Missions’ Praises and Prayer Requests: May ~ June 2017

Alan and Jan Scholes—Campus Crusade for Christ (Cru) (Global)
Praise:
That Alan and Jan have both remained in general good health throughout the Spring.
That Alan has done some important research into critical issues for both his own Cru ministry, the International School Project, and the Cru Campus Ministry.
Prayer:
For wisdom and guidance. In June, for the 43nd year, Alan will teach the graduate course, Introduction to Christian Theology, to 200 new and senior Cru staff. He has been asked to make substantial changes.
For safety and health as Jan accompanies their daughter Rebecca and her three children, on a 3,000 mile road trip in May and June to attend a family wedding. (Alan can’t come due to ministry commitments.) They will also introduce the children to Yosemite, Grand Canyon, and Mesa Verde parks. Please pray for safety and health for all five travelers.

Community Christian School, Lincoln, CA (USA)

• Praise:
  • That our enrollment is growing—it’s an answer to our prayer!
  • That God has provided a permanent home for CCS—another answer to prayer!
• Prayer:
  • For our move to go smoothly. There are many details to cover!
  • For unity among parents, staff, and board members.

Daren and Jodi Beck—ACTION International (Cambodia)

• Praise:
  • For the new church planted among migrant workers here in Phnom Penh.
  • That our teammates, BJ and Andrea Lopez, received visas for their two adopted boys; they will be able to take a furlough together for the first time in nine years!
• Prayer:
  • For the 12 Brazilian missionary units who have applied to Action Brazil for deployment around the world.  We are praying for workers and God is sending!

For our team in Action Gulu (Uganda). We have a critical need for an Accountant/Business Manager; also pray for wisdom as we consider how to best minister to the thousands streaming across the border from South Sudan

Frank Erb—Capitol Commission (USA)

• Praise:
  • For the joy of continuing to teach God’s word!
  • For my wife and two college-age children who bring great joy to my heart.
• Prayers:
  • For God to guide me as I continue to reach out to legislators and staff and lobbyists.
  • For continued spiritual breakthroughs as I reach out to legislators and staff and lobbyists to share Christ.
  • For more legislators and staff and lobbyists to attend our Capitol Bible Studies.
  • For continued healing of my shoulder following shoulder surgery that I had many months ago.

Grace Moses—Sangita Charitable Trust (India)

• Praise:
  • For the marvelous way God led us through the close of the academic year. It is wonderful to see the 90 children in our school promoted to the next grade level.
  • That eight children made a decision to follow Christ in one of our camps, and they love Jesus deeply. All eight of the children were non-Christians before.
  • That the expansion of our widows’ ministry has enabled many more widows to hear the gospel and love of Jesus Christ.
  • That the women’s empowerment ministry has brought about a transformation and Christian influence in the communities we serve!
• Prayer:
  • For strength and guidance as the government is trying all possible ways—especially in children’s homes and schools—to take away our ministries as well as any mention of Jesus.
  • That God will provide as he has been all these years. Unfortunately, we have incurred huge expenses as the school reopened. We are also putting up a dining area for the children to have their meals in dignity, using tables and chairs (they usually eat sitting on the floor).
  • For God’s providence for a new facility for the rapidly-growing women’s empowerment ministry. They are presently using the children’s home rooms.
  • For our health, as our staff and volunteers are overworked, and our bodies are physically drained. Pray that God will renew our strength, as we have made a commitment to Christ that we will serve Him till our last drop of energy is gone.

Henry and Grace Banda—YOLEDS (Youth Leadership Development in Sport) (Malawi)

• Praise:
  • That we were able to successfully attend this year’s Reach Gathering sports conference in Dallas in April.
  • For the funds received to purchase Evangelism and discipleship materials. The funds have come at just the right time, when we will be having sports programs, such as Sports Outreach, and other spiritual growth programs.
• Prayers:
  • For the high school sports program. I have already started forming some sports Bible groups among the sports teams at the school. I have been given the mandate to design their sports structures and programs. Pray for God’s wisdom, and for the volunteers I work with to have hearts of servanthood as they serve the Lord.
  • For our church, as we are praying for God’s provision of funds to build our main church in our capital city. We have set the month of August as a fundraising month. We will be sharing updates as we get close to the fundraising event.
  • For the success of our two sports major events: a sports conference that focuses on breaking down barriers for women and girls in sports, and a five-day Anglican sports leader seminar.

