JUNE 2023 PRAYER POINTS
SPECIAL PRAYER FOCUS: Lasting Hope Appeal
For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich. (2 Corinthians 8:9) We thank you Father for the gracious gift of the Lord Jesus for us, and for our sins. We ask that like him, we will not count the cost of our own sacrifice in giving money and other resources, in order that we may see a world that knows Jesus. Amen.
Thursday 1 – South Africa and Namibia
Pray with Daniel and Olivia Webster that the college break will be a good time for preparation, and also for rest with family who are visiting. Pray with Nathan and Diane Lovell for clear minds and peaceful hearts for the George Whitefield College students sitting end of semester exams this month. Pray for Co-Mission Partner Thulisile Mabe to model and teach kindness to the students she cares for at JBC. Thank God with Kylie Zietsch for some great opportunities to counsel students as they work through various life challenges. Pray that they will trust in Christ daily. Pray with Mike and Karen Roe as they make preparations for second semester.
Friday 2 – Tanzania, Uganda and Kenya
Pray with Mike and Katie Taylor that God would richly bless Munguishi Bible College graduating students, and use them for the growth of his kingdom. May he give clarity in gospel understanding and the courage to proclaim that gospel faithfully. Pray with Arthur and Tamie Davis as they conclude their time in Tanzania this month. Thank the Lord with Andrew and Margaret Newman for the relationships he has given them with people in Uganda, and pray as the Newmans leave Sydney today to reconnect with them. Pray with Norm and Janelle Gorrie for continued good implementation of Ministry Apprenticeship training within their diocese. Pray with Anna Radkovic in a time of change that she will continue to trust in the kindness of God.
Saturday 3 – North Africa, DR Congo, Seychelles and Ethiopia
Pray with M as the school year comes to an end, that she will be bold and take opportunities to share the gospel with her fellow teachers. Pray with David and Jenny Juniper for the churches of Goma as they enjoy some respite from recent military conflicts, that God would grant courage to those returning to their villages. Thank God with Ryan and Lynne Verghese that they have been welcomed so well, and for the way God has sustained them in their first month in the Seychelles. Pray that Co-Mission Partners Anwar Berhe and Tsigereda Atankir would continue to show grace in their family and with those Anwar is teaching.
Sunday 4 – Singapore, Timor-Leste and Philippines
Give thanks with Marty and Jenny Foord for the godly, gifted new students enrolling for the new academic year. Pray that Marty and Jenny will be a blessing to their supporting churches on Home Assignment. Pray with Ian and Narelle Hadfield as they farewell the saints in Singapore and search for a new place to serve the Lord. Thank God with Christopher and Julie Dean that they are increasingly able to use their Tetun language for ministry purposes. Pray with Chris and Grace Adams as they return to Timor Leste, that they will resettle well and build on existing relationships and ministries. Pray with Howard and Michelle Newby for preparation for their upcoming kids and youth holiday club in July.
Monday 5 – South East Asia
Thank God with K for several fruitful gospel conversations, and pray for wisdom in following them up. Thank God with J for God’s continuing hand over the language centre. Pray for ongoing enablement as Summer Term gets underway. Pray with L and C for a safe visa run to their intended location, and for wisdom in discerning when would to move there after the birth of their next child this month. Thank God with N for kind and helpful landlords. Pray for opportunities to talk with them of spiritual things. Praise God with I for good farewells, safe travel, and settling into a longer Home Assignment. Pray for the network of international and national workers on location to adjust to change, and for effective training of new workers. Give thanks with Malcolm and Leanne that their college has just finished its tenth academic year, blessed and grown by God.
Tuesday 6 – Cambodia
Pray with Tim and Olivia Mulherin for the surgical department at Mercy Medical Centre (MMC) as it experiences ongoing setbacks with staffing. Pray with Maggie Crewes for the girls from ‘Hope for Justice’ recently taken home to family as the HFJ office closes—for God to use the seed of his Word planted in their lives. Pray for jobs for all HFJ staff. Give thanks with Jeremy and Jill Horrocks for good ‘goodbyes’ from Australia and warm welcomes to Cambodia. Pray they continue to settle and can focus on language learning. Pray with Matthew and Melissa Lindfield Seager for travelling mercies as they take final vacation before leaving Cambodia and returning to Australia.
