Wassulu in Guinea
A warm and hospitable people, the Wassulu of West Africa claim to originate from the Futa Jalon (Fulani) of Guinea. Geopolitical borders do not define the area inhabited by the Wassulu people. The Wassulu region expands from the southwest corner of Mali, to the northwest corner of Ivory Coast and the northeast part of Guinea. Their villages are often remote. Although there is strong evidence of Muslim practices in their villages, many of the Wassulu also continue to follow traditional African religious beliefs and practices.Ministry Obstacles To follow Jesus among the Wassulu is to create division between oneself and family and friends. Such divisions are very significant barriers to belief. Outreach Ideas The Kissi tribe in Guinea has a large number of Christian believers. Perhaps the Kissi will carry the Gospel of Christ to their Wassulu neighbors. Pray to this end. Pray for the followers of Christ Pray for the followers of Jesus among the Wassulu community, that they will find each other in order to fellowship. Pray for accuracy in understanding the Gospel of grace. Pray they won't mix the teachings of Christ with traditional African religions. Pray for the entire people group Pray that each mature individual in the Wassulu tribe will have at least one opportunity to clearly hear the good news about Jesus in his or her mother tongue. Pray even for more than one opportunity, since it usually requires several in order to really understand and believe. Scripture Focus "Now go out to the street corners and invite everyone you see." Matthew 22:9 | 
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Minggu, 12 November 2017
Wassulu in Guinea
Nisu, Jianshui in China
Nisu, Jianshui in China
The Jianshui Nisu have been a dominant group in southern Yunnan for many centuries. They worship numerous spirits, some of whom are considered benevolent and others evil. The first missionaries in Jianshui arrived in 1933 and stayed for two years, and today there are a small number of Nisu Christians in Gaoda District.Ministry Obstacles Spirit worship must be overcome and replaced by worship of the living God. Outreach Ideas Han Chinese believers may be able to help disciple the Jianshui Nisu believers, giving them a vision to reach the remainder of their people group. Pray for the followers of Christ Pray for the believers among the Jianshui Nisu, that they would be properly taught in the faith, making the most of every opportunity, understanding what the Lord's will is. Pray for the entire people group Pray that all of the Jianshui Nisu people group will increasingly desire to learn of Jesus, his life and finished work on the cross. Scripture Focus "Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, The people whom He has chosen for His own inheritance." Psalm 33:12 | 
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Yadav (Hindu traditions) in India
Yadav (Hindu traditions) in India
The Yadav believe they are the descendants of king Yadu, from whom Krishna descended. Their traditional occupation is animal husbandry. They have expertise in oral traditions like sevagaridi, i.e. group singing in praise of Lord Vishnu. They freely share wells, roads, schools, crematoria, temple, etc. with other villagers.Ministry Obstacles Our natural human pride often prevents us from humbly accepting the free gift offered through faith in Christ. Outreach Ideas Christians need to build bridges of friendship with the Yadav. Their interest in oral traditions suggests an oral approach to the presentation of the Gospel message. Pray for the followers of Christ There are few if any believers among the Yadav today, but pray for the fellowshipping believers that will soon emerge from this community. Pray they will be zealous to know and serve the one who created them and redeemed them. Pray for the entire people group Pray for the Yadav community to have good schools available for their children, and for good employment opportunities. Scripture Focus "And those who lead many to righteousness [will shine] like the stars for ever and ever." Daniel 12:3 | 
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Teli (Hindu traditions) in India
Teli (Hindu traditions) in India
"A community which derives its name from the Sanskrit word talika or taila, used for the oil extracted from sesame and mustard, thus alluding to their traditional occupation... Mythological origin of the Teli is traced to Lord Shiva who created them to destroy five demons. However, their legend also says that the first Teli was created by Shiva to rub him with oil." (Singh, K. S., India's Communities, p. 3462)Ministry Obstacles The Teli may have little concept of a loving creator God who has made provision for the forgiveness of sin and for an abundant life. Outreach Ideas Several teams of workers will be needed for this large community that speaks many languages. Pray for workers. Pray for the followers of Christ There are a few followers of Christ among the Teli community, pray they will hunger to learn of Christ, and follow him wholeheartedly. Pray for the entire people group Pray the Teli community will be able to properly provide for their families, and will have good schools available for their children. Pray for their material well-being as well as for their spiritual needs. Scripture Focus "The time is coming to gather all nations and tongues. And they shall come and see My glory." Isaiah 66:18 | 
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Golden Window of Opportunity Opens in Syria
Golden Window of Opportunity Opens in Syria
November 2, 2017
When a Muslim soldier finally met up with his wife and three children at a camp for people displaced by Syria's civil war, they found there was literally less of him to embrace.