Jay and Karen—New Missions Systems International/The Crossing Missions (Asia)

• Praise:
  • That Our Psalm 67 (P67) core team is training up workers that, Lord willing, will lead to a rapidly multiplying Disciple Making Movement (DMM). There are 12 groups meeting every week. A few of these are purely training gatherings involving Christian workers. The bulk of these meetings are the workers leading Muslims toward entering God’s Kingdom! A total of 74 people are currently involved.
  • For the wonderful weekend we had recently. 22 refugees from Afghanistan spent three days and two nights with us. Our house was full of conversation, laughter, eating, song, and dance. One man said this was the first time in two years he felt at home. I shared the Gospel with these dear souls. We talked of important things and fun things into the night. What an opportunity for the seed to be planted in the hearts of so many.
  •  That the head of International Operations from our home office, and his wife, here for a week. They were able to see the work God is doing through P67, help us strategize, talk with us about “life” with adult children and enjoy a few local places. We were so encouraged by this visit!  It helped us focus on the ministry as well as get some “rest” we mentioned we have needed.
• Prayer:
  • For God’s providence. As we wrote in our recent newsletter, we are currently experiencing a financial shortfall of around $1,700/month. Wow, we didn’t see this coming! Our hope is in God. This is a serious challenge. We are unwavered. We do request prayer and faith on how this challenge will be met. We survive on the Lord and His Bride. May His will be done in our life and yours! (Please let us know if you haven’t received our newsletter and we will send it out.)
  • For continued strength and wisdom in the church planting effort. James tells us “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.” (James 1:5) We surely need more of this right now as we are at a crucial time of expansion and it takes wisdom from on high. Thank you for laboring with us.
  • • That a woman who works in our home will have the great desire, courage, and boldness to gather her family together to read, pray, and learn from our holy books. She says she had a vision of Karen and needs to learn from her. Her shoulder was healed recently through the prayers of our teammates and Karen. She has been excited about the NT stories Karen has shared with her so we are encouraging her in her journey.

Kennedy Salano—316 Transformational Sports Ministry (East Africa)

• Praise:
  • For the more than 20 kids who committed their lives to Christ in our recent sports ministry tournament in Kariobangi.
  • For the success of the kids’ camp on the Kenya/Somalia border, where there were over 120 boys and girls from a Muslim background who attended.
  • For God’s provision that will enable us to complete the discipleship sports ministry building by the end of May.
• Prayers:
  • For the May mission Trip to Zanzibar.
  • For our boys and girls as they go back to school this summer.
  • For the 2017 Sports Ministry first ever workers’ conference to held in Nairobi in the month of October.

Paul Moses—India Sports Ministry (India)

• Praise:
  • For an excellent and very fruitful meeting with Gathering leaders in Chennai on implementing a long term sports program that will engage 12 gathering groups for a three-month period. The end goals for each Gathering Group will be to have a sports program, a sports coordinator, a sports team, a sports strategy, and to be part of the Chennai Gatherings Sports Coalition. It was an exciting meeting, with a lot of energy and passion for the coming program.
  • For the 80 school kids who were part of a Kids Games program in East India. Another Kids Games program in East India hosted 200 kids. East India also hosted a Coaching for Life program for 75 young people.
  • For the sports meet in northeast India that hosted 400 youth during which time the young people were impacted through sports and Life Coaching.
  • For Coimbatore in south India, which hosted a volleyball tournament for visually impaired people.
  • For Andhra Pradesh in South India, who hosted a big Kids Games for over 400 kids.
  • For the success of a teens camp in North India, where most of the learnings where through Sport and Play.
• Prayer:
  • For wisdom and guidance for our leaders as we embark on implementing the goals that came out of our important planning and strategy meetings of Sports Coalition of India. We mapped out the whole year 2017 in the light of India 683/2020 vision. We need wisdom and a good plan to implement the goals that we have for the year.

