Weekly Prayer and Praise Points
Wycliffe Prayer Focus Bulletin, July 21-27, 2008
Opportune time for Missions: Philippines.
Lloyd Estrada, Director of Sa Bawat Wika* writes "The Philippine Missions Mobilization Movement seeks to send out 200,000 Filipino career and tentmaking missionaries by 2010. The time to engage the Filipino Church for Bible translation is now." Pray for Lloyd to be filled with God's wisdom and creativity; he is currently writing a series of messages that pastors can use in promoting global missions and Bible translation. Pray for his wife, Dahl as she travels to Puerto Princesa City July 25-28 to meet with pastors and potential language workers.
*"Sa Bawat Wika" is the Tagalog phrase meaning, "in every language."
Naso Teribe Bible dedication: Panama.
The Naso Teribe Bibles are en route from South Korea to Panama. Pray for their safe arrival in time for the planned August 17 dedication. There are 3,000 Teribe living in Northwest Panama. The language is also spoken in Costa Rica. Ask the Lord to bless these people as they receive His Word, and that they will hunger to know Him more. Pray God's blessings on the Teribe and co-workers Andy, Lori and others who are preparing for the event.
Training course preparations: Central America.
Pray for preparations being made now for the "Training Trainers Course for the Promotion of Bible Translation for Central America". It will take place in Guatemala and El Salvador in the month of October.
Literacy training*: Asia.
People living in remote regions of the world often lack resources to provide schooling for their children. Early in 2007, three language groups in a mountainous part of Asia identified members of their communities to be trained as literacy teachers and supervisors. They hope to be ready to start classes in August. Pray for commitment and faithfulness for both teacher trainees and supervisors; for the consultants who will continue to give training and direction; and for all the final details of materials, funding, and logistics so that many children can indeed learn to read and write.
*this item is an answer to your prayers from the February 26-March 4, 2007 Prayer Focus Bulletin.
One student's commitment: Peru.
A student studying linguistics in Peru says, "I have desired to serve the Lord from an early age. While serving in short-term mission work in indigenous communities in my own country, God put the desire in my heart to take His Word to people groups in the language of their hearts. I am equipping myself to serve." Pray for this student and nine others currently studying at CILTA* at Ricardo Palma University in Lima, Peru. CILTA takes place during two full semesters from mid-March to mid-July and from mid-August through mid-December.
*CILTA stands for 'Intensive Course in Linguistics, Literacy and Translation'. In Spanish, it is 'Curso Internacional de Linguistica, Traduccion y Alfabetizacion.'
Commitment to prepare missionaries: Philippines.
The churches in the province of Palawan are trusting God to raise up 36 missionary–language workers from among their members in the next 12 months. Pray that God will enable Palawan pastors and church leaders to identify who these potential missionaries are. Pray that these churches will develop strategies to cultivate a "global missions" mindset among their members. Pray that churches in Palawan will also be faithful witnesses for Christ in the province. Palawan is the largest province in the country.
Chief comforts Kayabi people: Brazil.
A young woman, Juwekatu Kayabi died last month of cancer. During a gathering, Chief Atu Kayabi, who is a believer in Christ spoke words of comfort and exhorted the people to return to God. Pray for God's comfort for those who are grieving; for the ministry of the chief and of Wycliffe personnel Raquel and Jose Carlos; and for revival among the 15 or so Kayabi who are already Christians. Pray that more of the 1000+ Kayabi will also put their faith in Christ.