It wasn't just that Sayid* had less muscle mass in his injured arms and less skin on his side, thanks to an Improvised Explosive Device that Islamic State (ISIS) militants had detonated yards away from him. Nor that the blast seemed to have ongoing effects on his lungs and liver.
They noticed that he was moody and had difficulty concentrating. He sometimes seemed confused. Making decisions was difficult, and he had frequent headaches. Sayid couldn't recall things from their shared lives that he normally would. He was not fully the Sayid he was before, and it was unclear if he ever would be.
He had undergone 12 operations to reduce swelling of the brain, get skin grafts and repair internal organs.
Overworked doctors were too hurried to determine whether to attribute his cognitive problems to complications from concussion (purely physical) or Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (emotional), which delayed treatment options. Sayid was dejected about this and the gruffness of the doctors and other hospital staff members; they seemed to regard him as someone who had brought his injuries on himself, or at the very least as an interruption in their busy schedules.
This did not help in his recovery.
"When they're coming to church and asking us to pray for needs, I can see that God is working in their life," the ministry leader said. "People asking for prayer are Sunni Muslims, extremist Muslims too."
He learned about a three-day medical clinic at the camp for displaced people and decided to see if there was anything they could do for him. Run by an indigenous Christian ministry based in the undisclosed city in Syria, the clinic offered him something the health-care system had not: a listening ear. Every member of the medical team heard some part of his story – from life before civil war broke out, to the atrocities he'd witnessed, to the blast that left him limping both physically and emotionally.
He couldn't remember every detail, but family members remarked that he was summoning more from his memory banks than at any time since the blast. They also noted that he had been listening to the medical workers talk about Christ as the Son of God.
"I am very happy with their Jesus," Sayid told them. "What they are doing is Jesus through them."
Having learned about Christ's love, he saw it expressed through the medical workers. He was happy to tell the ministry director about what he had found there.
"He shared about feeling the love and presence of Jesus here, and he said, 'This is the first time ever I feel like a human with medical workers,'" the director said. "He said he wished all the medical people in the country could come and learn about Jesus so they would treat people well."
Yet to make a formal decision to follow Christ, Sayid is learning about Him and, more importantly, is experiencing God directly. Having tasted of the Lord, the goodness of the Word and the powers of the age to come, he is well on the path to eternal life, the director said.
The clinic gave him medicines as part of his follow-up treatment, and they left him with something far greater.
"At the end he said, 'I don't need any medicine or any treatment, because I am filled up with joy and satisfied,' even though he did need medicine," the director said.
Golden Opportunity
The ministry has shown Christ's love in other ways this year, including distribution of food, water and blankets – and Christian literature – to people displaced by war. Through partnership with another organization, the aid arrived in a shipping container that brought 270,000 food bags, each bag feeding two people.
From these distributions more than 500 people put their faith in Christ, forming dozens of house churches, the director said.
"There's even more than 500, probably – there could be thousands, but personally I've seen hundreds," he said.
Many more are, like Sayid, experiencing Christ in prayer and church attendance while not having yet made a decisive commitment, he said.
"When they're coming to church and asking us to pray for one need or another, I can see that God is working in their life," the director said. "People asking for prayer are Sunni Muslims, extremist Muslims too. It's more than preparing the soil, we're already putting down the seeds.
