Introduction

In the morning, O LORD, you will hear

my voice; in the morning I will order

my prayer to you and eagerly watch.

Psalm 5:3

The night our son was born, my daughter and I left my wife, in this psalm. This year I invite us to approach God like David, Joanna, and our new son in the hospital to go share the bringing to Him our praises and concerns as his loved children.

news with our colleagues at an evening service. On the way, Even when we have prayed and the situation worsens, as it did my two-year-old daughter turned to me and said, “Let’s pray for for my wife, let us choose tenacity in prayer. Let us lift our voices mummy.” I did not know why she felt the need to pray at that to the Lord, morning, and night.

moment, but we did.

Surely, we have much to lament. We remember those Later we returned to the hospital and took my wife and son infected and affected by COVID-19, especially families mourning home. Within hours, Joanna developed very high blood pressure the loss of loved ones, so let us cry out to the one who is the with a severe headache. We took her back to the hospital where resurrection and life. We think of those who are sick, so let she was admitted for three days. I don’t know how the Lord used us lift our voices to our healer. We are living through political the prayers of my daughter and I that evening, but over the next upheavals in many nations, so let us bring our anxieties to our three days, we lifted our voice to the Lord together many times, Prince of Peace. We are enduring economic hardships globally, asking for healing, waiting and watching in expectation.

so let us offer our groanings to Jehovah Jireh, who dresses even In Psalm 5:1-2, we read a song attributed to David, written for the lilies in splendour.

the choir director and composed for flute accompaniment. It is a Though we acknowledge our deep lament, we acknowledge prayer song, and the prayer rings with freedom before God and our highest hope: the risen Saviour! This new Prayer Guide in expectation of Him: reveals countless current and future opportunities for making disciples where this Saviour is least known well as bringing Give ear to my words, O LORD, comfort to those who sorrow and grieve. May this year be one Consider my groaning.

of faithful, resilient prayer on behalf of the millions who are Heed the sound of my cry for help,

suffering and living behind barriers to the gospel.

my King and my God,

Like my daughter, let us in simple faith cry to our God and For to You I pray.

Father who hears his children. Let us order our prayers in the In the morning, O LORD, You will hear my voice; morning and let us resolve to eagerly watch through the heat of In the morning I will order my prayer to You the day, expecting his favour and mercy in the evening.

and eagerly watch.

Joshua Bogunjoko

The freedom with which my two-year-old daughter asked SIM International Director

that we call upon the Lord is the same freedom David expresses

2

3

Purpose and Mission

Vision

Convinced that

The vision of SIM is to see

no one should live and die

• a witness to Christ’s love where He is least known, without hearing God’s good news,

• disciples of Jesus expressing God’s love in their communities, we believe that He has called us

• and Christ-centred churches among all peoples.

to make disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ in communities where He is least known.

By faith we see…

in the world:

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

• A vibrant testimony to the gospel through character, word, Holy Spirit…

and action among communities where currently Jesus is least

• We cross barriers to proclaim the crucified and risen Christ, known.

expressing his love and compassion among those who live

• Followers of Jesus living out the gospel in unity and in the and die without Him.

power of the Holy Spirit, making disciples who trust Him,

• We make disciples who will trust and obey Jesus, and become obey Him, and play a full part in church life.

part of Christ-centred churches.

• Churches serving their communities and reaching out with

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

cultures locally and globally.

• We facilitate the participation in cross-cultural ministry of in SIM:

those whom God is calling.

• 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.

6

7

SIM Core Values

We are a Gospel community that is:

1 Committed to Biblical Truth

6 Concerned About Human Needs

We are committed to biblical truth and joyfully affirm historic, We humbly acknowledge that the ultimate human need is to evangelical Christianity. With courage, we declare to the nations know God. We also believe that He has called us to carry out the good news of new life in Jesus Christ.

compassionate, holistic service in this broken world by alleviating 2

suffering, fostering development and affecting change in society.

Dependent on God

“By prayer” and in faith, we depend on God for the provision of 7 A Christlike Community all of our needs. We will demonstrate diligence, integrity, sharing We desire to be a transformational community dedicated and accountability in cultivating and using the resources God to becoming like Christ in love, servanthood, holiness and provides.

obedience to the Father. We believe that following Christ’s 3

example means sacrifice, hardship at times and perhaps even

A People of Prayer

death.

Prayer is foundational in our life and ministry. “By prayer” we praise God, seek His direction, request resources and call upon 8 A Learning, Growing Community the Holy Spirit to empower our ministries.

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

4

and of those we seek to serve. As enduring disciplines, we

Mission-Focused

practice giving and receiving discipleship, life-long learning, We are committed to the urgent and unfinished task of making consultative leadership, mutual development and training.

disciples of Jesus Christ in all nations. In doing this, we desire to work in loving, trusting, interdependent relationships with 9 Strengthened Through Diversity churches and other partners who share our vision.

We are intentionally interdenominational, international and 5

multi-ethnic. We believe we will become more effective in

Church-Centred

ministry as we incorporate the richness of cultural diversity in We are committed to being a mission organisation that SIM and celebrate our oneness in Christ.

establishes, nurtures and equips churches to be an expression of Christ in their communities and reach out with cross-cultural, 10 Responsive to Our Times missional vision and action.

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.

8

9

Angola

Day 1

1

Communities where Christ is least known 1

Ovangambwe

LUANDA

The Ovangambwe, a sub-group of VaNyaneka,

live in southwestern Angola. Their lives

revolve around keeping cattle. There has been Luena

resistance to the gospel, especially amongst Missao de Cavango

Declare His glory among the

the elders, who say they are too old and set in nations, His marvelous deeds

their ways to change. One church and three Lubango

Catota

among all peoples. For great is

preaching points are established among this Monongue

the Lord and most worthy of

people group.

Rio de Huila

praise; He is to be feared above

Ovamwila

all gods.

The Ovamwila, also a sub-group of VaNyaneka, Psalm 96:3,4

are largely rural subsistence farmers and often live remotely. In recent years, many Ovamwila have come to Christ; however, the majority Vision have not heard the good news. A project to In a culturally, linguistically and economically diverse environment, SIM Angola translate the Bible is in a very early stage.

partners with churches to make disciples of Christ in communities where He is least known, training and mentoring individuals and groups through diverse ministries, MuCubal and Muhimba including agriculture, healthcare and teaching God’s Word.

Living in the southwestern region of Angola, the majority of MuCubal and Muhimba

Ministry

live without the gospel. They are semi-nomadic, raising cattle and goats. The region in

• Agricultural development

which they live often deals with drought and hardship. Efforts are underway to send

• Healthcare, including surgical care, rural clinics and obstetric fistula care medical personnel to this region.

• Disciple-making

• VaNyaneka Bible translation and literacy programme

• Theological education for local pastors and church leaders Pray for

• Training pastors and church leaders in youth engagement and ministry

• continued good working relationships with Angolan church leaders in each area of ministry.

• wisdom for how to prioritise and respond to many demands on time and resources.

• additional personnel, particularly in the ministries of health, theological education and youth ministry.

• more workers to train local churches and begin new outreach to the youth of Angola.

Prayer Notes

10

11

Australia

Day 1

1

Communities where Christ is least known 1

Increasing secularization

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

Brisbane

While 52.1 per cent of Australians identify themselves in some way as Christian, The harvest is plentiful but only 8 per cent regularly attend church. Antagonism is increasing (especially in the Perth

Sydney

the workers are few. Ask the

media) towards the Church and its perceived Adelaide

Lord of the harvest, therefore,

intolerance and authoritarianism.

CANBERRA

to send out workers into His

Immigrants, refugees, overseas

Melbourne

harvest field.

students

matthew 9:37, 38

With 30 per cent of the population born

overseas and more than 625,000 international students each year, Australia is one of the Vision

most culturally diverse nations in the world.

Our heart is to make disciples of Christ in communities where He is least known.

These immigrants and students have brought a In dependence on God, we partner with Australian churches to equip and send out variety of religions with them. To faithfully reach cross-cultural mission workers to make the gospel global.

these people groups in our own backyard, SIM

Australia has developed a local ministry called Ministry

Across. Across helps SIM mission workers within

• To follow Jesus in His mission, both in Australia and overseas Australia to reach communities that have yet to • To inspire and partner with churches, in order for them to fulfil God’s local, hear the gospel, such as migrants, refugees, and crosscultural, and global mission university students.

• To mobilise and equip mission workers to reach the least-reached with the gospel

• As stewards, to provide efficient and effective support services to help churches, missionaries, donors, and prayer partners to do their works of service Pray for • To promote ways for people to play their parts in God’s global mission, whether

• Australian Christians to be bold witnesses, demonstrating the love of Christ to those be through ministry opportunities, prayerful support, or financial partnership those who oppose them, and to be revived once again in their faith so they can cross barriers to make Christ known.

• everyone at SIM Australia to follow Jesus closely and be empowered for effective and fruitful work, as we facilitate more people, prayer, and funds for Christ’s mission.

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

Prayer Notes

• SIM Australia, as we seek ways to partner with churches in growing and refining their cross-cultural mission.

• the Lord of the Harvest to raise up more churches and workers in communities where Christ is least known, including the more volatile regions.

• more believers to discover the parts they can play in God’s global mission (whether it be through serving on the field, or serving as a prayerful and/or financial partner).

12

13

Bangladesh

Day 2

Communities where Christ is least known 2

2

Bengali

The Bengali are the largest ethnic community in Bangladesh, a densely populated country of more than 160 million people. Bengalis are Rajshahi conversational, hospitable, and community

Gazipur

Comilla

He told them, “The harvest

minded people. Many of them revere God but is plentiful, but the workers

don’t know the Good News as presented in

DHAKA

Faridpur

are few. Ask the Lord of the

the Bible.

harvest, therefore, to send out

The capital, Dhaka, is home to more

workers into His harvest field.”

than 18 million people. Floods and cyclones luke 10:2

frequently bring suffering to this country where many already live in poverty.

Vision

Pray for

We desire to see people from all backgrounds loving the Creator with all their hearts

• local partners in outreach work.

and loving their neighbours and their communities as themselves.

• the formation of communities who love

their Creator and each other.

Ministry

• our workers to adapt well to the new

• Partnering with local people for outreach work realities of life in Bangladesh during the

• Children’s Uplift Programme: working with women and their children who are COVID-19 pandemic, including increased vulnerable or are survivors of human trafficking risk and decreased face-to-face communication.

• Arsenic poisoning prevention programme: providing education, filters and

• victims of human trafficking, mostly women and children, who face terrible treatment for arsenic poisoning, a common ailment in Bangladesh circumstances and often lose hope that they will obtain freedom.

• Transformation centres: providing education opportunities, such as English

• a favourable relationship with the Bangladeshi government.

language classes and primary classes for children in the slum 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

14

15

Benin

Day 2

Communities where Christ is least known 2

Simpérou

2

Kandi

Monkolé

Natitingou

The Monkolé people live near Kandi

Bembéréké

in the north of Benin and number

Sinéndé

approximately 40,000. The Monkolé

Djougou

are mainly subsistence farmers. They

Parakou

As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, produce corn, millet, peanuts and

and do not return to it without watering the earth beans for personal use and cotton for

and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed export. Many young Monkolés have at

for the sower and bread for the eater, so is My word least attended primary school.

that goes out from My mouth: It will not return to Me Most Monkolés follow the majority

PORTO NOVO

empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve religion of the north of Benin, but

the purpose for which I sent it.

many combine this with traditional

COTONOU

IsaIah 55:10-11

beliefs and practices. In the 1970s,

a handful of Monkolé men became

Christians, and today there are

Vision

two Monkolé churches, with several hundred members. The New Testament in the In a spirit of collaboration, we see Benin churches becoming mature, missional, Monkolé language was published in 2007, and the complete Bible is projected to be dynamic, filled with disciples obedient to the Word of God, imitators of Christ, ready for distribution in early 2022. The New Testament was recorded in 2018, and dependent on the Holy Spirit, and full of compassion. In unity, we see these Christian messages in Monkolé are broadcast three times a week from a community disciples of all ages serving according to their gifts for the glory of God.

radio station in Kandi.

Ministry

There are tensions in the churches between the older and the younger generations,

• Bible translation and literacy

but there are also some believers who have persevered through extremely difficult

• Radio outreach across 19 different languages circumstances. For many years, there has only been one trained Monkolé pastor, but a • Evangelism through training and discipleship in Muslim communities young Monkolé Christian is now in his second year of theological training in Benin.

• Medical work

• Theological education

• Leadership development

Pray for

• the younger generation of Monkolé believers, that they will have a firm personal faith and a desire to share the Good News of Jesus with those around them.

• the Monkolé Bible to be read, studied, and understood by Monkolé believers and those who do not yet believe.

• listeners, who will be ready and willing to accept the truth of the gospel as it is broadcast via community radio stations.

• more personnel and resources to strengthen the administrative capacity of local Prayer Notes

Bible schools and church partners.

• labourers willing to work among the Monkolé, Weno and Sola people groups.

16

17

Bolivia

Day 3

Communities where Christ is least known Special needs children

3

Bolivian society often overlooks the challenges 3

faced by children with special needs and their families. SIM Bolivia is targeting this least reached sector of Bolivian society, to help provide LA PAZ

Therefore I tell you, whatever

education and serve the needs of these children Santa Cruz

you ask for in prayer, believe

and their families.

Cochabamba

that you have received it, and it

SIM missionaries who will spearhead this

SUCRE

will be yours.

ministry are currently getting further education and Potosi

mark 11:24

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 Vision of Bolivia. They have moved to cities in search of To see Bolivians incarnating the gospel in their community, country, and world.

work, educational opportunities for their children, Ministry

and a better lifestyle.

• Evangelising and discipling professionals SIM workers partner with small congregations of

• Outreach to shoe shiners

Quechua migrants who live on the expanding urban

• Outreach to Quechuas in urban and rural areas fringe. Our workers are helping build capacity in

• Developing current and future Church leaders these churches, so that the congregations will be

• Ministering to special needs children

better able to reach their own people with the

• Collaborating with the Bolivian Church to raise up missionaries gospel.

Pray for

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

• 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 creative outreaches to bring people closer to Him.

• partner ministries, including COPROMEC (which produces Sunday school material), Prayer Notes

Mosoj Chaski radio (which reaches Quechuas), 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.

18

19

Botswana

Day 3

Communities where Christ is least known Remote area dwel ers of the Kalahari Desert 3

3

The San are considered to have the oldest culture Francistown

in the world. Beautiful San rock art can be seen Rakops

throughout southern Africa, where the San lived as hunter-gatherers. The San are expert hunters, And how can anyone preach using bows and poison-tipped arrows. Hunting is unless they are sent? As it is

a collaborative exercise, and the meat is always Ukwi

Kang

written: “How beautiful are

shared among the group.

the feet of those who bring

Over the past 2,000 years, the San have

GABORONE

good news!”

slowly been pushed to live in the arid sands of romans 10:15

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 that the San used to hunt on is Vision increasingly being used for grazing cattle.

By faith, we see:

In partnership with the Africa Evangelical Church, SIM has engaged with the !Xoon

• Every person in Botswana having the opportunity to respond to the Good News, San of the Kalahari for over 30 years. For the first 16 years, the ministry was carried growing in obedience to God, and becoming part of a local church fellowship.

out by full-time missionaries living in the desert. These missionaries retired in 2018,

• A renewed and strong partnership with African Evangelical Church (AEC) and leaving a translation of the Gospel of Luke, around 90 recorded Bible stories, Sunday other denominations, as SIM Botswana walks alongside them to fulfil the Great School material, and a worship CD as their legacy — as well as local translators who Commission.

now carry on this work.

Ministry

• Children and youth ministry

Pray for

• Disciple making

• God to reveal his vision for SIM Botswana.

• Batswana 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 missionaries.

• 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 Prayer Notes daily lives.

• people bound by animistic traditions to be set free.

20

21

Burkina Faso

Day 4

Communities where Christ is least known Internally displaced people

While Burkina Faso had previously been known 4

for its stability, recent terrorist activity has led 4

to an epidemic of internally displaced people.

O UAGADOUGOU

Since 2019, an estimated 600,000 people have The light shines in the

been displaced from their homes by violence.

darkness, and the darkness

Many of these people are living in makeshift has not overcome it.

refugee camps, where water and food supplies John 1:5

can be scarce. Several camps have themselves become targets of violence, causing a second displacement for those who have taken refuge there. Other displaced people are seeking shelter with extended family, which can put Vision

already fragile financial situations under We strive to glorify God by making disciples of the people in Burkina Faso, by extreme stress. Almost 90 per cent of displaced proclaiming Jesus Christ as we minister to human needs and teach sound doctrine, in people cannot afford food, according to an order to equip the local Church in her growth and partner with her as she ministers to analysis done in December 2019.

those unreached by the Good News of Jesus.

Most people in Burkina Faso depend on

their farms for their food and their livelihood.

