Jerel shared a devotion on hope this week. Hope is not a thing or experience, hope is Jesus. Our lives are fueled and directed by hope and Jesus is our hope.
Highlights from this week’s update:
- Pray for the nation of Ethiopia as the Coptic Orthodox church split yesterday and is creating a very difficult time for the country.
- Pray: 200 seed players are traveling to Nigeria today. Pray that they will make it through customs.
- Pray for a possible connection with a church in Barundi. Joel will be visiting them January 29-February 6.
- Pray for wisdom for the FFICM USA team as they navigate many changes and transitions.
Kenya:
Program Updates
- Pray for materials for training and for resources for FFICM in Kenya. In addition to his upcoming training in Tanzania, Joel has been invited to return to Masai, and he has been training Ugandans over Zoom. There are requests for even more trainings. Joel needs resources for materials to make this happen.
- Pray for Rick as he travels to Kenya to partner with Joel in training and delivering materials.
- Pray for Joel as he continues to work on his MA in Global Evangelism through Multnomah University remotely online.
- Praise: Joel was able to meet with pastors in Tanzania to begin preparations for future trainings. Pray that God will provide resources for these future trainings to take place.
- Pray for a possible connection with a church in Barundi. Joel will be visiting them January 29-February 6.
- Pray for an upcoming training in March
Ethiopia:
Program Updates
- Pray for the True Gospel conference coming up on March 31-April 2 2023 for 20,000-25,000 people in Hosanna, Ethiopia.
- Pray for the many who are requesting training in Ethiopia. God is opening doors to work with other denominations.
- Pray for the staff and opportunity to hire more people. The goal and prayer is to hire 9 people for the FFICM staff, including part time trainers in different regions. Pray for the opportunity and finances to hire 3 part-time as well as a full-time woman coordinator by the end of the year.
- Pray for Eskinder’s sons who are graduating university at the end of the year. There are very few jobs available, even for college graduates. Pray that God would provide them with the right jobs. Pray for his oldest son, Nathan, as he applies to a pilot training program, it is a very competitive program.
- Pray for Eskinder’s youngest daughter Anna to be able to attend school, that they will be able to afford the school she is in. It is a faith stretch financially for them having her at that school, but they could not find any other suitable school for her.
- Pray for the details around Eskinder’s Doctorate of Ministry program through Multnomah University. He has just one class left, and then his thesis. There are some issues that came up recently regarding his transfer credits from his Master’s degree that may impact the timing of the completion of his doctoral program. Pray for wisdom as we help him navigate this challenge.
- Pray: Eskinder’s other younger sister’s husband is facing a hard time. He may have a brain tumor and they are struggling. Pray for his strength and healing.
- Pray for missionaries from Somali and Eritrea who are gathering together in Addis. They are asking for follow up training in Addis so that they can take the training home with them. They are expecting about 60 people at the new believer follow up training.
- Pray for upcoming trainings in Hoseanna as a part of the True Gospel Conference. We are also planning a training in Dilla with Woodnesh, one of the 7 women who was trained last October.
- Praise: the stadium is available for the True Gospel Conference in Hoseanna.
- Pray for Eskinder and Tesfaye who will drive to Hoseanna to meet with leaders of the conference next week.
- Pray: We canceled 4 trainings around the country and rescheduled for another time. This disappointed the people we were serving but we are encouraging them still and praying to have a training in the future.
- Praise: We had a call with some of the women and are asking for reports. The women are working hard and are asking for more materials. Pray that we will be able to find a way to send the books. We will be sending 400 books to Woodenesh through public bus tomorrow. Adonech and Meslelech are also asking for material books. Thank God for their passion and their commitment. They are reaching both women and men. Evangelists and church leaders are getting the training from these women.
- Pray for Adonech who will be leading an upcoming training with Eskinder and Tesfaye.
- Praise for an agreement for a cease fire in the northern part of the country. There is peace and government officials were able to go and visit the northern part of the country. We have been praying for about 4 years for this so we give thanks to God. Continue to pray for the western part of the country that is still fighting each other and the government.
- Pray for Tesfaye’s health. He has had a stomach problem for 2 weeks, pray for his health situation.
