Streams of Prayer for 8 August 2022

The Streams of Prayer for 8 August 2022, is a circular from Wycliffe Global Alliance. Wycliffe Caribbean makes this available.

Effectiveness and transformation

Prayer has always been the bedrock of the Bible translation movement. We produce Streams of Prayer to help people to pray and to encourage prayer for Bible translation movements worldwide. Twice a year, however, we like to look back and celebrate how our prayers have been answered. We rejoice at how the Word of God is impacting individuals, communities, and nations and how churches and partners are joining together to participate in the mission of God.

The current theme of Streams of Prayer is Effectiveness and Transformation. Together we thank God for how he graciously responds to our prayers, and we are encouraged as we consider all he has done for Alliance organizations and the communities they serve. Then we continue to ask he who began a good work in us to carry it on to completion (Philippians 1:6).

God at work in churches: South Africa

Wycliffe South Africa staff are encouraged to see how God has mobilized people for Bible Translation. They rejoice in the answers to prayer. Staff regularly take time to engage and build relationships with local churches. Often churches will give them the sermon time, and a team will speak about different aspects of Bible Translation. For example, they might give the congregation a taste of what it is like for people to hear God’s Word in a language not their own.

Some churches have adopted a language community as a prayer project and many individuals have signed up to be intercessors. One church partner will host a Bible Storytelling workshop and another made its facilities available for the board meeting. Give praise for the increase in financial giving. A man who runs a coffee shop at one church now donates R2 (10 cents USD) to the Himba translation project for every coffee purchased. So far this has raised $1000. Pray with Wycliffe South Africa for more opportunities to speak at churches and for more hearts to be stirred as they do.

Completion of the JESUS Film in seven languages: Indonesia

Together with partners, Kartidaya praises God that the typesetting and recording of the JESUS Film are complete in all seven languages of the Simar Cluster. Representatives from the seven language groups will participate in media and ethnomusicology workshops in August. Pray for clear and relevant presentations. Ask for God’s guidance for those preparing the celebrations in August to launch the completed Gospel of Luke in the seven languages. May God use the JESUS Film and the Gospel of Luke to bring change and transformation to the seven language communities.

Thanking God and praying for transformation: Spain

PROEL, the Alliance Organisation in Spain, wants to thank all who have prayed in recent years for the completion of the Fa d’Ambu New Testament. It was translated and published in Spain in partnership with the Fa d’Ambu people of Annobón Island in Equatorial Guinea. “The Scriptures have been published, and now we continue praying for transformation among the Fa d´Ambu people as we work toward a Scripture celebration later this year.”

Transformation brings greater effectiveness – but one has to be brave: France

Wycliffe France was relaunched just a year ago following a difficult period from 2018 – 2020. Then came COVID-19, thus delaying a planned relaunch in 2020. Since July 2021, Wycliffe France has become a transformed organization with a clear and effective focus. The small operational team focuses on prayer and the church. Although transformation is never easy, the changes have brought a few welcome results. Individuals are re-engaging with Wycliffe France through Facebook prayer posts four times a week that are linked to more information on the new website.

In Europe, July and August are months when people are on vacation. September is a restart for many churches with new programmes and new initiatives. Pray that Wycliffe France has relevance to these churches in terms of both their programmes and their initiatives. Pray that God grants the organization favour as it seeks to serve the churches in France to the best of its abilities. Wycliffe France is proud to have great contacts with new churches and young people such as those in the photo above who are keen to play their part in His Mission.

Provision of finances for counseling centre: Australia

Praise the Lord for providing the finances to enable The Red Sea Counselling and Member Care Centre to start operating. Thank God with Wycliffe Australia personnel, Mark and Lorene van Rossen and their team for reaching 28 percent of their start-up budget. Their website is now live, making it easier for people to contribute. The Centre is designed to minister to cross-cultural workers who need respite and emotional healing. Pray that the Lord will encourage many others to support this vital ministry.

Nobonob Bible at the printer: Papua New Guinea

The Nobonob Bible is being printed in Korea. Praise God for this milestone. Ask the Lord to watch over the printing process and pray that it will go smoothly. Pray for all the processes involved in printing and then shipping the Bibles to the Nobonob community. Pray for the Nobonob team and community as they prepare for the launching of their Bible. Ask the Lord to fill the peoples’ hearts with joy as they wait in expectation for his Word. The date for launching will be announced soon.

Sharing the Alliance´s vision and mission: Americas

With the appointment of new Area Director David Cárdenas this year, the Wycliffe Global Alliance Americas entered a new phase in its service in the Bible translation movement. The Americas team held its annual retreat from 5-8 July in Ollantaytambo, Peru. Guest representatives were from Alliance organizations in Peru: AEL (Reaching All Ethnic Groups in their Language), ATEK (Association Tawantinsuyuman Evangelioq K’ancharinanpaq) and ACIEP (Interethnic Christian Association of Peru). Dr. Stephen Coertze, Executive Director of the Wycliffe Global Alliance, and his wife Lezelle, were invited to the meeting. Dr. Coertze spoke about the vision, mission, purpose, core values, and current major focus areas which form the missional intent of the Alliance. The major focus areas are:

• Bible translation
• Influences on the Bible translation movement
• Collaboration 

Peruvian Alliance organizations were encouraged to serve as catalysts to involve national, local, and indigenous churches in Bible translation and promote the growth and development of the Bible translation movement. Pray for the Area Director and his team as they serve as a discerning community, and inspire and encourage Alliance organizations to play a greater role in Bible translation movements.

Streams of Prayer is the prayer bulletin of the Wycliffe Global Alliance.

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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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