Hi friends,
Thanks for praying for us and being part of the wider team in reaching the whole of the Mengen people with the gospel.
Mengen work:
Can we ask you to be much in prayer for the church, as the work increases and challenges never cease? We are all in a battle, they are fighting in new frontiers and need your prayers.
Please continue to pray for the Mengen people hearing the gospel message in these days in A and B villages. Luke 8 – Pray that the enemy would not take away the word from the hearts of the hearers, but that they would be saved. Pray that as people hear the word that it would take root, because they will be tested and face persecution, and they will need to be anchored. Pray that new believers would not be overtaken by worries about life, money and pleasure, but that God would be their first love. Pray too that they will mature and be an integral part of the body. Pray that all Mengen believers would retain the word, and preserve through adversity so as to produce a crop in their lives that would glorify God. There is such potential in the Mengen Home church so please do pray that they will realize this potential for the sake of the gospel and the glory of their Savior.
Pray at this time for the team working in our home church and nearby village:
More prayer requests for Karis and the family below:
Edward and Franseska: Edward is involved teaching, discipling and training believers in the Home church as well as teaching through gospel lessons in a new Village. Franseka is teaching in a ladies discipleship meeting weekly and is a literacy teacher.
Teli and Kariang: Teli and Kariang live in a village close to ours. They professed faith a few years back but Teli fell away after much persecution and the death of one of their dear children. He put much pressure on his wife at that time not to attend the church. Teli has since come back to the Lord and is showing great faith and boldness and was the catalyst for this new teaching in their village. Kariang has been greatly involved in the bible translation for years, pray for her as she is a vital part of this process.
Alex: Alex is one of our bible teachers and helps with teaching and discipleship in the Home church and the gospel teaching at a nearby village. Pray for Alex’s wife, Mande, as she and her family are part of the cult group in the village and are very much opposed to the work Alex is doing. Pray especially that Mande will be saved.
On the home front:
More Prayer requests for family below:
We had a great trip to the states and had a blast with family and good visits around several churches. We have hit the ground running upon our return and have lots of appointments between the new school year, dental work, and Karis’s upcoming operation. We also made an unexpected trip to A&E two days after returning as Nya fell and split her head. Thankfully it was minor enough and after a little glue, and bravery certificate from the nurse, she came home a happy girl! J
So here are some things to pray for:
We see Karis’s surgeon on Monday 4th Aug. We will be discussing the operation and all involved with this; it will be another open heart surgery to correct the blockage in her superior vena cava. Shortly after this meeting (10 days to 2 weeks) we could have the operation date. Please pray for us as we face the realities of the surgery. We will send more info regarding the surgery when we know more. Karis has a chest infection we brought back from the USA, as do all of us. Please pray this could heal up quickly and wouldn’t delay her surgery.
It is still our aim to return and work with the Mengen people to see the church established and maturing. It is our desire to be a help to the team there in any way needed. Pray to that end that God would keep the door open, that Karis would have a successful operation and fast recovery.
Speaking engagements: In these next two weeks Sunday 3rd Aug I will be taking services in Dunoon, Scotland and then on the 10th Aug I am speaking at “The Living room church” in Wallyford. Please pray for great times in both churches as we travel there as a family. Continue to pray for us as we represent New Tribes Mission and challenge the church with great needs of the unreached peoples of the world.
Ministry in Edinburgh: Annika and I hope to be involved at Carrubbers Church in Edinburgh on the Royal Mile over the festival time. They are doing a large two week, every day outreach, with music and testimonies that share the gospel. This all starts next week and happens every night. 100’s of thousands of tourists from all over the world pass right by the churches front door; pray for the team as we seek to engage these folks and give them the clear message of the gospel.
Ministry costs:
Ministry costs in the Mengen church planting work continue to increase as we see more new church plants started. The need for new materials / training and printing of the bible portions we have translated, all grow with the work. These include literacy packs (teaching and student materials needed to start literacy classes in the new villages), gospel packs (materials needed to facilitate teaching in new works) and solar MP3 players (a great tool for believers and bible teachers to use – they revise and hear for the first time teaching material and lessons they may have missed as they are away at the new villages teaching). If you would like more info on any of these areas please ask for the info and we will be happy to supply you with all the relevant information.
Praise God:
Karis has had a healthy period for the whole time when we were in the states and we didn’t have to enter the medical system over there!
We had a great time with family and safety in travel; great times of fellowship with churches and friends old and new.
Noah has been accepted into the same school as Nya! Huge praise! This will be a great help – less runs in the car.
Love to all of you, thanks for your prayers and support.
Simon, Annika, Nya, Noah and Karis.