
Understanding the Kuyu Language
Jonathan and Devon Ames minister among the Kuyu people of Papua New Guinea. Pray for stamina as the team progresses through culture and language analysis and nears the end of formal study. Praise God that the team has developed an approved orthography (alphabet). Pray as they prepare physically, emotionally and spiritually for a literacy kick-off, Lord willing, in September. “Before we call for a literacy kick-off, we need to complete a couple significant cultural write-ups, finish discourse analysis and compile around 15,000 words of Kuyu text that can be inputted into the literacy construction software.”
The Simbari People
In celebration of serving in Papua New Guinea (PNG) for 75 years, we are praying for a series of people groups New Tribes Mission PNG is working among. The first we will highlight is the Simbari. The Simbari people live in many different hamlets and villages in the mountains of the Eastern Highlands province.
The Simbari church planting team spent many years learning the language and culture, teaching literacy and translating the Bible, and in 2023, the Simbari New Testament and portions of the Old Testament were presented to the people.
Please pray for the church as they continue to grow in their love for God, that they would stand strong on His Word. Pray that God would prepare hearts for the gospel to spread to more and more villages. Pray for the Simbari church and its leaders to be faithful witnesses and ministers of the Word of God.
The Importance of P1 Literacy
Tim and Robin Walker minister to the P1 people of Latin America. As P1 children go through school, they are taught in Spanish, and they have “zero curriculum” in the P1 language. “If these children start learning to read [the P1 language] in school, it will revolutionize the efficacy of the written Scriptures.” Tomás, director of the Ministry of Education in one of the western states of the country, is going to visit P1 villages and then visit the Department of Education in hopes of getting P1 literacy books registered as official school curriculum. “Pray for success in this as it has powerful ramifications!”
A Third of Us
On June 8, the International Day for the Unreached, we will join the Alliance for the Unreached in prayer for the third of world who have yet to hear the true gospel. The Alliance for the Unreached will be hosting “Until All Hear,” a series of webcasts on Wednesdays leading up to this day of prayer, where you can hear directly from “dozens of ministry organizations [including Ethnos360] that are actively implementing strategies to penetrate the dark regions of the world” with the light of God’s Word. Pray that this webcast will inform, encourage and spur people on. As we consider the harvest, pray for more laborers.
Enthusiasm Is High
Benjamin and Missy Hatton minister among the Amdu people of Papua New Guinea. The Hattons and co-workers Bart and Emily Allen desire to “see the Amdu church come to maturity.” They challenged the church to “prioritize God’s Word above other influences in their lives.” They began a series of meetings in addition to their weekly meeting, and they are encouraged that “enthusiasm is high.” Praise God for the group who has made these meetings a priority. Pray that they will learn and grow through this study. Pray for three men and two women in the church who are being trained and discipled to serve “in selfless ministry to the Body of Christ.”
Losing Their Language
Dan and Judy Burke minister among the Chimane people of Bolivia. Pray for them as they consider how to help the Chimane people transition as “at some point most of the Chimane people will lose their language and switch over to Spanish.” They do not want the Chimane people to “abandon all the biblical teaching that has been done in [the Chimane] language” when that time comes, so they are working to create a “bridge between biblical teaching in the native language and the national language.” Pray for clarity and stamina as Judy writes bilingual Bible lessons for the Chimane women. Pray that if it is the Lord’s will, men in the discipleship classes would show interest in a new class combining Chimane and Spanish teaching.
Ready to Print
Jim and Judy Burdett serve from the USA and minister to the Dom people of Papua New Guinea (PNG). “We are indeed just about ready to reprint the [updated] Dom New Testament. … Fifteen hundred copies will be printed in the Netherlands and then shipped to Papua New Guinea.” The Burdetts hope to travel to PNG and distribute the New Testaments to “Christians and anyone else who may want one.” Praise God that the Dom people can read from His Word, apply it to their lives and grow from it. Pray for the printing and shipping of the New Testaments. Pray for church unity and evangelism outreaches.
Dinangat Ministries
Ralf and Ellie Schlegel minister among the Dinangat people of Papua New Guinea. Bible teacher Bao “meets with two couples and some teens to teach them God’s story of salvation.” He is also teaching two believers how to read so they can read God’s Word. Pray that God will continue to enable Bao to teach clearly and that these students will grow in God’s Word. Pray too for Bible teacher Pol as he teaches in different villages. “Pray with us that many there will become God’s children!” Praise God that a group of young people that Pol taught last year “have come to know Jesus as their Savior and want to show it through baptism.”
Fully Funded
We were praying that God would provide the funds for a bulk fuel tank and fuel to fill the tank for the aviation team in Papua New Guinea (PNG). This will allow the pilots to fly their aircraft despite the nationwide fuel shortage. Praise God for His provision. Ethnos360 Aviation shares that “the project is now fully funded. … Because of your faithful giving, we have already placed the order for the tank from a company in Australia. … Please pray for the shipping process and arrival of the tank.” There are always “ongoing needs,” and “the challenge before us is constant,” so pray that God would continue to provide for the PNG flight program.
The Banwaon New Testament
Albert and Lynne Castelijn minister among the Banwaon people of the Philippines. For more than 20 years they have been working with a translation team to translate the New Testament into the Banwaon language. The translation is now complete, the New Testaments have been printed, and on March 26, the church held a dedication ceremony. Praise God for giving the translation team the skills, wisdom and perseverance to see this project to completion. Praise God that the Banwaon people can study Scripture on their own and apply it to their lives. Pray that God will receive the glory for the work He has done among the Banwaon.