- Pray for the nation as the Coptic Orthodox church split yesterday and is creating a very difficult time for the country.
Nigeria:
Nigeria Program Updates
- Pray for the staff as they meet to refocus the ministry and retreat from training to work on goals and strategies to be stronger in the future.
- Pray for the election that is coming. People are living in fear. Pray that God will protect them and bring leaders that will lead in peace. Pray for Nigeria as they go into a year of election. Pray for positive change that will make people see God and God’s glory. Pray for safety in the nation and that they will be free from crisis.
- Pray for the Nigeria team as they meet all day every day to work on a new strategy for reaching Muslims and Muslim background believers.
- Pray for the election as it comes near. There was an accident on the campaign trail that cost the lives of many people. Pray for this election season and for safety.
- Pray for the team as they work on strategies for the upcoming year.
- Pray: 200 seed players are traveling to Nigeria today. Pray that they will make it through customs.
General Nigeria Prayer Requests
- Pray for someone that we can train to help Ahmed in his travels and ministry. Pray that God will provide the right person with the right attitude.
- Continue to pray for the Nigeria team to find a good Operations Manager/Office Manager. Pray that God would show them the way forward. Pray for unity of mind and planning with the Nigerian board of trustees and staff as they make this decision.
- Pray: Tensions are rising ahead of the upcoming election in February 2023. Both the Muslims and the Christians are mobilizing their people. There are many concerns and Nigeria needs us to pray for the country. Christians in the north have been told by Muslims that if the Christian candidate wins they will be killed and their houses burned.
- Pray: Kidnappings are increasing at an alarming rate in Nigeria. Sam reports that the roads in Nigeria are bad.
- Pray for the fuel scarcity as it is hitting very hard.
Ongoing Muslim Outreach Ministry
- Pray: TV and Radio Ministry — Update: We are moving from TV to radio, pray for the radio ministry and how it is reaching so many. We continue to broadcast the TV and radio episodes that have been recorded to share about what it means to have a personal relationship with Jesus, and are specifically made for people coming to Christ from a Muslim background. Continue to pray for the impact of these recordings, and for the FFICM staff as they work to follow-up those who are coming to Christ. The FFICM-Nigeria team is meeting in-person with these converts to support them in their new faith. People continue to call the office every week in response with questions about what is shared and God is impacting many lives. Continue to pray for this ministry as it is yielding many results. There are many people calling in each week as a result of the broadcasts and the team has been busy doing phone and in-person follow-up with those that are responding. Pray for more openings in radio stations and opportunities to share the gospel.
- Pray for people to help lead the radio teachings. Some people are coming forward wanting to help teach, pray that it will work out and that they will be able to share this responsibility.
- Pray for partnerships to be made with radio stations.
- Pray for the new believers coming to Jesus. May the Lord encourage them and keep them safe.
Prayer for the Nigeria Ministry Team
- Peter Wash, National Director Nigeria
- Pray for Peter’s wife as her chicken business is growing and she is now selling chickens for meat as well as eggs.
- Samuel Chungwom, Nigeria Lead Trainer
- Pray for Sam as he continues classes for his Master’s degree in Missiology while continuing to serve full-time with FFICM in Nigeria. Pray for balance between work, school, and family responsibilities. Sam begins a new semester this week.
- Pray as he is leading 13 teens in new believer follow up. He and his wife are teaching and leading this small group. Pray for 2 of the teenagers as one has a father who is very sick the other is an orphan as his father died years ago and his mother is paralyzed. They are both confused and need someone to coach and mentor them. Pray for Sam as he spends time with them and also while they are out in the world.
- Pray as he continues to write his thesis proposal. Pray that it will be approved. He is hoping to study/write about how to do new believer follow-up specifically with new believers from a Muslim background.
- Pray for his family as they enter the dry season and have a harder time finding water.
- Pray for the family as they lost a cousin in Lagos in a car accident. He left behind a wife and 5 children.
- Mercy
- Pray for Mercy’s health. This is her third week of being sick. She needs rest and a lot of prayer as she is having a hard time breathing and is getting tired very easily.
- Zainab
- Praise for how God has been protecting and providing for her family.
