught 3 weeks in 1 day. The man said he learned more than he knew … He is excited… keep praying … Life is hard when you are a refugee.

November 11, 2013

When a disaster occurs in our world, do you want to help, but not know how to pray or what to do? One trusted source for guidance is IMB Connecting. Prayer nudges for those affected by Typhoon Haiyan and info on how you can donate towards the disaster response can be found at “Southern Baptists begin relief efforts”  at  http://www.imb.org/main/news/details.asp?StoryID=12555&LanguageID=1709#.UoA_1_msim5.

November 10, 2013

ANSWERED PRAYER: On March 20-23 and April 3, you prayed for a missionary baby who was very sick, requiring medical evacuation to the States. This update shared last week by Grady’s Mom is long, but if you prayed for him and his family, you will want to read of this miracle!

"Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits - who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion." Psalm 103:2-4
Grady will be one year old this week. And what a year it has been! I've come to this birthday with mixed feelings, honestly. Joy for his life and rejoicing over the fact that he is here with us. But every so often, I feel a tug at my heart as I remember the other children's first birthdays and sense the depth of difference. However, the Master has begun to fade these 'tuggings' as we've watched Grady come alive this last week. Smiles, goofy (and I mean tongue hanging out GOOFY) grins, chuckles, happy gurgles, coos and a whole bunch of toe-grabbing-roly-poly-wiggles have filled our house in spite of his recent illnesses.
And then, if that was not enough, God Himself met me at the cardiology clinic yesterday to give us Grady's very own birthday present. Healing. His heart is completely better. No explanation. Healed. The myopathy (thickening of the walls of the heart) was just not there. His last 3 heart scans had shown progressive thickening, but yesterday's scan showed a healthy heart. We'd heard that his heart was not as bad as we thought in April, but it turned out that while some things were better, we were almost immediately hit with more heart troubles after that news. But this is different according to his doctors. This is a 'normal' heart replacing a 'bad' heart. As proof, the clinic dropped us from the 2-3 month follow up schedule and said they would see us in 6-12 months from now!
My broken-hearted boy, who we were told only 6 months ago needed a heart transplant but wasn't eligible, who we were told could leave us at any time and we needed to prepare ourselves for the inevitable, our boy today got all but a clean bill of health from his cardiology team. Now how's that for a Mighty God and a very happy happy happy birthday?!?!?!