March 2011

Cape Town Metropolitan Evangelism Team

Centrifuge, will begin a five year partnership with the International Mission Board’s Sub-Saharan Africa region the summer of 2011. A FUGE team will be coming over to South Africa to discover specific ministries in which they can be involved in Cape Town. Please be in prayer as the discovery team seeks out ministry areas in which to work and then as they prepare their teams to return to Cape Town to begin their ministries this year. Pray for their safety and begin praying for the young people who will encounter Jesus through the Centrifuge ministry.

New Crossroads Baptist Church has been looking and praying for a pastor for the past 2 years. God has answered their prayers by sending Kwanele Yako and his wife. In an induction service on Sunday, January 30th before the congregation, local Baptist pastors and guests, Pastor Kwanele along with the leaders of the church confirmed that God has called him to the church and community of New Crossroads. Please pray that God would strengthen and equip Pastor Kwanele and this church to reach the Xhosa people within New Crossroads and neighboring communities for Christ.
Pastor Lucas Mpendulo and Samora Michal Community Church are believing that God has plans to start a new church in a nearby township known as Gugulethu. They have set up a tent and are asking God to draw their Xhosa neighbors to hear the hope of salvation in Jesus Christ. Every week day evening from 7-8 PM all the way to Easter they are inviting the community of Gugulethu to come. Please join Pastor Lucas and Samora Michal Community Church in praying for God to move in the hearts of the Gugulethu Xhosa.

Durban Urban Evangelism Team

Please pray for our team as we train, disciple and witness to the peoples of Durban.

Johannesburg Evangelism Team

Please pray that people of peace will be found in UPG’s in Joburg.

Port Elizabeth Evangelism Team

Prayer for Rhonda's mother, Neva Lyp, who suffered a herniated cornea about a week ago! This comes on the heels of her step-dad's heart surgery.

Please pray for Boyd's dad, Jim Hall. He does indeed have lymphoma. As soon as he returns from a mission-trip to Haiti, he will begin chemotherapy. The doctor's prognosis for this is very positive.

Give praise for the awesome experience with Uitenhage Baptist Church's youth leaders in a leadership "camping" trip!

We thank God for an inspirational Xee training in evangelism, resulting in an exciting new tool to reproduce with local leaders.

Pray for Rebekah as she prepares for a mission-trip to Slovenia during Spring Break from OBU.

Soweto Evangelism Team

We are excited, a Centrifuge discovery volunteer team joins us mid-March. The eleven members will minister with the goal of sharing the people and the work here with youth and kids who attend “FUGE events this summer. A partnership will be formed as a result. We pray the FUGE leaders will see where God wants them working and be able to share needs and God’s work. The March group will be in secondary schools, witness and spend one-on-one time with Christians from local churches.

Tswane Evangelism Team

The Women’s Precept Bible study class will be studying Deuteronomy for 8 weeks. Bev leads and hosts this class. Pray that we will have most of the ladies returning and that there may be some new ladies who join in.

A volunteer team will come to Pretoria from Feb. 19-28^th. The team will be doing prayer-walking and evangelism in different parts of Pretoria and Laudium. The team is from First Southern Baptist Church, Scottsdale, Arizona. Four members of this team will explore the possibility of forming a partnership to help reach and plant churches in Urban Pretoria. Pray for this time. Pray for wisdom for all of us and for safety as we walk in different cities and pray.

Windhoek Evangelism Team

Career missionaries Ron and Lisa Jones just recently returned to Windhoek after a short Stateside Assignment and will be applying to renew their work permit in Windhoek this month. For a number of years prior to the Jones arrival in Namibia in 2008 the government had been refusing requests for work permits by our personnel desiring to enter the country. But by the grace of God, and as a result of much prayer, the Joneses were granted a two year work permit which will expire this month. Therefore they are asking you to intercede once more on their behalf, asking the Lord to have His will in this matter. Ron is currently teaching at the local seminary and is looking forward to beginning to train pastors in the local township. Lisa is currently involved in women’s and children’s ministry; and, the door has just been opened for her to partner with Philippi Trust in Windhoek in the area of counseling as well as training nationals. Both Ron and Lisa feel the Lord called them to Windhoek in order to use them in equipping and empowering Namibians to do the work of the church. Thus they are trusting that once again they will find favor in the eyes of the government to continue doing just that!

