Prayer in these uncertain times

“These are uncertain times.” How often have you heard those words in the last year and a half? We are all aware of the times we are living in. Not even children are spared from today’s realities. How do you explain to a six-year-old that they must wear a piece of cloth over their mouth and nose before they can go outside? Or that their teachers will only appear on a small screen, instead of giving them a hug in the doorway of their classroom?

These are uncertain times indeed. Pandemic – a word once confined to the realm of history books and medical discussions

– has become a household word around the world. In any country and any home, whether mansion or hovel, this word is spoken because a virus is no respecter of borders or social status. The word “lockdown” is now as familiar around dinner tables as “please pass the salt”. The pandemic has not changed the ever-present local and regional conflicts worldwide, nor the opposition to the gospel that is always with us. At a time like this, faith in the Lord – faith born and strengthened in the quiet place of prayer – is the only certainty we can count on.

The prophet Habakkuk prophesied in the season before Babylon overtook Judah. Bewildered, the prophet made his complaint to the Lord. Chapter two opens with him stationing himself on the watchtower, alert and keeping watch to see what the Lord will say to him. Indeed, the Lord hears and speaks:

“Behold the proud, his soul is not upright in him; but the just shall live by his faith” (v.4). If the just or righteous should live by faith in those troubling times, we must do no less today.

The author of Hebrews, at the end of Chapter 10, encourages his readers to persevere and not give up: “For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised” (10:36 NASB). Then he pivots to explain what real faith is: “Now faith is the certainty of things hoped for, a proof of things not seen” (11:1).

This definition of faith comforts us in a time of uncertainty because faith concerns itself not just with the current reality, but 2

with hope in a future reality. Faith is the assurance of things hoped for. Faith is hope with certainty. Later in the chapter, the Hebrews writer points out several named and unnamed individuals whose faith endured, even though the promises were not realised in their time. If what is hoped for is not realised, then what kind of faith is that?

It is a faith anchored in God and accessed only through the Word and prayer. Yes, we live in uncertain times, but when has our world ever been certain? From history, we know the world has always lurched from one crisis to another and from one difficulty to another, be it economic upheaval, war, natural disaster, manmade disaster, ravaging diseases or something else. There has never been a time when our world was not experiencing uncertainty.

As someone said, “Look where you will around the world, there is nowhere with stable peace; where there is no actual fighting, there is grave tension, and where the tensions are not international, they are local.”

SIM founder Rowland Bingham wrote in a letter dated December 16, 1935: “The early months of the year were very trying and our workers sorely tested. But that very condition brought about many answers to prayer that in the coming years will give forth a testimony of God’s faithfulness in stress and strain that would not otherwise have been possible.” This is the same letter in which our mission’s motto, By Prayer, first appeared.

In the light of today’s uncertainties, what do people of faith do? They pray. As in the days of Habakkuk when evil reigned and Babylon was on the horizon, as in the days of our pioneers who faced down violence and disease to carry the good news of Jesus burning in their hearts, so we, too, must pray. They went out with the certainty of hope, made sure through prayer. We, too, must confront an uncertain world with the certainty of prayer. Join us in 2022 in an uncertain world, to anchor our faith in our Lord

“By Prayer”.

Joshua Bogunjoko,

SIM International Director

3

Prayer Calendar

1 Angola . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 18 New Zealand . . . . . . . . . . 82

Introduction

Australia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

19 Niger . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84

Dr Joshua Bogunjoko,

2 Bangladesh . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

Nigeria . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86

International Director . . . 2

Benin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

20 North Africa . . . . . . . . . . . 88

Foreword . . . . . . . . 5

3 Bolivia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

Pakistan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90

Botswana . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

21 Paraguay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92

Purpose & Vision. . 6

4 Burkina Faso . . . . . . . . . . . 24

Peru . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94

Canada . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

Core Values. . . . . . . 8

22 Philippines . . . . . . . . . . . . 96

5 Chile . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

Senegal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98

Côte d’Ivoire . . . . . . . . . . . 30

23 South Africa . . . . . . . . . . 100

6 East African Office . . . . . 32

South Sudan and

East Asia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

Sudan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102

7 Ecuador . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 24 Sri Lanka . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104

Eritrea . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38

Switzerland . . . . . . . . . . . 106

8 Ethiopia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 25 Tanzania . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108

France . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42

Thailand . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110

9 Germany . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 26 Togo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112

Ghana . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46

United Kingdom . . . . . . 114

10 Guinea . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 27 United States . . . . . . . . . 116

India . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50

Uruguay. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118

11 Indonesia . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52 28 Vietnam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120

Japan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54

West Africa Missions

Kenya . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56

Office . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122

12 Korea . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58

West Malaysia . . . . . . . . 124

Latin America . . . . . . . . . . 60

29 Zambia. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126

13 Liberia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62

Zimbabwe . . . . . . . . . . . . 128

If you would like

Madagascar . . . . . . . . . . . 64

Sports Friends . . . . . . . . 130

to pray through 14 Malawi . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66 30 International Leadership this Prayer Guide

Mali . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68

and Services . . . . . . . . . . 132

Regional Service

in a one-month 15 Mascarene Islands . . . . . . 70

Centres . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 134

rotation, use

Middle East . . . . . . . . . . . 72

Faithful Witness

the numbers to 16 Mongolia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74

Initiative . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136

the left of each

Mozambique . . . . . . . . . . 76

31 SIM Worldwide . . . . . . . 138

country name as 17 Myanmar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78

Prayer for Renewal . . . . 140

calendar days of

Namibia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80

Partnerships . . . . . . . . . . 142

the month.

4

Foreword

Welcome to the 2022 Prayer Guide. The purpose of this prayer mobilisation tool is to inform, inspire and invite readers like you to pray for SIM ministries all around the world.

The information includes each ministry team’s vision, their types of ministry, prayer points and descriptions of communities where Christ is least known. The phrase “where Christ is least known” is lifted from SIM’s Purpose and Mission Statement.

Please share the 2022 Prayer Guide freely and broadly with all who would like to join us in praying for what God is doing through SIM.

Scripture taken from Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®

Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc®

Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

5

Purpose and Mission

Convinced that

no one should live and die

without hearing God’s good news,

we believe that He has called us

to make disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ

in communities where He is least known.

Therefore, compelled by God’s great love and empowered by the Holy Spirit…

• We cross barriers to proclaim the crucified and risen Christ, expressing his love and compassion among those who live and die without Him.

• We make disciples who will trust and obey Jesus, and become part of Christ-centred churches.

• We work together with churches to fulfil God’s mission across cultures locally and globally.

• We facilitate the participation in cross-cultural ministry of those whom God is calling.

6

Vision

The vision of SIM is to see

• a witness to Christ’s love where He is least known,

• disciples of Jesus expressing God’s love in their communities,

• and Christ-centred churches among all peoples.

By faith we see…

in the world:

• A vibrant testimony to the gospel through character, word, and action among communities where Jesus is least known.

• Followers of Jesus living out the gospel in unity and in the power of the Holy Spirit, making disciples who trust Him, obey Him, and play a full part in church life.

• Churches serving their communities and reaching out with the gospel locally and globally.

in SIM:

• A community growing in faith, in obedience to Jesus, and in ministry competence.

• Workers crossing barriers with the gospel, being and making disciples of Jesus, expressing his love and compassion.

• Multi-ethnic and multi-skilled teams serving together in love and harmony.

• Courageous leaders investing in the development of others for life-transforming ministries.

• Effective partnerships with Christ-centred churches and organisations facilitating the spread of the Gospel.

in eternity:

• The redeemed from all tribes, languages, peoples, and nations worshipping the Living God.

7

SIM Core Values

We are a gospel community that is:

1 Committed to Biblical Truth

We are committed to biblical truth and joyfully affirm historic, evangelical Christianity. With courage, we declare to the nations the good news of new life in Jesus Christ.

2 Dependent on God

“By prayer” and in faith, we depend on God for the provision of all of our needs. We will demonstrate diligence, integrity, sharing and accountability in cultivating and using the resources God provides.

3 A People of Prayer

Prayer is foundational in our life and ministry. “By prayer” we praise God, seek His direction, request resources and call upon the Holy Spirit to empower our ministries.

4 Mission-Focused

We are committed to the urgent and unfinished task of making disciples of Jesus Christ in all nations. In doing this, we desire to work in loving, trusting, interdependent relationships with churches and other partners who share our vision.

5 Church-Centred

We are committed to being a mission organisation that establishes, nurtures and equips churches to be an expression of Christ in their communities and reach out with cross-cultural, missional vision and action.

8

6 Concerned About Human Needs We humbly acknowledge that the ultimate human need is to know God. We also believe that He has called us to carry out compassionate, holistic service in this broken world by alleviating suffering, fostering development and affecting change in society.

7 A Christlike Community

We desire to be a transformational community dedicated to becoming like Christ in love, servanthood, holiness and obedience to the Father. We believe that following Christ’s example means sacrifice, hardship at times and perhaps even death.

8 A Learning, Growing Community

We believe in the worth and giftedness of each person in SIM

and of those we seek to serve. As enduring disciplines, we practice giving and receiving discipleship, life-long learning, consultative leadership, mutual development and training.

9 Strengthened Through Diversity

We are intentionally interdenominational, international and multi-ethnic. We believe we will become more effective in ministry as we incorporate the richness of cultural diversity in SIM and celebrate our oneness in Christ.

10 Responsive to Our Times

We will respond with creativity and courage to evolving needs and opportunities under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. In order to ensure they are effective and relevant, our ministries, priorities and structures are subject to ongoing evaluation and adaptation.

9

Summary of SIM’s

Core Values

We are:

Dependent on God

We are people of prayer. We trust in our faithful God and affirm the truth of the Bible.

Diverse

We are one in Christ. We embrace, and are strengthened by, the international, interdenominational and multi-ethnic diversity of his church.

Disciples of Jesus who make disciples

We cross barriers to fulfil God’s global, urgent and unfinished mission.

Church-centred

We are part of Christ’s church and together we plant, nurture and equip churches.

Compassionate

We are people of love. We humbly offer compassionate, holistic service and eternal hope, through the knowledge of Jesus Christ.

Community

We live a life of integrity in obedience to God and in relationship with each other as we listen, learn, grow, and innovate together under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

We are God-dependent, diverse, disciples in a church-centered, compassionate community.

10

(with references to the 10 Core Values) We are:

Dependent on God

We are people of prayer. We trust in our faithful God and affirm the truth of the Bible.

Committed to biblical truth, Dependent on God, People of Prayer, A Christ-like community

Diverse

We are one in Christ. We embrace, and are strengthened by, the international, interdenominational and multi-ethnic diversity of His church.

Christ-like community, Strengthened through diversity, A learning growing community, Responsive to our times, Committed to Biblical truth Disciples of Jesus who make disciples

We cross barriers to fulfil God’s global, urgent and unfinished mission.

Mission-focused, A learning, growing community, A Christ-like community, Committed to Biblical truth

Church-centred

We are part of Christ’s church and together we plant, nurture and equip churches.

Church centred, Committed to biblical truth, Mission-focused Compassionate

We are people of love. We humbly offer compassionate, holistic service and eternal hope, through the knowledge of Jesus Christ.

Concerned about human needs, A Christ-like community, Responsive to our times Community

We live a life of integrity in obedience to God and in relationship with each other as we listen, learn, grow, and innovate together under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

A Christ-like community, A learning, growing community, Responsive to our times, Committed to Biblical truth

11

Angola

1

LUANDA

Luena

After this I looked, and there before

Cavango

me was a great multitude, that no one

Lubango

Catota

could count, from every nation, tribe,

Menongue

Rio de Huila

people and language standing before

Tchincombe

the throne and before the Lamb.

Revelation 7:9a

Vision

In a culturally, linguistically and economically diverse environment, SIM Angola partners with churches to make disciples of Christ in communities where He is least known, training and mentoring individuals and groups through diverse ministries.

Ministry

• Nyaneka Bible translation, literacy and theological-education-by-extension.

• Animal husbandry and agriculture amongst the Ovangambwe.

• Primary health care and community health amongst the Ovamwila.

• Medical and surgical hospitals and obstetrical fistula surgical programme.

• Post-graduate training for Angolan medical graduates.

• Equipping pastors and church leaders to be effective disciple-makers in their homes, churches and communities.

• Theological education and leadership development for local pastors and church leaders.

• Training pastors and leaders in youth engagement and ministry.

Prayer Notes

12

Day 1

1

Communities where Christ is least known

Kuvale, Himba, Vahakawona

Located in southwestern Angola, the majority of Kuvale, Himba, and Vahakawona, live

without the gospel. They are semi-nomadic,

raising cattle and goats in a region frequently affected by drought. There are only a handful of churches among these three groups.

Ovangambwe e Ovamwila (Nyaneka)

These two closely related groups are also in south western Angola. The Ovangambes’ lives revolve around keeping cattle. A church is

well established, with five preaching points.

Believers are awakening to the lordship of

Jesus and are now turning their backs on spirit worship practices.

The Ovamwila, are largely rural subsistence farmers. Many young people, and some elders, have turned to the Lord and are keen to evangelise. Village churches and preaching points are multiplying. The New Testament in Nyaneka is nearing completion. Only six of these village churches have leaders with basic Bible training.

Pray for

• national mission workers for all the least-reached communities of Angola

• translators for the 15 languages in Angola still needing Bible translations

• disciple-making to become the DNA of churches throughout Angola. Many believers need to discover a daily walk with Jesus as his disciples

• completion of the Jesus Film in the Nyaneka and Kuvale languages this year

• the Jesus Film to be greatly used to make Jesus known in south western Angola

• the revision phase and publication of the 25 Nyaneka Theological-Education-by-Extension books and their profitable use in study groups

• many patients in our various health ministries to know Jesus, especially marginalised women with fistulas and patients with tuberculosis or HIV and AIDS

• additional SIM personnel for health, theological education, youth, and literacy ministries.

Currently, we have a high proportion of retirement-age SIM mission workers

• wisdom and patience in dealing with day-to-day challenges.

13

Australia

1

Brisbane

This same good news that came

to you is going out all over

Perth

Sydney

the world. It is bearing fruit

Adelaide

everywhere by changing lives…

CANBERRA

Colossians 1:6a

Melbourne

Vision

Convinced that everyone needs to hear the gospel, our heart is to make disciples of Jesus in communities where He is least known. We partner with local Australian churches in equipping and sending out cross-cultural gospel workers, with a variety of skills and talents, to serve in a diverse range of ministries.

Ministry

• To follow Jesus in his mission, both in Australia and overseas.

• To inspire and partner with churches, in order for them to fulfil God’s local, cross-cultural, and global mission.

• To mobilise and equip mission workers to reach the least-reached with the gospel, both globally and locally through the Across ministry.

• As stewards, to provide efficient and effective support services to help churches, mission workers, donors, and prayer partners to do their works of service.

• To promote ways for people to play their part in God’s global mission, whether that be through ministry opportunities, prayerful support, or financial partnership.

Prayer Notes

14

Day 1

1

Communities where Christ is least known Increasing secularisation

Traditionally a Christian nation with freedom of religion, Australia is becoming increasingly secularised. The dominant ideology has become an individualistic, New Age spirituality with no accountability.

While 52.1 per cent of Australians identify themselves in some way as Christian, only eight per cent attend church regularly.

Antagonism is increasing (especially in the media) towards the church and its perceived intolerance and authoritarianism.

Immigrants, refugees, overseas

students

With 30 per cent of the population born

overseas and receiving up to 700,000

international students each year prior to

Covid-19, Australia is one of the most culturally diverse nations in the world.

These immigrants and students have brought

a variety of religions with them. To faithfully reach these people groups in our own backyard, SIM Australia has developed a local ministry called Across. Across helps SIM mission workers within Australia to reach communities which have yet to hear the gospel, such as migrants, refugees, and university students.

Pray for

• SIM Australia’s mission workers to follow Jesus closely and know his empowering to be effective and fruitful in their ministry

• sending and supporting churches to grow in their engagement beyond current mission workers and see mission as central to church ministry

• the Lord of the Harvest to raise up more churches and workers in communities where Christ is least known, both overseas and locally through Across

• more Australian believers to discover the part they can play in God’s global mission (in active service, or as a prayerful and/or financial partner) 15

Bangladesh

1

Rajshahi

Gazipur

Comilla

He told them, “The harvest is plentiful,

DHAKA

but the workers are few. Ask the Lord

Faridpur

of the harvest, therefore, to send out

workers into His harvest field.”

luke 10:2

Vision

We desire to see people from all backgrounds loving the Creator with all their hearts and loving their neighbours and their communities as themselves.

Ministry

• Partnering with local people for outreach work.

• Children’s Uplift Programme: working with women and their children who are vulnerable or are survivors of human trafficking.

• Arsenic poisoning prevention programme: providing education, filters and treatment for arsenic poisoning, a common ailment in Bangladesh.

• Transformation centres: providing education opportunities, such as English language classes and primary classes for children in the slums in order to promote new development in impoverished communities.

• Morningstar Children’s Centre: a slum school that reaches out to poor children and their families.

• Salam Training Centre: a vocational school providing trade training for young people to develop life skills.

• Bible correspondence school: a distance learning school to disciple believers throughout the country.

Prayer Notes

16

Day 2

Communities where Christ is least known 2

Bengali

The Bengali are the largest ethnic community in Bangladesh, a densely populated country

of more than 160 million people. Bengalis are conversational, hospitable, and community-minded people. Many of them revere God but

don’t know the Good News as presented in

the Bible.

The capital, Dhaka, is home to more

than 18 million people. Floods and cyclones frequently bring suffering to this country

where many already live in poverty.

Pray for

• local partners in outreach work

• the formation of communities who love

their Creator and each other

• our workers to adapt well to the new realities of life in Bangladesh during the Covid-19 pandemic, including increased risk and decreased face-to-face communication

• victims of human trafficking, mostly women and children, who face terrible circumstances and often lose hope that they will obtain freedom

• a favourable relationship with the Bangladeshi government 17

Benin

2

Simpérou

Kandi

Natitingou

Bembéréké

Sinéndé

Djougou

“God our Saviour, (who) desires all

Parakou

people to be saved and to come to the

knowledge of the truth.”

1 timothy 2 v 3b-4:

PORTO NOVO

COTONOU

Vision

In a spirit of collaboration, we see Benin churches becoming mature, missional, dynamic, filled with disciples obedient to the Word of God, imitators of Christ, dependent on the Holy Spirit, and full of compassion. In unity, we see these disciples of all ages serving according to their gifts for the glory of God.

Ministry

• Bible translation and literacy.

• Radio outreach.

Prayer Notes

18

Day 2

Communities where Christ is least known 2

Wangara-Dendi

The Dendi are a proud and influential people group in the north of Benin. They stem from ancient caravan communities, but over time

have also adopted a strong Muslim identity

and developed a language. They tend to be

either farmers or traders and dominate the

northern markets and transport industry. As a result, Wangara-Dendi is now a language of wider communication in the large northern

cities of Djougou and Parakou.

In 2019, the book of Genesis was published

in Wangara-Dendi alongside a literacy primer and the Genesis Film. SIM workers have been using these tools to tell people about Jesus.

In 2022, a team will continue translating the Bible and take up opportunities to express

the love, truth and compassion of Jesus

Christ. Each week, up to five Christian radio messages are aired in Wangara-Dendi via two community radio stations and one national broadcaster. People regularly call to express interest or ask for prayer. Local believers use digital media to share gospel messages with Dendi contacts who often listen on their phones. Pray that God will draw people to his truth through these initiatives.

