Prayer Updates
Get the latest news from the front lines
Every Saturday we send out five prayer requests to equip you for the coming week.
Prayer Team Update — October 13-17
Monday, October 13
God Is Raising up New Leaders for Palawano Church
Elise Long ministers among the Palawano people of the Philippines. “Jambi, Tisito and Tasio are being assisted by Tebi and Lani, growing into their roles as shepherds of the [Palawano village ‘M’] church. … My role involves working through the Scriptures with these guys and helping them to create preaching outlines. They ably lead the services and prayer meeting and oversee projects and maintenance. As we study the role of elders and deacons, please pray that the Lord would reveal to the church who else He is raising up for these ministries.” Praise God that the “church shepherds [are] proving faithful.”
Tuesday, October 14
Pray for Bible Translation in Papua New Guinea
Ralf and Elli Schlegel, serving itinerantly, minister to the Dinangat people of Papua New Guinea (PNG). “After our return to PNG in early August, our co-worker Jeremiah came from the USA for three weeks. Together we spent two very full weeks in Dinangat. We invested much time with our helpers to continue working on the Bible translation — he on Luke’s Gospel and I on 1 and 2 Peter. On Sundays, each of us had the privilege of preaching in the church. A very special highlight was being able to hand over the completed Matthew’s Gospel to the church — a moment full of gratitude and joy!”
Wednesday, October 15
So Close to Being Done
Canadians Terry and Rosie Banman now serve as representatives for Ethnos Canada. Praise God that “Wusuraambya, the language group [in Papua New Guinea] in which we helped plant a church, continues to grow in their walk with God. The Bible teachers continue to teach different villages in their own language group. Andrew and Cathy Goud … are so close to being done with [translating] the New Testament!” Pray for focus and energy. Praise God that when the translation is complete, the Wusuraambya will not be dependent on Tok Pisin translations but will be able to study Scripture in their heart language.
Thursday, October 16
Pray for Those Teaching the Bible in West Africa
Aaron and Amy, along with co-workers Guy and Keyla, minister among the “G” people of West Africa. “Aaron had the chance to talk to several of the people who attended our Bible teachings last year. While he learned that most of them want to meet again and hear more, he also found out that there is quite a variety of where people stand spiritually. … [D]ue to the varying degrees of understanding, it might be challenging to address the needs of all those attending. We are praying that God will guide us in the form and content of the next lessons.”
Friday, October 17
God’s Eternal Gift Is Much Better Than Getting ‘Cargo’
Paul and Ellen Swenson minister among the Tanguat people of Papua New Guinea. One of the biggest “barriers to the gospel” in this part of the world is the “cargo cult” core belief — God “saves” a person by giving them material things (“cargo”). “Many try to twist what we say to fit into this worldview. The Bible teachers are constantly having to clarify as they teach. Pray for ears that hear truth and [pray] that the teachers all teach the truth clearly to avoid double meanings!” In outreach villages “A” and “M,” pray that people will “consistently come and hear the gospel and that their eyes would be open to the truth of God’s eternal gift that is much better than getting ‘cargo’ for the few short years of their lives.”