Weekly Bulletin Prayer Requests
2008 Worlds Week Of Prayer
April 27-May 4
Weekly Bulletin Missionary Prayer Requests
April 27
CHINA - Praise God that the Cochrans were able to get their visas. Praise God that Steve's gallbladder pain has disappeared. Continue to pray for healing and for strength for him. Pray for wisdom for the doctors who are treating him.
ECUADOR - Pray for Greg Collord as he begins his work as Alumni Director for Alliance Academy and also resumes some of his previous ministries there, including the personal mentoring of students. Pray for safety as he goes back and forth from his apartment to the campus.
Praise God for the missionary vision that is developing among the Alliance family in Ecuador. Pray that many Ecuadorians will respond to God's call to go as cross-cultural missionaries, especially to unreached peoples.
SPAIN - The doctors who are working with Adelina Hassel, the wife of the national church president, have determined they need to operate in order to open some valves in her heart. Pray for the surgery which should take place this week and for complete healing.
CHILE - Several developments need urgent prayer at the Church of the Vineyard. Pray that original policies by water and power officials will be upheld so construction can be completed.
Pray for Rachel Wellsfry and her team as they prepare to work in Chile this summer. Pray for safety and for God's wisdom in every aspect of this ministry.
THAILAND - Praise God that Debbie Vik's church received official permission to minister in a government facility for the homeless. With this permission, it will now be possible to visit these people twice a month to share the gospel. Already, several have expressed interest in learning more about the Lord.
Praise God that Thai language students passed their sixth month evaluation and are beginning to read and write in Thai. Pray that they will learn how to balance their reading and writing time with speaking time. Pray that they will do well in their ninth month evaluation, which will be in late May or in June.
Thanks to all who prayed about the noise level at Nong Kai prison. The women's class has been divided into two smaller groups, so it is much easier to teach the inmates. On May 2, Joy Chase will be challenging the women to make a commitment to Christ. Pray that God would draw many to Himself.
Joy and Jon Chase request prayer for creative and God-inspired ideas to reach out to their neighborhood. Pray for God's wisdom in choosing a new community in the area they are focusing on to begin another outreach/evangelism emphasis. Pray also that God would raise up more Thai co-workers.
PARAQUAY - The Marical Lopez church has started Awana again in a different location. Many children are attending and a good team of leaders is working with the group. Pray that this ministry will reach parents and children for Christ.
BURKINA FASO - Pray for God's provision during an anticipated rice shortage. Pray for government leaders as they try to develop a solution to rising prices. Pray also for the Burkinabe people as they struggle through these difficult times. Pray that they will turn to Jesus in their troubles.
Pray that the Lord will provide miraculously for widows who are struggling financially. One of them sees suicide as the only way out from the debts she has incurred. Others are finding it difficult to finish paying off their children's schooling. Another is caring for a two-year-old orphan, which prevents her from being able to work. Pray that God's peace will rule in their hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Pray for little Dorcas, the little orphan.
April 20
ISRAEL - Israel is churning these days after the murdering of the 8 Yeshiva students a couple of weeks ago and Israel's retaliation to it. The hatred is so strong on both sides that it brings people to do unwise things. Pray that this will somehow lead them to look for the one who can really solve the problem - Christ.
Praise God that the Medallion staff was able to finish the series on Genesis for toddlers. The series was presented at the last teacher's conference and it was well received. More visual aids and teacher's aids will have to be printed as almost all were sold.
Praise God also that volunteers from YWAM who were working in Israel were able to help with getting the teaching packages together. Praise Him for the volunteer from a Danish organization who is coming once a week to help in the office.
Pray for funding for purchase of a new printer as the present one is having a lot of problems. All of the printing of materials is done in house and a reliable printer would cut production costs.
Pray for wisdom as work on the next series begins and pray for needed Hebrew language help.
