Streams of Prayer for 7 February 2022
The Streams of Prayer for 7 February 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 6 February – 12 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.
Reaching the whole community: Canada, Cameroon, Nigeria
Kwaja and Koffa people live on both sides of the border between Cameroon and Nigeria, separated by a river that is dangerous to cross. The Bible translation project began in Cameroon without much input from relatives on the other side of the river. However, within months a civil conflict in Cameroon forced these communities to flee and become refugees in Nigeria. The translation teams set up an office in a Nigerian town and soon the new arrivals learned about the project and started getting involved. They sent people to be trained as literacy teachers and asked them to read translated Scripture in local church services.
Churches gave land to the translators so they could plant gardens for their own food, and also raise cash crops to cover project expenses. Although the move across the border was very stressful for all involved, project leaders are happy because their entire community can now have access to literacy training and translated Scriptures. Praise God for the way he is bringing this cross-border community together. Continue to pray for the Koffa and Kwaja people, along with many other communities who are divided by country borders. (OneBook, Canada)
Living in community and friendship: Americas Area
Community and friendship are lived and practiced in the Wycliffe Global Alliance Americas Area. Coming from many countries and cultural backgrounds, they have established bonds of friendship that will last for a lifetime. More than a group of friends, they exist as a community serving one another on their Alliance journey so that communities and people groups have access to God’s Word. Pray for each team member, the work that they do, and for clarity about God’s direction in every decision that they make. Ask God to continue to strengthen their bonds of friendship.
Practical support in the community: South Korea
Praise God for a pilot project ‘Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Bible Translation’ voluntarily proposed by a Global Bible Translators (GBT) partner who is an IT specialist. The proposal developed into an online working group with like-minded GBT staff who explore possible AI projects for Bible translation. Praise God that the partner paved the way for this project. This is one example of how God works in the hearts of people to give generously for his kingdom and the future of Bible translation. Pray for more creative ways and means for people to work in community and give support and help within the Alliance organizations and beyond.
Pandemic fosters community: South Korea
Praise God that due to the pandemic, the Global Bible Translators (GBT) in South Korea grows in community because GBT office staff and field personnel attend prayer meetings together using the internet. The online prayer fellowship is an efficient and reliable way for people to meet together and pray for one another. This interaction is encouraging, especially to those who serve outside of their home country. Ask the Lord to motivate and inspire the GBT community to continue this example of friendship building. Pray for creativity and wisdom for them as they seek to strengthen and build online communities during the challenging pandemic season.
The power of unity: Canada and East Africa
At the beginning of the Sengwer Cherang’any language project, the East African partner of OneBook discovered a division in the community. Some people identified themselves as Sengwer and others as Cherang’any. Thanks to the partner’s skillful and wise mediation, the rift was mended. One of the translators reported his great joy in seeing respected people from both sides of the issue unite during a revision session while focusing on God’s Word in their language. Give praise for God’s work among them. Sengwer Cherang’any is one of the smaller language communities in the country, and people raised more money in a national fundraising campaign than any other project community. Praise God for this unity, and pray that it continues to serve as a testimony to others in this region.
As iron sharpens iron: Singapore, Indonesia
Praise the Lord for guiding Wycliffe Singapore through another pandemic year. The Lord provided online avenues for planned programmes like the English teaching project for Indonesian translation workers held from August to October 2021. Eleven Wycliffe Singapore staff members and volunteers worked in pairs to help each other teach English online twice a week to 42 students at beginner, intermediate and advanced levels. Praise God for this online English training to equip and support Indonesian translation staff from Pusat Penerjemahan Alkitab (PPA), the Bible translation department of Gereja Masehi Injili Minahasa (GMIM), and Yayasan Misi Penginjilan Pemuridan Papua(YMP3). So pray for the teaching team as they continue to serve and prepare for the next 10-week course which starts in mid-February. Also ask God for open minds and hearts to learn for all people involved and for stable internet connections.
Friendship is like a partnership: Togo and global
Staff at Wycliffe Togo expressed this understanding of friendship: “Friendship is like a partnership. Using the analogy of a wedding, the well-being of the bridegroom is the joy of his friend. Is this not the same for all partners? This is how we develop partnerships with other organizations to meet the needs on the ground. We identify and analyze mission needs in frank partnership with other sister organizations”. Thank God for all those who resource Bible translation in Togo, both local and international. They give time to pray, give equipment and give money for those who serve. Pray for an ever-growing passion for God. Pray also for wisdom for churches in Togo as they demonstrate their friendship to Wycliffe Togo. In addition, pray that Alliance organizations everywhere will have the finances needed to accomplish God’s mission.
–
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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