Ministry

With the current unrest, large portions of

• Scripture translation and audio production farming land are not accessible due to security

• English classes as a base for evangelism risks and fear, leading to a threat of artificial

• Evangelism and discipleship Medical centres famine.

• Theological education

As a result of the violence, schools,

• Ministry to at-risk young women

churches, and village markets continue to

• Ministry among street boys

close. By mid-March 2020, 2,500 schools had

• Community development and well drilling closed due to attacks or insecurity, denying

• Ministries to people with disabilities

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 Prayer Notes

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.

22

23

Canada

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

4

through the immigration process. They

To the weak I became weak,

represent one in five persons in Canada. This to win the weak. I have

is an opportunity for Canadians to share the Edmonton

become all things to all

gospel in communities where Christ is least winnipeg

people so that by all possible

known, right in our own backyard. Immigrants Montreal

means I might save some.

in Canada list more than 200 places of birth Vancouver

OTTAWA

Halifax

1 CorInthIans 9:22

outside of their adopted country.

Toronto

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

Canada.

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.

Pray for

• missionaries working in difficult contexts.

Ministry

• our largely secular society to hear and

• Urban least-reached communities

understand the Good News.

• First Nations ministry

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

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

• SIM to serve the local Canadian Church well.

community)

• wisdom for the SIM Canada national office staff to help facilitate and prepare

• Mobilising, training, and providing support services to mission workers people for overseas or local ministry.

Prayer Notes

24

25

Chile

Day 5

Communities where Christ is least known Helping empower the Chilean church

The Chilean evangelical church is part of

a growing worldwide missions movement.

SANTIAGO

Talagante

Our focus is to come alongside and

5

support the Church in making disciples

5

Temuco

You then, my son, be strong in the

of the Lord Jesus Christ in communities

grace that is in Christ Jesus. And

where He is least known. In partnership

the things you have heard me say

with ProVisión, a Chilean sending agency,

in the presence of many witnesses

we work to empower the Chilean church

entrust to reliable people who will

to grow in its ability and commitment to

also be qualified to teach others.

send workers to serve where Christ is

2 tImothy 2:1–2

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 Vision

and to reach out to the communities of university students and migrants who are Compelled by God’s great love, we want to see churches with trained leaders, living and dying without Christ.

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 Pray for and dying without Christ inside and outside of Chile.

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

Ministry

• Chilean pastors and church leaders as they lead their congregations through times

• Missions mobilisation

of social unrest and economic downturn.

• Partnership with ProVisión, a Chilean mission agency

• Chilean missionaries to flourish spiritually, physically, emotionally, and financially.

• Church leadership development

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

• Disciple making

country.

• Seminary by Extension to All Nations (SEAN)

• protection for at-risk children. Pray that their contact with Christians will be a

• Education and evangelism with kids at risk testimony of Christ’s love.

• Koyamentu Training and Retreat Centre

• the Koyamentu Training and Retreat Centre to facilitate renewal, transformation,

• Marriage and family ministries in church contexts and training for Chilean churches and missionaries.

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

Prayer Notes

26

27

Côte d’Ivoire

Day 6

Communities where Christ is least known Odienné

Ferkessedougou

The Jula (Dioula) and the Maninka (Malinké) Korhogo

The Jula and Maninka people groups have been en

Muslim since the 1400s. They had good relations Mo w

with animist neighbours and tried to convert Bouaké

them to Islam by setting a good example rather ulani F

Man

6

than by force.

three 6

Do you not say, ‘Four months more

A church has recently been planted in the

YAMOUSSOUKRO

Abengourou

and then the harvest’? I tell you, open

heart of Jula country, focused on reaching the your eyes and look at the fields! They

Jula. Pray for our team members as they seek to are ripe to harvest.

establish a school to train more evangelists for ABIDJAN

John 4:35

this people group.

San-Pedro

The Fulani

Living alongside the Jula, but keeping themselves very distinct, are the proud Fulani people. Their Vision history is deeply Islamic, but they were rulers SIM Côte d’Ivoire glorifies God by working in partnership with the Body of Christ to and warriors who converted with force. We make disciples of all nations and equip them to transform society.

are exploring the possibility of a new ministry amongst these precious people who live in the Ministry north of Côte d’Ivoire.

• Theological education

ichel M

• Leadership development

reyD

• Radio outreach

Pray for

: au

• Church planting

to

• God to anoint the gospel as it goes forth via ho

• Community development

. P

radio in the north and southwest of Côte

• Disciple making

ving

d’Ivoire.

• Street children ministry

wea

• wisdom and equipment to establish a new

• Ministry to women

radio station in San Pedro.

Dioula

• strong local churches to be raised up among the Ivorian Maninka and Jula.

• a disciple-making movement to emerge in Maninka and Jula ministry homes, villages, and even mosques.

• God to direct plans for a Jula evangelist training school.

• the development of projects for ministry to street children and women.

• God’s guidance as we explore a potential ministry amongst the Fulani.

Prayer Notes

• God to raise up prayer support for each of our ministries.

30

31

East African Office

Day 6

Communities where Christ is least known Sudan

Eritrea

Fulani people groups

The Fulani population is made up of 40

Djibouti

million

people in 20 West African countries. The

Ethiopia

South

East

Sudan

6

Then I heard the voice of the

African Office has already sent out five

6

Somalia

Lord saying, “Whom shall I send?

missionary families to serve amongst the

Uganda

And who will go for us?” And I

Fulani.

Kenya

said, “Here am I. Send me!”

We thank God that the call to reach this

Rwanda

IsaIah 6:8

people group is growing tremendously. As

Burundi

a result of your continuous prayer, we have Tanzania

been able to send another five missionaries to the West Africa region, focusing on

Fulani people groups. We thank God for the response of local churches in the East Africa Vision

region to the call to serve Fulani people

By faith, we see mission-minded churches in East Africa fully engaged in global groups.

outreach, sending their missionaries to join communities around the world. Our purpose is to serve East African churches as they participate in the global mission.

Pray for

Ministry

• increased capacity for the East African Office to send and train missionaries.

The East African Office helps African churches mobilise, equip, train, and send East

• protection and guidance for all who are involved in making decisions to place African missionaries around the world to serve with SIM and its partner mission missionaries in the global mission field, as we deal with COVID-19’s effects and agencies in gospel ministry. Our global workers serve in: aftermath.

• Evangelism and disciple making

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

• Church planting

globally.

• Radio ministry

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

• Leadership training and theological education them to serve in missions.

• Youth ministry

• Culture and language learning

Prayer Notes

32

33

East Asia

Day 7

Communities where Christ is least known The Hakka

Japan

The Hakka people (one of the Han Chinese groups) comprise about 18 per cent of the population of Taiwan and form the second-largest ethnic group on the island. While Shillong Christians form about 5 per cent of Taiwan’s population, the Christian population Hong Kong

India

Taiwan

among the Hakkas is less than 0.5 per cent. The goddess of the sea, Ma-zhu, is widely As you go, proclaim this message: ‘The worshipped among the Hakka people, especially among the fishermen. Our initial kingdom of heaven has come near.’ Heal ministry strategy is to mobilise Hakka Christians in existing churches to reach out to 7

the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those

Philippines

the Hakkas, and to partner with churches to plant new churches in areas where there 7

who have leprosy, drive out demons.

Malaysia

are communities that are made up predominately of Hakka people and have little or Freely you have received; freely give.

Singapore

no Christian witness.

Indonesia

matthew 10:7–8

Pray for

Vision

• efforts to reach the least-reached communities in Taiwan, which is now a SIM

We envision churches in East Asia glorifying God by partnering with the global exploratory field, through missionaries from around the world and within Taiwan.

Church, SIM, and our supporting constituencies in sending missionaries to the least

• God to supply the needed funds for SIM East Asia’s projected growth, operation, reached, while also receiving missionaries in certain countries of East Asia. Together, ministries, and projects.

as God’s people, we commit ourselves willingly and joyfully to be involved in

• wisdom and resources in developing the capacity in the region to receive furthering the cause of the Great Commission, through praying, giving, mobilising, missionaries.

going, and receiving missionaries.

• our newly appointed regional director, Watson Rajaratnam, and his wife, Viji, to quickly adapt to their new environment and ministries as key leaders in SIM East Ministry Asia. Pray for wisdom, creativity, and resourcefulness for the Rajaratnams.

The staff of the East Asia Office coordinates and supervises the efforts of constituent sending and receiving entities, and provides services in the areas of: • Promotion

• Administration, supervision, and

• Mobilisation of churches and

development of receiving contexts

individuals

• Crisis management and contingency

• Candidate screening and selection

planning

• Mentoring and orientation

• Care for children of cross-cultural

• Information coordination

workers

• Church-mission partnerships

• Pastoral care and prayer

Prayer Notes

34

35

Ecuador

Day 7

Communities where Christ is least known Rural population of the southern province of Loja QUITO

Facing traditionalism, other belief systems and family and community persecution of

those seeking truth, SIM works alongside

All this is from God, who reconciled us to the few Christians in the southern rural

Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry Guayaquil

province of Loja. We use Bible storytelling of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the to teach and disciple believers in small 7

El Cisne

world to himself in Christ, not counting men’s home churches. We hope to train a leader

7

Loja

sins against them. And He has committed to us for every small town in the province, so the Gonzanama the message of reconciliation.

Suro (Yangana)

Good News can be spread to even more

Cariamanga

Amaluza

2 CorInthIans 5:18–19

remote areas.

Youth

Ecuador’s mean age is 27, with 69 per cent of its people under age 49. Many youths —

Vision

disillusioned by their parents’ traditional, works-oriented religion — are desperate for As a team of Christ’s ambassadors, SIM Ecuador exists in love to proclaim and to live the truth, but atheism and other religions are growing. SIM reaches out with biblical out Christ’s message of reconciliation. We do so in the power and for the glory truth to youths and university students through social media, English ministries and of God. In partnership with the Church, we want to make disciples of the Lord Jesus evangelical groups on campuses. We plan to expand to more campuses this year and Christ in communities where He is least known.

to begin a Sports Friends ministry in the rural areas, but more workers are needed.

Ministry

Economical y vulnerable

• Waves of Hope radio station

The strict and lengthy quarantines during the pandemic caused great disruption to

• Equipping church leaders (Equipping Servants theological education programme, wage earners trying to provide for their families, especially those who had no Growing Pastors bookshop, and training conferences) savings and depended on daily income. SIM’s compassion ministry provides medical • Compassion ministries (medical aid, finance management, business as mission, and counseling services, as well as teaching financial management and family family gardens, counselling, and trauma healing) gardens to help people make the most of their resources. Each lesson is combined • Planting and strengthening rural churches (evangelism, discipleship, and training) with biblical principles, in order to meet spiritual needs and share about Jesus.

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

• Mission mobilisation

Pray for

• Missionary kids (academic and spiritual growth)

• Radio Hope to receive government approval for its AM and FM frequencies, and to

• Administration

broadcast gospel messages that would 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.

Prayer Notes

• 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.

36

37

Eritrea

Day 8

Communities where Christ is least known Tigre

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

Keren

1800s. Although they profess to be Sunni

Muslims, most practice Folk Islam, which is ASMARA

a blend of Islam and animistic beliefs. For I consider that our present

example, they offer sacrifices of livestock or sufferings are not worth

corn when they think their sins are numerous, comparing with the glory that

8

believing that the sacrifice becomes the

will be revealed in us.

8

scapegoat for their sins. The Tigre also believe romans 8:18

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.

Vision

The Tigre are traditionally nomadic

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

shepherds, and although many are still

ministries have been closed, and evangelical Christians in Eritrea are undergoing nomads, most are semi-nomadic. Others have severe persecution.

become settled farmers. The Tigre in Eritrea Today, SIM supports a radio ministry, broadcasting to Eritrea and Eritreans in the have suffered from recent droughts, famine diaspora in the Tigrinya language. The vision of this ministry is to see the current and civil war.

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 Pray for church, actively participate in making disciples and become leaders with integrity.

• peace and stability in Eritrea.

• more Tigrinya-speaking workers to help produce effective audio broadcasts to Ministry

Eritrea and beyond.

• Radio Outreach

• 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, and also for their families.

• 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 Prayer Notes those who do not yet know Him.

38

39

Ethiopia

Day 8

Communities where Christ is least known Mekelle

Children and youth

Well over half of Ethiopia (approximately 102

Bahir Dar

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 ADDIS ABABA God our Savior desires all

people to be saved and to

have limited opportunities to come to know Jimma

SOMALI

come to a knowledge of

Christ and become his followers.

8

REGION

the truth.

Vulnerable

8

1 tImothy 2:4

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 Vision street boys are at risk of being trafficked.

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 Pray for alone may be genuinely worshipped by every person.

• business leaders, community leaders and church leaders who have significant roles in Ministry their contexts and are strategically placed to have an impact where Christ is least We strive to expand the Church’s capacity in: known.

• Reaching children and youth

• Outreach to Muslims

• children and youth ministries in Ethiopian churches, communities and projects, that

• Caring for the vulnerable

• Medical ministry

they will have sufficient people and resources to serve families needing biblical

• Engaging with community influencers

• Discipling and equipping church

discipleship.

• Mentoring and training in Orthodox

leaders

• recruitment of excellent teachers who can serve at Bingham Academy with a communities

passion for making disciples among students and advancing missions outreach.

We strive to resource ministry efforts through:

• greater interdependent teamwork and healthy ministry relationships.

• Effectively communicating SIM’s vision and mandate to provide a clear, shared

• churches and their leaders to become more willing to care about and show Christ’s focus for all who are part of SIM Ethiopia love to neighbours in their communities.

• Missionary Kid education

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

• Print and radio media

• healthier church partnerships and ongoing effective disciple-making initiatives.

• churches empowered for missional outreach.

Prayer Notes

40

41

France

Day 9

Communities where Christ is least known Foreign students

PARISStrasbourg

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

Montbeliard

Tours

largest group (more than 42,000), but there are Nantes

It has always been my ambition

also many Algerians (31,000), Chinese (28,000) to preach the gospel where

La Rochelle

and Tunisians (13,000). Almost 51 per cent of Christ was not known, so that

France’s foreign students come from Africa, I would not be building on

including the Maghreb region.

Bergerac

someone else’s foundation.

Foreign students are often open to the

Caderousse

romans 15.20

gospel, but more workers are needed.

9

Currently, only one SIM worker ministers

9

among them.

Muslim community

The Muslim community in France is

Vision

approximately nine per cent of the total

By faith, we see God mobilising his children to share the Good News of salvation with population. This figure includes all the those whose hearts have been prepared by the Holy Spirit.

immigrants coming from predominantly Muslim SIM France is called by God to mobilise Christians and inform the Church of countries. Studies give an estimate of 70,000

opportunities in missions, train those called to serve, facilitate their tasks, and support to 110,000 Christians among this group. A large part of the community is second, them through prayer and care.

third, or even fourth generation immigrants.

We rejoice in the Lord each time God entrusts someone to us. We desire to be The 2016 influx of refugees is challenging European Christians to find ways to facilitators and encourage men and women to serve Christ when He calls them.

show Christ’s love. Following terrorist violence in 2016, the Muslim community has begun to question Islam. Muslim background believers are often persecuted by their Ministry families and relatives, but the terrorist incidents have led to more opportunities to

• Mobilising for God’s service

discuss our Christian beliefs with Muslims.

• Equipping for ongoing ministry

• Sending missionaries to communities who live and die without Christ

• Maintaining contact with missionaries in all corners of the globe Pray for

• Planting churches

• revival of the missionary vision in French churches.

• Ministering to international students

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

• sincere and ongoing commitment to missions amongst French Christians.

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

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.

42

43

Germany

Day 9

Communities where Christ is least known Ribnitz-Damgarten

Hamburg

Diaspora

The predominant people groups

Berlin

coming to or settled in Germany

include Syrians, Iraqis, Afghanis,

Muelheim-Ruher

Pakistanis, Somalis, Eritreans,

Leipzig

Be joyful in hope, patient in

Kurds, Turks, and English- and

affliction, faithful in prayer.

Frenchspeaking West Africans.

romans 12:12

The Ruhr region

The Ruhr region, in Northrhine-

9

Sinsheim

Westfalia, is the largest

9

metropolitan area in Germany,

with a population of 5.1 million

inhabitants and annual growth of

43,000 people, spread over 53 cities. This region has the highest migration Vision “So people meet God!”

density in Germany, from every nation (e.g. 26 per cent Turkish and 18 per cent DMG Germany is a missionary sending organisation, honouring God and telling the Polish). It also has the highest number of students and foreign students in Germany.

whole world how great He is. Jesus asks us to humbly live out every aspect of his International (multicultural) community and students love in word and deed, and to boldly proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ in a Our organisation is reaching out the multicultural community in cities. Presently, there hurting world. By inviting people to be reconciled with the living God, we see them are 395,000 overseas students studying at universities in Germany. The largest group experience a personal and life transforming encounter with Jesus Christ. DMG

is from China (42,600), with significant groups from India (20,800), Syria (13,600), Iran prepares Christian workers for cross-cultural ministry, and then sends and cares for (9,500), and Vietnam (3,200).

them, in partnership with like-minded organisations and churches.