IRAQ - Praise God that Pastor Ghassan and family were able to leave Baghdad safely. Both Ghassan and his wife, Gada, are worn thin, with eyes tired from tears. Their children had to be pulled from their schools and are bewildered. The Baghdad church leadership is unsure about the future of the church.
Ask God to reveal His plans for Ghassan and that those who remain at the Alliance Church in Baghdad will also sense His presence and leading. Pray for peace and safety.
CHINA/TIBET - Pray for Monty and Shelley Mathis as they have returned to the U.S. for Ashley's graduation from Simpson and a time visiting with family and friends and speaking at churches. Pray for safe travel during the three months they are here. They plan to return to Xining in July.
Pray for a young lady who Christ has touched in a very special way. She is growing dynamically in her faith. However, she has lost quite a few friends and realizes that her parents will most likely beat her and kick her out of the house when she tells them, which she believes she needs to do soon. There are others who have recently come to faith who are in the midst of the same.
Pray for the Chinese government as they try to bring stability back to the Tibetan areas. High inflation and unemployment are big factors to the riots in Lhasa and other places.
There have been many opportunities in the midst of all the turmoil for many to share the hope that they have. Pray for the hearts of those asking and hearing to be drawn to Him. Pray that the local church will shine!
Pray for the safety of Christian workers, both Chinese and foreigners. Pray for wisdom and vision as they seek to share Christ's love .
KENYA - Praise God that He has provided all but two of the 2008-2009 Rosslyn Academy. (MK school where Ralph and Dorothy Bressler serve). Pray for His provision for the two teaching positions that still need to be filled.
Praise God that major progress on the school accreditation work has been done.
Pray for the healing of the country.... that the coalition government will actually work and will not go back on agreements that have been made.
Pray for Howard Brant as he speaks and teaches at a church planting seminar in India.
GABON - Pray for the field Leadership Team that will be meeting April 25-29th. Pray for wisdom for decisions that must be made. Pray for a good time of fellowship.
April 13
BURKINA FASO - On April 6th a Muslim man in the village of Samorogouan accepted Christ. In the afternoon he invited 3 of his friends to come with him and they accepted Christ. That evening they all went forward in the evangelistic meeting to show people in their village that they were choosing to follow Christ. Twenty more adults and many children joined them. Praise God for His work in this village.
The family of the land chief of Samorogouan has now come out to cause problems in the building of the pastor's house.
All the proper protocol had been followed and everyone had been paid, including this chief. Kevin Oberg states that it could be that the family wants more money, but he feels that this is the work of the enemy retaliating to the incredible work that God is doing in this village. Pray that the enemy will be bound and that this issue would be resolved quickly.
ISRAEL - Praise God that Melissa Slate did well on her language exams and that she has a clear job description for the tasks that are expected.
Pray for Ami Ortez, son of an Israeli pastor, who was injured when he opened a malicious Purim package containing a bomb. He survived, but has a long recovery ahead. Keep him and his family in your prayers.
Pray for all the believers in Israel and the occupied territories who experience varying forms of persecution frequently.
Pray for the university students with whom Melissa works. Pray for important decisions being made, and that Melissa would be able to show God's love to this group as He directs her.
IRAQ - Pray for God's protection over Pastor Ghassan (Baghdad Alliance Church) and his family. God has miraculously protected him many times in the past. The Baghdad police picked up an insurgent (terrorist) in the neighborhood who was carrying a detailed written plan that stated that this group was tasked with killing Ghassan. Details included how to enter the house and what guns to use. Armed church members have been at his house to protect him.
A few weeks ago, when Ghassan was in Egypt, some brothers there were praying for him and told of a vision they had of an attack on his home , but that the Lord's angels were protecting him. Ghassan said he sees the military and his church members as being those angels.
Church members advised Ghassan to leave Baghdad for a while with his family. He hoped to fly to Kurdistan this week and the military had promised to take him safely to the airport. Sami Dagher (Beirut, Lebanon) reminded Ghassan that just as God sent Joseph to Egypt, Elijah went to Sinai, and even Jesus was taken as an infant to Egypt for a period of time, God may be moving Ghassan to a safer place where another sort of ministry can be had for a period of time.
