Board of Mission Overseas

Overseas Prayerline

No 2008-20 : Issued on Wednesday 14th May 2008

Thank you for your interest in Prayerline. The 'Day' and 'Country' designations below refer to the respective right-hand page(s) in the Points for Prayer Handbook, which contains useful background information to these prayer requests. Copies are available by contacting the address below.

PRAYERLINE is a service of the Board of Mission Overseas of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, setting out news and prayer requests from our personnel and mission partners overseas and is updated weekly. This week's Prayerline is set out below.

Prayerline is also available (normally a shortened version) as a recorded message, which may be obtained by telephoning: +44 (0)28 9041 7308.

Day 4 – SPAIN

The various ‘one to one studies’ with studentsthat Derek and Jane French are involved in have been continuing since the beginning of the academic year.
Prayer Points –

For Jane, as she meets with the female students; and for Derek and Ned, as they meet with the male students.
For much spiritual wisdom as they lead the studies; and that the students will be committed to coming along and become well grounded in God’s Word.

A group of students at the university in Leioa in Bilbao have begun a series of studies entitled “Know and Tell”. This course, like ‘2 Ways to Live’, seeks to provide grounding in the gospel and to give participants confidence in sharing the gospel with their friends. This group will also be looking at different styles of evangelism, as well as the unique opportunities they have to share God’s truth with fellow students while they are at university.

Pray that the students will see their time at university as a valuable opportunity to extend God’s Kingdom and that many more students would come to know Christ.

Day 10 – SUDAN

The 32nd General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Sudan took place from 30th March to 1st April 2008, under the theme of “How good and pleasant it is when brothers live in unity”. Due to war in Southern Sudan, PCOS has had to operate for many years with two administrations, one in Malakal and one in Akobo. However, at this General Assembly, a new constitution was passed, and PCOS reunited under one administration with its headquarters in Malakal and subdivided into nine presbyteries.

The 341 voting delegates in attendance elected the following officers: Moderator - Rev Peter Makuac Nyak; Vice Moderator – Rev Paul Bol Kuel; General Secretary – Rev Gideon Tai Tudeal; Treasurer – Rev James Apay Ochalla.
One of the more immediate challenges facing the newly unified administration, is the re-establishment and running of their Malakal headquarters, which was destroyed in the war. At present there is significant renovation to be carried out, along with the need for computers (and a generator) to facilitate communication.

The new Moderator, Rev Peter Makuac Nyak, has expressed appreciation to partners for standing with PCOS during the dark days of war, and requests our ongoing support in the future.
Prayer Points –

Give thanks for the coming together of the two PCOS administrations. Pray for a real sense of unity and oneness as PCOS members and leaders from the two former administrations work together over the coming months and to establish a united church throughout Sudan.
The newly elected leaders of the church – pray for wisdom, guidance and good leadership skills.
The renovation and equipping of their Malakal headquarters – pray for the resources that will be needed to establish a viable administrative centre that can serve the needs of PCOS and its members throughout its nine presbyteries.

Days 12 to 14 – KENYA

From Tuum in Northern Kenya, Stephen Cowan shares the following for prayer:

Give thanks for ongoing efforts to seek to resettle those people who were displaced as a result of the post-election violence in January.
Food supplies in the area are okay at present but some commodities are likely to be difficult to obtain in the coming months. Pray that people will have the sense to think ahead a little and set aside some reserves for the future. Many even sell the aid food that comes in to Tuum.
Around Tuum, there is some tension due to an influx of Turkana peoples from an area near Lake Turkana, which lies to the North. The concern is that some Turkana have illegal guns and that they could cause trouble. However, at present the Samburu and Turkana communities are living together harmoniously, with the Samburu’s animals coming down the mountain again to feed in and around Tuum. Pray for wise leadership in both communities so that any tensions or differences may be resolved calmly and peaceably.
Remember the monthly Bible teaching time scheduled to take place in Tuum next week.
The girls’ secondary school is going well. Most of the students have arrived back. Preparation and brick making is now underway for the second dormitory.
Pray for ongoing outreach and witness among the many people who the Cowans meet and work with. There is still not a lot of interest in Jesus. There are a few new men in the garage on training and there are good opportunities to witness for Jesus.

Following last week's visit to Western Kenya, Thomas Leremore (PCEA’s Peace Initiative Coordinator) sends the following prayer points:

Continue to pray for the internally displaced persons who are returning to their farms and destroyed homes, as they need to start rebuilding their lives. Pray that they will experience God’s love and care for them and be filled with hope for the future.
The Peace Initiative is planning a two-day workshop in May with leaders from different communities in these affected areas. They will be talking about peace and reconciliation and looking for lasting solutions to the ongoing conflict. Pray for the preparations for the workshop; for those who will attend and for the facilitators.