Pray for

• local believers in Djougou and Parakou, that they will grow in courage and desire to share Jesus with their Wangara-Dendi neighbours

• opportunities to express the love, truth and compassion of Jesus Christ to the Wangara-Dendi

• an increase in funding to ensure least-reached communities will continue to hear, understand, and be transformed by Christian radio messages

• more personnel and resources to strengthen the administrative capacity of local church partners

• the SIM Benin Togo leadership team as they adapt to the retirement of several workers. This is challenging existing structures but also opening up new opportunities 19

Bolivia

3

LA PAZ

Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask

Santa Cruz

for in prayer, believe that you have

received it, and it will be yours.

Cochabamba SUCRE

maRk 11:24

Potosi

Vision

To see Bolivians incarnating the gospel in their community, country, and world.

Ministry

• Evangelising and discipling professionals.

• Outreach to shoe-shiners.

• Outreach to Quechuas in urban and rural areas.

• Developing current and future church leaders.

• Ministering to children with special needs.

• Collaborating with the Bolivian church to raise up mission workers.

Prayer Notes

20

Day 3

Communities where Christ is least known Children with special needs

3

Bolivian society often overlooks the challenges faced by children with special needs and their families. SIM Bolivia is targeting this least reached sector of Bolivian society, to help provide education and serve the needs of these children and their families.

The SIM mission workers who will spearhead

this ministry are currently getting further education and planning how to reach these children.

Quechuas in urban areas

Quechua people have moved to urban areas in great numbers over the last three decades due to drought and other challenges in the rural highlands of Bolivia. They have moved to cities in search of work, educational opportunities for their children, and a better lifestyle.

SIM workers partner with small congregations of Quechua migrants who live on the expanding urban fringe. Our workers are helping build capacity in these churches, so that the congregations will be better able to reach their own people with the gospel.

Pray for

• SIM workers who are pursuing further education and planning how to reach children with special needs

• perspectives courses, Equipping Servants International, and theological training to prepare gospel workers to reach their own people and beyond

• God to use SIM’s medical ministry, English classes and other unique outreaches to bring people closer to Him

• partner ministries, including COPROMEC (which produces Sunday school material), Mosoj Chaski radio (which reaches Quechua people), and Camp Kewiña

• teachers and staff for Carachipampa Christian School, as they educate, reach, and disciple students, and reach their students’ parents

• grace, unity, and cultural understanding, as we live and work in multi-ethnic and multi-generational teams

21

Botswana

3

Francistown

Rakops

And how can anyone preach

unless they are sent? As it is

Ukwi

Kang

written: “How beautiful are

the feet of those who bring

GABORONE

good news!”

Romans 10:15

Vision

By faith, we see:

• Every person in Botswana having the opportunity to respond to the Good News, growing in obedience to God, and becoming part of a local church fellowship.

• A renewed and strong partnership with the African Evangelical Church (AEC) and other denominations, as SIM Botswana walks alongside them to fulfil the Great Commission.

Ministry

• Children and youth ministry.

• Disciple-making.

Prayer Notes

22

Day 3

Communities where Christ is least known 3

Remote dwel ers of the Kalahari Desert

The San are considered to have the oldest culture in the world. Beautiful San rock art can be seen throughout southern Africa, where the San lived as hunter-gatherers. The San are expert hunters, using bows and poison-tipped arrows. Hunting is a collaborative exercise, and the meat is always shared among the group.

Over the past 2,000 years, the San have slowly been pushed to live in the arid sands of the Kalahari Desert by Bantu tribes and white farmers, who have taken the more fertile land for their crops and livestock. Today, the San find it very difficult to maintain their traditional culture and lifestyle. Land tthe San used to hunt on is increasingly being used for grazing cattle.

In partnership with the Africa Evangelical Church, SIM has engaged with the !Xoon San of the Kalahari for more than 30 years. For the first 16 years, the ministry was carried out by full-time mission workers living in the desert. These mission workers retired in 2018, leaving a translation of the gospel of Luke, around 90 recorded Bible stories, Sunday school material, and a worship CD as their legacy — as well as local translators who now carry on this work.

Pray for

• God to reveal his vision for SIM Botswana

• Botswana SIM appointees who are developing prayer partners and raising support, that the Lord would lead them to the place He has prepared for them

• more believers to hear the Lord’s calling into ministry

• local translators amongst the remote desert dwellers of the Kalahari, that they would persevere in their ministry without the support of expatriate mission workers

• the Africa Evangelical Church to catch the vision for reaching out to and discipling the remote desert dwellers of the Kalahari

• children and young people to grow in their faith and apply biblical truths in their daily lives

• people bound by animistic traditions to be set free 23

Burkina Faso

4

OUAGADOUGOU

The light shines in the

darkness, and the darkness

has not overcome it.

John 1:5

Vision

We strive to glorify God by making disciples of the people in Burkina Faso, by proclaiming Jesus Christ as we minister to human needs and teach sound doctrine, in order to equip the local church in its growth and partner with the church as it ministers to those unreached by the good news of Jesus.

Ministry

• Scripture translation and audio production.

• English classes as a base for evangelism.

• Evangelism and discipleship.

• Medical centres.

• Theological education.

• Ministry to at-risk young women.

• Ministry among street boys.

• Community development and well-drilling.

• Ministries to people with disabilities.

Prayer Notes

24

Day 4

Communities where Christ is least known Internally displaced people

While Burkina Faso had previously been

4

known for its stability, recent terrorist activity has led to an epidemic of internally displaced people. Since 2019, an estimated 600,000

people have been displaced from their homes by violence.

Many of these people are living in makeshift refugee camps, where water and food

supplies can be scarce. Several camps have

become targets of violence, causing a second displacement for those who have taken refuge.

Other displaced people are seeking shelter

with extended family, which can put already fragile financial situations under extreme

stress. Almost 90 per cent of displaced people cannot afford food, according to an analysis done in December 2019.

Most people in Burkina Faso depend on their farms for their food and their livelihood. With the current unrest, large portions of farming land are not accessible due to security risks and fear, leading to a threat of artificial famine.

As a result of the violence, schools,

churches, and village markets continue to

close. By mid-March 2020, 2,500 schools had closed due to attacks or insecurity, denying nearly 350,000 students access to education.

Pray for

• an end to violence. Praise God for the many people who have developed an openness to the gospel as a result of these challenging circumstances

• the church to reach out to non-Christian neighbours to show Christ’s love. Pray that they would stand firm and shine as a light in the darkness

• wisdom for our leaders, as they decide how SIM can safely and effectively respond to this humanitarian crisis with love and the good news

• the church of Burkina Faso to continue to grow in maturity and numbers.

• our many ministries to demonstrate and share God’s love in ways that transform lives for Christ during these difficult times.

25

Canada

4

To the weak I became weak,

to win the weak. I have

Edmonton

become all things to all

winnipeg

people so that by all possible

Montreal

means I might save some.

Vancouver

OTTAWA

Halifax

1 CoRinthians 9:22

Toronto

Vision

The vision of SIM Canada is to see a witness to Christ’s love where He is least known, disciples of Jesus expressing God’s love in their communities, and Christ-centred churches, especially among new Canadians and marginalised communities.

Ministry

• Urban least-reached communities.

• First Nations ministry.

• Serving marginalised communities (such as the deaf, sex workers, and the hip- hop community).

• Mobilising, training, and providing support services to mission workers.

Prayer Notes

26

Day 4

Communities where Christ is least known New Canadians

According to the 2016 census, 7.5 million

4

foreign-born people have come to Canada

through the immigration process. They make

up one in five people in Canada. This is an opportunity for Canadians to share the gospel in communities where Christ is least known, right in our own backyard. Immigrants in

Canada list more than 200 places of birth

outside their adopted country.

Pray for our Canada field workers, who work in many of these communities. Pray they would have many opportunities to share the gospel and make newcomers feel welcome in Canada.

Pray for

• mission workers serving in difficult contexts both in Canada and globally

• our largely secular society to hear and understand the good news.

• our Canada field workers serving in different communities across Canada.

• SIM to serve the local Canadian church well.

• wisdom for the SIM Canada national office staff to help facilitate and prepare people for overseas or local ministry.

• the mobilising and personnel teams as they work to mentor and process inquirers and increase the numbers who serve. SIM Canada receives an inquiry every day for but only 30 to 40 are processed for mission service each year.

27

Chile

SANTIAGO

Talagante

55

Temuco

You then, my son, be strong in the

grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the

things you have heard me say in the

presence of many witnesses entrust

to reliable people who will also be

qualified to teach others.

2 timothy 2:1–2

Vision

Compelled by God’s great love, we want to see churches with trained leaders, engaged in making disciples, and expressing the love and compassion of Christ in communities where He is least known. Our motivation is to see the church in Chile increasingly sharing the good news, mobilising, and sending servants to those living and dying without Christ inside and outside Chile.

Ministry

• Missions mobilisation.

• Partnership with ProVisión, a Chilean mission agency.

• Church leadership development.

• Disciple-making.

• Seminary by Extension to All Nations (SEAN).

• Education and evangelism with at-risk kids.

• Koyamentu Training and Retreat Centre.

• Marriage and family ministries in church contexts.

Prayer Notes

28

Day 5

Communities where Christ is least known Helping empower the

Chilean church

The Chilean evangelical church is part of

55

a growing worldwide missions movement.

Our focus is to come alongside and

support the church in making disciples

of the Lord Jesus Christ in communities

where He is least known. In partnership

with ProVisión, a Chilean sending agency,

we work to empower the Chilean church

to grow in its ability and commitment to

send workers to serve where Christ is least known. SIM Chile hopes to develop new partnerships and ministries to support church leaders and their efforts both to make disciples in their congregations and to reach out to the communities of university students and migrants who are living and dying without Christ.

Pray for

• the development of new ministries focused on helping Chilean churches become more intentional about making disciples

• Chilean pastors and church leaders as they lead their congregations through times of social unrest and economic downturn

• Chilean mission workers to flourish spiritually, physically, emotionally, and financially

• the Seminary by Extension to All Nations (SEAN) to extend its impact to the entire country

• protection for at-risk children. Pray that their contact with Christians will be a testimony of Christ’s love

• the Koyamentu Training and Retreat Centre to facilitate renewal, transformation, and training for Chilean churches and mission workers

• marriage courses and men’s and women’s groups to reach non-Christians with the hope found in Jesus

29

Côte d’Ivoire

Odienné

Ferkessedougou

Korhogo

Bouaké

Man

A new command I give you: Love

6

one another. As I have loved you, so

YAMOUSSOUKRO

Abengourou

you must love one another. By this

everyone will know that you are my

disciples, if you love one another.

ABIDJAN

John 13:34-35

San-Pedro

Vision

SIM Côte d’Ivoire glorifies God by working in partnership with the Body of Christ to make disciples of all nations and equip them to transform society.

Ministry

• Theological education.

• Leadership development.

• Radio outreach.

• Church planting.

• Community development.

• Disciple-making.

• Street children ministry.

• Ministry to women.

• Arts in mission.

Prayer Notes

30

Day 5

Communities where Christ is least known The Dioula (Jula) and Maninka (Malinké)

Three newly graduated national pastors were ichel M

trained for church planting last year among the reyD

Dioula! This was a pilot programme for a planned

: auto

training school for national church planters.

ho

6

. P

Pray for development of this programme to be ving

effective for sustainable kingdom growth.

wea

The Fulani

Dioula

The lifestyle of the Fulani is changing rapidly.

ying

Change can bring conflict and difficulty, but also Praen

opportunities. Pray for an increasing openness to M

Jesus, particularly in the younger generations.

ulani F

The Fulani language, Fulfulde, is very difficult M

usli

to learn. Pray for perseverance and progress for Mo

all foreigners learning Fulfulde in order to share tw

Jesus with this people group where Jesus Christ is little known. May our team ministering to this people group grow!

Pray for

• more local church planters to be well trained for ministry in Dioula communities

• increasing receptiveness of Fulani to the gospel

• more long-term workers for the harvest field

• discernment for, and strategic development of, the radio ministry

• increased collaboration between evangelical denominations

• growing cohesion, collaboration and prayerfulness in the SIM team

• existing ministries in Abidjan to be resourced and managed well 31

East African Office

Sudan

Eritrea

Djibouti

Ethiopia

South

Sudan

Then I heard the voice of the

6

Somalia

Lord saying, “Whom shall I send?

Uganda

And who will go for us?” And I

Kenya

said, “Here am I. Send me!”

Rwanda

isaiah 6:8

Burundi

Tanzania

Vision

By faith, we see mission-minded churches in East Africa fully engaged in global outreach, sending their mission workers to join communities around the world. Our purpose is to serve East African churches as they participate in global mission.

Ministry

The East African Office helps churches mobilise, equip, train, and send East African mission workers around the world to serve with SIM and its partner mission agencies in gospel ministry. Our global workers serve in:

• Evangelism and disciple-making.

• Church planting.

• Radio ministry.

• Leadership training and theological education.

• Youth ministry.

• Culture and language learning.

Prayer Notes

32

Day 6

Communities where Christ is least known Fulani people groups

The Fulani population is made up of 40

million people in 20 West African countries.

The East African Office has already sent out five mission families to serve among the

6

Fulani.

We thank God that the call to reach this

people group is growing tremendously. As a

result of continuous prayer, we have been able to send another five mission workers to the West Africa region, focusing on Fulani people groups. We thank God for the response of local churches in the East Africa region to the call to serve Fulani people groups.

Pray for

• increased capacity for the East African Office to send and train mission workers

• protection and guidance for all who are involved in making decisions to place mission workers in the global mission field, as we deal with the aftermath of Covid-19

• God to call Christian professionals from East African countries to serve Him globally

• young men and women to take decisive action in response to God’s leading for them to serve in mission

33

East Asia

Japan

North East IndiaHong Kong

India

Taiwan

And because of my chains, most of

the brothers and sisters have become

7

Philippines

confident in the Lord and dare all the

Malaysia

more to proclaim the gospel without

Singapore

fear.

Indonesia

Phil 1:14

Vision:

We envision churches in East Asia glorifying God by partnering with the global church, SIM, and our supporting constituencies in sending mission workers to reach those who are living and dying without hearing God’s good news, raising disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ in communities where He is least known, working together to turn mission fields into mission forces, while also receiving mission workers in some East Asian countries. We commit ourselves willingly and joyfully to further the Great Commission, through praying, giving, mobilising, sending, and receiving workers..

Ministry:

The staff of the East Asia Office coordinate and supervise the efforts of constituent sending and receiving entities, and provide services in the areas of:

• Promotion.

• Administration, supervision, and

• Strengthening partnership with churches.

development of receiving contexts.

• Mobilisation of churches and individuals.

• Crisis management and contingency

• Involving constituent countries more

planning.

in candidate screening and selection.

• Care for children of cross-cultural

• Mentoring and orientation.

workers.

• Information coordination.

• Pastoral care and prayer.

• Church-mission partnerships.

Prayer Notes

34

Day 6

Communities where Christ is least known

Indonesia’s majority peoples

With evangelical Christians making up only two per cent of the population, a large section of Indonesia’s 229 million people of the majority religion do not have much contact with witnesses to the saving power of

‘Isa al Masih’ (Jesus the Messiah).

Some large communities without Christ exist throughout Indonesia’s more than 13,000 inhabited 7

islands, with similar lifestyle characteristics and similar, yet distinct, main languages. Large clusters like Aceh, Banjar, Barito, Betawi, Bugis, Deli, Jawa, Kaili, Lampung, Madura, Maluku, Melayu, Minangkabau, Pasemah, Sasak, Sunda, and Tukangbesi are comprised of smaller language groups, almost 230 in all.

Though having distinct main languages, almost all of these communities are conversant in the national language, Bahasa Indonesia. While most communities identify with the majority religion, almost all practice some form of animism.

Praise God that numerous mission agencies are networking and sharing data, making it possible to find out more about these communities. Praise God that creative people are reaching out to some of these people through social media platforms. This gives a non-threatening way to spread the gospel where personal encounters might initially be awkward or even dangerous. Yet, so much more could be done. More people are needed, not only to live among some of these communities, but also to encourage and train Indonesia’s evangelical church concerning cross-cultural missions within their own country.

Pray for

• efforts to reach the least-reached communities in Indonesia, by motivating, equipping, and mobilising churches and theological institutions in Indonesia

• SIM East Asia’s strategies to equip and send members to focus on frontline evangelism, discipleship, producing missional churches and turning mission fields into mission forces

• attempts to send members to serve in Japan with OMF Japan and Asian Access

• God to supply the unds for SIM East Asia’s projected growth, operation, ministries, and projects

• wisdom and resources in developing the capacity in the region to receive workers

• cross department teams’ efforts focusing on succession plans for SIM East Asia staff, leaders, members of key committees and field members.

• formation of New Gen Mission Initiative Committee to draw young people to serve in mission.

35

Ecuador

QUITO

All this is from God, who reconciled us to

Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry Guayaquil

of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the 7

El Cisne

world to himself in Christ, not counting men’s Loja

sins against them. And He has committed to us Gonzanama

the message of reconciliation.

Suro (Yangana)

Cariamanga

Amaluza

2 CoRinthians 5:18–19

Vision

As a team of Christ’s ambassadors, SIM Ecuador exists in love to proclaim and to live out Christ’s message of reconciliation. We do so in the power and for the glory of God.

In partnership with the church, we want to make disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ in communities where He is least known.

Ministry

• Waves of Hope radio station.

• Equipping church leaders (Equipping Servants International theological education programme, Growing Pastors bookshop, and training conferences).

• Compassion ministries (medical aid, finance management, business as mission, family gardens, counselling, and trauma healing).

• Planting and strengthening rural churches (evangelism, discipleship, and training).

• Youth ministry (sports, university outreach, Bible studies and discipleship).

• Mission mobilisation.

• Missionary kids (academic and spiritual growth).

• Administration.

Prayer Notes

36

Day 7

Communities where Christ is least known Rural population of the southern province of Loja Facing traditionalism, other belief systems and persecution of those seeking truth from family and community, the few Christians in the southern rural province of Loja work alongside SIM. We use Bible storytelling to teach and disciple believers in small home churches. We hope to train 7

a leader for every small town in the province, so the good news can be spread to even more remote areas.

Youth

Ecuador’s mean age is 27, with 69 per cent of its people aged under 49. Many young people — disillusioned by their parents’ traditional, works-oriented religion — are desperate for the truth, but atheism and other religions are growing.

SIM reaches out with biblical truth to young people and university students through social media, English ministries and evangelical groups on campuses. We plan to expand to more campuses this year and to begin a Sports Friends ministry in the rural areas, but more workers are needed.

Economical y vulnerable

The strict and lengthy quarantines during the pandemic caused great disruption to wage earners trying to provide for their families, especially those who had no savings and depended on daily income. SIM’s compassion ministry provides medical and counselling services, as well as teaching financial management and family gardens to help people make the most of their resources. Each lesson is combined with biblical principles, in order to meet spiritual needs and share about Jesus.

