AEIOU - Morocco
Expatriate Pastor Forced to Leave Morocco:
In recent weeks the South African pastor of the only English-language Protestant church in Marrakech was given a few days official notice to leave Morocco. He had been the subject of an article in a fundamentalist Muslim publication in which he was falsely accused of certain evangelistic activities. Despite the fact that another Moroccan publication publicly refuted the allegations, he and his whole family were forced to leave Morocco. Pray for this pastor and his family as they seek God’s way forward. Pray too for the church in Marrakech as their departure will leave a big hole in the family of God in that city.
There has been a lot in the Moroccan press about other Christians in the country and Christians are being shown in a harsh light right now. Pray that there will be some good results from the articles. There has been other questioning of Moroccan believers including inquiries into the activities of Christian expatriates. These things add to the stress levels of all Christians in Morocco. Pray for the Lord’s peace to reign in hearts and for His protection upon His own. Pray God will bring an end to this season of harassment.
* Appropriate to the above, another worker writes recently:
“I have been impressed lately with Paul's understanding of the urgency of the task - to preach the gospel. I am acutely aware of how short my time here could be - I have no idea how long the Lord will have me stay here, and I want to be faithful. Pray that I faithfully "discharge the trust" placed upon me, and that I would have the boldness and initiative to share about Jesus in any way I can, all the time... and pray that God grants me words to bless people, words of life!”
<><
Pray for a boy called ''Fred'' who is going through a very difficult time having with his back (scoliosis?). He has to wear a plastic corset that causes him respiration problems during the day and keeps him from sleeping well at night. He often has pain, is exhausted and often absent from school. The result will be that he won't pass to the next class in the autumn. Fred won't accept this fact so he works at night and puts himself under a lot of pressure. When his marks are still bad he loses hope and perspective. His classmates have seen him banging his head against a wall and making comments about committing suicide. Pray he will gain perspective on life as he passes through this difficult time. Pray for healing of his whole person. Pray for wisdom in how best to deal with him.
Workers request prayer for openness, deepening relationships, and more opportunities for sharing.
A major project is in need of finances. Pray donors will respond favorably and that God will lead others to join in this strategic outreach. Failure to meet an approaching deadline will negatively affect many people if the project is not completed on time. Pray the project will be completed well, safely and on time.
<><
Continue praying for the new teams. One team is hoping to move into a Berber area in the fall but there are many things to do to prepare for that move. Pray a visit from some Berber believers who could be very helpful in the work here.
Pray for the updated Jesus Film with the new more culturally appropriate beginning and ending. It is now available on DVD, VCD and video in the local Berber language. Pray for widespread distribution and for openness in the people who watch it. Pray for release of a DVD with all eight languages commonly used in Morocco. Traveling workers will be able to show the film in a language their local friends understand best.
Pray for the various translation projects. There is still a lot of work to be done on translating important terms many of which are unknown in the local culture. Pray also for wise decisions on the style of the storytelling.
Pray for distribution of the Good News audiocassette. It is a 45 minute introduction to the Bible, starting with creation through the life of Jesus and then how to live as a Christian.
<><
Members are feeling tired from many unexpected events in recent months. Pray for refreshment and encouragement and for a harvest to be reaped this spring. Praise God for a woman asking for baptism. Pray there will soon be several more.
Pray for the success of one brother's business so he will be able to set up his own home.
Pray for the half dozen seekers currently connected with the church. Pray God will convict them of sin, save them, and add them to the church. Pray also for children’s Sunday school activities recently begun.
Please pray for complete healing and restoration for an expatriate couple involved with the church who have been suffering illness.
PTL, for a recent ladies' tea party where fun and good news were provided to guests. All had attended a previous gathering so there was openness and understanding gained. Pray for fruit.
Thank God for a Berber family man turned to faith and sharing it with his wife and kids (a rarity). Pray he will be discipled in his native language by other Berber believers and expatriates. Pray for a growing determination among expatriates to learn the Berber language so they can disciple new believers in their heart language.
