KENYA

John and Yokey Roberts (Nairobi) ask us to praise God for the coalition government which has now been put in position in Kenya, and also that John has been able to distribute Bibles to watchmen who are among his correspondence course students. Please pray for the many internally displaced persons in Kenya, for those suffering because of food price rises, and for the settlement of a wage dispute among prison warders in the country. Pray also for John as he tries to improve his computer skills with the help of Brother Cyrus.

 

NEWSFLASH ON MYANMAR (Burma)

Communication received from Myanmar confirms that there has been extensive devastation in the country following the cyclone at the weekend. Current figures state more than 22,000 killed and many more injured and missing. As far as we know there has been no loss of life among believers. Large trees and electricity equipment have been totally destroyed. News is still awaited concerning a Bible school building, children’s centres and a disabled people’s centre. Please pray that these people and children will be kept safe. The devastation in Yangon is great, so it is supposed that affected rural areas are in a worse state because houses there are often built with bamboo or wood rather than brick and concrete. Victims in Yangon are receiving emergency relief and supplying drinking water and rice must be a priority. Echoes have sent emergency funds from the Disaster Fund and further funding will be sent as specific needs become known. Please pray for victims, and for those helping in relief and giving medical aid. Pray for safety. Pray for believers, that they will be able to show God’s love and compassion in this tragedy.

INDIA

Ron Penny (Bangalore) has been given the opportunity to purchase a number of low-cost ‘XO’ laptops for Kollegal Girls’ Home and School. These are being supplied by the One Laptop Per Child organisation. Please pray for the right computer teacher and support staff to enable them to handle this technology. Pray also that the laptops will arrive in time for the start of the new school term on 28th May.

 

JAPAN

Dr Ronnie and Anne Cairns (Akashi) request prayer for the follow-up of a mini-camp held in the mountains above Ashiya during the national holiday on 4th and 5th May. Ronnie had prepared studies on ‘The Gospel at Philippi’, aimed at young Christians and young seekers in Ashiya, together with some of his university students. However, neighbouring assemblies also showed an interest and in the end 65 people took part in the studies, instead of the 25 originally expected! Pray that the young believers will be firmly established in their faith and the seekers brought to a saving trust in Christ.

Ken and Christine Cowell (Kushiro) say it was a joy to hear that one of the members of the Gospel Choir who professed recently wants to be baptised. Two other members also come regularly, so they would value prayer for their salvation. A lady in her mid-70s came to the Sunday meeting for the first time and expressed real interest. She was brought along by Mrs Sudo, also in her 70s, who has a real desire to reach other older people with the gospel. A student who has just come to study at the university where Ken teaches also came to the meeting for the first time. He is a believer so do pray that God will use him at the university to reach others. Ken starts teaching there on 14th May. Studies were cancelled for a month due to a measles outbreak amongst the first-year students.

PAKISTAN

Please pray for Liz Greig (Kunhar Christian Hospital) as she goes to Japan, where she will be visiting assemblies, as well as friends and family of Ritsuko Hotaka and Toshiko Utsumi, nurses at Multan. Pray that this will be a time of blessing and encouragement for her and those she meets.

 CANADA

Peter Smith is with Jim Webb in Kamloops, BC, for 2-weeks of Gospel effort based at the Westsyde Gospel Hall. 6 outsiders joined the assembly for a supper on Sunday evening, prior to the Gospel meeting. Two of these were senior citizens who were invited after a short visit to their home to sing a few hymns and to preach the Gospel. One of them was a retired High Church of England minister! He came along dressed in his traditional black shirt & dog collar! We trust as we get out on the doors each afternoon, that the Lord will open up doors for profitable conversations and for further contacts to be made, who in turn will come along to the meetings.

 REPUBLIC OF IRELAND

David Stevens (Castleconnell) has two preaching engagements in the local assembly this month for which he would value prayer. One is at the Family Service on 11th and the other on the last Sunday evening of the month.

ITALY

Adino and Eleanor Ricossa ask for prayer for the International Book Fair at Turin taking place from 8th-12th May, where they will be helping at the Christian book stand on two days. There has been a lot of unrest and opposition regarding the title of this year’s exhibition. Pray that many will accept a free gospel of John and stop to ask questions.

 

PORTUGAL

Colin and Grace Lovell (Sintra) report that the older young people are taking children from the Sunday school and from the RE classes in the local schools on a camping weekend from 9th-11th May and they ask prayer for this event.

SPAIN

Ken and Alison Barrett request prayer for a special Pentecost Sunday celebration which the four Alcala churches will be holding in the open air on Sunday 11th. This is officially a demonstration, as local authorities are illegally trying to charge them for holding public meetings. Pray also for an interview with local authorities at Azuqueca de Henares on 12th May, when they will broach the subject of holding a full-scale children’s/family campaign.

VARIOUS AREAS

Please pray for Derek Malcolm as he visits Turkey from 7th-14th May, where he will be spending time mainly on developing and encouraging the Bible teaching programmes which are taken to major cities in the country.

LOCAL

"Coffee & Chat" on Wednesday at 10:30 am. Do pray that this informal time might be used by the Lord to bring people to know the Son of God who loved them and gave Himself for them.

Peter Hartridge (Harrogate) is responsible for the preaching of the Gospel next Sunday, 11th May.