Posted on May 9th, 2012
DICK & MEG ACKLEY (US Regional Director) – Praise that over 90 people came to hear the testimonies of three missionaries and three appointees at a recent SIM Regional Fellowship meeting. Pray for Dick’s upcoming trip to Ethiopia this summer, where he has been asked to be the liaison between Ethiopian leaders who run a youth camp and young people coming from American churches to participate as group leaders. After Ethiopia, he will go on to Zambia to meet with missionaries and church leaders to learn how God is working and also to hear about how they are beginning a Sports Friends ministry there. Pray for good and encouraging contacts there.
ROBERT & ROBERTA ADAIR (Japan) – Praise for good language-learning opportunities and interactions with people in their partner church. Roberta writes, “I’ve had a couple of young women from the church over for tea. Although conversation at this point is difficult, I’m grateful for their offerings of friendship and for their patience with me.” Pray for them as they continue to get to know their neighbors, make their house feel like home and develop daily routines. Pray also that they will focus on essentials and develop ability in a very difficult language.
JON & CHRISTINE BANKE (Niger) – The Bankes are set to return to Niger this summer, where Jon will serve as the Deputy Area Director and Christine will fill various administrative roles at Sahel Academy. There are several important reasons making a return at this time expedient but they cannot leave until they reach 100% support. They are thankful for the 77% that is in, but pray that the remaining still needed will come in quickly so they can be on their way.
CHRISTINA BUNCH (Bolivia) – Pray for encouragement for Christina in light of her inability to arrive in Bolivia by her birthday, due to lack of finances. Pray she will learn the lessons God has for her as she waits for His perfect timing for her departure. “Pray that I will be able to step out in faith and make calls to people and be able to ask them to join me as I fulfill the call to Bolivia.” Pray that she will be a good steward of her time as she seeks to raise support while working at a full-time job.
DAVE & MARY DECKER (SIM USA) – Pray for Dave as he helps new missionaries determine their financial needs before moving overseas. Pray for Mary as she helps develop and present training sessions for those who debrief missionaries returning home. Pray that missionaries will feel that they've been listened to, cared for, and encouraged through these times together. Also, pray for wisdom for Mary as she works on the topic of Child Safety with SIM USA. “We are committed to keeping children safe, and to [preventing] abuse through our policies and practices, in the home country as well as overseas.”
LARRY & SANDI DICK (USA/Rio Grande Bible Institute) – Praise for the privilege of working at Rio Grande Bible Institute preparing men and women to lead the Spanish-speaking church for the next decades. Pray for godly wisdom for RGBI’s Board of Trustees as they meet this month (May 18-19) to resolve difficult issues affecting RGBI’s future. Pray for the May 2012 RGBI graduates as they make the transition from being students to missionary practitioners and for the team of five students working with SIM missionaries in Paraguay this summer.
TIM & DIANE FELLOWS (Ethiopia) – Praise for protection in travel to the US to deal with family needs, and for a safe return to Ethiopia. Pray for a leadership seminar in Pawe May 11-13. Pray for safety for those traveling to the seminar and for openness to learn new ways to reach neighbors and friends. Also, May 20-26 will be the beginning of training for semi-literate pastors in the Debate area. Pray that God will direct in the selection of pastors to be trained. The first course will be on the inner life of a minister of the gospel. Pray for open and honest discussions and personal growth in the lives of each participant.
BILL & LORRAINE FOUTE (Nigeria) – Praise for God’s love and protection and for many praying friends around the world. Praise also that Jos has been quiet lately. Pray that God will speak through Bill who is sharing this week (May 8-11) with pastors on their spiritual life.
CHERLYNN HEWITT (Paraguay) – Praise for a new town, new teammates and new ministry opportunities for Cherlynn. Pray for God to open doors for her to build new relationships and share Jesus. Pray for the newly-formed youth group with which she is now working. Pray for her ministry at the SIM school called Centro Educativo Internacional, where 90% of the students come from non-Christian homes. Pray for staffing needs at the school, and for a significant increase in Cherlynn’s financial support.