Support Center:

Finance Team

The FST praises God for time and opportunities team members have in outside the office ministry. Please pray for Tim and Jeanne Mahoney as they prepare for leading a week of preaching in Kitwe, Zambia for the Kwacha Baptist Church, 18 – 27 April leading up to Easter. Pray for clarity as Tim prepares the messages on the atonement and sacrifice of Christ, that people would come to know the Lord.

Pray also for the Bible study in Somalia Park of Tokoza Township where Dan Forman co-leads a Bible study with Pastor Benias for a group of believers. Pray that the members of the study would be bold to share their faith in their community. Pray also that the Bible study can continue when Dan goes on STAS in April.

Logistics Team

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

Personnel Team

Please be in prayer for changed lives through the True Love Waits program. Pray for God’s Word and design for the youths’ lives to be spoken through Richard, Kristin, Meaghan and Elaine. Presentations scheduled for March 4^th at EBC and two at a local high school in May.

Also pray for salvation for those that are hearing the Word through all the outreaches our team is involved in.

Communications Team

Recent world events have demonstrated the powerful influence of social networking. Pray that the communication team will find creative and meaningful ways to utilize Facebook, Twitter and other social networking tools to share the stories of how God is at work and of how Christians can partner with Him in sharing His love in Africa.

www.africastories.org, www.facebook.com/africastories, www.twitter.com/africastories.

February 2011

Cape Town Metropolitan Evangelism Team

In July 2010, the Cape Town Team held Holiday Bible clubs at schools in three townships. Over 260 gave their lives to Christ. Since then, the team has been meeting with the principals, offering tutoring and Bible study each week at their schools. The team has also been meeting with the pastor and elders of New Crossroads Baptist church across the street from Linge (ling – a) school to see how they can join in the discipling of these youth and children. Please pray for New Crossroads Baptist church as they seek ways to join God in working with the children of Linge School. Please pray for the children as they are faced with the witness about Christ weak week that they will desire to know Jesus and be growing disciples. Pray also for the missionaries (Bonnie Doughtie, Bruce and Sheri Erickson, Sarah Cowan and Michal Mitchell) who go to this school each week to tutor and witness to the children of Christ’s love and offer of salvation for them.

Durban Urban Evangelism Team

Umlazi Baptist Church will be hosting a men’s conference Feb. 26-27. Ask the Father to allow the Holy Spirit to speak into the lives of these men in a mighty way!

Volunteer Caren Eagleburger will arrive at the end of the month to present “Success Now!” seminars to business professionals and university students. Ask the Father to give her many opportunities to interact with business professionals and university students during this time. Pray that hearts will be open to hearing her testimony and responding to the “Good News”! Please pray for Meg Hesch as she recruits and trains people to facilitate the follow-up course to Caren Eagleburger’s presentations in March. Ask that God will raise up committed Christians who will be able to lead the participants on a journey toward deeper discipleship and greater success in all aspects of their lives through applying biblical principles.

Port Elizabeth Evangelism Team

Pray for career missionaries, Boyd & Rhonda Hall, as they minister to youth in Port Elizabeth.

Soweto Evangelism Team

The focus of the Soweto Team, this month, is discipleship. Please pray for 8 young people and half-a-dozen grade 7-10 girls that our j-men are leading. Pray that they will grow in their knowledge of the Bible and their love for God.

Alan Locke added one new student to his TEE students. This young man worked with Zach at the soccer clinics/Bible stories in primary schools the last two years. Please pray that he will stay the course and become a strong leader in the church. Six young men work towards a certificate. Pray for them as Alan will require them to preach once a quarter in their church.

Tswane Evangelism Team

The Women’s Precept Bible study class will be studying Deuteronomy for 8 weeks. Bev leads and hosts this class. Pray that we will have most of the ladies returning and that there may be some new ladies who join in.

