Crosslinks prayer news July 2008 |
 |
Apart from the scheduled days in July, please pray for Myanmar following the devastating cyclone early in May. At the time of going to press it is feared that more than 100,000 people have lost their lives and countless others are homeless. Please pray for ongoing relief initiatives and for the Church across the world seeking to respond to broken lives in Myanmar.
TANZANIA
1 Thank God for the 13 students who are supported by Crosslinks in their studies at St Philip's Theological College, Kongwa. They have recently completed their studies, so pray that these will bear fruit as they return to their home areas.
2 Thank God for the Amani Bible College in Iringa, where Philip Richardson works and where Crosslinks provides bursaries for study partners, especially those from Ruvuma Diocese. Pray for the leadership of the college and for all those involved in teaching that they will be used by God and be examples to the students in word and deed. Fiona Richardson works as Youth and Children's trainer in the in the Diocese of Ruaha, working with the Youth department and the Mother's Union
3 Please pray for Bridget Hathaway who is returning to the UK this month for a two-month leave. Pray for good times of rest, refreshment and relaxation for her and pray for the project that she has left behind, that it will function effectively without her.
4 Please pray for Bishop Yohana Mkavu in the Diocese of Kondoa, which is still a fairly new Diocese. Pray for Bishop Mkavu as he leads the diocese and pray that God will provide for its needs in many ways. Pray too for effective and fruitful evangelism amongst the Muslims there.
5 Please pray for Dickson Chilongani, Principal of Msalato Theological College, and Moses Matonya, Vice Principal. Pray for the different courses being run at the college, and for good relationships to be built with St John's - the new Anglican University in Dodoma.
6 Pray for the Anglican Church in Tanzania as it seeks to respond to the many social problems that are encountered by the Tanzanian people, as well as seeking to preach the gospel and disciple people effectively and faithfully.
MYANMAR (BURMA)
7 The new Archbishop of the Province of Myanmar is Stephen Than Myint Oo. Pray for him as he takes on this new responsibility and give thanks that he has stated publicly that the Church must be shaped and guided by the Bible.
8 Local preaching groups were set up during the Schools of Biblical Training in 2007. Pray that they would be able to meet for those involved to encourage one
another in their Bible teaching ministry.
9 Pray for continued progress towards reconciliation between Emmanuel Divinity College in Mohnyin and the Diocese of Myitkyina. Pray that biblical, evangelical training might soon become available again through the college to all in the Church of the Province of Myanmar.
10 Pray for the Lambeth Conference, which starts today. Pray for all those Bishops who will be attending and for Archbishop Rowan Williams. Pray for wisdom and faithfulness to God and his revealed will in discussions about the future of the Anglican Communion.
11 Estimates suggest that only 6% of the 52 million people in Myanmar are Christian. Although there is officially freedom of religion in the country, being a Christian can often bring considerable hardship. Pray for Christians in Myanmar to stand firm in their faith and to witness clearly and boldly for Christ in both word and deed.
12 Pray for future opportunities for Crosslinks to serve the Church in Myanmar, through Schools of Biblical Training (SBT’s), Study Partners, Projects and any other appropriate means.
13 The SBT planned for January this year had to be cancelled due to the political situation in Myanmar. Pray that those who have been able to attend previous schools will keep trying to put into practice what they have learned and also share it with others.
CROSSLINKS
14 Thank God for Rebecca Sangeetha, who has been working on a six month contract as BEST Co-ordinator, managing Crosslinks’ study partner programme. Rebecca will be finishing with Crosslinks at the end of the month. Pray for her as she plans to return to India, and for the right person to take over her role.
15 Thank God for those who will be manning the Crosslinks stand at the Keswick Convention 12 July -1 August. Pray that interest will be shown in Crosslinks work and that positive contacts will be made. Please let Crosslinks know if you are hoping to attend Keswick.
SERBIA
16 Pray for Rob and Trish MacCurrach working in Novi Sad for six months of the year and back in the UK for the other six. Thank God for the Orthodox Bishop and four monks who came over to the UK to visit evangelical churches and meet evangelical leaders in June. Pray that the results of this visit will bear long-lasting fruit.
17 Pray for Chris and Lotta Strajnic and their involvement with the training programme, Project Timothy. Thank God for the way that Project Timothy is becoming known throughout Serbia and even in Bosnia and pray for new material for Chris and Lotta to develop and teach.
18 Thank God for Matej Delac who was a Crosslinks study partner doing a Masters at Novi Sad Theological College. Pray for him as he finished his studies at the end of last year and that he might have opportunities to use what he has learnt in future ministry.
19 Please pray for the 25th anniversary celebrations for A Rocha taking place today in south Oxfordshire. Pray for the CEO of A Rocha International, Marie Connett Porceddu, who will be attending the day. Thank God for sustaining and blessing the organisation of A Rocha over the last 25 years.
KENYA
20 Pray for Doug and Ann Johnson in Butere, where Doug is working for the African Institute for Contemporary Mission and Research (AICMAR). Pray for good working relationships for Doug and that Ann will have guidance and wisdom about her role in Butere.
21 Thank God for the work of Timothy Mazimpaka, Crosslinks project partner who is based in Kisumu and works with the student group FOCUS. Thank God that Timothy is going to be visiting the London office today to give an update on his work and the situation in Kenya. This will be a lunchtime meeting open to anybody who would like to come.
22 Please pray for a team from Holy Trinity Church, Redhill, travelling to The Gambia today on a three week SMILE placement. Please pray for safety in travel, good health, positive team dynamics, fruitful relationships with the local people, and for many opportunities to share the gospel.
23 Pray for Tim and Gertrude Wambunya with their three boys living in Nairobi where Tim is Principal of Carlile College. Pray for Tim as he leads the college and manages staff, that God will equip him for the task He has called him to do.
24 Thank God for St Andrew's School, Turi, where Crosslinks Associates Andrew and Sandy Morgan and Phil and Sarah Baskerville have been working for the last three years. Pray for these families as they leave the school at the end of the summer term and return to the UK. Pray for them in this time of transition and that God will provide for their needs as they return home.
INDIA
25 Thank God for D**** and A**** with T**** and J**** who have just returned to the UK after 14 years working with the The Association for Theological Education by Extension (TAFTEE) in Bangalore.
Pray for them as a family as they adjust to life in England and as D**** looks for a job.
26 Pray for David Samuel, the Director of TAFTEE as he will miss D**** working with him. Pray for the right people to be appointed as staff members and that the work will continue to grow and many will benefit from the different courses.
27 Pray for K**** who went out to assist the Delhi Bible Fellowship at the beginning of May. This month she will be studying an intensive Hindi course. Pray for her to grasp the language quickly and for strength and stamina during this very hot season in Delhi.
28 Pray for Harrison Chinnakumar, a study partner who has just completed his PhD at SAIACS in Bangalore. Pray for him as he seeks God's will on what to do next and where to go.
29 Pray for R**** and U****, with J**** and H**** who are in Delhi. Thank God for the wise and godly leadership of R**** as he pastors his congregation. Pray that R**** and U**** will have wisdom about how to use their days wisely as they have many demands on their time.
30 Pray for Navjeevan Seva Mandal (NSM) and its Director, Rev Raju. Thank God for the study partners that Crosslinks supports through NSM and pray for those who are studying, that God will sustain them and help them in their studies.
31 Many thousands from Myanmar, particularly Karen people, have fled the country and are in refugee camps over the border in Thailand. Pray for plans to run a School of Biblical Training in September for those seeking to establish and lead churches in the camps.