Swazi Team Prayer Calendar - August 2009

Saturday August 1: Pray for Sarah Warren today on her birthday!!
The executive committee of the Baptist Convention of Swaziland meets today. Pray this meeting will reflect the desire to glorify the Lord in all that is said and done. Pray for good attendance of those on the executive committee.

Sunday August 2: Pray for the new outreach group in Lesibovu, south of Manzini where Steven Allen started a new Bible study in February. The group averages about 50 each Saturday afternoon. Pray for God’s wisdom in guiding each step with this new group. Even now pray for leaders that would rise within the congregation to be trained in the near future. A few weeks ago 28 people accepted Jesus Christ during one of the Bible studies. Plans are being made for the FIRST Sunday service at Lesibovu August 2nd at 1:30pm.

Monday August 3: July 1st the IMB (International Mission Board) began a new epoch of change from geographic regions to global affinity groups. (Affinity groups are large groupings of related peoples that share similar origins and cultures.) Please pray for IMB personnel as they transition to new administrative structures, leadership, relationships and ministry possibilities. Ask God to speak into missionary hearts, revealing His vision for reaching the massive number of people groups who have yet to hear or respond to the Good News of Jesus Christ.

Tuesday August 4: In April Lisa Warren’s father suffered a stroke and has been in rehabilitation care centers. Due to insurance limitations he will return to his home on August 3rd. After much prayer the Warrens feel God leading them to return to the States to care for Lisa’s father (Lisa is the only child). They will leave Swaziland on the 5th of August. Please pray for direction and discernment in all aspects of life from preparing their home to handle Lisa’s dad’s special needs to placing Jessie, Matthew and Sarah back in school as well as Bert and Lisa finding employment.

Wednesday August 5: Thank you for praying for Steven Allen’s trip to Israel for the archeological dig with Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. It was a fantastic trip and one he will remember for the rest of his life. Thank you for praying for his safety in travels and a wonderful time of holiday being refreshed doing something that is a passion of Steven’s heart.
-Pray for wisdom in the next step of where God wants Steven Allen to pursue seeking a new work area. After much prayer and seeing other established evangelical work in the Nkhaba area, God has closed the doors for us to continue the outreach Bible study each week.

Thursday August 6: The youth leaders of the Swazi Baptist churches in the Shiselweni Region met July 18th and 25th to plan for future ministries in their churches. Planning went well with a new excitement among the youth leaders. Please pray these youth will stay strong and develop into strong leaders for their churches. Pray they will live pure and holy lives and through their witness many Swazis will come to know Jesus Christ as their Savior.

Friday August 7: Pray as the Swazi team prayerfully works on personnel job requests for workers to come serve alongside the Swazi Team. Even now be praying for the people God wants to send to work with the Swazi mission team and the Swazi people to further His kingdom.

Saturday August 8: A couple of weeks ago 5 new believers of the Mphembekati Baptist Church (Manzini) were baptized. Please pray for the 5 that were baptized to be faithful to the Lord and the Christian way of life. Pray for Pastor Lloyd Dlamini as he leads the church.

Sunday August 9: Revival services were held ion Aprill 22nd -May 3rd.at Maphungwani. Sunday worship services began after the revival services concluded and have continued led by members of the Phuzumoya Baptist Church. Pray this congregation will become a strong Baptist church and will strive to reach the lost in the community. In June 58 people were baptized.

Monday August 10: According to the “Swazi Weekend Observer” several cultural practices and beliefs contribute greatly to the spread of HIV and AIDS in Swaziland. Besides cultural practices such as forced marriages and widow inheriting, other factors include poverty, high mobility of the population, alcohol and drug abuse and male dominance. Pray these problems that plague the Swazi population will be controlled and no longer help spread HIV and AIDS. Pray for a strong sense of Christian living verses cultural practices in Swaziland.

Tuesday August 11: In April Kelly Woody, True Love Waits International consultant visited the Swazi Team members in their areas of work. She was able to connect with some of the True Love Wait presenters. Kelly returns to Swaziland today to assist the Swazi Team with True Love Waits and to teach about TLW at the National Youth Camp (Aug. 27-30). Pray for Kelly as she works with Swazis and missionaries to establish a strong True Love Waits program in Swaziland.

Wednesday August 12: Pray for the Allen family to have strength and wisdom as Steve and Monica balance family and ministry each day. Pray for their walks with the Lord to grow more and more and specifically direction for family as Lacie and Nathan are taught to the love the Lord Jesus with all their hearts. Since the weekly church services are conducted in siSwati it is difficult for the children to understand what is being said. Pray Steve and Monica will continue to find ways to make weekly worship at home positive and meaningful for the children especially Lacie.

Thursday August 13: Pray the Vuvulane Baptist Church will continue to reach the lost in the community. Pray for Douglas and Simphiwe Mavuso as they commit to leading this congregation.