A volunteer team will come to Pretoria from Feb. 19-28^th. The team will be doing prayer-walking and evangelism in different parts of Pretoria and Laudium. The team is from First Southern Baptist Church, Scottsdale, Arizona. Four members of this team will explore the possibility of forming a partnership to help reach and plant churches in Urban Pretoria. Pray for this time. Pray for wisdom for all of us and for safety as we walk in different cities and pray.

Windhoek Evangelism Team

Please pray for the continuing work of the WET as they begin the new year!

Support Center:

Finance Team

The FST rejoices that God is sending a journeygirl to work on the team later on this year. Please pray for her as she prepares to come. We also have two units who are in the apprentice program and we are praying that they will be able to complete their program while continuing to work part time in the office.

We are thankful that the FST is getting caught up on the ER’s and allowing time to focus on other work. We are also praying that the goal of having time for ministry outside the office will soon be realized.

Logistics Team

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

Personnel Team

Please be in prayer for all our medical coordinators. The changes to the insurance have been a daily challenge as they desire to serve us. Please pray for endurance and wisdom for them as well as Stephen.

Communications Team

Ministering to the unreached of Madagascar is a priority for the communication team. Training followers of Christ to share their faith is an important aspect of this ministry. Mahafaly Christians in Madagascar will learn to compose praise songs in their heart language during a 22-26 February music workshop led by two members of the communication team. Pray for a fruitful time of learning and creating new songs. The following two weeks, team members will initiate a two-year project for engaging four of the island nation’s unreached people groups. National believers who want to share the Gospel through oral means will be trained in biblical storying methods. Pray for good communication during the training sessions as well as when the trainees go out to share what they have learned.

January 2011 Prayer Requests

Cape Town Metropolitan Evangelism Team

Pray for churches in Cape Town, South Africa seeking training for their children's leaders in regards to abuse. Physical, verbal and sexual abuse are major challenges with children in South Africa. Every 28 minutes a child is raped in South Africa. Children daily live with the fear of abuse. It occurs so often because of many factors like poverty, alcohol/drug abuse, and previous abuse of the adult. Churches are wanting to know how to protect the children in their community. The churches are also wanting to know how to screen leadership, to know what questions to ask and ways to avoid abuse issues. Pray for churches to be educated to know what to do in the event a child is abused. Pray for churches to be able to protect the precious children in their community.

Durban Urban Evangelism Team

Recently World AIDS Day was observed on December 1^st. South Africa has more people living with HIV than any other country. Our province, KwaZulu Natal, is recorded as having the highest HIV rates in the country. Pray for continually renewed efforts on the part of organizations and individuals who are seeking to educate people in the prevention of HIV/AIDS. Pray that the many who are dying each day will have opportunity to hear the gospel and find a personal relationship with Christ before it is too late. Pray for members of the DUETeam as they consider strategy for 2011 in teaching abstinence to youth and young adults.

Pray for returning career missionaries, Roger & Meg Hesch, as they settle back into Durban. We praise the Lord that they are here!

Port Elizabeth Evangelism Team

Pray for career missionaries, Boyd & Rhonda Hall, as they minister to youth in Port Elizabeth.

Soweto Evangelism Team

Two Hands On personnel will be joining our team for four months beginning in late January. This IMB program allows young adults to experience missions first hand. Please pray for these two young women to be spiritually prepared. Pray for a good experience and safety. Pray for the others of us as we supervise, mentor and direct. Pray we would be able to work together as a team. Then pray for Alan and me as they and the two journeymen will all return to the states and leave just to the two of us to continue work in Soweto.

Tswane Evangelism Team

The pastor of Laudium Baptist Church (Indian congregation) resigned the end of July and I will be helping them out on a regular basis and preaching at least two times a month for them. They are surprisingly in great spirits and praying and fasting and seeking God’s direction for their church. They are small and need your prayers. This church definitely has some challenges ahead, but I believe that God is going to help them to rebuild and make an impact on their highly Muslim community.

