December prayer calendar

Thursday December 1:  WORLD AIDS DAY!!  The country of Swaziland is experiencing one of the world’s worse AIDS pandemics.  HIV/AIDS infection among pregnant women is 41 percent, 31 percent of Swazi children are orphans and the life expectancy is now 43 years.  Pray for a solution to the AIDS problem in Swaziland.  Pray Swazis will come to realize that their lifestyle contributes to the early death of friends and family.  Swaziland will be featured for World AIDS Day emphasis at http://www.africa.stories.org/.

Friday December 2:  Today the Swazi Team will say “Thank You” to the four Hands On missionaries with a trip to the Swazi Candle Factory.  Sienna, Kim, Heather and Brandi arrived in June for six months of True Love Waits and other AIDS related ministries.  Pray these four missionaries will have a feeling of accomplishment as they prepare to return to the states.  They leave Swaziland on the 10th of December.

Saturday December 3:  The executive committee of the Baptist Convention of Swaziland meets today.  In recent months there has been increasing tension between the leaders of the convention and missionaries.  Convention leaders seem to want to rule over the Baptist churches and the missionaries and impose non-biblical hierarchal leadership structure.  Pray that the missionaries will have wisdom in knowing how to deal with the convention leadership in a Christian way.

Sunday December 4:  Today the Vuvulane and Mafucula Baptist Churches have the opportunity to say “Thank You” and “Goodbye” to Brandi and Kim who have ministered in these areas since their month long homestead stay (Mafucula) in July.  Pray this time will be very special as the churches express their gratitude for their work and sadness for their departure.

Monday December 5:  On Thursday, November 17th a severe thunderstorm with hail and strong winds hit northern Swaziland.  The community of Hawane was hit very hard with many people having major damage to their homes, including several members of the Hawane Baptist Church. Another storm came through the following day causing additional water damage to homes and their contents.  Please pray the affected families will be able to quickly repair or rebuild.

Tuesday December 6:  “Here I am working alone in a city of many thousand inhabitants with numberless villages. How many can I reach?” Lottie Moon-letter from P’ingtu in 1887.  Lottie Moon began her missionary service assigned to Tengchow.  Within a few years she was being called by God to reopen the work in P’ingtu.  Her reason: other missionaries were teaching the Bible in Tengchow.  In P’ingtu (at that time the 12th largest city in the world), the people had never heard.  Pray the 2011 Lottie Moon Christmas Offering will reach its goal ($175 million) so missionaries can be sent to minister to many lost and dying people and nations.

Wednesday December 7:  Yearly rains are needed for Swazis to plant their crops and gardens.  It is always hoped the rains will be plentiful and frequent.  Pray there will be plenty of rain throughout Swaziland.  Pray the fields will receive enough rain to provide food until the next growing season.

Thursday December 8:  Today is the scheduled one-day training of the new Biblical Education Program for believers.  BEP is designed to be an additional discipleship tool for Swazi Baptist church members.  Pray for a great interest among Swazi Baptist members.  Pray BEP will be very useful discipleship tool.

Friday December 9:  The Shiselweni Baptist Association meets today at the Velebantfu Baptist Church.  Besides the normal conducting of business, the planning of the ordination service for Pastor Nkosingiphile Dlamini (Thunzini Baptist Church) will continue. Pray a sense of fellowship and unity will continue as business is discussed. Pray also for the planning of Pastor Dlamini’s ordination service in January.

Saturday December 10:    Kim, Sienna, Heather and Brandi leave Swaziland today for Jo’burg to begin their time of debriefing (Dec. 11-15).  They leave for the states on the 15th of December.  Pray for a safe journey, for a wonderful time of debriefing and reflecting and an uneventful flight to the states. 

Sunday December 11: November 18-19 the ladies of the New Hope and Mgamudze Baptist Churches met at Mgamudze for an overnight retreat.  Studies centered around the theme, “The Joy of the Good News” and one session was spent visiting homesteads near the church.  One participant returned to the church and told the leader that the host of the homestead she visited was overwhelmed by their visit.  He told her “we have never been visited by church people before.”  Thank you for praying for this special event.  Pray for these churches as the ladies reach out to those who need the Savior’s touch.  May many come to know Jesus through their evangelistic efforts.

