Missionary Debriefing

Pray for the ReachGlobal Debriefing event today and tomorrow at the EFCA national office. Pray for the facilitators from the ENHANCE team as they encourage and equip ReachGlobal missionaries who are attending for full health and effectiveness in their ministry. This event gives our personnel the opportunity to share their field experience. Debriefing also gives the missionaries an opportunity to get practical help and advice from ReachGlobal staff on support team building, insurance, finances and technology.

ICSB in full swing

Pray for Bjorn and Trisha, ReachGlobal personnel at ICSB (International Christian School of Budapest), as classes are now in session, Bible studies have started to meet, and discipleship relationships have begun. Bjorn's teaching and coaching are in full swing so pray that God will do mighty things in the hearts of the students this year. Ask God to bless the preparation and teaching Trisha does as she leads the 10th grade girls' Bible study on the parables on Thursdays.

Ministering in a CAC

Pray for Ben, ReachGlobal personnel in Asia, traveling in creative access areas (CAC) on a ministry project and meetings with the leaders. Three of these leaders and Ben are speaking at an International Youth Conference in Thailand and visiting churches in a neighboring country. Then Ben will take these leaders through some training and follow up at his home. Pray for safety and protection for Ben’s family at home, his trip and the leaders who are traveling for the first time to this area.

Europe Leadership Meetings

Pray for the Europe Division Leadership Team meetings this week in Minnesota. Ask God to give David, ReachGlobal’s new international leader for Europe, and the Europe area leaders adequate time, unity, strategic thinking, and ministry effectiveness.

Ministering in Haiti

Pray for safe travel and good health for Jill, EFCA TouchGlobal personnel, and Cheryl who leave Sunday, September 26 for Haiti. Their objectives are to:

• Continue exploring schools and orphanages for potential partnership with GlobalFingerprints and short-term teams.
• Visit businesses that have been established to support ministry activity and brainstorm about potential savings and micro-enterprise projects with Haitians. 
• Try to more fully understand the situation in Haiti: the depth of poverty and life of Haitians (how they think, what they believe, how they live, where their hope lies). 
• Preliminary preparation for a large short-term youth team coming down to Haiti during spring break.
• Discern how and where God wants our mission agency to share His love and the gospel to transform the lives and futures of the Haitian people and the country of Haiti.

Pray that Jill and Cheryl would have God-ordained connections, be able to encourage all they interact with and that they would have many opportunities to pray for and bless the people they meet with. Ask God to grant them clear vision, so that at the end of the week it will be clear what TouchGlobal and GlobalFingerprints are to do next and what direction to move in.

Serious vision problems

Pray for Gloria, ReachGlobal personnel in Thailand, who is experiencing serious vision problems. Pray for excellent medical advice in the treatment she receives. There is no cure or care that will stop or change the progress at this stage. Gloria is using medicated eye drops that have alleviated most of the pain, but her vision is worsening. If she approaches blindness, there is an invasive procedure that the doctor might try. Please pray that Gloria won't get to that stage. Ask God to give her peace and trust in His plan.

Missions Conference

This week Kevin and Becky, ReachGlobal Africa leaders, are participating, along with 20 other missionaries, in the Global Outreach Festival at their home church in San Jose, CA.  Please pray for Kevin and Becky as they share the vision for ministry in Africa with many of the people in their home church as well as interact with missionaries from all over the world. In addition to the conference, pray for Kevin and Becky as they are making final preparations for a trip to Africa in October.

Ministry in Asia

Pray for wisdom for Mindy, ReachGlobal personnel in Asia, as she does follow-up meetings with the national brothers and sisters that she partnered with over the summer at the children's camps. Pray that she would get into a good rhythm with her ministry and language center responsibilities. Ask God to give her direction and guidance as she starts a Bible study at the language center and to continue ministry with single, believing women.

