Streams of Prayer for October 19
The Streams of Prayer for October 19, 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 are 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 and 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. Prayer is one way that Alliance organisations can show generosity by committing to pray for other Alliance organisations.
God’s Word on the move: South Africa
God’s Word is on the move in the Sepulana language, one of 20 non-official South African languages without a Bible translation. All things are in place for work on an oral translation to start in October. In solidarity with the 800,000 speakers, a group of cyclists will ride from Johannesburg to the eastern part of South Africa to greet the people in the community and show unity and support. This is part of a campaign by which anyone can “move for God’s Word” and so raise funds for the translation. Find out more here: wycliffe.org.za/move-for-gods-word
Praise God that this new translation is about to get underway. So pray:
- for the translation team as they train in the work of Bible Translation and get used to working together.
- that the communities will wait with open hearts and that the testing of newly translated Scriptures will have a great impact on the lives of Mapulana people.
- for participants in the movement campaign.
Church Engagement Academy begins: Europe
During the Coronavirus pandemic it has become very challenging for the Alliance organisations in Europe to engage effectively with the churches in their countries. Please pray for this new initiative, the Church Engagement Academy, which will run from October 2020 to June 2021. The Europe area team will be hosting the first Zoom session of the Academy on October 20. Staff from eleven or more Alliance organisations will participate along with board members. The goals of the Academy are to:
- Provide an opportunity for participants to support each other through the challenges of church engagement.
- Develop a pool of effective church partnership ideas and resources from around Europe.
- Create a vibrant and robust community of practice among Alliance organisations and also with the churches in their countries.
- Give momentum to Missio Dei, the Mission of God, with a clear theological basis of the church being central in the Bible translation movement.
Pray for shalom in new ways of working: Philippines
Some of the translation teams of the Translators Association of the Philippines (TAP) are working remotely because of the pandemic. It is a slower process but the translation programmes continue to move forward in new, innovative ways. As some of the translation teams prepare for consultant checking, pray for shalom and renewed trust in God as they adjust to their new methods. Also pray for efficient internet connections and clear communications.
South Pacific Bible Forum: Pacific
Pray for the South Pacific Bible Forum happening virtually on 21-22 October. More than 30 people from partner organisations around the world will be participating in these meetings. Each one will be given an opportunity to give an update on what is happening in their ministry. Pray for good and stable internet connectivity to enable everyone to participate well in each of the agenda items. Pray for God to bring great inspiration and courage to the participants to take steps of faith towards achieving the common goal of making the Word of God available and accessible in local languages in the Pacific.
Matching fund: Thailand
Praise God for the matching fund set up for Wycliffe Thai Foundation staff members. Raising prayer and financial support has been challenging since the pandemic started. Ask God for his grace as he touches the hearts of future partners. Pray for encouragement for the staff as they trust God for their partnership development. Currently, the matching fund can last for nine months. Pray for God’s provision for more partners.
Pacific Wa’a Partnership meetings: Pacific
The Pacific Wa’a Partnership (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. The PWP will meet virtually on 23 October. Representatives from each organisation will give an update on input toward the goals agreed on at the last meeting in January. New action goals for the next six months will be set. So pray for good internet connectivity. Also ask the Lord for his guidance and leading as each organisation does their part in making the Scriptures available to every language in the Pacific.
A cluster group of translations: Guatemala
In a cluster project in Guatemala, teams of people from eight Mayan language communities are translating the Old Testament into their respective languages. They are also revising the New Testaments translated years ago to produce a full Bible in each language.
So pray for continued peaceful community cooperation among authorities, health providers, and indigenous communities. In addition, pray that God will fill all involved with energy, concentration, and joy as they focus on details. Pray for people in these communities to use widely the available Scriptures, encounter the living God, and experience His peace
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