Streams of Prayer for 31 January 2022
The Streams of Prayer for 31 January 2022, is a circular from Wycliffe Global Alliance. This is made available through Wycliffe Caribbean.
Dear Prayer Partners,
Our current theme for Streams of Prayer 30 January – 5 February 2022 is Community and Friendship.
Welcome to the Wycliffe Global Alliance prayer bulletin.
Community and Friendship
Community is the basis for the existence of the Alliance. We are not a community only because of our common goals, though Alliance Organizations do share many common goals. Our participation in God’s mission flows out of our communion with the Triune God and our fellowship within the Body of Christ. We are a community because we joyfully share a common life in Christ. …Our interdependence and interconnectedness creates an environment where all Alliance Organizations generously give and graciously receive. We recognize we are not owners, but only stewards of the gifts God has given us. We affirm each other for who we are and not for what we contribute or for the quantity of the contribution. Our primary goal is to glorify God together. (From the Wycliffe Global Alliance in Community).
We celebrate being on this mission with God as a community. We recognize that although each Alliance organization has its own leadership, board, and staff, all seek to work interdependently and value the Alliance community for friendship, partnership, spiritual encouragement, and other practical forms of mutual support. Therefore, we pray for all partnerships. We pray also for the ways friendship is demonstrated, both in and through the Alliance.
Collaboration in mission is important – Cameroon
A timely proverb (from the Mbam) says that ‘unity had killed the elephant’. So, Cameroonian Association for Bible translation and literacy decided to go further and further in its missionary commitment to and with Cameroonian communities. They recently signed memoranda of understanding with five linguistic communities in the Mbam and Inoubou, and the Mbam and Kim divisions. These agreements allow for a better understanding of individual and shared responsibilities in Bible translation and related activities, with a view toward multi-dimensional local development. Praise God that these agreements have been signed. Pray that God will sustain all involved and that they can follow through on their commitments.
Growing in community: South Korea
The new leadership team of Global Bible Translators (GBT) started its first term in 2020 with the vision to build a ‘community of the Triune God’. With Psalm 133 as a guide, the team intentionally spent time together in quarterly retreats, Bible and book studies, and informal fellowship to share in-depth about their lives and visions for Bible translation. Praise God that the team continues to grow in unity and friendship which has helped them work together easily. Pray that this example of a team in unity will be a model for other teams in GBT as they make plans for the purposeful building of community.
Partnership providing success: Kenya
Bible Translation and Literacy in conjunction with the Bible Society of Kenya met with church leaders on 14 November 2021. They shared a report about Scripture translation progress made possible with funding drawn from the Kenya Bible Translation Trust. The Trust was established in December 2018, when churches in Kenya and other partners, joined together to raise funds for Bible translation in Kenya. Since then, Scripture was completed in several languages, and literacy work and Bible translation started in other language communities by the two organizations. Those at the meeting noted with joy that in spite of the COVID-19 pandemic, a great deal of progress had been made in Bible translation. So praise God for the support and friendship of all who gave and continue to give towards this cause. Also, ask God to grow and prosper these partnerships.
Volunteers serving together: Australia
Mike and Shelley Nankivell of Wycliffe New Zealand continue to enjoy being part of the great team of volunteers working together at Tree Tops Lodge, Cairns, Australia. Give praise for the completion of some needed property upgrades. Pray that they will be ready for the flood of tired cross-cultural workers expected to arrive when the borders open. The Nankivells are grateful for the steady flow of supporting guests who help keep Tree Tops Lodge operational. So pray for the new helpers, Francis and Frouwke Bruining who arrived from New Zealand in December. Pray also that they will adjust well to their new working environment.
Friends and computers: Papua New Guinea
In September, the ARE translation team gathered for a consultant checking session in Alotau, Milne Bay Province. The team spent a day in worship, prayer and repentance before the checking sessions began. This time of spiritual renewal fostered unity among them. Books of John, Romans and 1 Corinthians were successfully checked. God’s Word ministered to them throughout the checking sessions. Friends and partners, who were invited for a time of thanksgiving and celebration at the end, gave the team three new laptop computers. So pray for resilience and strength for the team as they continue pursuing their goal to complete the whole New Testament by 2023.
Community Radio: Canada, Guinea Bissau and Cameroon
OneBook partners with many communities where people are isolated from each other due to roads that are poorly maintained or to country borders that divide them. They depend on community radio for news from distant relatives. Radio also unites these communities in times of joy and in times of crisis. For example, a journalist who hosts a program in the Jola Felupe language of Guinea-Bissau heard about the Bible translation project. He ordered copies of all the quality-checked Scriptures. Now he is regularly reading it to thousands of people across many kilometres.
SIL and Alliance Africa Area Leaders conference: Africa
The first virtual conference between Africa area Alliance organization Directors, SIL Organizational Units, and both Area leadership teams took place in November 2021, with the theme Serving Together in Partnership. Representing a collaboration between SIL and the Alliance Area Directors, the meetings represented their mutual desire to build relationships and serve together while respecting their diversity. So praise God for the time spent together, reflecting on where they have come from, where they are now, and their direction moving forward. In addition, pray for good partnerships and collaboration. Also, pray for strengthened relationships, and that God will continue to bring great fruit from this gathering.
–
Valrie McCarthy
Proclaimer Officer
Wycliffe Caribbean
7A South Avenue
Kingston 5
JAMAICA, W. I.
876 754 9334, 908 2970, 582 6592
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