Crosslinks Prayer Diary: May 2006

April

Crosslinks

Monday 1 In John Martin's role in Church Partnerships Development, he meets regularly with church incumbents and mission committees to help them think through how their church can engage with God's mission and form gospel partnerships with mission partners. Please pray that these meetings would be productive and that churches would discover more about God's mission and their role in it.

Tuesday 2 As Tim Houghton gives support to the churches that have strong links with Crosslinks, he is sharing his recent experiences of Myanmar and schools of biblical training. Pray that church leaders will see the advantage of such short-term visits.

Wednesday 3 Elections are currently being held for vacant positions on the Crosslinks General Council. Pray for wisdom for members who often have little knowledge of those standing, that they can choose those who would most contribute to the careful leadership of the Society.

Thursday 4 We thank God for members of the General Council who give their time and talents so freely. Please pray for those who have had or are waiting for medical care and pray for speedy recovery.

China 

Friday 5 Pray for marriages in China and for young Christians as they seek marriage partners. Pray that Christian couples will get good teaching on how to communicate and love their spouses and that they will be a witness to the many couples in China that struggle with unfaithfulness and disappointment.

Saturday 6 Praise God for all the work that has gone into setting up a centre for the disabled and pray for new staff to complete the team. Immediately they are looking for a donor manager and a training manager, and in time local Christians as accountant, cleaner, cook, receptionist, teacher and house parents. Pray for the disabled, teenage beggars that the training centre seeks to help - that they might have a hope and a future. 

Sunday 7 Pray for the witness of expatriate teachers and students in China, that they will be able to develop real friendships with Chinese believers and that they be a support and encouragement to each other in the task of sharing the gospel.

Monday 8 For those having regular contact with Chinese people, language study is essential, though far from easy. Pray that those studying today may feel encouraged and have the opportunity to use their new skills.

Tuesday 9 We hear so much about the unknown size of the Chinese church but little about the depth of faith. Please pray that all Christians can receive sound teaching and have contact with groups where the Gospel is faithfully preached.

UK

Wednesday 10 M is a nominal Muslim and in her second year at university, doing business studies. She recently shared that she regularly reads her horoscope and has seen a fortune-teller. Pray that new experiences will have challenged her spiritually and that as she explores life outside her close-knit community, she makes the right choices and listens to good advice. 

Thursday 11 Gilbert and Uzma David in Slough ask prayer for their Urdu House Group fellowship growing day by day and for the new ministry to unreached people through the members of the house group. Gilbert would also value prayer for his studies and particularly essay writing.

Friday 12 Afri and Pam Chandra praise God for his care during difficult times. Afri is much better though not yet in full health, and the boys went through a patch of illness. Particular areas of ministry are the monthly Bengali Group and the weekly coffee morning and outreach in a Muslim area of Birmingham.

Saturday 13 David is a Crosslinks study partner at the Edinburgh Centre for Muslim-Christian Studies. While studies are going well, he is very concerned about his family who rely upon chickens to supplement their basic income. The country has been hit by bird flu and this will have a devastating affect on the family and others in similar situations. Pray for protection for the birds, and peace of mind for David and his family.

Sunday 14 Henry and Dinah Shaheen, based in London, and other new mission partners are working to develop their links with churches and individuals. Pray for good support teams so that they receive regular prayer, encouragement and financial backing.

Monday 15 Tim and Tanya Davies thank God for the provision of a larger space where Christ Church Central in Sheffield has begun to meet on Sundays. However, after only three weeks, they are already starting to fill this space! Pray for the conversion, discipleship and 'rooting in Christ' of the numerous non-Christian contacts - that as the church grows numerically they may also grow in depth of maturity.

Tuesday 16 Chris Jennings asks for prayer for The Gambia short-term team who return to the UK today. Pray for them to settle back into English life quickly, and that what they have learnt and experienced during their trip will continue to impact their lives. Chris is developing the scope of Smile and planning a four-month team with Lymington Rushmore.

Wednesday 17 John and Felicity Hindley and Phil and Louise Keymer ask prayer that their newly launched third church meeting in Salford would continue to grow and that they would see members bringing friends who are not Christians to church week by week. Pray for God to supply ministry trainees for next year.

Thursday 18 Andy Lines has started his first visit to Uganda, seeing mission partners as well as visiting the Diocese of Karamoja. Pray for safety in travel and for new understanding where culture and circumstances give different mission opportunities.

Friday 19 Pray for Jo who is teaching English in Asia. Pray that she will be able to establish good relationships with her adult students throughout the term and that many (she is praying for 10) will decide to study the Bible with her in her flat.

Saturday 20 Kola and Ada Ajomale work with young people in Walsall; pray for more opportunities among those who gather near the church premises.

Sunday 21 Teaching and resourcing those living among other faiths have been important aspects of the Salem project based in Slough. Pray that links can be made with supporting churches and good use made of the Salem Anniversary booklet. Norman Critchell is preaching today in Terriers, High Wycombe.

Monday 22 Crosslinks receives many requests to become involved in church plants; pray for wisdom to know how to respond. Please pray for the Church in the UK, for good Bible teaching and for the ability to share the Gospel appropriately.

France 

Tuesday 23 Praise God for many encouraging signs of growth in the church of Mantes la Jolie, and pray for spiritual depth and maturity, and that members of the church would understand the need to share their faith in a cultural climate which is hostile to evangelism.

Wednesday 24 Pray that delegation, team building and training would relieve ministry pressure on Andy and Uta Buckler by widening the ministry base at Mantes la Jolie; pray for strength and energy for the family after a spate of illnesses and bereavement.

Thursday 25 A Rocha Czech’s national conference today has the major challenge of completing funding and building work for their centre near Nachod. Please pray for Pastor Pavel Svetlik and his wife Radka who lead the team. Peter and Miranda Harris are helping with conference Bible teaching.

Friday 26 The A Rocha France centre has new leaders, a real answer to prayer – pray for Jean-Pierre and Martine Charlemagne as they host students and volunteers through their first field season. With a continuing rapid decline in Europe’s biodiversity, pray for Christian caring and action. Remember David and Betty Payne in UK working with the international team.

Saturday 27 Edward and Laura Nelson are using the Da Vinci Code film launch to get the gospel out amongst students in Paris and would value prayer. Next month they finish the IFES team year with a debriefing conference in Spain; praise God for all the team has done this year.

Sunday 28 The UN has warned there will be many deaths in Kenya and other countries if immediate food aid is not delivered to millions of people facing the threat of starvation. Head of the UN World Food Programme James Morris said 11 million were at risk across the Horn of Africa. Please pray that those with plenty, especially in the West, will respond generously.

Myanmar

Monday 29 As we hear news of ongoing fighting around the Myanmar borders, pray for an end to gun rule, and for a peaceful way of living with many different people groups. Pray for the government and its relationships with opponents.

Tuesday 30 Praise God for the ongoing work of making the Bible available to everyone. Crosslinks is supporting the translation of the Old Testament and the printing of Burmese New Testaments. Pray that all goes smoothly, and that more people will have access to God’s Word.

Wednesday 31 The Diocese of Mandalay has expanded its mission field and the best way of reaching these new areas is by using motorbikes. Crosslinks is supporting a project to supply seven new bikes; pray for safe travel for the evangelists and for careful upkeep of the bikes.

June

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