Latest Prayers

We Praise God that all students from our school and home have successfully passed their final examinations, with many achieving excellent marks. At the same time, extensive repair works are underway before the new term begins. Water scarcity and poor water quality remain major concerns, and we exploring plans for recycling and conservation.

Xiang (Hunanese) in China: Hunanese people who speak Xiang Chinese have reputations as proud fighters, and their cuisine is spicy hot. When Inner China first opened to the world, Hunan stayed closed to Christian missionaries. Since Mao Zedong was from Hunan, atheism took deep root in this province. 35.4 million Hunanese live in the People’s Republic (77% Agnostic, 20% Buddhist, 3% Evangelical). A reported upsurge in religious interest is filling that spiritual void, but an estimated 700 gospel workers are needed to reach Hunan. https://joshuaproject.net/people_groups/18484/CH

Internally displaced in Lebanon: According to OW research, before the recent conflict began, one in five Lebanon residents were already refugees from elsewhere: 1 million Syrians (including Alawites) and 0.25 million Palestinians. Since March, 1.2 million have been internally displaced within Lebanon, most fleeing Israel’s attacks in the south, including Christian congregations from Tyre. Many Muslims are asking Christians for prayer, and over 100 new believers have been recorded in Tripoli.

Banjara in India: The Lambadi-speaking Banjara (6.3 million, 98.1% Hindu, 0.8% Evangelical) were historically nomadic, cattle herders, trading salt and transporting goods. Today, most are subsistence farmers; many live in poverty with an unsanitary lifestyle, their children not attending school. Rejected by society, pray they receive God’s acceptance, and that creative ways will open up to evangelise them through music and the arts. https://joshuaproject.net/people_groups/16315/IN

Afghan Refugees: After claiming asylum, less than 1% of refugees worldwide are resettled into a further country offering them permanent residence. UNHCR ranks Afghanistan as the top country needing resettlement, affecting over half a million people. “The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born …" (Leviticus 19:34 NIV) Pray for those most vulnerable, and for Afghanistan to become a truly safe country for believers.

Gujar in India: The 8.2 million Hindi-speaking Gujar (99.8% Hindu, 0.0% Evangelical) live across India’s northern states with little access to the Gospel. Labelled as ‘thieves and vagrants’ by higher castes, most Gujar are law-abiding shepherds, buffalo herders or farmers. Pray God deeply stirs the small number of Gujar believers, envisioning and empowering them to reach their own people. https://joshuaproject.net/people_groups/16878/IN

Baniya in India: Traditionally associated with the merchant trade and banking, boys of this caste (19.6 million, 89% Hindu, 0.0% Evangelicals) are often sent to ‘patshalas’ to learn secret merchant scripts and shrewd business skills. The Hindu Baniya are known for vegetarianism, non-violence and religious purity. Pray for their salvation, and the right people reaching them as Christ’s ambassadors. https://joshuaproject.net/people_groups/16318/IN

Church growth in Turkey: There are approximately over 200 Christian congregations across Turkey, although 30 of Turkey’s 81 provinces may have no evangelical church, and 27 perhaps only one congregation. Increasingly young people are reading and studying the Turkish Bible privately. Pray these new believers find fellowship in gatherings where they can be discipled.

Bambara in Mali: Living along the Niger River, this large, influential people (7.4 million, 91% Muslim, 0.3% Evangelical), many of whom are farmers and livestock owners, need better irrigation and agricultural advances to tackle drought and desertification. Islam spread after WWII along with rejection of French colonialism. Pray Bambara elders and family leaders have dreams of the risen Christ, drawing their hearts to him. https://joshuaproject.net/people_groups/10617/ML

Pray for 2:19 Teach to Reach as we support UK churches in welcoming the nations through English conversation classes/cafés and quality teaching and Bible materials. Some of our resources are now scheduled for reprint. Please pray for wisdom for our team as we review and refresh a key resource for church based English ministries, and for the teams developing new materials. We thank God for recent funding that makes this work possible.

This final week, we pray for the International Day of UN Peacekeepers is on 29 May. This week, we pray for our projects where peace is fragile or non-existent. Please pray for: - our work in Myanmar where children face increased conflict and ethnic violence from their own government - our work in Syria, where children traumatised by war receive therapy as well as education - for our partners in South Sudan, where tribal warfare throws vulnerable lives into chaos again and again.