NAME August 2012ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA (A-dis AH-bah-bah) - Over the past several months, many volunteers have come to work in Addis Ababa. Thank you for lifting up these volunteers. The Father has answered your prayers, and many people have made a commitment to follow Jesus. Several women were able to watch the “Magdalena” film in Amharic in the home of a national partner, EB, and they are excited to learn more about the Bible. EB became a believer about a year and a half ago and has grown deep in her faith. She continues to count the cost of following Jesus under persecution. Will you please pray that EB will continue to grow deeper and deeper in her understanding of the Word and her commitment to Jesus? Will you pray for these new believers who want to learn more about the Bible? Please ask that this new group will be able to begin meeting regularly before the end of the month. May this group become a healthy, reproducing group that will mature into a church.
AMHARA OF ETHIOPIA (ahm-HAR-ah) - Several Amhara teachers and others in isolated, rural areas became believers during an April “prayer trek” through the highlands of Ethiopia. One follow-up trip was made, but not all the believers were contacted, as some were not at home. There is no phone communication to make appointments. Please pray that all the believers will be found and contacted on the next follow-up visit. Pray that they will hunger and thirst for God’s Word and will read His truths from the Bibles they received. Those who cannot read received solar-powered audio players containing Bible stories, the Gospel and more. Please pray that they will listen to the truths with others. Ask the Holy Spirit to strengthen, encourage and empower the believers, and pray that they will grow mightily in Jesus.
GURAGE OF ETHIOPIA (goo-ra-gay) - Shortwave radio broadcasts of chronological Bible stories can be heard each evening. In mud houses, families and neighbors gather after supper to listen to God’s Word. Pray for the team that produces these programs. They are dedicated but inexperienced, and they need to understand the Bible better themselves. Pray that they will study the Word and that the Holy Spirit will make it clear to them so they can express important truths in the programs.
HADRAMAUT YEMENI ARABS OF YEMEN (HAH-drah-maht YEH-muh-nee) - Students from all over the world attend religious schools in the Hadramaut, seeking to gain more information about Islam in a desire to become more devout. Pray for the students as well as the teachers, asking that as they study or teach, they will examine what they read and want to discuss it. When they read about Jesus, the Man who did miracles (as is written in the Quran), pray that they will desire to know more about Him. Ask that they will be given Bibles.
HIJAZI SAUDI ARABS OF SAUDI ARABIA (hi-JAH-zee) - This is the holy month of Ramadan for Muslims (July 20 through August 18). Many Arabs travel to Mecca to pray at the holy mosques in an effort to be closer to God. Near the end of Ramadan is the “Night of Power,” when many Muslims see visions and dream dreams. Pray that they will seek and find the one true God.
ISHELHAYN BERBERS OF NORTHERN AFRICA (ISH-el-haine) - Praise the Lord that more and more men are coming to faith! Pray that they will be faithful in sharing their faith with their unbelieving spouses and family members.
ISHELHAYN BERBERS OF NORTHERN AFRICA (ISH-el-haine) - Praise the Lord for the increasing number of believers! The work is at a stage where there are more new believers than the mature believers have time to disciple. Pray that leaders will be called out from among the local brothers and sisters who will faithfully disciple younger believers.
ISHELHAYN BERBERS OF NORTHERN AFRICA (ISH-el-haine) - Pray for boldness for brothers and sisters who are followers of Jesus during the month of fasting, Ramadan. Many of them will face challenges from family members. Pray that they will be bold in their witness during this time.
ISRAELI JEWS OF ISRAEL - The workers in Israel and their partners will be involved in outreaches the whole month of August. There will be a distribution of materials at summer concerts and New Age festivals. Each year thousands of Israelis go to these events, searching for peace and contentment. Each year hundreds are reached and some decisions are made. Please pray that this August, the harvest will be plentiful and many will hear the Lord knocking on the door of their heart. Pray for the stamina and courage of the workers amid growing opposition.
MIDDLE EASTERN ARABS OF THE UNITED KINGDOM - Please remember the students attending language school this month who are observing Ramadan. While their friends and family sleep during the daily fast, these students attend language classes. After sundown, the feasting, partying, and lengthy phone calls with family back home last through the night. Each day the students come to school sleep deprived as well as dehydrated and hungry. This affects attendance and performance, and increases behavior problems with which the school staff has to cope. Pray that the Father will be glorified in giving the staff increased patience and perseverance. Ask that opportunities will be provided for sharing the true fasting that sets the oppressed free (Isaiah 58).
