Around the Rim - April 2008

PRAYER REQUESTS:

Join in prayer and fasting on Thursday, April 3 for the Peranakan of Malaysia. See the home page for specific requests.

This month the Philippine National WMU will have its Triennial Assembly on Mindanao. Women look forward to this nation-wide meeting. Pray for the preparations and provision of funds for the meeting and travel. Pray the women will catch a greater vision and that some will be called out to serve cross-culturally.

Pray for the registration of a business in a Last Frontier country. Ask that the paperwork will be accepted quickly and not be too complicated. Pray that the government will grant favor and an appropriate license. Pray that many opportunities to share the Good News will result from this new endeavor.

Megan, a semester volunteer, will be coming to work in the Philippines. Pray for Megan as she makes all the preparations to come and as she raises her support for this ministry.

Pray for an English class at a university. Ask God to open doors to share the Truth. Pray for courage and creativity in the sharing of the Truth.  Pray that God stirs up a hunger for the Truth within the hearts of the students.

Pray for the development of two new versions of the Book in the local language of a Last Frontier country.  Pray that these adaptations will pierce the hearts of local people and be clearly understood when read. Pray for accurate renditions of the original meaning of the text. 

A Japanese woman who answers the phone at a Shinto shrine was looking for an English practice partner online and got connected with a volunteer in Japan. Pray for F.O. to be touched as she reads the book of John. Ask for her protection from evil as she searches for the one, true God.

Ask for His protective covering over our TCKs (Third Culture Kids) physically, emotionally, socially and spiritually. Pray that each one would be drawn into a deep, rich personal relationship with Him.  Pray that they will seek His face and will in every decision they face. Pray especially for TCKS who are deciding which college to attend this fall. Ask the Father’s blessings on them as they make this huge transition.

A Japanese house church has grown and multiplied into two groups during March. Pray that the group will make the transition well and continue to share their faith boldly with co-workers, neighbors and family.

Pray for the summer meeting to be a time of seeking, cleansing and renewal for the Pacific Rim family. Pray that volunteers will be gifted with plans and insights into needs of our TCKs and preparations for their ministry overseas. Pray that the many logistical details will be anticipated and accomplished this month. Ask that the Father will do a new work in us so we can be His vessels for reaching out to a lost world.

This month a volunteer team will lead a ladies conference in our region. Lift up the volunteers asking that they will be ready for this time spiritually, emotionally and physically. Pray that those who attend will hear and obey God’s word, resulting in an energized, focused effort to reach B’New women with the Truth. Pray that God will call out key B’New women who will spearhead outreach to hundreds of women.

A local believer has expressed a desire to receive leadership training, particularly in story-telling.  Ask that there will be no obstacles to prevent the training.
Four Filipino “Nehemiah Teams” will be serving among the Agta for six weeks in April. As they live in new villages and start studies, pray for these high school and college age Filipino students to experience good health, safety, boldness and many answers to prayer. Being out of their comfort zones can be an opportunity to see God do mighty acts and to reveal more of His will for their lives. Pray that they will be listening carefully to Him. Pray that their stay will go well, that many new fellowships and new believers will result from this outreach.

Workers who have moved to a new city have been walking each morning asking their Father for open eyes and hearts to hear what He wants to teach them. Recently, they met two young married couples in their neighborhood. These relationships have led to times of sharing the Good News and how to experience peace and joy in the midst of difficult days. A young boy from a Last Frontier country has also come into their circle of friends. Pray these workers to have many opportunities for sharing with these new friends.

April, not January, is the “New Year” for the people in one Last Frontier country. It is their most important holiday – a time of reaffirmation of their local spiritual traditions.  Pray that during this April holiday, God will cause local people to seriously question their beliefs.  Pray that God reveals the deep void in their souls and many will open their hearts to the only One who can fill them.

Ask that God would open up hearts to the Boomyah people and believers would begin praying for specific families to come into the Kingdom. Team Boomyah is looking for partners to adopt families in their people group. Ask that God would call these partners to be involved reaching the Boomyah.

Recent deaths of a parents, siblings and co-workers, sicknesses and crises have increased for Pacific Rim workers. Pray for healing in body, mind and spirit. Pray that workers will press on in assurance that His love and rest is enough for those who trust in Him and His goodness.

BL has been preparing to share the gift of God’s love that is available to all.  As she meets with her students to share stories from the Bible, ask the Father to open the ears and hearts of her students.

Pray for Mr. & Mrs. H, a believing, local couple facing many challenges. Pray that this family will persevere in their first house fellowship. Pray that God will provide strong male leadership. Pray that God will prevent busyness, visitors, sickness, and fear from hindering this fellowship. Pray that the fellowship will expand and multiply beyond anything they can imagine.

J-Gospel hits Japan! A quiet revolution is taking place as `J-Gospel`, a new musical phenomenon is growing and spreading by exerting influence similar to J-Pop and other forms of Japanese music. J-Gospel is gaining influence with a weekly radio program, soon to TV and live concerts throughout the country. From February 27 to March 2, in Shinjuku in central Tokyo, several Gospel bands will premier. Pray that many avenues for sharing the Gospel will result as people listen to Gospel music and develop an interest in spiritual things.

After several weeks of meetings and other activities, the Bible studies in the Agta villages of the Philippines will resume again. Pray that the last lessons of the evangelistic stories will be heard and understood so they can be passed on to others. Pray that He will soften their hearts to believe the truth and that they will clearly understand the need to put their faith in Christ alone.  Pray that fellowships will be born as a result and that they will immediately be burdened to tell others the Good News. 

Pray this month for K-san. In December, K-san led two people to faith in Jesus, one was a friend and one was a young lady seeking answers when she came to his cafe’. Pray that these two believers will become a part of the believers weekly meeting at the cafe’ for study and worship. Pray they will grow and share their faith with their friends. Pray that members will take more leadership in reaching out and building the group.

Pray for the neighbors of believers in a Last Frontier country. Their tradition, culture and fear trap them in bondage. Out of sensitivity to the local culture, an outreach project was rescheduled because the locals viewed that day as “unlucky.”  Pray that God will draw these neighbors out of the darkness and into His glorious Light.

Pacific Rim is a region of the International Mission Board, SBC.

PDF Version               April 2008 Calendar