Pray for Myanmar - as the country continues to open to the world, its political scene is still changing and their is ongoing ethnic conflict. Pray that people would come to know Jesus, who brings peace, hope, and reconciliation.
Pray for Christian workers like John and Leila (read more here) that they would be encouraged by God and their communities in their work, especially when it feels slow-going, and find a niche in terms of daily life in Myanmar and relationships.
Pray for our coaches and staff who live and work in cities like Bangkok, like Coach Si and PbeeMai (read more here) that the Spirit would encourage them in their ministries, and help them to adapt to this unique set of challenges in order to connect with urban youth.
Pray for Sports Friend in Bangkok, that relationships and connections with churches and communities would grow deep roots and a foundation for sports ministry in the city.
Pray for people who live in the cities who are struggling with isolation, exhaustion, and pressure. Pray that they would sense there is a God out there who cares for them.
Pray for the many missional businesses working across India to bring economic independence and a sense of loving community to their employees.
Pray for such businesses to remain financially viable and make a lasting impact on their communities.
Pray for the women of Kiran (read more about them here) as they develop new clothing and accessory products and continue forging new futures for themselves.
Pray that these students would find peace and rest in the midst of all the pressure they face (read more here), and that they would also think more about the things they want from life (vs. what they are told to want), what gives their lives meaning, and what drives them.
Pray for cross-cultural workers who are building relationships with these students, that these relationships would be one of mutual respect and learning and care.
Pray for more cross-cultural workers with a passion for student ministry on university campuses who are willing to serve overseas.
Pray for Thai churches to be passionate about introducing other Thai people to Christ in this almost exclusively Buddhist nation.
Pray for Thai churches to continue finding ways to make following Jesus a uniquely Thai endeavour (as many churches recently did for Songkran).
Pray for the Thai church to become stronger and stronger in love and unity in spite of comprising less than 1 percent of the population of Thailand.
Pray that the students would grow spiritually, and that the Christian and Muslim students would continue to grow together and respect each others' beliefs at Allied Model School (AMS) (read more here).
Pray for discernment for the right balance between training teachers while also meeting the teach needs of AMS. Pray for more training programs for teachers, including short-term overseas teacher trainers and mentors.
Praise God for the gradual growth of the school; pray for continued vision for the purpose and development of the school.
Pray for a full-time principal to join the team; the interim principal has been serving for the past four years.
Pray that more physical and occupational therapists would serve in Niger and/or join the team at Galmi Hospital (read more here) - there is a huge need for PTs and OTs. Pray that there would be opportunities to train and equip locals.
Pray that for people like Amir, who needed a prosthetic hand, that they would be encouraged as they learn to make adjustments to their lives.
Pray for the children of disabilities and their mothers, that they would feel loved and cared for in a culture where disability is associated with shame.
Pray that Deb and her team would have wisdom as they help patients, and their patients' families as well. Pray that Deb and her team continue to build trust with the community and those they are serving.
Pray for women like Kiran and Kusum (see their story here) to be bold on behalf of their communities. Ask God to give them clear understanding as they oversee the health and education of their village's most vulnerable members.
Pray for Chetna staff to have patience and wisdom as they train volunteers who have no previous experience in such big tasks.
Pray for helpful information and teaching to spread quickly through the villages where Chetna works and to find champions in helpful, passionate volunteers, mayors, and other leaders.
Pray for village ashas (nurses) who oversee the healthcare of the seriously ill as well as pregnant women. (See here for more information.)
Pray for poor and illiterate patients to get the care they need from doctors who understand how to help them participate in their own care.
Pray for Chetna staff memebrs as they seek to train and empower government volunteers.
Pray that Muslim and Christian communities can come together peacefully to develop water sources for their communities (read more here).
Pray for reconciled relationships between the Muslim and Christian leaders, communities, and people; that past grievances and hurts can be forgiven and that Muslims and Christians move forward together.
Pray for Sung and Jae Ok as they continue to build relationships with the communities in the Plateau State, that they would be encouraged in their ministry but also encourage their community.
Pray for Saroj and his new wife to adjust well to married life and build a trusting relationship. (See the story here)
Pray for Chetna staff as they seek to do their community development work and also support their volunteers in difficult personal situations.
