Streams of Prayer for December 13
The Streams of Prayer for December 13, 2020 is a circular from Wycliffe Global Alliance. This is available through Wycliffe Caribbean.
Mission belongs to God and the agent of mission is the Church. Please join with us as we pray for Alliance organisations engaged in the Church Participation Stream. We pray also for the Church as it participates in the Bible translation movement.
As we approach the end of 2020 we celebrate what God is doing in and through Bible translation movements around the world. Despite the challenges of this year, we look to God to bring fruitfulness to the Wycliffe Global Alliance. We chose Effectiveness for the theme of Streams of Prayer as we finish the year*. We are most effective when we serve together in Christ:
He [Christ] makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love. (Ephesians 4:16 NLT)
We consecrate ourselves to his service and pray with and for each other to walk closely with God, in strong relationship with each other and to trust God to do the impossible amongst us.
*The second and third issues of the Effectiveness theme will cover the last two weeks in December, and first two weeks in January, respectively.
God’s guidance through the pandemic: Global
Thank you for praying for the planning meetings of the Global Alliance Prayer Advocacy team in February. Whilst some of the plans made were changed due to coronavirus restrictions, the team have sensed the Lord’s guidance through the year. One example is that God led them early in the year to the theme ‘shalom’ for the Wycliffe World Day of Prayer. The resources needed to be different this year. However, God helped them to creatively rise to the challenge and the feedback received has been overwhelmingly positive. Praise God for his guidance and blessing.
Building community while meeting remotely: Global
The Global Gathering of the Wycliffe Global Alliance is held every four years for participants from all Alliance Organisations. It is a time to build relationships, hear from God together and celebrate what God is doing in and through the Alliance and the wider Bible Translation movement. The Global Gathering was due to be held in Johannesburg, South Africa in September 2020. However, this was cancelled because of coronavirus travel restrictions. Praise God that in its place a set of Global Connect virtual meetings were held in September. Prior to these meetings, Executive Director Stephen Coertze addressed the Alliance with what he sees as immediate priorities, and then invited those attending to give feedback. Pray that more opportunities to build community will be found in the days and months ahead.
20 new keyboarders: United Kingdom
Mission Assist is an Alliance organisation in the UK with a network of dedicated volunteers who help the worldwide Bible translation movement. Recently MIssion Assist reported an overwhelming response to a September press release for more keyboarders. This has resulted in an influx of 20 new members to help with keyboarding of print Scripture and related documents to make them available in digital format. Praise God for all who responded. Pray for these new volunteers as they receive training and begin their work. Pray for the project managers and editors overseeing the extra flow of work. Praise God for the high quality of digital input being done by these committed volunteers.
God’s faithfulness for 50 years: Netherlands
Wycliffe Netherlands continues to carry on the ministry of Bible translation effectively even in the midst of a worldwide pandemic. This is the result of God’s faithfulness. Wycliffe Netherlands celebrated 50 years this summer. God has guided, strengthened and given wisdom all along the way. Staff hosted a celebration via livestream on YouTube, and many people attended online. Wycliffe Netherlands continues to see God’s financial provision even though fundraising is challenging during the pandemic. Thank God, for great is his faithfulness!
Educational materials produced in partnership: Philippines
Praise God for the close partnership of the Philippine government’s Department of Education (DepEd) and the language and literacy teams of Translators Association of the Philippines (TAP). In November, the Kinamayú Primer was successfully validated online with DepEd Bislig City Division, providing a model for other language teams to follow as they create educational materials in their own languages. Thank God for the helpful grammar workshops conducted last year by the TAP team for 16 indigenous communities who are in the process of developing their official writing systems. Pray for willingness and encouragement for these teams to work virtually. Ask the Lord to bless this partnership as communities work to develop language primers that will help prepare them to read translated Scriptures.
In spite of the hurdles: Australia
‘Then he [Jesus] said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore to send out workers into his harvest field”.’ (Matthew 9:37-38 NIV). Praise the Lord that in spite of all the hurdles this year, Wycliffe Australia welcomed ten new personnel in the last twelve months, thanks to the efforts of Wycliffe Australia regional offices. The regional offices serve to update churches about the work of Bible translation, recruit new workers and process applications. Some offices have been able to continue activities and events online or even face-to-face. However, the lockdown restrictions have greatly hampered others. Yet the Lord continues to bring in needed workers. Praise him for his faithfulness in such a challenging year.
Provision and progress for those in training: Peru, Americas
CILTA staff and students thank God for answered prayers during this academic year. Although the year has been more complicated because of the pandemic, God has given good health and provided quality childcare for the students’ children. In the first semester all classes took place online. In the second semester, some in-classroom teaching made possible the practice sessions necessary to complete the coursework. Students faced financial challenges because of the pandemic and the political instability in some of their home countries. However, God has shown his faithfulness to all of them, providing for their needs, and giving them the ability to continue moving forward in their study programs. So pray for the students as they conclude their year of training. Also pray that God will give them a joyful graduation celebration and guide them in future ministry.
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