January 2004

Psalms 2:8 ... Ask of me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession.

Thursday, January 1, 2004--Please pray for the village of Goudel, a village outside of Niamey. Charity has begun building relationships with some women there in hopes that one day she can teach them more about Christ. Pray for this new avenue of ministry and that it may go in the direction the Lord desires.

Friday, January 2, 2004 -- Don & Teresa arrive in Niamey, Niger January 2, 2004. Pray for safe travel and adjustment to a different climate and time.

Saturday, January 3, 2004 -- Pray that God would help us establish three new churches in Niamey during 2004.

Sunday, January 4, 2004 -- *Please continue to pray for the village of Waru. Pray that transportation issues can be worked out so that Charity may return there to continue the relationships and teach God's Word on a more regular basis.

Monday, January 5, 2004 -- Millions of people around the world travel to celebrate the holidays together with family and friends. To a lesser extent the Zerma people also are celebrating the season. Pray that it can be a special time to share Christ with others.

Tuesday, January 6, 2004 -- During November, Charity's church and community in the States did a blanket drive for the people of Waru. Please pray that as they have been given out, that they will warm their bodies physically during the cold nights, but also that they will warm their hearts and show them love. Pray that this could be an open door to sharing more about Christ and his amazing love!

Wednesday, January 7, 2004 -- Pray that the Zerma would come to know the deep and boundless and unconditional love of God through Jesus Christ.

Thursday, January 8, 2004 -- Continue to remember the Niger pepper project as Ibro continues to try and formulate this business and outreach.

Friday, January 9, 2004 -- We would like to praise the Lord for all of you that have encouraged us and pray for us. It sometimes is difficult to continue working when you see no results and face discouragement often, but many times we are uplifted and remembered especially at a time when things seem difficult. Thank you for your many prayers.

Saturday, January 10, 2004--After visiting Niger, Charity's family will be returning to the US today. Please pray for safe travels home. Also pray that they will return home encouraged and with happy hearts to share with others about the people, life, and work in this country. Pray for Charity and her family as they say a very difficult 'good-bye'!

Sunday, January 11, 2004 -- Hopefully the “Mobile Center” will begin to function upon arrival of Don & Teresa. The center will make books, audio cassettes, bible study and more available as it travels to different villages. Pray for the organization and planning of where the mobile center will minister.

Monday, January 12, 2004 -- two volunteers from Tennessee will be arriving on Jan. 12 to assist us with training leaders among the Zerma believers. They are both pastors and will spend two weeks mentoring believers in the villages around Ouallam. Pray for their safe arrival and return, for their health and stamina, and especially for the time they'll be interacting with these Zerma Christians as they share their hearts and experience and expertise. Pray that God would use them and this time to further His kingdom and strengthen His Church among the Zerma.

Tuesday, January 13, 2004 -- Pray for Mark and Deanna Ledlow, who are settling in to their new home. They have faced many communication problems since their return to Niger last May -- specifically, their computer and internet have not functioned properly. Pray that they would be able to get in touch with family and friends in the States soon!

Wednesday, January 14, 2004 -- *Pray for the radio translation project. Many lessons have been translated and the first few have been corrected and are about to be recorded for field testing. Pray that things will continue progress and go smoothly, so that all lessons can be translated, corrected, tested and recorded as soon as possible! These lessons are geared specifically for the people of this area and could be really effective in teaching many people in many villages the Truth about God and His Son.

Thursday, January 15, 2004 -- *Please pray for the village of Goudel, a village outside of Niamey. Charity has begun building relationships with some women there in hopes that one day she can teach them more about Christ. Pray for this new avenue of ministry and that it may go in the direction the Lord desires.

Friday, January 16, 2004 -- It is a cold, dry, dusty time of year for the Zerma people in Niger. Pray for their health as they are not accustomed to the cold weather. Most continue to wear flip-flops and thin cotton clothing.

Saturday, January 17, 2004 -- How many Zerma will pass into eternity today, never having heard the gospel? Pray this month that thousands of Zerma would hear the gospel; either through radio, audio cassettes, sermons, reading scripture, or someone telling them.

Sunday, January 18, 2004 -- Pray for perseverance on the part of those of us who minister among the Zerma. Some days it's very tempting to just give up, sometimes we're frustrated at the lack of progress. Pray that we'll keep our focus on the Lord and remain obedient to His call.

Monday, January 19, 2004 -- Please pray for our families in the States. The holidays are especially a difficult time to be separated from loved ones, but it is also difficult for our families, those that are aging – and those that are young and do not understand the separation.

Tuesday, January 20, 2004 -- Pray for the government leaders of Niger, that God would grant them wisdom and discernment and that they would govern with integrity and compassion. Thank God that Niger is a country that respects religious freedom.

Wednesday, January 21, 2004 -- Pray for the Zerma and the people of Torodi, that they will understand that this gospel we share is not a lie. They sometimes believe that "that love business" is an act just to win some people over. It is not real and Jesus is not truly the son of God. Pray their hearts would be softened to the truth and they will believe in the name of Jesus Christ

Thursday, January 22, 2004 -- Pray for Deanna Ledlow's friend and neighbor, Ayssa. Pray that she will see that God is real and that she will make a decision for Christ this month.

Friday, January 23, 2004 -- Pray that God would raise up strong leaders among the Zerma--men and women of absolute integrity who know the truth and are not afraid to stand up for it, men and women whose lives characterize the renewing and transforming power of the Holy Spirit.

Saturday, January 24, 2004 -- Pray for Boube, the deaf man who was saved and has been witnessing to other deaf people and traveling from village to village. Pray that he will continue trusting in the Lord and not leaning on his own strength.

Sunday, January 25, 2004 -- Pray for the missionaries in Niger and other parts of the world. Holidays are hard for us, being far away from our families and loved ones. Pray that they will not lose the vision that God has given them or lose sight of the calling He has placed in their lives. Pray that the ministries would be effective and full of the power of God.

Monday, January 26, 2004 -- Pray for the neighbors of all of our missionaries in Niger, who watch the actions of our missionaries to see if the missionaries "walk the talk." Pray that all the neighbors would see Jesus in the actions of our missionaries.

Tuesday, January 27, 2004 -- Pray that all of us -- missionaries and prayer warriors both -- would use our time wisely, making the most of the time the Lord gives us each day. Pray that each of us would make prayer a priority in our lives and that we would know and hunger for the word of God.

Wednesday, January 28, 2004 -- Acts 1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses...to the ends of the earth. Pray for our missionaries who have been sent to the ends of the earth, that they would be continually filled with the power that comes from the Holy Spirit.

Thursday, January 29, 2004 -- Christians in Niger are under constant attack. They are hard to keep focused and they need discipleship desperately. Many of the newer Christians are strong now but watch the old ones and are very confused. Please pray for strength and direction of the Holy Spirit.

Friday, January 30, 2004 -- Acts 20:32 Now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified. Pray for all our missionaries today and re-commit them to God.

Saturday, January 31, 2004 -- I will give them a heart to know Me, for I am the LORD; and they will be My people, and I will be their God, for they will return to me with their whole heart." (Jer. 24:7) Pray that the Zerma people would have a yearning to know the Lord.