With rare, official permission, the ministry has an unprecedented opportunity to distribute aid in more areas of the country as ISIS militants have been driven from cities they had seized. Syria's civil war involves a complex set of factions, however, and the opportunity to provide aid and gospel literature may not last long, the director said.
"We have to take this opportunity now, because things could change – ISIS is not totally gone," he said. "It's more than a golden opportunity to move more deeply – we have access everywhere, anywhere."
The Arabic-language, "Life of Jesus" books distributed with relief items cost $110 for each 100 sent. Relief items have been donated, but the director appealed to Christian Aid Mission donors to provide assistance to buy Christian literature to bring eternal life to displaced people suffering in Syria.
*Name changed for security reasons
Home Fires
Photo of the Week
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A family returned to their village in Iraq and found what remained of their home after coalition forces drove out Islamic State militants. An indigenous ministry team visited the village several times, and the predominantly Shiite Muslim community began to feel their love and concern. "Jesus was presented here, and we told them that this is what makes us care about you," the ministry leader said. The mayor of the village welcomed them and Jesus, he said. "He asked us to come for weekly meetings to talk about Christ in his home, and he invited all the people of the village to also come," the ministry leader said. "In a matter of days, all the people of the village were given Bibles, both children and adults, and everyone came to hear the message of Christ. Many of them asked the Lord to come into their hearts and save them." Please consider a gift to help Iraqi Christian workers bring the Word of God to their people.
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How to Grow in Your Prayer Life
How to Grow in Your Prayer Life
I can’t think of a year that I haven’t desired to grow more in my prayer life. This year is no different. As I listen to others, it seems this is a shared desire among many in the church. For some it is a lack of consistency. For others it is a lack of desire. Still others feel overwhelmed and distracted when they pray. What is it for you?
I was recently reminded of a sermon my pastor preached a few years ago on prayer. He gave this encouragement: Pray until you pray. Huh? That was my first reaction. What exactly does that mean?
In A Call to Spiritual Reformation, D.A. Carson explains:
Pray until you pray. That is Puritan advice. It is does not simply mean that persistence should mark much of our praying—though admittedly that is a point the Scriptures repeatedly make. … What they meant is that Christians should pray long enough and honestly enough, at a single session, to get past the feeling of formalism and unreality that attends not a little praying. We are especially prone to such feelings when we pray for only a few minutes, rushing to be done with a mere duty. … If we ‘pray until we pray,’ eventually we come to delight in God’s presence, to rest in His love, to cherish His will. … Such advice is not to become an excuse for a new legalism: there are startling examples of very short, rapid prayers in the Bible (e.g., Neh. 2:4). But in the Western world we urgently need this advice, for many of us in our praying are like nasty little boys who ring front door bells and run away before anyone answers. Pray until you pray.
This is how I will pursue growing in my prayer life this year. I want to slow down a bit, focus my mind on the Lord, and pray a little longer. I want to pray until I pray.
Pray until the pretense fades.
Pray until sin loses its appeal.
Pray until the burden is lifted.
Pray until I delight in God’s presence.
Pray until I’m seeking first the kingdom.
Pray until my heart is ready to sing His praise.
Pray until I’m emboldened to share.
Pray until I’m eager to love.
Pray until I’m resolved to do His will.
Pray until I’m at rest in his sovereign grace.
I’m not sure how you’re planning on growing in prayer, but I hope you’ll join me in praying until you pray.
This article originally appeared here.
