PL2010-01, 06-Jan-10
Wednesday, 6th January 2010 | No: PL2010-01 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The 'Day' and 'Country' designations below refer to the respective right-hand page(s) in the 2010 edition of the Points for Prayer Handbook, which contains useful background information to these prayer requests.
Click on these links for further information on Countries, Partners and People.
Day 5 - FRANCE
Prof Gordon Campbell is back in Aix-en-Provence for a week's intensive New Testament teaching at the Free Faculty of Reformed Theology (FLTR) from 4th to 8th January. This includes a one-day course on Jesus & Paul, at Master's level, and a four-day course on the Synoptic Gospels, at Bachelor's level - 24 hours of classes in all. He is also preaching at the weekly College service tomorrow, Thursday (7th).
Prayer Points -
- For stamina for Gordon; and also for the students, most of whom have three busy weeks of courses prior to beginning a month's ministry placement (starting in late January).
- For FLTR's distance learners, most of whom pursue their studies part-time in tandem with work, and some of whom will also benefit from Gordon's teaching this year.
- For safe homeward travel for Gordon on Saturday (9th).
Day 8 - ROMANIA
The Christmas and New Year period has been a difficult time at the Caleb House. Andrea, who succeeded Darren and Nicola Aitcheson, has been unwell and has now resigned from her position as houseparent. The Board is faced with urgently finding a replacement for her and with taking decisions on a number of important matters. The past few days have been a very unsettling and upsetting time for the young people who are currently living there.
Prayer Points -
- For Andrea, that she would be restored to full health and be guided by God regarding her future sphere of service.
- For the young people currently living in the Caleb House, that they would know God's encouragement and steadying hand upon their lives at this time of uncertainty as to who will replace Andrea, and how the Project will unfold in the coming months.
- For the forthcoming meeting of the Caleb House Board, that board members would be granted wisdom and grace to grapple effectively with important constitutional and practical issues, be blessed with unity and clarity in decision making, and all the time keeping the needs of the young people in focus.
Days 12 to 14 - KENYA
Gary and Mary Reid and family returned to Kenya at the weekend having completed their home assignment.
Prayer Points -
- That they will settle back quickly into life, work and school in Kenya.
- Remember Timothy who has returned to boarding school, as he is separated from the rest of his immediate family.
Derek and Linda Roulston, with their son Joshua are due to leave Ireland today (6th) to return to work with the WHEAT Project in Kenya, while Laura-Jayne and Amy are back at boarding school in Dublin. Joshua (who will be eight years old in February) will be starting Pembroke Boarding School in Kenya, a few hours' drive from the Roulstons' home in Kenya.
Prayer Points -
- For safe and trouble-free travel for Derek, Linda and Joshua back to Kenya, and that they will arrive in Kenya on schedule and not be too delayed by bad weather in the UK.
- For Derek and Linda, as they settle back into life and work in Kenya.
- For Joshua as he goes to boarding school, that he will settle in quickly and make good friends.
- Remember Laura-Jayne and Amy as they settle back into school in Dublin.
There has been very heavy rain in many parts of Kenya including Baragoi area, a little south of Tuum, making travel on many roads difficult. There is also a county-wide public transport strike and few people have been able to go to work.
The head teacher of Tuum Girls' Secondary School(TGSS) was recently involved in an accident and as a result is suffering memory loss and so will be out of Tuum for some time. Her son broke his leg in the same incident.
Prayer Points -
- Give thanks for the much-needed rainfall in many parts of Kenya. Pray for safety in travel for people during the heavy rains.
- For the head teacher and her son that they will recover quickly from the injuries they have sustained. Pray that others will willingly carry the responsibility of running TGSS in the Head's absence.
- That the building-work at Tuum Primary may be able to continue despite the continual rain.
- For the army operation to remove illegal guns, which is moving north towards Nyiru.
Days 16 to 19 - MALAWI
Fiona Innes, a member of Portrush Presbyterian Church, is to be commissioned for missionary service this Sunday evening, 10th January. Fiona has been invited by the Education Department of the Livingstonia Synod of the Church of Central Africa Presbyterian (CCAP), to take up the role of Monitoring and Evaluation Officer in its Early Childhood Development Programme. This will involve working closely with Diane Cusick in the development of the Montessori teaching and training methodology in pre-schools throughout the Livingstonia Synod area.
In preparation for going, Fiona undertook a three-month course at Belfast Bible College and spent Christmas with her family in Scotland. Unfortunately on her return to N Ireland, she found a pipe had burst in her house and part of a ceiling had come down as a result.