Pray for Victory Baptist Church, which is also in Laudium. This is an African Black congregation led by two Malawians. They continue to reach out and their attendance is between 20-40 people on Sunday afternoons. Though small they have also begun another church in another community near Johannesburg where there was no church. This church also may be facing a challenge of finding another place to meet for their services. Pray that God will continue to draw people to this church and that it will grow in numbers and in spiritual maturity and strength. Pray that if they have to find another location that they will find one quickly.

Bev’s Women’s Precepts Bible Study has completed part three of the study of Romans and they have a short break and then will begin the fourth and last part of their study of Romans. This Bible study really ministers to a number of ladies from at least five different churches. Pray for Bev as she prepares and teaches these fine ladies.

Windhoek Evangelism Team

Please pray for the continuing work of the WET as they begin the new year!

Support Center:

Finance Team

Please pray for our attitudes as we continue to go through the transition

that we would glorify God with all we do and say. Our desire is to serve

our field personnel well and meet all requirements in a timely way. We are

thankful that some office processes that are working well now and progress

has been made by creating a new team structure.

Logistics Team

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

Personnel Team

Please pray for our medical coordinators. Pray that the Lord would bless them with endurance and good health as they minister to all of us. Praise the Lord for giving us such dedicated and loving nurses. Praise the Lord for our member care team who are always there for us when we need them. Pray that others would answer the call to join the member care team.

Communications Team

Impoverished communities. Jobless fathers. Desperate mothers. Abandoned babies. A Baptist church planted in a struggling inner city community has a Door of Hope, where babies who might otherwise be abandoned in a vacant lot or empty building can be left by their parents, no questions asked. The babies are loved and cared for and prepared for adoption through another of the church’s ministries. Pray that communication team members who volunteer at Door of Hope ministries will have opportunities to share God’s love with the babies and the children awaiting adoption, and with the staff who take care of them.

“We give thanks to God always for all of you, constantly mentioning you in our prayers, remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.”

1 Thessalonians 1:2-3

October 2010 Prayer Requests

Cape Town Metropolitan Evangelism Team

Many of our seminary students are finishing up their studies this year and are looking for jobs. With the BU assembly in session, they will be interviewed as potential candidates for ministry in SA churches. These students are waiting for God's hand to show them where HE wants them to place themselves. Please pray for the ministerial students. We all remember what it was like after seminary wondering where God was going to open the door.

The church that opened up for all the new Christians after Life Champs Camp has called a full-time pastor. He has begun his duties but, since they are paying him full-time, there is very little money left for other things. One of their biggest ministries was the soup kitchen. This will be non-existent until more monies arrive in the offering. As this subsides, the young ladies Bible study that I have been teaching at the same time will also be stopped. Please pray for this church as it goes through growing pains; that they will listen to and follow God's will for the church in their community.

Communications Support Team

Five photographers, videographers and orality specialists on the Communication Team will be involved in ministries during Cape Town 2010: The Third Lausanne Congress on World Evangelization to be held in Cape Town, South Africa, from 16-25 October. Enabling video access to GlobaLink sites around the world, videotaping and photographing sessions and events, and providing orality training and resources will keep team members busy! Pray for flexibility, stamina and senses attuned to where God is at work and what He wants them to cover.

Durban Urban Evangelism Team

Recently 60 persons from 20 local Baptist churches received Disaster Response Training. This group will meet again on October 16 to begin organizing a local team. Please pray that leaders will step forward from this group and everyone will be unified in making plans to share the love of Christ in times when people need a helping hand. Pray that interest will grow in this viable ministry opportunity so that there will be a sense of preparedness if a disaster were to occur nearby.

Finance Support Team

We are thankful for temporary workers who have come in and helped to catch up after the new program came on line. W are also thankful that the system did NOT crashing during the World Cup! And we are thankful for the flexibility of the team as co-workers have gone on STAS and to help one another meet deadlines for the RVA Budget Committee.

Pray for quick adaption back into the office and FE for Gary and Bobbi. Also pray for a good time of rest and renewal for Alvin and Jane as they go on STAS. And pray Tim, Lee, Anna and Daniel Shaw as they settle in Joburg. Also, for continued learning of FE and ways to help field personnel learn how to send their ER’s and MER’s.

