Prayer

None of Mission Africa’s personnel working in Nigeria, Chad, Burkina Faso and Kenya could do so without the prayers of committed supporters back home.

We have many groups of people in Mission Africa across the UK who are committed to praying faithfully for our missionaries. Our prayer partners are a vital part of the team, enabling each missionary to do what God has called them to do in the place that he has called them to.

Each month we send out a comprehensive prayer update with news from our missionaries and ministries, by post and email. We also organise special prayer days throughout the year.

Prayer Monthly January 2021

• 11th January

  We ask that you also continue in prayer for Africa, as it responds to COVID-19. Pray for access to vaccinations. Pray for good leadership, and wisdom regarding the latest strain of the virus and vaccination logistics. Pray for medical staff and other key workers — that God would provide them with strength, as they continue to battle the virus in 2021.

• 12th January

  Ana van Brakel — Please continue in prayer, that Ana would balance her workload well. She is currently teaching online, completing work at her sending church, and developing children’s material (in French) for work in Burkina Faso. Give thanks to God, that the online teaching has gone very well so far, and that students have been engaged. Give thanks also for Ana’s opportunity to serve within her sending church. Please pray that Ana would find other opportunities for teaching, so that she can gain a more varied experience. Pray also that the Lord will give her wisdom, as she interacts within the church.

• 13th January

  Jeremy Nash — Many children are studying in the afterschool Explorers Bible clubs. There have been many encouraging affirmations of this ministry, with permissions from educational authorities. Pray for children to have spiritual insight as they study God's word, and for God to draw many to faith in Jesus and then to join a Sunday school. Pray for blessing in the schools where we run clubs — that academic results, and all areas of school life, would improve. Pray for churches to develop greater links and interest in their local primary school — that the involvement would be appreciated by the Headteacher and all the school staff.

• 14th January

  David, Lucy and Sophie Morrison — COVID-19 cases are starting to rise in the capital city. Pray for the numbers to stay low, and for effective but more reasonable preventative measures. Some of the Acacia women are struggling financially due to a number of factors. Pray for good and consistent work. Pray for wisdom as the Acacia team plan for how to provide for the women who are ready to do the next counselling programme, whilst they await Anne Hoyt’s return.

• 15th January

  Give thanks that our Kenyan partners, the PCEA (Presbyterian Church of East Africa), have elected Rev. Thegu Mutahi as their next Moderator of the General Assembly. He is a well-known minister of the church, who has been serving in recent years as the Deputy Secretary General and as a theological lecturer at the Presbyterian University of East Africa. We congratulate Rev. Mutahi upon his elevation to this high office and pray that God will bless him as he prepares to take up this new role in April.

• 16th January

  Also give thanks that the Presbyterian University was recently granted its full Charter by the President of Kenya, HE Uhuru Kenyatta. Pray that the University will stand as a beacon of the Gospel in a Kenya that is rapidly secularising.

• 17th January

  Please continue in prayer for Dr Rebecca Dodds, as she prepares to go to Kenya for short-term service in the coming months.

• 18th January

  The Gaiyas — The Gaiya family ask for prayer that they will know the Lord's goodness over their lives throughout this year. Pray also that they will have a real sense of His presence and sustaining power. Pray they each will know His grace to be sufficient for every situation. Pray for encouragements and progress in their respective work places.

• 19th January

  Sid Garland — Sid is asking for prayer for successful January sales for Africa Christian Textbooks (ACTS). He also gives thanks to God for granting Rev. Luka Vandi (ACTS Managing Director) an important breakthrough in the distribution of 250 subsidised pastors’ book sets (including the Africa Bible Commentary Hausa edition). Pray that interest will continue, area by area, throughout the major denominations in northern Nigeria.

• 20th January

  Sid asks that we join him in giving thanks that Mrs Roseline Luka Vandi, a lecturer at the Theological College of Northern Nigeria (TCNN), has been able to get a Kenyan visa. This will allow her to travel to St Paul’s University, Kenya, to continue her PhD studies in pastoral counselling. Pray that God will guide and provide for her over these next few years.

• 21st January

  The Ibias — Samantha asks for prayer for students — because of rising cases of COVID-19 in Nigeria, school resumption has been delayed by two weeks — pray that they will be able to resume on the 18th, as planned.

• 22nd January

  Samantha asks for prayer for the various retreats that are planned for January — pray that they will have great impact on the volunteers, be refreshing, and allow for planning for the year ahead.

• 23rd January

  Katie Morrison — Katie gives thanks for the food share that took place in December, for those affected by leprosy at Holley Memorial Hospital. Continue to pray for wounds to heal.

• 24th January

  Katie asks for you to keep praying for additional doctors at Holley. Another doctor has since left, leaving only two doctors. Pray that godly and compassionate doctors would join the team, and that the hospital would be able to accommodate the requirements.

• 25th January

  The Ekanems — Praise God for His marvellous help, as the Ekanems distributed Christmas boxes to over 100 children in the Uyo area last month. Also praise Him for the refreshing, joyful and peaceful Christmas holiday that the Ekanems enjoyed. Pray for the children, who have returned to school. Their exams are coming quickly, because the term finishes at the end of January. Pray for Ekaette, as she resumes at the UEC College of Nursing. Pray also for Aniedi, as he continues to await resumption of his course at the University of Uyo.

• 26th January

  Pray for Gail, as she resumes at WWTC as adjunct lecturer, and for Godwin, as he resumes at the national office. Pray for continued protection against the second wave of COVID-19.

• 27th January

  Patton Taylor — Give thanks to God for Prof. Taylor’s ongoing connections with the staff and students of the Theological Colleges, in his role as Visiting Professor. Pray for the mentoring role that he has developed among many students, former students, and other young people in Nigeria. In particular, please pray for wisdom and guidance for Patton, as he responds to requests for hardship support and other financial assistance.

• 28th January

  Brian Wilson — Brian continues to prepare to go to PACT as soon as possible. Please pray for him, as he raises support (the situation being that bit more complicated because of COVID-19’s implications for the church), and thank God with him, for the support raised to date. Pray that both it, and the work of sorting his new house, will be completed soon.

• 29th January

  Please pray for God’s protecting hand over all of those sharing the Good News of Jesus with the people of Africa, and that He will continue to provide the resources needed to do this.

• 30th January

  Pray that God will continue to raise up suitable people to join the Mission. Give thanks to God for some recent applications and indications of interest in service. Pray that those who approach us — often very tentatively — would receive from God a truly clear sense of His will for their lives.

• 31st January

  Pray for Council, as they seek the will of God for Mission Africa in these troubled days. Pray that God will bless them with the special wisdom that He promises in His word. Council next meets on Tuesday 12th January, God willing.