Ruth Veltkamp—Set Free Ministries (Nigeria)

• Praise:
  • That a top Muslim religious leader from Senegal did encounter the Way, the Truth, and the Life while in Nigeria.  Thank God for destroying many works of Satan and replacing them with the ongoing gracious and powerful work of the Holy Spirit in his life. An experienced Christian leader accompanied this new believer back to Senegal for follow-up. Thank God for the hope we have in Christ that the number of true disciples of Jesus will multiply even in what were once 100% Muslim communities.
  • That Akiza was finally released after sixteen months in prison. Near death when released, he is now responding well in answer to many prayers and treatment in a good hospital. Thank God for the daily opportunity for IMANI leadership to show him love, pray with him, and build him up in faith for future ministry.
  • For the strength given to Ruth to facilitate three successful seminars in Nigeria. Thank God especially for the opportunity to interact with the mission leaders of Pioneers, Nigeria branch. These Pioneers leaders have committed themselves to setting up training centers and mobilizing Christians in south-south Nigeria to share the Gospel with the many Muslims moving into their communities from northern Nigerian. Thank God for his promise to give them the wisdom and resources they will need to fulfill such a vision.
• Prayer:
  • For wisdom for Ruth, back in the States, as she follows up her teaching in Nigeria with helping to edit a book written by a Nigerian missionary called Scattered to be Gathered. This book is intended to motivate and educate southern Nigerian Christians to engage “scattered” migrant Muslims from the north with the wisdom and love of Christ.  Some of these Muslims are refugees from Boko Haram.  Others are coming for business or higher education.  Still others are coming primarily to Islamize the “Christian South.”  Pray that God will use this book and other means to awaken the churches in southern Nigeria to “gather” these Muslim migrants into communities where they will experience love and transformation in Christ.
  • For God to open up for Akiza an effective platform for witness to Christ and peace-making as he recovers from his time in prison. Pray that the radical movement in Islam that he pioneered will become a movement of those radically committed to the Lord Jesus Christ and his Kingdom!  Continue to pray also for his wife Neza’s full recovery to health so that she may continue the ministry to widows and orphans that God has entrusted to her.
  • For God to protect Dr. Kumtar, as he has taken his family back to his home country for a two-week visit.  Pray for God to encapsulate this family in His Light for protection and witness. Pray for the Gospel to spread through the networks of Dr. Kumtar’s family and friends through the gracious work of the Holy Spirit in their lives. May all curses be turned to blessings.

Steve and Dawn Liberti—NAB Conference/Proclaim Ministries (Germany/Global)

• Praise:
  • For a wonderful “Sending Event” on April 1st of this year. We really wanted to show our appreciation to these people who have been so faithful and committed to “holding the rope” for our family over these last years in the mission field. It was a great evening of saying thank you, and casting a vision for our next five-year term.
  • For a wonderful opportunity as Steve travels to Jacksonville, Florida for leadership meetings over the next two weeks. We praise God for orchestrating logistics to make the time with colleagues possible.
  • For our girls Bianca and Sofia as they are growing and maturing in their faith and in life. Dawn and I are continuously surprised and so pleased for the young women they are becoming. They are looking forward to the return to our base of ministry in Germany. They are handing the inevitable upheaval and huge life change with such grace and poise. The is God’s work in them.
• Prayers:
  • For our family as we enter the final weeks of our Home Assignment Year here in California. These can be stressful and anxious times for us but please pray that we would lean hard into The Lord during this fast-paced time of life. Pray for us as we depart California and leave dear friends and family for another five-year term on mission for Jesus.
  • For Steve’s mom Mary and Dawn’s mom Marilyn as we prepare to say “see you soon.” Our parents are aging and it is particularly hard to leave them back here in America when we are half a world away.
  • For our daughter Sofia as she serves on mission with Royal Servants as a nanny for a couple who will lead a team of students to Spain, Portugal, and Israel. Pray for strength, stamina and lots of energy as she cares for three young children for over two months.
  • For our ministry partners in the Balkans who are eager to continue partnering together to reach their communities for Christ Jesus. Steve will likely make another advance planning trip to several Balkan countries in the fall of this year.