STEVE & CYNDIE IWAN (Ghana) – Praise that the first radio station in the district is on the air, after much preparation with which the Iwans were involved. Pray it will serve to further the gospel there. Pray for Cyndie as she is involved in planning to host a medical team that will be doing primary health care in rural areas where the Iwans and others minister. Pray also regarding their need to purchase a vehicle. And pray for the whole team in Ghana and for new recruits who are in preparation to go.
GRAEME & CAROL KENT (SIM International) – Pray for Graeme, Phil Tait and Diane and Phill Marshall who will be in Chiang Mai, Thailand, May 13-22 to lead a Regional Management Seminar for SIM leaders serving in the Asia and Pacific region. The Seminar is designed for SIM “middle managers.” Twenty-five participants will come from most of the Asian countries in which SIM serves. Pray for safe travels for all participants and for God’s rich blessing on this event.
JEREMY & ONA LAMOTTE (Nepal) – Praise for an effective teacher-training event led by Ona and her team. Pray for the follow-up they will be doing in schools starting with pre-school teachers. Children need to be well fed in order to learn, but the team noticed many are hungry and malnourished. Pray for Jeremy as he assesses the nutritional status of the kids in the schools and works with some other organizations to address this problem as a part of the community health work.
MICHAEL & OETJE MADANY (SIM USA) – Praise for the effectiveness of the on-line course One God One Way in reaching a people-group from around the horn of Africa. One person wrote, “Truly, I have read a lot of the Bible from the website, but it is difficult for me to understand. The easiest way for me was following the lessons. I request that you help me to continue my studies of the Bible.” Praise for the increased number of messages received from this area. Pray for increased stability and security in the nations of this region. Pray that Christians will remain strong in their faith.
CLAIRE MECKLER (South Sudan) – At present, things are very tense between the two Sudans. Much prayer is needed to reverse the destructive directions of the mounting tensions. Praise that the area where Claire lives and teaches is in a “geographic corridor of peace.” Gideon Theological College has 18 students coming from six denominations and representing seven ethnic groups. Pray that this Christian community will model the reconciliation needed in a land torn by strife.
JEFFREY & AMY MCKISSICK (Paraguay) – Praise that the second Timothy Training workshop in April indicated that the participants support the Bible-storying approach, having tried it in their home areas and finding that it works well for both them and their listeners. Pray for continuing success and that they will return bringing another person for the workshop the end of June. Pray for God’s blessing and guidance for the six college students arriving from the US for the Training in Medical Evangelism internship June 2-July 6.
MICHAEL & LORI ROSENBAUER (South Africa) – The Rosenbauers will be serving at Lily of the Valley Children’s Village as long-term missionaries, since raising children requires establishing lasting relationships. However, raising financial support is going slowly. Pray that the Lord will help churches and individuals to catch the vision He has given them and pledge to help, since they cannot leave until they are fully supported.
SIM USA – Nearly 40 individuals will be on the SIM USA campus May 16-20 to participate in SIM Start. Pray for wisdom and discernment both for them and staff members as they explore the possibilities of becoming missionaries with SIM. Pray also that a sense of community will develop for them as they relate to each other and those who meet with them.
BEN & YEMI SKAGGS (Ethiopia) – Praise for good contacts with the T’ara, a remote tribe in southern Ethiopia. Pray for the two T’ara evangelists that have been left there to teach the people. Praise also that the T’ara Christians have a heart for taking the gospel to their “neighbors,” that is, the T’ara who are located on a distant mountainous ridge. Praise that the T’ara now have a draft of the first thirty Old Testament lessons in their own language, and that they are using them to teach their own people. Pray for the continued work of writing lessons on the life of Christ, and for literacy work to help them read.
TOM & KELLY STOUT (Paraguay) – Tom has continued to keep a full schedule as Director of Paraguay. He has had the opportunity to travel to Bolivia as part of a training team as well as to Peru for a international meeting with the other SIM country directors. Pray that he would have wisdom in his decisions as he leads the field. Pray for the family as they make plans to return to the US for Home Assignment and that Tom will find a replacement for him to carry on the Audio Bible distribution.