Johannesburg Evangelism Team

Pray for journeyperson, Amber Lunn, as she plans a large outreach ministry for Soweto and Joburg called, Serve Soweto and Serve Joburg. We are hoping to have several churches from around the area join the outreach.

Three missionaries met with the pastor of Bellevue Baptist Church hoping to encouraging him to begin prayer walking & evangelizing an area called Bez Valley once a month. Please pray that he and 2 other leaders would begin reaching out with the gospel in this area.

Logistics Support Team

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

Personnel Support Team

Please continue to pray for our personnel affected by many health issues. Also pray that critical job positions will be filled.

Port Elizabeth Evangelism Team

Pray for career missionaries, Boyd & Rhonda Hall, as they minister to youth in Port Elizabeth.

Soweto Evangelism Team

The churches in Dobsonville and Faith Baptist in Snake Park are both growing, but there is a lack of leadership. One woman just discovered how exciting it is to study God’s Word, so pray as she shares with others they would catch her excitement and also lead Bible studies. One young woman has been doing some Sunday school teaching. However, there are far more kids of a wide age range than she can handle on her own, so others must help. Career missionary, Alan Locke, has three young men in Theological Education by Extension and journeypersons, Rachel Jensen and Zach Townsend, both have people in discipleship. Another strong Christian young man has joined us. We are excited to see who God is calling. Please pray with us that people will grow into taking full responsibility for their churches. Pray also for someone to be called to pastor these churches.

Tswane Evangelism Team

The pastor of Laudium Baptist Church (Indian congregation) resigned the end of July and I will be helping them out on a regular basis and preaching at least two times a month for them. They are surprisingly in great spirits and praying and fasting and seeking God’s direction for their church. They are small and need your prayers. This church definitely has some challenges ahead, but I believe that God is going to help them to rebuild and make an impact on their highly Muslim community.

Pray for Victory Baptist Church, which is also in Laudium. This is an African Black congregation led by two Malawians. They continue to reach out and their attendance is between 20-40 people on Sunday afternoons. Though small they have also begun another church in another community near Johannesburg where there was no church. This church also may be facing a challenge of finding another place to meet for their services. Pray that God will continue to draw people to this church and that it will grow in numbers and in spiritual maturity and strength. Pray that if they have to find another location that they will find one quickly.

Bev’s Women’s Precepts Bible Study has completed part three of the study of Romans and they have a short break and then will begin the fourth and last part of their study of Romans. This Bible study really ministers to a number of ladies from at least five different churches. Pray for Bev as she prepares and teaches these fine ladies.

Windhoek Evangelism Team

Answered Prayer:

Original Prayer -

“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.

Thank you for praying for our youth camp in June and the discipleship that has followed. Many young people made solid commitments to stand firm in the power of Jesus, while others prayed for Jesus to become their Savior. God used The Chris Allen Band in mighty ways here in Namibia as they lead and taught how to come into God’s presence through worship. We thank God for your faithfulness in praying for our Namibian youth.

July 2010 Prayer Requests

Cape Town Metropolitan Evangelism Team

During these next months, July and August, many MKs (missionary kids) will be flying to the United States to begin the next portion of their lives. This is one of the most difficult times in a missionary’s lives – the sending of one’s high school graduate off for his/her college education. This is a time of tears and prayers, of congratulations and pride, and a time of hope and anticipation. The student is excited about the future, as are the parents, but the parents also grieve the absence of that loved child no longer in their immediate presence. From Cape Town, during this year, 2 teens will be heading of to college and one other will be going to finish her high school senior year in America. Please be in prayer for the immediate family of these young adults as they grieve the loved one’s absence and adjust to a smaller family, if not an empty nest. Pray also for the guidance of the young adults as they step into the God-held future.