Secular Germans

Ministry

Germany is rapidly becoming a secularised community. Regions in eastern and

• Praying and fellowshipping in community northern Germany have little or no local/personal Christian witness. Opportunities • Mobilising the church for mission

exist for workers from all over the world.

• Mobilising missionaries in German-speaking Europe

• Running a short-term volunteer program

• Providing member care and lifelong learning for all staff Pray for

• Supporting international workers serving in Germany

• the growing team of international missionaries as they adapt and integrate into a

• Promoting partnerships between ourselves and like-minded organisation for the very different life in Germany.

cause of world missions

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

Prayer Notes

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

44

45

Ghana

Day 9

Communities where Christ is least known Sandema

Chiana

Tumu

Gushegu

Muslim peoples of northern Ghana

The Dagomba and Sisaala people of

Tamale

northern Ghana are predominantly Muslim.

Buipe

SIM Ghana partners with churches as they

nurture sharing and discipling relationships Declare his glory among the

amongst these people in order that many

nations, his marvelous deeds

might hear the gospel and grow in their

among all peoples.

understanding of God’s Word. Discipleship

Psalm 96:3

resources are being developed to engage

people responding to the The Way of

9

Righteousness broadcasts on local radio in 9

ACCRA

Sisaali and Dabani.

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

Vision

The Fulani

The vision of SIM Ghana is to see a witness to Christ’s love where He is least known The Fulani people in Ghana are another predominantly Muslim group. As migrants in Ghana, disciples of Jesus expressing God’s love in their communities and Christ -

from other parts of West Africa, they have never had a recognised homeland in centred churches spreading the gospel in Ghana and beyond.

Ghana. They live in scattered settlements on the outskirts of villages, and they are often treated as outsiders. SIM Ghana currently has three missionary families Ministry serving amongst the Fulani. Through language and culture learning, they are building

• Outreach ministries – working in authentic partnership with churches and relationships of trust and friendship.

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 Pray for

leadership training, and discipling marketplace leaders.

• the workers God has recently sent to Ghana, as they adjust and transition to life

• Mobilisation for mission and collaboration in mobilisation with likeminded here.

organisations.

• our workers amongst the Fulani, that relationships with their friends will lead to

• Leadership and services – serving and equipping the SIM Ghana team through the good conversations and opportunities to share God’s Good News.

provision of efficient services and courageous leadership.

• the training of youth and children’s workers amongst 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.

Prayer Notes

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

46

47

Guinea

Day 10

Communities where Christ is least known Gold miners

Artisanal gold mining is a significant part of the economy in Upper Guinea and authorities say there may be as many as 20,000 miners in the region.

Kankan

Workers come from all parts of Guinea and neighboring CONAKRY

With joy you will draw water

countries to find their fortunes. The transient nature of from the wells of salvation.

the work brings with it disease, drug addiction, etc. It IsaIah 12:3

is a dangerous work and landslides cause many deaths.

Guinean Christians have moved to this area as gold miners, schoolteachers and nurses. God is at work amongst the challenges.

10

Fulani

10

The Fulani are Muslim. Guinea is the only country in Vision

Africa where the Fulani are the largest ethnic group By faith, we see:

(41 per cent of the population). Rather than being

• Every man, woman and child of Upper Guinea having the opportunity to hear and nomadic cattle owners, many Guinean Fulani are understand the good news of Jesus.

settled farmers, businessmen and merchants. Others in

• A vibrant Church working in harmony, bringing Jesus’ transformation to Upper Guinea view the Fulani as very religious. Tensions and Guinea and beyond.

distrust often stem from political differences. Praise

• A flourishing, Spirit-led SIM team, equipped to serve their communities with love God for the two missionary families now learning and discernment.

language in Guinea in order to work with the Fulani.

Ministry

• Evangelism and discipleship

Pray for

• Children and families

• the Holy Spirit to prepare hearts amongst the

• Youth

Maninka and Fulani peoples for the gospel.

• Leadership and Services

• the Maninka New Testament, which by God’s grace will be completed by December

• Audio media production and distribution 2020.

• our new audio resources, which are being well-received and shared with friends and family. Pray that God would send workers who can record the New Testament in the Maninka language.

• our missionaries: for continual abiding in Christ, growth in language ability, and wisdom and courage in the face of political unrest.

Prayer Notes

• our growing children’s ministry, which now has after-school programs available in multiple neighborhoods.

• local church leaders leading in multicultural churches. Pray for God’s unity to override divisions in the churches.

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

48

49

India

Day 10

Communities where Christ is least known In the abode of the gods

Located in the Himalayan hill state

NEW DELHI

of Uttarakhand, India’s Garhwali

people are a historically eclectic

Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise

people, gathered over time from

and exalt and glorify the King of

different parts of South Asia into

heaven, because everything He

the people group they are today.

does is right, and all His ways

Living in Dev Bhoomi – the abode

are just. And those who walk in

of the gods – they are an incredibly

pride, He is able to humble.

religious people, fiercely devoted to

DanIel 4:37

their traditional religious practices.

10

Life is difficult in these mountains,

10

jobs are hard to find, and these

days almost 100 per cent of young

Vision

people leave the mountains for study

SIM India sees the kingdom of God extending beyond all barriers, as we partner with and work opportunities. Scattered Indian ministries to fulfil our global mandate.

in the mountains are small but growing groups of Jesus’ followers – and long-term We focus on loving our friends from other faiths as they come into the kingdom discipleship is the need of the hour. Pray the Lord of the harvest would send workers and on engaging with specific populations (children, youth, leaders, the marginalised) into this field.

as they are discipled into kingdom lifestyle, community, and service.

Ministry

Pray for

• Learning Indian languages and culture

• Developing young leaders for India’s

• fresh vision for members and Council leaders – and grace for all personnel – during

• Discipling Hindu, Muslim and Buddhist

future

the leadership transition as a new country director is sought and begins a new term friends as they follow Jesus within • Training local church leaders

in 2021.

their communities

• Mobilizing North Indian churches to

• favor with government authorities for members in obtaining / renewing visas and

• Helping transgendered people &

send workers globally

residential permits.

trafficking survivors

• Supporting village health & education

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

• Loving people affected by HIV

• Increasing access to trauma counseling

scrutiny & hostility.

• Discipling university students and

• Developing income generation

• local churches and believers to “keep in step with the Spirit” (Gal. 5:25) in a time teachers

initiatives

of economic desperation, health & environmental concerns, identity politics, and

• Shaping businesses that can transform • Working with special needs learners threat of India-China war.

people and society

and their families

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

Prayer Notes

• progress in mobilizing a new committee/structure that can facilitate local churches sending Indians overseas as SIM members in collaboration with the NE India Office (which is distinct from SIM India).

• development of teams working with Rajasthani peoples, Urdu-speaking Muslims, Tibetans, and Garhwalis.

50

51

Indonesia

Day 11

Communities where Christ is least known Cities

Approximately 57 per cent of Indonesia’s

274 million people live in cities. Though

average population density is 147 persons per km2, urban population density is near 10,000

JAKARTA

per km2.

Over the last 30 years many cities have

swelled to overflowing with newcomers

seeking to establish themselves but finding The nations will fear the name of the Lord, all it very difficult to eke out a living. Resulting the kings of the earth will revere Your glory.

overcrowding and lack of employment lead to Psalm 102:15

ever increasing poverty among many.

With half or more of the urban population

11

11

living in slums, there are a plethora of

Vision

opportunities for ministry. Community

We envision Indonesian Christ followers reaching out with the gospel in word and development work, and teaching English lifestyle to communities without Christ, presenting opportunities to receive Jesus, and could be key ways of reaching into these then discipling them to go and do likewise.

communities.

Ministry

• Enhancing and equipping churches, seminaries and schools Pray for

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

• a burden for the urban lost. Indonesian believers and foreign missionaries are

• Ministry to children, youth, and young adults needed to reach into the lives of people who are desperate to find a more • Church planting in partnership with local workers meaningful life.

• Community development

• more workers willing to accept the challenge of Indonesia’s cities.

• TESL*

• God’s love to be evident in the lives of Christ followers living in the cities.

• Missional business and tentmaking*

• SIM Indonesia to find like-minded groups who are already serving in cities, in order to learn more about how to minister there.

*(envisioned – we are still a young field)

• like-minded seminaries or charitable groups that might be able to legally sponsor SIM workers for visas.

• financial resources to develop our team of SIM workers

• a growing sense of unity and harmony for SIM Indonesia, as workers are situated on several islands far apart from each other.

Prayer Notes

52

53

Japan

Day 11

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

Over 30 million people live in rural Japan Sendai

Fukushima

(ie. municipalities under 50,000 people).

Karuizawa

The Christian population of these areas is TOKYO

estimated to be 0.1 per cent, and roughly two-Let us not become weary in doing

thirds of these towns do not have a church.

Kumamoto

good, for at the proper time we will

Following earthquakes in Tohoku (2011) and reap a harvest if we do not give up.

Kumamoto (2016), there has been reason for GalatIans 6:9 nIV

optimism. Churches have been started, and

people who have been historically resistant to Christianity, such as farmers and fishermen, have become Christ followers.

11

Vision

Fukushima

11

Our vision is to see a vibrant community of servant leaders with vision, character and Fukushima is a prefecture located north competence leading the church in Japan. We aim to identify, develop and release of Tokyo that was impacted by the 2011

emerging kingdom leaders who will unite the Church, multiply leaders and Tohoku earthquake. In addition to the damage congregations, and extend the transforming power of the gospel of Jesus Christ. SIM

from the earthquake, and the tsunami that

missionaries are pursuing these goals in partnership with local churches and Asian followed, there is still concern about the Access Japan (A2J).

effects of radiation from the nuclear accident.

Local pastors simultaneously desire help

Ministry

and are reluctant to ask people to risk their

• We partner with A2J, a Japanese-led movement of churches working throughout long-term health by working in the area. There is conflicting information about the the majority of regions and denominations within Japan. A2J is focused on training safety of living in Fukushima. As a result, stigmas remain against the people and the pastors, encouraging young leaders, supporting regional church multiplication, and manufactured products of the prefecture. The church and the missionary community uniting the church in Japan to pursue reaching two per cent of the population with in Japan desire to help, but they need wisdom in determining how to do so.

the gospel

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

• We encourage our missionaries to use their gifting and talents to promote church

• the church in Japan to effectively reach the over 99 per cent of Japanese people multiplication on a regional and national level who do not know God.

• unity within the Church in Japan.

• missionaries to be able to effectively partner with what God is already doing in Japan.

Prayer Notes

• 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.

• short-term teams to partner with Japanese churches in 2021, before the Tokyo Summer Olympics (set for July and August).

• 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.

54

55

Kenya

Day 11

Communities where Christ is least known Somalis in Kenya

Somalis are one of the most homogenous

people groups on the continent of Africa.

Marsabit

They share a common language, faith, and

cultural heritage that is an integral part of their Marigat

nomadic lifestyle. There are approximately Isiolo

three million Somali now living in Kenya, in Anyone who welcomes you is

Kijabe Garissa

both rural areas and urban centres. In the welcoming Me, and anyone who

NAIROBI

urban centres, they are an entrepreneurial welcomes Me is welcoming the

community and have established themselves

Namanga

Father who sent me.

Malindi

in business. In the rural areas, they are mainly matthew 10:40

Mombasa

herdsmen, keeping sheep or goats and camels.

They are 99.89 per cent Muslim. While Somalis 11

11

do have a translation of the Bible in their own Vision

language, the efforts of many missionaries As we passionately pursue our divine calling, we see… through our ministries: amongst them have met with resistance or • Mature disciples making disciples of Jesus Christ among least-reached suspicion. However, the Holy Spirit is working, communities.

and more and more Somalis are coming to the

• Christian leaders influencing Kenya with integrity and biblical truth.

Lord than in years past. (Source: partly from

• Missional churches partnering with us to proclaim Christ and express his love Joshua Project).

and compassion.

• Kenyan missionaries engaging in cross-cultural ministry locally and globally.

Pray for

within SIM Kenya:

• wisdom to find ways to work among

• Flourishing, prayerful missionaries practicing disciple making and accountability.

communities where Christ is least known,

• Multi-ethnic, multi-skilled teams serving in unity.

and for people equipped to fill the various

• Flexible, effective structures empowering missionaries for ministry.

needs.

• Kenyan believers to become passionate to Ministry

reach communities for Christ in Kenya and

• Discipleship of believers of all ages

beyond.

• Theological training for the next generation of Christian leaders

• strength and resilience for our medical workers, as they engage with families,

• Medical and psychosocial outreach

patients, colleagues, and students, meeting needs both physical and spiritual.

• Missionary kids education and services

• disciple makers who faithfully share God’s Word and ways in often hostile areas.

• the transitions that our team members go through in their ministry terms (new Prayer Notes

locations, language learning, kids in/out of school, home assignment, and helping with aging parents from a distance).

• Perseverance, patience, and grace for all our workers, as they strive to be God’s hands and feet in communities throughout Kenya.

56

57

Korea

Day 12

Communities where Christ is least known SEOUL

Incheon

Migrants and international students

Currently, there are more than three million immigrants living in Korea, and the number of international students studying in Korea Daegu reaches 60,000 per year. Many of the

Ulsan

God made Him who had no

students are from communities where the

sin to be sin for us, so that in

gospel is known least. When we evangelize

Gwangju

Busan

Him we might become the

to those who suffer from cultural shock

righteousness of God.

and language difficulties, and reach out

2 CorInthIans 5:21

to them with God’s love and compassion,

they easily 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 12

homelands with a calling, churches may be

Vision

12

established in their countries.

By faith, we see:

• Spiritual revival and awakening in Korean churches and Korean believers KN

passionately obedient to the Great Commission.

The state of KN remains one of the least evangelised and most persecuted. Few

• Migrants and international students in Korea to experience the love and compassion ministries can be done overtly. For now, our priority is to pray with God’s zeal for of God as shown in the gospel, becoming established as disciples of Christ, and KN. The love and compassion of Christ shall be shown to the people of KN, and in crossing barriers to make disciples and build churches wherever they are called.

cooperation with other organisations, we shall prepare for ministries in this state.

• The gospel to flow into the strategic state of North Korea and believers in North We shall remember the saints suffering due to the gospel and pray together for Korea freely worshipping God.

their patience and victory.

• The lives and work of the missionaries we send to flourish.

Ministry

Pray for

• Developing new ministry opportunities and equipping people to serve in North

• those migrants who come to work in Korea, and for the international students, that Korea as peace develops between South Korea, North Korea and other they would encounter Jesus and his gospel, become disciples of Jesus, and commit countries their lives to sharing the gospel with their neighbors. Pray that God would bring

• Training candidates through programmes based at home and in the field more workers and anoint them with the power and wisdom of the Holy Spirit for • Providing member care and administrative services the migrant ministry.

• God to raise up workers for KN from various places and people groups, and enable them to develop and lead healthy collaborations with partner organisations.

• God to encourage more Korean young people to take part in the global harvest, Prayer Notes

both inside and outside Korea, so they may be equipped and committed to sharing the gospel with those who live and die without Jesus where Christ is least known.

58

59

Latin America

Day 12

Communities where Christ is least known As a continent, Latin America has been more accustomed to receiving missionaries 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 Therefore go and make disciples

in missions. Most of our Latino candidates have of all nations.

a passion to go to places where Christ is least matthew 28:19

known, as their countries were once considered to be amongst the least-reached.

SIM Latinoamérica is proud to support

Latin Americans who serve in Bangladesh,

Bolivia, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador,

Guatemala, Honduras, India, Kenya, Niger, the Middle East, Mozambique, Nepal, Pakistan, Peru, 12

South Africa, and Uruguay. We are also working Vision

12

with people in Cuba, Venezuela, El Salvador, By faith, we see:

Bolivia, Peru, Chile, Colombia, and Costa Rica

• Fully trained and supported missionaries from Latin America serving in various who are exploring their call to missions.

countries throughout the world.

• Latin American churches prayerfully and financially

• Supporting those they send.

Pray for

• The Latin American Church and its missionaries fulfilling their role in the Great

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

Commission.

• the Latin American Church, as it comes to understand the vital role it has in sending people into missions.

Ministry

• trust-filled partnerships between SIM, churches, and missionaries.

• Mobilisation: In order to effectively serve such a large continent, SIM Latinoamérica

• the development of new partnerships with non-SIM sending agencies across the needs to discover and train mobilisers in each country region.

• Partnerships: SIM Latinoamérica desires to build

• the provision of prayer and financial support for Latino missionaries. Financial

• Strong partnerships with local sending entities and churches to facilitate the difficulties, combined with the ongoing impact of COVID-19, have caused many sending of Latin Americans to the mission field churches and individuals to reassess their ability to give.

• creativity in how the SIM Latinoamérica team shares God’s call to missions amongst young people.

