Swazi Team March Prayer Calendar

Monday March 1: Pray for Al and Belinda Jordan, filling in for the Allens during their stateside assignment for six months, as they leave the US March 16th arriving in Jo’burg March 17th and then onto Swaziland March 19th. Pray for their final preparations and travel and their reconnecting with the Swazi people.

Tuesday March 2: Steve and Monica Allen are scheduled to begin stateside assignment on the 25th of March. Pray for Steve and Monica as they prepare to share about the ministry in Swaziland with churches in the USA. The Allens need a place to stay in West Palm Beach, Fla. July 1-end of September. Pray adequate housing will be provided. Pray all the logistics will be finalized soon.

Wednesday March 3: Continue to remember family members of the Myers who are dealing with physical problems. Pray for Wayne’s brother Terry, currently in remission from stage 4 cancer; pray his sister Patsy recently hospitalized for pneumonia and COPD will be able to breathe freely; pray for Barbara’s mother recovering from a broken hip; pray Barbara’s sister’s husband will fully recover from his herniated disc surgery; pray for Barbara’s niece’s husband’s mother diagnosed with Lou Gehrig’s disease and for Barbara’s sister-in-law’s mother recovering from surgery for a pinch nerve in her back.

Thursday March 4: Sitting under a fruit tree the children of the Vuvulane Baptist Church met for Sunday School. Even though they were few in number, they listened as the teacher shared the story. Questions were asked and answers given. They reviewed the first five books of the Bible and next week will cover the next 12. Hopefully, the children will ask many of their friends to join them in this special class. Pray these children will want their friends and neighbors to hear the stories of the Bible. Pray this class will soon have many children coming to hear about Jesus and His Word.

Friday March 5: Continue to pray for the Warren family and for Lisa’s father, Lloyd Claiborne recovering from a stroke. Recently Mr. Claiborne was able to attend church with the Warren family. Pray for his continued recovery.

Saturday March 6: The executive committee of the Baptist Convention of Swaziland meets today. Planning for the National Swazi Baptist Easter Services will continue. Pray for unity in the planning of this event. Pray soon all logistics will be fanilized.
Sunday March 7: Pray for Nathan Allen today on his second birthday! Please pray the members of the Lesibovu Baptist Church will remain faithful and will meet together regularly for worship and Bible study while the Allen family is away on stateside assignment. This is a very young church and in a critical phase of their development.
--Lesibovu Baptist Church began a laborious process of clearing their plot of land in anticipation of a church construction project. Please pray for these members as they make plans toward building a church structure. None of the members have had any previous experience with such an endeavor and many do not have a strong church background. Please pray this congregation will not become frustrated by the financial challenges and discontinue the construction project.

Monday March 8: The Lawhawheni Baptist Church met on a homestead for a time before a small building was provided. The lady of the homestead and a strong member of the church is suffering from TB. For many in Swaziland, TB is a symptom of the HIV virus that will eventually become full-blown AIDS. Pray this lady who may be HIV positive will have a chance to receive physical healing. Pray for her children as they deal with their mother’s illness.

Tuesday March 9: The First Baptist Church of Belton, Texas is preparing to lead the 2010 Swazi Baptist National Youth Camp in August. Pray as the church continues to pray and committed individuals become part of the volunteer team. Ask the Lord to provide wisdom in the preparation of lessons and activities.

Wednesday March 10: “I plan to return every year as long as I can!” These words were spoken by a volunteer team member who ministered in the Vuvulane/Mafucula area of Swaziland last month. Thank you for praying for the volunteer team from the First Baptist Church, Washington, NC that ministered through revivals, homestead visitation, children/youth/adult Bible studies, sharing and speaking in schools/police station and baptism services. Pray those baptized during the team’s ministry will truly seek to live godly lives. Pray for spiritual fruit will great rewards.

Thursday March 11: “These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.” I John 5:13 Many in Swaziland do not have the promise of eternal life. For some their belief in Islam keeps them from knowing the true Son of God. The poverty of Swazis leave them open to promises of jobs, money, security if they convert to the Muslim faith. Pray Swazis will not be led to a false sense of security outside the Christian faith. Pray for Christian renewal throughout the country.

Friday March 12: Pray God will identify and show His next place to start a new outreach Bible study for the Allens when they return from stateside assignment. Steve and Monica have surveyed a couple of areas and feel God is not opening doors.

Saturday March 13: Next month (April 1-4) the National Easter Services will meet in Manzini. This yearly special event begins the day before Good Friday and ends on Easter Sunday with approximately 200 people attending. The past two years incidents have incurred that have threatened the life of our Baptist churches and the Baptist Convention of Swaziland. Pray this year’s services will have a spiritual foundation and will reflect the true Resurrection story. Pray those attending will seek the Lord’s direction and guidance in their thoughts and beliefs.

