July 31, 2014

From workers sharing God’s love in Lesotho: “The grain harvest in many surveyed villages are poor. The people estimate only enough corn to feed their family for 3-4 months… beans were destroyed in a hail storm as the plants began to make the beans. The people have…no options. PRAY as we continue to survey the needs of the villages and seek guidance in how to help the people on the mountain Basotho.”

July 30, 2014

From Madagascar: Tonight and tomorrow night (30th /31st), we will show the Jesus Film in the city of Ambanja, with about 30,000 people without an evangelical church. The two known believers in this city are excited and hoping this will be the catalyst for an evangelical church start. Pray for many to gather and for the Holy Spirit to work in the hearts of the people as they hear and see the gospel.

July 29, 2014

Answered prayer/ July 21^st prayer request for journey of “3 little ones and a pregnant lady”:  “Our trip was blessed. Four borders and more than two dozen police check points… we were stopped only 4 or 5 times and they were always friendly and waved us through with no hassles. The kids travelled amazingly well and the car had no problems over the three days! The Lord heard your prayers for us! Thank you!”

July 28, 2014

From workers in West Africa:  “As the new moon appears, the Muslim month of Ramadan will end with a day of prayer and feasting (Korite) somewhat like our Thanksgiving. People go around greeting households and eating a bit at each house. Pray that we will have opportunities again this year to visit neighbors and share Bible stories. Pray that those hearing would know that these stories are truth."

July 27, 2014

From workers ready for their first Stateside Assignment: “Say a prayer for our daughter please? Her sweet compassionate heart kept her up late last night concerned about who will take care of her toys, Nala (our dog), her school room and house while we go on leave. Lots of changes for a 3 year old brain to try and figure out... so thankful to be able to talk to her about the never changing God we serve!”

July 26, 2014

Posted by worker in Mozambique after an encounter “with a hole in a sidewalk at the bottom of some uneven steps” resulted in a shattered elbow: “Because of Southern Baptists' faithful giving through Cooperative Program and Lottie Moon Christmas Offering, the IMB is providing me with excellent medical care (flight to hospital/specialists in another country, surgery, rehab, etc.). Thanks,friends!”

July 25, 2014

Request from workers among the Jola-fonyi team in Senegal: “The rains are late in coming to… our area. The animals do not have anything to eat and the farmers are not able to get the crops planted. Please pray that God would send rain and that the people would realize that this comes from God and that they would thank Him for the rain.”

July 24, 2014

Observers pray earnestly throughout the month of Ramadan, but during the last 10 days, especially tonight, the 27th night, many pray with a special fervour. On this Night of Power, the holiest night of the Muslim year, many expect God to respond in extraordinary ways, including dreams and visions. Pray for a movement of the Holy Spirit on those praying tonight and for revelations of the one, true God.

July 23, 2014

From Mozambique: “Just made a scouting trip close to the Tanzania border. Besides seeing African animals roaming the bush, we met chiefs of villages where most people follow another faith. We were invited to come and teach the Bible! Pray that many doors will open for the preaching of the gospel and that the Lord will take away the darkness and shed his light on the Yao people.”

July 22, 2014

The heart’s desire of many workers in Africa: “Pray that Satan’s stronghold on the culture of our people will be broken and they will surrender their lives to Jesus, unafraid of what others could do to them. Pray that new Christians will not turn to the ancestors as they have done in the times of trouble but will turn to the Lord. Pray for true revival to take place in the hearts of Christians in Sub-Saharan Africa.”

July 21, 2014

Request from Mozambique: “We will begin our three day drive to South Africa tomorrow morning to attend a meeting and await our baby (due late August). We have four borders to cross and many police stops to navigate with three little ones and a pregnant lady, so we would greatly appreciate your prayers for a safe, uneventful, peaceful and protected journey.”

July 20, 2014

Report from July 6th: “It was a great day of worship for the Vuvulane and Mountain Baptist churches in Swaziland. We met… for a time of worship, partaking of the Lord’s Supper, dedicating the Mountain Baptist Church’s temporary structure to the Lord and witnessing 8 individuals being baptized!! Pray these new baptized believers will totally commit their lives to following Jesus and the Christian way!”