Pray for protection of the believers in the Baghdad church. The church is a large building with a lighted cross and the words "Jesus the Light of the World" that can be seen for a long distance.
CAMBODIA - Continue to pray for Pastor Trung (pronounced "Choom") and his wife, Rose, as they work with New Hope Ministries. Thank God for answered prayer, as 2 of the 3 church leaders who wanted to resign have decided to continue serving God in their churches.
Pray for Martin and Judy Johns as they return to Cambodia for another 4-year term at the end of June. For the first 6 months Martin will study Vietnamese in Vietnam for 6 months. Pray for the family as they live in Vietnam for those 6 months. Pray for all the details of living there (housing, visas, language tutor, schooling for Colette, etc.). Pray that God will quicken Martin's tongue, ears and mind to understand and grasp the Vietnamese language during this time.
Pray that Martin and Judy will reflect Christ-likeness at all times and in every situation to His glory, honor and praise.
April 6th
TAIWAN - Praise God for opportunities to share about Jesus during Easter in English classes and elsewhere. One Yunlin team member shared the Easter story in public schools where she volunteers. First graders were responding in Chinese:"Wow! Jesus is way cool!" Other team members shared about Christ's passion and resurrection. Pray for opportunities to share on a deeper level.
Pray for a resolution for field director Tim Iverson's knee problem. His ACL has deteriorated badly. Tim and Penny's son, David, has been having much more trouble with Chron's disease. He is entering a potentially stressful six months leading up to his graduation. Pray for God's peace.
CAMBODIA - Praise God that Mike and Maureen Roark have been able to return to Cambodia after a 4&1/2 year medical leave of absence. They have spent 3 months persevering in language review and will continue with a tutor for a few more weeks. As soon as their jeep is fixed and they have found a home, they will return to Phnom Penh to purchase supplies they need and then return again to live among the Phnong tribe. Mike has been suffering from amoeba and a chest infection. Pray for healing and encouragement.
BURKINA FASO - Continue to pray for follow-up and discipleship of those who recently received Christ in the Kenedougou region. Pray that Kevin Oberg and Toby Hull have sufficient energy and good health during the remainder of the evangelism season before villagers go to work their fields. Pray for a strategic ministry and that Kevin and Toby would be led by the Holy Spirit to make the most of every opportunity God gives them.
GUINEA - The situation in Guinea is becoming increasingly tense. One neighborhood recently could not get bread because flour costs have risen. Pray for stability. Pray for protection for the Guinean people and that God will meet their needs, physically and spiritually.
A government minister wants to provide a piece of land for the youth center land grant. Pray that the details will quickly come together. Pray for Jean Baptiste, the man who is representing the Alliance before the government ministers.
FRANCE - Pray for the field prayer conference to be held April 10-12. Pray for times of refreshing and that God will move among participants in a powerful way.
Pray for a gathering of pastors' and missionary wives, April 19 in Paris. Pray that it will be a time of encouragement and blessing. Pray for Muriel Wattier who will give a devotional. Pray for healing for Muriel, who suffers from a skin irritation that affects her hands.
ECUADOR - Pray for the elementary Spiritual Emphasis week being held at the Alliance Academy this week. Pray that many children will respond to God's call on their lives.
Pray for Federico, the 14-year-old grandson of Pastor Jose Plaza (C&MA national church president), who is battling cancer. Pray for healing.
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC - Pray for an unusual opportunity that Brad Wood has to minister to Dominican policemen. He has had multiple contacts with those in a local police station after he was robbed at knifepoint. To thank the officers he offered to hold a service and pray for them during Easter week. More than 30 attended and several asked him to return and share again. Pray for complete emotional healing for Brad from the stress caused by the attack.