PR - May 21, 2009

Sowing seeds...

I am grateful to God for you, followers of Jesus on the other side of the world, and for our brothers and sisters in Christ here. Thank you for your prayers for the salvation of the PB people. And thank God also for our friends here who are actively sharing their faith about Jesus with those throughout the PB lands here.

Just a few examples...
A Muslim woman in a northern village was prayed for last month. The woman has been sick for a while. Some friends here knew of her health. The Muslim woman asked if they would pray for her. One of our friends here said she felt God laid it on her heart to pray for God's will to be done. So as she prayed for the Muslim woman in the name of Jesus Christ, she did not pray for healing, instead she prayed for God's will to be done. Later our friend shares that after leaving the sick woman's home she began to fear "what if God's will was for this woman to die?". As it is, God has chosen to heal the sick woman and she is up and walking around. The once sick woman sent word to our friend that she has been healed and is thankful for the prayers. Our friend sent back word that the healing "was not from man but because of God healing her in the name of Jesus Christ." Pray for the healed woman that as she has had a miracle in her life, that she will receive this as from God, that she will believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and follow Him for the rest of her life.

The Gospel of Luke was given to a group of five men who work together. Gospel Truth was shared with them. Pray that the Holy Spirit will radically speak to them through the Book of Luke. Pray that God will save these men through His Word. And may they study the book together.

Our friends here seem to have an amazing burning desire for the Gospel to go forth strongly and save many in their own families. By this I mean extended families whom have yet to believe and follow Jesus Christ. They are inviting extended families to come visit them here and while the families are visiting our friends are boldly proclaiming the Gospel with them. And praise be to God, they are seeing their family members turn from Islam and embrace and follow Christ. Just this week a 70 year old mother believed and was baptised. Praise God! Pray that God will keep this burning passion in their hearts. Pray that this passion will spread to other national partners. And pray that God will turn this passion not for just their families but for all the PB peoples!

Oh friends, the Gospel IS going forth. I am among friends that are NOT ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Please pray for them. Pray that the Holy Spirit will save mightily, strongly, amazingly. And may He get all the glory and honor!

Keep praying in faith that He will do a great work!

PR - May 3, 2009

"Given the choice between heaven or hell, they would choose hell..."
... this was a comment we heard about an area in our PB lands that the people are described as evil and care nothing about their afterlife. And in the middle of this village is one family that are believers. How firm are they in their faith? We are unsure.
Recently we heard the testimony of this family who attended our agricultural training seminar around 10 years ago. At that time, they said they were unwilling to go further with the agriculture techniques they had learned and in turn, had no contact with the training center for almost 10 years. Just a few months ago, they contacted the training facility and requested agricultural help.
Upon traveling and visiting there, our Christian ag extentionists report that the area surrounding this believing family is evil and the people do not want to talk about anything spiritual.
Please pray for this one lone family there among the "evil" that God would strengthen their faith in Him, that this family would be used to share the Good News... the Gospel of Jesus Christ with those surrounding them, and also that God would protect them and bless their agricultural practices. Pray for our Christian ag extentionist that will travel and work with this family. Pray that his faith will grow stronger. Pray that he will disciple and encourage the family of believers. And pray for safety while he travels to this area.

Praise from the downcast...
in the last blog, we asked you to pray for the Thumpers and Jokers as they were downcast and experiencing trials and encounters of various kinds. The Father has been at work, and they have reported that they have been encouraged in a variety of ways. God is at work, and they have seen some come to faith in Christ, Mr. Joker has experienced personal healing in his life, and other issues the Lord has used to encourage their hearts. Please continue to intercede for these two families as they are on the front lines sharing the Gospel with those they encounter. Praise the Lord for His faithfulness to His children. And thank Him for His goodness.

RuJohn...
another agriculture training ended this past week. And what a motley crew the Lord put together. One attendee was a Believer that enjoyed sharing his faith and talking about how tries to share the Gospel with this person or that person, and he did so unashamedly. Meanwhile, studying right along beside him was a RuJohn Muslim man who heard the Gospel several times during the training. Five men altogether attended the training. Please pray for the four that attended and were not believers, that the Gospel that was shared with them these past several days would take root in their hearts. Please pray for the Believer that he would continue to share the Gospel unashamedly.

Lastly...
please pray for a PB Muslim woman that recently asked some fellow Believers to pray for her. She invited these two followers of Jesus into her house and asked them to pray for her because she is pregnant and has had difficulties in the past with pregnancies. The fellow Believers prayed for her in the name of Jesus Christ, then proceeded to pray for her house, family, and those that surrounded her. She was also given a copy of Proverbs. Please pray for 1) her salvation 2) the baby within her and 3) her family and neighbors that God will save MANY PB peoples through this encounter.