Pray for a handicapped child now receiving physical therapy, assisted by an expatriate worker. The child's Berber mother is increasingly open to the Lord and believing for a miracle that the little girl will walk by her 3rd birthday in July. Join believers in praying for fulfillment of this dream.
<><
“Thank you for praying that the Lord would encourage us and others here in the south of Morocco. We still have our ups and downs, but in general feel much better ourselves and have been able to help some others ... these were opportunities, by the grace of God, to be useful to a much wider circle while we watch and pray for our first convert here.” Please keep praying !!
<><
Two 18 year old men have heard the gospel for many years and they are now coming to a point where they need to choose between Christianity and Islam. One knows in his heart that Christianity is the truth. Pray he has the courage to follow through with this belief. The other is living between the two faiths. Pray !!
A former drug addict and her two daughters have prayed to receive Christ. Pray God will heal her mentally and that she will assume her responsibility for her children. Pray her children will continue to attend a Christian children's club. Pray for a mother with two children in Finland. Her husband has abandoned them. She has already had a dream about Jesus. Pray that she would receive the Lord.
Pray for a Moroccan Muslim background believer (MBB) woman living in Europe who wants to work at home part time and part time in a Christian ministry. Pray that God will help her with her children. Pray for another MMB in Europe for healing of her mother and father who still live in Morocco.
Pray for a MMB couple who live in Europe to receive the peace and guidance they need from God. They own an apartment in Morocco that they want to rent. They promised God they would only rent it to another Christian couple who would use it for ministry purposes. Pray !!
<><
NETWORK NEEDS:
This month a hundred or more people will gather for the ASM Morocco Summit to discuss reaching Morocco with the Gospel, ways to do it better, and ways to work together more effectively. Pray for this gathering !! asm@interum.org
ASM needs someone to take over translation of the monthly email prayer bulletins into German. If you or anyone you know can help with this need, please email asm@interum.org as soon as possible. Pray !!
In recent weeks the South African pastor of the only English-language Protestant church in Marrakech was given a few days official notice to leave Morocco. He had been the subject of an article in a fundamentalist Muslim publication in which he was falsely accused of certain evangelistic activities. Despite the fact that another Moroccan publication publicly refuted the allegations, he and his whole family were forced to leave Morocco. Pray for this pastor and his family as they seek God’s way forward. Pray too for the church in Marrakech as their departure will leave a big hole in the family of God in that city.
There has been a lot in the Moroccan press about other Christians in the country and Christians are being shown in a harsh light right now. Pray that there will be some good results from the articles. There has been other questioning of Moroccan believers including inquiries into the activities of Christian expatriates. These things add to the stress levels of all Christians in Morocco. Pray for the Lord’s peace to reign in hearts and for His protection upon His own. Pray God will bring an end to this season of harassment.
* Appropriate to the above, another worker writes recently:
“I have been impressed lately with Paul's understanding of the urgency of the task - to preach the gospel. I am acutely aware of how short my time here could be - I have no idea how long the Lord will have me stay here, and I want to be faithful. Pray that I faithfully "discharge the trust" placed upon me, and that I would have the boldness and initiative to share about Jesus in any way I can, all the time... and pray that God grants me words to bless people, words of life!”
<><
Pray for a boy called ''Fred'' who is going through a very difficult time having with his back (scoliosis?). He has to wear a plastic corset that causes him respiration problems during the day and keeps him from sleeping well at night. He often has pain, is exhausted and often absent from school. The result will be that he won't pass to the next class in the autumn. Fred won't accept this fact so he works at night and puts himself under a lot of pressure. When his marks are still bad he loses hope and perspective. His classmates have seen him banging his head against a wall and making comments about committing suicide. Pray he will gain perspective on life as he passes through this difficult time. Pray for healing of his whole person. Pray for wisdom in how best to deal with him.