Prayer Points -
- For Fiona as she has much to do before she leaves, including packing up and dealing with the damage to her house.
- For God's blessing on her at the commissioning service on Sunday.
- For Fiona as she packs up and says farewell to family and friends.
Una Brownlie arrived home safely in Ireland before Christmas, for home assignment. She will be involved in deputation speaking, beginning later this month.
- Pray for Una as she prepares for deputation.
David and Maggie Steele and family, who returned from Malawi last summer, have now completed their home assignment. This Friday evening (8th), David is to be installed as Minister in Dundrod Presbyterian Church.
- Give thanks for David and Maggie's faithful service in Malawi and remember them and their five children as they settle into life, work and school in Dundrod.
The College of Theology in Ekwendeni re-opened yesterday (5th), after the Christmas holiday. As Rev Debbie Chase, Dean of Academic Affairs, is on home assignment in USA for six months, Robin Quinn is now full-time on the staff at the College; Rev Greyson Munyimbili is also a new and full-time member of staff.
Prayer Points -
- All the students as they settle back to college leaving their families at home.
- Rev Munyimbili - a mature man but completely new to theological college teaching and who did not expect to be thrust into this new work at very short notice.
- For Robin as he hands over the leadership of the Lay Training Centre to Rev A E Mtonga.
Diane Cusick recently visited the Karonga District, which suffered a series of earthquakes in December, resulting in much damage to the infrastructure, people's homes, schools, churches and other buildings.
Diane writes, "Arriving in Karonga, seeing many buildings fallen down, many people's livelihood destroyed in an instant was not a good feeling. I feel sad for these people who have worked so hard for all they have only to have it fall down around them... Please spare a thought for the people of Karonga in this rainy season, when life is tough enough as people are preparing fields for planting their crops."
Karonga comes within the Livingstonia Synod area of the Church of Central Africa Presbyterian (CCAP). The Synod's Emergency & Development Department estimates that some £610,000/€682,000 is needed to meet the cost of providing emergency aid and for the repair or rebuilding of damaged buildings in the area, and it is appealing to its international partners to help them meet this significant cost. The Board of Mission Overseas has already sent £10,000 towards emergency relief.
For more information and photos, see Diane Cusick's blog
Prayer Points -
- For all those who have been affected by the earthquakes; especially for those who have been injured, have lost loved ones, or have suffered damage to their homes, possessions, or livelihoods.
- That the funds needed to provide for emergency assistance and for the repair and rebuilding of damaged properties will be quickly found.
- That no further earthquakes or tremors will occur and that the rains which are vital water supplies in the coming months, will not be too severe and will not cause further damage properties.
The Mission Overseas Office in Church House is receiving donations towards the CCAP's relief efforts.
Cheques should made payable to 'The Presbyterian Church in Ireland' and clearly marked Malawi Earthquake Relief.
Day 24 - NEPAL
The year 2010 will prove very challenging for the people of Nepal. December 2009 ended with several politically motivated national stoppages and 25th January has been given as a deadline after which, if there is not significant political change, there will be an indefinite national strike. The May deadline for the writing of a new Constitution is fast approaching and, while there has been some progress, major issues remain to be discussed and agreed among political parties.
The Church in Nepal, however, continues to grow adding to the need for good Bible teaching, unity and leadership.
In the coming months, the United Mission to Nepal (UMN) will finalise its next five-year strategic plan for submission to the Nepal government for approval and agreement for expatriate visas up until 2015. Grenville Hopkinson has been giving leadership to this process.
Janet and Joe Campbell will begin a new marriage course for expatriate couples early in February. Joe will travel to Gujarat, India on 23rd January with a small group of Nepalese from three of UMN's clusters. The group will represent five different faiths active in Nepal and the focus will be education and learning about ethnic and interfaith peace work. In recent years, Nepal has experienced a sharp increase in ethnic/religious conflict.
Prayer Points -
- For Nepal's political leaders; for an increase in partnership working and a decrease in inter party rivalry.
- For Nepali church leaders to maintain hope in the people in these difficult days.
- For Grenville, as he brings together all the ideas for the next UMN strategic plan.
- For expatriate couples to take the opportunity to strengthen their marriages while working overseas.
- That the planned trip to Gujarat will go well with safe travel and a useful learning experience.
The 2010 Edition of the ‘Points for Prayer’ Handbook is now available.
If you have not received your copy or wish to obtain one, please enquire within your congregation.
Alternatively, contact: The Communications Office, Church House, Belfast BT1 6DW.
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