Training and PTM Conference

Pray for Howard and Marilynn, ReachGlobal personnel in Asia, traveling back to the U.S. on September 20, for a CernySmith training seminar and a Barnabas Pastor to Missionary (PTM) conference. The training seminar involves learning how to assess the results of a cultural adaptation assessment that our ReachGlobal staff take and then guide them in further cultural adjustments. The Barnabas PTM conference involves learning how to provide better pastoral counsel to ReachGlobal staff. Pray that Howard and Marilynn will take away from these two events tools that enable them to more effectively help and encourage ReachGlobal personnel.

High School Retreat

Pray for Gil, ReachGlobal staff at Haven of Peace Academy (HOPAC) in Tanzania, as he and other teachers take the 11th grade high school class on a retreat. Pray that God would orchestrate meaningful opportunities for the teachers to speak into the lives of these students. Pray that God works in marvelous ways to bond teachers and students and enable them to build leadership skills in the students’ lives.

Training event

Pray for Gary, ReachGlobal personnel, attending a training event with Wellspring Group in Alabama.  He is coaching a team from the material The Heart of Men.  He will also be a mentor coach for four other coaches. These sessions of coaching and learning are important for what Gary is doing as part of his role as Europe Division Coach for ReachGlobal. Pray that he will be a blessing and encouragement to these men.

Strategic Meetings

Pray for the Senior Vice President, EFCA ReachGlobal and his wife who are in Hong Kong and Japan this month for strategic meetings. Ask God to give the ReachGlobal Asian Area Leadership Team insight, guidance and unity of spirit in their discussions and decisions for ministry in Asia. Also pray for several other key meetings during his time in Hong Kong and their time in Japan celebrating the 60th anniversary of the Evangelical Free Church of Japan (EFCJ) and discussing ways that ReachGlobal can partner with the EFCJ as we look to the future.

Visas denied

Pray for Jeff and Diane, ReachGlobal personnel in Brazil, who were informed by the Federal Police that their visas were denied, with no other option except to leave the country in eight days. Jeff writes, “Although we don't understand what God is doing, we have faith that counts on Him in spite of the confusion. We've got a million things to get done before we leave and ask you to join with us in praising Him ahead of time for what He is doing and ask you to pray as we attempt to take care of as many details here and leave as smoothly as possible. Pray for God's wisdom as we return to the U.S. and look at other types of visas so we can return soon!"

Update on MK Accident in Asia

Cameron, son of Carl and Kathy, ReachGlobal personnel in Hong Kong, is improving and doing well following his motor bike accident last week that injured his leg. The doctors confirm that there is no damage to the ligaments or knee joint but continue to treat him with IV antibiotics. Pray for full healing for Cameron as he follows the long-term rehabilitation plan developed for him. The doctors are telling him it will be a year before he regains his pre-accident capabilities.

Team building

Pray for David and Lois, ReachGlobal personnel on the ENHANCE Team, who are in New Orleans this week leading several sessions on skill development, team building, coaching, and counseling at the EFCA TouchGlobal Crisis Response Team annual retreat. Pray that God will bless David and Lois as they present this material and that the team would find it helpful to equip them to be effective working in crisis situations.

Church planting training in Costa Rica

Pray for Mike, ReachGlobal Church Planting personnel, and Pastor Jose who will be training 60 pastors and regional leaders in Guanacaste, Costa Rica this week. Pray for Jose and Mike as they prepare for this time and that God will use this teaching to bring understanding and deeper knowledge of His Word. Also pray for Mike as he has received requests to teach and train church planters in the Dominican Republic, Brazil and has an invitation to Chile to help church leaders there assess needs in church planting.

Prison Evangelism

Pray for Jeff and Craig, ReachGlobal personnel in Brazil, who are hosting a team from a California church arriving on September 11. They’ll be visiting a prison where they will have an opportunity to preach the gospel and share powerful testimonies. The pastor from the church in California participated in criminal activity of one of the largest and most organized gangs in America before coming to a saving knowledge of Christ. Please pray that forgiveness, salvation and liberty will come to the captives. Jeff and Craig will spend one week with this team in three locations focusing on evangelism. Pray that this will stimulate each of the local churches they visit to a greater burden for evangelism. 

