Ministering in Venezuela

Please pray for a ReachGlobal couple ministering in Venezuela as they travel and teach on missions to a gathering of Venezuelan churches that recently sent out a short-term missionary but desire to know more. Pray for a Latin couple traveling with them as they present their potential plans to go to Eastern Europe as missionaries. Ask for God’s spiritual and physical protection for both couples and for more Latins to be sent out as workers for the harvest.

Urgency for Visa

Pray for Jim and Melanie, who are in the process of getting visas for Costa Rica. Their papers have been held at a consulate in Washington D.C. for several weeks, and the deadline to have them to the immigration department of Costa Rica is very close. They still have several steps to take after receiving the papers in Costa Rica. Pray that they will receive their papers as soon as possible, so that the translation of several documents can be done.  Ask God to give them peace and assurance that this is in His hands and His timing is always for our best.

Multiply holistic ministries

Pray for Kevin and Merle, ReachGlobal leaders in Africa, who are in Johannesburg, South Africa for the Disciple Nations Alliance (DNA) Global Forum February 26-March 8. Over 130 ministry leaders from around the world are meeting to focus on how to most effectively multiply holistic ministries based on DNA training on biblical worldview. In addition, please pray for their meetings with a group of young church planters, and with the leadership of JLife Africa, whom ReachGlobal is beginning to partner with to equip disciple-making leaders in Africa.

English Class Outreach in Italy

Sarah, ReachGlobal personnel in Italy, has been seeking a way to teach English as an outreach in Rome for the last 18 months with seemingly no open doors in her neighborhood. Recently when she was at the local library, the librarian was in discussion with another woman on how to pronounce an American name. They asked Sarah and a conversation ensued in which the librarian announced, "We should start English classes here in the library after hours." Thank the Lord for this opportunity and pray for Sarah as she prepares to start an English class the first week of March. Ask God to use this class to build a network of personal relationships that will result in sharing the gospel openly. 

Approval for Ph.D. Program in the Philippines

Cebu Graduate School of Theology, where Ernest, ReachGlobal personnel with EFCA EQUIP teaches, is being visited today by a government inspection team. The purpose of this team is to confirm that the seminary meets all the requirements to offer a Ph.D. degree in theology.

The seminary needs to offer this degree in order to develop and empower local Filipino faculty (most of the faculty are expat American missionaries). Presently there are no Filipinos who have earned doctorates (from approved programs) in the fields where they teach. Our Ph.D. program would fill this gap and allow the seminary to continue serving into the next generation.

Please pray that the inspection team will look with favor upon the seminary and that the government agency, Commission on Higher Education (CHED) will grant approval for the Ph.D. program. If approval is given, the seminary would be only the second school in the Philippines with such a program.

Need more space!

Pray for the Christian International School of Prague (CISP) that is in immediate need of a building with more space to accommodate the students and help the school toward accreditation with the Association of Christian Schools International (having more space is essential). There is a possibility of a building that CISP knows of so please pray that the new city official who CISP needs to work with will show them favor. Ask God to give the staff, some who are ReachGlobal educators, patience and encouragement as they have to conduct classes in rented apartments away from the main building.

Strategic Meetings

Pray for Carl, ReachGlobal Asia Area Leader, who is in Varanasi and Kolkata, India this week exploring where ReachGlobal can form new partnerships or where can we launch new teams.  Ask the Lord to open doors into this area through divine encounters. Pray for God’s protection on Carl and for his family at home while he is traveling. 

Pulpit ministry in Portugal

Pray for Gary, ReachGlobal personnel in Portugal, as he prepares his message and preaches February 20, at one of the churches where PBI (Portuguese Bible Institute) has an extension center. Ask the Lord to pour out His Holy Spirit as Gary speaks on the importance of teaching God’s Word and that those attending will be challenged and encouraged.

Latin America Leadership Meetings

The ReachGlobal Latin America leadership team is meeting this week in Costa Rica, assessing the state of the ministry and making strategic plans for the future. Please pray for focused time together, productivity, sensitivity to the Spirit’s leading, and protection against attacks from the enemy. Pray for the direction of the region and that God would be glorified in any decisions made this week.

Bible Study in Costa Rica

Pray for Marcette, ReachGlobal personnel in Costa Rica, is leading the International Women’s Bible Study on the lesson “Jesus as our Shepherd.” Ask God to bless this study and make it an opportunity to share God’s love and grace with these women, some of whom still trust in traditions and good works for their salvation.

In your light we see light (Psalm 36:9)

Pray for the 15 Bible school students who are nearing graduation after nearly three years of study. Ann, ReachGlobal personnel in Africa, who teaches them has been encouraged to see how they are growing in their knowledge of God’s Word and will soon be pastoring churches. A meaningful exercise the students participated in was writing Bible-based prayers regarding reaching the lost with the gospel. Please pray that they would continue to grow in their ability to recognize God’s light and bring this light to all parts of Africa.

