PR - March 16, 2009

"Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age according to the will of God and Father, to whom be the glory forever and ever." - apostle Paul in Galatians 1:3-5

Dear prayer partners for the PB peoples,
Over the next two weeks, I would like for us to pray over the following three requests:

1. We are hopeful that three new Bible Study groups will start up in the next few weeks. Two of the groups are new believers that will be gathering to study God's Word together. The other group is a number of unbelievers that will gather and explore who is God and what does faith in Jesus look like. Please pray that these groups will begin and will not be delayed. Pray that the new members of the groups will consistently attend. Pray that God will bless the leaders with godly wisdom. And ultimately pray that the Holy Spirit will work in these groups and grow the new believers in their faith and convict and draw unto Him those of the group that have not yet believed.



2. Please pray that our PB team (inluding nationals and ourselves) and other Christians that live in the PB province, would have a burden for the lostness of those around us... for those enslaved to Islam, animism (spirit worship), an apathetic heart, and something like pluralism (where people believe there are many paths to God and each should have their own right to believe whatever they would like, and no on should encourage them otherwise). Please pray that God will remind the PB team of the urgency of His Gospel for the PB peoples here that are perishing. The Scripture is clear when Jesus said,"I am the way, the truth, and the life and no one comes to the Father but through me." (John 14:6).

and lastly...
3. Mrs. Lane. Some have asked of how Mrs. Lane is doing these days. Our national partners continue to spend time with Mrs. Lane and her husband, sharing truth with them. Pray that for Mrs. Lane, the time with the national partners would be a discipling time where she can learn from other followers of Christ, learn and begin obeying Scripture that is storied with Mr. and Mrs. Lane, and she will grow in her faith as a result of these times. For Mr. Lane, he still has yet to place his faith in Jesus Christ and follow Him. Please continue to pray for his salvation. Please continue to pray that God will use Mrs. Lane to draw Mr. Lane to Himself.

Thank you so much for your prayers. We so appreciate your partnership in the Gospel. Yes, you are our partners. Prayer is an important part of our ministry, and we want you to know how much we value your partnership and prayers. May God bless you.

PR - March 3, 2009

An Update on the Update
Last blog I told you about how excited we were to find out that 2 RuJohn men heard the Gospel message in our last farmer training session. We are excited about that AND also the 4 other RuJohn men that heard. So in fact there were 6 RuJohn men who came to study. Sorry to misrepresent the facts. The last farmer training time we had 17 men altogether learning our ag techniques and hearing the Bible chronologically storied. The other 11 men are from another UPG (unreached people group) in our area that we also minister to but they are not numbered in our 13 people groups that we target. They would actually be a 14th group. So this is an exciting time indeed. Please pray for these 17 men that the Gospel Truth will lay heavy on their hearts and minds. Pray that God will draw them into His Kingdom. Our next farmer training begans March 11th. Please pray that God will draw in MORE of our PB peoples to the training.

A Repetitive Request
Regularly we ask you to pray for our national partners. Again remember, a national partner is a citizen of this country who follows our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Thus they are a national and a partner in the Gospel. Hope this is clear. These national partners are able to go deeper into conversations, villages, and walks of life with our PB peoples than often the foreign face. Our partners are very dear to us and we believe crucial to see the PB peoples come to faith in Jesus Christ. We believe that God will use them to spread the Gospel in this dry and dark area. So pray for these national partners. Our prayer for them, and we pray that it will be yours as well, is for these partners and evangelists to grow deeper in their faith. We pray that they will have deep desire to know and understand God's word. We pray their lives will be founded upon a Firm Foundation, Jesus Christ. And we pray that they will boldly proclaim the Gospel to our PB peoples and thus become Church Planters... by God's power and grace through the Holy Spirit leading PB peoples to faith in Jesus Christ and gathering the new PB believers in small churches.



On that Note...
We long to see our national partners move from their comfortable lifestyle into new areas where we do not yet have a Christian presence... into the heartlands of many of our PB peoples. Please join us as we pray for God to lead some of our partners into those new areas. Pray that we would encourage, train, and help them go. And lastly pray that they will be faithful to be obedient to God's call on their life.

Lastly
As I was reading God's Word a few days ago, the Father blessed me through this passage:

Psalm 22:27-28
All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the LORD,
all the families of the nations shall worship before You.
For kingship belongs to the LORD,
and He rules over nations.

