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ANGOLA
Brian
Howden writes that His recent visit to
Camundambala was very
helpful, not so much as public teaching is concerned, but because he
was able to have a long conversation with the elders discussing
together a serious issue that was affecting the assembly. With an
open Bible he was able to direct these men to various passages that
he trusts will be used by the Spirit of God to give them some
conviction and courage in dealing with the issues they must face for
the benefit of the assembly.
Sadly the attacks of Satan on local
assemblies using witchcraft accusations continue with devastating
consequences. An elder from a neighbouring assembly was accused of
witchcraft by the village chief and was murdered in cold blood by
suffocation and then finished off by a blow to the head with a
hammer. His wife and family fled to
Camundambala and they were happy to offer them accommodation
in some of the vacant houses they have available. The remaining
elders, Afonso and
Ernesto are having to lean
heavily on the Lord at this time as the threats continue and we are
urgently asked to pray for
them that the Lord would intervene in these circumstances and give
them the grace to stand faithfully through this trial.
DEMOCRATIC
REPUBLIC OF CONGO
 Mary
Ratter (Katoko) asks prayer
for staffing problems. One hospital worker went on holiday
and never came back. Then one of the midwifes phoned to say her
family had told her she was not to return. Then another midwife said
she would be away for 2 months while her child was in hospital.
Then a general handy man and translator was accused about his
personal life; he thought he was being bewitched and so went off to
see the witchdoctor. We also have 2 midwives who are due to retire
in 2013 so we do value your prayers
as we look for at least 2 more Christian women to come and join us
in the work. We will need to spend time in training these women, and
so we value prayer for health
and strength and patience on a day to day basis.
Pray
that staff would have a sense of responsibility about their work,
and pray for wisdom for those
choosing new workers. In addition,
prayer is asked for the Sunday School which has 250 children
attending at present. Jennelle
takes the girls Bible class whilst
Mary takes a boys class. Pray
that these children will come to know the Lord personally.
MALAWI
Jonathan
and Ruth Newell (Blantyre) would value
prayer for
mission workers Ananda
and Grace (who have recently
having moved to Malawi from India) as they are considering moving
house due to financial restraints. This may expose them to security
and health problems and they have young children.
Pray that they will be able
to find suitable and affordable accommodation. Recently
Ananda and
Grace have begun a new Sunday
School and weekly Bible Study.
PHILIPPINES—TYPHOON
A major typhoon struck the Philippines on
Thursday 4th December, with the greatest
devastation occurring on the island of Mindanao, in the south. At
least 300,000 people are homeless and the latest figures are that
1067 people are now confirmed dead with more than 800 missing.
ECHOES has sent relief from the Echoes
Disaster Fund.
THAILAND
Geoff and
Pat Atkinson (Mae Sariang) - Pray for strength and
encouragement for all believers in
Laos, as the authorities are using local spirit-cult customs
to force Christians to deny their faith, and they are required to
sign documents as proof.
BRAZIL
Jeff and
Denise Watson (Foz) – Many activities recently have had to be
suspended due to storms, which battered the town of
Foz, causing roof damage to
the assembly. Please remember us in
prayer.
FRANCE
Christian
and Catherine Moreau (Chateau Gontier) would appreciate
prayer for a young girl who
helps their daughter with her maths, and has been attending various
events at the assembly and seems interested spiritually.
Pray that they would have
wisdom in knowing how to encourage her further.
Mike and
Alison Packer (Laval) - Praise God for the English carol
service which took place in Laval.
For many it was their first assembly attendance.
Pray for these people that
they would have been touched and challenged by the Word of God. In
addition, please pray that
they will attend an outreach event to be held in January entitled ‘So
British’.
 Graham
& Alison Black (Bouc Bel Air) report that this past year has
had many encouragements. They have marked over 1,400 correspondence
courses and there are over 200 new recruits for the beginner’s
course in the gospel of John. Most of these have come through their
website. Most of their work is now with the “Voice
of the Gospel”, and we are asked to
pray for the new radio
technicians— Moussa
and Christine ABIZAR with their
twin boys,
Micah and
Josh.
William
and Liz Irwin (Nantes) have recently started three more home
Bible study groups, and a Bible class on the Lord's Day for young
believers, to teach them the fundamental doctrines about the Word of
God and Christian living. They have been encouraged by their hunger
to learn, and ask prayer that
the Lord will bless those who attend, and that they will all grow in
the Lord.
REPUBLIC
OF IRELAND
Andy and
Gillian Shanks (Newcastle West) — During December they have
received the relevant planning permission to start the renovation of
an old retail unit planned to be used for the assembly. They have
been able to secure a long term lease on the building which is
located in the town centre of
Newcastle West. There is a lot of work to be done and they
would appreciate prayer that
the Lord gives help, strength and safety during the period of work.
Most of the work will be done by local missionaries and believers
which they hope will be complete in about 6/7 weeks.
Pray that this will be a
great testimony in the local area.
MACEDONIA
 Olive
Wilson (Bitola) asks prayer
for a children's club held on
Saturdays. One of the young girls,
A, professed faith recently.
Her mother and grandmother, who are from a Muslim background,
accepted the Lord when Albanian believers came to do personal
evangelism in Bitola two
years ago. Prayers for this
family would be much valued. In addition,
Olive asks prayer for
Alexander, that he would have
wisdom leading a weekly Bible study. Different locals sometimes call
in and can ask questions which are more misleading than helpful,
especially for some of the younger believers.
ITALY
Rod and
Debbie Jones (Naples) - The economic crisis is having a
significant impact in the life of the church, as virtually none of
the young people in the assembly are able to get a job, and some
families have very little income. Pastoral care has taken much of
Rod and
Debbie’s time recently,
speaking with all age groups, and they ask
prayer that the Lord will use
these trials, to bring about transformation in the lives of those
who have the opportunity to hear the Word of God, and be touched by
it.
NORWAY
Margaret
Hewitt (Porsgrunn) would value
prayer for the
Sunday School, which has at
present 22 children (3-12years).
Pray that other children would be interested in attending. In
addition, Margaret continues
to have black outs and dizzy attacks. Please
pray for her as recently she
had a fall. Pray also for her
sons who also have debilitating health issues.
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