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

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

Prayer Notes

• 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 missions.

• the streamlining and flexibility of well-established systems within SIM to best serve those coming from new communities and regions.

• the SIM Latinoamérica team, as we seek to work seamlessly across more than 35

countries.

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61

Liberia

Day 13

Voinjama

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

MONROVIA

So, we have not stopped praying for you

Christ. Some primarily speak a dialect of an Paynesville

since we first heard about you. We ask

indigenous language that is not spoken

God to give you complete knowledge of

outside their region. They maintain their own His will and to give you spiritual wisdom

forms of spirit and ancestor worship, and they and understanding. Then the way you live

educate their children in traditional ways.

will always honour and please the Lord,

Liberia’s road system is poor and skeletal, so and your lives will produce every kind of

remote rural people never travel beyond the good fruit. All the while, you will grow as closest market town. Some places have never you learn to know God better and better.

had a visitor to their home village.

ColossIans 1:9-10

The Evangelical Church of Liberia (ECOL)

13

carried out a medical outreach in one such 13

village. The team and supplies had to be

flown in by a helicopter because the area is Vision

surrounded by rivers that have no bridges.

Convinced that no one should live and die without hearing God’s Good News, we People walked for hours to reach the clinic, believe He has called us to make disciples of the Lord Jesus in communities where He and the locals heard that these people came is least known.

in the name of Jesus. Elders from one town asked ECOL to please send missionaries to tell them more.

Ministry

• Equipping and training leaders in SIM partner churches

• Pastoral and theological education

Pray for

• Manya language Bible translation and outreach

• God to call Liberians as missionaries to people in remote areas, sent out by Liberian

• Trauma healing training

churches who feel burdened for their neighbours’ salvation.

• ELWA (Eternal Love Winning Africa) Radio

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

• ELWA Hospital

Pray for the Evangelical Seminary of West Africa (ESWA), the first graduate level

• Trinity Dental Clinic

theological school in Liberia.

• ELWA Academy (850 Liberian students from preschool through grade 12)

• 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.

Prayer Notes

• 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.

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63

Madagascar

Day 13

Communities where Christ is least known Comoros

The Comorians live on a chain of islands in the Indian Ocean between Madagascar Mandritsara

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.

ANTANANARIVO

Antsirabi

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

And the God of all grace, who called

Educational levels are low, and less than half the population is literate. Although Mahatsara

you to his eternal glory in Christ,

French and Arabic are the official languages, the Comorians speak their own Swahili after you have suffered a little while, dialect. Children are expected to help with the farming, fishing, and animal care.

will Himself restore you and make

Polygamy is an acceptable practice among the Comorians.

you strong, firm and steadfast.

The Comorians are Muslim, but occultism and spirit possession are mixed with 1 Peter 5:10

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

Vision

Pray for

13

By faith, we see:

• unity and reconciled relationships between the evangelical denominations, that

• SIM missionaries thriving in their ministries, as they grow in their walk with God they would work together to reach those living and dying without Christ in and cross barriers to proclaim the crucified and risen Christ.

Madagascar and beyond.

• Equipped church leaders serving their congregations and making disciples.

• more missionary doctors for the Good News Hospital.

• United churches fulfilling Christ’s Great Commission, as they reach out to those

• the Lord to call out missionaries to establish a local SIM administration that who live and die without hearing God’s Good News in Madagascar and beyond.

serves our missionaries with financial, administrative, and personnel services and leadership.

Ministry

• local co-workers at the Timothy Centre to continue the activities (theological

• Medical ministry

education, community development, outreach, and discipleship) after the departure

• Community development (not sure why I can’t get a bullet point here) of the missionary currently leading the centre.

• Theological training

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

• Supportive ministries, including administration and teaching missionary children developed.

• Outreach and church planting

Prayer Notes

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65

Malawi

Day 14

Communities where Christ is least known Mzuzu

Vulnerable women, youth and children

All too often, women, youth, and children in Malawi remain vulnerable, as they are denied dignity and value in their communities. SIM is Nkhotakota working with these groups in different ways.

Salima

Youth and children make up 70 per cent of

LILONGWE

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

Malawian society, so we invest in them for the Mangochi

And what does the Lord require of you?

future of Malawi, particularly so that young To act justly, to love mercy, and to walk

women and men will be discipled in their faith Blantyre

humbly with your God.

and mentored into leadership.

mICah 6:8

Hope for Life has been implementing a

children’s life skills and discipleship ministry in Nsanje

the context of HIV and AIDS. Many schools use the “Today for Tomorrow” material developed by SIM Zimbabwe to teach biblical values to primary school-aged children.

Vision and Ministry

The Tiyamike Women’s Empowerment

By faith, we see:

14

ministry gives dignity and value to vulnerable 14

• The unreached of Malawi authentically responding to the gospel and established widows, single mothers, and other women, by into vibrant, God-fearing, biblically-based churches giving them a skill and a livelihood through training in sewing and other handicrafts.

• A mature, dynamic, relevant Church focused outside of herself, dependent on God, Mtengo Youth is helping the unemployed.

and intentionally reaching others with the gospel even to the ends of the earth Our partner, KINDLE Orphan Outreach, has a wide-ranging development program • Children and youth receiving Christ’s forgiveness on the cross, growing in their in a lakeshore community, helping to lift families out of poverty and spiritual darkness.

faith, reflecting Jesus’ character, and becoming committed disciples of Christ who Our Sports Friends ministry includes not only football, but also netball, coaching are active in the Church and society and discipleship for teenage girls, many of whom are at a vulnerable stage in life in the

• People living with HIV/AIDS understanding the love of Christ as they receive context of poverty and HIV and AIDS.

holistic care and are given hope

In all these programs, disciple making is a key element, leading to strengthened,

• Lower HIV/AIDS infection rates, as Malawians practise, preach, and teach purity renewed, or even new first-time faith in the participants.

and faithfulness in marriage

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

• 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 the new skills Prayer Notes they have been given, 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.

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67

Mali

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

And everyone who calls on the

Deaf people face in hearing the Word

name of the Lord will be saved; for

of God, including illiteracy, isolation,

on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem

Timbuktu

stigma (or stigmata as the plural

there will be deliverance, as the Lord

– ‘stigmatism’ is an eye disorder!),

has said, even among the survivors

stereotypes, communication barriers,

whom the Lord calls.

Koulikoro

and people who are cruel and mean.

romans 13:11

In Mali, deafness is considered a

BAMAKO

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 Vision this would open up access to the gospel for Deaf people in Mali.

We desire to see relational transformation of our community by intentionally pursuing However, government authorities wanted Foster’s vision reduced to a simple 14

the lost and increasing the number of growing, reproducible Christ followers.

association for the Deaf called AMASOURD. In order to fulfil his dream, Foster looked 14

at other countries of the sub-region, including Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana and Nigeria.

Ministry

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

• Evangelism and disciple making

but it has nothing to do with Christ’s redemption story.

• Church planting

The Deaf population in Mali is little known at the national level, despite the

• Bible and literature distribution

presence of AMASOURD. Sources estimate the population at 40,000 to 70,000.

• French and culture learning

Among them, the percentage of Christians is minimal. No church denomination in Mali

• Leadership development

has a sign language translator who can share the elements of the message, worship

• Trauma healing

or any other activity, with the Deaf in the pews. Also, no known mission agency is

• Feeding street boys and other children, as well as the homeless, in both the urban prioritising the Deaf in Mali.

and rural community settings

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.

Prayer Notes

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 program in Bamako.

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69

Mascarene Islands

Day 15

Mauritius, Reunion, Rodriguez

Communities where Christ is least known Hindus

Port Mathurin

The least-reached people groups

RODRIGUEZ

of Mauritius are Muslims and

Port Louis

Hindus. Hindus in Mauritius

originate from India. Many

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

hierarchical and economic

Saint-Denis

MAURITIUS

I have become all things to all people so that sub-groups exist among them,

by all possible means I might save some.

with the best known being the

1 CorInthIans 9:22

Brahmins, the priestly community.

REUNION

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 of the Vision

population in Mauritius.

By faith, we see:

Some scholars say that the number of Hindu gods exceeds 35 million. Most of the

• Competent pastors and leaders rooted in the truth of the Bible, as they lead and deities are believed to be both good and evil in nature. Hindus believe in reincarnation.

teach their congregations.

Only the gospel of Jesus Christ has the power to break through the religious barriers

• Vibrant churches reaching out to those living and dying without Jesus in Mauritius that have kept the Hindus in Mauritius bound in both spiritual and physical poverty.

and beyond.

15

• Evangelical denominations united as they fulfil the Great Commission of Christ.

15

Pray for

Ministry

• unity among the various evangelical church denominations, and a common vision

• Discipleship and leadership training in churches for those still needing to hear and understand the good news.

• Ministry to children and adolescent girls

• the evangelical churches of Mauritius to rise to the challenge of supporting

• Outreach

missionaries and missions work.

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

• new missionaries to join the SIM team, entering the country as businesspeople and university lecturers.

Prayer Notes

70

71

Middle East

Day 15

Communities where Christ is least known Turkey

Majorities

Iraqi

Islam is the majority faith, and many Middle Syria

Kurdistan

Lebanon

Easterners only know caricatures of Christian Iraq

Israel Palestine

faith. Spiritual conversations come readily Jordan

Devote yourselves to prayer, being

for those with the time and the willingness Kuwait

watchful and thankful. And pray for

to invest in relationships. People are asking Bahrain

us, too, that God may open a door for

questions as never before, and they need to Egypt

Qatar

Saudi Arabia

United Arab

our message, so that we may proclaim

connect with Scripture and with Christians who Emirates

the mystery of Christ, for which I am

can explain it. Our teams serve in Arabic and Oman

in chains.

Kurdish-speaking contexts, serving with local ColossIans 4:2–3

churches, and in education, compassionate

ministries, business, and other roles. As we and Yemen

our local partners invest in relationships, we Vision

pray that many from majority communities will To see the Middle East transformed, as lives are changed by the love of Christ and the understand the gospel through the witness of message of the gospel.

our lives, friendships, testimonies and gospel presentations.

Ministry

Obeying God’s call and trusting Him, we:

Marginalised people

15

• Encourage Middle Eastern Christians to minister to neighbours with the love and Regional conflicts and economic challenges 15

truth of Christ

have prompted huge movements of refugees

• Support local church-planting and discipleship initiatives and have compounded the plight of those already disadvantaged or marginalised.

• Model vibrant Christian faith

Care for the vulnerable is therefore a focus of many of our ministries. As churches

• Mobilise the worldwide Church to pray for the region adjust programmes, train their people, and reach out with compassion, many who are marginalised are prompted to ask questions – and in recent years, unprecedented Serving in various contexts, our multi-cultural teams: numbers of these people have found hope and peace in Christ. The provision of care • Invest in relationships, learn languages, and acquire cultural sensitivity and education for children presents a key opportunity to bring the gospel to families, • Engage in church life, serving alongside local believers sowing seeds for eternity.

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

• Provide education at all levels, including theological training

• Serve through healthcare provision

Pray for

• Operate businesses as a means of Christian witness

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

• Participate in Bible translation and distribution understanding.

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

• wisdom, insight, and unity for local churches, agencies, and their leaders, as they Prayer Notes 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 love and through commitment to integrity, justice, and truth.

• those exploring opportunities to expand our service to additional countries in the Middle East.

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

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

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73

Mongolia

Day 16

Communities where Christ is least known Nearly half of the total population

of Mongolia lives in the capital city,

Ulaanbaatar. Culturally and practically,

Tosontsengel

ULAANBAATAR

the city is very different from the

sparsely populated countryside.

Sainshand

The city is divided into two groups —

See, I am doing a new thing! Now it

those who live in apartment buildings

springs up; do you not perceive it?

and those who dwell in the ger district

I am making a way in the wilderness

which rings the city. Gers are the

and streams in the wasteland.

traditional tent homes of the Mongolian

IsaIah 43:19

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 missionaries to enter the country Vision

to share the gospel. The Lord opened the hearts of many people, and the Mongolian The vision of SIM Mongolia is to glorify God by reaching the people of Mongolia with Church experienced rapid growth and wide church planting. The Mongolian Church the gospel and making disciples in the Mongolian churches, so they become mature, is still very much in its first generation and faces challenges. Its members continue to evangelistic and engaged in missions work.

seek to grow and develop a God-honouring identity. The nation faces the challenges In response to God’s love, SIM Mongolia desires to serve the Mongolian Church of balancing the rapid growth of secularisation with the traditional underpinning views through loving and compassionate relationships.

of Buddhism and shamanistic faith.

16

Ministry

The greatest need of the Mongolian church today is to develop a strong foundation 16

• Church planting and disciple making

of biblical truth. SIM Mongolia seeks to walk alongside the Mongolian Church to

• Training next generation leaders in counselling, pastoral leadership and mentoring strengthen its foundation, to disciple and mentor local leaders and to facilitate both • English teaching

urban and rural outreach.

• Youth

• Medical outreach

Pray for

• NGO training and administration

• the leaders of the Mongolian Church. Ask the Lord for leaders who will grasp the

• Nomadic community outreach

responsibility they have been called to. The Mongolian Church needs servant

• Urban outreach

leaders who proclaim the Word in and out of season and who serve with a heart for

• Shadow pastoring

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.

Prayer Notes

• the Mongolian churches to grab hold of the vision to disciple and train the youth of the nation and help the youth understand what it means to live as true followers of Jesus Christ.

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75

Mozambique

Day 16

Communities where Christ is least known Lichinga

Cuamba

Yao

Nampula

It’s said that to be a Yao is to be a Muslim, and for Gurúè

centuries, the Yao people have been mixing traditional African beliefs with Islam to form a syncretic belief system. The Yao people were once Beira the fierce slave hunters of the north. Today, most The people walking in darkness have seen

of the 500,000 Yao in northwest Mozambique are a great light, and on those living in the land subsistence farmers, and many are illiterate, with a of the shadow of death a light has dawned.

low life expectancy.

IsaIah 9:2

Recently, the Yao have begun to respond to the gospel. In the past five years, the number of Yao MAPUTO

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.

Vision

SIM Mozambique’s vision is to reach the least-reached people in the rural northwest Makuwa-Metto and Makuwa-Chirima area of Mozambique. We long to see communities reconciled to God, participating in There are about one million people in each of these Christ-centred churches and living as God’s ambassadors throughout Mozambique and groups. The Makuwa peoples are matrilineal, tracing across the globe.

their family lines through their mothers. Most people are subsistence farmers, working their fields with only handheld implements, but there Ministry 16

is a trend toward Makuwas moving to the towns and cities, where unemployment and 16

SIM works in northwest Mozambique, among many who still live and die without promiscuity are prominent.

Christ. Our ministries include:

Most adhere to Folk Islam or Folk Catholicism. In urban areas, where some small

• Church planting in the Lichinga area

• Disciple making

churches exist, well-trained leaders are needed. A translation of the Bible into the

• Bible translation

• Ministry to the marginalised of

Chirima language is almost complete, which will facilitate evangelism and discipleship.

• Theological training at Instituto

Lichinga

Teológico de Lichinga (INTEL)

• Sports ministry in Cuamba

• Children’s work in Lichinga and

• A business startup initiative in Cuamba Pray for

Cuamba

• Church networking for Lichinga

• wisdom as we evaluate and strategize on how to go forward with ministry after

• Literature distribution

• Teaching English in Lichinga

COVID-19.

• Agriculture in Lichinga

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

• Youth work in both Lichinga and

• revival among the churches in Cuamba.

Cuamba

• new church plants in the villages of Massogo and Bandeze.

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

Prayer Notes

• 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 the last two years in northeastern Mozambique.

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

• the health and safety of our missionaries.

• new missionaries to work on the administrative team, as treasurer and personnel coordinator.

• the Lord to send more labourers into northern Mozambique.

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77

Myanmar

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

NAY PYI TAW

language of Myanmar. The majority are

Theravada Buddhists. They practice

Yangon

The people walking in darkness have

Buddhism along with a form of spirit

seen a great light; on those living in the worship called “nat worship,” which

land of deep darkness a light has dawned.

predated Buddhism. They try to

IsaIah 9:2

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,

comprising 30 per cent of the

Vision

population. This city is ethnically

By faith, we see vibrant, healthy and reproducing churches growing in communities diverse, with residents from various where Christ is least known and crossing ethnic, language and hierarchical barriers to religious backgrounds: Muslim, Hindu, worship Jesus together in Myanmar communities.

Christian and Buddhist. The majority

17

Ministry

are Buddhist. Young people migrate

17

• Reaching communities amongst the Bamar where Christ is least known to the city from all over the country, • Community outreach

looking for jobs and higher education

• Missional businesses that benefit least-reached communities 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

• Myanmar’s people to embrace the truth of Christ.

• more local and global kingdom workers to come and make disciples in Myanmar’s least-reached communities.

• creativity and wisdom in establishing missional businesses.

