There were opportunities for cleansing
from occult activities that were engaged in personally and/or
by parents and ancestors. This is still a major problem both in
the church and in Pakistani society and folk religion.
Prayer was made for peace to come among the religious and ethnic
groups, especially Shiahs and Sunnis.
We were made aware of special centers of evil activity and urged
to form local prayer groups that can exercise Christ’s authority
against these activities. United corporate prayer has great effect.
The outcome was a deepened desire for a prayer network to be
started throughout Pakistan. This is beginning to form in many
local areas. We are expecting God to work exciting changes among
us as we unite in prayer.
More praise items
- Praise for the successful completion of the literacy course
in eight centers. The teachers are busy finalizing arrangements
for opening new centers in mid-February. Pray they will be led
to families and students who will be responsive to the gospel.
Pray that former students will keep growing in their faith.
- Praise for improved health in several for whom you were praying.
One Sunday school class sent “get well” letters
to each one on the list. They were touched by this proof that
people around the world are praying.
- Praise for an excellent turnout for the leadership training
seminar on Christian family life, in spite of unusual cold rainy
weather.
- Prem has been teaching Bible stories in several villages using
a pocket-sized picture book. Muradu often accompanies our evangelist
Keval Dass on his village tours. It is great to see these lay
leaders growing in their ability and desire to share their faith.
- Praise that Nicky Stock, Esther (16), and Luke (13) plan to
arrive February 16 to go to Murree Christian School where Nicky
will be school nurse and help tutor weak students. Her brother
Symen hopes to join them in early March to take over the position
of housefather to the older boys. Pray for their travels and
adjustment.
- Praise that our daughter Sara, her husband David Treece and
son Joshua are coming for two weeks, February 11-26, to look
over community development projects they may be able to use
in Central Asia.
Prayer items
Continue to pray for the following health problems:
- Evangelist Daud who hopes to have a medical procedure next
week (February 7-9) for his urinary blockage.
- For Guman’s mother Nainu who will go on February 8 to
a cancer hospital four hours’ drive from Rahim to see
if anything can be done for the cancerous growth in her esophagus,
which prevents her from swallowing. A ladies’ prayer team
intercedes for her each afternoon, after which she is able to
drink a little. She has to have intravenous glucose drips. It
is a joy to see the transformation in this formerly grumpy old
lady. She expresses gratitude to all who help her, and openly
declares her faith in Jesus. Pray her son Kaisu and daughter
Tulsi will also come to faith. They have seen and heard much
about Christ and seem to be more open than before.
- That Khatu will find real relief from asthma through prayer
and the allergy treatment she has started. Her husband Hussu
and several others have been greatly helped, but so far she
continues to feel great distress.
- Pray for Raisham, the young wife with a defective heart whom
we took to Lahore last year. She was warned that becoming pregnant
could be fatal. But in this culture a wife who doesn’t
bear children is considered useless. We just heard she is three
to four months pregnant. She and the whole family are pleased.
She is strong in faith. Pray for a miracle!
Pray for programs
- February 8-9: Possible village tour to encourage evangelists
and check new literacy centers.
- February 11-18: We will be in Karachi and Mirpurkhas with
Paul and Sara’s families, enjoying family time.
- February 15-18: A prayer team of seven men are coming from
the United States to pray with the McBanes through this area,
especially targeting occult centers where people go for psychic
power. Cover them with prayer.
- February 19: Open Theological Seminary tutors’ rally
to encourage the volunteer Bible teachers in this area.
- February 21-23: Leadership group for village leaders. We will
be studying part two of the Christian family life course. Pray
all those who came to part one will return and that they will
be faithful in teaching others what they have learned.
- February 28-March 2: Workers meeting to plan for March programs
including Holy Week, Good Friday, and Easter.
Thanks so much for your faithful prayers and encouraging notes.
In Christ,
The 2005 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p.
112 |
