THIS WEEKS PRAYER ITEMS
Thank you for praying for the people and work of GC3.
Prayer is critical to all we and our mission partners do in our ministries so thank you in joining us in praying through the items we provide each week. The task of presenting the Gospel is far from over; there remains vast number of people globally who have yet to hear of God’s love.
Ashley (Day 11)
Last week Rudi turned 10 and next week Babus will be 11 years old. Pray God's blessings over them and that they would know how much Jesus loves them. Rudi has had a rough life but is a sweet boy under the tough exterior, and Babus has not had a lot of parental affection over the years. Her mother is not in the picture, and her dad leaves her in the care of others. Babus is bright and has potential to make it through school but the closer she inches to puberty the more intense the cultural pressure is to get married young. Pray God would protect her and make a way for her to stay in school. Pray that God would help Rudi to defy all odds and all expectations that he is just 'bad', pray that God would turn his life around and that he and Babus both would be beautiful and vibrant lights in their community.
As I continue my studies, I learn more about the importance of having good foundations in your mother tongue, which a lot of the kids that I worked with didn't have. Those shaky foundations mean it's hard to learn and function in the dominant language and I can see how that might have been a factor and not just poverty and other complications that I had previously assumed. As I think about these things I wonder about working in this area in the context and am needing more clarity. Pray for God's guidance, for wisdom and that the door to this possibility would either shut or open widely. It's practically the halfway mark of the semester and the assignment load increases now, please keep praying for these too! Many thanks!
Jack & Jemima (Day 3)
Praise points:
· We are so blessed to be in Melbourne, with our needs provided for, and Jemima's family nearby
· It is a blessing for Jack to be studying both about the Bible, and about how to maintain spiritual vibrancy when in country
· Isobel is happy and healthy
Prayer points:
· Please pray for both of us in learning to build each other up as a couple
· Please pray for Jack to be learning well & staying on top of his studies
· Jemima is taking an anthropology course. Please pray for good learning in this course.
Kathleen & Anita (Day 17)
God continues to answer your prayers for Manuela. She has completed the detox program and is now in a rehab centre in a country area outside Armenia. We praise God that right up to today He has provided for all her financial needs, and we are confident that He will not fail. Please pray for fortitude and courage for Manuela to continue for the next six months or so, and that she will feel her Heavenly Father’s love in a very special way.
Pray for all the lives we touch in our support ministry for pastors and leaders as well as the many people who come for counselling. Please pray for Cristian and Anggie, young pastors who often feel discouraged. Also, for moral protection for teenagers who are bombarded by the world.
Jeremy & Karina (Day 13)
Pray we continue to settle back into life here after four months in NZ. There have been several invitations and opportunities - pray for wisdom as we discern and prioritise these.
October for us has a few visitors, which we are excited for! Pray we can be good hosts and meet the needs of each guest well.
Please pray for the health concerns emerging within our team. May their medical needs be addressed with wisdom and ease, and may the team feel surrounded by protection and comfort during this time.
Pray for preparation of our team prayer retreat in early November, and for the regional conference that Jeremy is helping prepare for in late December, that these events will be nourishing for the soul!
Andrew & Karen (Day 11)
Please remember the new vocational students who are beginning with cleaning and basic study skills. They also are doing foundational study in the Word. Please also remember their trainers who are all new to the roles they have. It is a big learning curve for them.
This week is the start of the second OBT workshop that we are leading. Please ask our Father to give us wisdom and presence of mind as we lead 28 participants in hearing, understanding and translating His Word. This workshop has an added layer of tension, as we have observers this week to advise and mentor.
Jeff & Ginny (Day 1)
Praise the Lord that our Term 3 Missions Conference went well, and all the missionaries have now returned safely to their fields.
· Pray for Ginny that the Lord would give her wisdom and plenty of stamina as she juggles homeschooling alongside carving out some time for herself.
· We’re thankful to have new missionary candidates from different islands with us. Please pray that their hearts would stay open and that they’d carry a humble spirit as they step into mission life.
· Some of our missionaries have moved into new fields, and a few are starting internships at a kindergarten for kids out in the bush, so please pray for wisdom, grace, and joy as they step into this new season.
· Our family is planning to visit Korea towards the end of this year for some medical needs. Please pray that we’ll be able to receive the treatment we need - including follow-up checks for the liver, dental care, and surgery for Jeff’s finger - and return well.
Karl & Helen (Day 4)
Give praise for being able to spend time with family in Australia.
Please pray for the Mt Hagen team as we welcome many new families this month and prepare a connect gathering for all the MAF Expats in PNG at Mt Hagen. Pray that the Hagen team balance the extra load well.
Kirsty (Day 8)
This month I am managing a project, which is seeking to train over 2000 teachers in rural parts of Northern Zambia in an English Literacy Program. This is logistically a real challenge and God's divine favour is very much necessary! Please pray for me as I organise the team, and for each of the team members who will be travelling to remote places to deliver training.
Tom & Liz (Day 21)
Please pray for Tom as he has a hip operation today. Pray for a smooth and successful procedure, for the medical team’s skill and wisdom, and for a speedy recovery.
Matthew & Lydia (Day 1)
Thank you for your prayers for us and the people we are ministering to. Thank you especially for those that were praying for Avokin's wife Vekoe and their baby. Vekoe gave birth naturally Monday morning and both her and the baby are doing well.
Our Bible teaching in the community is going well. We are nearing the end of the evangelism teaching in two of the family groups. We praise God as we see the attendees growing in their understanding.
Marion (Day 6)
Thank you for praying for Takahara san' s visit last weekend. Many had heard him speak on YouTube and even some from neighbouring prefectures came to hear him speak at the city hall. Local folk came to our hall. May they all continue to seek the Lord. Pray for the election of our new Prime Minister on 4th Oct.
Ashley & Gillian (Day 19)
Next month the Lautoka Gospel Church is to celebrate 70 years with a thanksgiving service to mark the official opening in 1955. Ashley is excited as he is a foundation member, and the assembly where he came to faith. Prayer is needed for some struggling assembly churches who have been advised regular financial assistance from donors will no longer be available to support pastor’s families and fulltime workers. Even though they trust the Lord to meet their needs most of their congregations are unable to find regular secular work and are not in the position to support them. The minimum hourly rate is $5.00FJD.
Pray God will touch the hearts of some NZ churches/individuals to partner with an assembly in Fiji so the work for the Lord can continue. It is exciting to hear of the planting of eight new assemblies, - predominately newly converted Fiji Indians who are keen and growing in their Christian faith. Many live in poor squatter communities.
Robert & Ayesha (Day 14)
Thank you for your prayers for us and the ministry. We have arrived back in Central Asia and have settled back in. Isabella is adjusting well to her new glasses. Please pray for our friends - as they wrestle with global events and local hardships, we get to share Jesus with them.
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