PR - Feb 18, 2009

Update and Request
+ At our farmer training that ended last week, I wanted to update that two RuJohn men heard the Bible chronologically storied. Please pray that God will soften the hearts of these two RuJohn men. Pray the Holy Spirit will remind them of these stories and they will dream about them, question their faith, and come to know Jesus as their Lord and Savior. Pray that these men will be influential for other RuJohn men to come to the training, hear the Bible storied, and seeing the Gospel go forth among the RuJohn people. May one day MANY RuJohn people be bowed down before Your Throne, O God worshipping You!

New Request
+ Recently a death happened on the agricultural farm, this then led to the farm employees coming and paying respects to the family. One family Mr. Benny (husband and wife)that are from the Limbox people were there at the funeral, where the Gospel was presented and shared. Pray for this Limbox family, that the Lord will open their hearts as well to His Kingdom. At this same funeral was a leader from that same Limbox village. He had came to oversee (from his side) the funeral and burial of someone in his jurisdiction of land. Please pray for Mr. and Mrs. Benny. They have LOTS of family in the Limbox village near us. Pray that God will radically save them, their families, the leader that came, and their whole village. And may one day, they too be bowed down before our Great and Mighty King of Kings.

Friends, the Gospel is going forth. Keep praying. Pray that God will soften hearts. And pray that when the Gospel is being presented that the Spirit of God will working and stirring in those hearts. Pray for boldness for our whole team (including our national Christian partners) that we will be quick and ready to share the Gospel.

May God bless you. And may God bless the PB peoples by drawing them into His Kingdom!

PR - Feb 3, 2009

Greetings PB blog followers! As always, thank you for your prayers. We appreciate each of you so much. Here are the next two weeks worth of prayer requests:

+ Our farmer training is taking place currently. It began yesterday. There are several attendees this session. Please pray that not only will these farmers learn techniques that will aid their livelihood but also their eternal life. Pray that God will do a great work over this current session and that many of the farmers will be realize "the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."

+ On July 17, 2008 I wrote about Mrs. Lane who is a new believer. I told you about how her husband had her put under a spell. And through all of it God drew her out of the pits and now she is a new life in Christ. Praise the Lord. At that time, I asked you to pray for her husband and their families. Last week I was with some national partners, as they shared with me of how they had recently visited with Mrs. Lane AND her husband. Mr. Lane was OPEN to listen to the Gospel. Praise the Lord.
> Please pray that MANY more of these interactions will happen with Mr. and Mrs. Lane. Please pray that God will mightily save Mr. Lane, a man laced with spells, curses, and all variations of evils, witchcraft, spiritual issues that often times our Western minds have difficulty understand.
>Please pray for Mrs. Lane. Pray that God will continue to grow her in godliness. Pray that she would be as the women in 1 Peter 3. "In the same way, you wives, be submissive to your own husbands, so that even if any of them are disobedient to the word, they may be won without a word by the behavior of their wives, as they observe your chaste and respectful behavior... but let it be the hidden person of the heart, with imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God." (vv 1-4) Please pray for those that meet with her and disciple, that Biblical wisdom, advice, and instruction would be given to Mrs. Lane and not a cultural perspective but Biblical truth.


+ Once again, praise the Lord with us that we have national partners going out in the community among our 13 unreached groups and are actively trying to share the Gospel with them. Please pray for their own spiritual walk with the Lord. Pray that the Lord would bless their time in the Word and in prayer. Pray that God would give great depth to their faith in Him.

As we still plead for God to save MANY of our PB peoples, we know that it is God's heart to "to seek and save that which is lost (Luke 19:10). So please keep praying, and pray in faith that He will draw out MANY of the PB peoples for His own.

"To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen." - portion of John's greeting in Revelation 1:5b

We have been traveling for the past two months so the blog, I am sorry to say has suffered from not being updated regularly. Also since returning last week, I have not yet been with the people to hear of how God has been working in the PB peoples. Yet I would like for you to pray for these following requests:

* Mr Thumper and his wife are now primarly seeking to spend time and share the Gospel with PB peoples. They travel good distances at times to share the Good News of Jesus Christ with PB peoples. Please pray that God will use them mightily and that He will draw MANY PB peoples to Himself via His instrument, Mr and Mrs Thumper.

* Mr and Mrs Joker are also now spending most of their time sharing the Gospel with PB peoples. Both the Jokers and the Thumpers have moved recently to facilitate their sharing the Gospel with PB peoples. Please take time now to pray for these two families as they actively seek to make God's Name and Glory known among the PB peoples. Thank God with us, for these partners in the Gospel who have a beautiful heart to see the multitude of lost PB peoples come to faith in "the way, the truth, the life" Jesus Christ.

