September, 2013 Prayer Requests

"In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness.  We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express."
Romans 8:26

I was reminded of this verse today as I was praying.  I was really burdened for someone, really wanting God to work in his life, but I was at a total loss as to how to pray. I don't even know what I want God to do (as if it's my job to tell Him what to do anyway). I just know I want Him to do something.  I just know that I need him, that this person I know needs him.

I think maybe that's right where God wants us sometimes. We don't always have to have detailed, eloquent prayers, saying just the right thing at just the right time.  "The Spirit helps us in our weakness."  God sees the desperation in our hearts as we pray and the Spirit fills in for us when our words are lacking.

Sometimes when I pray for the Beng, I sense this kind of loss for words. What do I pray for them?  How am I to know what their needs are when they are half a world away?  Maybe you feel that way too.

This month, let's ask for the Spirit's help as we pray for the Beng. Let's take the time to sit before the Lord in prayer and let a love and compassion for the Beng set in.  Let's take the time to feel a desperate burden for God to work among them. And then let's allow the Spirit to step in where our words lack. 

August, 2013 Prayer Requests

For the past several weeks Musl1ms around the world have been fasting.  They abstain from food and drink during daylight hours in order to focus on Allah and spend time praying in an attempt to purify themselves and develop their humility and selflessness.  The 27th night of Ramadan is called the Night of Power (in commemoration of the Quran being revealed to Muhammad).  On this night in particular, Musl1ms ask Allah to speak to them and visit them in visions and dreams.

In countries all over the world, there are Musl1ms who have put their faith in Jesus and testify that they had a dream or vision in which God visited or spoke to them.  Visions and dreams can play a significant role in Muslims coming to Christ. 

About half of the Beng people are Muslim and are observing Ramadan.  Pray that God would speak to Beng Musl1ms during this time and reveal Himself to them through visions and dreams.  August 6th is the 27th night of Ramadan this year, the Night of Power.  Pray for them especially on this day. 

July, 2013 Prayer requests

This week, as we thank God for the freedom and privileges we enjoy as Americans, let us also remember to pray for those who have less than we do- less freedom, less leisure time, less access to medical care, less formal education, fewer material possessions.

I say this not to make us feel guilty for being Americans or to make us feel bad for what we have.  I think we should enjoy what God has blessed us with and thank Him for it.  But there is more to it than that.  Jesus said "And from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked."  (Luke 12:48b).  He wants us to bless others with the blessings He has given us. 

When people hear this, they automatically think of giving financially to those in need, and that is certainly part of it, but we can also bless others by investing our thoughts and prayers in their lives.  I pray that this week we will give a little extra of our time to pray for the Beng and their needs.  You can pray as God leads or maybe scroll back through some past requests and spend some time praying through them.  

Thanks for your prayers. They matter.

June, 2013 Prayer Requests

A couple weeks ago I had the privilege of meeting an African bishop and pastor who was visiting the United States. He shared with us about his work there and about his desire to see people know and love God.  Two things struck me about this man. One was his wisdom.  The other was his love.   It was obvious that this man spends time regularly with God.  Wisdom and love this true and apparent can only come from God Himself.

Meeting this dear man renewed my hope for Africa.  He may live and work on the opposite side of the continent from the Beng, but if African churches had leaders like this, surely the Gospel would spread throughout the cities, villages, forests, savannahs, and deserts and throughout the entire continent.  Let's pray this month for the leaders of the churches in Cote d'Ivoire, that God would strengthen their faith and widen their vision.  Pray that they would spend time regularly with God and draw from His strength rather than depending on their own.   Pray that God would grant them wisdom and love.  Pray these things for the leaders of the Beng church in particular.

May, 2013 Prayer Requests

"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."
Romans 15:13

Personally, I have had a really hard year, and I have found that some of the hardest moments were when I felt hopeless.  There were times when I felt like my situation would never change, like God would never answer my prayers, like there was no hope. 

I wonder if Beng Christians sometimes experience hopelessness.  I wonder if they feel sometimes like God has forgotten their people, like life will always be hard, like there will never be more than .4% of the Beng population that knows Jesus.

This verse reminds us that our God is a God of hope.  As we trust in Him, he fills us with His hope, a hope we can't conjure up on our own.  His hope is real, lasting, and based in truth. 

So let's pray this verse for Beng Christians this month:
God of hope, fill the Beng Christians with all joy and peace as they trust in You so that they may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.   Amen.

April, 2013 Prayer Requests

I was talking to a friend today that I hadn't seen in years, and she shared with me her story of God's work in her life. I was reminded of how God is constantly working to show Himself to people and draw them to Himself.  Just as He is working in our midst, He is working in the midst of the Beng people of Cote d'Ivoire. 

Let's pray this month that God would soften the hearts of the Beng and give them open eyes to see Him at work in their lives. Pray that many Beng people would give their lives to Him.

March, 2013 Prayer Requests

I was thinking last week about names. A Bible study I am working through brought up a link between an Old Testament name and a New Testament name and highlighted the significance of names and their meanings. There are so many names in Scripture that remind us of God's attributes and/or God's leading in individuals' lives.

We all have different reasons for naming our children as we do. My husband and I chose our children's names just because we liked them. Others choose to name their children after family members or famous people. People groups in other parts of the world have their own ways of choosing names for their children. There is a people group who live near the Beng people in Cote d'Ivoire called the Baoule. Their custom is to name the child after they day of the week on which he/she was born. Thus, all boys born on Mondays have the same name, and all girls born on Saturdays have the same name, etc. There are 7 names for girls and 7 names for boys. Many Beng people name their children the same way that the Baoule do.

 I like praying for people by name, and I thought it would be a good idea this month to pray for the Beng people by name. Granted, I don't know all of their names, but if we pray through the 14 names, we will be praying for all the Beng people with those names (which would be a good number of them).

 So... for the next week, I challenge you to pray each day for the Beng. On Monday, we will be praying for those born on Monday (named Kouassi and Akissi). On Tuesday for those born on Tuesday, etc.

Here's the list. You can print it out or jot it down and reference it each day this week.

 Monday- Kouassi (male) Akissi (female)
 Tuesday- Kouadio (male) Adjoua (female)
 Wednesday- Konan (male) Amlan (female)
 Thursday- Kouakou (male) Ahou (female)
 Friday- Yao (male) Aya (female)
 Saturday- Koffi (male) Affoue (female)
 Sunday- Kouame (male) Amoin (female)

 Let's cover the Beng people in prayer this week and pray for them by name.