Answered Prayer: From June 15^th – 25^th, your missionaries to Cape Town, South Africa along with the Baptist seminary students one week and mission volunteers from North Carolina another week teamed up to provide a Vacation Bible School/Life Champs Camp to three communities in the townships. During these two weeks, children from three different township schools in grades 6 through 9 encountered the incarnation of Christ and His love. There were 587 children registered at these 3 camps. Of these, 287 gave their lives to Christ. Amid the sports, music, art, and Bible study time one could hear the chants and songs of the children, one could hear the laughter of fun being had and the silence of consideration pervading the campuses. These children were offered the hope of Jesus. At the end of each week, after the kids had the opportunity to accept Christ, questions were asked like, “will I be with my parents in heaven?” At one point when asked what he was going to be when he grew up, one boy replied, “either a gangster or a missionary; it depends on who gets to me first. This was a week of joy, contemplation, fun, food and safety. These children had one sandwich a day and juice provided by a church. They had games and recreation and music. They had safe haven while they were in the confines of the schools. And, most of all, they had Jesus among them.

Communications Support Team

Mention Africa, and most people immediately envision boundless untamed land, diverse tribal peoples, scattered mud huts and exotic wild animals. While these are valid images that can be seen throughout much of the continent, Africa also has some amazing cities. Johannesburg, Dakar, Jos and Nairobi are among the urban centers that the communication team will be investigating in preparation for the IMB’s 2011 focus on the cities of the world. Africa’s cities are home to numerous ethnicities and language groups, and they are plagued by typical urban issues such as crime, overcrowding, racism, poverty and unemployment. Pray that team members will see what God sees and be able to tell the story that He wants told about the people of Africa’s cities.

Answered Prayer: Thanks so much to everyone for their prayers for the communication team during the month of June. Spirits have remained high, coverage teams have traveled in safety, and stories of God at work have been shared. What you’ve submitted to team members about your ministries and outreaches have been a huge encouragement. We praise God for Blake, Jerry and Chris who came from the Forward Communication Team in Nairobi; William who came from the US; and Will and John who came from Global Communication Teams at other support centers to work alongside us during these busy days. Pray that we will stay the course, stay focused, stay healthy and find ways to build on World Cup momentum to keep people interested in the stories of Africa after the big event has ended.

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

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

After ministries with Troyville Baptist and Berea Baptist churches, pray that the members of these churches 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 of those who received newspapers and tracts will desire to know Christ. 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 continue to pray for our personnel affected by many health issues. Also pray that critical job positions will be filled.

Port Elizabeth Evangelism Team

Pray for Boyd Hall and other workers as they follow up from the ‘KidsGames’ they hosted during WC 2010.

Soweto Evangelism Team

Fifty young people came with International World Changers from the USA to work in SA during two weeks of the World Soccer Cup. Pray for our team as we do follow-up on those met, those who made commitments to Christ and those who showed interest.

Windhoek Evangelism Team

New Song Family Church in Windhoek is a young church with a very young congregation. The young couples who are part of the congregation face many of the same challenges young couples in the Sates face today. In most situations both the husband and wife work in order to provide for their families; thus, they live busy hectic lives as they strive to meet the demands of work as well as the demands at home. Many of them have young children who go to school, need help with their studies, and who participate in a myriad of extracurricular activities that keep their parents literally running from dawn until dusk. Despite the fact that both husband and wife work, many struggle financially due to the ever-increasing cost of living as a result of the economic crises that has reached as far as the African continent. And, the majority of them have little family support as they have left their town or village of origin in search of a better job or better educational opportunities for their children in the capital city.

In order for families to survive in this type of environment marriages must be strong. Career missionary, Lisa Jones, will begin a Sacred Marriage Bible study this month in an effort to help these for these young couples better understand God’s design for the marriage relationship: one that is to be modeled after the relationship of Christ and the church. Pray that the Lord would call out many couples to participate in this study. Pray that as these precious couples study the biblical concepts presented in this study that they would apply them in their marriages in order for them to grow in their faith as well as present a living testimony to those around them of God’s love and grace.

Soccer in South Africa!!

The Soccer Tournament is coming to a close fast! Many evangelistic ministries have taken place in the cities hosting the games.

Please pray that God will work in the hearts of the many people who received tracts and heard the gospel presentation.

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

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.

March 2010 Prayer Requests

Cape Town Metropolitan Evangelism Team

A staggering number of 2009 matric students failed the exam. The CTMET spoke with the Principal of Linge School and will be beginning a tutoring program. Bonnie Doughty, Amy Boone and Sheri will be tutoring in Science, Math and English. The English part will be the learners reading Bible stories and from the book of Mark to see how much they comprehend. This is a way of helping them learn English and also learn about the Lord. The teachers, are thrilled to have assistance.

