Go West Africa Prayer Requests

Physical and Spiritual Healing

Mon, 11 Jan 2010 22:13:02 -0500

Pray for a medical team coming from the States to minister in a town in the Senegal River valley February 12-18. Besides taking care of many health needs that the local clinic cannot handle, team members will be sharing the gospel message with patients and also out in the town as they visit individual households. Pray for the stamina of each team member in this hot, dry climate which is a sharp contrast to the wintry cold in the States. Pray against any obstacles that could hinder focusing on impacting lostness and spiritual darkness. As team members interact with the religious leaders of the town, pray that the drawing of the Holy Spirit will make them inquisitive and ready to listen as these are ones who are very influential leaders. Many on the team will be experiencing the new sights, sounds, and smells of Africa for the first time and may even be overwhelmed by seeing the few possessions these people own compared to Americans. Needs among these people are great but none is greater than their need to know Christ is ‘the Way, the Truth, and the Life’. Because of the language barrier the team members will communicate through translators. Nevertheless, pray for each to take advantage of opportunities to share his testimony and to wield God’s Word as the sword of the Spirit.

- Fulbe Futa Toro of Senegal

Your Prayers Matter!

Mon, 11 Jan 2010 22:07:02 -0500

Woohoo! Thank you for praying that some of the brothers and sisters would meet together. As a young group of five or six believers, they are still struggling to meet as a church. They have recently begun to talk with each other to decide when and where they are going to meet so let's keep praying for them. Pray that they will see the importance of meeting together and begin to do it faithfully! Thank you so, so much for your prayers in supporting your brothers and sisters far off! AMEN!!!!

Showing Compassion

Mon, 11 Jan 2010 22:02:17 -0500

The email to the missionary read: “The woman across the way from my house passed away recently. You know, U’s mother? Anyway, when it happened, they needed to transport the corpse and wondered if you were here to help them. When they found out you were out of town, they grieved, saying ‘If she were here, she would help us.'….they said it because they know that you are on their side because you have a big love for them and they know you care for them.” May the people see that God is on their side. Please ask that God would continue to show the Fulakunda people clearly that those who come to share the truth with them, whether believers from another country or their own countrymen, are on their side and that they come with a love big enough to rescue all of them.

- Fulakunda of Senegal

People Of Prayer

Mon, 11 Jan 2010 21:54:10 -0500

The man to whom we gave the Bible last month continues to call. He is still very interested in the message we have been sent to relay to him and his people. In one village we visited recently, a man came to our host’s door and asked to speak with us outside. “My son tells me you are people of prayer. Please pray for this growth on my back,” he said. “Who is your son?” we asked. “He is the man who received the Bible from you.” Praise the Lord! May His power be shown among this family for His namesake.

- Bozo of Mali

In Bondage To Demons

Mon, 11 Jan 2010 21:51:34 -0500

As we sat in the dark room with our new Bozo friend, his statement surprised me. In trying to understand what he meant I said, “What do you mean the Bozo can cause sickness and death to whomever they wish?” He further explained, “The Bozo know about spiritual things. We are able to make potions, say chants, cast spells, and do many other things that can make people sick and sometimes even die.” As our time continued with our friend, he told many stories about the Bozo and their powers and about their practices of sacrificing animals to the water spirits (demons). He said, “We Bozo must do these things to have power and protection.” The Bozo live in fear. They need to have as much “power” as they can to try to overcome the evil things that can happen. “Since you are Bozo, you must know about spiritual things too?” he said. I answered, “I know some things and next time we meet, I will tell you some of the things I know.” He responded, “If God wills, I would like this very much.” Praise God that we have Jesus, the King and Warrior, who has power over all things and all peoples. Please pray that the Bozo, too, would come to know the One who was and is and is to come.

- Bozo of Mali

Trusting The One Who Holds Tomorrow

Mon, 11 Jan 2010 21:45:44 -0500

Please continue to pray for the situation in Guinea. The president was shot at the beginning of December, and weeks later, his actual condition is still unknown. Life continues to function normally, at least on the surface. All of our IMB missionaries are still in place and able to continue their daily work. However, the future is uncertain in our eyes. Pray that the missionaries and believers here would daily focus on Christ and not on surrounding circumstances. Pray that we would use every opportunity that God provides to share about the One who holds our future in His hands.