Medical Training in Asia

Pray for Mark, ReachGlobal personnel in Asia, participating in the Continuing Medical Education (CMDE) training in Thailand. More than 300 medical missionaries from around Asia are attending and will earn one year of CME at no cost. These workers are often exhausted, dealing with huge challenges and sometimes facing constant change in their countries. Ask the Lord to bless their times of fellowship, prayer and encouraging one another. Pray for Mark as he leads the public health sessions as the moderator for the lectures, handling changes that arise, and setting the tone for inspiring learning for everyone. Thank the Lord for the 75 faculty who serve these medical missionaries academically and spiritually.

Health concern

Pray for Rebecca, the daughter of ReachGlobal personnel in Japan, Rob and Jill, who has been ill for over a month. Pray for wisdom for the doctors in Fukuoka to give her the right tests that will diagnose the problem. Ask God to restore Rebecca’s health so she will be able to go back to school. Pray for God’s sustaining grace to see them through this struggle and that the enemy will not be victorious in distracting them from their ministry. 

24/7 Prayer

Pray for Dave, ReachGlobal Innsbruck City Team leader, who has been down with bronchitis that he will have restored health and strength as the team prepares for the launch of the Lighthouse Center ministry on February 22. Pray for God’s blessing on the prayer week (February 14-20), as they mobilize people to pray 24/7, have worship times together and conclude with a dedication service on Sunday, the 20th. Ask God for 12-20 kids to register for Homework and Hangout and for enough volunteers that will help with this program.  

Team retreat in Kyiv

Pray for the Kyiv City Team’s annual staff retreat February 12.  The focus is on growing and building, as the Kyiv Family & Counselor Training Team is in the process of preparing to move into the future. Pray for wisdom and guidance as they plan and hone their administrative and leadership structure to assure the organization will be in position to be self-supporting and self-directed. Ask God to bless their hearts and glorify Him during the prayer and worship time.

Vision4Europe

Pray for Mike, a ReachGlobal Europe Area Leader and Rich, ReachGlobal personnel with CONNECT, as they travel throughout California February 11-21, sharing with churches and individuals Vision4Europe. Pray for God’s blessing as they seek to recruit a new generation of missionaries by offering 10-14 day trips to ten different destinations in Europe this summer for potential missionary candidates and EFCA partners serious about recruiting in their church or ministry community.

Bible Study in Costa Rica

Pray for Melissa, ReachGlobal personnel in Costa Rica, leading a Bible study for the girls who attend the local English-speaking youth group. Ask God to give her wisdom in working with the girls and that His Word will impact their lives for His glory. Pray for discernment for Melissa as she balances her responsibilities as communications coordinator for Latin America, her personal walk with Christ, the Bible study, teaching ESL classes, and Spanish tutoring. Praise God that He has provided an intern to work alongside Melissa in the area of communications.

Evangelism and Discipleship in Japan

Pray for Larry and Bella, ReachGlobal personnel in Japan, in their ministry of evangelism and discipleship. Pray that God will use them as they seek to impress on those they are discipling the importance of building Christian homes—the next generation of believers in Japan. Ask God to tear down the strongholds that enslave many preventing them from understanding the gospel.

LATN

Pray for Enrique, ReachGlobal personnel in Costa Rica with LATN (Latin America Training Network), as he travels in the Midwest and Florida to meet with pastors of Hispanic churches and attends a missions event. Pray that many church leaders will enroll in LATN programs as a result of these contacts. Also ask God to bless Enrique’s time in Panama where he will join a team that is designing a training program for Latin American missionaries going to fields around the world.

City Team Meetings

Pray for the Sarajevo City Team annual planning meetings February 7-11. Ask God to give the team fruitful discussion and vision for the ministry of discipleship and house church development. Pray that it will be an opportunity to discern and trust God’s leading so the team will effectively develop, empower and release nationals in their ministries.

REV event

Pray for the 11 individuals participating in the Readiness Event (REV) February 5-10, at the EFCA national office. Pray that those attending REV will have clarity and understanding of ReachGlobal as an organization. Ask God to give them wisdom to be able to discern if they are a good fit for ReachGlobal and that ReachGlobal staff would have discernment as to the participants’ fit with the mission.

Debriefing

Pray for the debriefing event for ReachGlobal personnel at the EFCA national office February 3-4. This event gives our personnel who are in the U.S. on home assignment the opportunity to share their field experience, to celebrate ministry fruit and successes, and work through unmet expectations and disappointments.  Pray for the facilitators from the ENHANCE team (missionary care) as they encourage and equip the missionaries for full health and effectiveness in their ministry.

Teaching online course

Pray for wisdom and clear teaching for Linda, EFCA CONNECT Team, as she facilitates the online course Kingdom Expansion 101 from February 2 to March 15. Pray that God will encourage and challenge each participant in outreach, both locally and around the world.

BCT planning meetings

Pray for the Budapest City Team annual planning meetings February 1-4. Ask God to give the team members clarity and unity as they work together on vision, key result areas, team building and personal development. Pray for the ministry team from Illinois as they lead worship and encourage the group from God’s Word.