Pray for

• Radio Hope in gratitude, as they finally received government approval for the FM frequency

• Pray that gospel messages have an impact throughout the rural areas

• open doors to new communities through tangible expressions of Christ’s love

• the equipping leadership ministries to develop stable, maturing leaders, especially in rural communities, through training programmes and ongoing discipleship

• creativity to use available resources to meet the needs of our missionary kids

• wise expansion of the ministry to youth in universities and in the rural areas

• wisdom for the administrative team in guiding each ministry and making decisions

• preparation and support for Ecuadorian missionaries serving in other countries

• workers to join the growing ministries, especially in the rural areas 37

Eritrea

Keren

I consider that our present

ASMARA

sufferings are not worth

comparing with the glory that

will be revealed in us.

8

Romans 8:18

Vision

SIM first entered Eritrea in the early 1950s but was expelled in July 2004. All SIM

ministries have been closed, and evangelical Christians in Eritrea are undergoing severe persecution.

Today, SIM supports a radio ministry, broadcasting to Eritrea and diaspora Eritreans in the Tigrinya language. The vision of this ministry is to see the current generation of Tigrinya-speaking youth in Eritrea, Ethiopia and beyond reached through radio and other media. Our vision is to set them on a discipleship journey where they enjoy personal fellowship with God, express an increased commitment to Him and his church, actively participate in making disciples and become leaders with integrity.

Ministry

• Radio Outreach.

Prayer Notes

38

Day 7

Communities where Christ is least known Tigre

Most of the Tigre, descendants of the ancient Egyptians, converted to Islam during the

1800s. Although they profess to be Sunni

Muslims, most practice Folk Islam, which is a blend of Islam and animistic beliefs. For example, they offer sacrifices of livestock or 8

corn when they think their sins are numerous, believing that the sacrifice becomes the

scapegoat for their sins. The Tigre also believe in Zar, an evil spirit that possesses people and causes illnesses and sometimes death. They

depend on shamans to communicate with

spirits, cure sickness and control events.

The Tigre are traditionally nomadic

shepherds, and although many are still

nomads, most are semi-nomadic. Others have

become settled farmers. The Tigre in Eritrea have suffered from recent droughts, famine

and civil war.

Pray for

• peace and stability in Eritrea

• more Tigrinya-speaking workers to help produce effective audio broadcasts to Eritrea and beyond

• the listeners of the broadcasts, especially the youth, to fully commit to life in Christ and journey with Him faithfully

• believers, especially church leaders, who are imprisoned for their faith

• God’s provision for the families of those imprisoned, and that they will continue to see God as almighty and loving

• the few known Tigre Christians in Eritrea, that God would strengthen, encourage and protect them, and that they would be bold to speak of their faith in Jesus to those who do not yet know Him

39

Ethiopia

Mekelle

Bahir Dar

God our Saviour desires all

ADDIS ABABA

people to be saved and to

come to a knowledge of

Jimma

SOMALI

the truth.

8

REGION

1 timothy 2:4

Vision

Compelled by God’s love and by the reality that millions of people live and die without knowing Christ, we strive to expand the church’s capacity to make disciples and multiply churches in communities where Christ is least known, so that the triune God alone may be genuinely worshipped by every person.

Ministry

We strive to expand the church’s capacity in:

• Reaching children and youth.

• Outreach to Muslims.

• Caring for the vulnerable.

• Medical ministry.

• Engaging with community influencers.

• Discipling and equipping church

• Mentoring and training in Orthodox

leaders.

communities.

We strive to resource ministry efforts through:

• Effectively communicating SIM’s vision and mandate to provide a clear, shared focus for all who are part of SIM Ethiopia.

• Missionary kid education.

• Print and radio media.

Prayer Notes

40

Day 8

Communities where Christ is least known

Children and youth

Well over half of Ethiopia (approximately 102

million people) are under the age of 20. As a result of rapid population growth, migration to urban areas and the availability of technology and the internet, most of these young people have limited opportunities to come to know

8

Christ and become his followers.

Vulnerable

The urban population has increased to around 20 per cent in this primarily rural country and the rate of change is increasing. Poverty and abuse remain major issues, especially among newcomers to urban areas. Girls and homeless street boys are at risk of being trafficked.

Pray for

• business leaders, community leaders and church leaders who have significant roles in their contexts and are strategically placed to have an impact where Christ is least known

• children and youth ministries in Ethiopian churches, communities and projects, that they will have sufficient people and resources to serve families needing biblical discipleship

• recruitment of excellent teachers who can serve at Bingham Academy with a passion for making disciples among students and advancing mission outreach

• greater inter-dependent teamwork and healthy ministry relationships

• churches and their leaders to become more willing to care about and show Christ’s love to neighbours in their communities

• teaching, disciple-making and mentoring initiatives in Orthodox communities

• healthier church partnerships and ongoing effective disciple-making initiatives

• churches empowered for missional outreach 41

France

PARISStrasbourg

Montbeliard

Nantes

Tours

It has always been my ambition

to preach the gospel where

La Rochelle

Christ was not known, so that

I would not be building on

Bergerac

someone else’s foundation.

Caderousse

Romans 15.20

9

Vision

By faith, we see God mobilising his children to share the good news of salvation with those whose hearts have been prepared by the Holy Spirit.

SIM France is called by God to mobilise Christians and inform the church of opportunities in mission, train those called to serve, facilitate their tasks, and support them through prayer and care.

We rejoice in the Lord each time He entrusts someone to us. We desire to be facilitators and encourage men and women to serve Christ when He calls them.

Ministry

• Mobilising for God’s service.

• Equipping for ongoing ministry.

• Sending mission workers to communities living and dying without Christ .

• Maintaining contact with mission workers in all corners of the globe.

• Planting churches.

• Ministering to international students.

Prayer Notes

42

Day 8

Communities where Christ is least known Foreign students

There are about 358,000 foreign students in France. Moroccan students have become the

largest group (more than 42,000), but there are also many Algerians (31,000) and Tunisians (13,000). Almost 51 per cent of France’s foreign students come from Africa, including the

Maghreb region.

Foreign students are often open to the

9

gospel, but more workers are needed.

Currently, only one SIM worker ministers

among them.

Muslim community

The Muslim community in France is

approximately nine per cent of the total

population. This figure includes all the immigrants coming from predominantly Muslim countries. Studies give an estimate of 70,000 to 110,000 Christians among this group.

A large part of the community is second, third, or even fourth generation immigrants.

The 2016 influx of refugees is challenging European Christians to find ways of showing Christ’s love. Following terrorist violence in 2016, the Muslim community has begun to question Islam. Muslim background believers are often persecuted by their families and relatives, but the terrorist incidents have led to more opportunities to discuss our Christian beliefs with Muslims.

Pray for

• revival of missional vision in French churches

• partnerships with church denominations, Bible institutes and other mission organisations

• sincere and ongoing commitment to mission among French Christians

• the development and autonomy of SIM Belgium ministries, which SIM France supports

• an effective training programme for spiritual growth

• strength in prayer, good relationships with churches and potential missionaries and fruitful ministry for those whom God sends

43

Germany

Ribnitz-Damgarten

Hamburg

Berlin

Muelheim-Ruher

Be joyful in hope, patient in

Leipzig

affliction, faithful in prayer.

Romans 12:12

9

Sinsheim

Vision “So people meet God!”

DMG Germany is a sending mission organisation, honouring God and telling the whole world how great He is. Jesus asks us to humbly live out every aspect of his love in word and deed, and to boldly proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ in a hurting world. By inviting people to be reconciled with the living God, we see them experience a personal and life-transforming encounter with Jesus Christ. DMG prepares Christian workers for cross-cultural ministry, and then sends and cares for them, in partnership with like-minded organisations and churches.

Ministry

• Praying and fellowshipping in community.

• Mobilising the church for mission.

• Mobilising missionaries in German-speaking Europe.

• Running a short-term volunteer programme.

• Providing member care and lifelong learning for all staff.

• Supporting international workers serving in Germany.

• Promoting partnerships between ourselves and like-minded organisation for the cause of world mission.

Prayer Notes

44

Day 9

Communities where Christ is least known Diaspora

The predominant people groups

coming to or settled in Germany

include Syrians, Iraqis, Afghanis,

Pakistanis, Somalis, Eritreans,

Kurds, Turks, and English- and

French-speaking West Africans.

The Ruhr region

9

The Ruhr region, in Northrhine-

Westfalia, is the largest

metropolitan area in Germany, with a population of 5.1 million and annual growth of 43,000 people, spread over 53 cities. This region has the highest migration density in Germany, from every nation (e.g. 26 per cent Turkish and 18 per cent Polish). It also has the highest number of students and foreign students in Germany.

International (multicultural) community and students Our organisation is reaching out to the multi-cultural community in cities. Presently, there are 395,000 overseas students studying at universities in Germany. The largest group is from Asia, with significant groups from India (20,800), Syria (13,600), Iran (9,500), and Vietnam (3,200).

Secular Germans

Germany is rapidly becoming a secularised community. Regions in eastern and northern Germany have little or no local/personal Christian witness. Opportunities exist for workers from all over the world.

Pray for

• the growing team of international workers as they adapt to, and integrate into, a very different life in Germany

• the recruitment of a team leader and new workers for the many ministry opportunities in the Ruhr region

• the discipling of new believers among the migrants and international students, and their integration into a fellowship

45

Ghana

Tumu

SandemaGushegu

Tamale

Declare his glory among the

nations, his marvellous deeds

among all peoples.

Psalm 96:3

9

ACCRA

Vision

The vision of SIM Ghana is to see a witness to Christ’s love where He is least known in Ghana, disciples of Jesus expressing God’s love in their communities and Christ-centred churches spreading the gospel in Ghana and beyond.

Ministry

• Outreach ministries – working in partnership with churches and organisations to witness to Christ’s love amongst the Sisaala, Dagomba, and Fulani communities.

• Serving and equipping the church for mission – Sports Friends, discipleship and leadership training, and discipling marketplace leaders.

• Mobilisation for mission and collaboration in mobilisation with like-minded organisations.

• Leadership and services – serving and equipping the SIM Ghana team through the provision of efficient services and courageous leadership.

Prayer Notes

46

Day 9

Communities where Christ is least known

Muslim peoples of northern Ghana

The Dagomba and Sisaala people of

northern Ghana are predominantly Muslim.

SIM Ghana partners with churches as they

nurture sharing and discipling relationships among these people in order that many

might hear the gospel and grow in their

understanding of God’s word. Resources are

being developed to enable churches to use

9

the The Way of Righteousness broadcasts

and material as a discipleship tool.

The training and development of children and youth ministry leaders means that many more will hear the gospel from an early age.

The Fulani

The Fulani people in Ghana are another predominantly Muslim group. They live in scattered settlements on the outskirts of villages. The team serving among the Fulani continues to grow. Through language and culture learning, they are building relationships of trust and friendship. This last year, several Fulani have come to know and follow Jesus.

Pray for

• our workers among the Fulani, that as they continue to learn the language and culture, relationships will grow and lead to good conversations and opportunities to share God’s good news

• the training of youth and children’s workers among the Sisaala and Dagomba

• our partnership with Good News Bible Church, Challenge Enterprises Ghana, and local churches, as we seek to reach communities where Christ is least known in Ghana

• our Sports Friends ministry team, as they train and disciple coaches to reach children and young people through sport

• Christian business people to understand the truth that they can worship God in and through their businesses

• extra workers to join SIM Ghana’s Leadership and Services team 47

Guinea

Kankan

CONAKRY

With joy you will draw water

from the wells of salvation.

isaiah 12:3

10

Vision

By faith, we see:

• Every man, woman and child of Upper Guinea having the opportunity to hear and understand the good news of Jesus.

• A vibrant church working in harmony, bringing Jesus’ transformation to Upper Guinea and beyond.

• A flourishing, Spirit-led SIM team, equipped to serve their communities with love and discernment.

Ministry

• Evangelism and discipleship.

• Children and families.

• Youth.

• Leadership and Services.

• Audio media production and distribution.

Prayer Notes

48

Day 10

Communities where Christ is least known Maninka

The Maninka are 99 per cent Muslim. Upper Guinea is their traditional homeland. In 2022, by God’s grace, a revised Maninka New Testament will be printed and recorded. These scripture recordings will make God’s Word widely available to the four million Maninka, the vast majority of whom are oral learners. Praise God for our partners working in translation and recording. Pray for the use of these scriptures among the small number of Maninka speaking Christians and beyond.

10

Gold miners

Artisanal gold mining is a significant part of the economy in Upper Guinea. Workers come from all parts of Guinea and neighbouring countries to find their fortunes. The transient nature of the work brings with it disease, drug addiction, etc. It is dangerous work and landslides cause many deaths. Mining

rights were disputed in two areas during 2021, leading to violent clashes. Pray for Christians working in these areas.

Pray for

• the Holy Spirit to prepare hearts among the Maninka and Fulani peoples for the gospel

• the Maninka New Testament and its printing and recording process in 2022

• mission workers in Guinea, and their continual abiding in Christ, protection from accident and disease, growth in language ability, and wisdom and courage in the face of political unrest

• our growing children’s ministry, which now has after-school programmes three days each week. Pray that through Old Testament stories children will be prepared to know Jesus as their saviour

• local church leaders leading in multi-cultural churches. Pray for God’s unity to override divisions in the churches. Praise God for training programmes that help believers reach their Muslim neighbours

• Christians working in mining villages to be an attractive witness to Christ

• the continued positive impact of Christian schools 49

India

NEW DELHI

Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise

and exalt and glorify the King of

heaven, because everything He

does is right, and all His ways

are just. And those who walk in

pride, He is able to humble.

Daniel 4:37

10

Vision

We see the kingdom of God extending beyond all barriers, as we partner with Indian ministries to fulfil our global mandate.

We focus on loving our friends from other faiths as they come into the kingdom and on engaging with specific populations (children, youth, leaders, the marginalised) as they are discipled into kingdom lifestyle, community, and service.

Ministry

• Learning Indian languages and culture

transform people and society

• Discipling Hindu, Muslim and Buddhist • Training local church leaders friends as they follow Jesus within

• Mobilising North Indian churches to

their communities

send workers globally

• Helping transgendered people and

• Supporting village health and

trafficking survivors

education

• Loving people affected by HIV

• Increasing access to trauma

• Discipling university students

counselling

and teachers

• Developing income generation

• Developing young leaders for

initiatives

India’s future

• Working with special needs learners

• Shaping businesses which can

and their families

Prayer Notes

50

Day 10

Communities where Christ is least known Business for transformation

Among the people groups in the

land of Kings, one group has been

known for centuries for their

success in business. More than 99

per cent of this people group are

Hindu, with no known believers,

and only portions of scripture

translated in their language. As the

country recovers from the economic

10

struggle in the wake of the

pandemic, kingdom business and

community outreach will continue to

be essential means of transformation. Pray this people group would be transformed by the good news, that the transformation would spread through their strong networks and relationships, and be a blessing to the whole country.

Pray for

• fresh vision for members and council leaders – and grace for all personnel – during the leadership transition as a new country director begins a new term in 2021

• favour with government authorities for members in obtaining and renewing visas and residential permits

• wisdom, protection, and boldness for Christian leaders as they face increasing scrutiny and hostility

• local churches and believers to “keep in step with the Spirit” (Gal. 5:25) in a time of economic desperation, health and environmental concerns, identity politics, and border tensions

• changes in mindsets toward women and children in light of reports of increase in domestic violence and pornography consumption

• progress in mobilising a new committee/structure that can facilitate local churches sending Indians cross-culturally and overseas

• development of teams working with least reached people groups 51

Indonesia

JAKARTA

Declare His glory among the nations, His

marvellous works among all the peoples!

Psalm 96:2

11

Vision

We envision Indonesian Christ-followers reaching out with the gospel in word and lifestyle to communities where Christ is not known, presenting opportunities to follow Jesus, and discipling new Christ-followers to share the gospel with others.

Ministry

• Encouraging church members and seminary students to have a passion for those without Christ.

• Equipping pastors and church members for cross-cultural ministry.

• Outreach ministry to children, youth, and young adults.

• Church planting in partnership with local churches.

• Community development in partnership with local organisations.

• TESL*.

• Missional business and tentmaking*.

*(envisioned – seeking effective avenues and manpower to get these started) Prayer Notes

52

Day 11

Communities where Christ is least known: The Lampung of Sumatra

On the southern tip of the island of Sumatra, the Lampung cluster of communities without

Christ is comprised of nine different language groups. Only 0.1 per cent of the 1.7 million people are Christ-followers. The province of Lampung grew in population from 2.5 million to more than six million between 1970 and 1990, due to transmigration from overpopulated Java.

Though towns and villages are now

somewhat multi-cultural, the Lampung people cling to traditional ways of dealing with

community life.

11

Some Lampung people fish, others grow

rice, pepper, cocoa, cut rubber or work on

palm oil plantations.

Though 99.9 per cent Muslim, the

Lampung people rely on shamans for healing

from disease. They strongly believe in the

power of symbols, with some even believing that a cross painted on their house will bring good luck.

Education, healthcare and agriculture are three main areas of need among the Lampung people in which cross-cultural workers could build relationships and provide openings for sharing the gospel. But more workers are needed.

Pray for

• a Christian witness amongst the Lampung and more than 200 other people groups who are without knowledge of Christ

• God’s Spirit to open hearts and homes to Christ-followers

• God’s love in the lives of believers to be evident to their neighbours

• supernatural revelations of Jesus Christ in dreams, healings and visions

• Indonesian Christians to recognise God’s desire for the gospel to be brought to Indonesia’s 230 million who are living and dying without Christ

• encouragement for SIM’s small band of workers who are situated on several islands far apart from each other

• wisdom for SIM workers to know how to encourage a cross-cultural mindset among Indonesia’s churches

• SIM Indonesia to find like-minded churches and agencies to work with

• financial resources to develop our team of SIM workers 53

Japan

Sendai

Fukushima

Karuizawa

TOKYO

Let us not become weary in doing

good, for at the proper time we will

Kumamoto

reap a harvest if we do not give up.

Galatians 6:9 (niv)

11

Vision

Our vision is to see a vibrant community of servant leaders with vision, character and competence leading the church in Japan. We aim to identify, develop and release emerging kingdom leaders who will unite the church, multiply leaders and congregations, and extend the transforming power of the gospel of Jesus Christ. SIM

mission workers are pursuing these goals in partnership with local churches and Asian Access Japan (A2J).

Ministry

• We partner with A2J, a Japanese-led movement of churches working throughout most regions and denominations within Japan. A2J is focused on training pastors, encouraging young leaders, supporting regional church multiplication, and uniting the church in Japan to pursue reaching two per cent of the population with the gospel.

• We partner with local churches and networks to multiply disciples and churches in Tohoku, Kanto, and Kyushu.

• We encourage our mission workers to use their gifting and talents to promote church multiplication on a regional and national level.

Prayer Notes

54

Day 11

Communities where Christ is least known Rural or non-urban Japan (“inaka”)

More than 30 million people live in rural Japan (ie municipalities under 50,000 people).

The Christian population of these areas is

estimated to be 0.1 per cent, and roughly two-thirds of these towns do not have a church.

Following earthquakes in Tohoku (2011)

and Kumamoto (2016), there has been reason

for optimism. Churches have been started, and people who have been historically resistant to Christianity, such as farmers and fishers, have become Christ-followers.

11

Fukushima

Fukushima is a prefecture located north of

Tokyo that was impacted by the 2011 Tohoku

earthquake. In addition to the damage from

the earthquake and the tsunami that followed, there is still concern about the effects of radiation from the nuclear accident.

Local pastors simultaneously desire help

and are reluctant to ask people to risk their long-term health by working in the area.

