How to Pray for Churches in Paraguay
Mark and Janet Case serve in Paraguay, supporting church planters. They recently visited missionaries and churches among three different people groups in Paraguay.
Pray for literacy in the Ayoreo church and that young and old will be motivated to read and share God’s Word. Praise God for the church’s “heart to reach the younger generation.”
Pray for the Nivaclé church “as many people struggle with a ‘works for salvation’ mentality. … Will you pray that these people will truly understand that salvation is a gift and not something they can earn?”
Finally, pray for the Sanapaná church. Many Sanapaná people are “shifting from speaking Sanapaná to speaking Guaraní. … Will you pray for more workers and wisdom in teaching and discipling these Sanapaná people in a changing ministry context?”
Sharpening One Another in the Word
Payton and Grace Downing minister among the Taliabo people of Asia Pacific. “Every Wednesday all of the Sunday school teachers for the small kids’ class, … and any others who want to join from the other classes, gather on our porch to study the upcoming lesson.” Grace shares, “Every week I see these ladies grow! … No one really seems to notice that we're creating a new culture or sharpening each other — it's just happening!” Praise God for these meaningful times of planning, prayer, Bible study, encouragement and fellowship. “Pray that these precious ladies continue to hunger and thirst after God's Word!”
New Bibles and Radios for the “Pm” People
Merrill and Teresa Dyck, serving remotely, minister to the “Pm” people of Latin America.* Praise the Lord that “boxed new Bibles were shipped by truck over the long route of dusty paths into ‘Pm-land’ by some of God's great servants. They have been handed over, and the precious ‘Pm’ believers are happy to receive them. The Bibles that were printed back in 2016 have worn out, and so this is the second printing. May it last a long time!”
In addition to the new Bibles, 235 radios containing Bible teaching are being shipped to “Pm-land” to be distributed to unreached villages. This will allow them to hear the daily Bible broadcasts which will also be in their own language. Praise God for His Word. Pray that it will continue to transform lives in Latin America.
*This is the “Pm” people group from last Tuesday’s praise report who will soon be receiving missionaries from the indigenous “Pi” church.
Huge Advancement in “Pi” Literacy Curriculum
Tim and Robin Walker minister to the “Pi” people of Latin America. The encouraging news from the “Pi” church keeps coming.* Let’s praise God for the progress that has been made in “Pi” literacy.** The goal is to have schools teach curriculum in the “Pi” language so the children can read Scripture in their heart language. Over the past year, “Pi” men Eugenio, Rudy and Santiago have essentially “created an education system in their own language” – 22 books for teachers and students! “We will need to print 300 sets of manuals … and 20,000 copies of children's workbooks and readers. … This will be a massive printing project, and we are praying that somehow the Lord who owns heaven and earth would fully provide.”
*Remember that first the director of the Ministry of Education visited a “Pi” village, and then the alphabet was approved.
God Sees the Needs in the Elsengg Church
Carolyn, serving remotely, ministers to the Elsengg people of Asia Pacific. “One of our greatest prayer requests is for the future of the Elsengg church.” The Flaugher family, the only missionaries living among the Elsengg, will be returning to the USA soon. Pray for the church to continue listening to Scripture and Bible lessons on their Kulumi audio players. Pray the new believers would “stand strong in their faith.” Pray for “miraculous healing for Bop,” who has been a big help to the team as they write lessons; an advanced case of tuberculosis is affecting his ability to walk.* God sees the needs in the young Elsengg church. Pray that He would bring more co-workers to the Elsengg ministry. “[W]e trust that the Lord will be faithful to care for our Elsengg friends.”
*Re-watch this video where Bop shares the Good News.
Happy Easter
The Gospels* tell us that after Jesus’ resurrection, He appeared to those who were closest to Him and gave His disciples instructions for how they were to live after He ascended back to heaven. One of His main instructions was, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel” (Mark 16:15a). Imagine how the Apostles must have felt. They broke bread with Jesus, traveled with Him, sat under His teaching, witnessed His miracles, had their feet washed by Him and mourned at His abuse and crucifixion. How they must have been itching to go spread the Good News that their Messiah lives! Praise God for entrusting us with sharing such important Truth. Pray we, the Church, would have the same eagerness and boldness to share the gospel as the Apostles did in the short time before Jesus’ ascension to heaven — until every people group knows of the living Savior.
*The books of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John