Wednesday 7 – Cambodia
Pray and give thanks with Maurice and Amanda Jacobson for their daughter Bella and son-in-law Seb, as they prepare for the arrival of their first child next month. Give thanks with Dave and Leoni Painter that Leoni has successfully completed radiotherapy treatment. Praise God with Craig and Samantha McCorkindale for their children’s school (HOPE) as it provides education for many missionary families. Pray that HOPE might recruit more teachers to this vital ministry, particularly for the upcoming new academic year, starting in August.
Thursday 8 – South East Asia
Pray with Julie for guidance in growing relationships with students and staff over the June-August holidays. Pray with Rebekah for continued and strengthening relations with fellow gospel workers in her location. Pray with Jon and Deborah for enthusiasm, peace, wisdom and courage for Bible college students who are about to begin their one-year ministry placements across rural South East Asia. Pray with Josh and Nici for healing from a lot of sicknesses, and protection from spiritual attack.
Friday 9 – South East Asia
Give thanks with Nick and Rebekah for a smooth move to their new city. Pray with Andrew Buchanan and Abi Tandiseru for the various ministries they exercise in their local congregation. Give thanks with Rowan for the generous and caring welcome he has received from link churches and individual supporters as he begins his Home Assignment. Pray with Chris and Erin that Christians in their area would faithfully model following Jesus to those around them.
Saturday 10 – Development and Training
Thank God with W and S for the staff who serve at St Andrew’s Hall, and the SAH graduation happening this week. Thank God with Adam and Avril Friend for all the learning they’ve done and the community they have enjoyed at SAH (today is the last day!). Pray for a safe return to NSW, and a smooth transition to a season of visiting partner churches. Give thanks with Lauren Raiter for a month of SAH graduation, transition, and church deputation. Mentac: Give thanks to the Lord for the opportunity for Ben and Faraj to attend a conference in Malaysia on discipleship and church planting, and pray that the material and connections are fruitful for equipping trainees for the long-term. Pray for wisdom and love for the current trainees, Joel and Aimee, Angelica, Faraj, and Daniel, as they care for Muslim people and believers from Muslim backgrounds in vulnerable circumstances.
Sunday 11 – Spain and Malta
Pray with Jim and Tanja French as they teach MOCLAM throughout Spain (including on Zoom). Thank God for their faithful MOCLAM co-worker Dan, to whom they have now said farewell. Praise God with Miriam Bradshaw that God has adopted us, and pray that children in Spain would know God as their father too. Pray with Chris and Kristy Galea for wisdom and discernment as they continue talking with leadership at Knisja Evangelika Trinita. They ask God to give them clarity in how, and if, to move forward in ministry with the church they are attending.
Monday 12 – Italy and Germany
Pray with Simon and Jess Cowell that as they start deputation time with supporter churches, they would be encouraged and encouraging in sharing about God’s work in Italy. Praise God with Jason and Hannah Fairclough for a good first year in student ministry in Italy, also for the opportunity to witness three Florentine students get baptised and another committing their life to Christ. Pray with Co-Mission Partner (CoMP) Andrea Becciolini (and Geanne) that God would empower and sustain students who attended the GBU national student conference, and bring to living faith three students from Florence who don’t know Jesus yet. Pray with Gillian Law for continued good follow-up from the recent production of the Mark Drama. Pray with Klaus and Jude Hickel that they would have a refreshing sabbatical for the next two months and be renewed for ministry. Praise God with CoMP Jotham Booker for his small youth group, including several non-churched people.
Tuesday 13 – France and Slovenia
Pray with Karina Brabham for God to strengthen the GBU staff team in their getaway this month. Pray with Colin and Catherine Puffett during a busy month, for guidance and quality communication as they plan. Pray with Josh and Susannah Apieczonek for productive time to reflect, strategise and plan during the GBU staff retreat on 14-16 June. Pray with Co-Mission Partners Bostjan and Lidija Cifer that they will continue to reveal God’s compassion in relationships with those they work with.