July 19, 2014

Update from workers among the Toposa (South Sudan) who shared an urgent prayer request (June 5th) for intense spiritual warfare: "Prayers answered! A new family have arrived to serve among harvest field of the Toposa. God’s power is being shown – More Toposa have been baptized! Praising God for the arrival of lots and lots of needed rain – Pray the Toposa understand this is a blessing from God.”

July 18, 2014

Praise God for Believers among Sub-Saharan African Peoples who “Sing to the LORD… praise his name; proclaim his salvation day after day.” Pray for peace, comfort and protection for those facing problems because they have declared “his glory… his marvelous deeds” to peoples who do not truly understand that “great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; he is to be feared above all gods.” (Psalm 96:1-4 NIV)

July 17, 2014

They brought the Bible “to life through storytelling to both literate and oral learners. This became their full-time ministry and a part of Jeff’s legacy in Africa.” Take a few minutes to read* of the impact of a missionary who “studied, shared and lived a life that glorified and honored God to the end,” a teacher of God’s Word who taught others to do the same “through the oral Bible storying ministry.” 

* Storytelling missionary to Zambia dies from cancer -  http://subsaharanafricanpeoples.imb.org/stories/view/zambia-missionary-dies

Photos: Zambia churches learn Scripture through stories  -  http://www.commissionstories.com/africa/photos/view/zambia-churches-learn-scripture-through-stories/1

Story: Bible becomes real for non-readers in Zambia -      http://www.commissionstories.com/africa/stories/view/bible-becomes-real-for-non-readers-in-zambia

July 16, 2014

From worker very thankful for her supporters’ prayers for her safety: “Where I live is not the safest of cities (by a long shot) and Google Maps is not the pro when it comes to Africa. There are SO many roads that change names… roads that suddenly end, and there are no warnings about ‘more dangerous’ and ‘more safe’ routes. I’m thankful for a God that protects me constantly, even in precarious situations!”

July 15, 2014

From South Africa: “Our International World Changers team has come and gone… Bible stories, balloons, block parties, Salvations, sun and singing... only a bit of what this great group did… Pray for us as we follow up on over 50 people who either repented (Praise God) or want a visit… Pray we would find them…and encourage and share more of the Good News of Jesus."

July 14, 2014

“I was blessed with the fish head at lunch today and it was delicious.” – Missionary’s Facebook post. The soup was only a minor blessing that day! 20 new Believers responded as his national partners shared the truth of Jesus among the Unreached Sakalava People. Worker's response: “God is working and moving and showing His power in Northwestern Madagascar and I’m so humbled to be a part of it!”

July 13, 2014

No African team is playing tonight, but around midnight, hundreds of thousands of viewers in Africa will be excitedly watching the final game of the 2014 FIFA World Cup. Thank God for all the Believers around our world who used the month long World Cup as an opportunity to share their Father’s love and salvation. “Pray that Gospel seeds planted… will bear fruit long after the World Cup ends”* today. * http://www.commissionstories.com/americas/stories/view/pray-daily-for-brazil-during-fifa-world-cup

July 12, 2014

A woman’s life in rural area of Zambia is tough. At four or five years old, girls start carrying water, carrying babies on their back, working in the kitchen and other duties. Many never go to school, and others stop at an early age. Pray for a pastor’s wife who is learning to read and write so she can teach other women about her Jesus. Pray also for the non-believers who have been invited to learn with her. (Shared by  https://www.facebook.com/ZambeziClusterPrayerNeeds.)

July 11, 2014

Shared on Kenya Baptist Theological College’s FB page: “Sometimes God blesses us in unscheduled ways… at the last minute (after their planned mission trip became impossible) Nairobi Baptist Student Ministries (university) and a FOCUS team spent 2 nights at the college, going door to door each day. Fifteen persons accepted Christ in one nearby village! We like the way God plans unplanned agendas.”

July 10, 2014

Many stories about South Sudan appeared on the internet yesterday, the nation’s third birthday; stories reporting the hardships and pain experienced since independence; stories of the “war, poverty and famine… of hopelessness.” But one story* offered more.  It spoke of life and of hope.  It is the story of an IMB worker who believes “that things can, and will, get better… through changed hearts and minds.”

