Outreach in Bosnia

Pray for God’s blessing on the various outreaches held in Bosnia. Pray for Tom and Kristie, ReachGlobal personnel, the house church members and short-term teams who are involved in planning and teaching these outreaches.
•    Women’s Night is a time for women to invite their friends to the Nova Nada Center for crafts, food, music, and devotions.
•    Scrapbooking draws women who are friends of the Bosnian laypeople and are introduced to the ministries at Nova Nada center.
•    Dad’s night is an event aimed at family health. It is also a cross-pollinating event where missionary dads bring their kids and also their Bosnian friends for games, food, and fellowship.
•    Children’s English class is conducted weekly by Kristie where she includes lessons on Bible stories and learning games.
•    English Camps are conducted in Bosnian homes outside the city and in the Nova Nada Center by Bosnian house church members or short-term teams.

Ask God to use these activities to deepen relationships with the Bosnian people and be avenues for sharing the gospel.

Working with youth in Tanzania

Pray for Ben and Lauren, ReachGlobal personnel in Tanzania, who work with the youth group twice a month and lead a small group with high school students.  Pray for more opportunities for Ben and Lauren to continue investing in the lives of students at Haven of Peace Academy.  Ask God to give Lauren wisdom and insight as students come to her for counseling on spiritual matters. Pray that these students, who are seeking, would make the decision to follow Christ, even though for some it means alienation from their families. 

Pastor-to-Missionaries

Pray for Howard and Marilynn, pastor-to-missionaries on the ENHANCE team in Tokyo, traveling to Fukuoka, Japan today to spend the week with the ReachGlobal staff in that city. Ask the Lord to bless Howard and Marilynn and give them wisdom as they listen, encourage and minister to their colleagues during these few days together.

Please keep praying for the Evangelical Free Church of Japan and the Church to have the love and stamina for the many weeks and months of hard ministry ahead in bringing hope and healing through the gospel of Jesus Christ to a people whose lives have been so devastated.

Mission in Europe

Pray for Todd and James, ReachGlobal leaders in Europe, attending the Joining Hands for Mission in Europe conference in Germany. They are looking to find how ReachGlobal can support and partner with pastors and leaders from around Europe as they focus on helping local European churches engage in mission in Europe. Ask God to bless Todd and James with smooth travel, energy for an intense week of conversations, and wisdom to bless the people He brings them.

Working together in Japan

Praise God for how He has led in each situation and is using people across denominations to work together in Japan for His glory. Pray for Rob, ReachGlobal personnel Japan, and Daniel, a young man from the house church group, who volunteered to help distribute the supplies from Samaritan’s Purse in Sendai for the next two weeks. Pray for safety for Andy and Lorna, ReachGlobal staff in Japan, departing today for Tokyo (16 hour drive) to meet with leaders and missionaries there before heading to Sendai on Monday. Ask God to give our ReachGlobal personnel good health and energy; that they will bring peace and comfort to all they meet. Pray for wisdom as they meet with other missionaries and pastors concerning the long-term follow up. Pray for God’s strength for all those doing relief work in the midst of an overwhelming task.

First day of post-op

Pray for strength, encouragement and rest for Betty, ReachGlobal personnel with CONNECT, who is recovering from surgery performed yesterday. Recent test results on her GI tract revealed a stricture. Praise that the doctors said the intestinal bypass surgery went very well. Please pray for minimal side effects from medication and that the Spirit will bring comfort, restoration and healing.

Delivered relief supplies

Praise to the Lord for answered prayer for the EFCA TouchGlobal Crisis Response team who were able to accompany a truck loaded with fuel, food and other relief supplies from a Japanese partner church in the Tokyo region headed to Sendai. When they arrived, they sorted and organized the goods, and went with the local church to displaced people's centers to deliver the supplies. The Sendai church has mobilized many in their congregation and other local churches to help. Pray for safety as they travel, divine leading by God to the place and people He desires them to see and meet, and for hearts to be touched with the tangible expression of God's love that the truckload of supplies represents.

Delay in school construction

Pray for the building committee at Bucharest Christian Academy (BCA) in Romania who are facing some heavy decisions after being told by the builder that they don’t have enough money to begin construction. Ask God to give them wisdom and discernment as they investigate options at the board meeting March 24. Pray that the committee members will make wise choices and be unified in the Lord’s leading.

Church Planting in Germany

Pray for Ritch, ReachGlobal personnel in Czech Republic, who is in Frankfurt, Germany today, to meet with national German church planters and ReachGlobal leadership. The purpose is to learn from them what God is doing in and through their efforts to develop, empower, and release European church planters who will reach out in their communities with the gospel of Jesus.