National Day of Prayer
Today is the USA’s 74th annual National Day of Prayer. This year’s theme is hope as found in Romans 15:13 which says, “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Let’s thank God for the hope that He has so graciously given us as believers. Pray that we would not keep this hope to ourselves but that we would be bold in sharing God’s Word with our neighbors and the nations. Pray for God to work in the hearts of the nation’s leaders — that He would be glorified.
The 2025 National Prayer: https://www.nationaldayofprayer.org/equipping/2025-national-prayer
The Moi and Asmat Churches
Stephen and Carolyn Crockett serve in Asia Pacific. Carolyn was able to visit the Moi people group, where Stephen and Carolyn used to minister, and Carolyn was encouraged by the way four Moi teachers are faithfully teaching literacy to their class of 20 students. Pray that these students will study God’s Word independently in the Moi language and share it with others. Pray too for the Asmat people who no longer have a missionary team. Stephen visited them recently, and the church is “hoping and praying for someone to come help with their Bible translation.” Pray that God would provide “committed men and women to complete this task.”
Watch the video in which Weapupu, a Moi literacy teacher, talks about his class.
Agutaynen Baptisms
Stephen and Ginger Jordan minister among the Agutaynen people of the Philippines. March 16 was “the fulfillment of a long-anticipated day — a baptism in the local river. Eight believers … publicly proclaimed their faith in Jesus alone as their Savior.” The next Sunday, “another believer stepped into the water and proclaimed her faith in Jesus!” Praise God for these public professions of faith. Praise God for establishing, growing and maturing the Agutaynen church. Pray for the Jordans as they finish up their time in the Philippines ministering among the Agutaynen people and trust the Lord as they prepare for their next ministry as chaplain at The Homes of Ethnos360.
Discipling New Believers
Ben and Nikki Buckner minister among the Nakanai people of Papua New Guinea. Last year the Nakanai church led outreaches in four different villages. Pray for new believers in the “K” church and “N” church to grow in the Lord. Pray for wisdom in how to disciple the new believers. Pray that the church leaders would “work well together and … be strengthened as they minister to God’s people.” Pray that believers would “commit themselves to being discipled and that they would have a heart to serve God by serving the body of Christ in the area of leading/shepherding.”
Hearing the Truth of God’s Word
Paul and Tina McDole minister among the Buru people of Asia Pacific. “Twenty people are now hearing the gospel presented clearly from Genesis to Christ for the first time.” These people are members of a local church but are not believers. “Buru church leaders and team members have been sharing the teaching responsibilities. They study three times a week and should be finishing the life of Christ in May. Pray for clear understanding of the gospel and repentant hearts that believe the truth. … We anticipate what [the Holy] Spirit will do in their lives as they hear the truth of God’s Word.”
Mentoring and Discipling Students
Randy and Laurie Steel serve at Ethnos360 Bible Institute. As they interact with the 170+ students, Randy and Laurie are encouraged and excited to see “so much growth in so many of their lives.” Students are “desiring to share Christ and the message of hope to others in the community and around the world”; many are preparing to continue training at Ethnos360 Training Center. “Pray for wisdom for Laurie and me as we seek to be wise with our time with our various ministries and mentoring and discipling the students. Days are full, and there are lots of needs and opportunities.”
Bold Witnesses
Ben and Nikki Buckner minister among the Nakanai people of Papua New Guinea. Praise God for the “continued faithfulness” of church leaders Rodney, Alex, Chris, Bosco and Ronald. They recently taught a study on evangelism, and many believers were “encouraged and emboldened to share more truth” with unbelievers in their families and communities. “Please be praying for each of these believers to continue to be bold in their witness to the gospel of the Lord Jesus. And please be praying for those men as they move away from teaching about evangelism and into teaching through the book of Acts.”
News From Asia Pacific
Darcy Berglund serves as a Bible translator in Asia Pacific. She recently shared news from different churches in the region. Ester, a young woman from the Embaloh church, is holding a club that encourages children to read Scripture in their heart language. Pray that these children would grow up studying God’s Word. Pray for the team who is recording the Sekadau audio Bible. Pray for minimal interruptions and for team unity. Praise God that “the first half of the book of Acts has now been printed in the Kendawangan language and will soon be delivered to those villages.” Pray that the people would “enjoy reading and getting to know the Scriptures” and that the remainder of the book would be checked soon.
Outreach Opportunity
Joe and Kandi Depue minister among a people group in northwest Brazil. The Depues are traveling to a nearby village to teach Bible lessons to a group who have not yet heard the teaching. Pray as Joe brings along and disciples indigenous believers to teach in this new village. Pray that God would open the door for a children’s ministry during this trip too. Pray that God would work out all the details including the funds for food, supplies and transportation during the weeks of teaching. Pray too for “protection from Satan’s attacks so as not to put a stop to truth being passed on.”
Waiting on God’s Timing
TJ and Lily serve in West Africa. Pray for their team’s unity and health. “Pray for wisdom as we deal with so many cultural things on a daily basis. Pray that God would continue to prepare the hearts of [the people of the village where we live] for relationship with Jesus. Recently our host dad said, ‘We are trapped by these spirits, and we can’t get out. If we knew a way out, we would take it, but we don’t, so here we are stuck in it.’ We look forward to God’s timing when the harvest is ripe and [when] they are ready to hear.”