There is conflicting information about the safety of living in Fukushima. As a result, stigmas remain against the people and the manufactured products of the prefecture.

The church and the mission community in Japan desire to help, but they need wisdom in determining how to do so.

Pray for

• the church in Japan to effectively reach the more than 99 per cent of Japanese people who do not know God

• unity within the church in Japan

• mission workers to partner effectively with what God is already doing Japan

• the development of young leaders within the rapidly aging Japanese church

• the acceleration of church multiplication movements – independent of natural disaster

– throughout Japan

• disciples and churches to multiply in rural Japan and Fukushima

• insight into how to apply lessons learned during the Covid-19 pandemic to future ministry

• wisdom to identify new regional networks, leaders, and churches with which to partner

• many new workers from around the world to partner with what God is doing in Japan 55

Kenya

Marsabit

Marigat Isiolo

“How beautiful are the feet of

Kijabe Garissa

those who bring good news”

NAIROBI

Romans 10:15

Namanga

Malindi

Mombasa

11

Vision

Our Purpose: We are convinced that no one should live and die without hearing God’s good news.

Our Vision: We see communities where Christ is least known being transformed by the gospel.

Our Mission: SIM Kenya exists to serve Christ through proclaiming the gospel, making disciples, equipping the church and responding to human need.

Ministry

• Discipleship of believers of all ages.

• Theological training for the next generation of Christian leaders.

• Medical and psychosocial outreach.

• Missionary kid education and services.

Prayer Notes

56

Day 11

Communities where Christ is least known Coastal Swahili in Kenya

The name Swahili literally means “coast.” It is given to people groups who share a common

culture (Uswahili), language (Kiswahili), and religion (Islam), numbering approximately

48,000.

For about 2,000 years, the backbone of the

Swahili economy has been commerce. They

worked as cross-national merchants, trading spices, slaves, ivory, gold, and grain. Many of the upper-class Swahili now manage small

11

businesses, do clerical work, and teach. Those living in cities sometimes own plantations.

Most lower-class Swahili are farmers. Dietary laws, rules of dress, social etiquette, marriage ceremonies, laws concerning divorce, and

rituals at birth and death are governed by

Islamic tradition.

Most believe in the supernatural power of witches and sorcerers and that spirits –

both good and evil – exist.

There are often folk explanations for natural occurrences (eg, thunder is the sound of God speaking with the angels and lightning occurs when God is pleased and will send plentiful rain).

Source: Partly “The Joshua Project”.

Pray for

• many kingdom workers to invest in the health of families and seek ways to share the gospel within families

• wisdom and creative ways of ministering to young married couples and established families. Pray for exemplary marriages to be evident in the Christians living in the community

• women to discover their true, God-given value as they are exposed to the scriptures. Pray for kingdom labourers to pour into the lives of these women as they introduce them to the love of Christ

57

Korea

SEOUL

Incheon

Daegu

Ulsan

And you say, “Let the holy God

of Israel hurry up and do what

Gwangju

Busan

he has promised, so we can see

it for ourselves.”

isaiah 5:19

Vision

12

By faith, we see:

• Missional life renewed and refreshed so that the Korean church can share the gospel globally and more creatively among those living and dying without hearing God’s good news.

• Doors open for more SIM Korea workers to go out to difficult places with the gospel, even in this time of global pandemic.

• Migrants, including international students, to be discipled so they return to their home country with the gospel and transform that country with the good news.

• Churches, individuals, home staff and board members engaged in supporting and helping SIM Korea workers flourish.

Ministry

• Developing new ministry opportunities and equipping workers to serve strategically.

• Evangelising and offering training to migrants and international students.

• Training candidates through programmes based at home and abroad.

• Providing creative member care and administrative services for flourishing.

Prayer Notes

58

Day 12

Communities where Christ is least known-

Migrants and international students

There are more than three million immigrants living in Korea, and 60,000 international

students study here each year. Many of the

students are from communities where the

gospel is least known. When we reach out

with God’s love and compassion to those

we’re helping with culture shock and language difficulties, many of them open their hearts and accept the gospel. Students studying in Korea become a valuable resource for their

country. If they become disciples of Christ and return to their homelands with a calling, 12

churches may be established in communities

where Christ is least known and bring

transformation there.

KN

The state of KN remains one of the least evangelised and most persecuted. Few ministries can be done. For now, our priority is to pray with God’s zeal for KN. The love and compassion of Christ shall be shown to the people of KN, and in cooperation with other organisations, we ask God to prepare ministries in this state. We remember the saints suffering due to the gospel and pray together for their patience and victory.

Pray for

• Those migrants who come to get a job in Korea, and the international students, that they would hear the gospel, become disciples of Jesus and commit their lives to sharing the gospel with their neighbours even when they return to their homeland

• God to bring up more workers and anoint them with the power and wisdom of the Holy Spirit to go out to the communities where His gospel is least heard

• God to raise up workers for KN from various places and people groups and to enable them to develop and lead healthy fruitful collaborations

• God to send more Korean young people to take part in the God’s harvest 59

Latin America

Therefore go and make

disciples of all nations.

matthew 28:19

12

Vision

By faith, we see:

• Fully trained and supported mission workers from Latin America serving in various countries throughout the world.

• Latin American churches prayerfully and financially supporting those they send.

• The Latin American Church and its mission workers fulfilling their role in the Great Commission.

Ministry

• Mobilisation: In order to serve such a large continent effectively, SIM Latinoamérica needs to discover and train mobilisers in each country.

• Partnerships: SIM Latinoamérica desires to build strong partnerships with local sending entities and churches to facilitate the sending of Latin Americans to the mission field.

Prayer Notes

60

Day 12

Communities where Christ is least known As a continent, Latin America has been more accustomed to receiving mission workers than to sending them, but this is changing. In the last three years, we have received more than 800 enquiries, as Latinos explore their call to serve in mission. Most of our Latino candidates have a passion to go to places where Christ is least known, because their countries were once considered least-reached.

SIM Latinoamérica is proud to support Latin Americans who serve in Bangladesh, Pakistan, Kenya, Niger, Thailand, South Africa, the Middle East, Mozambique, Bolivia, Colombia, Costa

Rica, Ecuador, Guatemala, Honduras, Peru, and 12

Uruguay. We are also working with people in the countries of Central America, the Caribbean, Mexico and South America who are exploring

their call to mission.

Pray for

• the 100 Latin Americans, including children, who currently serve the Lord with SIM.

• the Latin American church, as it comes to understand the vital role it has in sending

• trust-filled partnerships between SIM, churches, and mission workers, including new relationships with non-SIM sending agencies across the region

• prayer and financial support for Latino mission workers. Financial difficulties, combined with the ongoing impact of Covid-19, have caused many churches and individuals to reassess their ability to give

• SIM Latinoamérica team’s creativity in sharing God’s call to mission among young people and professionals

• collaboration as SIM teams around the world work to receive Latin Americans

• an increase in the number of people hearing God calling them into missions

• Vamos (Let’s Go) and Movilicemos (Let’s Mobilise His Church), which are key programmes and resources that aim to challenge and support the Latin American church in mission

• the development of more mobilisers in Latin American countries where we are not an entity in order to reach people groups and see revival in the next five years

• different denominations working together in sending mission teams and thus being able to serve least-reached groups together more quickly.

61

Liberia

Voinjama

MONROVIA

So, we have not stopped praying for you

Paynesville

since we first heard about you. We ask

God to give you complete knowledge of

His will and to give you spiritual wisdom

and understanding. Then the way you live

will always honour and please the Lord,

and your lives will produce every kind of

good fruit. All the while, you will grow as you learn to know God better and better.

Colossians 1:9-10

13

Vision

Convinced that no one should live and die without hearing God’s good news, we believe He has called us to make disciples of the Lord Jesus in communities where He is least known.

Ministry

• Equipping and training leaders in SIM partner churches.

• Pastoral and theological education.

• Manya language Bible translation and outreach.

• Trauma healing training.

• ELWA (Eternal Love Winning Africa) Radio.

• ELWA Hospital.

• Trinity Dental Clinic.

• ELWA Academy (850 Liberian students from pre-school through grade 12).

Prayer Notes

62

Day 13

Communities where Christ is least known

Remote rural peoples of Liberia

Among the many ethnic groups in Liberia,

there are people who live in remote areas of the deep forest or coastal swamp and have

never had someone tell them about Jesus

Christ. Some primarily speak a dialect of a language that is not spoken outside their

region. They maintain their own forms of

spirit and ancestor worship, and they educate their children in traditional ways.

Liberia’s road system is poor and skeletal, so remote rural people never travel beyond

the closest market town. Some places have

never had a visitor to their home village.

13

The Evangelical Church of Liberia (ECOL)

carried out a medical outreach in one such

village. The team and supplies had to be

flown in by a helicopter because the area is surrounded by rivers with no bridges. Some

walked for hours to reach the clinic, and local people heard that these people came in the name of Jesus. Elders from one town asked ECOL to please send mission workers to tell them more.

Pray for

• God to call Liberians as mission workers to people in remote areas, sent out by Liberian churches who feel burdened for their neighbours’ salvation

• Liberian church leaders to be equipped to discern and dispute false teachings

• For the Evangelical Seminary of West Africa (ESWA), the first graduate level theological school in Liberia

• renewed vision and energy in the ELWA ministries, that they may continue to represent Jesus in the community through doing good works and faithfully teaching the word and ways of God

• the success of a partnership with Dakar Academy to provide elementary school education for missionary children, which has not been available for two decades

• peace, prosperity, and stability in Liberia, one of the poorest nations in the world 63

Madagascar

Mandritsara

ANTANANARIVO

Antsirabi

And the God of all grace, who called

Mahatsara

you to his eternal glory in Christ,

after you have suffered a little while,

will Himself restore you and make

you strong, firm and steadfast.

1 PeteR 5:10

13

Vision

By faith, we see:

• SIM mission workers thriving in their ministries, as they grow in their walk with God and cross barriers to proclaim the crucified and risen Christ.

• Equipped church leaders serving their congregations and making disciples.

• United churches fulfilling Christ’s Great Commission, as they reach out to those who live and die without hearing God’s good news in Madagascar and beyond.

Ministry

• Medical ministry.

• Community development .

• Theological training.

• Supportive ministries, including administration and teaching missionary kids.

• Outreach and church planting.

Prayer Notes

64

Day 13

Communities where Christ is least known

Comoros

The Comorians live on a chain of islands in the Indian Ocean between Madagascar and Mozambique. Each of the Comorian groups takes its name from the particular island on which the people live, but the official name of the islands is the Federal and Islamic Republic of the Comoros.

Major challenges on the Comoros Islands include poverty, disease, and hunger.

Educational levels are low and less than half the population is literate. Although French and Arabic are the official languages, the Comorians speak a Swahili dialect. Children are expected to help with the farming, fishing, and animal care.

Polygamy is practised among the Comorians.

The Comorians are Muslim, but occultism and spirit possession are mixed with their Islamic practices. Traditionally, they have been resistant to any kind of religious change; however, they are gradually becoming more receptive to other ideas. Christian resources are limited and, as a result, the number of Comorian believers is very small.

13

Pray for

• unity and reconciled relationships between the evangelical denominations, that they would work together to reach those living and dying without Christ in Madagascar and beyond

• more missional doctors for the Good News Hospital

• the Lord to call mission workers who can establish a local SIM administration to serve our mission team with financial, administrative, and personnel services and leadership.

• local co-workers at the Timothy Centre to continue the activities (theological education, community development, outreach, and discipleship) after the departure of the current leader

• a clear and courageous vision for SIM Madagascar as mission strategies are developed 65

Malawi

Mzuzu

Nkhotakota

Salima

He has shown you, O man, what is good.

LILONGWE

And what does the Lord require of you?

Mangochi

To act justly, to love mercy, and to walk

humbly with your God.

Blantyre

miCah 6:8

Nsanje

Vision and Ministry

14

By faith, we see:

• The unreached of Malawi authentically responding to the gospel and established into vibrant, God-fearing, biblically-based churches.

• A mature, dynamic, relevant church focused outside, dependent on God, and intentionally reaching others with the gospel even to the ends of the earth.

• Children and youth receiving Christ’s forgiveness on the cross, growing in their faith, reflecting Jesus’ character, and becoming committed disciples of Christ who are active in the church and society.

• People living with HIV and AIDS understanding the love of Christ as they receive holistic care and are given hope.

• Lower HIV and AIDS infection rates, as Malawians practise, preach, and teach purity and faithfulness in marriage.

• The mission of God advanced through a team of Spirit-led, fruitful mission workers, united in purpose, and, through the church in Malawi, actively involved in the Great Commission

Prayer Notes

66

Day 14

Communities where Christ is least known

Vulnerable women, youth and children

All too often, women, young people and

children in Malawi are vulnerable, as they are denied dignity and value in their communities.

SIM is working with these groups.

Young people and children make up 70 per

cent of Malawian society, so we invest in them for the future of Malawi, particularly so that young women and men will be discipled in their faith and mentored into leadership.

Hope for Life has been implementing a

children’s life skills and discipleship ministry in the context of HIV and AIDS. Many schools use the “Today for Tomorrow” material developed by SIM Zimbabwe to teach biblical values to 14

primary school-aged children.

The Tiyamike women’s empowerment ministry gives dignity and value to vulnerable widows, single mothers and other women, by giving them skill and livelihood through training in sewing and other handicrafts.

Mtengo Youth is helping the unemployed.

Our partner, KINDLE Orphan Outreach, has a wide-ranging development programme in a lakeshore community, helping to lift families out of poverty and spiritual darkness.

Our Sports Friends ministry includes football and netball along with coaching and discipleship for teenage girls, many of whom are at a vulnerable stage in life in the context of poverty and HIV and AIDS.

In all these programmes, disciple-making is a key element, leading to strengthened, renewed, or even first-time faith in the participants.

Pray for

• women, youth, and children to know that their identity and value comes through Christ

• vulnerable women to be able to provide for their families through new skills, and to nurture their families in the Christian faith

• salvation to come to whole families through these various ministries

• new leaders to be raised up for the church

• young men, women and children to choose to live godly lives and turn away from immorality, alcohol, and drug abuse

67

Mali

And everyone who calls on the

name of the Lord will be saved; for

on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem

Timbuktu

there will be deliverance, as the Lord

has said, even among the survivors

whom the Lord calls.

Koulikoro

Romans 13:11

BAMAKO

Vision

14

We desire to see relational transformation of our community by increasing the number of growing, reproducible Christ followers.

Ministry

• Evangelism and disciple-making.

• Church planting.

• Bible and literature distribution.

• French and culture learning.

• Leadership development.

• Trauma healing.

• Feeding street boys, other children, and the homeless in both urban and rural communities.

Prayer Notes

68

Day 14

Communities where Christ is least known

The deaf community

In 1956, Andrew Foster founded the

Christian Mission for the Deaf. His goal

was to break the many barriers deaf people

face in accessing the word of God, including illiteracy, isolation, stigma, stereotypes, communication barriers, and people who

are cruel and mean. In Mali, deafness is

considered a divine curse. All these factors hinder the integration of deaf people into

communities. Foster knew education could help him achieve his vision, so he introduced American Sign Language and established deaf schools across Africa. He understood that this would open up access to the gospel for deaf people in Mali.

However, government authorities wanted Foster’s vision reduced to a simple association for the deaf called AMASOURD. In order to fulfil his dream, Foster looked at other countries of the sub-region, including Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana and Nigeria.

Unfortunately, Foster died in a plane crash in 1986. Today, AMASOURD exists in Mali, 14

but it is not associated with Christ’s redemption story.

The deaf population in Mali is not well known at the national level, despite the presence of AMASOURD. Sources estimate the population at 40,000 to 70,000.

Among them, the percentage of Christians is minimal. No church denomination in Mali has a sign language translator who can share the elements of the message, worship or any other activity, with the deaf. Also, no known mission agency is prioritising the deaf in Mali.

SIM has been raising awareness within the body of Christ about the need for a ministry among this least-reached group. The first workshop on bringing the gospel of Christ to the deaf took place in August 2015 in Bamako, and all the denominations were invited. In December 2017, a team of six young people, under the direction of Moody Bible College, travelled from the United States to Mali for a one-week teaching programme at Jigiya Kalanso, a school for the deaf in Bamako.

Pray for

• pioneer workers in the city reaching the Muslim community

• workers among the deaf

• workers for a unique ministry among deaf students

• church denominations in Mali to see the need to reach the deaf community

• a manager and a team for the development of a combined café and student centre

• workers who engage students through sports ministries

• a coordinator-coach for our African French and culture learning programme in Bamako 69

Mascarene Islands

Mauritius, Reunion, Rodriguez

Port Mathurin

RODRIGUEZ

Port Louis

To the weak I became weak, to win the weak.

Saint-Denis

MAURITIUS

I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some.

1 CoRinthians 9:22

REUNION

Vision

By faith, we see:

• Competent pastors and leaders rooted in the truth of the Bible, as they lead and teach their congregations.

• Vibrant churches reaching out to those living and dying without Jesus in Mauritius 15

and beyond.

• Evangelical denominations united as they fulfil the great commission of Christ.

Ministry

• Discipleship and leadership training in churches.

• Ministry to children and adolescent girls.

• Outreach.

Prayer Notes

70

Day 15

Communities where Christ is least known

Hindus

TThe least-reached people

groups of Mauritius are Muslims

and Hindus. Hinduism in

Mauritius originates from India.

Many hierarchical and economic

sub-groups exist, with the best

known being the Brahmins, the

priestly community. The Brahmins

form the religious backbone of

Hinduism. The Bhojpuris are an ethnic sub-group and make up the majority of Indians in Mauritius. Hindus represent nearly half the population in Mauritius.

Some scholars say that the number of Hindu gods exceeds 35 million. Most of the deities are believed to be both good and evil in nature. Hindus believe in reincarnation.

Only the gospel of Jesus Christ has the power to break through the religious barriers that have kept the Hindus in Mauritius bound in both spiritual and physical poverty.

15

Pray for

• unity among the various evangelical church denominations, and a common vision for those still needing to hear and understand the good news

• the evangelical churches of Mauritius to rise to the challenge of supporting mission work and workers

• those attending discipleship and leadership training to grow in their knowledge of God and in their faith

• new mission workers to join the SIM team, entering the country as businesspeople and university lecturers

71

Middle East

Turkey

Iraqi

Syria

Kurdistan

Lebanon

Iraq

Israel Palestine

Jordan

Devote yourselves to prayer, being

Kuwait

watchful and thankful. And pray for

Bahrain

us, too, that God may open a door for

Egypt

Qatar

Saudi Arabia

United Arab

our message, so that we may proclaim

Emirates

the mystery of Christ, for which I am

Oman

in chains.

Colossians 4:2–3

Yemen

Vision

To see the Middle East transformed, as lives are changed by the love of Christ through the message of the gospel.

Ministry

Obeying God’s call and trusting Him, we:

15

• Encourage Middle Eastern Christians to minister to neighbours with the love and truth of Christ.

• Support local church-planting and discipleship initiatives.

• Model vibrant Christian faith.

• Mobilise the worldwide church to pray for the region Serving in various contexts, our multi-cultural teams:

• Invest in relationships, learn languages, and acquire cultural sensitivity.

• Engage in church life, serving alongside local believers.

• Reach out with compassion to the marginalised, including refugees and the displaced.

