June 2010 Prayer Requests

Cape Town Metropolitan Evangelism Team

In South Africa, about 70% of the population is under 30 years of age. Of these, the majority is under 20 and destitute. In the townships, there are many children who are orphaned due to HIV/AIDS. They may be lucky enough to be fostered or be in an orphanages; however, many are living with grandparents or, worse still, with their underage siblings. This leaves so very many with no income, no schooling and no hope. One young child, when asked what do you want to be when you grow up responded, “he would either be a gangster or a missionary. It depended on who got to him first.” This is the hard reality of childhood here. For many there is no hope, of food today, of clothes, of love or of the future. They see themselves as lucky to be taken in by a gangster and given food, clothes, money and a place to live. We are the light of hope for them in their dark horizon. Pray for these children of Cape Town that they would see and respond to the hope that Christ offers and that Christian brothers and sisters would walk alongside them and help provide for their physical needs. Pray for the almost 2 million youth and children in Cape Town that they have the opportunity to hear the Good News and step toward the light of Love and Hope.

Answered Prayer: Over the Easter weekend, a thousand people from Harare BC, New Crossroads BC, Lower Crossroads BC, Barcelona BC and another church met for the long weekend to celebrate the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. During this time, people from the township of New Crossroads also attended, even those who came to the church just to receive soup from the soup kitchen on Wednesdays. After four days of preaching, praying and celebrating, over 30 people made professions of faith. Each person walked forward and accepted Christ into their lives. Through the soup kitchen at New Crossroads, people are being fed physically but more importantly, they are experiencing the love of God through the actions and the words of the ladies who work at the kitchen. People have been saved and new Bible studies have begun. Praise God for our new brothers and sisters in Christ. Pray for their ongoing commitment to be discipled and used for the growth of God’s kingdom. Pray for a pastor to be called to this church of New Crossroads Baptist. Pray for the provisions for the soup kitchen and pray for the ladies who prepare and serve the soup each week.

Communications Support Team

Lisha* and Najia* are victims of human trafficking. Learning about their lives is a challenging and insightful experience for the members of the Communication Team who are privileged to document their stories. Although they have been devastated by all that they have endured, Lisha and Najia are lovely young women, and getting to know them has been a joy. Najia recently managed to escape from those who trafficked her. She is in a safe place and is learning about the hope that is in Jesus. Pray for her to allow Him to help bear all of her burdens. Pray that Lisha and other victims of this dreadful activity will find freedom from their abusers and freedom in Christ.

Also, please pray that communication team members will have energy to keep up with hectic schedules during the Soccer Cup. Ask God for traveling safety both for those who will be going to other cities to cover ministries and matches and for those who’ll be staying in the Johannesburg/Pretoria area doing the same. Praise God for JB, William, Melanie, Will, Jerry, Christopher, John, and Blake, the volunteers and personnel who are coming from other teams and support centers to assist during the big event. Pray for quick integration of those coming for a short time and unity of purpose among everyone involved in Cup coverage. Ask God for extra measures of wisdom, grace and patience when deadlines are looming. Pray that each person will be aware of how God wants the World Cup story to be told.

Durban Urban Evangelism Team

Durban’s brand new Moses Mabhida Stadium will be the venue for World Cup Soccer matches on June 13, 16, 19, 22, and 25. Visitors from all over the world will be flocking to Durban for the soccer matches as well for recreational purposes. Pray for safety for all who come as well as all who reside here. Pray against any elements of crime that might seek to take advantage of the situation. Pray that local churches and Christian organizations will find abundant opportunities to share Christ with visitors as well as local fans.

Finance Support Team

Answers to prayer: The Finance Support Team was greatly encouraged by having Tim Shaw from Richmond out recently to help explain how parts of the new finance program (FE) work.

Prayer requests: The FST needs to get caught up on all the work and entries into FE after many weeks of implementing the new system, training, auditors, and technology challenges. Please pray for additional personnel to help as many go on STAS over the next few months. Please pray for the development of a program soon to track the 80/20 medical as this will be time consuming.