Jat unspecified (Muslim traditions) in Pakistan
Jat unspecified (Muslim traditions) in Pakistan
All theories of origin for the Jat communities are speculative, but the Jat have been in Pakistan for many hundreds of years. Most likely the word jat is derived from jatta, a generic term for cattle-grazers and camel-breeders. Current research suggests that the Jat migrated from Central Asia. They were speakers of the languages of the Indo-Aryan language family. The Jat are a landowning community. In the latter half of the 19th century the Jats substantially benefited from the canal-irrigation system both in Uttar Pradesh and Punjab.Ministry Obstacles The Muslim Jat speak more than 30 languages. Evangelistic and church planting projects need to accommodate the language subdivisions. Outreach Ideas Much focused, sustained prayer is needed to prepare Muslim hearts to come to believe that Jesus is deity, the Son of God, and that his sacrificial death on the cross is offered to the Muslim. Pray for the followers of Christ There are few if any followers of Jesus among the large Muslim Jat community. Pray for these few, and for the many additional individuals that will soon join their numbers. Pray they will become quickly and firmly settled on Christ and His finished work on the cross. Pray they will clearly understand the Gospel of grace, and also understand the need to be obedient to Christ in order to become his disciples. Pray for the entire people group Pray for peace throughout Pakistan. Pray all Muslim communities will be drawn to the Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ. Scripture Focus "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest." Matthew 9:37-38 | 
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Nisu, Xinping in China
Nisu, Xinping in China
This people group lives in southwest China, in Yunnan province. Roosters are held in great reverence and are even worshiped by the Xinping Nisu. They also believe the spirits of dragons and the ox can protect them. A study done in 1989 indicates there are a few hundred Christians among them.Ministry Obstacles The Xinping community worship created things rather than the creator God. Outreach Ideas Focused prayer is needed to help the Xinping learn of the creator God who loves them, and to come to the place of placing their faith in His provision. Pray for the followers of Christ Pray for the followers of Christ among the Xinping, that they will grow into the likeness of Christ, living consistently in the power of His Spirit. Pray for the entire people group Pray the Lord will cause the Xinping community to become increasingly aware of their need for a Savior, and that workers will be sent to tell them that Jesus has come to be their Deliverer. Scripture Focus "And the gospel must first be preached to all the nations." Mark 13:10 | 
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Tanti (Hindu traditions) in India
Tanti (Hindu traditions) in India
The Tanti people are found across the northeastern portion of India. They are said to have originated as weavers, providers of cloth, back in history as far as ancient Bengal. Not too long ago, virtually every home would have had a loom and cloth present. Today, much of their trade has been taken over by factory production and imported goods. They are considered among the lower castes of India.Ministry Obstacles The Tanti community speaks over 15 languages, residing in 30 states of India. Reaching them with the Gospel of Christ will require a multi-pronged approach. Outreach Ideas Several church planting projects will likely be needed to communicate with this widely dispersed community. Pray for the followers of Christ Pray for the few followers of Jesus among the Tanti people, that they will live a life worthy of the calling they have received, being patient, bearing with one another in love. Pray for the entire people group The Tanti community has a great need for clean water to help with sanitation issues. Since so much of this group is found in rural India, they do not have ready access either to sanitation or medical facilities. Scripture Focus "I will praise you, O Lord, among the nations; I will sing of you among the peoples." Psalm 108:3 | 
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Nubian, Arabized in Egypt
Nubian, Arabized in Egypt
The name Nubian was given to the original inhabitants of Nubia, a thin settlement along the Nile River in southern Egypt. The Arabs, who invaded much of North Africa in the seventh and eleventh centuries, displaced some Nubian groups and absorbed others. As a result, thousands of Nubians are now "Arabized," influenced by the Arab culture, language, and religion. Some Arabized Nubians seasonally migrate with their herds, living in temporary camps. Most are peasants who live in villages in rural areas. Their houses are simple, round dwellings with grass-thatched roofs.Ministry Obstacles The Nubians have held to their current worldview and religion for centuries. Change is very difficult. Outreach Ideas Scripture is available in the Egyptian dialect of Arabic, as are many