September 2004
"For the life of a creature is in the blood, and I have given it to
you to make atonement for yourselves on the altar ; it is the
blood that makes atonement for one's life" (Lev. 17:11, NIV).
FRENCH EUROPEANS AND
ВЕКЕ
OF
MARTINIQUE (BAY-kay). Please pray for lead¬
ership development of the new church start in the south of
the island. Pray as the church studies scriptural leadership
roles and prayerfully chooses their leaders.
RUSSIAN SPEAKERS OF ESTONIA. Please
pray for the four home Bible study groups that meet in
Soviet Block apartment buildings around Narva, Estonia.
These home groups were started by canceling the Wednes¬
day night service at the church where only a few people
attended. Now, these home groups meet three days a
week, with many nonbelievers also attending the Bible
study. Praise God for these groups and that people are fill¬
ing up these small apartments to study His Word. Ask God
to raise up disciples who will become leaders so that more
small groups can begin. Pray that God's Word would go
forth in Spirit and power so that people's lives would be
changed and His church multiplied.
that God's Holy Spirit would rest here and motivate its mem¬
bers to be active in the community. Pray that God would give
them a heart and a plan for evangelism, a heart to reach their
city and their lost people group. Ask God to give them a
sense of urgency to help lead others from darkness to light.
Pray that this church would be empowered to reach its area.
"Accept this atonement for your people Israel, whom you
have redeemed,
О
Lord ... (Deut. 21:8, NIV).
RURAL HAITIANS OF HAITI (HAY-shuns).
Every Sunday morning at 9 o'clock, a group of rural
Haitians in a community called "Mount No Name" gathers
under a large tree. They sit on logs, rocks or chairs that
have been gathered from houses nearby. Close by is a
hand-dug community water well and a dam that makes a
small reservoir, built using International Mission Board
World Hunger funds and the labor of Haitians and South¬
ern Baptist volunteers. Each Sunday morning, these rural
Haitians share the Word of God through chronological
Bible storying and Bible story songs. Pray that hearts will
be open to the Word and eyes will open to the need for
Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.
3 LIBYAN ARABS OF LIBYA (LIB-ee-uhn).
Workers write: "We have recently received very encour¬
aging news: Three young men in Libya have decided to fol¬
low Christ! It was a Libyan who led one of them to the Lord!
This is the first time we know of that one Libyan has shared
the gospel with another, leading to salvation — may there
be many more! Several other believers have decided to be¬
gin meeting together for fellowship, in spite of the barriers.
Praise God for His mighty work in these areas! Many of
you have persevered in prayer, asking God to act in regard
to these specific issues. As we join together in thanks, let's
also join in asking that these new, young believers would
be strengthened and encouraged in their faith and that they
would remain steadfast in the face of certain persecution.
Pray also that the believers meeting together would continue
to meet and would become a tremendous source of encour¬
agement to one another. Ask that many, many more
groups like this one would be formed to the glory of God."
4GUIBEI ZHUANG OF CHINA (gway-BAY
jwahng). One government-sanctioned church in this
area is situated far outside the center of the town. In fact, it
is so far from the city center, that many people do not even
know there is a church here. Nestled between vegetable
fields, the cross stands tall on the top of its building. Pray
SERBS OF SOUTHERN EUROPE (serbs).
A member of the Serb Team writes: "Give thanks for Z,
our neighbor, who is daily reading his Bible, studying the
discipleship books we gave him, and listening to cassette
tapes of God's Word. Give thanks that he has asked for
more cassettes to share with people in his village. Praise
God for this man who is truly following Him and sharing
with others! Pray that he will continue to grow and share."
BEDOUIN OF NORTHERN AFRICA (BEH-
doo-in). Pray that God will begin to open the hearts
of Bedouin men. If a Bedouin man becomes a Christian, he
is a doorway for his entire family to become Christians. In
this culture, where persecution is common for those who
convert to Christianity, it will provide a support system for
new believers if entire families come to know Jesus at the
same time. As the Roman jailer served as the doorway for
his family coming to know Jesus (Acts 16:25-34), ask God
to work in the same manner through Bedouin men.
CHINA (eastern and central Asia). To
reach business professionals in one China city, Chris¬
tian workers invited a small group of Christian factory and
business owners to meet for a time of fellowship. They
were amazed when 25 persons showed up. Before the gath-
