Streams of Prayer for 23 June 2024
The Streams of Prayer for 23 June 2024, is a circular from Wycliffe Global Alliance. Wycliffe Caribbean makes this available.
June 23, 2024 – June 29, 2024
Church
The current theme for Streams of Prayer is Church, one of the Alliance’s seven Participation Streams. (See Statements regarding Wycliffe Global Alliance’s relationship with the Church.)
As an Alliance, we believe that the purpose of the local church is to glorify God through participation in his mission: drawing people to Christ and to make disciples. All who are part of the Alliance have the opportunity to serve the Church and complement its ministry as we collaborate in Bible translation movements. We also seek to listen to and learn from churches worldwide in order to build strong relationships for mutual encouragement and equipping.
Together, we seek to encourage the meaningful, unique and complementary roles in God’s mission that he leads each church and organisation to fulfil. Join us as we pray for Alliance organisations engaged in the Church Participation Stream and for the worldwide church as it participates in Bible translation movements.
Women pray at a Tao church on Orchid Island, off the coast of Taiwan. An audio recording of the Tao New Testament was completed in 2019 with the help of Faith Comes by Hearing. Photo: Marc Ewell.
Strengthening relationships with churches: Ethiopia
Wycliffe Ethiopia maintains a strong and multifaceted relationship with churches, extending beyond translation projects to encompass broader spiritual connections. Pray for efforts to meet the needs of translation projects in remote areas, as well as needs of local churches. Thank God for the support given to three rural churches in Tsara and Mursi, both financially and in kind, enabling parishioners to worship in buildings instead of outside under trees or in simple shelters. Thank God for a health outreach to Tsara, facilitated by Wycliffe Ethiopia, providing a week of medical support. Thank God also that some church leaders received training in how to share the gospel boldly in their mother tongues. Pray for an end to conflicts that sometimes occur between church leaders.
Engaging pastors and church leaders in Bible translation: Caribbean
On 28 April, Wycliffe Caribbean had its closing 30th Anniversary Service at Webster Memorial United Church in Kingston, Jamaica. They told church leaders about the work of Wycliffe Caribbean and on oral Bible storytelling through the presentation of the story of Moses, the plagues in Egypt, the Passover and the Exodus. This method for telling biblical stories was well received by attendees. Wycliffe Caribbean also will have a breakfast conference with church pastors and leaders on 29 June. Give thanks for the opportunity that Wycliffe Caribbean had to tell pastors and church leaders about their work in Bible translation. And pray for the upcoming breakfast conference and for participation of pastors and leaders from various churches and denominations.
Church leaders help lead Äiwoo translation project: Solomon Islands
John Rentz from Wycliffe New Zealand serves as advisor to the Äiwoo translation project in the Solomon Islands. There are two translators and seven reviewing teams. The translation ministry is coordinated by Mikilinäve, which means “those who steer”. It is a committee composed mainly of Anglican priests and local pastors. Praise the Lord for the involvement of these church leaders in this tangible way. Ask God to guide the translation team in their work. Pray for good health for all team members. Edmond, one of the two translators, has experienced health issues which have limited his mobility from time to time.
Collaborating with churches for Cafe Wycliffe events: Thailand
Beginning last year, Wycliffe Thai Foundation started organising the Cafe Wycliffe in collaboration with local churches as part of their church engagement initiative. Praise the Lord! This year, three churches in Chiang Mai already have hosted the event respectively on 24 March (Unity Church), 20 April (Fah Ham Chinese Church) and 21 April (San Klang Church). Another event will be held on 18 August in Bangkok (Phra Siri Church). Ask the Lord for good attendance at the August event. Pray that all who participated will learn more about missions and Bible translation and be inspired to get involved.
Partnering with church federations: Benin
Thank God for the work that Wycliffe Benin does in collaboration with its local church partners. Since its inception in 2004, this collaboration with all nine federations of churches in the country has been increasingly successful. Each of the federations has at least 100 churches from which members of the Wycliffe organisation are also drawn. Thank God for the formal partnerships that Wycliffe Benin has with four of these federations. Pray that the steps taken to formalise partnerships with the other federations will succeed. Pray that prayer support from churches will continue. Pray for growing participation of churches in the monthly fasting and prayer sessions for Wycliffe Benin, as well as in the churches’ prayer cell groups.
Helping churches find a place in God’s mission: Guatemala
In a context where there are many churches but few interested in missions, Fraternidad de Apoyo Misionero Guatemala (FAMGUA) developed a series of workshops for pastors and leaders of various Christian denominations in Guatemala to promote mission involvement among the churches they serve. One goal was for the participants to realise there is more than one way for churches and individuals to become involved in missions. Each had the opportunity to learn about Bible translation and mission, diaspora and mission, and church and mission. The workshops were conducted by FAMGUA´s partners: the Bible Society of Guatemala, PAAM Global and SEND International. It was a blessed time of learning for the participating pastors and church leaders. Thank God for this opportunity to share various topics about God’s mission, to encourage pastors and churches to get involved.
Engaging churches in prayer for Bible translation: Switzerland
Once a year, on the World Day of Prayer for Bible translation, Wycliffe Switzerland organises a number of prayer afternoons in churches around the country. This is an opportunity to invite churches to be actively involved. The team at Wycliffe Switzerland are just starting to get in touch with churches to begin planning the prayer day in November. It can be hard to find churches available to join us in prayer due to their busy schedules. Pray for good ideas to get churches involved in praying for the work of Bible translation.
Streams of Prayer is the prayer bulletin of the Wycliffe Global Alliance.
Valrie McCarthy
Language Development Officer
Wycliffe Caribbean
7A South Avenue
Kingston 5
JAMAICA, W. I.
876 754 9334, 908 2970, 582 6592
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