Beacon of Christ's Light

Pray that Friend’s Place, located in a city 900 miles from Sendai, Japan where ReachGlobal personnel serve, will be a beacon of Christ’s light in the midst of tragedy. Ask God to bless and encourage our ReachGlobal staff as they meet nightly with fellow believers to pray for Japan. Pray that God will guide and help them as try to calm fears and give support to the Japanese people. Pray earnestly for Mr. S. who is in a lead position at the nuclear plant in Fukushima to have God’s wisdom to solve the situation but also boldness to share his faith with his co-workers who are in a life and death situation. Pray for God’s blessing on him and his family.

ReachGlobal Leadership meetings

Ask God to bless the ReachGlobal senior leadership who are meeting March 21-25, in Minneapolis. Pray for the Holy Spirit’s anointing on them, that they may have unity, a clear sense of God’s direction and wisdom in making decisions that impact the ministry of ReachGlobal. Also, pray that each one will have good health and stamina throughout the week.

Assessment team in Tokyo

Thank the Lord for His grace and mercy on our ReachGlobal staff family who evacuated from Sendai and has arrived safely at the home of another ReachGlobal staff family in a safe area. The first member of the EFCA TouchGlobal Crisis Response team has arrived in Tokyo and is based at the home of one of our ReachGlobal staff couples. Pray for safe travels for three other members of this assessment team arriving on Monday. Ask God to provide the connections needed in order for the team to travel and bring emergency supplies to affected areas. Pray that the assessment team will have clear leading on how to proceed and who to partner with over the long-haul in the holistic ministry of the gospel.

Pray for the Evangelical Free Church of Japan (EFCJ), in partnership with ReachGlobal, that God’s people will be able to live above fear in the strong grip of God the Father so as to have clear heads to minister to others. Ask the Lord to give stamina and His blessing to the Sendai Evangelical Free Church as they serve as the distribution center for relief from the EFCJ. 

Update on Evacuation from Sendai

Continue to pray for our ReachGlobal family who evacuated from Sendai yesterday. They were able to secure transportation on a boat to stay with another ReachGlobal family in northern Japan. Praise God that He provided the means for them to leave Sendai when they did since the news from Japan is saying the winds are expected to become southerly today which would blow the radiation towards Sendai. Ask God to sustain them with His strength as they travel and His guidance as they deal with many unknowns.

Waiting for visas

Pray for Jeff and Diane, ReachGlobal personnel in Brazil, who continue to wait for visas after submitting their applications eight weeks ago. Pray that they will have favor in the eyes of the Consulate and hear soon that they have approval to return to Brazil. They are trusting in God’s timing so they are moving into a week by week rental situation in anticipation of His plan and purpose for them.

Also, pray for Bill and Renee, ReachGlobal personnel transferring from Tanzania to Madrid, Spain, as they are facing roadblocks in obtaining residency papers. Pray that they will receive the government reports from Tanzania that will help them move forward in the visa process. Pray that all the details would work out in the Lord’s timing; that Bill and Renee would learn whatever lessons He is teaching them; and that He will be glorified.

Evacuate the Sendai Area

In view of recommendations by the U.S. government and ReachGlobal leadership, pray for our staff family in Sendai, who are evacuating to a safe place due to the nuclear crisis. ReachGlobal leadership is in constant communication with them and recommends they go north to stay with another ReachGlobal family. Ask God to provide all they need in transportation which is extremely challenging because of lack of fuel, road closures and complications with other transport services. Pray for protection for their health, clear weather and safety every step of their travels. Pray that God will grant them peace and security as they put their trust in Him.

Micro-enterprise development in Tanzania

Pray for Jill, director of GlobalFingerprints, who is in Tanzania to learn, absorb and hear stories about how micro-enterprise development is changing the lives of 270 women in rural Tanzania so they are able to send their children to school, feed and clothe their families. Ask the Lord to open opportunities for Jill to encourage, pray over and bless each of the people she meets. Pray for Jill as she observes all aspects of how the program runs and for wisdom to envision how EFCA ReachGlobal will be able to use micro-enterprise development to reach into areas of extreme poverty with the love of Christ.

TESOL Convention

Pray for Linda, ReachGlobal member of the CONNECT team, who is in New Orleans March 16-19, to attend the annual TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) Convention. Pray that God will lead her to good connections there and that He will guide her in choosing workshops that will be most beneficial in ministry. Connections and workshops from past conventions have proven to be very valuable. Pray for the training curriculum currently under development for short-term missionaries who go to serve cross-culturally for up to a year. Linda leads the task force working on this project. It is now in the editing and refining stage, with plans to begin the beta test for the online portion March 21.

New member on ENHANCE Team

Pray for Linda, ReachGlobal personnel who has joined the ENHANCE Team. Pray for her as she equips and educates herself for ministering in the member care arena. Ask the Lord to give Linda wisdom, insight and creativity as she develops a Women’s Network within ReachGlobal to encourage our missionary women.