Pray for those like Saroj who have a bad reputation but are seeking to live a new life to be given grace and new opportunities to serve their communities.
Pray for more native English speakers to volunteer as teachers in Thailand. Helping Thai people learn English is a major government initiative across the country and children who can speak English well have many more future and employment prospects than those who can't. Pray that this could also be a way for Thai people to be introduced to Jesus Christ.
Pray for Good Kids Preschool (read and watch a video about them here) as they try to give less wealthy families access to excellent bilingual education and the love of God.
Pray for Mary and other foreign missionaries using their teaching and English skills to help local projects like Good Kids Preschool provide education at a low cost.
Pray for village preschool teachers like Urmilla (see story here) who work to ensure not only the early education of their students, but their nutrition and that of their mothers.
Pray for village parents to make educating their children a priority. Pray for faithful, loving teachers who will make that available.
Pray for Chetna staff as they work with preschool teachers to motivate and encourage them.
Urmilla's love and dedication has resulted in students attending school who might otherwise never have had the opportunity. - photo by Sarah K
Pray for men like Serajul (more info here) who are advocating on behalf of the disabled, the poor, and widows. It is an exhausting, seemingly endless job. Pray they would be encouraged and strengthened.
Pray for corrupt officials to be changed into honest men and women or to be removed from positions where they can hurt the marginalized.
Pray for Chetna staff to have wisdom as they coach those doing advocacy work.
Serajul thumbs through the paperwork of the cases he's advocating for. - photo by Sarah K
Pray that those like Ramseki who are being asked to reconsider deeply held traditions for the good of their families, would have courage to make beneficial changes. (Read more here.)
Pray for Chetna staff members as they spend lots of time building relationships and having conversations in order to bring about small changes. Pray that they would be encouraged by these small advancements.
Pray for young girls and boys who have already been married off at young ages to find comfort, protection, and strength.
Richa will be the first unmarried child in her family for generations. - photo by Sarah K
Pray for rural Indian women who lack access to help outside of their homes. Pray that they would be bold, supported, and learn to speak up for themselves and their families.
Pray for the self-help groups started by Chetna to continue to be a source of encouragement and strength for their members. Pray they would be protected from people who would cheat them or use the group dishonestly.
Pray for Pavitr, Prabhouti, and Sambha as they take care of their families and work towards a better future. (Read more here)
Pray for communities to be inspired by the message of volunteers like Arvind to change their own communities. Be inspired by Arvind's faith to pray for great change and development in Bihar's villages! (Read more here)
Pray for families like Bhai's who have often experienced great loss due to the lack of resources available to them.
Pray for Chetna staff members and volunteers to not grow discouraged as they deal with so much tragedy in the communities they work with.
“Ten years from now,” Arvind says, surveying the one-room mud-and-straw huts around him, “What you see now will not exist. It will all be different. We will move forward.” - photo by Sarah K
Pray for Chetna staff to have wisdom, creativity, and stamina to face the challenges and opportunities they encounter on a daily basis (read more here). Their work is possible because of the good relationships they strive to maintain in the villages. Pray that those relationships would grow stronger and be protected.
Pray for the dozens of village teachers, nurses and other volunteers who make the programs possible. Pray that they would be diligent, dedicated, and excited about their job.
Pray for the villages in Bihar to be transformed into communities where men, women, and children can thrive and live into their fullest potential.
Pray that the Salam Training Center (read more here) would get connected with young men who would benefit from learning the skills and that the staff would invest in strong relationships with the young men.
Pray that students who go through the STC would return to their villages and serve as leaders who build up the community.
Pray that 20 new students would come each year to STC to learn skills, and that STC would be sustainable in its finances and programs as it continues to minister in its fifteenth year.
Pray for the Radical Grace team as they seek God's guidance about how to best use Shalom House (read more here) to bless those they are journeying with, the community and the local church.
Pray that the youth and those who are already coming to Shalom House would find community and a place to grow in relationship with others and God.
Pray that Shalom House would be sustainable in its programs as well as funding (the initial funding provided by SIM International has enabled this one-year pilot , but to continue Shalom House beyond 2017 Radical Grace will need to raise the required finances).