Please pray that the students will learn these subjects well enough to pass high school. Pray that through this program they will come to know the Lord. Pray that the missionaries will be able to minister to the teachers at Linge, as well as the students.

Communications Support Team

Pray for three Communication Team members who are going to Madagascar this month (March) to train pastors and lay people in Storying T4T and the use of indigenous Christian music. Thank God for opportunities to impact the Antandroy and Antanosy people groups, who have been adopted by the Communication Team.

Pray that the stories featured on the AfricaStories Web site (www.africastories.org) will touch people’s hearts and encourage them to intercede for the peoples of Africa.

Pray for team members to be able to meet their deadlines for the next issue of AfricaStories magazine and for the AfricaStories and World Cup Web sites.

Durban Urban Evangelism Team

Please pray for Carol Bowers as she approaches pastors and key church leadership regarding Disaster Response Training scheduled for August 13 and 14. Pray that church leaders will gain a vision of ministry in disaster sites. South Africa frequently suffers disasters such as fires, floods, and strong winds in informal settlements. Pray they will see the need for training and preparedness.

The churches in the Natal Baptist Association will meet on Saturday, March 13. Ask the Father that they will be of one heart and mind in Him as they make decisions.

Finance Support Team

Pray for our team as the new financial reimbursement forms have been implemented.

Johannesburg Evangelism Team

Pray that more South African pastors catch such a vision for their areas and people.

Pray they will want to bring us along and that we will, led by the Holy Spirit, will have hearts prepared for the journey.

Logistics Support Team

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

Personnel Support Team

Pray for all our MKs who have resumed school. Pray they would all see and experience their value in the Lord. Also, pray for peace and understanding as many are struggling and grieving with the suspension of camps and AGMs.

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

Brenda, a woman baptized in November at the church in Snake Park and used to live there with her mom and sis, recently moved to Tshepesong. This is one area our team had identified as a place to begin work in the future. But we praise God, as He had it planned long before we did. Brenda asked for a Bible study in her home and wanted to invite her neighbors. Alan Locke goes on a Friday afternoon and takes one or two young men from Snake Park who hear the story on a Tuesday, with the goal to tell the story in another setting. The first Friday, she said she had a friend in the next township over, Kagiso, who we should visit. So Alan and 4 others headed to her home. There Brenda told half the story, the young man from Snake Park another part and a young woman from the Tshepesong the study told more. This was really exciting and fulfilled our goal to get local people to tell family and friends and to lead Bible studies. Pray that these studies would evolve into churches.

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

Windhoek, the capital of Namibia, is located on a plateau between the Kalahari and Namib deserts. Most of the year the climate is very dry and thus as one looks out across the city all that one can see is dry dusty land. Although the city is surrounded by mountains there is very little color. In fact, it seems that the only plants that thrive in this barren land are thorn trees and cactus.

And yet, there are a couple of months each year that the rains come. And when the rains come what a transformation is seen in the city! It’s as if suddenly everything comes to life. The shrubs and trees turn green and flowers bloom in abundance. Even the cactus and thorn trees suddenly sprout blooms of vibrant yellows, reds, and pinks. The dry river beds are filled with water and waterfalls appear where there was once nothing but rock and stone. Surely it is a sight to behold as the desert comes into bloom each year!

The people of Namibia are much like the land in which they live. Many of them are spiritually dry and wasted, desperately looking for the rains to come. Yet many are looking in the wrong places. Pray with the Windhoek Urban Team as they seek God’s will as to the best way to reach those who are searching. Pray that just as the rains came this year and transformed the land, that the Holy Sprit would come and transform lives in order that we might experience the wonder that the prophet spoke about in Isa. 35:6 “…for waters shall burst forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert.”

Soccer in South Africa!!

The big “Every 4 Year” soccer event that involves countries from all over the world is fast approaching. Many plans are being made to share the gospel within South African communities and 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 coming to help with ministry during this time!