• the development of effective leadership, teams and ministries in Myanmar, which is Prayer Notes a newer entity of SIM’s.

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79

Namibia

Day 17

Oshakati

Communities where Christ is least known Rundu

Grootfontein

Children and youth

Young people are increasingly drifting into a secular lifestyle. SIM works in community development with disadvantaged children.

WINDHOEK

Through the Namibia Evangelical

Theological Seminary (NETS), SIM is equipping God our Saviour wants all

church leaders to reach children and youth people to be saved and to come

with the gospel.

to a knowledge of the truth.

1 tImothy 2:3–4

Muslims

Namibia’s Muslim population is currently

small, but it is growing. At this stage, the Muslims are primarily embassy personnel

and businessmen.

Many Christians do not know what to say

Vision

and how to witness towards people of

Convinced that no one should live and die without hearing the gospel, we are another faith. SIM Namibia would like to partnering with churches and other organisations to reach children and youth with the train local believers about Muslim-Christian gospel. By faith, we see people being discipled both inside and outside of churches. By interactions, so that church members faith, we see Namibians called to be missionaries.

can confidently engage with their Muslim

17

Ministry

neighbours.

17

• Children

• Youth

Pray for

• Evangelism in Muslim communities

• God to send more workers to Namibia.

• Making disciples amongst the 90 per cent of Namibians who call themselves

• our team, as we look into new areas of

Christians

outreach, especially amongst Muslims.

• Networking and encouraging co-operation between churches and other partners

• the churches in Namibia to hear God’s

• Mission mobilisation

calling to send out workers and support

missions both inside and outside of the

country.

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

Prayer Notes

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81

Nepal

Day 18

Communities where Christ is least known In Nepal, approximately 80 per cent of the people are Hindu, Nepalgunj Lamjung

Gorkha

10 per cent are Buddhist, 5 per cent are Muslim, and 1.4 per Dhading

cent are Christian.

Tansen

Pokhara

KATHMANDU

Nawalparasi

People living in the Terai

The southern plains of Terai are home to more than half of the country’s population, with a variety of languages, castes and ethnic backgrounds. Agriculture is the main occupation.

He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what Challenges include poverty, inequalities between the genders does the lorD require of you? To act justly and to love and castes, disasters (especially earthquakes, mercy and to walk humbly with your God.

floods and fires) and health and hygiene

mICah 6:8

issues.

Of the nearly one million Muslims in Nepal, 97 per cent live in the Terai. SIM is reaching Vision out to Nepalis from a variety of backgrounds SIM Nepal exists to glorify God by partnering with and empowering local churches, in the Terai, demonstrating God’s love through organisations and communities through diverse ministries. As Jesus followers and as various transformative and empowering life-long students of language and culture, we: ministries.

• Commit to partner with one another, local churches and organisations in order to promote the goal of Nepalis experiencing fullness of life through positive People living with disabilities transformation.

More than half a million people are known to be living with disabilities in Nepal. The

• Seek to humbly represent Christ in character, word and action as a multi-ethnic and actual number is higher, because many are segregated from society due to stigma 18

multi-skilled team, prayerfully serving as He leads, in order to glorify Him through health, and shame. The spiritual beliefs of Nepalis have traditionally regarded disability as a 18

education, development, disciple making, training, equipping and other ministries.

punishment for bad deeds in a previous life. People with disabilities are often treated

• Cross barriers to demonstrate Christ’s love in communities where He is least known.

as objects of pity; some are neglected and abandoned.

People with disabilities have more health problems, lower education levels and Ministry

higher unemployment than the rest of the population. They also experience higher

• Health

rates of abuse, discrimination and social exclusion.

• Education

Through partnerships, SIM is reaching out to those affected by disabilities, by

• Rehabilitation

providing treatment, rehabilitation, vocational training, advocacy for inclusion and

• Disaster response

social participation.

• Community development

• Mentoring and disciple making

• Training and equipping

Pray for

• work permits and visas; it is increasingly difficult to get these documents.

Prayer Notes

• courageous Christians sharing their faith, as persecution is increasing.

• our team working alongside local churches to disciple, train, and encourage.

• Muslim people living in the Terai to experience fullness of life in Christ.

• God’s mercy and grace on this nation, as Nepalis struggle with the ongoing consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic.

• more skilled, tenacious, sacrificial long-term workers.

• our various ministries, with the goal that Nepalis will be empowered and experience positive lifelong transformation.

82

83

New Zealand

Day 18

Communities where Christ is least known A determinedly secular nation

Auckland

Since the first Christian missionaries came Hamilton

Tauranga

to New Zealand about 200 years ago, this

country has rarely had more than 20 per

cent of its people regularly attending church.

By the latest census (2018), even though a WELLINGTON

He told them, “The harvest is

third of people claimed some connection

plentiful, but the workers are

with Christianity, less than 10 per cent

few. Ask the Lord of the harvest,

went to church regularly. More than half

therefore, to send out workers

the population said they had no religious or into His harvest field.

spiritual beliefs at all.

luke 10:2

Dunedin

However, surveys show that many New

Zealanders acknowledge that the social

assistance charities run by churches are a vital part of the fabric of the nation. More significantly, many people have positive Vision

perceptions towards Jesus and are often open Our vision is to equip and encourage New Zealand churches to be the expression of to exploring faith in the context of friendship.

Christ not only in their own communities but around the world, reaching out cross-At times of existential crisis, whether in the aftermath of world wars or earthquakes or culturally to make disciples of Jesus where He is least known.

in the midst of COVID-19 disruptions, more people seek out a church connection.

Ministry

SIM New Zealand’s main relationship with local churches, both presently and

• Working alongside the church in New Zealand to facilitate involvement in cross-historically, has been through the mission partners they send to serve with us, and 18

cultural mission work, as we strengthen our current church partnerships and build through the supporters of SIM mission partners. Through these mutually supportive 18

new ones

connections, we are able to encourage and serve these churches as they grow in their

• Providing “next step” opportunities for Christians to explore their calls into mission understanding of God’s global mission in a culturally diverse world. We constantly seek work to connect with other churches, though we often find that their missional commitment

• Ensuring that our mission partners are well-equipped to thrive in their ministries for is just to their own locations. Where there is a commitment to global mission, it is as long as God desires them to serve often tied to their denominational channels, or is focused on existing partnerships

• Partnering with like-minded organisations in promoting mission work and with other agencies or churches overseas.

supporting our priority projects

Pray for

• the well-being of our mission partners in areas with fragile health systems, as they work within the circumstances of the communities they were called to, which have been changed by COVID-19.

Prayer Notes

• the lingering effects of COVID-19 not to stop New Zealanders wanting to serve God overseas. We ask for an abundance of new partners stepping up to go throughout 2021 and beyond.

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

• mission partners to come to New Zealand from other regions to help our churches experience a fresh vision for (or view of) missions.

• more God-given opportunities to serve and encourage the New Zealand Church in global missions.

84

85

Niger

Day 19

Communities where Christ is least known Tamajaq

The Tamajaq (often called Tuareg) live throughout Niger and Mali but are mainly settled in the desert towns. This people group is divided into several The Spirit of the Lord is on Me, because main units, who speak various dialects of the He has anointed Me to preach Good News

Tamjaq language. The Tamajaq’s distinguishing NIAMEY Galmi Maradi

to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim

characteristics include the unity of their language, Danja

liberty to the captives and recovery of

their alphabet (which uses tifinagh characters), and Dicundiou

sight to the blind, to release the oppressed, their complex social organization.

to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.

The New Testament has recently been

luke 4:18–19

translated into one of the Tamajaq dialects.

Ministry involvement among the Tamajaq includes Vision

evangelism, discipleship, Bible teaching, and an Our vision is to make disciples where Christ is least known.

annual camp. While the number of Tamajaq believers

• We live in a world permeated by an evil that has invaded and corrupted every is small, it is growing.

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.

Pray for

• We are convinced no one should live and die without hearing the good news. Yet,

• the Tamajaq who have responded to the gospel, that God will give them courage more than 17 million people are living and dying without Christ in Niger.

to remain faithful to Him, despite much opposition from their families and society.

• We believe we are called to mobilise Christ’s servants to bring the message of Pray that many more will respond to the gospel.

salvation to Niger. We are called by God from all corners of the earth to serve as a

• God to raise up Tamajaq people to be evangelists to their own people.

diverse ministry team.

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

19

administrative and management personnel for our institutions. The need includes 19

Ministry

directors for the Danja Health Center, the Danja Fistula Centre, Galmi Hospital, and

• Outreach: university outreach centre (Foyer Evangelique Universitaire), literacy, Sahel Academy; a high school principal for Sahel Academy; a finance manager for sports, people group focus, translation, media Galmi Hospital; a facilities manager for Galmi Hospital; and a second treasurer for • Community services: Galmi Hospital, Centre de Sante de Leprologie et de Fistule, SIM Niger.

Sowing Seeds of Change in the Sahel

• more teachers for Sahel Academy. The excellent education children receive at Sahel

• Education: training Christian teachers, ESPriT Seminary, Sahel Academy, Maza allows their parents to carry out their ministries in Niger.

Tsaye Conference Centre

• the association of churches associated with SIM in Niger. Pray for the pastors to be

• Leadership and services: administrative services, SIMAIR, guest houses, leadership, united in purpose and vision, and for increased cooperation between the mission church-missions relations and the churches.

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

86

87

Nigeria

Day 19

Communities where Christ is least known Tofa

Kano

Potiskum

Tungan bage

Fulani

Domaturu

There are 16 million Fulani in Nigeria. More missionary workers Gure

are needed in this Muslim community, which shows openness Samaru

Jos

Billiri

to friendship evangelism and Christian media. We collaborate in Kagoro

Miango

meeting needs for animal husbandry, primary schools and ABUJA

Igbaja

Karu

As long as it is day, we must do the

medical outreach to Fulani encampments. Recent attacks by Egbe

works of him who sent me. Night is

some Fulani herdsmen against Christian farmers have affected coming, when no one can work.

attitudes toward this people group. We pray for effective John 9:4

outreach, for Christians to reach out to this community in love Lagos

instead of retaliation, and for opportunities to support and disciple Fulani believers.

Marginalised and vulnerable communities

Disadvantaged and vulnerable groups need to experience Vision

Christ’s love through efforts that provide support and care.

By faith, we see:

SIM Nigeria ministers to youth, orphans, widows and those

• A response in faith to the gospel message from the over 75 million Muslims and with disabilities. We look to expand these ministries into the others living and dying without Christ in Nigeria.

north where limited resources and few trained workers reside.

• Missionary teams in each of the 12 northern Sharia states expressing Christ’s love Missionaries work to model the biblical value of caring for and compassion in word and deed.

human life, to train in caring for people with special needs, to

• Strengthened churches with equipped Christians carrying out Christ’s mandate to facilitate income generation, to minister to prisoners, and to make disciples in one of Africa’s most influential and populous countries, making a engage in anti-trafficking.

major impact in global missions this century.

19

Ministry

Pray for

19

• Proclaiming the gospel, particularly to Muslims in the north

• the national Church to intensify its efforts to reach Muslims in the north while the

• Supporting and strengthening persecuted Christians and others affected by door is open (John 9:4), and for more missionaries to join this task.

oppression and hostility

• millions of Muslims to be receptive to the gospel and for the discipleship of new

• Bringing holistic healing to marginalised and vulnerable communities and mentoring Christians with a Muslim background.

others to do the same

• the formation of new missionary teams with suitable team leaders to begin ministry

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

• Equipping an enthusiastic Church through theological education and other

• our internship programme to yield lasting fruit for world missions.

disciple-making endeavours

• community rebuilding efforts in the northeast, a region impacted by violence.

• peace and stability in troubled regions.

Prayer Notes

• persecuted believers to endure hardship and practice love and forgiveness.

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

• the Nigerian church to experience a powerful, Spirit-led revival.

88

89

North Africa

Day 20

Communities where Christ is least known Tunisia

Interior Towns and Cities

Morocco

In many interior towns and cities, there is notable resistance to foreigners. There is no resident Algeria Libya

witness in most of these places. Pray for our first Western

team, located on the edge of the desert. May When you enter a house,

Sahara

they quickly find favor and develop relationships first say, ‘Peace to this house.’

with people of peace.

If a man of peace is there,

Mauritania

your peace will rest on him; if

University Students

not, it will return to you.

University campuses are crowded with

luke10:5-6(nIV)

Muslim young adults who are eager to

explore ideas. Many of these young people

are searching for truth among the world’s

Vision

philosophies and religions. On every campus, As those stripped down, weak and humble, we follow Christ to where his name is not there are thousands of foreign students known, so that He may be glorified. We depend on Him through prayer, proclaim the from Sub-Saharan Africa. Many of these Good News, walk alongside those who follow Him, and build bonds of fellowship.

are evangelicals. Pray for the new Faithful By developing partnerships with like-minded organisations, we aim to accelerate Witness project that is bringing campus the placements of personnel where they are most needed. We envision expansion disciplers from Francophone Africa to mobilize through missional businesses, professionals in mission, and transformational hundreds of these students to minister to development in the most vulnerable segments of society. We prayerfully establish their North African colleagues.

ministries in coastal cities and look for opportunities to bring the gospel south to the Nomads

peoples of the Sahara Desert.

Among the 92 ethnic groups in North Africa, 22 are nomadic peoples. Very few workers bring the gospel to the nomads. Working with nomads is challenging, Ministry 20

requiring creative strategies and adapted methods. Pray for the Bedouins, Tauregs, and 20

Disciple making and church planting through: Moors.

• Food processing

• Wedding rentals

In 2019, God doubled the number of workers in North Africa. God answered our

• Professionals in mission

• Transformational development among

prayer for workers in three North African countries. The work is difficult, but we are

• Teaching English

vulnerable people

seeing fruit wherever God has placed us. Through businesses and employment, we

• Campus discipleship

• Discipling persecuted believers

are building meaningful relationships with employees, community leaders, neighbors,

• Manufacturing

• Interns

parents of children’s playmates, language teachers, and brand-new believers.

• Importing and distribution of goods

• Third culture kid (TCK) education

Pray for

Prayer Notes

• 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.

90

91

Pakistan

Day 20

Communities where Christ is least known Murree

Hazara

ISLAMABAD

The Hazara are mainly Shia Muslims

who have suffered greatly from terrorist

Lahore

attacks. They live in major cities in

PUNJAB

Pakistan. We continue to pray for

Khanewal

Shout for joy to the Lord,

Quetta

opportunities to serve these people.

Bahawalpur

all the earth.

Ghotki

Psalm 100:1

Rahim Yar Khan

Marwari Bhil and Mengwal

Shirkarpur

These people groups are mainly Hindu

subsistence farmers, with limited access

toeducation, health facilities, and

water. There are now several groups of

believers, by God’s grace, but vast areas

are still unreached.

Vision

Saraikis

By faith, and looking to Jesus, we strive to see: The traditional homeland of Saraiki speakers is in central Pakistan, where SIM has • Strong churches actively and sacrificially involved in missions within Pakistan and been working with local churches for decades. The Saraikis are a hospitable people, beyond.

numbering around 20 million. Pray for many to come to know the Lord.

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

Punjabis

• Poor and marginalised families better integrated into society, through education The Punjab region is estimated to be 97 per cent Muslim. Christians make up around and medical assistance.

2.6 per cent of the population. Pray for positive relationships amongst Christians and

• New workers becoming established in effective ministry in Pakistan.

their neighbours.

Ministry

20

• Church planting

• Language and cultural learning

Pray for

20

• Leadership training

• People care and development

• visas for new personnel, visa renewals for existing personnel, and good

• Rural education

• Welcoming new workers

relationships with officials.

• Rural medical assistance

• Christian schools

• SIM leadership and personnel development.

• Disciple making training

• Vocational training for young people

• the ongoing training of Christian leaders.

• Missional business

• Ministry with women and children

• people from all ethnic backgrounds to come to know Jesus Christ. support for

• Missionary children education

church ministries and outreach.

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

Prayer Notes

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

92

93

Paraguay

Day 21

Communities where Christ is least known Rural families who are subsistence

Forty percent of Paraguay’s population live in scattered, rural, subsistence communities. Oral learning in the Guarani language is strongly preferred. Using oral For Christ’s love compels us, methods, church planting teams are evangelizing, because we are convinced that one

discipling, and training church leaders, regardless of the died for all, and therefore all died.

leaders’ literacy levels, so that these leaders may know Curuguaty

2 CorInthIans 5:14

and teach God’s Word.

Santani

ASUNCION

Indigenous communities

Villarica

Many of those who belong to Paraguay’s 19

Barrientos

San Francisco and Yatalty

indigenous groups live and die in small, scattered Yuty and Yaguarete Cora

communities without sufficient access to God’s Good News. A SIM team of missionary families has answered a partnership invitation from the indigenous Vision church leaders to unite in evangelism and discipleship Convinced of God’s love for all, we believe He has called us to be witnesses of efforts. The recording studio GGG continues to record his Good News and to make disciples of Jesus Christ where He is least known, in Scripture and Bible materials into local languages and Paraguay and around the world.

to partner with those burdened for indigenous peoples and unreached rural farming communities.