Monday December 12:  The Swazi Team begins their end-of-the-year retreat today  (Dec. 12-15) at the Buckleight Guesthouse in North Durban (South Africa).  In the past, this time has enabled the Team to not only have great fellowship together, but also praise the Lord for the blessings of the past year and a time of prayer for future work.  Pray for the Team as we begin to prepare for this special event.  Pray it will be a time of renewal and encouragement.

Tuesday December 13:  The Swazi Team was blessed to receive a shipment of In-Home Healthcare Kits (BGR Buckets) to minister to those with terminal illness such as HIV/AIDS.  The Gospel is shared with each family or individual receiving a kit. There have been favorable responses from those receiving the kits and several people have joined local Baptist study groups as a direct result of the compassionate demonstration of the ministry to meet human needs.  Pray that those who hear the Gospel will respond before it is too late.

Wednesday December 14:  When ministering with the Swazi people there are times when missionaries feel they take three steps back for every step forward.  Recently one of Todd Hoskins’ friends (that Todd has been leading in a Bible study for over 6 months) came wearing amulets (indicating participating in witchcraft for healing).  Even though this incident was very discouraging, Todd gently showed his friend what the Bible says about trusting Jesus for our every need.  Pray Christian Swazis will see that Jesus is all they need to overcome difficulties in life.  Pray missionaries will not be too discouraged when Swazis turn to their culture during difficult times.

Thursday December 15:  2011 was a year of turmoil for the government of Swaziland.  Strikes for higher wages, an end to high spending by the monarchy as well as the end to the monarchy and better life, have constantly been scheduled.  In 2012 pray a peaceful solution will be reached between the government and the Swazi people.

Friday December 16:  Last month (November 4th) the children from the Vuvulane and Mafucula Baptist Churches  combined for a children’s Bible study after morning worship services. Brandi and Kim (Hands On missionaries) shared the truth/facts about AIDS with approximately 50 children under three small shade trees.  After a time of work the children enjoyed chips, cookies and juice.  It is so import that Swazi children understand the causes and effects of AIDS.  Pray Swazi children will have a chance to hear the truth about AIDS and its causes.  Pray for a brighter future for our Swazi Baptist children.

Saturday December 17:  Funds are needed to help with the ministry of the World Hunger Fund.  One hundred percent of every dollar given to the World Hunger Fund is used to help hungry people.  Please consider making a donation to this vital fund or highlighting the need in your church.  http://www.gobgr.org/

Sunday December 18:  The Mabelani Baptist Church meets on a homestead in northwestern Swaziland.  House churches struggle in Swaziland because they are often associated with Zionism (African Traditional Religion) or are thought to belong to specific families.  In January weekly Bible study groups will begin to try to increase awareness of the church in the community and to help disciple church members to develop local leadership. Pray these Bible studies will be well attended and will reach additional community members.

Monday December 19: As Swazi Christians celebrate Christmas this month, pray they will look around and see their Muslim neighbors are not celebrating the Lord’s birth.  Pray Swazi believers’ hearts will be burdened for these and will find ways to share the salvation story with them.

Tuesday December 20:  Today is Wayne Myers’ birthday.  Pray his special day will indeed be special!
November 27th the Luhhwahhweni Baptist Church conducted a baptism service for those who made decisions during a two-week revival. After years of few in attendance the church is growing and currently meeting in a school.  Unfortunately, there also have been issues between the current leadership and the young who was leading but had to step down due to his unsuitable living arrangements.  A special meeting was called between the community leaders, young man’s family, church leadership, missionary and the young man in November to discuss the situation.  Because of the conflicts the land given to the church for a church building was in danger of being taken away.  Praise the Lord the meeting went well with a good outcome.  Pray for continual growth for this church as members try to reach the community.  Pray for a good working relationship between past and current leadership and pray the young man will be able to improve his current living arrangements.