* A Nation’s Third Birthday/ Africa Stories (IMB) - http://www.commissionstories.com/africa/stories/view/imb-missionary-reflects-on-the-third-birthday-of-south-sudan

A story reporting the hardships - South Sudan economy 'in intensive care' as famine looms (BBC News) - http://www.bbc.com/news/business-28225098

July 9, 2014

 “Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you… have refreshed the hearts” of missionaries” (Philemon 1:7).  TANGI (Namibia), ASANTE (East Africa), NAA GOODEE (Nigeria) GIYABONGA (South Africa), THANK YOU to  kids in Sunday Schools, mission and VBS groups, their teachers and others who send notes of encouragement to workers among Sub-Saharan African Peoples!

For more ways say ‘Thank you’ in Africa, visit http://goafrica.about.com/od/africanlanguages/a/thanks.htm. 

July 8, 2014

Missionary’s praise for the spread of God’s work in Madagascar: After a fandevana (burial), an old man from another village asked what project the vazaha (foreigner) guest did. A local man, a Believer, replied: His project is the Gospel. We now have a church in our village. Old man: Can he come to start a church in my village? Believer: You don’t need the vazaha. We can come! We can teach you the gospel.

July 7, 2014

From workers in Swaziland: “The volunteer team conducted homestead visitation and BGR bucket distribution the last couple of days. On one homestead they met an elderly man. He did not have AIDS or was terminally ill but after talking with him, they realized he didn’t need a bucket but he did need Jesus. After the Gospel was shared the team was thrilled when the man accepted Jesus as his Savior!”
More from Baptist Global Response at https://gobgr.org/projects/project_detail/hospice-kits.

July 6, 2014

Posted last week by worker: “Love ALL the LIKES on my new elephant FB cover and profile picture, but what I really want is lots of people viewing / hitting LIKE on the SSAPeoples page! Lots more people are needed to LIKE/ SHARE that page so even more people can be nudged to join God's work in Africa via praying, giving and serving!” RESPONSE: 86 new LIKES on the page - passing 1000 LIKEs! THANK YOU!!!

July 5, 2014

Pray today for Believers sharing their Father’s story with those who do not speak their heart language. Pray also for those of another or no faith who have an opportunity to learn of God’s Word, truths and peace as they travel. (Photo captured in a Sub-Saharan African hotel where a Qua-ran; German, French and English trilingual New Testament; and English Holy Bible are available in a bedside drawer.)

July 4, 2014

From Mozambique: “God has an awesome sense of humor! This week at Big Mosque Village, I taught of Abraham's big test. We reached the point where Isaac was tied to the altar and Abraham raised the knife. At that very moment a baby goat wandered into our class bawling for his mama.  My national partner said, ‘God sent a substitute to take Isaac's place.’ The point was made so memorably nobody will ever forget!”

July 3, 2014

From Zimbabwe: “A new ladies’ Bible study group in Mpopoma area of Bulawayo has grown to 11 as the ladies share the stories they learn and bring friends and neighbors…  One week, Mrs. P excitedly said she told the story to her neighbor and pointed to the woman next to her and said, 'Here she is! She wants to learn the stories too!' Pray for this group to be bold in sharing God’s Word in their community.”

July 2, 2014

From workers among the Yao People: “My husband has discipled A for five months.  A’s keenness to study and share the Word is an encouragement.  Last month, he led another man to the Lord!  As we prepare to travel for the birth of our new little one, pray that A will be equipped to lead the church.  Pray that the Lord would gift A in teaching the Word and in shepherding the Lord’s sheep.”  

July 1, 2014

It is that time of the year when “the sun rises high across the African continent and a long, languid voice from mosques reach across the land, calling Muslims to the season of Ramadan, a month-long annual fast.” Take a minute or two to view RAMADAN IN AFRICA* which can help you pray during this time when “many Muslims have come to know Christ… (as) they are seeking spiritual truth.”
* http://www.commissionstories.com/africa/photos/view/islam-in-africa/1