* Please continue to pray for Bruce Lee. After seeing him recently, the Father reminded me once again of Bruce Lee's need of the Savior. Please continue to pray the Father would open His eyes, ears, and heart to the Good News of Jesus Christ, in whom there is NO other way to the Father but through Jesus (see John 14:6).

Thank you for your continued partnership in our prayers and efforts to see the PB peoples come to know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior and to make His Name and Glory known all over the world.

12/30/08

As we focus on the PB peoples for the next few weeks, lets pray for the following requests:

Bruce Lee is a Rujohn man that works at the farm. He is not a follower of Christ. The amazing thing is that while he works on the farm six days a week, he hears the Gospel SOOO many times through the week. Please pray that God will open his eyes, ears, and heart to the Good News of Jesus Christ. May God draw he and his family into His Kingdom soon.



Please remember that often the pictures are not of those whom we write about for security reasons. However the pictures ARE of actual PB peoples who are need of the Gospel to transform their lives and their people.

As the new year rolls in, will you join us in a renewed commitment to pray for the PB peoples?

On December 8th in just about two weeks, PB peoples will be celebrating Eid al-Adha. Are you familiar with this Islamic holiday? Below is information describing the holiday. The first section "The Feast of Sacrifice" is informative and will help you understand what PB peoples will be celebrating in two weeks. The second section "Sound Familiar?" focuses on what Muslims believe about this holiday.

Before you begin reading the two sections below, here the prayer requests for these next few weeks. As you read below, perhaps the information will give you insight as to what PB peoples and other Muslims around the world believe.

* Please pray for salvation for the PB peoples.

*Please pray that during this holiday God would reveal His truth to PB peoples, that Jesus was and is the perfect sacrifice for their sins. Pray that God would remove the blindfold from their hearts and souls.

* Pray that the PB team and national partners would share during this time that salvation comes through faith in Jesus Christ ALONE.

* Pray that teaching of Truth would go forth from the PB team and national partners.

* Please pray that God would open eyes, ears, hearts, and souls of the PB peoples toward Him and His Truth. May today be the day of salvation for the PB people!

The Feast of Sacrifice

(this information taken from http://www.infoplease.com/spot/islamicholidays.html)

Eid al-Adha, or the Feast of Sacrifice, commemorates the prophet Abraham's willingness to obey Allah by sacrificing his son Ishmael. According to the Qu'ran, just before Abraham sacrificed his son, Allah replaced Ishmael with a ram, thus sparing his life.

One of the two most important Islamic festivals, Eid al-Adha begins on the 10 day of Dhu'l-Hijja, the last month of the Islamic calendar. Lasting for three days, it occurs at the conclusion of the annual Hajj, or pilgrimage to Mecca. Muslims all over the world celebrate, not simply those undertaking the hajj, which for most Muslims is a once-a-lifetime occurrence.

The festival is celebrated by sacrificing a lamb or other animal and distributing the meat to relatives, friends, and the poor. The sacrifice symbolizes obedience to Allah and its distribution to others is an expression of generosity, one of the five pillars of Islam.


Sound Familiar?

(the following information taken from islam.about.com/od/holidays/f/holidays.htm)

Why do Muslims sacrifice an animal on this day?
During the celebration of Eid al-Adha, Muslims commemorate and remember Abraham's trials, by themselves slaughtering an animal such as a sheep, camel, or goat. This action is very often misunderstood by those outside the faith.

Allah has given us power over animals and allowed us to eat meat, but only if we pronounce His name at the solemn act of taking life. Muslims slaughter animals in the same way throughout the year. By saying the name of Allah at the time of slaughter, we are reminded that life is sacred.

The meat from the sacrifice of Eid al-Adha is mostly given away to others. One-third is eaten by immediate family and relatives, one-third is given away to friends, and one-third is donated to the poor. The act symbolizes our willingness to give up things that are of benefit to us or close to our hearts, in order to follow Allah's commands. It also symbolizes our willingness to give up some of our own bounties, in order to strengthen ties of friendship and help those who are in need. We recognize that all blessings come from Allah, and we should open our hearts and share with others.

It is very important to understand that the sacrifice itself, as practiced by Muslims, has nothing to do with atoning for our sins or using the blood to wash ourselves from sin. This is a misunderstanding by those of previous generations: "It is not their meat nor their blood that reaches Allah; it is your piety that reaches Him." (Qur'an 22:37)

The symbolism is in the attitude - a willingness to make sacrifices in our lives in order to stay on the Straight Path. Each of us makes small sacrifices, giving up things that are fun or important to us. A true Muslim, one who submits his or herself completely to the Lord, is willing to follow Allah's commands completely and obediently. It is this strength of heart, purity in faith, and willing obedience that our Lord desires from us.
(end of article)

The confusion that people can please God by sacrificing is a common issue amongst our PB people. And similar to what the writer of Hebrews said to Jewish people after the new covenant in Christ. See Hebrews 9 below.

