Swazi Team Monthly Prayer Calendar

Thursday April 1: Today begins the National Easter Services April 1-4. The venue is the Mbekelweni Lutheran High School in the Manzini Region. This yearly special event begins the day before Good Friday and ends on Easter Sunday with approximately 200 people attending. Al Jordan is the preacher for the event and will be speaking six times in four days.
Pray for Al as he shares the Resurrection story during this year’s Easter Services. Pray those attending will be spiritually renewed!!

Friday April 2: GOOD FRIDAY!!
Pray for the Swazi people steeped so deep in bondage to their traditional beliefs. Praise God for the many prayer partners and volunteer teams that give of themselves and their time to intercede on behalf of and who minister to, our team and the people of Swaziland.

Saturday April 3: March 19th, Al and Belinda Jordan arrived in Swaziland to cover the ministry for the Allens while they are on stateside assignment March 26-the end of September. Pray the Jordans’ adjustment to Swaziland will be quick and easy. Pray for their reuniting with Swazi friends.

Sunday April 4: EASTER SUNDAY!!
Up from the grave He arose,
With a mighty triumph o’er His foes;
He arose a Victor from the dark domain,
And He lives forever with His saints to reign,
He arose! He arose! Hallelujah Christ arose!
(Robert Lowry)
Pray the Swazis will understand the significance of the resurrection. May they accept the victory found in our Lord Jesus Christ.

Monday April 5: April 5-10 the Allen family will travel to the International Learning Center (Rockville, Va.) attending their stateside conference. Pray for the family as their time of orientation and debriefing will be beneficial and encouraging.

Tuesday April 6: In March Wayne and Barbara Myers made their second move since September in Tshaneni. Hopefully they will not have to move again in the next couple of years. Pray the Myers will be able to get settled and continue with the ministry.

Wednesday April 7: In February the Vuvulane and Mafucula Baptist Churches conducted baptism services. Three were baptized at Vuvulane and eight at Mafucula. Living in a culture that does not promote Christian principles is hard for new Christians. There are few encouragers. Please pray for those who were obedient to the Lord’s teachings will stay faithful no matter the pressures that may come from others to follow Swazi culture and traditions.

Thursday April 8: Monday March 8th the Swazi Team prayer calendar requested you to pray for the healing of a lady of Luwhawheni diagnosed with TB. We are sorry to say she died on the 6th of March. During the funeral her sister shared that because of the lady’s belief in Jesus, there was always a light around the homestead. Her witness to others was one of love and the desire to see many come to know Jesus. The sister was thankful salvation had come to this lady’s house. Pray many in this family will come to know Jesus because of the witness of their sister.

Friday April 9: For many in Swaziland TB is a symptom of the HIV virus that will eventually become full-blown AIDS. Pray for the many in Swaziland suffering from AIDS. Pray the unsaved will have a chance to accept Jesus as their Savior before death comes.

Saturday April 10: Lisa Warren’s father’s physical therapy ends on the 10th of April. The family praises the Lord for the significant improvement He has granted. Pray for Mr. Claiborne’s continued rehabilitation, health and strength. The end of April marks a year since his stroke.

Sunday April 11: Pray for Steve and Monica Allen today as they share with the Oak Grove Baptist Church (am) and the First Baptist Church Havre De Grace (pm). Pray as the Allens share how God is blessing the work in the Hhohho and Manzini regions of Swaziland.

Monday April 12: Continue to remember Wayne’s sister Patsy suffering from COPD and on oxygen. Pray also his brother’s (Terry) quarterly tests will continue to show his stage 4 cancer in remission. Pray Barbara’s brother-in-law, Gary Rutledge will soon be able to move around unassisted (herniated disc surgery in November).

Tuesday April 13: Pray for Steve Allen today as he speaks at a school in Maryland. Pray for a greater understanding by the students about Swaziland and the need for Christ to reach the hearts of the Swazi people.

Wednesday April 14: August 2009 the Warren family left Swaziland due to Lisa’s father’s stroke. They arrived in 2008 with great excitement and desire to serve among the Swazi people. Their hearts still have a burden for the many lost and the many dying of AIDS. Today is Bert’s birthday. Pray Bert’s special day will indeed be special. Pray for the family as they continue to seek the Lord’s will and direction for their future ministries.

***Do You Know???
What are the main intermediate channels for Southern Baptist International mission funding?

Thursday April 15: Pray for the First Baptist Church, Belton, Texas preparing to lead the National Youth Camp in August. Ask the Lord to provide wisdom in the preparation of lessons and activities. May each be spiritually prepared this awesome work.

Friday April 16: Today the Myers leave for Durban to attend their annual missionary training meeting (2010 Durban Retreat) beginning today and ending on Monday. The theme is “Determined Devotion.” During this year’s retreat each team is to provide a 10-15 minute prayer focus. Pray for the Myers as they prepare spiritually for this meeting. Pray for a great time of fellowship with missionary colleagues.