Wednesday 14 – Eurasia, Belgium and The Netherlands
Pray with J and P for perseverance and continuing growth in their relationship with God during this time of waiting. Pray with R for good connections and communication as she visits churches, colleges, conferences and other groups. Pray with Michael and Rani Grivas-Allison for opportunities to connect more deeply with language classmates as they head into their last month together. Pray with Howard and Patricia Spencer for students in Belgium doing exams, and that the Spencers will connect well with churches and friends while in Australia in June and July. Thank God with David and Cathie Sandifer for a heavy semester completed by God’s grace, and for Cathie and the children being able to return to Australia to be with family. Pray for healing for Cathie’s father.
Thursday 15 – South Asia
Pray with Bruce and Libby Hayes for a smooth process for renewal of annual work visas and for a good finish for the school year. Pray with Co-Mission Partners (CoMPs) Sam and Sharmila Budhathoki that they will continue to show God’s benevolent character in their daily relationships. Pray with CoMPs Jiwan and Binita for youth leaving their villages in Nepal for employment, that they will stay faithful to the gospel. Pray with Gordon and Ruth Russell for two new families who have joined their expat team, and for outreach among the Nepali diaspora in many countries. Pray with CoMPs Ashish Christian and Karuna Sharma for Karuna as she continues to help equip women for leadership roles at church.
Friday 16 – South Asia and Central Asia
Pray with A that R will be keen to keep reading the Bible and that the Holy Spirit will be at work. Pray with E that the Spirit would come like a refreshing breeze to her hot and needy land. Pray for J and S to be diligent in maintaining language and relational connections while away from location for the birth of their baby. Thank God with M and K for a restful break, and a weekend with the broader cross-cultural worker team in their country. Pray for relationships with families of other local believers who live near their town. Pray with K for the short ‘Summer Term’ that starts this month: that students would grow in their English ability, and that fruitful connections with students new and old would be made. Give thanks for K’s recent engagement and wedding, and pray for her and her new husband, A as they begin married life together.
Saturday 17 – Middle East and South Asia
Pray with J for opportunities during this month’s Eid to speak of Jesus’ sacrifice. Give thanks with Dan and Marg and kids for the opportunity to see family and friends during their brief time in Australia. As they visit churches in the Illawarra, pray they would be an encouragement to them as they partner in the work of CMS. Pray with Derk and Susan for wisdom and perseverance for Derk as he completes the semester and interacts with the faculty and students, that Christ may be seen and heard in his witness. Pray also for Derk’s weekly Bible study. Thank God with S and M, as June brings the end of a school year for the kids, and a new language nurturer for M. May changes to routine be met with resilience and adaptability. Pray with Malcolm and Charissa Forrest for good farewells and godliness amongst the stress of packing up. Pray with Co-Mission Partners Tim and Sam for peace and wisdom as they make important decisions about their ministry.
Sunday 18 – Middle East
Pray with C that God would equip believers in her city to reach out to their spouses, family and neighbours. Pray with J for their team’s discipleship of believers to grow in depth and wisdom. Pray with S and P for their home church members while they are away for several weeks. Pray too for their family’s refreshment and recuperation. Pray with B for S, a rural Bedouin woman who has been asking questions, that God would reveal himself to her in Christ. Thank God with M for his grace in the transition to a new team and city. Pray for the women she has opportunity to read with, that they will choose to follow Jesus. Give thanks with Craig and Lisse for deputation with St John’s Keiraville and Minto Anglican.
Monday 19 – Middle East
Thank God with Morgan and Olivia for 15 new believing men who have joined their church recently. Pray that despite limited English, they will be well cared for. Thank God with John and Deb for their small groups ministry. Pray for new leaders being trained, that they will learn how to faithfully share God’s word. Pray with Elizabeth for the preparations and training for the group of young adults going on a trip to share the gospel, and that God would prepare the hearts of those spoken to and open their eyes. Pray that God would bring Karen through recent serious health challenges. Pray with Ray and Sandy that they will continue to reveal the kindness and grace of God in their ministry to other staff and members of the church.