Ministry Trip

Pray for Sharon, Monica and Kathy, the Asia Women's Initiative Team, who are spending two weeks traveling throughout a creative access country in Asia visiting ReachGlobal partners, as well as other ministries reaching needy women and children. The purpose of this trip is for the team to learn from and to encourage our brothers and sisters who are reaching those who are hurting and to share from God's Word. Pray for safety and good connections on the many flights to and from and within the country; for good health and strength for full days of travel and activity; for the hearts of the team members to be open to what God will teach and show them and those with whom they have the privilege of meeting and spending time in fellowship.

Facing difficulties

Pray for Martha, ReachGlobal personnel in Costa Rica, who is undergoing treatment for cancer and is experiencing problems with blood clots around her neck. The blood thinner medications are causing further complications so pray that would clear up, and for the side effects on her body from the next chemo treatments on September 8th, 20th and 21st, to be lessened. Pray that as Martha experiences these discouraging times during her treatment that her faith and trust in Christ would give her strength and peace.

MK 's tragic accident

Pray for Cameron, son of Carl and Kathy, ReachGlobal personnel in Asia. Cameron had a serious accident while riding on a scooter and hit a curb. The accident caused a deep gash in his thigh that cut into the muscle. Carl and Cameron were visiting a work in a creative access area so Carl made the decision to have the surgery on Cameron’s leg done in the town where the accident happened. One complication is that the doctor wants to keep Cameron in the hospital for a week. Carl would like to get home in a few days. Please be in prayer for Cameron that he will receive the best medical care so his leg heals without complications. The biggest concern is infection so Cameron is on antibiotics. Pray that God would give comfort and peace to the family during this difficult time.

Hosting Cross-cultural Outreach

Pray for Steve and Joan, ReachGlobal U.S.-based staff in Indiana, serving as hospitality hosts for the International English Class, which is entering its sixth year on September 7. Pray for Steve and Joan as their role as host will give them more time to interact with newcomers, especially those in the Turkish community. They are thankful for the leadership God has raised up and how this ministry is motivating so many in their church for cross-cultural outreach.

Partnership Building

Pray for Tom and Dora, ReachGlobal personnel in the Czech Republic, currently on home assignment. One of their main focuses during their time in the U.S. is to find partners in ministry who would pray, give, or serve in order to expand the kingdom of God among the Roma in the Czech Republic. Please pray that the Lord would lead in this as Tom and Dora schedule church and individual visits and Czech Desserts (an informal time in a person’s home to have dessert and share the ministry). 

Divine appointments during Ramadan

Pray for divine appointments for Dave and Patsy, ReachGlobal personnel in Cameroon, to share God’s truth with their neighbors who are preoccupied with Ramadan. Pray for those who are truly seeking God, that He would reveal Himself to them in extraordinary ways.

Sharing ministry in Venezuela

Pray for Ernest and Effie, ReachGlobal personnel in Venezuela, as they travel to their supporting churches in California and Nevada this month to share about their ministry. Pray for safe travels and that the congregations would be encouraged to hear how their prayer and support is bearing fruit. Praise God for Latinos who have been trained and are ready to move ahead in missions. Pray for Lyd, from Mexico, who needs her visa in order to begin ministry with a ReachGlobal team in France in October. Pray that the ongoing seeds sown will germinate and bear full fruit.

Recovering from bike accident

Pray for Bill, ReachGlobal staff in China, who severely injured his elbow in a bicycle accident. The doctors performed surgery immediately inserting two screws and some wire to put the elbow back together. Pray for Bill as he will need to make several visits to the hospital for changing bandages, taking out staples, and then finally removing the screws after six to twelve months. Pray for rapid healing and that he will be diligent with the exercises to make sure his arm function returns like it should.