- Pray for her brother and sister inlaw, Victor and Ruth, who are struggling with marital challenges. Pray for healing and restoration in their relationship.
- Pray for a new place of worship this year. Pray for a place for Zainab and her husband to be able to meet with new converts. Pray also for the finances involved in being able to rent a place.
- Ahmed
- Pray for his continued radio teachings. Pray that God will continue to work through him and his teachings and that many Muslims will hear the gospel and come to know Christ.
- Pankeyes
- Pray for Pankeyes sister, Nanlop and her husband Nicholas Magaji. Nanlop has a history with pregnancy loss and recently miscarried again. Pray for her and her husband as well as for Pankeyes as he tries to encourage them and be with them in this difficult time.
- Pray for Pankeyes as he witnesses to his landlord. His landlord and brother are living a life of destruction and Pankeyes is trying to share the gospel with them. Pray that they will have a receptive heart and for the salvation of their souls.
- Rick
- Pray: Rick will be driving Friday morning from Abuja to Jos, instead of flying on Wednesday. Please pray for safety, especially from road bandits and dozens of crazy drivers, who make the route dangerous.
United States:
Strategic Development and ongoing ministry
- Pray for our team as we are developing new materials for the US audience. Pray that God will give us wisdom and insight for what we can do to help new believers in the US and adapt our materials. Pray for the video series that we are working on for our American teachings.
- Pray for someone to help take over some of Rich’s responsibilities. Pray that he will be able to hand over some of his responsibilities so he can concentrate on developing strategies with the international team.
- Pray for wisdom for the FFICM USA team as they navigate many changes and transitions.
- Pray as we reevaluate all strategies and take a pause in the on hands ministry part. We want to look at everything we are doing and teaching and reevaluate as well as develop new materials. Pray as we change our development approach to a more relational one and as we refocus our goals and strategies.
- Pray as we raise money for the conference in Ethiopia and for the overall finances of the organization.
Ministry Partners
- Carly Powne, US Based International Trainer
- Pray for Lane, her 3 year old cousin who is like a nephew to her. Lane was diagnosed with Leukemia in June. Praise as he just completed a 6 month intensive chemo program. He will continue to take chemo orally for the next few years but it will be much easier on his body and he will be able to go out around other people again.
- Pray: Carly is looking at the possibility of a future extended period of time overseas on an upcoming trip. Pray for wisdom as she explores this possibility for sometime in 2023. Update: Pray for the logistics surrounding her visa and length of stay as well as finding a class or tutor to learn the Ahmaric language better before heading out with the team for trainings and conferences.
- Pray as Carly begins the work in learning the Amharic language, beginning with an online course. Pray that she is able to learn the language, retain it, and use it when working in Ethiopia.
- Rich Gardner, President
- Pray for Rich’s health as he has not been feeling well since returning from Ethiopia in October.
- Pray: Rich’s daughter, Dara Searcy-Gardner, continues to struggle with debilitating asthma. She’s unable to work and barely able to function. She is asking us to pray that the medication would conquer the asthma. We pray for complete healing.
- Pray for Rich’s siblings as he reached out to them recently with the gospel. Pray for the family as they respond and are open to conversations.
- Pray for the struggle in leading the organization and making sure we are practicing what we say we are doing. Pray for the emotions as he works through this and that he is in tune to what God is calling the team to do in a deeper, relational approach.
- Deborah Sezov, FFICM US Board member
- Praise/Pray: Pastor Andrew is in remission from his cancer!!! Continue to pray for his kidneys and overall health. Update: He Had to stop fast in the 9th day because his body was becoming too weak. It would have been counterproductive to his healing to have continued. Pray for his kidneys to return to full function. Testing is coming up soon following a week without dialysis to see how they are doing.
Almighty God, we come before you praying for the growth and development of our ministry. Thank you for the chance you’ve given us to spread the true gospel of Jesus Christ. Give us the strength to fight all the forces that are contrary to the message of Jesus. Go before us and level down mountains. You’ve chosen us, leaders, to be shepherds. Give us the wisdom to carry out our roles well. Let our focus be on bringing more souls to you. Amen.
Prayer from ConnectUS
Thank you for joining us in prayer!