other resources which communicate the Gospel. Pray Egyptian Christians will be lead to take the Gospel to the Nubians. Pray for the followers of Christ There are no known followers of Christ among the Arabized Nubians. But Rev. 5:9 says men were purchased from every tribe. Pray for the Nubians who will soon come to Christ, that they will be accurately taught the ways of Christ, and will follow him with a whole heart. Pray for the entire people group Pray the Lord's Spirit will increasingly draw the Nubians to Jesus (Isa in the Koran), giving them a growing desire to learn about this man. Perhaps the Lord will communicate to some via dreams and visions. Scripture Focus "The time is coming to gather all nations and tongues. And they shall come and see My glory." Isaiah 66:18 | 
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Brahui, Kur Galli in Pakistan
Brahui, Kur Galli in Pakistan
The Brahui overthrew a dynasty of Hindu kings and rose to power in the 1600s. Brahui can be distinguished from their Pushtun and Baluchi neighbors by their Dravidian language, called Brahuidi. The number of Brahui nomads has consistently declined over the past hundred years, and today there are many fully-settled villages dependent on underground water irrigation. Divorce is rare among the Brahui. The ideal family consists of married sons who live with their parents. Most Brahui are Sunni Muslims, and are deeply rooted in their faith.Ministry Obstacles There is much spiritual darkness to overcome, in Pakistan. Outreach Ideas Much sustained, focused prayer is needed for all the peoples of Pakistan. Prayer to prepare hearts, and prayer to overcome the darkness with the light of Christ's Gospel. Pray for the followers of Christ There are few if any Brahui who know and follow Jesus Christ. But pray for those that the Lord will soon call to himself. Pray they will have Scripture available, as well as other resources to help them grow. Pray for teachers, also. These believers will need outside prayer support. Pray for the entire people group Pray for the Brahui people to be able to live in a peaceful Pakistan. Pray also they will have the light of the Gospel of Christ widely and freely available, overcoming the darkness that has prevailed for so long in Pakistan. Scripture Focus "And you shall be my witnesses, both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth." Acts 1:8 | 
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Herki in Turkey
Herki in Turkey
The Herki Kurds are a confederacy of tribes of Northern Kurdistan. They live primarily in the mountainous area where the borders of Turkey, Iran, and Iraq meet, near Lake Urmia and the town of Orumiyeh. Although their farming methods seem primitive and their technology outdated, the Herki Kurds are faring well in Turkey's rugged terrain. They are noted for their elaborate national costumes.Ministry Obstacles The Kurdish people have been Muslim for centuries. Islam is part of their identity. Outreach Ideas Perhaps Kurdish believers in other parts of the Kurdish regions will be led by the Lord's Spirit to carry the message of Christ to the Herki Kurds. Pray for this possibility. Pray for the followers of Christ There are few if any followers of Jesus among the Herki Kurds today, but the Lord is calling many Kurds to himself from other Kurdish groups. Pray for the Herki believers that will soon join their ranks. Pray they will faithfully fellowship together, and be zealous to study the Scriptures and grow as believers. Pray for the entire people group Pray the Herki Kurds will live in peace with the Turkish government, and be able to raise their families in safe conditions. Pray for peace in the region of Kurdistan. Scripture Focus "You purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation." Revelation 5:9 | 
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Nung in Vietnam
Nung in Vietnam
The Nung support themselves through agriculture, and are also known for their handicrafts. They have an abundant wealth of folk art and cultural activities including folksongs and alternative songs ("sli"). The smooth melodies of the "sli" are harmonious with the natural sounds of the forests and mountains. This type of folksong is a combination of verse and music. The Nung mainly worship their ancestors, spirits, saints, Confucius, and Kwan Yin.Ministry Obstacles The Nung may well believe that to follow Christ will offend their ancestors. Outreach Ideas Christian workers can carry the Gospel message to the Nung by telling them stories from Scripture, as well as with films and Gospel recordings. Bridges of friendship are needed. Pray for the followers of Christ Pray for the followers of Christ among the Nung, that they will be sent teachers to help them, and mature believers to model Christ-like behavior. Pray for the entire people group Pray the Nung will be able to live peaceful lives and be able to care well for their families. Scripture Focus "Give thanks to the Lord, call on His Name; make known among the nations what He has done." Psalm 105:1 | 
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