Sacramento Valley Teen Challenge (USA)

• Praise:
  • For our many faithful volunteers.
  • For the work the Lord is doing in our students’ lives and in their families.
• Prayer:
  • For open positions to be filled with those that God has called to the ministry.
  • For the financial needs of the ministry.

Thamsing and Ring Dilbung—Church Sports International/Sports Resource Center (East India)

• Praise:

For my return to full health, so that I could resume my ministry fully, starting in April. I am so grateful to Lincoln Hills Community Church for prayer and the financial help for my treatment.

• • For the Loving God Bible College in Nagaland, where the Church Sports Ministry was introduced. Since 2015, the college has adopted Sports Ministry as a subject. The college invited me as Convocation Speaker for bringing sports ministry to their 9 B.Min students who graduated this year. Praise be to God.
  • That we successfully launched another sports ministry: Kingdom Sports Academy. Thank God that many young leaders are taking up sports ministry seriously.
  • That more Bible schools are inviting me and my other leaders to teach Sports ministry in the upcoming new season. Praise the Lord for opening more doors.
  • That Thamsing has completed writing two books during his treatment time: 40 Day Sports Devotional and Christian Sports Competitions. He hopes to print both books in the months of May and June.
• Prayer:
  • That Thamsing and team will be able to visit both Tripura and Sikkim states soon, in order to establish and strengthen the sports ministry. We had to postpone this trip, originally planned for last November, due to health issues.
  • For the safety of Ring and her women’s group from Self Help Group for Mission, as 20 of them are travelling to Arunachal Pradesh state for a mission outreach program in late May and early June.
  • For continued guidance as we work to establish sports ministries in the more than 80 Districts in Northeast India. We, the sports ministry leaders, have committed to this as our “Vision 2020.” Please pray for us to fulfill this mission.
  • For the church planted in Assam.

      Alan and Jan Scholes—Campus Crusade for Christ (Cru) (Global)

• Praise:
  • That Alan’s doctor believes the fungus in his lungs is gone, and so he no longer has to take the anti-fungal medication. (He will have another scan in six months to make sure.)
  • That Alan and the small curriculum-writing team are making good progress on the new elementary curriculum.
  • That Alan has been invited to teach three more graduate courses to Cru staff in 2017.
• Prayer:
  • For wisdom and efficiency for Alan and the team as they finish writing the last remaining lessons of the new Elementary DreamMaker/DreamBreaker curriculum. (It’s an addiction-prevention series of lessons for ages 6-12.)
  • That Jan will sleep better consistently. She continues to have good nights and bad nights sleeping.
  • For Alan as he prepares for two Cru staff classes early in 2017. He’s been asked to make major-update changes for a Christian Worldview class in February. Please pray for wisdom as he prepares.

Community Christian School, Lincoln, CA (USA)

• Praise:
  • That our students and staff are in good health and have adjusted well to their new schedules and classes.
  • That our BBQ cookoff and First Responder appreciation went well. God answered our prayers to hold off the rain!
• Prayers:
  • For a few of our students, who are struggling with reading. Pray for wisdom for teachers and perseverance for the students.
  • For guidance for our Board as they plan for the future of CCS, specifically for a new location when the time comes.

Daren and Jodi Beck—ACTION International (Cambodia)

• Praise:
  • For the diverse group of candidates who are being deployed from ACTION as career missionaries to Zambia, Nepal, Cambodia, Honduras, and the Philippines.
  • For our new teammate Ryan, who just completed his ThM from The Master’s Seminary and is planning to arrive in country within the next few months.
• Prayer:
  • For the growth and maturity of the 30+ Shalom Mission Cambodia Churches, which are spread out around Cambodia.
  • For one of our teammates here in Cambodia who is waiting for an adoption to be granted in the Cambodian courts. In addition to the joy this would bring and the family this would create, it would also allow for a much needed furlough. 