Sunday March 14: Pray existing Baptist churches without pastoral leadership will stay strong and faithful in their work with the Lord. Pray for unity among churches as they reach out to their communities.

Monday March 15: According to the National Emergency Response Council on HIV/AIDS in Swaziland, 38 percent of the children in Swaziland are raised by single mothers while only 21 percent of children have both parents. HIV infection rate is stable at the moment but still faithfulness in relationships and prevention measures still remain a challenge. Pray Christian Swazis will teach their children and grandchildren the ways of the Lord. Pray the Christian way of living will touch more lives in the Swazi Baptist churches and communities.

Tuesday March 16: Sub-Saharan African Unengaged Peoples: The Damara people of Namibia have suffered through a long divided history. Being subjected to the Nama and Herero nations for years in their ancient history has allowed their nation to be divided and widespread. They were detestable in the eyes of those among whom they lived. Pray for the Damara peoples as even today they are divided among themselves with 11 recognized tribes and two kings. Pray they will come to know the only recognized King who can resolve their conflicts, supply their needs and give them comfort and peace.

Wednesday March 17: HAPPY ST. PATRICK’S DAY!!
Please pray for Mpembekati Baptist Church being forced to move from their current plot of land for a school expansion. The members have erected a wooden structure with a metal roof and are frustrated by the move. Please pray that a suitable plot of land will be found quickly.

Thursday March 18: I Timothy 2:1-2 commands us to pray for kings and those in authority. Please pray the King of Swaziland, his wives and children will come to understand what it means to be a Christian. Pray their lives will show the love of Christ.

Friday March 19: Al and Belinda Jordan arrive in Swaziland today to begin six months of ministry in the Hhohho and Manzini regions. Pray for the Jordans’ adjustment to living in Swaziland. Al and Belinda have previously served in Swaziland. Pray for a wonderful reuniting with Swazi friends.

Saturday March 20: the Swazi people prayer booklet is printed. Pray as the booklets are distributed to the Swazi Team prayer network, great wonders will be achieved for the Swazi people through God’s people praying.

Sunday March 21: 2010 is the year of the football!! No, not American football but world football known in the USA as soccer! South Africa has the honor of hosting the World Cup from June 11-July 11. Please pray as local churches network with other ministries in working together as one common goal: to bring hope and change in Jesus name to South Africa.

Monday March 22: Hawane Baptist Church has elected members to serve on its building committee. Please pray for these members as they lead the church in making plans for building a structure for the congregation.

Tuesday March 23: Pray for the 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.

Wednesday March 24: Pray for the True Love Waits leaders to press on with the True Love Waits message all throughout Swaziland and for those who hear to take seriously the message of sexual abstinence before marriage.

Thursday March 25: The Allens’ stateside assignment begins today. Pray their flight with two small children will not be too stressful and the children will tolerate confined spaces and long periods of sitting. Pray while in the states the family will have times of rest and refreshment with family and friends.

Friday March 26: The Swazi Team will attend their Annual Missionary Training Meeting/prayer retreat April 16-19 in Durban, South Africa. Pray the logistical planning will soon be finalized. Pray those attending will leave refreshed and encouraged.

Saturday March 27: Pray for God to send workers to serve alongside the Swazi Team to further His Kingdom.

Sunday March 28: PALM SUNDAY!!
O, Lord, because of your life in me, each moment of my life has value and potential for significance-if I will only celebrate it. Infuse my attitude with the fruit of your Spirit’s patience. Amen (Barbara Johnson) As we begin this holiday season, may all of our friends, neighbors and family members seek to have the Savior of the world dwell in their hearts.

Monday March 29: A volunteer team from the South Roanoke Association in North Carolina will minister in the Lawhawheni area of Swaziland the end of April. A Baptist church was begun in this area by this association a couple of years ago. Pray for this team as they prepare to continue with follow-up ministries with the Lawhawheni Baptist Church and community. Pray for each member of this team as they prepare for his/her time of reaching the lost and encouraging believers.

Tuesday March 30: May 1-May 5 Wayne Myers will attend the workshop, “Taking It To the Next Level” in Jo’burg. The purpose of this workshop is to gather some of the best practitioners of missions in the cluster to “take it to the next level.” Discussion, brain storming and question/answer time is part of the agenda. Pray those attending, especially Wayne, will learn and benefit from this workshop.

Wednesday March 31: Please pray Swazi men will be reached for Christ and God will provide strong Christian men and pastors from among the believers. Especially pray for the New Hope Baptist Church who has been without a pastor for three years. The congregation is struggling to remain faithful. Pray God will send His special leader to this church.