• Provide education at all levels, including theological training.

• Serve through healthcare.

• Operate businesses and serve in professional roles, as a means of Christian witness.

• Participate in Bible translation and distribution.

• Support initiatives to mobilise local believers for regional and international witness.

Prayer Notes

72

Day 15

Communities where Christ is least known

Majorities

Islam is the majority faith, and many Middle Easterners only know caricatures of Christian faith. Spiritual conversations come readily for those with the time and the willingness to invest in relationships. People are asking questions as never before, and they need to connect with scripture and with Christians

who can explain it. Our teams serve in Arabic and Kurdish-speaking contexts, serving with local churches, and in education, compassion ministries, business, and other roles. As we and our local partners invest in relationships, we pray that many from majority

communities will understand the gospel

through the witness of our lives, friendships, testimonies and gospel presentations.

Marginalised people

Regional conflicts and economic challenges

15

have prompted huge movements of refugees

over recent years, compounding the plight of those already disadvantaged or marginalised. The Covid-19 pandemic has intensified these challenges. Care for the vulnerable is therefore a focus of many of the ministries we’re involved in. As churches adjust programmes, train their people, and reach out with Christ’s compassion, we rejoice that unprecedented numbers are finding hope, peace and life in Christ.

Pray for

• stamina and grace as our multicultural teams build language skills and cultural understanding

• wisdom, insight, and unity for local churches, agencies, and their leaders, as they witness to Christ

• theological and practical training to equip leaders to build Christ’s church in unsettled and sometimes volatile circumstances

• compassionate ministries to commend Christ through commitment to love, integrity, justice, and truth

• Our Faithful Witness team, preparing to enter a new area to bring hope to a neglected community

• opportunities to expand our service to additional countries in the Middle East, including through business opportunities

• many to pray, give and consider serving in the Middle East

• all who are inquiring, exploring, and raising support to join our teams 73

Mongolia

Tosontsengel

ULAANBAATAR

Sainshand

See, I am doing a new thing! Now it

springs up; do you not perceive it?

I am making a way in the wilderness

and streams in the wasteland.

isaiah 43:19

Vision

The vision of SIM Mongolia is to glorify God by reaching the people of Mongolia with the gospel and making disciples in the Mongolian churches, so they become mature, evangelistic and engaged in missions work.

In response to God’s love, SIM Mongolia desires to serve the Mongolian Church 16

through loving and compassionate relationships.

Ministry

• Church planting and disciple-making.

• Training next generation leaders in counselling, pastoral leadership and mentoring.

• English teaching.

• Youth.

• Medical outreach.

• NGO training and administration.

• Nomadic community outreach

• Urban outreach.

• Shadow pastoring.

Prayer Notes

74

Day 16

Communities where Christ is least known

Nearly half the population of Mongolia

lives in the capital city, Ulaanbaatar.

Culturally and practically, the city is very different from the sparsely populated

countryside.

The city is divided into two groups —

those who live in apartment buildings

and those who dwell in the ger district

which rings the city. Gers are the

traditional tent homes of the Mongolian

nomads. Each year, the ger districts

are expanding, as nomads leave the

traditional way of life to move to the city and establish new homes on small plots of land.

In the mid-1990s, Mongolia opened, allowing mission workers to enter and share the gospel. The Lord opened the hearts of many people, and the Mongolian church experienced rapid growth and wide church planting. The Mongolian church is still very much in its first generation and faces challenges. Its members continue to seek to grow and develop a God-honouring identity. The nation faces the challenges of balancing the rapid growth of secularisation with the traditional underpinning views 16

of Buddhism and shamanistic faith.

The greatest need of the Mongolian church is to develop a strong foundation of biblical truth. SIM Mongolia seeks to walk alongside the Mongolian church to strengthen its foundation, to disciple and mentor local leaders and to facilitate both urban and rural outreach.

Pray for

• the leaders of the Mongolian church. Ask the Lord for leaders who will grasp the responsibility they have been called to. The Mongolian church needs servant leaders who proclaim the Word in and out of season and who serve with a heart for the Kingdom, seeking to grow the Lord’s church, not just their congregations

• our acting country director, newly appointed to serve for two years. Pray for the team as they seek to listen to the Lord, set strategic goals and establish key partnerships over the coming years

• the Mongolian churches to grab hold of the vision to disciple and train young people and help those young people understand what it means to live as true followers of Jesus Christ

75

Mozambique

Lichinga

Cuamba

Nampula

Gurúè

Beira

The people walking in darkness have seen

a great light, and on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.

isaiah 9:2

MAPUTO

Vision

SIM Mozambique’s vision is to reach the least-reached people in the rural north west area of Mozambique. We long to see communities reconciled to God, participating in Christ-centred churches and living as God’s ambassadors throughout Mozambique and across the globe.

16

Ministry

SIM works in north west Mozambique, among many who still live and die without Christ. Our ministries include:

• Church planting in the Lichinga area.

• Youth work in both Lichinga and

• Bible translation.

Cuamba.

• Theological training at Instituto

• Disciple making.

Teológico de Lichinga (INTEL.)

• Ministry to the marginalised of Lichinga.

• Children’s work in Lichinga and Cuamba.

• A business start-up initiative in

• Literature distribution.

Cuamba.

• Agriculture in Lichinga.

• Church networking for Lichinga.

• Sports ministry in Cuamba.

• Teaching English in Lichinga.

Prayer Notes

76

Day 16

Communities where Christ is least known

Yao

It’s said that to be a Yao is to be a Muslim. For centuries, the Yao people have been mixing

traditional African beliefs with Islam to form a syncretic belief system. The Yao people were once the fierce slave hunters of the north. Today, most of the 500,000 Yao in north west Mozambique are subsistence farmers. Many are illiterate, with a low life expectancy.

Recently, the Yao have begun to respond to the gospel. In the past five years, the number of Yao Christians in Mozambique has grown from around 300 to 1,000. So, there is no better time than the present for evangelism and discipleship ministries.

Makuwa-Metto and Makuwa-Chirima

There are about one million people in each of these groups. The Makuwa peoples are matrilineal, tracing their family lines through their mothers. Most people are subsistence farmers, working their fields with only handheld implements, but there is a trend toward Makuwas 16

moving to the towns and cities, where unemployment and promiscuity are prominent.

Most adhere to Folk Islam or Folk Catholicism. In urban areas, where some small churches exist, well-trained leaders are needed. A translation of the Bible into the Chirima language is almost complete, which will facilitate evangelism and discipleship.

Pray for

• wisdom as we evaluate and strategise on how to go forward with ministry after Covid-19

• a fruitful harvest of new believers, and for ongoing discipleship among the Yao

• revival among the churches in Cuamba

• new church plants in the villages of Massogo and Bandeze

• the new church plant (IMIIP) and youth outreach in the city of Lichinga

• transformed lives among the students at the Instituto Teológico de Lichinga (INTEL)

• protection for the people and an end to the insurgencies that have occurred in the last two years in north eastern Mozambique

• the children and sports ministries in Cuamba, as the mission workers teach and plant seeds of God’s truth and love

• the health and safety of our mission workers

• new mission workers to join the administrative team, as treasurer and personnel coordinator

• the Lord to send more labourers into northern Mozambique 77

Myanmar

NAY PYI TAW

Yangon

Sing to the Lord, bless his name; tell of

his salvation from day to day. Declare his

glory among the nations, his marvellous

works among all the peoples!

Psalm 96:2-3

Vision

In Myanmar, by faith we see the church unleashed as people are moved to worship Jesus, growing in their faith and spreading the gospel where Christ is least known.

17

Ministry

Outreach to Buddhists through:

• Young people, students, urban immigrants, and the jobless.

• The disadvantaged, the vulnerable, those with disabilities, the poor, domestically abused, and traumatised.

• Professionals, teachers, business people, nuns and monks.

Prayer Notes

78

Day 17

Communities where Christ is least known

Buddhist majority communities

The main ethnic group in Myanmar

lives primarily in the Irrawaddy River

basin and speaks Burmese, the official

language of Myanmar. The majority are

Theravada Buddhists. They practise

Buddhism along with a form of spirit

worship called “nat worship,” which

pre-dates Buddhism. They try to

appease the “nats” in order to gain

protection from other evil spirits.

Urban young adults

An estimated 2.1 million young

adults live in the commercial capital,

Yangon amd make up 30 per cent of

the population. This city is ethnically

diverse, with residents from various

17

religious backgrounds: Muslim, Hindu,

Christian and Buddhist. The majority are Buddhist. Young people migrate to the city from all over the country, looking for jobs and higher education to improve their family’s way of life. They are open to new ideas and technology and eager to learn English.

Unfortunately, many are unable to obtain jobs after furthering their education.

Pray for

• a swift end to political unrest

• that the hearts and minds of the Myanmar people would be open to Jesus.

• steadfastness and stamina because most of the team are still outside Myanmar.

Pray for favoir and open doors for their return

• wisdom as we continue to make plans for ministry when the situation stabilises and our people return

• creativity and insight in establishing missional businesses 79

Namibia

Oshakati

Rundu

Grootfontein

WINDHOEK

God our Saviour wants all people

to be saved and to come to a

knowledge of the truth.

1 timothy 2:3–4

Vision

Convinced that no one should live and die without hearing the gospel, we are partnering with churches and other organisations to reach children and young people with the gospel. By faith, we see people being discipled both inside and outside churches. By faith, we see Namibians called to be mission workers.

17

Ministry

• Discipling the 90 per cent of Namibians who are Christians.

• Networking and encouraging cooperation between churches and partners.

• Mobilisation for mission.

• Discipling children and youth.

• Leadership training.

Prayer Notes

80

Day 17

Communities where Christ is least known

Children and youth

Young people make up 60 per cent of our

nation’s population and are heavily influenced by the secular culture. SIM equips the church by training youth workers to reach next

generations with the gospel. We also have

multiple ministries working with disadvantaged children through schools and community

development programmes.

Leadership training

Through the Namibia Evangelical Theological Seminary (NETS), SIM is equipping church

leaders to reach the least reached in their communities with the gospel. NETS offers

training for emerging leaders in Bible,

theology, character and practical ministry

skills. Many people inside the church do not know Christ and through formal and 17

informal training they hear the gospel for the first time.

Pray for

• God to send more workers to Namibia

• the churches in Namibia to hear God’s calling to send out workers and support mission both inside and outside of the country

• African Strategic Discipleship Movement (ASDM), a discipleship programme run in the north eastern part of Namibia

• Teen Mission Namibia, an annual summer teen mission trip inspiring and equipping young people for mission.

81

New Zealand

Auckland

Hamilton

Tauranga

WELLINGTON

For we are God’s handiwork,

created in Christ Jesus to do

good works, which God prepared

in advance for us to do.

ePhesians 2:10

Dunedin

Vision

Our vision is to equip and encourage New Zealand churches to be the expression of Christ not only in their own communities but around the world, reaching out cross-culturally to make disciples of Jesus where he is least known.

18

Ministry

• Working alongside churches in New Zealand for involvement in cross-cultural mission work, as we strengthen our current church partnerships and build new ones.

• Providing next-step opportunities for Christians to explore their call to mission.

• Ensuring that our mission partners are well-equipped to thrive in their ministries for as long as God desires them to serve.

• To partner with like-minded organisations in promoting mission, and supporting our priority projects.

Prayer Notes

82

Day 18

Communities where Christ is least known Young people

Overall, the number of people ticking ‘no

religion’ in the New Zealand census has

doubled since 2006 – now half the population

– and the growth in this category is heavily weighted towards those under 30, a huge

increase in young people unengaged with the church.

It used to be common for New Zealand

young people to go overseas to work and

explore, and for Christian young people to do a short-term mission. Due to Covid-19, rising costs and restricted travel, the idea of serving overseas is disappearing from their thoughts as a possibility. While this is a challenge for SIM, it also opens up new avenues to serve

as more Christian young people are seeking

to know how to engage and support work

overseas while being based in New Zealand.

18

Pray for

• young people to catch the mission vision in ways that are possible at this time

• our 14 existing prayer groups to grow and attract younger generations

• the well-being of our mission partners

in areas with fragile health systems as

they work within the often changed

circumstances of the communities they

were called to and find visas harder to get

• more God-given opportunities to serve

and encourage the New Zealand church in

global mission

83

Niger

The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because

He has anointed me to preach good news

NIAMEY Galmi Maradi

to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim

Danja

liberty to the captives and recovery of

Dicundiou

sight to the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.

luke 4:18–19

Vision

• Our vision is to make disciples where Christ is least known.

• We live in a world permeated by an evil that has invaded and corrupted every aspect of life, leaving humankind separated from the Creator and trapped in sin. We are convinced that the gospel changes everything and sets us free. God has called SIM to help bring this life-changing message to Niger.

• We are convinced no one should live and die without hearing the good news. Yet, more than 17 million people are living and dying without Christ in Niger.

• We believe we are called to mobilise Christ’s servants to bring the message of salvation to Niger. We are called by God from all corners of the earth to serve as a diverse ministry team.

19

Ministry

• Outreach: university outreach centre (Foyer Evangelique Universitaire), personal discipleship, literacy, people group focus, translation, media.

• Community services: Galmi Hospital, Danja Health Center, Sowing Seeds of Change in the Sahel, Dorcas Project widow’s ministry.

• Education: training Christian teachers, ESPriT Seminary, Sahel Academy, Maza Tsaye Conference Centre, Pan-African Association of Christian Surgeons surgical training.

• Leadership and services: administration, SIMAIR, guest houses, leadership, church-mission relations.

Prayer Notes

84

Day 19

Communities where Christ is least known

University students

Niger has many university students representing every ethnic group in the country as well as students from surrounding West African countries. While security issues have begun to limit our interaction in some areas, every people group in Niger is within reach in the major city hubs.

Like university students the world over, this is a key time in their lives. They are making life decisions about faith, future employment and relationships. Pray for workers to engage with both believing and unbelieving students during this crucial time.

Pray for

• Christian students to grow in their faith, be faithful witnesses, and engage in local churches during their time at university

• strong relationships between university students of other faiths and their Christian counterparts, students and local churches, and students and mission workers

• local churches to catch the vision of engaging with university students 19

• God’s protection for those involved in evangelism and discipleship

• administrative and management personnel for our institutions. The needs include a new area director, a director for Galmi Hospital, a director for the university centre, high school and elementary principals for Sahel Academy; a finance manager for Galmi Hospital; a facilities manager for Galmi Hospital; and a second treasurer for SIM Niger

• more teachers for Sahel Academy. The excellent education children receive at Sahel allows their parents to carry out their ministries in Niger

• the association of churches associated with SIM in Niger. Pray for the pastors to be men of integrity and vision, united in purpose, and for increased cooperation between the mission and the churches

• SIM Niger, as we navigate the security tensions of the Sahel region. Pray that doors will continue to be open so that Nigeriens can respond to the gospel 85

Nigeria

Tofa

Kano

Potiskum

Tungan bage

Domaturu

Gure

Samaru

Jos

Billiri

Kagoro

Miango

ABUJA

Igbaja

Karu

As long as it is day, we must do the

Egbe

works of him who sent me. Night is

coming, when no one can work.

John 9:4

Lagos

Vision

By faith, we see:

• A response in faith to the gospel message from the more than 75 million Muslims and others living and dying without Christ in Nigeria.

• Mission teams in each of the 12 northern Sharia states expressing Christ’s love and compassion in word and deed.

• Strengthened churches with equipped Christians carrying out Christ’s mandate to make disciples in one of Africa’s most influential and populous countries, making a major impact in global mission this century.

19

Ministry

• Proclaiming the gospel, particularly to Muslims in the north.

• Supporting and strengthening persecuted Christians and others affected by oppression and hostility.

• Bringing Christ-centred, compassionate medical care and holistic healing to marginalised and vulnerable communities and mentoring others to do the same.

• Empowering and making disciples amongst the vast numbers of youth in Nigeria.

• Equipping an enthusiastic church through theological education and other disciple-making endeavours.

Prayer Notes

86

Day 19

Communities where Christ is least known

Fulani

There are 16 million Fulani in Nigeria.

More workers are needed in this Muslim

community, which shows openness to

friendship evangelism and Christian media.

We collaborate in meeting needs for animal

husbandry, primary schools and medical

outreach to Fulani encampments. Recent

attacks by some Fulani herdsmen against

Christian farmers have affected attitudes toward this people group. We pray for effective outreach, for Christians to this community in love instead of retaliation, and for opportunities to support and disciple Fulani believers. We praise the Lord for our new Faithful Witness team who will minister among this community!

Marginalised and vulnerable communities

Disadvantaged and vulnerable groups need to experience Christ’s love through efforts that provide support and care. SIM

Nigeria ministers to youth, orphans, widows, those with disabilities and others society may cast aside. We look to expand these ministries into the north where limited resources and few trained workers reside. Our workers model the biblical value of caring for human life, training those who care for people with special needs, facilitating 19

income generation, ministering to prisoners and engaging in anti-trafficking.

Pray for

• the national Church to intensify its efforts to reach Muslims in the north while the door is open (John 9:4), and for more workers missionaries to join this task

• millions of Muslims to be receptive to the gospel and for the discipleship of new Christians with a Muslim background

• the formation of new teams with suitable team leaders to begin ministry in northern cities

• our internship programme to yield lasting fruit for world mission

• community rebuilding efforts in the north east, a region impacted by violence

• peace and stability in troubled regions

• persecuted believers to endure hardship and practice love and forgiveness

• our urgent need for more theological educators and medical professionals

• effective and expanded ministries to widows, orphans, people with disabilities, the abused, and other vulnerable communities

87

North Africa

Tunisia

Morocco

Algeria

Libya

Western

When you enter a house,

Sahara

first say, ‘Peace to this

house.’ If a man of peace is

Mauritania

there, your peace will rest

on him; if not, it will return

to you.

luke 10:5-6 (niv)

Vision

As those stripped down, weak and humble, we follow Christ to where his name is not known, so that He may be glorified. We depend on Him through prayer, proclaim the good news, walk alongside those who follow Him, and build bonds of fellowship.

By developing partnerships with like-minded organisations, we aim to accelerate the placement of personnel where they are most needed. We envision expansion through missional businesses, professionals in mission, and transformational development in the most vulnerable segments of society. We prayerfully establish ministries in coastal cities and look for opportunities to bring the gospel south to the peoples of the Sahara Desert.

Ministry

20

Disciple-making and church planting through:

• Food processing.

• Wedding rentals.

• Professionals in mission.

• Transformational development among

• Teaching English.

vulnerable people.

• Campus discipleship.

• Discipling persecuted believers.

• Manufacturing.

• Interns.

• Importing and distribution of goods.

• Third culture kid (TCK) education.

Prayer Notes

88

Day 20

Communities where Christ is least known

Interior towns and cities

In many interior towns and cities, there is notable resistance to foreigners. There is no resident witness in most of these places. Pray for our first team, located on the edge of the desert. May they quickly find favour and develop relationships with people of peace.

University students

University campuses are crowded with

young Muslim adults who are eager to

explore ideas. Many of these young people

are searching for truth among the world’s

philosophies and religions. On every campus, there are thousands of foreign students

from Sub-Saharan Africa. Many of these

are evangelicals. Pray for the new Faithful Witness project that is bringing campus

disciplers from Francophone Africa to mobilise hundreds of these students to minister to

their North African colleagues.

