1. Nigeria –
Islamic extremists, who until recently have been concentrated in the northern parts of
Nigeria, have been moving into and causing problems in the areas where the NCLC
are located. Just recently four Catholic priests in the area were kidnapped and
held for ransom. Three weeks ago Shia Islamic protests turned violent in the capital city of Abuja and resulted in the Nigerian Army opening fire on the protesters, killing several and wounding many others. Some have speculated that Boko Haram was also involved in these protests. In addition to all of this, local and national elections are scheduled for
early 2019 with several Muslim candidates running for offices. Many fear that
there will be an increase in violence if these Muslim candidates are not
elected. Pray!
2. Nigeria –
Rejoice in the Lord’s faithfulness in providing two men for the Gospel ministry of the NCLC. These men have successfully completed the five-year
seminary course of the NCLC Luther Bible Institute and are scheduled to graduate
and be ordained on December 15th! Pray that the Lord will bless
their ministry!
3. Nigeria –
There are six men who have applied to enter the NCLC Luther Bible Institute/Seminary in January.
Their applications are being reviewed by the faculty. If all six of them are
approved for enrollment, this will be one of the largest classes to begin the five-year
seminary course. Pray that the Lord will bless the students and faculty in
their work and that He will provide them all that is necessary to prepare
themselves for the public ministry.
4. Nigeria –
Our brothers and sisters in Christ of the Nigeria-CLC are facing a variety of challenges
as they work together to provide both spiritual and bodily care for orphaned children.
The newly appointed NCLC Children’s Home Committee is working to develop a set
of guidelines and policies that will serve to provide much needed direction
going forward. They will also be meeting with the Nigerian Ministry of Women
and Children’s Welfare to make sure the home meets government requirements. Please
pray that the Lord will provide them the wisdom, compassion, and all that is needed
to carry out this important work.
5. Togo – Six men continue
to attend the Mt. Horeb Lutheran Bible Institute as they also work full-time
jobs. They attend classes two days each week and do evangelism work on Sundays.
Pray that the Lord will continue to bless their studies as they prepare to
serve the Lord as faithful preachers and teachers of His saving word.
6. Togo – Pray for the seven
orphans that are being cared for by the pastors of the MELC in Togo and for the
40+ impoverished children who receive both spiritual and bodily nutrition one
afternoon each week through support from the CLC Project Kinship.
7. Nepal –
Pastor Raju recently returned from a trip to the Shaktikor and Chitwan
districts where the HCLCN has two congregations and a few preaching stations
located high up in the Himalaya foothills. While they were there they held
Bible seminars and gave the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy
Spirit through the water and the word of Baptism to thirty-five men, women, and
children. Praise the Lord for His grace and mercy bestowed upon these sheep of
His Himalayan flock.
8. India –
It was recently reported by our brothers of the CLCI that they are facing
increased persecution by Hindu extremists. Just a few weeks ago the CLCI was
conducting outreach evangelism in a village. During the evangelism effort
several Hindu extremists began shouting and disrupting the event. A few
individuals began to record their actions on their cell phones as evidence. The
Hindu extremists then turned physically violent and began to beat those in
attendance and to destroy the tent and equipment. When all was said and done
several individuals were injured and cell phones, a laptop, a projector, and
sound equipment was either destroyed or stolen. All of this was reported to the
local police but there no one expects anything to come of it. Please pray that
the Lord would replace any discouragement and doubt that this may have caused
among His children with the Joy of salvation and a firm committed to be
faithful to the Lord even unto death.
9. Tanzania –
The CLC Board of Missions recently approved MDF grants for books and dormitory
construction and repairs along with funding for transportation to allow the CLC-Tanzania
to continue to make preparations for classes to begin in January at the newly
established Wartburg Lutheran Seminary in Arusha, Tanzania. There are currently
twelve men from four districts who are planning to study God’s word as they prepare
for the ministry. Pray for both students and teachers that the Lord will bless
this effort and that He will provide all that is necessary for this important
work to go forward.
10. Myanmar – Due to the late and unusually heavy
rains in the western parts of Myanmar, only about 20% of the farm crops were
able to be harvested. This has led to much hardship for many families of the
CLC-Myanmar.
11. Missionary
to India – Progress continues toward a new
visa for our missionary to return to India. Pray that the Lord will bless this
process so that he can return to India as soon as possible to continue to the
work of training and encouraging the men who are working as and training to be
faithful preachers and teachers of God’s saving word.
12. Joint
Asia CLC Pastoral Conference
– Pray for God’s blessings as preparation begins for the JAPC to be held in
India in early 2019.
13. CLC Online Theological Studies – continue to pray for individuals in the following
countries around the world who are studying God’s word through email
correspondence courses as they continue to train to be faithful preachers and
teachers of God’s saving word:
·
Senegal, West Africa
·
Democratic Republic of Congo, Central
Africa
·
Togo, West Africa
·
Liberia, West Africa
·
Bangladesh, South East Asia
·
Zimbabwe, Africa
·
Myanmar, South East Asia
·
Tanzania, East Africa
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