Johannesburg Evangelism Team

International World Changers are going downtown to host a soccer clinic, a Holiday Bible Club and do street evangelism. Members of Troyville Baptist Church will be helping with these outreaches. Pray that Troyville Baptist will be excited about reaching out to people in their area. Pray that children will understand the love of Jesus for them. Pray that families will be reached with the gospel. Pray that many will come to know Jesus as Lord and Savior and desire to be part of a Bible study/church.

Logistics Support Team

Pray for all the support staff as they settle in to the new building.

Personnel Support Team

Please pray for Orville Bryant in Kenya who continues to suffer with several medical issues. Pray for his recovery and strength for Suzan as she cares for him. Pray for DeeAnn, Tracy and Elaine as they work many hours to get all of this years’ home school orders filled and shipped out. Many students here in SA are taking exams over the next few weeks. Pray for strength, endurance and a positive spirit for all our MK’s taking these exams..

Port Elizabeth Evangelism Team

Pray that Boyd Hall would have the wisdom necessary to equip workers for utilizing ‘KidsGames’ during WC2010 - life-changing ministry by Christian youth to bring many children into the kingdom.

Soweto Evangelism Team

Fifty young people will be coming with International World Changers from the USA to work in SA during two weeks of the World Soccer Cup. Pray for their spiritual preparedness. Pray while they are here to be able to speak with many people. Pray for preparations here and logistics and safety while here. Pray for their lives when they return home, that they would be able to share with many people. Pray some would be called to overseas missions. Pray for our team as we do follow-up on those met, those who made commitments to Christ and those who showed interest.

Answered Prayer: We thank you for praying in December 09 for the church planting work in Dobsonville, Soweto, South Africa. Five people are consistently attending a weekly Bible study and are eager to have Sunday services. We will continue to have activities in that area to lead more to Christ to grow the group and for a good place to meet.

Tshwane Evangelism Team

One of the major problems of planting churches in the urban center of Pretoria is that facilities for worship and ministry must be rented or purchased. These facilities are usually less than adequate and very difficult to find and expensive. Often, the church must share facilities with several other churches and this usually creates a less than ideal situation. Please pray about future solutions to this problem. Pray that we might be able to establish a strong indigenous church with its own facilities or a ministry center where multiple churches and ministries could be based. From this place other churches, ministries, training, and outreaches could be begun. This would require a big miracle. So pray. We have a God that can do far more than what we dream or think is even possible.

Windhoek Evangelism Team

“Youth with a Purpose (YWAP) will be hosting its annual camp June 18-20!” This announcement is always met with cheers as teenagers who attend weekly Bible studies in Windhoek anticipate a fun and exciting weekend. The annual YWAP camp is known for lives being radically changed. This year, the theme is “Worship” and the youth will be led to discover more of what it means to enter into worship of the Most High God. Music, testimonies, sermons, small group Bible sessions, recreation and fellowship will be centered around teaching this vital part of our relationship with God through His Son, Jesus Christ. The Chris Allen Band will be joining us and bringing to the camp their expertise in leading worship through music. This year we are asking God to move in a mighty way. Some youth will be hearing for the first time what it means to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and will be moved by the Holy Spirit to give their hearts to Jesus. Christian young people will fall under conviction to get their relationships right with God as they confess sin and receive God’s forgiveness. We are asking God to move our youth group as a whole to a higher level of spiritual maturity. We are greatly anticipating God to perform a ‘spiritual leap’ throughout our camp weekend. Along with all these, we are praying that God will call out young people to commit their lives to serving Him in complete obedience and devotion in any area where He will lead them. Pray with us that the Lord would continue to provide lecturers for the seminary who will be committed to teaching the truth. Recent changes in governmental requirements for those missionaries teaching at the seminary are making in difficult to maintain qualified staff. Pray with us that these requirements would be lifted and that work permits would be granted for those whom the Lord is calling out to participate in this worthy task.

Soccer in South Africa!!

The big “Every 4 Year” soccer event that involves countries from all over the world is here!!! The gospel is going out within South African communities through soccer clinics and Holiday Bible Clubs. Many will be sharing the gospel with the thousands of people coming from all over the world!

Pray for a great response by the Christian community to opportunities for outreach and evangelism during the world event being held in South Africa in June and July.

Pray for the volunteer teams that are here helping with ministry during this time!

Pray for the follow-up efforts after the Cup. Pray that many who seemed interested in knowing Christ can be found and discipled.