Friday August 14: More and more of the small businesses in Nhlangano are being operated by Indian Musims from South Africa who promise help with school fees and jobs if recipients convert to the Muslim faith. Pray Swazis will not be easily misled by the Muslim faith. Pray for a stronger and bolder witness of the believers in Nhlangano and all of Swaziland.

Saturday August 15: Before the school year ends this year, Lacie Allen needs to have her name on a school list for first-grade (January 2011). Steve and Monica are looking at two schools in the Mbabane area and hope to visit both schools in the next couple of months. Pray Steve and Monica will be able to choose the right school environment that will be best for Lacie.

Sunday August 16: “It is a vital necessity for Christians to think along the lines in which they pray. The philosophy of prayer in that prayer is the work.” (Oswald Chambers) Pray the Lord will burden the hearts of Swazi Baptist church leaders to develop a strong prayer relationship with the Lord. Pray prayer will be an important ministry in every Swazi Baptist church.

Monday August 17: “Learning about the Bible” is this year’s theme for the Shiselweni Region Children’s Camps. The first camp begins today and ends on Wednesday (Aug. 17-19). The second camp is scheduled for August 31-Sept. 2. Pray Baptist churches in the Shiselweni Region will send their children to these camps. Pray this event will touch the lives of the children attending.

Tuesday August 18: Continue to pray for all our Baptist churches without pastoral leadership. Pray for these churches to remain one and faithful in serving one another as they patiently wait on the Lord to provide the right person to lead these churches.

Wednesday August 19: Pray for the Luwwhaweni Baptist Church (began in 2008, baptism conducted January 2009). Pray strong leaders will develop from this group that will lead the church and begin Bible studies and work in the surrounding areas.

Thursday August 20: Pray the King of Swaziland will hear and understand the gospel message. Swaziland is a polygamous nation and the King is allowed to take a wife every year. Pray the King’s wives and children will also have a chance to hear a presentation of the gospel message and believe.

Friday August 21: Pray for several churches that are currently trying to obtain plots for building new churches or shifting existing churches. Hawane Baptist is STILL waiting to have their plot of land marked by the community council. Victory Baptist plans to move a bit closer to the main road. Ntsintsa Baptist has met in a Red Cross building since it started in the 1990’s and desires to have their own church. Mphembekati Baptist has to move their existing church due to being too close to a school. Peniel Baptist recently lost their church meeting place so they are seeking a new one temporarily until they can begin building their own structure.

Saturday August 22: “If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land, says the Lord.” (2 Chronicles 9:14). Pray many Swazis will seek the Lord and humble themselves so revival can come to their land.

Sunday August 23: Pray for Lord’s direction for the ministry in Mafacula area (northeast Swaziland). Specifically pray for direction concerning youth ministry and for God to guide the pastor who has a heart to reach the youth in this community.

Monday August 24: Pray for Lisa Warren’s father to recover from his stroke (suffered in April). Pray for Bert and Lisa as they assist her mother with her dad’s medical care.

Tuesday August 25: Pray for Wayne Myers’ brother, Terry whose stage 4 cancer is in remission. Pray for his full recovery from cancer. Pray also for Barbara’s niece’s husband’s mother suffering from Lou Gehrig’s Disease. Pray for the Lord’s strength and courage for the family during this difficult time.

Wednesday August 26: Please pray Swazi men will be reached for Christ and God will provide strong Christian men and pastors from among the believers. Pray one day every Swazi Baptist church will be led by a strong mature pastor or leader.

Thursday August 27: Each year the Swazi Baptist churches have the opportunity to send their youth to the National Youth Camp. This year’s camp is August 27-30, 2009. The theme is “God Chooses Me” based on Ephesians 1:4-5. The camp’s main speaker is Lad Chapman, missionary friend serving with Children’s Cup. Pray the annual National Youth Camp will reach many Swazi youth for the Lord. Pray those who attend will daily seek the Lord’s face and will constantly strive to understand the Lord’s will for their life.

Friday August 28: Pray for Wayne and Barbara Myers as they prepare for their stateside assignment in Kentucky September 24-December 30. Pray a vehicle will be available for them to drive while stateside.

Saturday August 29: Because of a concern for charismatic tendencies and practices displayed during the National Easter Services, a follow-up time of teaching is scheduled for September 11-12, 2009. Please pray for a better understanding of those attending concerning Baptist beliefs. Pray members from our Baptist churches will commit to making their churches stronger in Baptist beliefs as well as Christians beliefs.

Sunday August 30: As the AIDS pandemic continues to ravage Swaziland, pray the Swazi team will seek the Lord’s guidance in developing ministries that will touch the lives of those with AIDS and their families.

Monday August 31: The second 2009 Shiselweni Children’s Camp begins today (Aug. 31-Sept. 2). Pray a good group of children will attend. Pray for the workers to be excited and ready to lead and guide the children. Pray for a wonderful camp for everyone.