Streams of Prayer for November 2
The Streams of Prayer for November 2, 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 and for the Church as it participates in the Bible translation movement.
Shalom and Generosity
We know about and constantly experience living in a world that is Volatile, Uncertain, Complex and Ambiguous (VUCA). 2020 has been a year of great upheaval in every country of the world due to the COVID-19 pandemic, wars, suffering, death, famines and poverty. Yet God is the God of peace. When the Bible talks of God’s shalom it refers to the reconciliation of relationships between people and God, with oneself, between each other and with God’s creation. Shalom is one of the themes for this week’s Streams of Prayer. It is also the theme for the Wycliffe World Day of Prayer to be held on 11 November.
The second part of the theme is Generosity. As God loves and cares for us in this VUCA world we respond generously to others, as acts of thanksgiving and worship to him. In this way, the Alliance expresses God’s love to other Alliance organisations, language communities, partner organisations and others. We all carry God’s shalom and express it in many different ways, including sharing finances, expertise, prayer and support. For example, Alliance organisations can show generosity by committing to pray for other Alliance organisations. One way to do that is to participate in the Partnering in Prayer initiative prior to the World Day of Prayer in November.
Generosity flowing both ways: Germany
Elke Meier, a staff member of the Wycliffe Global Alliance, has led the Ministry Partnership Development Workshop (MPD) in Europe for the past ten years. She is leading her last two workshops: one took place in October 2020 and one will happen in February 2021. During these workshops, participants learn how to raise funds for mission work. Yet instead of learning how to ask for financial support, the participants learn how to present Missio Dei, the Mission of God, to others. This way the generosity flows both ways. Individuals and churches are invited to join in God’s mission and then funds can be shared toward missionary expenses. Thank God for all the hard work Elke has done over the years. Please pray for:
- Elke as she prepares and leads the February 2021 workshop.
- New trainers who will be attending and participating to learn from Elke.
- The participants, that God will prepare them for this training. They each have significant financial partnership needs.
- God’s protection over all those attending these courses. The MPD workshops will be held at the Karimu Conference Center, in Holzhausen Germany. Karimu is a Swahili word that means “generous” and reminds us that God likes to give.
Supporting the partners: United Kingdom and Ireland
Wycliffe UK and Ireland is training their partner care team to offer to pray for each partner they talk to on the phone. What a wonderful way to support those who partner financially with their Alliance organisation, especially during this pandemic. Praise God for this expression of appreciation and gratitude from Wycliffe UK and Ireland. Ask God that these phone calls and prayer times will greatly encourage their partners. “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” Galatians 6:2 (NIV).
Celebrating God’s generosity: Papua New Guinea
Many people in the Ukarumpa community contributed and worked hard to prepare for the celebrations for the 40th anniversary of Papua New Guinea Bible Translation Association (PNGBTA) on 21 July. Due to the pandemic, all major celebrations were cancelled. Praise the Lord for the spontaneous action by the PNGBTA staff in the Highlands office in Ukarumpa to appreciate the Ukarumpa community for their support and hard work. On 22 August they prepared a big meal and invited the community to come and share together. It was a wonderful day of celebrating God’s generosity expressed through each of them. Praise the Lord for the encouragement to maintain the spirit of helping and sharing with one another despite the uncertainties brought about by the pandemic.
God at work: United States
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, God displays His faithfulness to support the Bible translation movement through the global church. Together with newly-appointed President and CEO Dr. Larry Jones, nearly 300 staff members of Seed Company have experienced a wave of shalom in unity within their five domains* and with their global partners. Praise God for His grace. Ask him to continue to show his favor to all who serve in this ministry.
*Office of the President (Prayer and Fundraising), Field Operations, Finance, Technology, and Human Resources.
A united effort yields success: Caribbean
Wycliffe Caribbean had originally scheduled the Western Caribbean Old Testament Bible Translators Workshop for early in 2020. However, we postponed it because of COVID-19. Finally, we held the workshop from 28 September to 5 October in Spanish Town, Jamaica. The Jamaican Creole translators and their coordinator, along with the reviewers and technical team, observed all required physical distancing protocols. The group of Jamaican Creole translators from Belize and San Andres, Colombia joined the workshop virtually. One consultant from Curacao and another from the USA trained the group online. Praise God for graciously providing donors who shared generously to assist with the expenses related to the workshop. Thank God for the new skills and knowledge gained to continue translating the Western Caribbean Old Testament.
Giving from the heart: Global
The Wycliffe Global Alliance forms a community of organisations that share a common concern and passion for Bible translation. Each organisation participates in unique ways. Part of this participation is expressed through generosity in the sharing of time, skills and financial resources. Recently one area director shared a large financial gift with another area to help supply their needs. On a smaller scale, one Alliance organisation director was recently instrumental in significantly helping a new mission worker from another Alliance organisation. Thank God for these tangible expressions of generosity and caring among worldwide Bible translation organisations. Ask God that this type of thoughtfulness and kindness will continue to abound. “You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.” 2 Corinthians 9:11 (NIV).
Choosing the way of peace: Papua New Guinea
Last year the people of Bougainville overwhelmingly voted to secede from Papua New Guinea and become an independent nation. On 24 September they took another momentous step. They peacefully conducted their first general elections and elected their President. In accepting his election, the President-elect vowed to work together with all the Bougainville people. His father was a key translator for the Nasioi New Testament launched in 1994. Several Bible translation projects are continuing on the Island. So pray that the President will recognise the importance of the Scriptures and continue his father’s legacy in Bougainville by supporting Scripture translation.
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