Ministry

• Outreach to Paraguay’s interior: rural pioneer church planting, educational The Deaf

partnerships in public and private schools, and oral evangelistic Bible studies A new SIM missionary has joined with a local ministry producing the Deaf Bible in • Equipping interior churches and leaders: youth ministries and camping, leadership Paraguayan sign language. She invites others who know ASL and Spanish to join this training, and mobilization for mission exciting evangelistic project reaching a uniquely isolated, unreached community.

• Walking with First Nations leaders: optometry partnership and discipleship, discipleship and community empowerment, and heart language multimedia The HIV-positive 21

production

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

• Mobilizing partnerships: to the Deaf, HIV-positive, and other marginalized and is willing to work with short- or long-term SIM missionaries called to serve these communities from the city to the rural areas, and from the Church to the world marginalized unreached people in Paraguay’s capital • Leadership and services: team leadership and formation of our governance board, financial and personnel coordination, short-term ministry volunteer coordination, Pray for TCK flourishing

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

Prayer Notes

• 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 missionary family engaged in learning local culture and both Spanish and Guarani, 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.

94

95

Peru

Day 21

Communities where Christ is least known Venezuelan refugees in Arequipa

The United Nations estimates that there are at least 12,000 Venezuelan refugees living in Arequipa, due to economic problems in Venezuela. The refugees’ living conditions are difficult. Before COVID-19, many sold sweets or plastic bags on the street in order to earn For we are God’s handiwork, created in enough for their daily accommodations and food.

Christ Jesus to do good works, which

LIMA

On 16 March 2020, Peru declared a state of emergency God prepared in advance for us to do.

due to COVID-19 and put in place a strict quarantine.

Abancay

ePhesIans 2:10

People were only allowed out of their residences if they Cotahuasi

were buying food, getting medicine, or seeking medical Arequipa

attention. Overnight, the income of those who live day-today selling goods was slashed.

Our team has been partnering with a local church and a group of Venezuelan Christians to provide emergency Vision food relief to those now without income due to the The purpose of SIM Peru is to glorify God by partnering with the Peruvian church to quarantine. In the first week of this relief project, we fulfil Christ’s Great Commission.

created 150 packages. By summer, we were making over 800 packages each week. The packages contained a few Ministry weeks worth of food for a family and the message of God’s love for them. Through

• Theological education in Bible institutes and through correspondence courses these packages, many have become open to hearing about the gospel. Our team is • Oral Bible teaching

finding ways to continue ministry among refugees on a longer term basis.

• Church ministries tailored to men, women, children, youth, and leaders

• Missions capacity building, training and mobilisation

• Community service ministries: a breakfast programme, homework clubs, and water Pray for

projects

• wisdom for those leading the refugee food aid project, and for God to continue to 21

• Dental work in a mission hospital and in villages provide the funds and workers for the program to continue as long as it is needed.

21

• University student ministry and English ministry for students

• for the Holy Spirit to work in those receiving packages, that the recipients might be

• Sunday school training and Vacation Bible School preparation open to hearing of God’s love for them.

• Sports Friends ministry

• guidance on how this ministry can grow beyond the COVID-19 crisis.

• Prison ministry

• the raising up of godly and faithful leaders in the Peruvian church, and for the

• Administration

ministry of theological education in training and equipping these leaders.

• the many Peruvians who are getting to know Christ through our ministries, that they will grow in their faith and become steadfast and responsible leaders whose Prayer Notes lives will be testimonies in their communities.

96

97

Philippines

Day 22

Communities where Christ is least known Muslim peoples in the Philippines

The Philippines is home to 14 Muslim groups, all METRO

originating from Mindanao. Each group has a unique MANILA

Betengos

culture, but all share the same faith, which is mixed with animistic practices.

I have become all things to all people so

The establishment of the Islamic Centre in Manila that by all possible means I might save

in 1964 led to the building of several mosques and some. I do all this for the sake of the

the formation of surrounding Muslim communities.

gospel, that I may share in its blessings.

Armed conflict in Mindanaeo led many Muslims 1 CorInthIans 9:22b-23

to flee for Manila and beyond. Since then, many more have moved to study and find better work opportunities.

Pray for SIM’s workers and the work they

are doing in six communities in Luzon and two communities in Mindanao, through ministries Vision primarily related to children, youth, women, and In partnership with churches and organisations, we make disciples of Jesus Christ by livelihood.

engaging Muslim faith communities and communities of migrants, among whom He is least known. We also mobilise and equip Filipinos for cross-cultural ministry.

Indonesian diaspora

According to the 2000 Philippines census, 43,871 Indonesians were living in the Ministry

Philippines. Migrations started as early as the 17th century, due to the proximity of

• Children’s ministry, through feeding and education Mindanao’s coastline to North Sulawesi. Those of the Indonesian diaspora belong to • Women’s ministry, through livelihood and missional business the Sangir or Sangil people group, who are considered to be traders or fishermen.

• Youth ministry, through scholarships, sports, and youth camps Most of them live in Southern Mindanao, although there are some in metro Manila as • Disciple-making, mentoring, counselling, and member care well. Pray for the Indonesian couple has been reaching out to them. Pray for another • Oral Bible storying

Indonesian couple who will also soon be serving these groups, too.

• Bible and literature translation

• Ethnomusicology

22

• Hospital visitation ministry

Pray for

22

• International student ministry

• our team’s disciple making efforts and the maturing of a fellowship of Muslim

• Video production

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.

Prayer Notes

• 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 of SIM Philippines’

• more Filipino churches and individuals to engage in Muslim ministries and in sending and caring for missionaries.

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

98

99

Senegal

Day 22

Communities where Christ is least known The Wolof

There are about five million Wolof

in Senegal, and their influence is felt

Thies

nationwide. However, only only about 200

DAKAR

follow Jesus among the Senegalese Wolof

Kaffrine

Heal me, lorD, and I will be

population, while the rest follow Islam,

healed; save me and I will be

most commonly a form of folk Islam.

saved, for You are the one I praise.

JeremIah 17:14

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.

Vision

Compelled by God’s great love and empowered by the Holy Spirit, the vision of the Pray for

SIM Senegal team is to glorify God by:

• SIM’s efforts to bring the gospel to the Wolof and to disciple those who show

• Crossing barriers to proclaim Christ.

interest in Christianity. We attempt to help them understand sin and how Jesus

• Living out the gospel among those who live and die without Him.

brings hope and healing to this problem.

• Expressing Christ’s love and compassion through holistic ministry.

• many Wolof adults and children to come to believe in Jesus and for strong Wolof

• Discipling people into biblically healthy churches and through diverse ministries.

churches to grow. Many are attracted to the gospel but find the idea of leaving their

• Working together with churches to fulfil God’s mission across cultures, locally and religion to be overwhelming. Pray for the Spirit’s work in their lives.

globally.

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

Ministry

• the Lord to give the SIM Senegal team wisdom and to bless and use each ministry

• Teaching English

• Prison ministry

of our team.

• Medical ministries

• Evangelism, disciple making and

• God to answer prayers for both physical and spiritual healing among the Wolof.

church planting

22

• Sports Friends

22

• Leadership and administration

• Producing and distributing

• Training centre offering employment

Wolofal Scriptures

skills and Christian literature

• Agriculture and development

• Teaching and dorm parenting

missionary kids

Prayer Notes

100

101

South Africa

Day 23

Communities where Christ is least known PRETORIA

Muslims

Krugersdorp

Edenvale

The Muslim population in South Africa is growing.

Johannesburg Mseleni

Some are new converts, often because of marriage, while others come from places such as Somalia, For Christ’s love compels us, BLOEMFONTEIN

Pakistan and North Africa. We are hoping to Pietermaritzburg

Sunbury

because we are convinced that

develop programmes to help the church reach out Durban

one died for all, and therefore all

to its Muslim neighbours and show Christ’s love.

Port Shepstone

died. And he died for all, that those

who live should no longer live for

Hindus

CAPE TOWN

Fort Beaufort

themselves but for him who died

South Africa is home to the largest number of Stellenbosch

Port Elizabeth

for them and was raised again.

Indians residing outside of India. Hinduism 2 CorInthIans 5:14–15

is their main religion, and very few Christian workers serve among them.

Prophetic movement

Many new churches are springing up in South Vision

Africa, but there is a trend in these churches By faith, we see…

toward false teaching. A blend of Christian and

• Christ’s love made known through his people to communities where He is least African religious practices is leading many people known astray.

• The people of Christ’s Church in South Africa proclaiming the Word and actively promoting reconciliation as they embrace diversity and cross barriers to obey God’s call to reach the lost Pray for

• Many people trained and equipped to serve both locally and abroad

• true reconciliation and transformation in South Africa.

• training for leaders to more deeply understand the Scriptures.

Ministry

• an awakening among many South African churches, especially those without a

• Mobilisation and training for cross-cultural service Reaching children, youth, and history of sending missionaries.

young adults

• effective training for service in cross-cultural missions.

• Evangelism in Muslim communities

• workers to take the gospel to and minister among the least reached, including

• Church planting in areas where Christ is least known 23

children, youth, young adults and Muslims.

• Theological and leadership development Ambassador development 23

• the development of an SIM ambassador programme in South African churches.

• Equipping workers Intentional discipleship

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

South Africa.

Prayer Notes

102

103

South Sudan and Sudan

Day 23

Communities where Christ is least known Refugee community

SUDAN

The county of Mabaan in South Sudan hosts

18 different tribes, who are all originally from KHARTOUM

Sudan.

Many of these tribes do not have any

Now there were some Greeks among

Christian witness around their home area. The those who went up to worship at the

refugees are being exposed to Christ and his festival. They came to Philip, who was from Word in the refugee camps. Communities of Melut

Bethsaida in Galilee, with a request. “Sir,”

Malakal

Doro

faith are popping up in different places within they said, “we would like to see Jesus.”

the refugee camp.

John 12:20–21

SOUTH SUDAN

Beyond borders

A Sudanese refugee who was in the camps

JUBA

in South Sudan was called by God to serve

among his people in a refugee area in Ethiopia.

In response, his host community in Mabaan, South Sudan, has now sent out their first

Vision

two missionaries. This is a testimony that By faith, we see:

the church is looking beyond its borders and

• The church in South Sudan committing to send missionaries sending out workers into the Lord’s harvest • The 130,000 people in Mabaan’s refugee camp reached with the gospel of salvation field.

• Refugee believers returning to their homes and taking the gospel with them

• The people of Sudan coming to a saving faith in Jesus Christ Pray for

Ministry

• Sudanese and South Sudanese churches to send out more missionaries across

• Replicating missional churches

cultures.

• Leadership and administrative services

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

• Discipleship and strengthening the Church

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

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

23

• our team to know that we are loved by God, not because of what we do but 23

because we are his children.

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

Prayer Notes

104

105

Sri Lanka

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

I have become all things to all

significant portion of the Muslim

people so that by all possible

community, are mainly ancestors

COLOMBO

means I might save some.

of the Arabs who came as traders.

Nuwara Eliya

1 CorInthIans 9:22b

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

to follow Christ, there are no churches with congregants or pastors from Muslim backgrounds.

Ministry

In the last few decades, a small segment of the Church has become conscious of

• Evangelism seminars and training

the need to share God’s love with these neighbours. There has been little opposition

• Disciple-making

or initiation of gospel work among Muslim communities.

• Tract ministry

SIM is part of a network whose goal is to reach these people through organising

• Counsellor training at Colombo Theological Seminary conferences, providing training and bringing awareness and direction to the Church • Seminary instruction

about outreach to Muslims.

• English instruction

• Counselling women and couples

• Basic counselling seminars

Pray for

• Marriage and family seminars

• the Church, that it will become aware of the gospel need in Sri Lankan Muslim

• Trauma healing training

communities and will dispel inhibitions about relating to them and will learn how

• Local church-based ministries to build up the Body of Christ best to share the gospel.

24

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

24

• 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 Prayer Notes

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.

106

107

Switzerland

Day 24

Communities where Christ is least known Switzerland’s changing demographics

Fifty years ago, nearly 100 per cent

Biel/Bienne

of all Swiss were either Catholic or

BERN

Reformed. Since then, the national

Lord, you are my God;

churches have been losing members

I will exalt you and

continuously, although the Reformed

praise your name, for in

churches have been more affected

perfect faithfulness you

than the Catholic ones. Today almost a

have done wonderful

quarter inhabitants of Switzerland are

things, things planned

Reformed, and one in three are Catholic.

long ago.

Almost a third of Swiss no longer

IsaIah 25:1

belong to any religion. This is the fastest growing group. Twenty-eight per cent of all people over 15 years of age do not belong to any religious community.

Vision

About five per cent of the people in Switzerland are Muslims. The number of Our vision is that people of all cultures may know God. By faith, we: evangelical churches is growing but remains at around two to three per cent. Recent • Live and serve as disciples of Jesus Christ.

studies have found that these evangelical churches reach only “institutionally-

• Serve the churches.

minded people’’ and these churches make little impact on the population, particularly

• Mobilize, orient, empower, and accompany workers in the younger generation. Faith is not seen as relevant in modern Swiss society — a • Cross-cultural ministry.

significant challenge for missions workers. Church leaders must imagine new and Ministry

creative ways to connect with individuals and demonstrate the importance of the The SIM Switzerland office is dedicated to: gospel. The same studies also revealed a lack of churches in rural and suburban zones.

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

• Sending Christians into cross-cultural ministries providing administrative support Pray for

and member care

• good networking and partnerships with churches.

• Raising spiritual and financial support

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

• Maintaining modern and relevant communication tools in German and French ways to mobilise people for mission work.

• Facilitating the sending of missionaries from Austria, the Czech Republic, Italy,

• an increase in the number of missionaries. Some long-term workers have returned and Romania, as well as occasionally from other countries in central, eastern, and home to stay, and we have not been able to send out new ones.

southern Europe

24

• the flourishing of our workers.

24

• God’s provision of financial support.

• 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 Prayer Notes established sending structure.

• guidance for the renewal of the personnel in the Swiss office, as almost 50 per cent of the team will retire in the next couple of years.

• fruitful collaboration with our partner organisations.

108

109

Tanzania

Day 25

Communities where Christ is least known People on the Coast…

One of the areas where Christ is least

known is along the southeast coast

of Tanzania, hence our motto: “The

Bagamaya

He is the One we proclaim,

Coast, for Christ, by the Church”.

Dodoma

admonishing and teaching

Most of the people in the

DAR ES SALAAM

everyone with all wisdom, so

communities where we serve are

that we may present everyone

living day-to-day. Fishermen daily

fully mature in Christ.

take out their dhows or dugouts,

ColossIans 1:28

hoping they catch enough to sell so

Lindi

that their needs are met.

Mtwara

They are strongly influenced by

Islam and traditional healers. Many

live in constant fear of being cursed.

Only Jesus can set them free.

Vision

Our prayer is that local churches, though small, will take up this challenge of By faith, we see the Church mobilized to disciple coastal people. SIM Tanzania’s motto reaching out to their neighbours who do not know Christ. Pray for us as we join hands is, “The Coast, for Christ, by the Church.”

with them in this adventure.

A typical outreach would consist of door-to-door evangelism during the week, with Ministry

an invitation to the “Jesus” film that will be shown on Friday and Saturday evenings. In

• Outreach and church planting in villages the past, this led to the planting of small churches, which are still operating to this day.

• Disciple making and training

Pray for more churches to catch this vision, so they can play a role in seeing the church

• Women’s ministries

multiply in nearby villages where there are no churches yet.

• Bible teaching at government schools

• Church-run Christian primary school

• “Jesus” film outreaches

Pray for

• Literature distribution

• 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 daily struggle to overcome challenges while they continue to serve the Body of Christ.

• 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 25

provisions needed to finish this building.

25

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

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

• the disciple making efforts among the youth.

110

111

Thailand

Day 25

Communities where Christ is least known Chiang Mai

The central Thai

There are very few Christians (0.25 per cent) Kaeng Khro

Khon Kaem

among the Thai who live in the central plain Chatturat

region, which includes the capital city of Ayutthaya BANGKOK

Bangkok. Many districts and sub-districts in this region have no known Christians and no I pray that the eyes of your heart Christian workers. SIM is building multi-skilled, may be enlightened in order that you

multi-ethnic church planting teams to serve may know the hope to which He has

called you, the riches of His glorious

this significant group of people in Thailand.

inheritance in His holy people.

University students

ePhesIans 1:18

Nakhon Si Thammarat

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 Vision

opportunities to introduce students to Christ.

By faith, we see the least-reached communities of Thailand authentically responding Most of Thailand’s universities have no to the gospel and being discipled into biblically-based, community-transforming Christian work happening among students.

churches that engage in mission.