Nomads

Among the 92 ethnic groups in North Africa, 22 are nomadic peoples. Very few workers are bringing the gospel to the nomads. Working with nomads is challenging, requiring creative strategies and adapted methods. Pray for the Bedouins, Tauregs, 20

and Moors.

In 2019, God doubled the number of workers in North Africa. God answered our prayer for workers in three North African countries. The work is difficult, but we are seeing fruit wherever God has placed us. Through businesses and employment, we are building meaningful relationships with employees, community leaders, neighbours, parents of children’s playmates, language teachers, and brand new believers.

Pray for

• God to bless relationships within local communities

• more businesspeople, professionals, interns, and skilled labourers, and for those who will send them from all over the world

• unity of the small church across North Africa

• strong development of our teams, as the number of families in each country grows

• ministries to launch in one more country this year

• God’s leading in new initiatives, discovery of ministry opportunities, and grace in our partnerships

89

Pakistan

ISLAMABAD

Murree

Lahore

PUNJAB

Khanewal

Shout for joy to the

Quetta

Bahawalpur

Lord, all the earth.

Ghotki

Psalm 100:1

Rahim Yar Khan

Shirkarpur

Vision

By faith, and looking to Jesus, we strive to see:

• Strong churches actively and sacrificially involved in missions within Pakistan and beyond.

• Disciples of Jesus expressing God’s love in word and deed in communities where Christ is least known.

• Poor and marginalised families better integrated into society, through education and medical assistance.

• New workers becoming established in effective ministry in Pakistan.

Ministry

20

• Church planting.

• Language and cultural learning.

• Leadership training.

• People care and development.

• Rural education.

• Welcoming new workers.

• Rural medical assistance.

• Christian schools.

• Disciple making training.

• Vocational training for young people.

• Missional business.

• Ministry with women and children.

• Missionary kid education.

Prayer Notes

90

Day 20

Communities where Christ is least known

Hazara

The Hazara are mainly Shia Muslims

who have suffered greatly from terrorist

attacks. They live in major cities in

Pakistan. We continue to pray for

opportunities to serve these people.

Marwari Bhil and Mengwal

These people groups are mainly Hindu

subsistence farmers, with limited access

to education, health facilities and

water. There are now several groups of

believers, by God’s grace, but vast areas

are still unreached.

Saraikis

The traditional homeland of Saraiki speakers is in central Pakistan, where SIM has been working with local churches for decades. The Saraikis are a hospitable people, numbering around 20 million. Pray for many to come to know the Lord.

Punjabis

The Punjab region is estimated to be 97 per cent Muslim. Christians make up around 2.6 per cent of the population. Pray for positive relationships between Christians and their neighbours.

20

Pray for

• visas for new personnel, visa renewals for existing personnel, and good relationships with officials

• SIM leadership and personnel development

• the ongoing training of Christian leaders

• people from all ethnic backgrounds to come to know Jesus Christ. Ask God to provide support for church ministries and outreach

• safety for our teams, and power and wisdom from the Holy Spirit. Pray for integrity and wisdom for government officials

• those suffering through poverty, unemployment, lack of education, and poor healthcare

• police and security guards, who are in difficult and sometimes dangerous jobs

• SIM children’s friendships, education, health, safety, and spiritual growth.

• for more mission workers with a heart for discipleship, outreach, missionary kid education, Bible teaching, leadership, and/or administration.

91

Paraguay

For Christ’s love compels us,

because we are convinced that

Curuguaty

one died for all, and therefore

all died.

ASUNCION

2 CoRinthians 5:14

Villarica

San Francisco and Yatalty

Yuty and Yaguarete Cora

Vision

Convinced of God’s love for all, we believe He has called us to be witnesses of his good news and to make disciples of Jesus Christ where He is least known, in Paraguay and around the world.

Ministry

• Outreach to Paraguay’s interior: rural pioneer church planting, educational partnerships in public and private schools, and oral evangelistic Bible studies.

• Equipping interior churches and leaders: youth ministries and camping, leadership training, and mobilisation for mission.

21

• Walking with First Nations leaders: optometry partnership and discipleship, discipleship and community empowerment, and heart language multimedia production.

• Mobilising partnerships: to the deaf, HIV-positive, and other marginalised communities from the city to the rural areas, and from the church to the world.

• Leadership and services: team leadership and formation of our governance board, financial and personnel coordination, short-term ministry volunteer coordination, TCK flourishing.

Prayer Notes

92

Day 21

Communities where Christ is least known

Rural subsistence families

Around 40 per cent of Paraguay’s population live in scattered, rural, subsistence communities. Oral learning in the Guarani language is strongly preferred.

Using oral methods, church planting teams are evangelising, discipling and training church leaders, regardless of the leaders’ literacy levels, so that these leaders may know and teach God’s word.

Indigenous communities

Many of those who belong to Paraguay’s 19

indigenous groups live and die in small, scattered communities without sufficient access to God’s good news. An SIM team of mission families has answered a partnership invitation from the indigenous church leaders to unite in evangelism and discipleship efforts.

The recording studio GGG continues to record scripture and study materials into local languages and to partner with those burdened for indigenous peoples and unreached rural farming communities.

The deaf

A new SIM mission worker has joined with a local ministry producing the Deaf Bible in Paraguayan sign language. She invites others who know ASL and Spanish to join this exciting evangelistic project reaching a uniquely isolated, unreached community.

The HIV-positive

Another partner ministry is reaching out to HIV-positive patients and their families, 21

and is willing to work with short- or long-term SIM mission workers called to serve these marginalised unreached people in Paraguay’s capital.

Pray for

• pioneer church planting efforts happening through Bible studies and education in communities where Bible-teaching churches do not yet exist

• expansion of the camping ministries through trained youth leaders and a camp ministries’ coordinator, to further strengthen local church discipleship and outreach to the next generation

• more leadership training, so that Paraguayan believers in new churches will be equipped to lead their churches and organise local ministries

• continued growth for the SIM mission family engaged in learning local culture and both Spanish and Guaraní, that they may effectively demonstrate God’s love and collaborate successfully with local partners

• effective partnerships to further mobilise Paraguayan churches to send out workers 93

Peru

Pucallpa

For we are God’s handiwork, created

LIMA

in Christ Jesus to do good works,

which God prepared in advance for

Cusco

us to do.

Cotahuasi

ePhesians 2:10

Arequipa

Vision

The purpose of SIM Peru is to glorify God by partnering with the Peruvian church to make disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ in communities where He is least known.

Ministry

• Theological education in Bible institutes and through regular visits

• to Quechua communities

• Oral Bible teaching

• Radio ministry

• Church ministries tailored to men, women, children, youth, and leaders Missions capacity building, training and mobilisation

•

21

Community service ministries: a breakfast programme, homework clubs,

• and water projects

• Dental work in a mission clinic and in villages

• University student ministry and English ministry for students Sunday school training and Vacation Bible School preparation Sports Friends ministry

• Prison ministry

Prayer Notes

94

Day 21

Communities where Christ is least known

Quechua People (Apurimac, La Union, Cusco)

The Quechua people live and thrive throughout the mountain areas of Peru, most living above 2,500 metres.

SIM Peru teams work in Quechua villages in Cusco, Apurimac and La Union, all with their local language and cultural variations.

Since Quechua villages are spread out over some of the most extreme terrain on earth, there are thousands of small villages, many of which have no church presence. For example, of the 3,000 Quechua villages in Apurimac, only 300 have a church. Church planting and leadership training needs are very great in most Quechua areas.

Since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, access to Quechua villages has been difficult for Peruvian evangelists as well as foreign mission workers, due to the reasonable concern that Bible teachers may infect vulnerable communities or get infected themselves.

Pray for

• Peru has suffered terribly from the Covid-19 pandemic, with the highest rate of deaths per million worldwide. Pray for an increased speed of vaccination and for the Peruvian church to serve hurting families compassionately

• wisdom for Peruvian churches and SIM workers in deciding when to stay virtual and 21

when to minister in-person

• Peruvians to continue to be sent out to the ends of the earth through SIM

LatinoAmerica, and for the churches that send them 95

Philippines

METRO

MANILA

Betengos

I have become all things to all people so

that by all possible means I might save

some. I do all this for the sake of the

gospel, that I may share in its blessings.

1 CoRinthians 9:22b-23

Mindanao

Vision

In partnership with churches and organisations, we:

• Engage communities of the majority faith and migrants where Christ is least known.

• Minister and equip workers among them.

• Mobilise and train for cross-cultural ministry.

Ministry

• Children’s ministry, through feeding and education.

• Women’s ministry, through livelihood and missional business.

• Youth ministry, through scholarships, sports, and youth camps.

• Disciple-making, mentoring, counselling, and member care.

22

• Oral Bible storying.

• Bible and literature translation.

• Hospital visitation ministry.

• International student ministry.

Prayer Notes

96

Day 22

Communities where Christ is least known

Muslim peoples

The Philippines is home to 14 Muslim groups, all originating from Mindanao. Each group has a unique culture, but all share the same faith, which is mixed with animistic practices.

Armed conflict in Mindanao in the late 1960s led many Muslims to flee to Manila and beyond.

Since then, many more have moved there to study and find better work opportunities, forming many communities.

Pray for SIM workers and their ministry in six communities in Luzon and two communities in Mindanao, through ministries primarily related to children, youth, women, and livelihood.

Indonesian diaspora

According to the 2000 Philippines census, 43,871 Indonesians were living in the Philippines. Migrations started as early as the 17th century, due to the proximity of Mindanao’s coastline to North Sulawesi. Those of the Indonesian diaspora belong to the Sangir or Sangil people group, who are considered to be traders or fishers.

Most of them live in Southern Mindanao, although there are some in metropolitan Manila as well. Pray for the Indonesian couple who have been reaching out to them.

Pray for another Indonesian couple who will also soon be serving these groups.

22

Pray for

• our team’s disciple-making efforts and the maturing of a fellowship of Muslim background believers. Pray that these believers will grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus

• the livelihood initiatives and crisis responses to bring about holistic Christian transformation

• creative ways to reach and disciple international students and other migrants. more male workers and younger workers to join our team

• deeper intimacy with God, unity, and fruitfulness for SIM Philippines

• more Filipino churches and individuals to engage in Muslim ministries and in sending and caring for mission workers

• ongoing efforts to mobilise, network, and develop good partnerships 97

Senegal

Thies

How, then, can they call on the

DAKAR

Kaffrine

one they have not believed in?

And how can they believe in the

one of whom they have not heard?

And how can they hear without

someone preaching to them?

Romans 10:14

Vision

SIM Senegal’s vision is that Wolof and Wolofphone people would come to know Jesus Christ.

Ministry

• Teaching English.

• Evangelism, disciple making and

• Medical ministries.

church planting.

• Sports Friends.

• Producing and distributing Wolofal

• Leadership and administration.

Scriptures (Wolof language written in

• Training centre offering employment

Arabic script).

skills and Christian literature.

• Outreach via websites and social media.

• Teaching and dorm parenting

22

missionary kids.

Prayer Notes

98

Day 22

Communities where Christ is least known

The Wolof

There are over five million Wolof in Senegal, and their influence is felt nationwide. The Wolof language is widely spoken by other

people groups. Only a few hundred Wolof

in Senegal follow Jesus, while the rest

follow Islam, most commonly a form of folk

Islam. The Wolof have traditionally been

subsistence farmers, but many are now

active in trade and hundreds of thousands have moved to the urban sprawl of Dakar to study or seek employment.

Wolof believers — There is a saying in Senegal that to be Wolof is to be Muslim. So, those who have decided to follow Christ face persecution. At times this is physical, but it is regularly social when they are excluded from their communities.

Pray for

• SIM Senegal’s diverse ministries to connect us to Wolof seekers with whom we can share the truth about Jesus

• good use of the many audio and visual resources already available, and partnership with local believers as we seek to develop media ministries further

• many Wolof adults and children to come to believe in Jesus and for strong Wolof churches to grow. Many are attracted to the gospel but find the idea of leaving their religion to be overwhelming. Pray for the Spirit’s work in their lives 22

• Wolof Christians to persevere and witness, so that their faithfulness to Christ may point many others to Him

• more long-term workers with a heart for the Wolof to come to Senegal

• perseverance and good progress for those workers who are learning Wolof 99

South Africa

PRETORIA

Krugersdorp

Edenvale

Johannesburg Mseleni

BLOEMFONTEIN

Pietermaritzburg

Sunbury

“I will search for the lost and bring

Durban

back the strays. I will bind up the

Port Shepstone

injured and strengthen the weak,

but the sleek and the strong I will

CAPE TOWN

Fort Beaufort

destroy. I will shepherd the flock

Stellenbosch

Port Elizabeth

with justice.”

ezekiel 34:16

Vision

By faith, we see:

• A witness of Christ’s love where He is least known.

• Disciples of Jesus expressing God’s love in their communities.

• Christ-centred churches spreading the gospel among all peoples in South Africa and throughout the world.

Ministry

• Ministries and outreach to children, youth, young adults, and adults.

• Evangelism and church planting in communities where Christ is least known.

• Intentional discipleship.

• Theological and leadership development.

23

• Mobilisation and training for cross-cultural service.

• Leading and supporting workers.

Prayer Notes

100

Day 23

Communities where Christ is least known

A change in location and focus

After years of prayer and analysis, we are relocating our office from Cape Town in Western Cape

Province to a location near Durban in KwaZulu-Natal. This change brings us into a region that is, by many measures, the least reached in South Africa. We are obtaining a larger facility in a neighbourhood which will enable us to minister to those communities directly from our headquarters.

Xhosa, Indian, and Portuguese ethnolinguistic communities, religious groups such as Muslims and Hindus and Amazioni, and international students and workers will all be closer to our centre and more central in our focus.

Pray for

• new and existing partners — individuals, families, communities, churches, and organisations — to join us enthusiastically in this endeavour and in Christ’s great commission

• effective, loving inroads to South Africa’s least-reached communities and awareness of how best to minister to their needs

• more workers to take the gospel to and minister among the least reached

• revival among Christians and churches — especially those without a history of sending mission workers

• a spirit of oneness in purpose and heart among all those who serve with SIM South Africa.

23

101

South Sudan and Sudan

SUDAN

KHARTOUM

Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your

Melut

name give glory, for the sake of your

Malakal

Doro

steadfast love and your faithfulness!”

Psalm 115:1

SOUTH SUDAN

JUBA

Vision

By faith, we see:

• The church in South Sudan committing to sending more mission workers

• Christian refugees returning to their homes and taking the gospel with them

• The myriad of unreached people groups of Sudan coming to a saving faith in Jesus Christ Ministry

• Replicating missional churches.

• Serving and equipping churches for missions.

• Leadership and administrative services.

23

• Outreach, discipleship and church planting.

• Mobilising for mission.

Prayer Notes

102

Day 23

Communities where Christ is least known

Healing through pain

The country has been beset by multiple

san

conflicts over the years. Many need the touch

: neil

tos

of the Healer. God is entering people’s lives Pho

through their hearts.

Beyond borders

The churches in the diaspora are slowly

growing. Believers congregate in small

churches in refugee camps throughout many

surrounding countries, including Kenya,

Uganda, and Ethiopia. Pray these churches

would grow deep in their love of Christ.

Pray for

• us to see God’s glory in Sudan and South Sudan

• Christian refugees to be strengthened in challenging circumstances

• Sudanese and South Sudanese churches to send out more mission workers across cultures

• each of the refugees hosted in South Sudan to come to faith in Jesus.

• God’s shalom to overtake hearts wounded by decades of conflict

• strength for our team and that we would not grow weary

• our team to know that we are loved by God, not because of what we do but because we are his children

23

• the Lord of the Harvest to send more workers into his harvest field 103

Sri Lanka

I have become all things to all

people so that by all possible

COLOMBO

means I might save some.

Nuwara Eliya

1 CoRinthians 9:22b

Vision

To see communities transformed by the gospel and empowered in society.

Ministry

• Evangelism seminars and training.

• Disciple-making.

• Tract ministr.y

• Counsellor training at Colombo Theological Seminary.

• Seminary instruction.

• English instruction.

• Counselling women and couples.

• Basic counselling seminar.s

• Marriage and family seminars.

24

• Trauma healing training.

• Local church-based ministries to build up the body of Christ.

Prayer Notes

104

Day 24

Communities where Christ is least known

Muslims

Muslims comprise almost 10 per

cent (approximately 2.1 million) of Sri

Lanka’s population and their numbers

are increasing.

The Moors, who make up a

significant portion of the Muslim

community, are mainly descendants

of the Arabs who came as traders.

Muslim tradesmen who arrived from

India are also counted in this group. The Malays, a smaller Muslim group found in Sri Lanka, are of Malaysian and Indonesian descent.

Muslim influence has grown, due to intermarriage between these people groups and Sri Lankans, political leadership and economic sway. The influence of Muslims far exceeds their numbers. Even though a few hundred people among them have come to follow Christ, there are no churches with congregants or pastors from Muslim backgrounds.

In the last few decades, a small segment of the church has become conscious of the need to share God’s love with these neighbours. There has been little opposition to, or initiation of, gospel work among Muslim communities.

SIM is part of a network whose goal is to reach these people through organising conferences, providing training and bringing awareness and direction to the church about outreach to Muslims.

Pray for

• the church, that it will become aware of the gospel need in Sri Lankan Muslim communities and will dispel inhibitions about relating to them and will learn how 24

best to share the gospel

• the salvation of the 2.1 million Muslims who live in Sri Lanka

• God to send labourers from Sri Lanka and overseas to train the church to reach this community

• effective leadership of the Muslim Network in its efforts to come up with a common strategy for evangelism and church planting

• more volunteers and unity in the network

• new believers to become disciples and church planters among their own people

• two church planters to come forward to plant churches in each of the 25 districts of the island

105

Switzerland

Biel/Bienne

BERN

…being confident

of this, that he who

began a good work in

you will carry it on to

completion until the

day of Christ Jesus.

PhiliPPians 1:6

Vision

Our vision is that people of all cultures may know God. By faith, we:

• Live and serve as disciples of Jesus Christ.

• Serve the churches.

• Mobilise, orient, empower and accompany workers.

• Engage in cross-cultural ministry.

Ministry

The SIM Switzerland office is dedicated to:

• Connecting with churches in the French- and German-speaking parts of Switzerland.

• Sending Christians into cross-cultural ministries, providing administrative support and member care.

• Raising spiritual and financial support.

• Maintaining modern and relevant communication tools in German and French.

• Facilitating the sending of mission workers from Austria, the Czech Republic, Italy, 24

and Romania, as well as occasionally from other countries in central, eastern and southern Europe.

Prayer Notes

106

Day 24

Communities where Christ is least known

Switzerland’s religious situation

Fifty years ago, nearly 100 per cent

of all Swiss were either Catholic or

Reformed. Since then, the national

churches, especially the Reformed

church, have seriously decreased. Today

35 per cent are Catholic and 23 per

cent are Reformed, but only about half

believe that there is only one God and

regularly attend church services. Fully

28 per cent of the Swiss people no longer belong to any religion. This is the fastest growing group. About five per cent of the people in Switzerland are Muslim.

The number of evangelical churches is growing but remains at around 2.5 per cent. Studies have found that these evangelical churches reach only “institutionally-minded people’’ and these churches make little impact on the population, particularly the younger generation. Faith is not seen as relevant in modern Swiss society — a significant challenge for mission workers. The same studies also revealed a lack of churches in rural and suburban zones.