Tuesday 20 – CMS Australia
Praise God for many productive pastoral visits, including Elizabeth Richards’ recent Pastoral Visit to North Australia. Please pray that God will sustain the CMS-A office during these busy periods. Pray that Peter Sholl’s visit to Japan will encourage missionaries and bear fruit in initiating and strengthening ministry partnerships. Give thanks for Sarah Kha’s service as part of the Mission Support Team over the past two years, and pray for God’s guidance and blessing over her and her family.
Wednesday 21 – East Asia and Taiwan
Thank God with E for freedom and opportunity to share the gospel with others, and pray for courage to follow up those opportunities. Pray that L would show and model the grace of God in her relationships with those she ministers alongside. Pray that D and T would have patience and perseverance in their ministry relationships. Pray with Sam and Shan-Shan Chrisp for an upcoming church camp—for good teaching from God’s word, and time to grow in relationships.
Thursday 22 – Japan
Matt and Jen Lim give thanks to God for a number of pastoral visits (from both CMS staff and supporting churches) this month. Pray with Matt and Bex Ooi as they begin intensive language courses this month, that by God’s grace they will retain what they are learning and have practical opportunities to use their language in conversations with locals. Pray with Dave and Beck McIntyre that they would grow in joy and satisfaction in the Lord Jesus so they can serve others out of the overflow of being in Christ. Pray with Steven and Sandra Parsons for wisdom as two churches plan large-scale children’s outreach programs with TEAM workers and visiting groups from overseas (one in the city and one in the country). Pray with Adam and Helane Ramsay preparing kids’ programs for summer camps. Pray for perseverance as they anticipate the summer break.
Friday 23 – Japan
Give thanks with Kellie Nicholas for opportunities she has had to visit students at some women’s universities in Kyoto. Pray that she will be able to continue to encourage and support them. Pray with Elle Bryce, for God to provide her with great friends in Kyoto with whom she can practice Japanese outside of class time. Pray with Dene and Rachel Hughes for the partnerships and teams Rachel relies on to plan and run ‘Bible Adventure’ and ‘Megumi girls’ (teenage girls gathering), both restarting in June. Thank God with Chenny Thie for bringing many first-year students to Waseda-KGK and Sophia-KGK fellowship. Pray for Christian students in universities in Japan with no KGK group on campus. Pray with Nathan and Maki Clapham as they pack up and return to Australia for Home Assignment. Pray with Roger and Noriko Dethlefs that International Director Peter Sholl’s pastoral visit to eastern Japan will result in lots of encouragement for missionaries, and closer understanding with Japanese partners.
Saturday 24 – Vanuatu, PNG and Solomon Islands
Give thanks with Matt and Ellen Tyler for all they have learnt in first semester. Pray for building relationships as they visit one of their link churches, and wise decisions so that they can rest well. Thank God with Joel and Tiffanie Atwood for the chance they had to visit their ‘sister’ ministry, GBU, in New Caledonia. Pray for Tiff as she hosts a team of students from UTS, and Joel as he teaches Isaiah at Talua Theological Institute. Pray with Keith and Marion Birchley for students as they begin second semester and meditate on the grace they have received in Jesus. Pray for patience as the Birchleys wait to return to PNG. Pray with David Pettett for good results of a week-long intensive with Langham Preaching that involved the whole student body and staff.
Sunday 25 – North Australia
Pray with Chris and Karen Webb for smooth preparations in the lead up to the Kimberley Christian Fellowship convention to be held in Derby on 14 to17 July. Pray with Matt and Lisa Pearson that newly available audio players with Kunwinjku Bible stories and songs will be well used. Pray with Josh and Steph Mackenzie for the ‘families clergy conference’, where CMS VIC will be leading a kids’ program so that both parents of ministry families can participate in the conference. Pray that both kids and adults would grow in the likeness of Christ. Pray with Zoe Creelman for spiritual protection for Zoe and the church mob in Ngukurr as they share their faith with their community. Pray with Matt and Kate Vinicombe for the spiritual wellbeing of the communities they have been separated from due to recent events. Pray too for the Vinicombes dealing with ongoing consequences of their recent accident. Pray with Geoff and Hannah Harper for a restful break, and for their son Simeon in the middle of year twelve.