Teaching English is a large and strategic

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

opportunity, because the new Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) community

Ministry

has chosen English as its medium for

• Evangelism and church planting University ministry communication. Students know that their career success will depend on their ability • Sports Friends

to speak English. Our desire is to have workers who are committed to building

• Hope for Life, an HIV outreach ministry Missionary children education relationships with Thai university students, evangelising and making disciples of new • Leadership and administration

believers.

• English teaching

• Counselling

Pray for

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

25

• God to provide workers with a passion to work among university students.

25

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

Prayer Notes

112

113

Togo

Day 26

Communities where Christ is least known Nomadic herders

Nomadic herders have migrated

into Togo from countries to the

north and the east.

Sokodé

Well over 100,000 of these

“This is how we know what love is: Jesus

herders have now spread

Christ laid down His life for us. And we ought throughout the country, with a

to lay down our lives for our brothers.”

larger concentration in the north.

I John 3:16

Some still herd cattle and goats over

great distances, in search of pasture

and water. Others now live in

villages around those who practice

LOME

the same religion. They may herd

cattle closer to home or earn a

living through farming, selling milk and cheese or running shops. The majority hold on Vision

to their language and distinct culture even while living among others. Togolese tend to We see dynamic, interdependent partnerships and mutually nurturing relationships marginalise this ethnic group, and there are frequent conflicts.

with Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA-Togo), other mission organisations, This group has been resistant to Christianity and usually rejects gospel and churches, as we respond together to the spiritual challenges in Togo and focus presentations from outsiders. We were excited to learn of a Christian herder who is on proclaiming the gospel among people groups with little Christian witness.

sharing Jesus’ love and truth with his own people. He and his wife became Christians in another country. Now they live in Togo and open their home to other nomadic Ministry herders, whether for a night or for several months. Some of their visitors are fleeing

• Leadership and theological training

extremists or poverty, while others were befriended at a local prison. Still others are

• Church partnerships

just passing through. Each one hears the gospel. New believers are discipled. Ask God

• Partnering with believers to reach and disciple their own people to call other nomadic herders to be witnesses to their own people.

• Friendship evangelism and discipleship among a majority people group, including use of media ministries • Women’s ministry

Pray for

• local Christians, that they will be burdened for and willing to reach their neighbours.

• growth among the ECWA-Togo churches, especially in relation to their vision and capacity for church planting, discipleship and mission outreach.

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

26

• the successful development of a farming and discipleship project to assist new Met 26

Prayer Notes

believers.

• the training of capable, godly and visionary pastors, elders, and missionaries.

114

115

United Kingdom

Day 26

Communities where Christ is least known Aberdeen

Migrant and refugee communities

Fourteen per cent of the UK’s population were born abroad, and this number rises to 36 per Glasgow

Edinburgh

cent in Greater London. Many refugees and

migrants have no knowledge of Jesus, or know Belfast

Remember that at that time you were

only caricatures of the Christian faith.

separate from Christ, excluded from

Our Engage programme brings mission

citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the Liverpool

workers into UK churches, helping them to

covenants of the promise, without hope and Birmingham

Cambridge (HQ)

bridge cultural gaps with their communities, without God in the world. But now in Christ respond to needs and share the gospel. We Cardiff

LONDON

Jesus you who once were far away have

Southampton

would like to see multiethnic mission teams and been brought near by the blood of Christ.

Exeter

healthy church life developing across barriers in ePhesIans 2:12–13

UK society.

Vision

Pray for

We work hand in hand with evangelical churches to send and receive gospel workers

• the workers sent and received by UK

who are equipped for cross-cultural mission wherever people live and die without churches to be faithful witnesses of the hearing God’s Good News.

gospel. We’re thankful for each church

that partners with us. Pray for deepened

We do this by:

relationships, leading to new people and

• Mobilising prayer and workers from churches in the UK, Republic of Ireland and communities hearing the gospel. Please pray northern Europe for cross-cultural evangelism and discipleship worldwide, for new connections and increased sending • Strengthening churches and helping with mission vision and action, and into mission during these changing times.

• Receiving mission workers from overseas with appropriate support, mentoring, and

• the good partnerships developing with other training.

evangelical mission agencies and churches

Ministry

across the UK and Europe. Pray for Christ to

• Church-centred mission mobilisation, including support for church leaders be trusted in new communities as a result • Supporting UK churches in cross-cultural ministry of our research into how UK churches are

• Receiving missionaries into UK churches engaging in inter-cultural mission.

• Missionary development, support, and care

• the continued progress of the

#HowWillTheyHear campaign, as a

multiagency collaboration to mobilise prayer, 26

workers, and tools (including Bibles) for

26

Prayer Notes

ministries amongst refugee and migrant

peoples in Europe.

116

117

United States

Day 27

Communities where Christ is least known As you help us by your prayers. Then

Alaska

Utah, Rhode Island and Massachusetts are

many will give thanks on our behalf

considered the top three least-evangelical states for the gracious favor granted us in

in the United States (two to three per cent). The answer to the prayers of many.

northeastern region includes the most states that 2 CorInthIans 1:11

do not identify as Christian. Some US counties have no known believers, such as Keweenaw

County, Michigan. Counties with few known

believers range geographically from Utah to Alaska.

Portland

New York

In some of these communities, believers in Jesus Denver

Chicago

are shunned or harassed, and churches struggle to WASHINGTON

Los Angeles

Charlotte

stay open.

Dallas

Atlanta

The US also continues to see the movement

Sebring

of great numbers of evangelically least-reached people into many of its urban centres. It is third behind India and China with the most unreached Vision peoples within their borders (Unreached Peoples, SIM USA desires to be well-positioned to proclaim Jesus and empower people in their Least-Reached Places; JD Payne).

worship of Him through praying, giving, and going. Longing to see the Body of Christ in all places and amongst all peoples, we support SIM’s efforts to make disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ in communities where He is least known.

Pray for

• courage, wisdom and sensitivity for believers and for people who don’t know Jesus Ministry

or his Word to engage in Spirit-prepared conversations with open hearts and minds.

SIM USA serves as a conduit for global missions. We strive to be exceptionally

• God’s help to strategically engage with new realities and opportunities.

relational as we:

• discernment, creativity and God’s provision of resources to help us enhance

• Seek people with whom God would have us partner, partnerships with the US church and expand its capacity to make Jesus known.

• Shepherd those we partner with, as we all grow, and

• growth in the multicultural, multi-talented community of people we partner with

• Steward everything our partners entrust to us.

and send.

With prayer and care, we respond to need (to help and be helped), proclaim the

• 100 long-term workers per year going active with SIM USA by 2024.

gospel (to others and one another), and equip the church (US and global). We are

• wisdom and grace to steward well all that has been entrusted to us, and the passionate about assisting the US church as, with humility and courage, we partner acquisition and application of new tools to provide all ministry partners with with the global church.

objectively measured results.

27

Prayer Notes

27

118

119

Uruguay

Day 27

Communities where Christ is least known The unreached coastal strip of Montevideo

In Montevideo, Uruguay’s capital, where the majority of the population resides, there are entire neighbourhoods that have virtually no church presence at all. Even among

Opponents must be gently instructed,

professing Catholics, only 2 per cent attend in the hope that God will grant

mass. A one-mile wide and eight-mile long

them repentance leading them to a

strip that runs along the city’s southern coast knowledge of the truth, 26 and that

is home to more than 400,000 people. The

they will come to their senses and

vast majority of them are living and dying Canelones

escape from the trap of the devil, who

without knowing Christ.

Cludad de la Costa

has taken them captive to do his will.

The economic contrast between this

MONTEVIDEO

Corrasco

2 tImothy 2:25-26

strip and what you find when immediately

crossing its northern border is stark.

Typically, people in this unreached area are upper or upper-middle class. Individuals

Vision

in this population often will claim to not We are convinced that no one should live or die without hearing and understanding need God, and yet it is the demographical the gospel of Jesus Christ, in Uruguay and around the world. For this reason, we epicentre for the country’s depression and believe that God has called SIM workers to this country to be instruments who suicide crisis. Uruguay consistently ranks as the country with the highest annual reach, train and equip new generations of Uruguayans for Jesus Christ.

suicide rate in Latin America, and in 2019, the rate was double the world average.

SIM Uruguay has closely partnered with one of the few established Ministry

Protestant churches ministering in this region. Christ Church Montevideo is an

• Church planting in least-reached areas

interdenominational, bilingual church located in the richest neighbourhood. In addition

• Outreach to university students

to its unique, consistent and relational ministry amongst upper class Uruguayans, this

• Children’s outreach and Bible training Christian community also attracts many who find themselves displaced from their • Equipping international population for local impact homeland, as it is the only active church in the city that also offers an English worship • Youth Specialties leadership training and disciple making service.

• Mentoring and cross-cultural skill-building

• Todos Oirán missions and theological training

• Catalyst leadership training programme Pray for

• increased impact for the disciple-making efforts in the least-reached regions.

• displaced internationals, who would never step foot in a church in their own countries, to have a new openness and curiosity while in Uruguay.

27

Prayer Notes

• SIM Uruguay to reach and equip the next generation of Uruguayan disciple makers.

27

• the increase and strengthening of partnerships with organisations, local churches, and other ministries, so that we can expand to new areas and people groups.

120

121

Vietnam

Day 28

Communities where Christ is least known HANOI

Minority communities

There are about 67 least reached people

groups in Vietnam. Thirty of these groups have fewer than one per cent professing Christians, and 15 have no Christ followers at all.

It was He who gave some to be

Da Nang

In these communities, when a person

apostles, some to be prophets, some to

receives Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour, he be evangelists, and some to be pastors

or she is eager to follow the biblical mandate and teachers, to prepare God’s people

for works of service, so that the Body

to lead others to Christ by making, baptising of Christ may be built up

and teaching disciples (Matthew 28:19-20).

Ho Chi Minh City

ePhesIans 4:11-12

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, and help them grow in their new faith.

Majority community

Vision

The Kinh people are the majority community in Vietnam and make up 86 per cent of By faith in our loving Heavenly Father and empowered by his Holy Spirit, we trust God the population. They have Christian resources available to them, but only 1.2 per for: cent of the over 78 million Viet-Kinh are followers of Christ. This makes the Kinh

• Vietnamese communities where Christ is least known being engaged by a multi-people the largest unreached people group in Southeast Asia.

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 within Vietnam and beyond.

Pray for

• minority pastors around few Christ followers. Pray that they can receive help to Ministry

understand God’s Word and teach others about Him accurately.

• Equipping: leadership development, theological and missiological education,

• the Lord to provide workers who will live in Vietnam and make disciples in culturally training for biblically-guided relationships in home, church and community, training appropriate ways.

in missional business, and sports

• the nation. Pray for opportunities to establish missional businesses, engage

• Helping Vietnamese who face surgeries, injuries, and other traumatic events, by universities, and introduce educational initiatives, through which Vietnam’s people providing them with God’s love, comfort, and caring through chaplaincy and sharing will find their true purpose in Christ.

the gospel of Jesus Christ businesses and campus ministries

• believers in local churches to have a growing vision to boldly reach out 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.

Prayer Notes

• communities in the north, centre, and south that have no church or have a church lacking a pastor with adequate Bible knowledge.

28

• 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 boldly share it with others.

• courage and perseverance for those facing opposition and persecution for their faith.

• church leaders to effectively teach biblical principles for godly living.

• Communist Party members, government officials, and military personnel. These people are influential pillars in Vietnamese society.

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123

WAMO West Africa Missions Office

Day 28

Communities where Christ is least known Faithful Witness Locations in West Africa

KAYES IN MALI – The Moors of Mali are Mali

located in Kayes, where Christ is least known.

Niger

They are nomadic Berbers and inhabit a small Senegal

kingdom in the upper reaches of the Niger

The Gambia

Therefore go and make

Burkina

River. The term “Moor” is generally applied to Faso

disciples of all nations,

any person who speaks one of the Hassaniya Guinea

Benin

baptizing them in the name

Ghana

dialects. Hassaniya draws heavily from the Cote

Nigeria

of the Father and of the

Togo

original spoken Arabic. The door is opening for d’Ivoire

Son and of the Holy Spirit.

workers to go and live among the Moors, who Liberia

matthew 28:19

are 100 per cent Muslim.

ABIDJAN

NORTHERN NIGERIA – Northern Nigeria houses the what is believed to be the largest Vision

semi-nomadic group in the world, the Fulani, Convinced that no one should live and die without hearing God’s good news, the West who are found across West and Central Africa.

Africa Missions Office:

In Nigeria, some continue to live as semi-

• Partners with the West African Church for the success of global missions nomadic herders, while others have moved to • Mobilises and sends qualified, equipped workers from and through the West cities. They herd their animals across vast areas, African Church all over the world, to cross cultural barriers with love to those living frequently clashing with farming communities.

and dying without Christ

They are often linked with another group, the

• Through workers sent from West Africa, enables the making of disciples of the Lord Hausas. As the two groups have lived together Jesus Christ in communities where He is least known for a very long time, some refer to the Hausa-Fulani, though they are different groups. The Ministry Fulani played a key role in the 19th century

• Mobilizing in West Africa for the recruitment of new workers revival of Islam in Nigeria.

• Partnering with local like-minded churches, mission organizations, and other The West Africa Missions Office continues to regional bodies in West Africa for global missions mobilise workers who are willing and passionate • Training and sending missionaries from West Africa mobilising for more prayer and to take advantage of the opportunities that financial support for workers exist to be faithful witnesses to those living and dying in these communities.

Pray for

• more faithful witnesses to be mobilized for Prayer Notes

these communities, from West Africa and

beyond.

28

28

• an increase in the gospel’s reception in these communities.

• 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.

124

125

West Malaysia

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 as of 2017. Officially, there are 18 tribes of Orang Asli in Malaysia, each with its own culture, religion and How, then, can they call on the One language. They are the oldest people groups of Malaysia, but are also the poorest and they have not believed in? And how can most oppressed in the country. Although some have decided to follow Islam or they believe in the One of whom they Christianity, they are traditionally animists. In recent years, they have retreated farther KUALA

have not heard? And how can they hear

back into the forest to avoid the demands to assimilate to the majority culture or LUMPUR

without someone preaching to them?

convert to another religion.

romans 10:14 nIV

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 and wages. As of the end of March 2020, there are nearly 180,000 refugees and asylum seekers registered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Vision (UNHCR) in Malaysia. Like undocumented migrants, refugees don’t have legal rights Our vision is to see every people group in this country reached with Christ’s love. So, to live a normal life here. Their human rights are often violated. God is calling us to our aims are for all the believers in West Malaysia to be discipled and equipped with reach out to them with Christ’s love.

the vision, skills, and resources to proclaim the message of reconciliation with God in word and deed, among communities where Christ is not known.

International students

We strive to share God’s love among the least-reached peoples, including migrants, International students continue to choose Malaysia as a preferred higher education refugees and international students in West Malaysia. We are also working to establish destination due to the quality education available. At present, around 130,000

a collaboration of churches, mission groups, and Christian leaders that aims to make international students from 136 countries are pursuing their education here. Most of disciples of our Lord Jesus in communities where He is least known, ministering at the international students come from Southeast Asia, the Middle East, Middle Asia, home and abroad.

and African countries, with some also from Europe. Our international student ministry connects students with the gospel through friendship evangelism, making Ministry disciples who can engage with their own cultures when they return home.

• Humanitarian work among the migrants and refugees

• Friendship evangelism among the international students

• Partnership in theological education and leadership training Pray for

• Community-building projects among the diaspora in the cities

• the removal of barriers, so that God’s love can be shared freely across the country to all.

• more trained workers to serve amongst the migrants, refugees and international students.

Prayer Notes

• increased participation and partnership with local churches to do God’s mission at doorsteps.

28

• resources and staff to mobilise local churches and support incoming workers.

28

126

127

Zambia

Day 29

Communities where Christ is least known Asian diaspora

Chinese diaspora communities in Zambia

tS

are fast growing. SIM supports the

rober

outreach work of a small Chinese church.

yD

an

Solwezi

Chingola

The Indian diaspora is in the business

: S

Ghizela

Kitwe

Ndola

sector and are Muslim or Hindu.

to

Mukinge

And whatever you do, whether in

Pho

word or deed, do it all in the name

Men and women in prison

Mangu

Some have gone to prison due to unwise

Luampa

of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to

LUSAKA

choices, often compounded by poverty

Mazabuka

God the Father through him.

Senanga

and unemployment. But these men and

Macha

ColossIans 3:17

Choma

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 Vision

heavily influenced by secular education and educators. They often struggle during The vision of SIM Zambia is to be a witness to Christ’s love where He is least known, this formative season of life with understanding their faith biblically and making it expressing God’s love and compassion and teaching disciples to do likewise, resulting genuinely their own.

in Christ-centred churches across Zambia.

Ministry

Pray for

• Youth ministry

• our new director as he leads the team in reviewing and refining the field ministry’s

• Health ministry

vision and strategic plan.

• Community development

• God to send the right people to fill key personnel needs within Zambia.