Workers request prayer for openness, deepening relationships, and more opportunities for sharing.
A major project is in need of finances. Pray donors will respond favorably and that God will lead others to join in this strategic outreach. Failure to meet an approaching deadline will negatively affect many people if the project is not completed on time. Pray the project will be completed well, safely and on time.
<><
Continue praying for the new teams. One team is hoping to move into a Berber area in the fall but there are many things to do to prepare for that move. Pray a visit from some Berber believers who could be very helpful in the work here.
Pray for the updated Jesus Film with the new more culturally appropriate beginning and ending. It is now available on DVD, VCD and video in the local Berber language. Pray for widespread distribution and for openness in the people who watch it. Pray for release of a DVD with all eight languages commonly used in Morocco. Traveling workers will be able to show the film in a language their local friends understand best.
Pray for the various translation projects. There is still a lot of work to be done on translating important terms many of which are unknown in the local culture. Pray also for wise decisions on the style of the storytelling.
Pray for distribution of the Good News audiocassette. It is a 45 minute introduction to the Bible, starting with creation through the life of Jesus and then how to live as a Christian.
<><
Members are feeling tired from many unexpected events in recent months. Pray for refreshment and encouragement and for a harvest to be reaped this spring. Praise God for a woman asking for baptism. Pray there will soon be several more.
Pray for the success of one brother's business so he will be able to set up his own home.
Pray for the half dozen seekers currently connected with the church. Pray God will convict them of sin, save them, and add them to the church. Pray also for children’s Sunday school activities recently begun.
Please pray for complete healing and restoration for an expatriate couple involved with the church who have been suffering illness.
PTL, for a recent ladies' tea party where fun and good news were provided to guests. All had attended a previous gathering so there was openness and understanding gained. Pray for fruit.
Thank God for a Berber family man turned to faith and sharing it with his wife and kids (a rarity). Pray he will be discipled in his native language by other Berber believers and expatriates. Pray for a growing determination among expatriates to learn the Berber language so they can disciple new believers in their heart language.
Pray for a handicapped child now receiving physical therapy, assisted by an expatriate worker. The child's Berber mother is increasingly open to the Lord and believing for a miracle that the little girl will walk by her 3rd birthday in July. Join believers in praying for fulfillment of this dream.
<><
“Thank you for praying that the Lord would encourage us and others here in the south of Morocco. We still have our ups and downs, but in general feel much better ourselves and have been able to help some others ... these were opportunities, by the grace of God, to be useful to a much wider circle while we watch and pray for our first convert here.” Please keep praying !!
<><
Two 18 year old men have heard the gospel for many years and they are now coming to a point where they need to choose between Christianity and Islam. One knows in his heart that Christianity is the truth. Pray he has the courage to follow through with this belief. The other is living between the two faiths. Pray !!
A former drug addict and her two daughters have prayed to receive Christ. Pray God will heal her mentally and that she will assume her responsibility for her children. Pray her children will continue to attend a Christian children's club. Pray for a mother with two children in Finland. Her husband has abandoned them. She has already had a dream about Jesus. Pray that she would receive the Lord.
Pray for a Moroccan Muslim background believer (MBB) woman living in Europe who wants to work at home part time and part time in a Christian ministry. Pray that God will help her with her children. Pray for another MMB in Europe for healing of her mother and father who still live in Morocco.
Pray for a MMB couple who live in Europe to receive the peace and guidance they need from God. They own an apartment in Morocco that they want to rent. They promised God they would only rent it to another Christian couple who would use it for ministry purposes. Pray !!
<><
NETWORK NEEDS:
This month a hundred or more people will gather for the ASM Morocco Summit to discuss reaching Morocco with the Gospel, ways to do it better, and ways to work together more effectively. Pray for this gathering !! asm@interum.org
ASM needs someone to take over translation of the monthly email prayer bulletins into German. If you or anyone you know can help with this need, please email asm@interum.org as soon as possible. Pray !!