Pray for

• good networking and partnerships with churches and organisations

• a vision for cross-cultural work, especially among the younger generation

• creative ways to mobilise people for mission work

• an increase in the number of mission workers, especially after the Covid-19 crisis

• God’s provision of financial support

• The flourishing of our workers

24

• Wisdom in facilitating the sending of workers from Austria, the Czech Republic, Italy and Romania, and from other countries in Europe which do not yet have an established sending structure

• guidance for the renewal of the personnel in the Swiss office

• the launching of Sport Friends ministry here 107

Tanzania

Bagamaya

Dodoma

DAR ES SALAAM

He is the One we proclaim,

admonishing and teaching

everyone with all wisdom, so

that we may present everyone

fully mature in Christ.

Lindi

Colossians 1:28

Mtwara

Vision

By faith, we see the church mobilised to disciple coastal people. SIM Tanzania’s motto is “The Coast, for Christ, by the Church.”

Ministry

• Outreach and church planting in villages.

• Disciple-making and training.

• Women’s ministries.

• Bible teaching at government schools.

• Church-run Christian primary schoo.l

• Jesus Film outreaches.

• Literature distribution.

25

Prayer Notes

108

Day 25

Communities where Christ is least known

People on the coast

One of the areas where Christ is least

known is along the south east coast

of Tanzania, hence our motto: “The

Coast, for Christ, by the Church.”

Most of the people in the

communities we serve are living day-

to-day. Fishers take out their dhows

or dugouts, hoping to catch enough

each day to sell to meet their needs.

Most are strongly influenced by

Islam and traditional healers. Many live

in constant fear of being cursed. Only Jesus can set them free.

Our prayer is that local churches, though small, will take up the challenge of reaching out to their neighbours who do not know Christ. Pray for us as we join hands with them in this adventure.

A typical outreach consists of door-to-door evangelism during the week, with an invitation to the Jesus Film that will be shown later that week. In the past, this has led to the planting of small churches, which are still operating to this day. Pray for more churches to catch this vision, so they can play a role in seeing the church multiply in nearby villages where there are no churches yet.

Pray for

• local churches to join in the outreaches to those communities who are living and dying without Christ, especially along the coast

• firm-standing leaders for the newly-planted churches, as they struggle daily to overcome challenges while continuing to serve the body of Christ 25

• new believers to stand firm as they face many discouragements and hardships

• God’s blessing on the church-run Christian primary school, as we trust Him for provisions needed to finish this building

• short-term volunteers who can assist in building into, and encouraging, the teachers at the school

• the women who are being trained in the income-generating projects of baking and handicrafts, as they venture out to support their families

• disciple-making efforts among the young people 109

Thailand

Chiang Mai

Kaeng Khro

Khon Kaem

Chatturat

Ayutthaya BANGKOK

I pray that the eyes of your heart

may be enlightened in order that you

may know the hope to which He has

called you, the riches of His glorious

inheritance in His holy people.

ePhesians 1:18

Nakhon Si Thammarat

Vision

By faith, we see the least-reached communities of Thailand responding authentically to the gospel and being discipled into biblically-based, community-transforming churches which engage in mission.

Motivated by Christ’s love, we strive to make disciples where He is not yet known.

Ministry

• University ministry.

• Evangelism and church planting.

• Sports Friends.

• Hope for Life, an HIV and AIDS outreach ministry.

• Missionary kid education.

• Leadership and administration.

• English teaching.

• Counselling.

25

Prayer Notes

110

Day 25

Communities where Christ is least known

The central Thai

There are very few Christians (0.25 per cent) among the Thai who live in the central plain region, which includes the capital city of

Bangkok. Many districts and sub-districts in this region have no known Christians and no Christian workers. SIM is building multi-skilled, multi-ethnic church planting teams to serve this significant group of people in Thailand.

University students

There are 2.5 million students at universities in Thailand. Many of these students come from

areas where Christ is not known.

University is often a time of self-exploration and consideration of new ideas, which creates great opportunities to introduce students to Christ. Most of Thailand’s universities have no Christian ministry among students.

Teaching English is a large and strategic opportunity, because the new Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) community has chosen English as its medium for communication. Students know their career success will depend on their ability to speak English. Our desire is to have workers who are committed to building relationships with Thai university students, evangelising and making disciples of new believers.

Pray for

25

• God to bring more workers to join multi-ethnic, multi-skilled church planting teams who are reaching areas of Thailand where Christ is not known

• God to provide workers with a passion to serve university students

• the people who are preparing and beginning new ministry work in Thailand 111

Togo

Sokodé

And the things you have heard me say in

the presence of many witnesses entrust to

reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others.

2 timothy 2:2 (niv)

LOME

Vision

We see dynamic, inter-dependent partnerships and mutually nurturing relationships with the Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA-Togo), other mission organisations, and churches, as we respond together to the spiritual challenges in Togo and focus on proclaiming the gospel among people groups with little Christian witness.

Ministry

• Leadership and theological training.

• Church partnerships.

• Partnering with believers to reach and disciple their own people.

• Friendship evangelism and discipleship among a majority people group, including use of media ministries.

• Women’s ministry.

26

Prayer Notes

112

Day 26

Communities where Christ is least known

Muslim Lokpa

Many ECWA-Togo churches are among

the Lokpa people. An SIM Canadian mission

worker brought the gospel to animistic

Lokpa villages in Benin. Christian Lopka

families, struggling on overused farmland,

moved across the border to Togo. Their

churches were the beginnings of

ECWA-Togo.

Muslim traders also reached the Lokpa

and drew many to their beliefs. Some also

made their way to Togo and settled in the

same villages. Nowadays, an ECWA-Togo

evangelical church can be at one end of a

village with a mosque at the other. People

have lived side-by-side for years, even with families split between the two religions.

They live together peacefully and any

attempted evangelism has ended in quarrels, each defending their own beliefs. We pray Lokpa churches have a burden to reach their non-Christian neighbours.

We praise God for a few conversions and that some teenage Muslim girls have been coming. Several in recent years have shown up at the church saying they want to become Christians because they see Christian husbands treat their wives better and only take one wife. Through attending church to find a husband, they have put their trust in Christ.

Pray for

• local Christians to be a witness through their godly lives

• growth among ECWA-Togo churches, especially in their capacity for church 26

planting, discipleship and mission outreach

• Christian communities to be established among the Met, Tchamba, Bago, Koussountou, Fulani and Lokpa

• the development of a farming and discipleship project to assist new believers

• the training of capable, godly and visionary pastors, elders, and mission workers 113

United Kingdom

Edinburgh

Belfast

Christ is faithful as the Son over God’s

house. And we are his house, if indeed we

hold firmly to our confidence and the hope

Cambridge

in which we glory.

Cardiff

LONDON

hebRews 3:6

Vision

We work hand in hand with evangelical churches to send and receive gospel workers who are equipped for cross-cultural mission wherever people live and die without hearing God’s good news.

We do this by:

• Mobilising prayer and workers from churches for global cross-cultural ministry.

• Partnering and resourcing churches for inter-cultural mission.

• Equipping mission workers with support, mentoring, and training.

• Collaborating with partners to develop training programmes and ministry hubs.

Ministry

• Sending and receiving workers to and from the UK.

• Supporting UK churches in cross-cultural ministry.

• Mission worker care and support.

• Inter-cultural training workshops.

26

Prayer Notes

114

Day 26

Communities where Christ is least known

Diverse communities

Fourteen per cent of the UK’s population were born abroad, and this number rises to 36 per cent in Greater London. Many refugees and

migrants have no knowledge of Jesus, only

knowing caricatures of the Christian faith.

Our ENGAGE programme brings mission

workers into UK churches, helping them to

bridge cultural gaps, respond to needs and share the gospel. We pray for multi-ethnic mission teams and healthy, diverse churches developing across cultural barriers in UK society.

Pray for

• more workers from the UK to be sent

into SIM teams worldwide. Praise God for

incoming workers involved in ministry in

UK communities through our ENGAGE

programme

• engaging the next generation for mission

• building new relationships with churches and networks of diverse ethnicities and

backgrounds. Pray for growing engagement,

facilitated by the SIM UK HQ relocation to

Cambridge

• people arriving in the UK as refugees,

migrants or to re-settle (especially from Hong Kong). Pray they are welcomed warmly by

Christians and churches, and hear the gospel 26

115

United States

“The harvest is plentiful,

but the labourers are few;

therefore pray earnestly to the

Lord of the harvest to send out

labourers into his harvest.”

matthew 9:37-38

Charlotte

Sebring

Vision

Our wildly important goal focuses on sending and sustaining more overseas American ambassadors of Jesus. We are committed to go from a shrinking mission workforce (-3

per cent per year) to a growing missionary workforce (+3 per cent per year) by 1 July 2022. Through eyes of faith, we see 100 new workers being sent per year by 2030. A steady annual 10 per cent increase in mission worker sending will achieve this goal.

Ministry

By prayer, we recruit, prepare, and journey with Christians sent by churches as we go and make disciples of Jesus Christ where needed most.

27

Prayer Notes

116

Day 27

Communities where Christ is least known

The Bride of Christ in America includes tens of thousands of people who have received a calling to go and make disciples where Jesus is least known.

SIM USA is committed to helping churches as they work to remind those whom God is leading about their need to respond.

SIM USA has been praying Matthew 9:38 and

mobilising the nation to join us in prayer, believing God will raise up workers who will say yes to cross barriers to share his good news where needed most.

Our desire is to encourage pastors and walk alongside churches who are making disciples in the US. There are people whose next step in following Jesus is to share his grace and truth among the nations.

Pray for

• the beautiful, multifaceted US church to feel the weight of our need to see God sending more workers

• an abundance of prayer and financial support partners to respond wholeheartedly to God’s invitation to participate in making Jesus known

• vibrant church partnerships and God’s help to find more Christians who will be sent by their churches

• current SIM USA workers’ relationships to result in more American believers considering the possibility God might be calling them to be his witness in communities where Jesus is least known

• wisdom and courage as we seek to journey with increasing numbers and increasing diversity of mission workers being sent and sustained in the coming years, carefully and relationally making disciples of those who will go and make disciples of all nations

27

• 100 future mission workers living in the USA to have fresh clarity from God that they should contact SIM and pursue an opportunity to share Jesus across barriers 117

Uruguay

Keep on loving one another as brothers

and sisters. Do not forget to show

hospitality to strangers, for by so doing

Canelones

some people have shown hospitality to

Cludad de la Costa

angels without knowing it.

MONTEVIDEO

Corrasco

hebRews 13:1-2

Vision

We are convinced that no one should live or die without hearing and understanding the gospel of Jesus Christ in Uruguay and around the world. For this reason, we believe that God has called SIM mission workers to this country to be instruments who reach, train, and equip new generations of Uruguayans for Jesus Christ.

Ministry

• Church planting in least-reached areas.

• Outreach to university students.

• Children’s outreach and Bible training.

• Equipping international population for local impact.

• Youth specialties leadership training and disciple-making.

• Mentoring and cross-cultural skill-building.

• Todos Oirán missions and theological training.

• Catalyst leadership training programme.

27

Prayer Notes

118

Day 27

Communities where Christ is least known

Care for Cubans

Political and health crises have resulted in the displacement of millions of people in

Latin America. The stability of Uruguay in

recent decades and its decent housing for

immigrants have made the country a magnet

for thousands of Cubans who have made it

their new home.

The vast majority of them come without

their families, without a network of support, and without a relationship with Jesus Christ as a result of the restrictive policies of

their island. This has generated a high risk of falling prey to even more complex and

heartbreaking situations.

When a group of students from SIM’s

Next Generation vocational programme at the seminary performed a study for their course about which groups in their city needed the good news, they found that no one was serving this immigrant demographic in an integral way. They decided to launch a ministry with SIM support called New Roots.

This ministry consists of identifying immigrants at social risk and providing them with legal advice, general care and connection with people from local churches who can be that new network of friends and loving support. This effort is communicating the gospel of Jesus Christ in word and deed.

Pray for New Roots in Uruguay. Pray these students can continue to be salt and light in the midst of people who need a loving refuge.

Pray for

• an increased impact of the discipleship efforts in the unreached regions

• displaced internationals, who would never set foot in a church in their country, to 27

have a new openness and curiosity while in Uruguay

• SIM Uruguay to reach and equip the next generation of Uruguayan disciple-makers

• the increase and strengthening of partnerships with organisations, local churches and other ministries to expand our reach to new areas and people groups 119

Vietnam

HANOI

It was He who gave some to be apostles,

Da Nang

some to be prophets, some to be

evangelists, and some to be pastors and

teachers, to prepare God’s people for

works of service, so that the body of

Christ may be built up

ePhesians 4:11-12

Ho Chi Minh City

Vision

By faith in our loving heavenly father and empowered by his Holy Spirit, we trust God for:

• Vietnamese communities where Christ is least known being engaged by a multi-ethnic team with the gospel, reflecting Christ through character, word and action.

• God’s people belonging to growing, maturing, indigenous, and mission-minded churches, being and making disciples of Jesus in Vietnam and beyond.

Ministry

• Equipping: leadership development, theological and missiological education, training for biblically-guided relationships in home, church and community, training in missional business, and sports.

• Helping Vietnamese who face surgeries, injuries, and other traumatic events, by providing them with God’s love, comfort, and caring through chaplaincy; and sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ in businesses and campus ministries.

Prayer Notes

28

120

Day 28

Communities where Christ is least known Minority communities

There are about 67 least reached people groups in Vietnam. Thirty have fewer than one per cent professing Christians, and 15 have no Christ-followers at all.

In these communities, when a person

receives Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour, he or she is eager to follow the biblical mandate to lead others to Christ by making, baptising and teaching disciples (Matthew 28:19-20).

The new believer’s response is often to plant and shepherd a church in his or her community. These pastors have low education and Bible knowledge levels. As Christ-followers, their risk of persecution is high. Their journey can be lonely, with no one available locally to encourage, guide, or help them grow in their new faith.

Majority community

The Kinh people are the majority community in Vietnam and make up 86 per cent of the population. They have Christian resources available to them, but only 1.2 per cent of the more than 78 million Viet-Kinh are followers of Christ. This makes the Kinh people the largest unreached people group in south east Asia.

Pray for

• minority pastors and the few Christ-followers they shepherd. Pray they can receive help to understand God’s word and teach others about Him accurately

• the Lord to provide workers who will live in Vietnam and make disciples in culturally appropriate ways

• the nation. Pray for opportunities to establish missional businesses, engage universities,and introduce educational initiatives, through which Vietnam’s people will find their true purpose in Christ

• believers in local churches to have a growing vision to reach out boldly to those who have not yet heard of Jesus

• approaches to train Vietnamese to equip their own people and develop leaders, enabling kingdom growth and transformation

• communities in the north, centre, and south that have no church or have a church lacking a pastor with adequate Bible knowledge

• minority communities, who are minimally reached, to hear the good news of Jesus 28

• the Kinh majority community to be awakened to the good news about Jesus and share it boldly with others

• courage and perseverance for those facing opposition and persecution for their faith.

• church leaders to teach biblical principles for godly living effectively

• Communist Party members, government officials, and military personnel. These people are influential pillars in Vietnamese society.

121

WAMO West Africa Missions Office Mali

Niger

Senegal

The Gambia

Therefore go and make

Burkina

Faso

disciples of all nations,

Guinea

Benin

baptising them in the name

Cote

Ghana

Nigeria

of the Father and of the Son

d’Ivoire

Togo

and of the Holy Spirit.

Liberia

matthew 28:19

ABIDJAN

Vision

Convinced that no one should live and die without hearing God’s good news, the West Africa Missions Office:

• Partners with the West African church for the success of global mission.

• Mobilises and sends qualified, equipped workers from and through the West African church all over the world, to cross cultural barriers with love to those living and dying without Christ.

• Enables the making of disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ in communities where He is least known, through workers sent from West Africa.

Ministry

• Mobilising in West Africa for the recruitment of new workers.

• Partnering with local like-minded churches, mission organisations, and other regional bodies in West Africa for global mission.

• Training and sending mission workers from West Africa.

• Mobilising prayer and financial support.

Prayer Notes

28

122

Day 28

Communities where Christ is least known Faithful Witness Locations in West Africa

KAYES IN MALI – The Moors of Mali are located in Kayes, where Christ is least known.

They are nomadic Berbers and inhabit a small kingdom in the upper reaches of the Niger

River. The term “Moor” is generally applied to any person who speaks a particular range of dialects. The door is opening for workers to live among the Moors, who are Muslim.

NORTHERN NIGERIA – This region is home to one of the largest semi-nomadic groups, the Fulani, found across West and Central Africa.

Some continue as semi-nomadic herders, while others have moved to cities. They herd animals across vast areas, frequently clashing with farming communities. They are often linked

with another group, the Hausas. As the two

groups have lived together for a very long time, some refer to the Hausa-Fulani, though they are different groups. The Fulani played a key role in the 19th century revival of Islam in Nigeria.

The West Africa Missions Office continues to mobilise workers who are willing and passionate to take advantage of the opportunities that exist to be faithful witnesses to those living and dying in these communities.

Pray for

• more faithful witnesses to be mobilised for these communities, from West Africa and

beyond

• an increase in the gospel’s reception in these communities

28

• believers in northern Nigeria to express extraordinary love, so that those living and dying without hearing about the love of Jesus will experience the practical love of Jesus Christ

• long-term workers to live and be faithful witnesses in Kayes and northern Nigeria 123

West Malaysia

How, then, can they call on the One

they have not believed in? And how can

KUALA

they believe in the One of whom they

LUMPUR

have not heard? And how can they hear

without someone preaching to them?

Romans 10:14 (niv)

Vision

Our vision is to see every people group in this country reached with Christ’s love. Our aim is for all the believers in West Malaysia to be discipled and equipped with the vision, skills, and resources to proclaim the message of reconciliation with God in word and deed, among communities where Christ is not known.

We strive to share God’s love among the least-reached peoples, including migrants, refugees and international students in West Malaysia. We are also working to establish a collaboration of churches, mission groups, and Christian leaders which aims to make disciples of our Lord Jesus in communities where He is least known, ministering at home and abroad.

Ministry

• Humanitarian work among migrants and refugees.

• Friendship evangelism among international students.

• Partnership in theological education and leadership training.

• Community-building projects among the diaspora in cities.

Prayer Notes

28

124

Day 28

Communities where Christ is least known Orang Asli

The Orang Asli or “original peoples” were estimated to account for about 0.7 per cent of the population of West Malaysia, numbering about 198,000 in 2017. Officially, there are 18 tribes of Orang Asli in Malaysia, each with its own culture, religion and language. They are the oldest people groups of Malaysia but are also the poorest and most oppressed. Although some have decided to follow Islam or Christianity, they are traditionally animists. In recent years, they have retreated farther back into the forest to avoid demands to assimilate to the majority culture or convert to another religion.

Migrants and refugees

Many people have come to Malaysia in search of a better future for their families.

There are an estimated six million migrants in Malaysia, but less than half of them are documented. Almost all of them live and work in the country without proper permits or wages. As of March 2020, there were nearly 180,000 refugees and asylum seekers registered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Malaysia. Like undocumented migrants, refugees don’t have legal rights to live a normal life here. Their human rights are often violated. God is calling us to reach out to them with Christ’s love.

International students

International students continue to choose Malaysia to study because of the quality education available. There are around 130,000 international students from 136

countries studying here. Most of them come from south east Asia, the Middle East, Middle Asia, and African countries, with some also from Europe. Our international student ministry connects students with the gospel through friendship evangelism, making disciples who can engage with their own cultures when they return home.