• Disciple-making and leadership training

• the youth centres as they develop programmes to disciple and encourage youth to

• Primary and secondary education

grow in their faith.

• University campus ministry

• our health workers, as they minister to the physical and spiritual needs of their

• Prison ministry

patients.

• Library resourcing for Bible colleges, youth centres and churches

• our community development ministries (such as Foundations for Farming) that

• Theological education

help teach rural farmers better ways to grow food for their families. Pray that our

• Leadership and administration

workers will also have opportunities to make a spiritual impact in their trainees’

lives.

• our disciple-making and leadership training ministries, that they would impact individuals who will then be able to share their faith with others.

Prayer Notes

• more chaplains to serve in Zambia’s prisons, schools and hospitals.

• the many Chinese people who need to hear the gospel. Pray that evangelism training will equip the members of the Chinese Church to share the gospel with 29

others.

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Zimbabwe

Day 29

Communities where Christ is least known The Ba Tonga people group of northern Zimbabwe Numbering about 300,000 (2.3 per cent of the HARARE

Gokwe

Marondera

Zimbabwean population), and found along the border of Zimbabwe and Zambia, this people group is often neglected by development agencies. The Ba Tonga Mutare were displaced during the construction of the Kariba Masvingo

Dam and relegated to a district called Binga, which has Rusitu

Bulawayo

Praise the lorD, all you nations;

become their homeland. However, their culture has extol Him, all you peoples.

not died. They believe in a supreme god called Mwari, Psalm 117:1

the same word used for God in the rest of the country.

However, they believe this god can only be reached and appeased through ancestors, so ancestral worship is very strong. The elephant, the baobab tree, and certain fish are also used as worship symbols. Smoking Vision marijuana is also traditional and cultural.

By faith, we see:

SIM has always prayed to start gospel outreach

• a witness of Christ to every Zimbabwean, so that no one lives and dies without ministries among the Ba Tonga. One strategy being hearing the gospel and explored is for the theological colleges in a nearby city,

• responding to it;

Bulawayo, to intentionally recruit students from Binga, believers discipled into a fuller understanding of their faith; and who would then return to evangelise their people. The Christ’s compassionate love expressed and shared with the poor, hurting, and long-term vision is to establish a mission station with a suffering.

theological college in Binga township.

Ministry

• Outreach ministries: children, youth, HIV/AIDS and COVID-19 prevention, famine Pray for

relief, disaster relief, vulnerable girl children

• the recruitment of suitable students to study

• Theology and resources: theological education, Leaders Equipping and Resourcing theology and return to Binga to evangelise their Network (LEARN), research, witness to cults communities.

• Leadership and services

• scholarships to support the students.

• Evangelism

• missionaries to be sent for the Ba Tonga people of Binga.

• a mission station to be established for the Ba Tonga people.

Prayer Notes

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Sports Friends

Day 29

Each of you should use whatever

gift you have received to serve

The power of a coach

others, as faithful stewards of

“A good coach can change a game. A great coach can change a life.” – John Wooden God’s grace in its various forms.

A once-dead parking lot near an urban church in the US has become a Saturday-1 Peter 4:10

night spectacle. Nets and goals are set up to beckon 30-50 young refugees from the community to come together and play soccer. The unlikely “pitch” has been provided UK

by the church for this express purpose.

USA

These young people, created

Burkina

in the image of God, have walked

Faso

Niger

Senegal

Ethiopia

Southeast

roads marked with incredible loss,

Asia

Ghana

Horn of Africa

Kenya

trauma, PTSD, grief and pain.

Ecuador

Nigeria

Thailand

Tanzania

They have lost their sense of

Peru

Malawi

value, of belonging, of purpose. In

the high energy and competition

of the game, the mess inside

is revealed. One day, as three

teenagers opened up and shared

Vision

about their inability to maintain

Our vision is to see a global movement of local church-centred sports ministries peace and self-control, the Holy transforming lives and strengthening communities with the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Spirit reminded their Coach: You

We strive to:

used to be just like them. Suddenly one young man asked, “Coach, did you ever fight?

• Stimulate a vision for local churches and church planters to use sports as a powerful Why don’t you fight now?”

ministry tool. Train Christian leaders to develop fruitful, church – centred sports The Coach shared how he used to get into fights, had no self-control, and used his ministries that make disciples of Jesus through sports.

words to tear people apart. “Now,” whispered the Lord to the Coach’s heart. “Tell them

• Equip coaches for effective service by providing ongoing support and of the Prince of Peace.” So he did. He told of his own coach who’d loved Jesus and encouragement to help them live, lead, minister and coach for the glory of God.

loved him in the middle of his own mess. How he was introduced to this Jesus who

• Develop the leadership capacity of sports ministry coordinators, who will provide brings not the sword, but unshakeable peace. He told them how Jesus is the only one vision, guidance and management for the local sports ministry movement and who can give the power to turn the other cheek. Jesus has changed everything for this develop coaches at the local church level.

Coach, and that night the effect rippled a little further.

It is a wonderful thing to build such relationships of trust. It is a wonderful thing Ministry

that hurting young men can be vulnerable and seek answers to the questions of their In 19 countries, Sports Friends is passionately training and equipping local church hearts. It is a wonderful thing to be a coach.

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.

Pray for

• the refugee youth and their parents who are part of our sports ministry initiatives in Prayer Notes the US. Praise God for how sport is building bridges and deepening relationships.

• more than 13,000 coaches who have been trained by Sports Friends. Pray they would be effective in making disciples of Jesus as they live, lead, minister and coach for the glory of God.

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• more than 290,000 young people who are currently involved in ministries with a Sports Friends-trained coach. Pray that they would grow as mature disciples of Jesus Christ.

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International Leadership & Services Day 30

Communities where Christ is least known The Blind and visually impaired

Blindness is a significant factor in access to education, employment, and social integration. Not being able to see to read or to watch is a major barrier to being introduced to the gospel.

At least 2.2 billion people globally have vision impairment or blindness, and at least one billion of those impairments could have been prevented or have yet to be addressed, according to the World Health Organisation. Without people having timely access to screening, preventable or treatable conditions can cause permanent damage.

Despite global improvements in vision health over the last 30 years, population growth and aging mean more people than ever are facing vision loss.

For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced The WHO says, “The burden of eye conditions and vision impairment is not borne that one died for all, and therefore all died.

equally. The burden tends to be greater in low- and middle-income countries and 2 CorInthIans 5:14

under-served populations, such as women, migrants, indigenous peoples, persons with certain kinds of disability, and in rural communities.”*

SIM is concerned for both the spiritual sight and the physical sight of those living Vision

and dying without Christ. Pray for the Lord to call more medical workers to serve The vision of SIM is to see a witness to Christ’s love where He is least known, those with blindness and visual impairments globally. In addition to medical outreach, disciples of Jesus expressing God’s love in their communities, and Christ-centred approaches that nurture more inclusive, loving, and equitable environments in our churches among all peoples. SIM’s purpose is: partner schools, churches, and ministry settings will go a long way to removing barriers Convinced that no one should live and die without hearing God’s good news, we to the gospel.

believe that He has called us to make disciples of Jesus Christ in communities where He is least known.

*https://bit.ly/2CgosK9

Ministry

The ministries of SIM International Leadership and Services clear barriers for those Pray for

whom God is calling to serve cross-culturally. We achieve this by providing:

• unity, courage, wisdom, and discernment for the International Director and his

• Global leadership and training

leadership team members.

• Cross-cultural people and ministry development in more than 70 countries

• those suffering long-term impacts of COVID-19, especially those whose livelihoods

• Worldwide personnel, financial and technical support to remote mission locations and have vanished.

• Direction and planning for the expansion and long -term sustainability of SIM

• those experiencing forms of injustice globally, whether based on race, ethnic origin, priority ministries and projects gender or other reasons. effective people development, as we seek to be disciples

• Communications and multilingual resources who make disciples.

• effective mentoring and disciple making at all levels of leadership, and especially for wisdom in encouraging SIM’s developing leaders.

Prayer Notes

• 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.

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Regional Service Centres

Day 30

Each of SIM’s regional service centres offers vital support to SIM workers serving SASC —

in a particular region. These strategic centres provide services in accounting and Southern Africa Service Centre 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

Angola

Malawi

Zambia

Zimbabwe Mazambique

Madagascar

Mauritius

Sudan

Namibia

Eritrea

Botswana

Reunion

Djibouti

South

Ethiopia

Sudan

Somalia

Serving: Angola, Botswana, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Uganda

Reunion, Zambia, Zimbabwe

Kenya

Rwanda

Burundi

Pray for

Tanzania

• 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.

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

Prayer Notes

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Faithful Witness Initiative

Day 30

Communities where Christ is least known The Maba of Eastern Chad

The Maba people inhabit the Ouaddaï region of eastern Chad. At present, there is little to no Christian witness in Ouaddaï, where 95 per cent of Maba and other Chadian

peoples are Sunni Muslims. This area, which corresponds to the sultanate known as

Wadai, once served as a crucial intersection of Muslim trade routes. Centuries later,

Ouaddaï bears the scars of colonialism.

Deep-seated political conflicts stem from

three cultural groups (indigenous, French and Islamic) competing for authority; this tension is compounded by severe food insecurity, limited rainfall, lack of clean water and

overpopulation due to refugees fleeing

neighbouring Darfur.

For the Maba people, and especially

their women, the impact of socioeconomic

instability is far-reaching. The women must work alongside men in the fields while simultaneously maintaining their households. There is an urgent need to liberate women and young girls from sexual and gender-based violence. Women are often Vision subject to abuse by their own husbands, but violence against women often peaks Faithful Witness in Forgotten Communities is an SIM initiative designed to during periods of heightened militant activity. Many Ouaddaïen women elect not to facilitate ministry in places where there is no gospel witness or where the witness fight for justice, in case their children are rendered fatherless and subjected to greater needs strengthening. Faithful Witness is helping fund workers from diverse poverty. The Maba have profound physical and emotional needs – needs that the contexts, so that they can go to new locations. The programme also provides Body of Christ is uniquely designed to meet.

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 eastern Chad, western Mali, northern Pray for Nigeria, Thailand, North Africa, and South Asia.

• the Lord to raise up workers for his harvest who are needed for this initiative.

• the Lord to raise the resources needed.

• us to stay in step with Jesus all the way, led by the Holy Spirit and guided by God’s Word.

Prayer Notes

• communities around the world that do not have access to the gospel.

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SIM Worldwide

Day 31

Equippers for the Harvest

Partners for the Harvest

Lord, we pray that:

Lord, we thank you for:

• Bible training campuses and programmes will nurture students in lifelong

• The many who sacrificially release their children and grandchildren to You for commitment to being and making disciples and will maintain a biblical, missions-kingdom service, their finances to support those who go and their time to faithfully integrated worldview.

pray for SIM workers and ministries. Prosper them. Fill them with the joy of the

• Pastors will cultivate a passion for the gospel, locally and globally, in their harvest!

congregations. Bless these shepherds with spiritual refreshment and empowerment

• Christ-centred churches with a vision to fulfil your mission across cultures, locally in ministry.

and globally, extending your Church to the ends of the earth.

• 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

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141

Prayer for Renewal

Day 31

• Lord, we offer ourselves to you.

• Teach our tongues to strengthen others.

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies The Sovereign LORD has given me a well-instructed tongue, as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.

To know the word that sustains the weary.

Romans 12:1

isaiah 50:4a

Forgive us when we hold back parts of ourselves.

Forgive us when our words tear down and discourage others.

Help us to consecrate every part of our beings to You.

Help us to speak words that refresh, encourage, and build up one another.

• Renew our minds.

• Waken our ears to receive your instructions.

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of He wakens me morning by morning, your mind.

wakens my ear to listen like one being instructed.

R

The Sovereign LORD has opened my ears.

omans 12:2a

i

Forgive us for polluting our minds with the world’s values.

saiah 50:4b, 5a

Help us to saturate our minds with your Word and your wisdom.

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.

• Align our wills with your will.

• Establish the work of our hands.

Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing, and perfect will.

May the favor of the Lord our God rest on us; establish the work of our hands for us —

Romans 12:2b

yes, establish the work of our hands.

Forgive us for asserting our own will and our own rights.

psalm 90:17

Help us to understand, affirm, and joyfully carry out your will.

Forgive us when our hands are negligent.

Help us to do careful, quality work for your kingdom.

• Give us hearts that overflow with thanksgiving.

Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the

• Direct our feet on the gospel path.

Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring G?ood N?ews, EphEsians 5:19b-20.

who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, Forgive us when our hearts are choked with bitterness and pride.

who say to Zion, “Your God reigns!”

Help us to praise You with heartfelt songs and thanksgiving.

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.

• Keep our eyes fixed on Jesus.

And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus,

• Lord, may we honor you with our bodies!

the pioneer and perfecter of faith.

Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, hEbREws 12:1b-2a .

whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a Forgive us for fixing our eyes on ourselves, and on the “giants in the land”.

price. Therefore, honour God with your bodies.

Help us to focus on the wonderful person and saving work of Jesus.

1 CoRinthians 6:19-20

Forgive us when our actions and attitudes bring dishonor to your Name.

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Help us to honor You with every member of our bodies and every aspect of our beings!

In the powerful name of Jesus, amen.

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Day 31

Partnerships

Additional countries where SIM workers serve Burundi

Working with Serge Medical Team, we are in positions of training medical professionals and students. We ask for prayer that our teaching would be blessed – that they would gain not only medical knowledge but also how to love and care for patients with the love of Christ.

Colombia

Pray that those who are hearing God’s call to serve in mission will be bold to respond and that their churches will be also.

Cameroon

Please pray for wisdom for the board and general directorate in all the decision they have to make. Please also pray that churches and communities embrace the vision of CABTAL and get fully involved in the in the translation and development projects.

Eurasia

Please pray for our heath, we are living in a place with a very harsh climate. May the Lord keep us both in a good health to serve him. Please pray for a good work and a good communion in the Bible’s translation team.

Papua New Guinea

PNG is poorly developed with many health issues. People have turned to Christ and churches are widespread, but they struggle with false teaching and tribalism. Pray for more training of church leaders who bring unity and holistic growth to communities.

Uganda

We work at Kampala Evangelical School of Theology (KEST) and Emmanuel Children’s Outreach (ECO) in Uganda. Our main prayer request is that we will be able to return to those ministries. Fridah can’t leave the US until her Green Card is approved. The pandemic has closed the Uganda borders as well as KEST and ECO. // Pray for safety for AIM AIR, partners in Uganda, as they fly throughout Uganda and East Africa serving various ministries.

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www.sim.org

Document Outline

- Introduction

- Prayer Calendar

- Foreward

- SIM Core Values

- Introduction

- Foreward

- Purpose and Mission

- SIM Core Values

- Angola

- Australia

- Bangladesh

- Benin

- Bolivia

- Botswana

- Burkina Faso

- Canada

- Chile

- China

- Côte d’Ivoire

- East African Office

- East Asia

- Ecuador

- Eritrea

- Ethiopia

- France

- Germany

- Ghana

- Guinea

- India

- Indonesia

- Japan

- Kenya

- Korea

- Latin America

- Liberia

- Madagascar

- Malawi

- Mali

- Mascarene Islands

- Middle East

- Mongolia

- Mozambique

- Myanmar

- Namibia

- Nepal

- New Zealand

- Niger

- Nigeria

- North Africa

- Pakistan

- Paraguay

- Peru

- Philippines

- Senegal

- South Africa

- South Sudan and Sudan

- Sri Lanka

- Switzerland

- Tanzania

- Thailand

- Togo

- United Kingdom

- United States

- Uruguay

- Vietnam

- WAMO West Africa Missions Office

- West Malaysia

- Zambia

- Zimbabwe

- Sports Friends

- International Leadership & Services

- Regional Service Centres

- Faithful Witness Initiative

- SIM Worldwide

- Prayer for Renewal

- Partnerships

Table of Contents

Introduction

Prayer Calendar

Foreward

SIM Core Values

Introduction

Foreward

Purpose and Mission

SIM Core Values

Angola

Australia

Bangladesh

Benin

Bolivia

Botswana

Burkina Faso

Canada

Chile

China

Côte d’Ivoire

East African Office

East Asia

Ecuador

Eritrea

Ethiopia

France

Germany

Ghana

Guinea

India

Indonesia

Japan

Kenya

Korea

Latin America

Liberia

Madagascar

Malawi

Mali

Mascarene Islands

Middle East

Mongolia

Mozambique

Myanmar

Namibia

Nepal

New Zealand

Niger

Nigeria

North Africa

Pakistan

Paraguay

Peru

Philippines

Senegal

South Africa

South Sudan and Sudan

Sri Lanka

Switzerland

Tanzania

Thailand

Togo

United Kingdom

United States

Uruguay

Vietnam

WAMO West Africa Missions Office

West Malaysia

Zambia

Zimbabwe

Sports Friends

International Leadership & Services

Regional Service Centres

Faithful Witness Initiative

SIM Worldwide

Prayer for Renewal

Partnerships