“This is the message we have heard from him, and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.” I John 1:5

During the month of August, Muslims around the world will be observing Ramadan by fasting during the daylight hours. At the beginning of each day I have include a Bible passage and prayer request for Ramadan then the regular prayer and praise request follows. Since this is a time when Muslims are especially sensitive to spiritual things and earning God’s favor, pray that they would be open to the gospel and for many opportunities for them to hear the Word and receive the truth about who God is and how they can follow the path of righteousness.

Monday, August 1, 2011 – Read Luke 10:1-12. Pray for men & women of peace. The first week in August the Bolls will be in a rather remote area in New Mexico. Thank the Lord for Teresa’s aunt and uncle who have been working with some churches in the area making it possible for the Bolls to share about God’s work among the Zerma. Pray that there will be several that will come to hear and join the Zerma team in prayer.

Tuesday, August 2, 2011 – Read Acts 1:12-26. Pray for unified believers. Lord, thank you for the gifts of each part of your body called the church. Help each of us embrace the different gifts that you give us and learn how to work together as a body with one purpose.

Wednesday, August 3, 2011 – Read Acts 2. Pray for Spirit-filled witnessing. Ask God to give the Bolls the right words that need to be shared as they speak about the Zerma people at churches and events.

Thursday, August 4, 2011 – Read Acts 3. Pray for boldness in persecution. Phil and Caroline return to Niger today. Praise God for the time they have had together in the states and for Phil’s time of training and meetings.

Friday, August 5, 2011 – Read Acts 4. Ask God to compel believers to spend time with Him each day. Ruth, a summer volunteer will be returning to the states today. Praise God for her efforts in sharing with the kids at the Kids’ Camps. Kimberly and Ruth had 5 weeks of Kids’ Camps where over 80 kids heard Creation to Christ this summer. Pray for the children who attended and their families; that they will accept Christ and be bold witnesses for him. Pray for safety in travel for Ruth as she returns to the states and begins seminary.

Saturday, August 6, 2011 – Read Acts 5:17-42. Pray that we will be found worthy to suffer for Jesus. Pray for Phil and Kimberly as they will be filling in for Mark and Deanna who will be leaving on stateside assignment in August. Pray for good time management skill for the Cains as they help with business facilitation and the guesthouse.

Sunday, August 7, 2011 – Read Acts 6:1-7. Pray for balanced bicultural ministry. Many months ago we requested prayer for Halidou, the blacksmith in Ouallam. For months Halidou could not even sit. Then there were months that he crawled which made bad sores on his feet that were drug behind him. Before the Bolls left Ouallam, Halidou was able to walk with assistance. Ask God to continue to heal him completely.

Monday, August 8, 2011 – Read Acts 7:1-53. Pray for Scripture-centered ministries. Pray for the Zerma this month as they are working long days in the fields cultivating their crops. Pray for good health and strength and for an abundant harvest.

Tuesday, August 9, 2011 – Read Acts 8:1-8. Pray for the spreading of the Good News. Don and Teresa Bolls were camp missionaries in Arkansas in July. Pray the kids grew in their knowledge of International missions and more specifically about the Zerma people. Pray for changed lives.

Wednesday, August 10, 2011 – Read Acts 9:1-19. Pray for the manifestation of Christ. Speak to these university students that Emily is in relationship with so that they truly discover where their significance and identity are rooted-in relationship with you, Jesus.

Thursday, August 11, 2011 – Read Acts 10. Ask God to give people visions and dreams. Young men in FADA’s in the city are searching for ways to make a living and to have lives that matter. Lord, help us equip these men with the truth and other skills that are needed to live the lives you have intended for them.

Friday, August 12, 2011 – Read Acts 11:19-30. Pray for great numbers turn to Jesus. Please continue to pray for the many Christians in the Ouallam area that are the only Christian in their village. Some were facing persecution and pressure to leave the Path of Jesus.

Saturday, August 13, 2011 – Read Acts 12. Pray for powerful prayer groups. Pray for the media team of 3 people that will arrive in Niger today. They will be producing videos for the Songhai and Urban teams. Ask God to give them numerous opportunities to share the gospel as they are on the streets interacting with people each day.

Sunday, August 14, 2011 – Read Acts 13. Pray for the calling out bold witnesses. Pray for Emily Elliott as she returns to Niger today from vacation in the states. Ask God to give her safe travels and a smooth reentry to life in Niger.