Frank Erb—Capitol Commission (USA)

• Praise:
  • That the divisive election season is finally over, and we can now move forward with ministry to the government leaders whom God has allowed to hold office.
  • That God may be providing a volunteer administrative assistant to help me.
  • That both my children are enjoying college.
• Prayers:
  • That God will guide as everyone serving with Capitol Commission meets in Raleigh, North Carolina in November 13-17 for our annual gathering.
  • That God will guide me as I begin to reach out to our new state legislators after they are sworn into office on December 5.
  • That God will direct me as I make many plans for a new year of outreach and discipleship in the Capitol.
  • That end of year giving makes up my budget shortfall and provides for all that God wants done.
  • For my shoulder to continue to heal well following the rotator cuff surgery I had in late September.
  • That God will bring our son Lucas many strong Christ-honoring friends and a good church while he is away at college.
  • For my sister Mary and my wife’s sister Krystal who are both fighting cancer, that they will look to the Lord and receive his salvation and healing.

Grace Moses—Sangita Charitable Trust (India)

• Praise:
  • That we received a very crucial government license that we have been waiting and praying for the past six months which allows us to receive foreign funds. We have reached out to you to pray for this in the past, and we thank you for your prayers.
  • For God’s direction as we have made the decision to expand the Sangita ministry to four more villages. We are currently ministering to 10 villages, and with these additional villages, our target vision of ministering to 14 villages will be reached. We are very excited!
• Prayer:
  • For God’s provision for safety and protection, as there have been recent factors that have begun to actively discourage our mission.
  • For wisdom, guidance, and provision as we continue the Sangita ministry. There are many critical needs in these new villages: widows who have little or no support, roofs that are caving in to village houses, and caring for people with special needs.
  • For health and strength as we serve Him through these ambitious ministries. 

Henry and Grace Banda—YOLEDS (Youth Leadership Development in Sport) (Malawi)

• Praise:
  • For God’s faithfulness to keep me healthy in my body and strong in Spirit.
  • To God for His sustenance, and meeting us in all our needs as a family.
  • To the Holy Spirit for His presence in my life, I know I can do nothing that effectively (supernaturally) renews my love for loving my God, and sustains my zeal for my righteousness.
• Prayers:
  • For the elderly, widows, and orphans in my country.
  • For the homeless, the poor, and the unemployed.
  • For the success of our ministry and our programs, in the following areas:
    • Raising funds for attending the REACHgathering, a gospel-centered sports conference in Dallas in 2017.
    • Safety during travel, as I will be travelling to Tanzania to establish a YOLEDS office in that country.
    • The forthcoming weeklong sports ministry leadership seminar for the Anglican church. This is a program to train 150 Sports ministry leaders from the Central Region Diocese. They have provided accommodation at one of their theological training schools. As a Ministry, we are going to provide seminar manuals and take care of other seminar logistics.
  • That the gospel will spread rapidly, and be honored as we use the bridge of sports ministry to bring the lost into the kingdom of God.
  • For the successful launching of our sports ministry school.  During the trial program, four students graduated who underwent the 10 months of studies. It is my prayer that the school will be launched soon. We have established it in Zambia, and I will be travelling to Tanzania to open the office of YOLEDS and introduce the sports school.