Pray for

• the removal of barriers, so that God’s love can be shared freely across the country to all

• more trained workers to serve among the migrants, refugees and international students

• increased participation and partnership with local churches to do God’s mission 28

at doorsteps

• resources and staff to mobilise local churches and support incoming workers 125

Zambia

Solwezi

Chizela

Ndola

Mukinge

And whatever you do, whether in

word or deed, do it all in the name

Mongu

Luampa

of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to

LUSAKA

God the Father through him.

Choma

Colossians 3:17

Vision

The vision of SIM Zambia is to be a witness to Christ’s love where He is least known, expressing God’s love and compassion and teaching disciples to do likewise, resulting in Christ-centred churches across Zambia.

Ministry

• Youth ministry.

• Health ministry.

• Community development.

• Disciple-making and leadership training.

• Primary and secondary education.

• University campus ministry.

• Prison ministry.

• Theological education.

• Leadership and administration.

Prayer Notes

29

126

Day 29

Communities where Christ is least known

Asian diaspora

ts

Asian diaspora communities in Zambia are

robery

growing fast. SIM encourages the work

D

of one small Asian church. The Indian

: santo

diaspora is mainly in the business sector

Pho

and are Muslim or Hindu.

Men and women in prison

Some have gone to prison due to unwise

choices, often compounded by poverty

and unemployment. These men and women are generally open to the Good News of freedom in Christ.

University students

Most Zambian university students have been exposed to Christian beliefs but are heavily influenced by secular education and educators. They often struggle during this formative season of life with understanding their faith biblically and making it genuinely their own.

Pray for

• the SIM Zambia Board as they review and refine our ministry strategy including a succession plan for field leadership roles

• God to send the right people to fill key personnel needs, including a second surgeon and anaesthetists at the hospital and chaplains to serve in prisons and schools

• the staff at our youth centres as they disciple and encourage youth to grow in their faith and for our first Zambian director at the Mongu Youth Centre

• our health workers, for wisdom, protection and stamina as they minister to the physical and spiritual needs of their patients

• our community development ministry which helps teach rural farmers ways to grow food for their families effective and also impacts their lives spirtually

• our disciple-making and leadership training ministries with local churches, Bible colleges, in schools and on university campuses, that they would impact individuals who will then be able to share their faith with others

• those who teach and minister to children in their school and community contexts, and that these young lives would be changed for eternity 29

• the diaspora in Zambia to hear and be transformed by the gospel 127

Zimbabwe

HARARE

Gokwe

Marondera

Mutare

Masvingo

Rusitu

Bulawayo

Praise the Lord, all you nations;

extol Him, all you peoples.

Psalm 117:1

Vision

By faith, we see a witness of Christ to every Zimbabwean, so that no one lives and dies without hearing the gospel and responding to it; believers are discipled into a fuller understanding of their faith; and Christ’s compassionate love is expressed and shared with the poor, hurting, and suffering.

Ministry

• Outreach ministries: children, particularly vulnerable girls, youth, HIV and AIDS and Covid-19 prevention, famine relief, disaster relief.

• Theology and resources: theological education, Leaders Equipping and Resourcing Network (LEARN), research, witness to cults.

• Leadership and services.

• Evangelism.

Prayer Notes

29

128

Day 29

Communities where Christ is least known The Ba Tonga people

Numbering about 300,000 (2.3 per cent of the Zimbabwean population), and found along the border of Zimbabwe and Zambia, this people group is often neglected by development agencies. The Ba Tonga were displaced during the construction of the Kariba Dam and relegated to a district called Binga, which has become their homeland. However, their culture has not died. They believe in a supreme god called Mwari, the same word used for God in the rest of the country.

However, they believe this god can only be reached and appeased through ancestral worship. The elephant, the baobab tree, and certain fish are also used as worship symbols. Smoking marijuana is also traditional and cultural.

SIM has always prayed to start gospel outreach ministries among the Ba Tonga. One strategy being explored is for the theological colleges in a nearby city, Bulawayo, to recruit students from Binga intentionally, who would then return to evangelise their people. The long-term vision is to establish a mission station with a theological college in Binga township.

Pray for

• the recruitment of students to study theology and return to Binga to evangelise their communities

• scholarships to support the students

• mission workers to be sent for the Ba Tonga people of Binga

• a mission station to be established for the Ba Tonga people 29

129

Sports Friends

In the same way, let your light

shine before others, that they

may see your good deeds and

glorify your Father in heaven.

matthew 5:16

Canada

UK

USA

Burkina

Faso

Niger

Senegal

Ethiopia

Southeast

Asia

Ghana

Horn of Africa

Kenya

Nigeria

Thailand

Tanzania

Peru

Malawi

Vision

Our vision is to see a global movement of churches using sport to make disciples of Jesus Christ. We strive to:

• Share a vision for local churches and church planters to use sport as a powerful ministry tool.

• Train Christian leaders to develop fruitful, church-centred sports ministries that make disciples of Jesus through sport.

• Equip coaches for effective service by providing ongoing support and encouragement to help them live, lead, minister and coach for the glory of God.

Develop the leadership capacity of sports ministry coordinators, who will provide vision, guidance and management for the local sports ministry movement and develop coaches at the local church level.

Ministry

In 19 countries, Sports Friends is passionately training and equipping local church leaders and church planters to extend the love of God into their communities through strategic sports ministries. Weekly sports programmes and ongoing disciple-making are complemented by the Sports Friends camping ministry.

Prayer Notes

29

130

Day 29

Communities where Christ is least known Hope and harvest

Years ago in rural northern

Thailand, a couple encountered

the God who created the

mountains they saw in the

distance and they dedicated

their lives to make Him known to

their non-believing neighbours.

There amidst the rice paddies and

orchards, they planted a church.

That couple had a son, called

Nong, who is now pastor of the

church and deputy leader of the

village. One day, Pastor Nong noticed a group of teenage boys and wondered how he could communicate with them about Jesus effectively. Soon after, Nong crossed paths with Sports Friends and was fascinated by the model of making disciples through sport. As Nong heard testimonies about the power of using sport to connect with youth, he became excited. He called the church elders together and they listened with scepticism to his ‘crazy’ idea of chopping down the fruit trees in the church’s garden and creating a football field. They knew the trees were no longer very fruitful, but who had ever heard of building a football field to draw youth to Christ?

A couple of months later, that ‘crazy’ plan went into action. Believing men and women arrived in the church garden with tools in their weathered hands and purpose in their hope-driven hearts. They chopped down all of those old, dried-up fruit trees and levelled the orchard to prepare the way for the Lord to meet with young people in a new way, hungry to see a new kind of fruit come forth on those garden grounds.

We stand in expectation with Pastor Nong and his small congregation of minority believers, filled with hope that the God who began His work in this village decades ago will carry it on to completion.

Pray for

• Pastor Nong and his church as they share their land, their lives, and the saving love of Christ with the young people in their village

• our Sports Friends teams as they continue to offer aid to those most adversely impacted by the pandemic and also train new coaches to minister to growing numbers of young people eager for fun, community and some return to normality

• our more than 13,000 trained coaches to be effective in making disciples of Christ 29

where He is least known

• almost 300,000 young people who are currently involved in ministries with a Sports Friends-trained coach

131

International Leadership & Services For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died.

2 CoRinthians 5:14

Vision

The vision of SIM is to see a witness to Christ’s love where He is least known, disciples of Jesus expressing God’s love in their communities, and Christ-centred churches among all peoples.

SIM’s purpose is:

Convinced that no one should live and die without hearing God’s good news, we believe that He has called us to make disciples of Jesus Christ in communities where He is least known.

Ministry

The ministries of SIM International Leadership and Services clear barriers for those whom God is calling to serve cross-culturally. We achieve this by providing:

• Global leadership and training.

• Cross-cultural people and ministry development in more than 70 countries.

• Worldwide personnel, financial and technical support to remote mission locations.

• Direction and planning for the expansion and long-term sustainability of SIM

priority ministries and projects.

• Communications and multilingual resources.

Prayer Notes

30

132

Day 30

Communities where Christ is least known

Children

Children are a precious gift from God, created in his image, gifted by Him and co-labourers in church and mission. We have the privilege and responsibility of caring for them, praying for their protection and safety, and helping them live life in fullness.

Sadly, half of all children are at risk from child labour, hunger, abandonment, abuse, trafficking and poverty.

Vulnerable children exist in communities everywhere, and are defined as those under 18 whose safety, well-being, and/or development is at significant risk due to inadequate care, protection or access to essential services. This includes orphans; inadequate adult support because of death, abandonment, economic distress, or chronic illness; have HIV or AIDS; are directly affected by armed conflict; live outside family care; or are otherwise unsupported by traditional community safety nets.

Covid-19 has caused millions more children to become vulnerable and at significant risk of increased poverty and food shortages; domestic violence and abuse; child labour and early marriage; and human trafficking. Global disruptions to education and lockdown restrictions have not only affected children’s mental health but have caused many to be forced into work, or child marriage, simply to survive. The psychological impact of the pandemic is hitting children the hardest. God calls us to take action giving hope, peace, justice and joy.

Lausanne Children at Risk Infographic

• https://lausanne.wpengine.com/content/children-at-risk-an-infographic

• https://hvc-tulane.org/about-hvc-rc/highly-vulnerable-children/

Pray for

• the global church to expose, resist and take action against all abuse of children

• children orphaned by the pandemic; and those who have had to leave school to work and help their families

• the church to take seriously mission to, for and with children

• a Ministry Point Person to lead this ministry to at-risk children

• unity, courage, wisdom, and discernment for the International Director and his leadership team members

• those suffering long-term impacts of Covid-19, especially those whose livelihoods have vanished

• those experiencing forms of injustice globally, whether based on race, ethnic origin, gender or other reasons

• effective people development, as we seek to be disciples who make disciples

• effective mentoring and disciple-making at all levels of leadership, and especially for wisdom in encouraging SIM’s developing leaders 30

• good leadership and care for our teams, who do vital coordinating and support work in the areas of personnel, finance, projects, communications, archives, operations, administrative support, and information systems.

133

Regional Service Centres

Each of SIM’s regional service centres offers vital support to SIM workers serving in a particular region. These strategic centres provide services in accounting and finance, health systems, human resources, project development, logistics, information technology and media. Specialised staff facilitate good practices and accountability for the countries they serve. With the service centres providing this critical assistance, existing ministries and new initiatives are able to thrive in their mission of proclaiming Christ to those who live and die without hearing God’s good news.

EARS – East Africa Regional Services

Sudan

Eritrea

Djibouti

South

Ethiopia

Sudan

Somalia

Uganda Kenya

Rwanda

Burundi

Tanzania

Serving: East African Sending Office, Eritrea, Kenya, South Sudan and Sudan, and Tanzania Pray for

• continued wisdom and discernment as we work to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of our services so that our workers can reach those areas where He is least known

• our team to continue to grow in their discipleship and spiritual maturity Prayer Notes

30

134

Day 30

SASC — Southern Africa Service Centre

Angola

Malawi

Zambia

Zimbabwe Mazambique

Madagascar

Mauritius

Namibia

Botswana

Reunion

Serving: Angola, Botswana, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Reunion, Zambia, Zimbabwe

Pray for

• the services to be a testimony in the quality of their work, as they support the countries in the region in reaching those living and dying without Christ

• those working in the service centre to serve Him faithfully and grow in Him daily Prayer Notes

30

135

Faithful Witness

‘“Everyone who calls on the

name of the Lord will be saved.”

How can they believe in Him

when they have not heard? How

can they hear if there is no one

proclaiming Him?’

Romans 10:13-14.

Vision

Faithful Witness in Forgotten Communities is an SIM initiative designed to facilitate ministry in places where there is no gospel witness or where that witness needs strengthening. Faithful Witness is helping fund workers from diverse contexts, so they can go to new locations. The programme also provides training and mobilises a broad prayer network. Our vision is to build multi-cultural, multi-skilled teams who will, by prayer, help the gospel message take root in these communities. We have launched teams in the Middle East, eastern Chad, Mali, northern Nigeria, Thailand, North Africa, Asia, and East Asia.

Prayer Notes

30

136

Day 30

Communities where Christ is least known

Ayutthaya, Thailand, is an important centre of Buddhist worship. Only 0.01% of its people

know Jesus. Ask for spiritual protection of the Faithful Witness team. May they experience

joy and fruitfulness as they build relationships with youth.

In one Asian region of 70 million people,

less than 0.1% know the one true God.

Politically, this land can be hostile to the gospel message and to minority groups. Pray for deep relationships to grow among believers. Ask for God’s clear guidance and wisdom as Christians love and serve their community.

In the Middle East, a team is being established in a large, neglected community with little Christian witness but great spiritual need. Living in a land of political oppression and economic mismanagement, people are without hope.

Malian Christian converts are few and may suffer isolation and hardship. Pray for the Moor people, among the poorest in the world. Ask wisdom as workers seek how best to serve and respond to physical and spiritual need.

Praise God for workers and their families living among the Fulani people group in two locations in northern Nigeria. May their unity in Christ be a living, transforming witness of Jesus.

Chad has less Christians than any other African nation. Living amid instability, human need, and chronic lack of food and water, ask for protection of the diverse mission team, and fruit as the good news of Jesus is shared.

Pray for

• the spiritual forces of evil (Ephesians 6:10-20) would not impeded the gospel. May faithful witnesses stand strong in the Lord as they fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel

• more workers (Luke 10:2)

• united teams of faithful witnesses to bring many to believe in Jesus (John 17:20-21)

• us to stay in step with Jesus, led by the Holy Spirit and guided by God’s word 30

137

SIM Worldwide

Equippers for the harvest

Lord, we pray that:

• Bible training campuses and programmes will nurture students in a lifelong commitment to being and making disciples and will maintain a biblical, mission-integrated worldview.

• Pastors will cultivate a passion for the gospel, locally and globally, in their congregations. Bless these shepherds with spiritual refreshment and empowerment in ministry.

• SIM workers will offer godly encouragement and counsel as people consider and prepare for cross-cultural gospel ministry.

Workers for the harvest

Lord of the harvest, we pray:

• That you will call and send workers from the global church to form flourishing, multi-ethnic and multi-skilled SIM teams who will proclaim your good news to those who live and die without it.

• That these workers’ children will wholeheartedly follow Jesus. Develop in them resilience in the face of multiple farewells, cultural adaptations, physical and spiritual stresses and re-entry to their passport countries.

• For all our SIM teams to thrive in their relationships with you and with each other and to grow in ministry competency and effectiveness, well-being and resilience.

Prayer Notes

31

138

Day 31

Partners for the harvest

Lord, we thank you for:

• The many who sacrificially release their children and grandchildren to you for kingdom service, their finances to support those who go and their time to faithfully pray for SIM workers and ministries. Prosper them. Fill them with the joy of the harvest!

• Christ-centred churches with a vision to fulfil your mission across cultures, locally and globally, extending your church to the ends of the earth.

31

139

Prayer for Renewal

• Lord, we offer ourselves to you.

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God — this is your true and proper worship.

Romans 12:1

Forgive us when we hold back parts of ourselves.

Help us to consecrate every part of our beings to you.

• Renew our minds.

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.

Romans 12:2a

Forgive us for polluting our minds with the world’s values.

Help us to saturate our minds with your word and your wisdom.

• Align our wills with your will.

Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is — his good, pleasing, and perfect will.

Romans 12:2b

Forgive us for asserting our own will and our own rights.

Help us to understand, affirm, and joyfully carry out your will.

• Give us hearts that overflow with thanksgiving.

Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

EphEsians 5:19b-20.

Forgive us when our hearts are choked with bitterness and pride.

Help us to praise you with heartfelt songs and thanksgiving.

• Keep our eyes fixed on Jesus.

And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.

hEbREws 12:1b-2a.

Forgive us for fixing our eyes on ourselves, and on the “giants in the land”.

Help us to focus on the wonderful person and saving work of Jesus.

31

140

Day 31

• Teach our tongues to strengthen others.

The Sovereign LORD has given me a well-instructed tongue, To know the word that sustains the weary.

isaiah 50:4a

Forgive us when our words tear down and discourage others.

Help us to speak words that refresh, encourage, and build up one another.

• Waken our ears to receive your instructions.

He wakens me morning by morning,

wakens my ear to listen like one being instructed.

The Sovereign LORD has opened my ears.

isaiah 50:4b, 5a

Forgive us when our ears are attuned to Satan’s whispers and our own voices of self-pity.

Help us to daily discern and follow the voice of your Spirit.

• Establish the work of our hands.

May the favour of the Lord our God rest on us; establish the work of our hands for us —

yes, establish the work of our hands.

psalm 90:17

Forgive us when our hands are negligent.

Help us do careful, quality work for your kingdom.

• Direct our feet on the gospel path.

How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, “Your God reigns!”

isaiah 52:7

Forgive us when we sit at home and keep the gospel to ourselves.

Help us to go out and proclaim the good news as you lead us.

• Lord, may we honour you with our bodies!

Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore, honour God with your bodies.

1 CoRinthians 6:19-20

Forgive us when our actions and attitudes bring dishonour to your name.

Help us honour you with every member of our bodies and every aspect of our beings!

In the powerful name of Jesus, Amen.

31

141

Day 31

Partnerships

Additional countries where SIM workers serve Burundi

Cameroon

Working with Serge Medical Team, we

Please pray for wisdom for the board and

are training medical professionals and

general directorate in all the decisions

students. We ask for prayer that our

they have to make. Please also pray that

teaching would be blessed - that those

churches and communities embrace the

we teach would gain not only medical

vision of CABTAL and get fully involved

knowledge but also how to love and care

in the translation and development

for patients with the love of Christ.

projects.

Central Asia

Eurasia

Pray to the Lord of the harvest to send

Please pray for our health because we are

workers to Central Asia who are humble,

living in a place with a very harsh climate.

teachable and love both God and people.

May the Lord keep us both in good health

Pray for relationships with local leaders

to serve him. Please pray for good work

as we explore suitable opportunities to

and a good communion in the Bible’s

serve with them. Pray the Central Asian

translation team.

Christians would continue to take the

Papua New Guinea

gospel to other parts of the world. Pray

PNG is poorly developed with many

for theological resources to become

health issues. People have turned to

accessible to local leaders.

Christ and churches are widespread, but

Chad

they struggle with false teaching and

Pray for the Mobi people who originally

tribalism. Pray for more training of church come from the Mangalme area. Pray they

leaders, who can bring unity and holistic

would hear the good news and know the

growth to communities.

love of Christ. Pray for the growing number Uganda of new SIM workers serving in many

We work at Kampala Evangelical School of

different ministries across Chad. Pray for

Theology (KEST) and Emmanuel Children’s

perseverance and hope in hardship. Pray

Outreach (ECO) in Uganda. Our main

for local leaders wherever SIM works that

prayer request is that we will be able to

they be blessed with wisdom and strength.

return to those ministries. Fridah can’t

They deal with most conflicts in families,

leave the US until her Green Card is

villages and tribes.

approved. The pandemic has closed the

Colombia

Uganda borders as well as KEST and ECO.

31 Pray that those who are hearing God’s call Pray for safety for AIM AIR, partners in

to serve in mission will be bold to respond Uganda, as they fly throughout East Africa and that their churches will be too.

serving various ministries.

142