Back home

Praise to the Lord for His protection and care for Larry, Bella, Timothy and Tiffany, ReachGlobal personnel in Sendai, Japan. They are now back in their home and have electricity. Please pray that this will be an opportunity for people to realize how fragile their lives really are and that they may open their hearts to Jesus. For that reason, Larry and Bella are thankful that they can be in Sendai at this time to minister and bring comfort to the many affected by this quake and tsunami. For updates on the earthquake in Japan, go to the EFCA website.

Earthquake hits Japan

ReachGlobal personnel in Japan are safe and accounted for following a major earthquake that struck Northern Japan (including Tokyo) with a magnitude of 8.4 on the Richter scale and 7 + on the Japan scale. Also, give thanks to God that our EFC church members, who have been communicating with ReachGlobal leadership, are safe. Pray for ReachGlobal missionaries, Larry and Bella, who are in the Sendai area (one of the hardest hit) and for our partner EFC churches. 

Pray for God’s mercy on the people of Japan, especially where tsunami waters have done great damage. Ask God to give ReachGlobal and His Church, wisdom and sensitivity to know how to move quickly to give aid and comfort to the many affected by this quake and tsunami. Please pray that God will be at work drawing people to Himself during this time.

Conference on Missions

Pray for Bill, ReachGlobal personnel in Venezuela, facilitating a workshop entitled Overcoming Obstacles in Missions at the World Missions Academy (WMA) March 11 and 12. This mini-conference will introduce and analyze some of the common major obstacles confronting Latin American churches as they reach out in missions activity. Then, in early April, the WMA will offer a follow-up workshop dealing with concrete things that the churches can do to help avoid or overcome these obstacles.

Called Home

David Falconer, retired missionary who served with ReachGlobal for 34 years in Congo, went home to be with the Lord on March 6. Pray for his children, Rachel and Rodney, Ann and Tim, Patsy and David, Phil and Suzanne, who are also missionaries with ReachGlobal. Ask the Lord to surround the family with the comfort of His presence and that He will be glorified at the memorial service on March 12.

Children's Ministry in Montreal

Pray for Virginia, ReachGlobal personnel in Canada, who serves as children's director at the church plant in Montreal.  She and her team are fixing up and painting rooms in the church in order to provide a better environment for the children. Please pray for their immediate need of kids' chairs and tables, a good rug for the nursery area and small gym mats for the children's play group, which is an outreach to the community.  Ask God to bless the ministry of this church as it reaches out to the community with the gospel.

Partnership

Be in prayer today for the meeting of ReachGlobal/EFCA TouchGlobal leadership and the leadership of Joni and Friends, an influential ministry to the disabled. Ask the Lord to guide the discussion of those attending and for His will to be accomplished through this deepening partnership.

Prayer for health issue

Please pray for the teenage daughter of a ReachGlobal couple in Costa Rica, that a correct diagnosis and treatment will be determined for her on-going health issues (dizziness, weakness, fainting). Ask the Lord to give the doctors wisdom and clarity. Pray that her health will be fully restored and that God would show Himself to her in extraordinary ways through this.

Harvest Home in Thailand

The construction of the first phase of the second dormitory at Harvest Home, the children’s residence in Thailand, was completed on February 2. Pray for wisdom for Jim and Vicki, ReachGlobal personnel, in planning the next steps and for additional funds to be provided. Thank the Lord for local assistance in working toward financial self-sustainability through developing the property for agriculture, raising pigs and chickens, and possibly fish farming. Pray for the need of developing water sources and that God would provide people to come alongside in exploring the possibility of a well on the property.

Course on the Kingdom

Pray for Tom, ReachGlobal personnel in a creative access area of Asia, as he begins a two-month course called Christ to the Kingdom on Tuesday and Thursday evenings. Pray for the students to acquire a “Kingdom” world-view and to solidify their faith in Jesus. Ask the Lord to help the students become motivated to practice basic disciplines essential for developing Christ-honoring character and behavior and for being effective servants of Christ.

Camp Ministry in Asia

Pray for Bruce and Donna, ReachGlobal personnel with the ENHANCE team, visiting and encouraging a ReachGlobal couple working with a camp ministry in creative access area in Asia. Pray for this camp ministry that is in jeopardy of being shut down by the government. Ask God to work a miracle so that a foreign teacher license can be obtained to keep the camp open. Or if it’s His will to pass the work there to other believers that will use the camp for His glory. Pray for wisdom and grace for John and Mary as they face difficult decisions ahead.

Strategic Meetings in Germany

Pray for Mike, ReachGlobal area leader for Eastern Germany, who has several strategic meetings this week with several local pastors to explore positions for young adult interns in 2011/12. Ask God to bless the time with David, ReachGlobal International Europe Director, to think further about urban ministry in Berlin. Pray for the time with a German national partner to see their new church location in Pankow and to learn more about a future training and community center. Pray for wisdom and sensitivity to the Spirit’s leading as Mike continues to explore partnership and ministry opportunities with a German pastor.