Wednesday December 21:  Pray for Wayne and Barbara Myers today as the celebrate their wedding anniversary!!
The church was packed by the time the wedding finally started two and half hours late.  People were singing, hand-clapping and dancing.  The wedding service also included a sermon, greetings from both the bride’s and groom’s families as well as from representatives of the church, the lighting of the unity candles in addition to the exchanging of vows and rings.  Orange Fanta was poured into a glass to which was added an equal amount of Coca-Cola representing the thought that once the two were mixed it was impossible to separate them.  Following the four hour wedding there was a reception and food for everyone.  Pray the Swazis will understand what God expects of marriage and the marriage relationship.  Pray for strong Swazi Christian marriages.

Thursday December 22:  Perhaps you remember the story of the pastor and his wife who experienced marital difficulties for years.  At one point the husband sent the wife back to her mother’s homestead and took another wife in the Swazi traditional way.  He left the pastoral ministry.  The husband and wife did reunite (he sent his traditional wife back to her home).  This man and his family are currently living in the Phuzumoya community.  His appearance shows a man that is weak and sick as he deals with symptoms of AIDS.  His wife is also HIV positive as well as their oldest child.  Please pray for this family, and pray for the many families like this one throughout Swaziland.

Friday December 23:  This Christmas season, pray the King of Swaziland, his wives and children will hear the true Christmas story and will realize trusting in Jesus is the most precious gift of all.

Saturday December 24:  Pray the Swazi people understand the significance of the Christmas story.  For so many Swazis Christmas is a time of eating special foods and having everyone at home.  Swazis may know the story of the birth of Christ but do not understand the importance of that event to their lives.  Pray the Christmas story will touch many Swazi hearts this Christmas season.  May they truly understand the words, “Joy to the World, the Lord is come.”

Sunday December 25:  MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU!!
I said a Christmas Prayer for you because the season’s near.
I didn’t ask for riches but for gifts so much more dear.
I asked for joyful gatherings with your family all around.
And for carols to inspire you with their old familiar sound.
I asked for quiet moments in your heart on Christmas morn,
For special time to celebrate the Savior who was born.
I asked for friends to send their best that you might know they care. . .
I asked for peace & love & hope and I know God heard my prayer.
                         --Nancy Parker Brummett

Monday December 26:  Pray for the Swazi Team as we join together in Tshaneni today to celebrate Christmas!!

Tuesday December 27:  Sub-Saharan African Unengaged Peoples:
“Almost six years have passed since the request to begin praying and asking the Lord of the harvest to send workers among the Bankagoma of Mali, and still no one has answered the call.  With a population of only 5,000, it would be so easy to overlook these people, but God hasn’t forgotten them. Please cry out on behalf of the Bankagoma and ask the Lord to send out workers who will lead these people into a right relationship with Him through Jesus Christ. Ask the Lord to prepare the way and for those who are being called will be obedient.” 

Wednesday December 28: Pray for godly, strong and faithful leaders to take a stand for Christ and press on against deep rooted cultural beliefs as well as expectations from the family.  Pray for a strong leader for every Swazi Baptist Church.

Thursday December 29:  Pray members of the Swazi Team will seek the Lord’s guidance as they look forward to 2012 with joy, love and desire to make their lives count for Christ.

Friday December 30:  In 2011 volunteer teams from Southern Baptist churches ministered alongside the Swazi Team conducting retreats, Bible studies for adults, youth and children, revivals, hut-to-hut visitation, prayer walking, AIDS orphan ministries, sharing the True Love Waits message and more.  Pray as planning begins for the ministry of volunteer teams with the Swazi Team in 2012.  Pray for the volunteer team from the First Baptist Church, Washington, North Carolina scheduled to minister with the Allens and Myers February 21-March 6.

Saturday December 31:  Victory Baptist Church is holding New Year Eve services.  Pray these services will be Christ honoring and a good beginning for seeing in the new year.