In Our Prayers — 2/12
January 31st, 2012
Kenya
The results from the “Christmas in Kenya” year-end giving opportunities for Missions of Hope exceeded expectations! More than $174,000 was contributed toward the Christmas baskets for 6,700 families, bonuses for the 395 MoHI teachers and staff, and the fund for children who are attending school but are not yet sponsored. In addition, about $25,000 was contributed to BigDent, CMF’s new microfinance lending program in Nairobi. Join us in thanking God for the generous hearts of American Christians.
Scotland
A new Globalscope team has been affiliated to begin a ministry to students in Edinburgh, Scotland. Ansley Cleveland and Tim Crabtree will be a part of the new team, but before they go, they need to get married (May 19) and finish raising their support. Please pray for them and their teammates Dee Humphrey and Andrew and Kate Owens as this new team prepares to go to the field after some seminary training at Emmanuel Christian Seminary and the completion of their support-raising.
Tanzania
Scott and Annelle Price have recently returned to Arusha to begin a new Marketplace Ministries project assembling and selling and/or renting Basic Utility Vehicles (BUVs) to poor farmers. The BUVs will assist the farmers in getting their crops to market much more quickly, freeing up more of their time to produce more crops. This project has been in the planning stages for several years. The Prices are eager to begin their business, which will be run as an example of honor and integrity in contrast to many businesses run by foreigners in Tanzania. Pray that all the legal documentation required to open a new business will be completed as quickly as possible.
Four families graduated from the Church Planter Training Course in Tanzania in December, report Gary and Judy Woods, and have now returned to their village areas to start new churches. One couple, Philemon and Debora, are moving to an area called Maware to begin a new ministry. This tribe shares a border with the Wagogo people, a very large unreached people group that the Marware fought against in a bloody war in 2002. The CMF team has made initial contact with the Wagogo, as well, and will be working with both tribes. Pray for the four new church planting families and for the new work with the Maware and Wagogo people.
Mexico
Globalscope Puebla team leader Kami Burns requests prayers for two upcoming events involving her team. First, the El Pozo campus ministry will hold its spring retreat for students on March 2-4. Then on April 2-6, the students will travel to Ciudad Acuna, Chahuila, Mexico (on the U.S. border across from Del Rio, Texas) to build a home for a needy family with Casas por Cristo – the fifth such house built by El Pozo students! Pray for safe travels and spiritual awakening and growth for the students.
Kami also reports (on Jan. 30) that Mosaico Communidad Cristiana, a new church plant in Puebla begun by CMF church planters Todd and Tonja Hancock along with many alumni of the El Pozo Globalscope ministry, has celebrated two wonderful Sunday worship services. Praise God for this partnership and for the people attending this brand new church.
Central Asia
Mr. & Mrs. G. (Marketplace Ministries) report that an international Christian NGO (non-government organization) has been kicked out of their country recently, apparently because an old photo of a foreigner baptizing a national from the NGO’s office made its way to government officials. The G’s and others on CMF’s team in this Muslim country anticipate the need to lay low regarding ministry for a while until the situation blows over. Some homes have even been searched, although not the homes of any CMF folks. The G’s ask that we pray that God would protect the national believer and that the expatriate workers will be able to return and minister. Pray also that God will protect the CMF team members and give them “bold wisdom that we might not cower in fear.”
Ethiopia
Steve and Doretha Limiero, CMF church planters in Nekempte, Ethiopia, ask for prayer for the 50 Oromo and Gumuz leaders who are participating in a training conference this week in an area full of new Gumuz believers. Three missionary teammates and a short-term team from the U.S. and the Philippines are joining them. “We know that Satan would love to meddle in this unique time and destroy whatever he can,” said Steve. “Please pray that God’s Spirit will move in such a way as to be greatly glorified during this time.”