NORTHERN AFRICAN AND MIDDLE EASTERN PEOPLES - Pray for great weather, safe travel, good health, smooth logistics, and pleasant accommodations for the personnel retreat. Also pray that those who are presenting will think clearly and present dynamically, and that those who are listening will have open ears and hearts. Ask for those who are coming from the United States to work with the children and youth to have an extra dose of patience for teaching while experiencing jet lag. Pray that lives will be changed and strategy impacted during this week together.
NORTHERN AFRICAN AND MIDDLE EASTERN PEOPLES - Faithful ones have traveled across Europe this summer in a desire to plant seeds that will spring forth with lasting fruit. Please lift up those who heard the “Creation to Christ” story during the evangelism and distribution projects. Many said that they had given up on religion and had lost hope, but they took the materials. Pray that they will read them and seek the Son with all their hearts. Praise Him for those who readily believed!
NORTHERN AFRICAN AND MIDDLE EASTERN UNENGAGED PEOPLES - The Ghomara are one of the smallest Berber tribes in North Africa, numbering 66,000 and all living in the hills of northern Morocco. Bilingual Berbers, they speak their Berber dialect, Ghomara, and Moroccan Arabic. As farmers, they raise grains, including wheat, corn, barley and rye. Where adequate water is available, vegetables like onions, peppers, tomatoes and potatoes are also grown. Their livestock include sheep, goats and chickens. These animals provide variety and greater nutrition in their diet, with meat and dairy products. In addition to farming and herding, the men also hunt. The women are housewives, living in mud-brick, flat-roofed houses. They care for the children, and during the harvest time, they also work in the fields and threshing floors. The Ghomara are male-dominated Berbers, tracing their family trees and leaving their inheritance through the men. To keep their group pure, they are not allowed to marry outside of their own group of Berbers. The Ghomara are primarily Muslims of the Malikite branch. Pray for more Ghomara to believe in Jesus despite the great risk of losing their lives. Praise God for the very few Ghomara followers of Jesus who do exist, and pray for their protection. Also ask for boldness for them to share Jesus with other Ghomara Berbers. And finally, pray for the complete Bible to be translated into their language so that more Ghomara will have the opportunity to believe. http://prayerthreads.imb.org
SAUDI ARABS OF SAUDI ARABIA (SAU-dee) - This summer, many Saudis and other Arabic speakers visiting European cities have received the gift of God’s Word in their language. Please pray that they will read and understand it, that they will be able to connect with believers for follow-up, and that they will receive the gift of life through the Savior.
SHAWIYA BERBERS OF NORTHERN AFRICA AND EUROPE (sha-WEE-yah BER-bers) - “Enter his gates with thanksgiving; go into his courts with praise” (Psalm 100:4, NLT). Give thanks to God that in answer to your prayers, N gave birth to a beautiful baby girl. Both mother and baby are healthy. Please pray that this wonderful gift of God will grow up in a home that appreciates our Father’s gracious gift on the cross. At present, N and her husband do not have a relationship with the One who came. Pray that their hearts will be open to the Son’s message and that they will seek to experience His hope and joy as they come to trust Him solely.
TUNISIAN ARABS OF TUNISIA (too-NEE-zhan) - Many Tunisians have family members who live in Europe but come “home” for vacation during Ramadan. A large number of these travelers pass through ports where they are offered Scripture portions and other materials. Please pray that they will accept these gifts and share them with their friends and extended families, and ask that the Word of God will be sown on good soil and bear much fruit.
NORTHERN AFRICAN AND MIDDLE EASTERN PEOPLES - A new couple arrived in June, and by early September, they will begin the strenuous and intense process of learning a new language. They have two young children who will also be transitioning into a new culture and language. Please pray that the Holy Spirit will work in their minds so they will learn and retain this new language, that the children will have a smooth and joyful transition, that the family will be able to find the food products necessary for their heath needs, and that the household will receive the rest necessary to thrive throughout this process. Ask that this couple will be able to meet a person from their focus people group who can be a bridge for them into the culture, and pray that this couple will meet a local believer from their people group who will embrace them, covenant to pray for them, and teach them valuable information for their future work.
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