Weekly Prayer DigestHelping you pray around the ABWE world.
The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD, and He delights in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; for the LORD upholds him with His hand. —Psalm 37:23,24
Africa Collapse
Togo Collapse
The initiative and industry of the four million people is an asset to the ABWE goal of church planting. ABWE missionaries have found the Togolese people very responsive to the gospel, therefore, they are eager and zealous to open new ministries on their own. Church planters are needed to execute the plan to multiply churches in the urban centers.
Pray for Togo | Learn more about Togo | Opportunities to serve in Togo
Bob and Barb Adolph
Bob and Barb Adolph will be in Togo for six months to train the medical lab staff. He will also train at least two men for the Mango hospital. They leave March 20 and will have a one month stay in Asia to help with training and instrument repairs at the hospital where they previously served.
Russ and Melody Ebersole
The children’s ministry started up again in February after some time off following the special Christmas program in December. The Gospel message of Christmas was clearly presented, and the Lord blessed that message with 18 decisions for Christ that day, and several more who came to the Lord in the days that followed. Melody has been working with these young Christians in an effort to get them grounded in their new faith through discipleship classes. She has been translating discipleship studies for the younger children. God continues to be at work in the lives of their patients, and most leave the hospital restored, in spite of very serious illnesses and delays in seeking care. Baby “Sara” (Russ’ unofficial name for her) is a 3 ½ month old premature baby whose family abandoned her when she was about three weeks old; her mother was very ill, and the family eventually returned to say that they could not afford to keep her. She has survived many complications and is now doing very well. She has become a hospital favorite, with many “moms” and one special “grandma” (Jessie Dean, a short‐termer) doing a very good job of spoiling her.
Brenda Mastin
The church at Goudeve has moved onto their permanent property and they are ready to build as soon as they have volunteer teams who could help. Brenda is serving on the Executive Committee for the AIDS ministry. They are praying for a van to use in this ministry and a permanent building which would serve as an AIDS resource/educational center.
Asia and the Pacific Collapse
Japan Collapse
ABWE is looking for personnel who will persevere in learning the challenging Japanese language, and will reach out to these people who so desperately need to hear of God's love and forgiveness. It is difficult for the Japanese to break with traditions of their ancestors in a society that emphasizes conformity.
Pray for Japan | Learn more about Japan | Opportunities to serve in Japan
Natalie Beck
Natalie Beck was the one year anniversary of the Sasebo Deaf Baptist Church. Natalie shared with the kids and teen on their special day. Her friend Rie, has not been to church in a long while. Natlaie has shared Christ with Mrs. Yoshida on several occasions but she has very little interest. Pray for the Thursday night English Class that their interest in the Gospel will grow and that Natalie will be able to effectively explain the Message.
Thailand Collapse
ABWE missionaries first entered Thailand in partnership with Filipino missionaries. Together they work to establish independent local churches under national leadership.
Pray for Thailand | Learn more about Thailand | Opportunities to serve in Thailand
Jim and Karen Blumenstock
Jim has decided it is time to begin his Ph.D. studies. He is currently in the application process with Wales Evangelical School of Theology (WEST) and hopes to hear of his acceptance in the coming weeks. If accepted, the program will begin on April 1, 2010 and will take approximately 4 years to complete. ABTS is having its Triennial Conference Marcy 9 – 11. The conference will include a celebration of the seminary’s twenty five years of ministry in SE Asia. Jim and Karen are still in the process of adopting their second child. So far it has taken three years and they have reached the end of their extensions from the US government. In April they will have to reapply with new paperwork and fees.
Rick and Lisa Caynor
Rick and Lisa Caynor have returned to California with their children. Lisa is settled into her new hospital. Her doctors are taking her off several of the drugs she has been on and will begin speech therapy. The therapists and doctors seem to be pushing really hard to get her to independence as soon as possible.
Central America and the Caribbean Collapse
Trinidad and Tobago Collapse
ABWE missionaries will assist in training national leaders in Trinidad & Tobago. Additional personnel are needed to help local pastors broaden their knowledge base and reach their country for Christ.
Pray for Trinidad and Tobago | Learn more about Trinidad and Tobago | Opportunities to serve in Trinidad and Tobago
Dennis and Bonnie Slothower
Dennis and Bonnie Slothower have been asked to do some training in raising Godly children. They will be offering nine weeks of training in Godly parenting at the church in Tamana. On March 29 and 30 they will hold a two day VBS at Tamana. This is the first VBS that the church will conduct on its own. Dennis and Bonnie will be there as support personnel only. Pray for their co-worker, Tim Bahula and his six small children. With the passing of his wife, Jane, he has much to do and many decisions to make in reference to their future and his ministry involvement in Trinidad.
Europe Collapse
Portugal Collapse
Building on the success of the past 20 years, the Portugal team has developed a new church planting strategy, called the "Portugal 4x4 Plan." The goal is to enlarge the base of first generation churches to 16 by the year 2016. These 16 churches will become the foundation for a national church planting movement in Portugal.
Pray for Portugal | Learn more about Portugal | Opportunities to serve in Portugal
Miriam Tyers
Miriam Tyers has moved to a new rental house to begin a ministry at a MK school. A teen outreach event is planned for March 13. They distributed gospel calendars in January and plan to do a class about Easter at a public school in March. Pray for Vanessa who has been coming to church and asked recently for a clarification of the gospel. She has a malignant tumor under her heart that cannot be operated on. Please pray for her salvation and for God to heal her or give her grace for what she faces in the days ahead.