Hebrews 9:11-14
"But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) He entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of His own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption. For if the sprinkling of defiled persons with the blood of goats and bulls and with the ashes of a heifer sanctifies for the purification of the flesh, how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God."

PR - Oct 31, 2008

Psalm 96
verses 1 - 5

Sing to the LORD a new song;
Sing to the LORD, all the earth.
Sing to the LORD, bless His name;
Proclaim good tidings of His salvation from day to day.
Tell of His glory among the nations,
His wonderful deeds among all the peoples.
For great is the LORD and greatly to be praised;
He is to be feared above all gods.
For all the gods of the peoples are idols,
But the LORD made the heavens.

Update
(this may seem long, but please stay with it and read to the end)

Mr. Caman
In our last blog on October 15th, I wrote of a few situations where God is working, and praise the Lord for it! Keep praying. Men are meeting regularly with Mr. Caman, sharing the Gospel and studying the Bible with him. Please pray that God will open Mr. Caman's eyes, heart, and soul to receive the Good News of Jesus Christ and that Mr. Caman would become a follower of Jesus.



Mrs. Mobile
Such a sweet smile, pleasant countenance, and petite woman... words that can describe Mrs. Mobile. Yet such power is within her. Yes I said power. For God Almighty dwells within her because she believes that His Own Son Jesus died on the cross and rose again triumphantly and now sits on the throne in Heaven waiting till the day when God says to return for His children. It is not her power but God working through her that gives her strength.

"I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me." Paul - Galatians 2:20

A new story has also occurred this week with Mrs. Mobile. A family was celebrating the wedding of their child. The family asked Mrs. Mobile to come pray at their house. And she did. Later the same family also asked a witch doctor to come bless the house in the same place where Mrs. Mobile had prayed. He also did. It is said that later, the witch doctor came out of the room angry that he had no power in the room and demanded to know who had been in the room previously. It was told him that a few days prior, Mrs. Mobile had been in the room and prayed over it.

"Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that He through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is the devil, and might free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives." Hebrews 2:14-15

and one more verse...

"For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places." Paul - Ephesians 6:12

I believe Mrs. Mobile would be the first to admit that what is so special about her is the mighty work of God in her life. Because of her belief in a Mighty God and His Son Jesus Christ.

I know these accounts may seem foreign possibly even uncomfortable for some of us... perhaps some write it off as village people "that just don't know any better" but let me encourage and challenge you with Paul's words again "our struggle is not against flesh and blood..." This is real, everyday life... and Mrs. Mobile needs our prayers for the darkness she is encountering. May God receive all the glory and may MANY PB peoples too come to faith in Jesus Christ because of this faithful witness.

Psalm 96
verses 10-13

"Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice;
Let the sea roar, and all it contains;
Let the field exult, and all that is in it.
Then all the trees of the forest will sing for joy
Before the LORD, for He is coming,
For He is coming to judge the earth.
He will judge the world in righteousness
And the peoples in His faithfulness."

Lord God, please quickly and mightily come save the PB peoples...

PR - Oct 15, 2008

Isaiah 43:25

"I, I am He who blots out your transgressions for my own sake and I will not remember your sins."

Two Accounts

We have asked you to pray for God to stir the hearts of the PB peoples, and friends He is working in hearts. Just in the last week alone I heard several reports of God giving dreams/visions, pricking hearts, and revealing Himself to some PB peoples. Below are just two of those accounts.

Join me in praying for these souls as I share some of their stories here with you:

* Ibu Mobile is a fairly new believer. In her conversion, her husband threatened her many different ways. I cannot begin to tell you the amazing details of the conversion of Ibu Mobile and her life since that time but please pray for her. Pray that God would ground her in Himself. She has shared the Gospel with her husband and very recently SEVERAL members of her family. Family members (whom she was warned by a friend that they may try to poison her because of her conversion) who have thought her crazy have been faced with the Gospel in a bold and clear manner given by Ibu Mobile. Oh praise God that she was faithful to share. These few details feel so insufficient for the difficulties, persecution, and trials Ibu Mobile has encountered. Please pray for her husband, who is quite a strong Islamic follower. Please pray that Pak Mobile would fall before Jesus, find forgiveness there, and find that his sins would be remembered no more (Is 43:25). Please pray for the many family members and community that has now heard a strong and bold presentation of the Gospel. Please join us in praying that HOUSEHOLDS and COMMUNITIES will come to faith in our Saviour, Jesus Christ.