Jay and Karen—New Missions Systems International/The Crossing Missions (Asia)

• Praise:
  • For the promise and success of Project Psalm 67. Jay and his team have been quite busy with preparations and trainings. Most of us here have really sensed the Lord is working on hearts here with a new freshness and openness to Him.
  • For Karen’s ability to minister again at Ruth House. Over the summer, Ruth House was spotlighted on national TV—and due to the publicity, more girls are coming. There have been 10 babies born since I returned, many who will be put up for adoption. It’s been a blessing to influence their lives. We’ve been reading through the stories of Rahab and Joseph, and a number of lives have been changed!
  • For new relationships with people around us in our mountain region as well as deepening relationships with ministry partners through good times as well as trials. We appreciate our new location (we’ve been here almost a year). It is well suited to host the short-term teams coming through. Though we are just a half an hour from a very large city, we are in the mountains. Life is much different from the nearby city. We thank God for this pleasant place.
• Prayer:
  • For the quick healing of Karen’s right hand. Back in September, Karen slipped and sustained some soft tissue damage in her right hand. There are no broken bones, but this has impacted her work with Ruth House and the World Race team. Unfortunately, she pushed herself too hard too early in the healing process, which set her back. Pray for wisdom for her therapist, and pray for patience for Karen. Thanks for your continued prayers.
  • For the success of the two World Race teams in our city. Although we had to decline to lead one of the teams due to Karen’s injury, we routed that team to another ministry here in town—and they are doing fine. This is their last month before returning to the States, so please pray with us that they will all end very well and strong in Him. Please pray that the members will be open for what the Lord may have in store for them next. Perhaps it could be a return here! We thank God for their 11-month, 11-country World Race!
  • For the girls of Ruth House as they go back to normal life, that they would bring new principles with them and find hope for their future. For those still at Ruth House, please pray for open hearts, repentance—and hope, too.
  • For a potential two-month internship team coming here next year. Preparation has been done and we are praying for a good group to come. This will be organized through our organization, NMSI. Often it is through an exploratory trip like this one planned that people will feel led/called to follow the Lord into this harvest field.

Kennedy Salano—316 Transformational Sports Ministry (East Africa)

• Praise:
  • For a very successful mission trip to Zanzibar, where I was able to have a one-on-one training with coaches to reach out to Muslim boys and girls.
  • For the sports ministry certification of Pastor Samuel Wambua, who is from our university. He has a deep commitment to start a sports-centered ministry in his church.
  • That my book, Evangelism: Touching Lives Through Sports, is now available as an e-book. (Editor’s note: Click on the link above to order the e-book for the Amazon Kindle.)
• Prayers:
  • For the work started in sports ministry in Zanzibar. Pray that the sports ministry outreach we have started will save souls.
  • For our November and December evangelistic events.

Paul Moses—India Sports Ministry (India)

• Praise:
  • For a wonderful India Sports Ministry conference October 10-12, with 256 leaders from 15 states in India. Great time of vision, training, planning and strategy to work towards the goal of having a sports work presence in every one of the 683 districts in India for transformational mission through sports.
  • That 145 young players gathered for a three-day of sports camp in Chennai, from October 14-16. 122 of these players—from many different faith backgrounds—made life-changing decisions. It’s great to see many wanting to live well in life.
• Prayer:
  • For protection, safety, health, and strength as we serve God through this ministry. 

Ruth Veltkamp—Set Free Ministries (Nigeria)

• Praise:
  • For Akiza, as he did have successful ear surgery before he was returned to detention. Also, his wife Neza just had successful surgery on her abdomen to correct a very serious obstruction. Give thanks!
  • For donations that made it possible for Dr. Kumtar’s wife and two children to join him.
  • That all of those from Church 1 who were deceived by confusing deceptions and “gifts” have all come back to following Jesus.
  • For salvation and hope. One of the widows in business with Neza was kidnapped and seriously abused by Boko Haram terrorists. She was rescued as soldiers forced the Boko Haram to flee and leave their captives behind, but she later died in the hospital. Thank God that she had become a Christian before she died. God gave Neza a vision of this widow healed and dancing in heaven. Thank God for the hope of the Gospel even in atrocities.
• Prayer:
  • For God’s provision in Neza’s time of need. Along with losing her co-worker, Neza also lost a lot of capital and inventory from her business. Pray that the inventory of used clothes now in the hands of the police may be returned to her. Pray that Neza’s business may prosper so that she may be able to continue to provide for the 23 orphans and 12 widows she has “adopted” into her family.
  • For Akiza’s release and for visitation. Akiza is still in detention. Neza wants to visit him. Pray that such visits may become possible and that Akiza’s faith in his Lord Jesus may be strengthened. Akiza and Neza have a lot to forgive. Pray for more grace to overcome evil with good. Keep praying for Akiza’s release in God’s time.
  • For the IMANI churches to become stronger and stronger in their witness for our Lord Jesus. Pray for more of that international Muslim team to see Jesus in the IMANI Christians and even in dreams and visions.
  • For Dr. Kumtar to get employment so that he can provide for his family and also continue to witness concerning the hope he now has because of new and eternal life in Christ.
  • For Ruth for wisdom for the opportunities she has to write and teach about work among Muslims, the ministry of forgiveness and blessing, and spiritual warfare. Pray for preparations to return to West Africa in February to teach in courses and seminars.