Ukraine Collapse
ABWE’s work in Ukraine is to facilitate a church planting movement throughout Ukraine that is Ukrainian in character and leadership, culminating in a missions movement. We are accomplishing this through leadership training, medical evangelism and partnering with nationals in planting new churches.
Pray for Ukraine | Learn more about Ukraine | Opportunities to serve in Ukraine
John and Jacky Taylor
Jacky flew to Canada last month to attend her father’s funeral. Pray for the Lord’s comfort for Jacky and her mother, two younger brothers, nieces and nephews. She intends to be there through the middle of this month. Their daughter, Joanna, traveled with her and will continue her home schooling during their trip.
North America Collapse
USA Collapse
ABWE-USA focuses on the establishment of reproducing Baptist churches that are centers for evangelism and world missions.
Pray for USA | Learn more about USA | Opportunities to serve in USA
Ann Den Uyl
Ann Den Uyl continues to reach out to the new foreign students on the college campus. These are challenging times for her and the students she is winning and teaching. Pray for fruit that remains.
Dan and Betsy Delavan are still moving toward the “graduation” of their church to self-support by the end of this year. At that point, the Delavans would leave ABWE and become full-time pastor and family. The huge obstacle is still the financial need and they would appreciate your prayers. Their daughter, Rachel, had knee surgery on March 4. She hopes to return to college by March 15.
Dan and Betsy Delavan
Dan and Betsy Delavan are still moving toward the “graduation” of their church to self-support by the end of this year. At that point, the Delavans would leave ABWE and become full-time pastor and family. The huge obstacle is still the financial need and they would appreciate your prayers. Their daughter, Rachel, had knee surgery on March 4. She hopes to return to college by March 15.
South America Collapse
Brazil Collapse
ABWE works in nine areas of this vast country.
Pray for Brazil | Learn more about Brazil | Opportunities to serve in Brazil
Roger and Marcy Smith
Roger and Marcy Smith have started a new couples ministry. Pray for the growth and strength of the Koinonia Baptist Church and the other new ministries being formed. The college and career group is organizing weekly meetings for the teens.
Chile Collapse
The capital city of Santiago has been the center of ABWE ministries for years. Santiago has a European lifestyle and many large shopping malls can be found in the city. Many nationally pastored churches exist along with a thriving seminary program with three annex ministries. The ABWE Team however is extending ministries to Northern Chile where a team of missionaries serves in the city of Iquique. The team will extend to the south with a ministry to the Mapuche Indians. Adelphos Chile, a national mission board established in 1993 with 140+ missionaries serving in nine countries of the world, contributes to an ongoing national mission’s movement for the glory of God.
Pray for Chile | Learn more about Chile | Opportunities to serve in Chile
Doug and Heather Amundson
Doug and Heather Amundson have been involved in cleanup at the Santiago Christian Academy following the earthquake. Dough has been coordinating school needs and relief efforts. The school is in need of teachers for the current semester and also for the next school year starting in August 2010. The Druckenmiller family has recently finished language school and will be the newest ABWE missionaries, arriving in mid-March. They have a heart to go to southern Chile and work with the Mapuche Indian tribes. Please also be praying for the Schneider family as they finish language school in Costa Rica and are praying to arrive in July.
Two million people are homeless. Extensive damage has been reported in and around Santiago, Chile and continuing to the south. Mostly older structures have suffered damages. Newer buildings, built with strict construction codes to withstand earthquakes, have only suffered minor damages. Both the MK Academy and the Seminary are in need of major clean ups. Books, ceiling tiles, and general disorder in the classrooms have been reported. Many church buildings have reported extensive damages. ABWE is setting up a Chile Earthquake Relief Fund Patricio Oliva is President of Adelphos Chile and serves with ABWE as a GAP Partner. He reports on one of the areas he visited: “We arrived Thursday (March 4)from a trip to south Chile. One of the towns we visited was Corinto (Corinth), Chile. We were the very first people to arrive there. We want to thank God for your prayers, God is hearing them and answering.
1. We traveled with Adelphos Missionary Javier Zuniga who serves in Guayaquil, Ecuador.
2. Twenty-four people made professions of faith, people who had never heard the Gospel.
3. Immediately upon our arrival, a mother of 26 years died leaving her 4 day old baby, Thomas. We could console the family with prayer.
4. There are villages that have totally disappeared and the tremors continue.
Colombia Collapse
The country most known for negative news and experiences is the country that most experiences rich spiritual blessings in a growing church planting movement context. ABWE missionaries and national pastors function together to minister to Bogota’s growing population of 10 million + people. Located at 8,500+ feet, Bogota offers an ideal spring-like climate year round. Other areas are being reached by national/missionary partnerships including cities like Medellin. A national mission board also provides vision to expand to other parts of Colombia and the world.
Pray for Colombia | Learn more about Colombia | Opportunities to serve in Colombia
Scott and Laura Carter
Scott and Laura Carter have been looking for housing in their new ministry area of Santa Marta. Avianna was hospitalized with a fever above 104. Tests revealed that she had a urinary tract infection which has spread to her kidneys and even her intestines. Pray for her recovery and for the start of their new ministry.