* Another man named Pak Caman, has recently been searching for the "living God." Oh friends would you plead that God would remove the scales from his eyes, and that our Living God would reveal Himself to Pak Caman and call him His own. This man is searching for God yet also believes he had an encounter with God when he was five months old. Pak Caman was challenged with Scripture challenging this interaction with the spirit. Praise God for the men who have visited Pak Caman and have committed to visit him every Thursday night your time. Praise the Lord that these men sharing their faith are burdened for the lost that will perish if not but for God working in their lives. Please pray for Pak Caman, for the complex beliefs he holds that the Gospel Bearers will deal with and for his salvation. Please pray for Gospel Bearers as they will be meeting with Pak Caman on your Thursday night.

So close yet so far away....

God is changing much of our ministry here, the local church, and burdening hearts for the Gospel to go forth among the PB peoples. Truly exciting stuff. We have asked you to pray and we ourselves pray and continue to pray that God will start a church among the PB unreached people groups. At times it seems that a church will happen any day now and other times we scratch our heads and wonder WHEN it will happen. Would you go before the Father and ask for His mighty hand to work among the PB peoples? That we would get out of the Lord's way and that He would move in miraculous ways here in PB land.

Lastly I have recently heard a song by Chris Tomlin titled "God of this city". Many of you have probably already heard this but when hearing the song, how could I NOT think of the PB peoples and find such joy in crying out to God verses such as these below.

"You are the God of this city, the King of this people, You are the Lord of this nation..."

"Greater things have yet to come, and greater things are still to be done in this city. We believe, we believe in You God."

Will you pray that God would be God of this city, this people, this nation? And that greater things would be done among the PB peoples? Thanks to Chris Tomlin obviously he has been to PB land and sees the need for those "greater things" to be done here. :) (just kidding)

PR Sept 30, 08

The Night of Power and Not Lose focus

Night of Power
We are drawing to the end of the Muslim fasting month, Ramadan, and soon it will be the Night of Power for Muslims around the world. I would like to encourage you to Google "Night of Power" and see what you come up with.

This is how one Muslim described the "Night of Power":
The Night of Power or Destiny is an extremely important night for Muslims. It is the night in which our code of guidance, the Holy Quran, was revealed from the Lord of the Universe to Prophet Muhammad. The Quran was revealed in Ramadan (2:185), and traditionally Muslims celebrate the Night of Power on the 27th night of Ramadan.

God describes this night as better than a thousand months. During that night, the angels and the Spirit descend therein, by God’s leave, to carry out every command (97:1-5).

Because the Night of Power is such a special night, those Muslims (Submitters) who want to gain extra credit of righteousness spend the night by commemorating God the Almighty either in their privacy or in a mosque with other Muslims. There are also some Muslims who retreat to a mosque in the last ten days of Ramadan to take advantage of God’s blessings further and increase their faith of submission. (This information taken from http://www.submission.info/practices/ramadan/nightofdestiny.html)

If you have time to read another, there is an interesting article on "16 things you can do on the Night of Power" posted on http://www.soundvision.com/info/ramadan/10.16things.asp.

I am bringing these things up because to millions of Muslims around the world, the 27th night of Ramadan, they will be seeking Allah. Oh brothers and sisters will you pray that on that night specifically they will have an encounter with the ONE True God that is the Father, Son - Jesus Christ, and Holy Spirit.

Is the Muslim fasting month even on your radar? Has it heightened your prayers to God for the millions of dying Muslims that as Revelation 20:15 says that "if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire"? Take some time now and pray for the PB peoples as they end their fasting month and go through the Night of Power.



Not Lose Focus
In past blogs we have asked you to pray for our PB team and national partners as there is turmoil among our work with Muslims and the local church. This has been a disheartening time to many of us, and unfortunatley the issues/problems are still not over. As these local church issues are on many of our national partners and PB team members minds, would you pray that the PB team including national partners not lose their focus on the main thing: Bringing glory to God in all things while making His Name known to the PB peoples. May the PB team keep the words of Paul (in 2 Corinthians 5:20-21) on our minds in our interactions with PB peoples "Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you [PB peoples] on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him." Pray that the PB team not lose focus, if anything pray that our hearts will stay in a continual broken state over the lost PB peoples. And pray that the PB peoples will be "the righteousness of God" in Christ and no longer slaves to the evil one!