Discipleship Of Believers

Mon, 11 Jan 2010 21:42:28 -0500

Despite continued uncertainty here in Guinea, God continues to work among the Susu. Paulo and Heather were able to spend the month of January in a neighboring country where a small body of Susu believers is located. Pray that these young men will be strengthened and encouraged. Pray that they will be bold in sharing the hope that they now have. Pray that they will daily see God’s hand at work in their lives. Pray that this small body will grow into a vibrant Susu church.

- Susu of Guinea

Plea For Prayer Support

Mon, 11 Jan 2010 21:35:52 -0500

Scott, of the Oral Peoples Strategy Malinke team writes, “As the weeks have progressed, I have become more and more mentally exhausted. I am losing patience and energy, and often the drive to continue grinding things out. Please, please, please pray for energy, that my frustration would be replaced with love, and that the words that I learn I learn properly and that they “stick.” I have had so many encounters with people that communicate the urgency for me to learn this language, so that I can share God’s Word to a people who are obviously most willing to hear it. I want to be a good steward of my time and resources, and for the most part I feel like I have been. But as everyone knows, there are times we are tempted to take short cuts or compromise altogether. This message is too valuable to take or commit a single one. Pray for me. And pray for our Oral Peoples Team here in West Africa that we continue to work, love, and teach to the glory of God- living and sharing His stories with those who have never heard.”

- Maninka of Mali

The Struggle To Believe

Mon, 11 Jan 2010 21:31:55 -0500

Kacy, of the Oral Peoples Strategy Kita Malinke team shares, “Yesterday we spent the day with our dear friend 'Brother '. We hadn't seen him in forever, and called him to come over and hang out. We got to listen to some more stories from God's Word and discuss them with him. God is still working on his heart and he grows closer to finally grasping what we've been trying to tell him for three years, but he still struggles to believe. Pray for God to open his mind to all that we shared with him yesterday. Pray that he would dream of Jesus and finally see that He is the Way.”

- Maninka of Mali

Burdened For The Helper

Mon, 11 Jan 2010 21:28:58 -0500

The Konyanke team shares, “Because of our story crafters' current travels we chose to continue story work with Mo, who previously helped us with back-translating. It turns out we like doing crafting work with him better, so we see God's hand in this. We hope Mo will be one of our first believers. Although he is busy with his garden, occasional jobs of stenciling t-shirts, and building a wall behind his house, he is always eager to help us with the stories. We always open our crafting session in prayer for God to help us and he suggested we pray at the end to thank God too. We praise God for bringing Mo safely out of the civil war. Because of his time there he has had a little exposure to church and knows the phrase "Jesus died for my sins." My prayer is that by helping us find the right way to express that concept in his language and through hearing God's plan of salvation he will believe. We just did the Passover story with Mo and he asked if we still celebrate that and we explained we don't do sacrifices anymore since Jesus was our sacrifice. The next story we hope to craft is from Exodus 19-20, 24 when God gives the law to Moses. This covenant was confirmed by the blood of an animal sacrifice. It is my prayer that Mo and our people understand this foreshadowing of Jesus as our Savior.”

- Konyanke of Guinea

Praise For Answered Prayers

Mon, 11 Jan 2010 21:25:20 -0500

Thanks so much for your prayers during the Christmas season. We had lots of opportunities to share and we rejoice that there is a new believer, who is the only one in his village. This village has been one of the most difficult villages we have had as far as anyone being open to listen to “The Truth or The Way”, but we feel that God is about to do some awesome work there. We also praise God for several individuals that have committed to come and give their summer working among the Lebou. To God be the Glory!

- Lebou of Senegal

Pray For Boldness

Mon, 11 Jan 2010 21:18:25 -0500

Please pray for a new believer to be bold in sharing with others. Pray that this believer will be the first of many more to come in this village. Pray that for summer workers who will live in this village many more doors and opportunities will be opened.

- Lebou of Senegal

Bringing Glory to God

Mon, 11 Jan 2010 21:12:55 -0500

We are thankful that you have journeyed with us throughout 2009. God has done so much! A missionary north of the capital city had six volunteer teams in 2009. They walked the streets praying, they went to villages, held babies, prayed for individuals, shared their testimonies and stories from God’s Word with hundreds of Wolof. On February 3rd and 25th hundreds of thousands of Wolof will be traveling to Touba and Tivaonne to pray and give honor to their religious leaders. They will go to great lengths to get the money to make the trip. These holy sites are replacements if one is not able to make the pilgrimage to Mecca. Pray that they will come to know that God is omni-present. What matters most is not the place of prayer but who one prays to and the attitude of the heart. We are looking forward to all God is going to do in 2010!

