Streams of Prayer for January 3, 2021
The Streams of Prayer for January 3, 2021, 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)
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 relationships 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 the first two weeks in January, respectively.
Highly effective leaders: Global
Thank you for praying for the Wycliffe Global Alliance Executive Director transition period. As transitions are sometimes difficult to navigate, this transition was compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic. The cancellation of Global Gathering 2020 and numerous other key meetings and the lack of face-to-face interaction all impacted the transition. The transition period was even shortened from six to three months. Praise God that the ideals of the transition were met and that God continues to lead the Alliance forward. This was truly a time of listening to God and one another, as well as of much learning. Pray that God will guide and equip Stephen Coertze and the Alliance leadership team as they lead the Alliance forward.
God’s provision: Europe
Many of the Bible translation organisations in Europe have reported an increase in funds and new personnel during the coronavirus pandemic. Wycliffe Russia reported a large increase in donations along with Wycliffe Sweden and Wycliffe Denmark. Other Alliance organisations report new people joining their boards and mission teams. Thank God for the new staff members of Wycliffe UK, Wycliffe Norway, Wycliffe Sweden and Wycliffe Czech Republic. What a gift and encouragement from God during these difficult months. Praise God for his provision in various ways so that these Alliance organisations can effectively meet the challenges they face during the pandemic. Pray for all of these new staff and board members as they assimilate into their new roles.
Movement Campaign success: South Africa
Thank you for praying for the Bible Man team that cycled 450 km from Johannesburg to Bushbuckridge, where the SePulana Bible translation takes place. The MaPulana community enthusiastically welcomed the Bible Man team into Bushbuckridge. They held a celebration for the start of the translation and also held a Bible Fun Run as part of the Movement Campaign, with many people taking part and sponsoring the translation. Many other people also moved in their own ways in different places – hiking, swimming, cycling, completing a half marathon – all moving for God’s Word. The Wycliffe South Africa team cycled together near Johannesburg.
- Praise God for all who took part in this year’s Movement Campaign! And for the awareness and funds raised as a result.
- Pray for the MaPulana community: that their passion and enthusiasm would stay alight. Also, pray that they would wait patiently for God’s Word and then receive it with open hearts.
- Pray for the SePulana translation team who started training in November. For their translation skills, for learning to work together, and that God would give wisdom and discernment.
Beginning Partnerships: Philippines, South Korea, New Zealand
Praise God for friendships fostered among leaders of Wycliffe Global Alliance organizations in Asia-Pacific that have led to fruitful cooperation in the Bible translation movement. Pray for a Korean family from Global Bible Translators (GBT) as they prepare to join the Kinaray-a Old Testament translation project of Translators Association of the Philippines (TAP). Thank the Lord for their resiliency and patience in learning a new language online through TAP’s Language Development team. Pray for favour as they meet supporters, churches, and families in preparation for their move to the Philippines. Pray also for their kids as they prepare to move to a new environment. Praise God for an IT specialist volunteer from Wycliffe Bible Translators New Zealand (WBTNZ) currently helping TAP with the organisation of educational materials for children in the indigenous communities. Ask God to bless this productive service through this TAP-WBTNZ partnership.
Successful meetings: Pacific
Thank the Lord for the successful meetings of the South Pacific Bible Forum and the Pacific Wa’a Partnership (PWP) that were held virtually on 21-23 October 2020. Representatives from 25 different organisations from across the Pacific met online in the first two days. They gave reports and collaborated with one another for ways to partner and extend the Good News in the Pacific. People who are part of the PWP continued meeting on 23 October. The PWP is a collaboration of partner organisations involved in seeing that every language community in the Pacific Islands has access to the Scriptures. The word Wa’a means ‘canoe’ in Hawaiian. It is a symbol of journeying together. So praise the Lord for each of these organisations and their part in making the Scriptures available to every language in the Pacific.
Support from churches: Japan
Praise God for his mercy and blessings that have sustained Wycliffe Japan in practical and meaningful ways during this challenging pandemic. Thank the Lord for the churches in Japan which faithfully love, pray for and partner with Wycliffe Japan. This season has stretched staff to find creative and innovative ways to pursue mission programmes alongside churches through online formats. So pray for unity and encouragement as Wycliffe Japan and their church partners exemplify the gospel through their relationships.
Effective mobilization efforts: Argentina
A significant ongoing goal of LETRA Argentina is to mobilize Argentine people to serve in Bible translation and literacy. God is blessing them with additional people. Four are ready to leave for Papua New Guinea to begin assignments there. Three are working with the Mbya of Argentina. One is going to Peru to work in literacy with a Quechua group. Two are getting ready to go to Southeast Asia. Four are new candidates for the CILTA program, where they will receive linguistic and literacy training. Another is preparing to do literacy wherever God directs her to serve. In the past two years, one couple went to Brazil and another to Eurasia. So praise God for that LETRA Argentina’s mobilisation efforts continue to bring fruitful results. Also, ask Him to provide for all of these workers and sustain them in their areas of ministry.
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