Rachel C shares that her place of ministry is full of adventure, growth, challenges, cultural adaptation, and fun. She has begun language classes. Pray for Christian student leaders to rise up on campus and for the Holy Spirit’s guidance in making friends with students ready and eager to hear. Pray the Lord will use Gee in mighty ways to share the gospel, and for continued team unity. Pray Rachel will hunger and thirst for righteousness and God’s word, and that He will continue to sanctify her.

Kyle and Claudia Zimmerman’s shanty town ministry suffered a blow recently as storms caused the ceilings in the Children’s Center to fall in and most of their recycled things were destroyed. This was a city funded program so pray the government will provide funds for reconstruction and change the faulty structure of the roof that allowed the collapse. Pray for the families that depend on the center to care for their children and for Kyle and Claudia as they face the challenges ahead.

Pray for Atheer, our national partner in Lebanon, who has developed a network of 30+ home groups among Iraqi refugees. Pray he will have wisdom and insight to equip Bible study leaders for each group. Pray God would speak through Atheer as he preaches each week, bless the Saturday night worship service, multiply their witness among other Iraqi refugees, and bless those forced to flee from their homeland.

Tim and Huilan ask prayer for their team as they go through changes with adding and losing team members. Currently they need more English teachers, specifically a short term teacher for the spring. Pray for Tim as he prepares to start his PhD in Education and travels 2-3 times per year for the courses. WCC Theological Seminary is preparing to graduate its first class in the spring, pray for the additional administrative work to be done.

Joseph and Mandi report that sons JP and Ezra were delighted to have new playmates when a new ministry team family arrived. Pray for Joseph as they resolve the MEDIC program issue and for quick resolution as it presents visa issues for teammates. Pray for issues at their local fellowship, pray they will see the church love God, one another, and serve the needs of the community. Pray for encouragement for Joseph and Mandi as they deal with issues over which they have no control.

John M is grateful for God’s larger team that has been so helpful in moving the mariculture project forward. Pray for them to be able to secure the land permissions they need and acknowledge with gratitude the key local businessmen who are going to bat for them. Pray for wisdom as they interview/connect with some local church planters who are interested in joining the project. Pray for working out a new travel schedule for the family that involves more frequent, but shorter trips.

Michael and Caroline ask prayer as they are in Europe meeting the two siblings they are adopting. Pray for the adoption process and adjustment for the children. Pray for political stability, softened hearts of locals, and adjustment and visas for new team members. Pray for Su, an atheist, and for the individuals in the group Michael leads. They are hopeful their sending agency will open a language school and they will be able to work there.

Today we focus on the persecuted church. Pray for a sense of God’s presence, His comfort when persecuted, and to know the greater body of Christ is in prayer for them. Pray they will see open doors to evangelism and boldly proclaim the Gospel. Pray He will enable them to forgive and love their persecutors, to be granted wisdom in ministry work and remain joyful amid suffering, rooted in God’s work and mature in their faith.

Jackie is beginning to build relationships in her church and community group. Currently she is leading a discussion group and asks prayer they will seek to be a community who loves one another well and grounds one another in faith. She has begun full-time language learning and asks prayer for mental acuity to memorize vocabulary and put it straight into practice. Pray also for patience in all things related to living in this large city and wisdom in discerning the best places to be involved in Kingdom work.

Pray for Mike K as he speaks at a retreat for young Christian workers this month in a neighboring Middle Eastern country. Pray he will be able to complete and finally defend his thesis. Pray for the students he teaches who come from war-torn areas, from places of deep suffering and tragedy, to find the peace of God to sustain them and those they love.