- Wolof of Senegal

Christmas Proclamation

Mon, 11 Jan 2010 21:01:53 -0500

Praise God that many Jahanka heard about the Prince of Peace this Christmas - through storying groups, cassette distribution, and the Jesus film. Pray for new storying groups to form. Pray that those already in storying groups will soon be prepared to commit to following Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour. http://www.jahanka.org/

- Jahanka of Senegal

Clear Vision

Mon, 11 Jan 2010 21:00:03 -0500

Pray for opportunities for other Jahanka villages to hear the Good News. Two groups are coming on vision trips this winter and will be visiting several Jahanka villages. Pray that they will perceive clearly which village or villages God is leading them to minister in long-term. http://www.jahanka.org/

- Jahanka of Senegal

Everlasting Love

Mon, 11 Jan 2010 20:56:40 -0500

“Love never gives up. Love cares more for others than for self. Love doesn’t want what it doesn’t have…Always looks for the best, Never looks back, But keeps going to the end (1 Cor. 13:4,7 The Message)." As valentines are passed between sweethearts this month in the U.S., many Sereer-Sine couples are joining together in marriage. This is often a stressful time in this culture. Rather than the focus being on giving to the couple and sharing in their joy, many times the large, extended family are looking for what gifts they will receive in exchange for the marriage. Arrangements are made long beforehand, but more is passed from hand-to-hand in the course of the festivities. Please pray for the couples married this month, that they will have the opportunity to hear about the agape love that only comes from God and be drawn into a never-ending relationship with Him.

- Sereer Sine of Senegal

Knowing The Heart Language

Mon, 11 Jan 2010 20:52:55 -0500

Senufo Supyiré team members have recently been meeting Senufo Supyiré speakers in various places around Mali outside of their home region. Some of these Senufo Supyiré people are in Bamako, the capital of Mali, attending university while others have simply moved to another area to find work. It means a great deal to people when they learn that you live in or near their home village and that you can speak their language. Please continue to pray that the Senufo team will steadily improve in their language skills so that they may be able to share the gospel with these people in their heart language. Pray also that the team members will be sensitive to finding Senufo Supyiré people when they are traveling outside of their area of ministry. Pray that these people would come to know Christ as their Savior and Lord and will be instrumental in spreading the Good News to other Senufo Supyiré people in Mali and around the world.

- Senufo, Supyire of Mali

Community Outreach Through Basketball Clinic

Mon, 11 Jan 2010 20:49:49 -0500

Thank you for your prayers for the basketball clinic that was held by the volunteer team from Hunter Street Baptist Church in Hoover, Alabama. This was an opportunity to reach out to youth in the community. Many young men and some young women participated in learning skills to improve their basketball ability. They were attentive during times of sharing from God’s Word. The women on the Hunter Street team engaged the young women spectators as the clinic was being held. Please continue to pray that the Holy Spirit will use the scripture that was shared to transform the hearts of these youth. http://www.mandinkapeople.com/

- Mandinka of Senegal

Expressing God's Love

Mon, 11 Jan 2010 20:43:17 -0500

There are many misconceptions about Christians and Christianity among the Mandinka people. Volunteers who come and minister among the Mandinka help to tear down those barriers. The Mandinka have the opportunity to hear prayers lifted on their behalf and often benefit from the talents of eye, dental, or medical doctors. The Mandinka people are experiencing firsthand unselfish love as they see the kind acts that are demonstrated by the volunteers. Pray that the Mandinka will believe the scripture that has been shared and will turn to Christ.
http://www.mandinkapeople.com/

- Mandinka of Senegal

Village Found!

Mon, 11 Jan 2010 20:39:42 -0500

Recently you prayed that God would lead us to choose the right village to start work in for the Foundations for Farming project (previously known as Farming God’s Way). Well, God has answered your prayers! God has led us to begin work in D-village. Already the villagers seem eager to work with us and help us in any way that they can. Recently, Arnett took some shovels out to the village. Some of the shovels were missing handles so he told the villagers, “I’ll just take some of these back with me since there aren’t enough handles.” The villagers replied, “We can make our own handles.” This is a huge step in the right direction and we are hopeful for what the future holds! Please continue praying for this project. Pray for continued good attitudes among those of the village and that God would send the volunteers needed to complete this project!
http://www.gobambara.org/

- Bambara of Mali