Monday, August 15, 2011 – Read Acts 14. Pray for rest after persecution. Ask God to draw the Zerma people to himself during this time of fasting, causing them to question all things that are not from him.

Tuesday, August 16, 2011 – Read Acts 15. Pray for unified theology. Pray for the Bolls as they travel this month. They are based in Arkansas, but will be traveling to New Mexico and Mississippi. While in Mississippi they will be sharing with an Agriculture Missions group who have been praying for and supporting the Bolls for many years.

Wednesday, August 17, 2011 – Read Acts 16:1-15. Pray for Spirit-led direction. Pray for a good start to the new school year. Caroline will be a senior. Rachel and Caleb will start junior high school. Christin will be in 6th grade. Karis will be in 3rd grade. Pray for them to work diligently in their studies and for smooth transitions to new classrooms and teachers.

Thursday, August 18, 2011 – Read Acts 17. Pray for openness to the Gospel. Zongo seems to be very lonesome and more helpless now that Albass is in the village. Pray that her daughter, who has 7 children, will be able to help Zongo even though she tries to remain very independent and lives alone.

Friday, August 19, 2011 – Read Acts 18:1-17. Pray for the discipleship of zealous believers. Albass is still in the village with his family. Pray that he will be able to continue to get and take the necessary epilepsy medicine. Pray that he will remain faithful to God and will be able to share with his family and this village about Jesus.

Saturday, August 20, 2011 – Read Acts 19. Pray for sound scriptural teaching. During the month of July, Don and Teresa Bolls were able to share with several churches about their work with the Zerma People in Niger. Pray many people heard what they needed to hear. Ask God to continue to raise up prayer warriors for the Zerma people.

Sunday, August 21, 2011 – Read Acts 20:13-38. Pray for genuine love among believers. Pray for the Bolls as they will be speaking at Bowman Baptist Church in Vicksburg, Mississippi.

Monday, August 22, 2011 – Read Acts 21. Pray for team unity in the capital. Harouna has dug several water wells as a well technician. Pray for the possibility of him digging new wells, using the money to support his family and the opportunities to share “living water” with those around him.

Tuesday, August 23, 2011 – Read Acts 22:1-29. Pray for clarity in personal testimony. Our Urban Team is on the path of determining what specific efforts are needed to reach Niamey. Join us in asking the Lord to show us all that it needs to include.

Wednesday, August 24, 2011 – Read Acts 23. Pray for protection against violence. Thank you, Lord, for wanting personal relationships with each of us. Help us guard our time with you each day and to desire to get our instructions for our day from you.

Thursday, August 25, 2011 – Read Acts 24. Pray for a strong witness before authorities. Rain in the Ouallam area is once again not very good at this point during the only rainy season when the main grain crop of millet is grown. Ask God to provide sufficient rain so suffering and starvation is avoided.

Friday, August 26, 2011 – Read Acts 25. Pray for a strong witness before authorities. Praise the Lord for modern technology! Teresa was able to make a few calls to Ouallam and visit with some folks. Praise God that Halidou has finally returned to his blacksmith work. Pray for him to accept Christi as his Savior.

Saturday, August 27, 2011 – Read Acts 26. Pray for favor with leadership. Lord we ask that you give us, as your followers, courage to obey each word that you give us and to influence others to do the same.

Sunday, August 28, 2011 – Read Acts 27. Pray for protection in accidents. Pray for spiritual leadership among the Zerma believers. Ask God to rise up leaders with a desire to know Him and who will be bold in sharing their faith. Ask God to strengthen and teach pastor Amadou and his wife as they lead the church in Goudel; revealing to him specific teachings from Acts that this young congregation needs to understand as he works through the book of Acts with us.

Monday, August 29, 2011 – Read Acts 28. Pray for zealous spiritual discussions. Pray for the many churches that seem to no longer be studying missions. Many missionaries around the world were first aware of missions and the work in other places in mission studies.

Tuesday, August 30, 2011 – Read Matthew 28. Pray for responders to the Great Commission. Working hard and playing hard are each needed things for us as followers of Jesus – remind us that one without the other is not a life that brings you pleasure.

Wednesday, August 31, 2011 – As Matthew 4:19 says, “Follow Me and I will make you fishers of men.” Remind us that as we pay attention, you are working in us to teach us how to build relationships with those around us.

Thanking for kneeling before our amazing God with us on! You are truly a prayer warrior impacting the world through the power of the Holy Spirit.

The Zerma Team

www.zermateam.org