Steve and Dawn Liberti—NAB Conference/Proclaim Ministries (Germany/Global)

• Praise:
  • That Bianca and Sofia are showing signs of transitioning well during our year in America!
  • That we have been able to re-connect with people, family and church partners during this time in the US. It has been glorious to spend quality time with people we love so much!
  • That we have the awesome privilege to be salt and light in the lives of people and ambassadors for Jesus Christ wherever we are.
• Prayers:
  • For Steve as he journeys to a closed country November 1-14, to join a Proclaim team to work among lost people who have very limited religious freedoms. Pray for a bountiful harvest of souls to come to saving faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.
  • For Dawn, Bianca and Sofia in Steve’s absence. Pray for Dawn as she juggles family responsibilities that are normally shared. Give our family a sense of peace, safety and security during this time.
  • For plans for an advance ministry trip planned for late February as Steve travels to the Balkan countries to explore ministry opportunities and re-connect with church partners in Croatia, Serbia, Macedonia, and Albania.
  • For Dawn’s mother Marilyn as she recovers from unexpected surgery a few weeks ago.

Sacramento Valley Teen Challenge (USA)

• Praise:
  • For everyone who helped make our seven “Banquet of Miracles” events a success.
  • For the new SVTC family members.
  • For the wonderful growth that is happening in our students and their families.
  • For the new businesses that are donating their goods and services to help this ministry.
  • For the various vehicles that have been donated that will help us upgrade our fleet.
• Prayer:
  • For our students and their families.
  • For the needed finances to end this year in the black.
  • For more SVTC family members.
  • For wisdom for the board in choosing the new Executive Director and for a smooth transition for everyone.
  • For the help we need to complete a number of work projects on our facilities.
  • That we will be able to get the New Life Reentry Center for women opened quickly.

Thamsing and Ring Dilbung—Church Sports International/Sports Resource Center (East India)

• Praise:
  • For allowing Ring and Thamsing to be guest speakers in a Spiritual Awakening Crusade in Manipur. God was so faithful to us for His anointing that more than 100 people renewed and recommitted their lives to Christ.
  • That a Buddhist family of 5 from Myanmar attended the crusade and accepted Christ as Lord of their life. Praise the Lord.
  • That three Hindu youths accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior during our sports camp in Assam. However, we found that they faced a lot of problems from not only their families but others in their neighborhood. They are willing to accept Jesus, but also fear persecution and being thrown out of their homes and their community.
  • For nine people in the last two months who have accepted Jesus, including another one from Manipur. Praise God.
  • For the success of the Youth Gospel Olympics in Manipur and Nagaland. Thousands of youths were impacted, challenged, and nurtured through God’s Word.
  • That we have been able to continue with the sports fellowship and sports Bible studies in few more locations. We have shared our vision with some Bible schools and churches, and they have invited us to share.
• Prayer:
  • For those new converts for strength and encouragement from the Spirit.
  • For strength, wisdom, guidance, and success as our team travels to the Hindu-dominated Tripura state to launch a sports ministry. We need strong prayer for God’s will to happen.
  • For Thamsing as he tries to publish two more books on introductory sports ministry. The books will go where we cannot. Pray for God’s provision.