Days 16 to 19 – MALAWI

Students at the Theological College in Ekwendeni are starting their end of semester exams today, Wednesday 14th May.

Pray for the students as they sit their exams and that all their hard work will be rewarded.

Day 23 – PAKISTAN

Ron and Hilary McCartney continue to enjoy teaching at Forman Christian College in Lahore. They are always conscious of the poverty of many people in the country. The College helps students with fees as much as it can, but nevertheless many students experience hardship. Poor people in Pakistan, as in many other parts of the world, are being hit very hard by the rapid inflation of food prices. Thus even those with a job, experience hardship. The College is trying to raise the wages of its lowly paid workers.
Prayer Points –

Give thanks that Ron and Hilary are both well again after having to take a few days off recently due to illness.
That the College may receive sufficient funds and will not have to significantly increase student fees.

Day 24 – NEPAL

Joe Campbell writes, “Give thanks for the excellent four-day workshop last week for some 40 pastors and church leaders exploring themes of Forgiveness and Reconciliation in the Bible and how these apply to personal and community life today. Some six different denominations were represented and there was good representation of female leaders. Geographical groups of leaders then developed plans to work in their regions across denominations to bring this teaching and experience to their local communities in the coming months.”
Prayer Points –

Give thanks for a good conference, safe travel and good health for all who attended.
That plans made to extend this experience to other regions will bear fruit in local communities.

This coming Saturday (17th), Janet and Joe Campbell will travel to UMN clusters in Mugu and Doti with Nepali staff working in these very remote regions of the hill country. In Mugu, Janet will be running three days of training for Red Cross staff and volunteers in trauma work, as well as attending to pastoral care work. Joe will work with UMN staff in a one-day workshop, meet informally with local political leaders and also work with members from UMN partner organisations. In Doti, both Janet and Joe will meet with the newly appointed team of Nepali staff and seek to encourage them in their work.
Prayer Points –

For safe travel, (in the air, on buses and walking), and for good health on this 10 to 14-day trip.
That both Janet and Joe will be a blessing to the UMN staff and Nepali Christians working in these remote regions.

Day 25 – MYANMAR (Burma)

Due to the recent passing of Tropical Cyclone Nargis and the resulting humanitarian crisis, many lives continue to be lost daily as people succumb to disease or starvation due to the poor sanitation, lack of clean drinking water and food, etc. The situation has been exacerbated by the very slow progress in bringing aid to the hundreds of thousands who have been so acutely affected by this disaster. It is thought that over 100,000 have already died and that upwards of 1.5 million have been made homeless as a result of the cyclone. Tragically, the death toll will rise much further unless adequate humanitarian supplies very quickly reach the many thousands of people in need. At the time of writing, the government of Myanmar is still blocking the majority of aid and aid workers being sent to the country from international organisations.

Prayer Points –

For all those affected by the disaster. Pray that they will get all the humanitarian assistance they require quickly. Remember those who have lost loved ones, been injured, or who have lost homes, possessions, and livelihoods, not forgetting those who anxiously await news of loved ones.
For the aid that is entering the country, that it will not be misused, but will quickly be distributed to those in most need.
That the Myanmar Government will allow aid agencies immediate and unrestricted access to all in need.

Donations towards the relief effort should be sent directly to our partners in development Christian Aid and Tearfund.
Gifts designated for the Presbyterian Church of Myanmar should be channelled through the Mission Overseas Office.

Day 30 – CHINA

The huge earthquake which hit a region west of the provincial capital Chengdu in the Sichuan province in China on Monday (12th), has caused the deaths of at least 12,000, but it is feared that the death toll will rise sharply in the coming days, as tens of thousands of people are still unaccounted for.

Chinese churches and Christian agencies, as well as the Chinese government and army, have begun responding to the earthquake. The priorities are to rescue those still trapped under rubble, clearing roads to stricken areas, and to provide food and shelter to families who have lost homes. The Amity Foundation, which promotes, health, education and welfare in China, and with which PCI has had a long association, has launched an Appeal asking all their partners for financial support to help them with the immediate and long term work that will be required.
Prayer Points –

For the relief effort; for the army who are working as the first line of defence; and improved weather conditions, as heavy rains have hindered the relief efforts in some areas.
For those who have lost or are searching for friends and family; for those made homeless.
For the churches and local Christians as they seek to minister to those in need.

The Mission Overseas Office is receiving donations towards Amity’s relief efforts.
Cheques should be made payable to ‘The Presbyterian Church in Ireland’ and clearly marked Amity –Earthquake Appeal

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