Saturday April 17: A few months ago, an unmarried presenter for the True Love Waits message confessed she had a baby boy in October 2009. This young lady vowed she would stay pure before marriage and it was very disappointing to see this trend continue. Not only does this behavior damage the Christian witness but the risk of becoming HIV positive is very strong. Please pray as the trends of pregnancy out of wedlock, several sexual partners, more than one wife and relationships and a disregard for God’s Word continue to dominate the lives of both Christians and non-Christian Swazis. Pray for a spiritual change throughout the country.

Sunday April 18: Imagine every Sunday arriving to church to find no one to lead the services or preach the sermon. The faithful few that continue to attend every Sunday try to encourage others to come and support the church. Youth and children programs suffer or are non-existent. 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 April 19: Pray for King Mswati today on his birthday. Pray the strongholds that keep him, his wives and children from accepting Christ will be broken and they will commit their lives to serving Jesus.

Tuesday April 20: Pray for Steve Allen today on his birthday!! J
Pray for an easy transition for the Allen family during their stateside assignment (March 26-end of September), leaving their “home” to visit “home.”

Wednesday April 21: The Muslim creed simply states “There is no god but Allah and Mohammed is His prophet.” By saying “there is no god apart from God and Mohammed is the messenger of God” the believer announces his or her faith in all God’s messengers and the scripture they brought. Muslim is a growing faith in Swaziland. Please pray the peace of God will dwell in the heart of the Swazi people and the Muslim faith will not be allowed to gain strength. Pray that ordinary daily events will be used of God to point Muslims to Him.

Thursday April 22: A two-member volunteer team from the Integrity Baptist Church (South Roanoke Asso. In NC) is scheduled to work in the Lubumbo and Shiselweni regions May 19-31. Pray for Ben and Matt as they prepare to come and minister in Swaziland. Pray for their spiritual preparation to reach the lost and encourage believers.

Friday April 23: The biggest event coming up in South Africa is the FIFA World Cup 2010 that starts June 11th and ends July 11th. Over 32 countries have qualified to send their football (soccer) teams to South Africa. Please pray for the many events that Christians all over the country are planning to reach out to those who are coming this way or reach out to South Africans. Pray for safety for everyone that comes. Pray all the events planned as outreach will glorify the Lord.

Saturday April 24: SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA UNENGAGED PEOPLES: A recent trip to northern Mozambique served to renew a sense of urgency to pray for the many peoples in this part of Africa who have had little to no exposure to the Gospel. The Makonde is one group of people for whom we are asking the Father to send willing workers to prepare the fields, plant the seeds of Gospel and to lead to the harvest. Please join us in asking the Lord of the harvest to send someone to come and work with the Makonde, in the district of Mecula in northern Mozambique.

Sunday April 25: The New Hope Baptist Church has been without a pastor for over three years. A faithful leader tries to keep the church group together and meeting but he does not feel led to be a pastor. Please pray the Lord will provide a pastor for the New Hope Baptist Church. Pray the faithful will continue to be fruitful and the adults will strive to teach the youth and children the ways of the Lord.

Monday April 26: Retired missionary, June Mason will minister in Swaziland June 28-July 6. June served in women’s ministries many years in Zimbabwe and was also a part of the Swazi Team a short time prior to her retirement. June will lead Bible studies for women of our Swazi Baptist churches. Pray for June as she prepares to come to Swaziland and minister with the Swazi Baptist women.

Tuesday April 27: Steve Allen will be speaking during the chapel service at the Clear Creek Bible College in Pineville, Ky. Pray those attending chapel will gain a deeper knowledge of the needs of the Swazi people as well as deeper sense of calling involved in ministering overseas in different cultures.

Wednesday April 28: Last year during an archaeological dig in Israel, Steve Allen met Dr. Ray Lucas. Tonight Steve will share with the church in which Dr. Lucas is pastor. Pray for Steve as he shares about the work with the Swazi people the Lord has given the Allens. Pray this time will be spiritually uplifting for everyone.

Thursday April 29: PRAYER FOR AMERICA
Father, thank You for the United States and its government. I pray for the president, the national and local government, the judges, the policemen, the business leaders and all those who are in leadership positions in this country. Please protect them from the evil that is in the world and keep them safe and free from all harm. www.presidentialprayerteam.org

Friday April 30: Today Wayne Myers leaves for Jo’burg to attend the workshop “Taking it to the Next Level” May 1-5. The workshop is for Strategy Team Leaders and will discuss, brain storm, as well as ask/answer questions that will help develop strategy that will “take it to the next level.” Pray those attending especially Wayne, will learn and benefit from this workshop.

***Answer to do you know question:
The Cooperative Program initiated in the mid-20s to channel funds to the various Southern Baptist agencies and the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering which traces its origins back to 1888.