Monday 26 – North Australia
Pray with Ian and Jenny Wood on the road back to Darwin this month. Pray for students at Nungalinya, especially those coming for the new chaplaincy course and the new translation course, that they will learn well and honour Christ. Pray with Simon and Claire Koefoed and Derek and Rosemary Snibson for the Anglican Diocese of NT clergy conference (with families) in July—sharing biblical passages and themes, exploring connections with their contexts, and discerning God’s vision. Pray with Co-Mission Partners Mandy Manggurra, James Woods, and Marlene Andrews, that they will continue to reveal God’s kindness in their relationships with those they minister amongst.
Tuesday 27 – Chile, Bolivia and Peru
Pray with Malcolm and Ainsley Purdey for the Anglican Church in Mendoza, Argentina (where they have been attending), that people in Mendoza would come to know Jesus, and the church would grow. Pray with Frances Cook for the CEP seminary, as plans for significant changes in the program forge ahead. Pray with Chris and Stef Overhall for the work of MOCLAM as Chris makes a visit to reestablish MOCLAM courses after the pandemic. Give thanks for the Intro to the Bible and Romans MOCLAM groups and pray that students would learn well. Give thanks with Nick and Kysha Davies for the Biblical Studies and Preaching workshops and conferences over the past two months. Give thanks with Adrian and Anita Lovell for the opportunity Adrian has to study this year and pray God might use this to serve the ministry of MOCLAM and the growth of God’s Kingdom. Pray for Co-Mission Partner Álex (and Karina) Córdova, that Alex will faithfully show the grace of God in his teaching and his life.
Wednesday 28 – Uruguay, Argentina and Ecuador
Pray with Amy Stephens that God would help the ABUA university students to be his witnesses on campus and to share the good news of Jesus confidently and without shame. Thank God with Martin and Julie Field for opportunities to share with their supporting churches. Pray for the development of the gap year program in Argentina, that it will be ready to kick off at the start of 2024. Pray with Peter and Terry Blowes that as students head into exam season, they will continue to love their classmates by bravely sharing the gospel with them. Pray also for good health over the winter months. Give thanks with Pedro and Joy Oliveira Woolmer for local and Australian support as they transition back into life and ministry in Uruguay. Pray for perseverance over winter and love and energy to serve those around them. Give thanks that Co-Mission Partners Bryan and Sarah Haro Leon made it to Ecuador safely. Pray for them as they start work and language classes.
Thursday 29 – CMS Partners
Give thanks for the many partner organisations that CMS works with around the world, and pray for more such partnerships to be developed and strengthened. Ask that Mission Support Fund scholarship recipients will study diligently and reflect God’s character in their relationships. Pray especially for good health, safety when they travel, and for those who are far from family. Pray too for those who are graduating, that they will use what they have learnt to teach and lead faithfully for the building up of God’s church.
Friday 30 – CMS Branches
NSW & ACT: Pray for our new Missionaries in Training (MiTs) as they prepare to commence at St Andrew’s Hall next month.
QNNSW: Give thanks for the volunteers who serve faithfully on our Board and committees so that we can continue working towards a world that knows Jesus.
SANT: Pray for planning and preparation for the Annual Online Dinner on 26 July, and for churches as they pull together plans to participate in the event. Ask that God would use the Dinner to either strengthen or begin new partnerships with those who attend.
TAS: Give thanks for all our faithful financial supporters. Pray for generous giving on this final day of the Lasting Hope Appeal, and ask that our forecast deficit would reduce, so that we end the financial year in a strong position.
VIC: Praise God for those who have generously given to the Lasting Hope Appeal, and ask for more people to openhandedly donate today.
WA: Pray that the Missions Conference in July would reach and engage many supporters, both old and new.