September 2006

“I love the Lord, for he heard my voice; he heard my cry for mercy. Because he turned his ear to me, I will call on him as long as I live. Psalm 116:1-2

Friday, September 1, 2006 - Please pray for the many that will be working in their fields. September is the beginning of the end of the rain for the year in the Ouallam area. It rains little to none the month of October. Please pray that sufficient rainfall comes that will finish the harvest of the main grain crop millet.

Saturday, September 2, 2006 – ANSWER: We praise God for safe travel to and from our regional meetings in Togo. We praise Him for His unifying spirit that permeated those meetings, our renewed vision to reach the Zerma people and provide them with God’s Word in a form that they can understand. Thank you for making this conference possible through your giving to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering.

Sunday, September 3, 2006 - Pray for Kimberly as she begins a kids club in her neighborhood on Wednesday afternoons. She and Melissa Black will also be starting one in Melissa's neighborhood. Pray for these kids as they hear stories from the Bible. Pray that God would open their hearts and minds to the truth and that in simple faith they would accept Jesus as their Savior. Pray that their parents would allow them to attend these kids clubs and that we might have opportunities to share our faith with them.

Monday, September 4, 2006 - Pray for Director Hassan as he records the books of 1&2 Peter, Galatians, and Luke in the Zarma language. Ask God to give him good health, focus, and guidance. He will also be recording our one-cassette chronology of the Bible. This will be an amazing tool for giving scripture and a knowledge of God’s Word to the Zerma.

Tuesday, September 5, 2006 - Pray for Pastor Hassan – not the same person as Director Hassan, as he composes original Zerma hymns. He needs God’s guidance as he takes the first steps in developing a Zerma method of worship.

Wednesday, September 6, 2006 - ANSWER: Thank you for praying for the Arkansas volunteer team last month. We had a full week of children's ministry, prayer walking, witnessing, and fellowship. Praise God that many children heard the gospel and we have opportunities to continue ministering to them through kids clubs. Two of the team members spent several afternoons witnessing to people on the street and saw three men make professions of faith. Many seeds were planted! We ask that you continue to pray that these seeds will take root in the hearts of the Zerma and that God will compel them to investigate the claims of Christianity. Pray for those who made professions of faith that we'd be able to do some follow-up and that they will grow in their faith.

Thursday, September 7, 2006 – Pray for the new believers that Brandy and Kanesa will be discipling and teaching about baptism. Pray they will understand the significance of baptism and be willing to follow Jesus in obedience and be baptized. This is a difficult step for new believers as they can no longer live out their faith in secret.

Friday, September 8, 2006 - Ask God to give the Sustars His vision as they seek Him in developing a strategy for urban evangelism.

Saturday, September 9. 2006 – ANSWER: Praise God for the healthy delivery of Josiann, born to Amadou and Hassi on July 18. She was 5 lbs. She and Hassi are doing great.

Sunday, September 10, 2006 - Pray for the Zerma as they spend long days in the field cultivating their crops. Pray for their health, stamina, strength and as they also deal with dwindling food supplies. Pray that God would speak to them during their solitary hours in the field.

Monday, September 11, 2006 - Pray for the government leaders of Niger. Pray that they would seek God and come to know Him through Jesus Christ. Pray that they would govern with integrity and in the best interests of the people of Niger.

Tuesday, September 12, 2006 – ANSWER: Brandy had a great time visiting with family and friends when she went to the States for vacation. She was able to share with her church family and was greatly encouraged. She is now ready to continue on in the work God has given her among the Zerma.

Wednesday, September 13, 2006 – Pray Acts 2:42-47. “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. Pray for an apostolic ethos to be awakened in Niger.

Thursday, September 14, 2006 – Pray for Don and Teresa as they are still trying to adjust to living in Niamey and filling in for Mark and Deanna Ledlow.

Friday, September 15, 2006 – Pray for new communities of Followers of Jesus to emerge who live by faith, are known by love, and are voices of hope. I Thessalonians 1:3

Saturday, September 16, 2006 – ANSWER: Praise the Lord for Zongo who is continuing to go to the Ouallam church, cleaning it even after the rains which make quite a mess. She is such an encouragement to always be there with her broom handy.

Sunday, September 17, 2006 - Pray for new believers living in Kollo to become mature in their faith. Pray they would hunger for God’s Word and be bold as they share with family and friends.

Monday, September 18, 2006 - Pray for the Zerma Team, that we may effectively carry the Word of God to the Zerma people. The Zerma team is the Cains, the Ledlows, the Bolls, the Sustars, the Blacks, Brandy Nelson, and Kanesa Snow.

Tuesday, September 19, 2006 - Please pray for Mark and Deanna as they are getting Stephanie settled in college in California. Pray for Stephanie as she adjusts to college life.

Wednesday, September 20, 2006 – Ask God to give Kanesa Snow good health, to restore her body and spirit after many months of illness. Ask God to place a hedge around her that cannot be penetrated by the evil one. We praise God for Kanesa and her witness to so many in Kollo, in the midst of not feeling well.

Thursday, September 21, 2006 - ANSWER: The Niger Pepper project is doing well at the moment. Moussa has taken on more responsibility of paying farmers for the peppers, grinding and temporarily storing them. Pray that Moussa remains faithful and that God will encourage him as he takes on these responsibilities as well as continuing his normal work with his farm.

Friday, September 22, 2006 – Pray for the Zerma people, that they may hear God’s Word, place their faith in Jesus Christ alone, and begin winning others to Him.

Saturday, September 23, 2006 – Pray that Jesus would awaken His followers in Niger to passionately live out their faith and draw others into His movement.

Sunday, September 24, 2006 – Pray for Cindy Sustar and Hassi as they begin a women’s and children’s ministry in Goudel. Ask God to bring women and children who are seeking a relationship with Christ. Ask God to give Cindy and Hassi wisdom in addressing the many issues that women face in this culture.

Monday, September 25, 2006 – ANSWER: We thank you for praying for the flannel graph training that took place early last month. 118 Sunday School teachers and leaders from churches across Niamey participated with much enthusiasm. It was so exciting to be included with those that are so excited to learn how to “teach a Bible Truth” to kids. Each church was presented with a flannel graph that has the same pictures that are in the “Jesus” video. We all look forward to using this as a tool to reach children.

Tuesday, September 26, 2006 – Pray that the church in Goudel would become a community of believers who live by faith, are known by love and are a voice of hope.

Wednesday, September 27, 2006 - Pray for James and Ricky, two volunteers from Tennessee who will arrive in Niamey today. They will be with the Zerma team for a week helping to mentor and disciple Zerma believers.

Thursday, September 28, 2006 – Pray for men and women who will pray without ceasing for Niamey to become a city known as “THE LORD IS THERE.” Ezekiel 48:35

Friday, September 29, 2006 – Pray that Jesus would ignite the hearts of His chosen leaders in Niger so they can effectively multiply themselves as leaders.

Saturday, September 30, 2006 - ANSWER: Rainy season finds many people far from their homes as they work in their fields. Farm land close to villages and homes is a privilege enjoyed by only a few. Others walk far distances and for some it is so far they just make temporary homes to live in until harvest time is over. It seems another burden to an already difficult life. But as it seems in so many situations, good comes out of seemingly bad. One good thing we have seen from this is that the Gospel is spread to far places. Boubacar, a believer spreads the gospel everywhere he goes!

The Zerma Team - Zerma Team Website: www.zermateam.org