ALLIANCE PRAYER REQUESTS (October 14, 2013)

URGENT PRAYER REQUESTS Egypt: Continue to pray for peace in Egypt, where more violent demonstrations have occurred. Pray that God will protect the believers and their churches, schools, and property. Pray, too, for wisdom for the police and military. Also, pray that God will help Christians in Egypt to love and forgive those who persecute them. Syria: Pray for hundreds of thousands of refugees who continue to flee the country to escape ongoing violence. Pray for protection of Christians in Syria as they reach out to lost and hurting people and for believers in neighboring countries who are ministering to the displaced. CREATIVE-ACCESS COUNTRIES: Remember to pray for creative-access workers around the world. Pray for protection, good health, and opportunities to share the good news. Pray that contacts will be drawn to Jesus. Pray that God will break down strongholds and give courage and boldness to national believers. An Alliance worker couple requests prayer for a contact who likes to read English books. The workers plan to give him a copy of the Book of John. Pray that he will read the Word and that his spiritual eyes will be open to see the truth. Recently, an Alliance worker shared the gospel with someone who expressed the desire to talk more at a later date. Pray for wisdom in how to converse with this man. Pray for a safe delivery and healthy baby for an Alliance worker couple; the child is due near the end of this month. AFRICA Burkina Faso: Pray for salvation for the Obergs day guard. He has had some good conversations with his neighbor and with Kevin that have challenged his way of thinking. Pray that the guard will see his need for a Savior. Pray for John and Charlene Stirzaker who are in Burkina to install solar panels at four Christian radio stations. Pray that the work will proceed quickly and without incident. Pray for Gods blessing on a citywide concert sponsored by the Christian radio station this Saturday evening. Pray that this event will draw many area high school students. Also, pray that the gospel will be clearly presented. Thanks to all who prayed about the prison strike. We are thankful that it is over and we are able to resume our ministry to the women detained there, Alliance workers write. Pray for Joe and Maria Howard, Toby and Kiersten Hull, and Doug and Karen Conkle who are touring in U.S. churches this fall. Gabon: Recently, Wendy Hofman experienced minor complications in her pregnancy. Pray for good health for Wendy and the baby. Also, Eric had an allergic reaction with a severe rash. He has seen some improvement and requests prayer for complete healing. Pray for the Lords protection over the Hofman family. Pray for Mathieu, Bongolo Hospitals eye clinic nurse, as he continues his training in administering anesthesia this week. Guinea: Pray for protection and favor for an Alliance worker couple who has experienced a number of difficulties recently, including appliance breakdowns, computer problems, and more. Pray for the armor of God over us and our family, the couple writes. Also, pray against a spirit of discouragement. Several months ago, a national who was to partner with Alliance workers left the country to undergo surgery. He was supposed to return in mid-September but has not arrived yet. The workers have no way to contact him and are concerned. Pray that he will arrive safely and be able to minister alongside us, they write. Mali: Pray for the Koutiala soccer team, consisting of five believers and 23 members of the dominant religion. Pray that the believers will be strong witnesses to the other players. Pray for Jessica as she struggles to fill a nursing schedule with insufficient staff availability. Pray for the nursing students as they await the results of their recent exams. The local government failed nearly every nurse in the region, forcing them all to take a second exam. Pray that justice will prevail. Pray for Gods leading during a time of transition in the hospitals pediatrics department. Praise God for bringing a new believer, Adama, back to Koutiala where he can be more adequately discipled. A U.S. church is seeking to develop new partners for the work in Mali. The goal is to raise up more supporters, not just finances. In the end, the work is carried by prayer, Alliance workers write. Pray for Gods blessing on this initiative. Pray for patience and Gods timing for an IM family that is awaiting the adoption of two children from Guinea.

ASIA AND PACIFIC Indonesia: Praise the Lord that Barry Jordan opened a YouTube account that will upload videos and minister to responders via cell phone hotlines. The program will feature a daily devotional series that Barry will upload starting January 1, as well as drama, dance, and more. Pray for Gods blessing on this outreach. Pray for pastors and their wives throughout Papua, many of whom serve in isolated, difficult areas. Also, many face persecution for their faith as the breakaway group (the GKIP) continues to threaten, harass, and beat those who stand for the true gospel. Believers in the Paniai area are the hardest hit, but many in the middle highlands also experience attacks. Pray for protection and perseverance. Pray, too, that the Holy Spirit will open the eyes of believers who were deceived into following the breakaway group. Pray that God will revive and renew His church throughout this region. Pray for Gods blessing on several Bible translation projects. Pray for protection of the translators and consultants involved and for the process as a whole. Pray especially for good health and freedom from distractions. Also, pray that the Damal translation of the Pentateuch will be ready for evaluation in December. Pray for the family of Yahya Waket Msikimbo, a Bible translator who passed recently. He leaves as part of his legacy the whole Bible in the west Dani language. Alliance workers request prayer for students and teachers at the Levinus Rumaseb Theological College. Recently, students met with school administrators to address several concerns. Praise God that these issues were resolved and that there has been reconciliation. Pray for an increased hunger for Gods Word and a deepening relationship with Jesus among the students. Also, pray that He will continue to call workers into His harvest field. Pray for an Alliance worker couple who are mentoring and coaching high school students. Pray for ongoing good connections with the youth. Debbie Adams requests prayer for a monthly girls meeting on their property. Pray that God will encourage these young women to stand strong amid change, temptation, and attacks of the enemy. Pray for Gods blessing on a new initiative to launch football teams among disenfranchised groups, including women, street kids, and the indigent. Pray for players and coaches to become genuine followers of Jesus and to be strong leaders with healthy families who will impact Papua and the rest of Indonesia with the good news. We have probably had had more influence among the youth of Papua on the football field than behind the pulpit, Alliance international workers write. Specifically, pray for preparations for a training event to be held October 2328. Pray for good results from these efforts and for the development of six more youth ministries/teams. Taiwan: Pray for a productive fall business meeting for the C&MA national church in Taiwan on October 19. Pray for Spirit-led communication as the delegates from 27 churches set the ministry goals and budget for 2014. Praise God for the work He has done in people at the Amazing Grace Church in Yuan Chang during a special ministry weekend. Pray that inner healing will continue. Pray for Gods blessing on a barbecue at the Sihhu Church on October 20. Pray for good interactions between regular attenders and invited guests and that friendship evangelism will be effective. Vietnam: Pray that the Vietnam government will approve the unification of Alliance churches in North and South Vietnam. Negotiations are under way, and national church leaders hope that this will take place sometime in 2014. EUROPE/MIDDLE EAST France: Pray for Gods blessing on lay leadership classes in three locations. Pray especially for Tim and Becki Steiner as they oversee this program, travel, and teach at various locations. Pray that God will provide strong leaders for French Alliance churches. Pray for at least three individuals in contact with the Limoges congregation who seem close to surrendering their lives to Christ. Also, pray for Ray and Carol Simon as they lead this church plant. Pray for a young believer at the Merignac (Bordeaux) church plant who needs deliverance. Pray for Todd and Terri Althaus as they lead this work and help this individual to experience complete freedom in Christ. Pray for participants of the Alpha course at EPI, a young church near Toulouse. Pray that guests will open their hearts to the truths of Jesus and come to saving faith. Also, pray for Brad and Tina Reynolds as they lead this course and the church. Revival is a daily prayer for many who minister in France. Pray that French Alliance churches will experience renewal and that the Lord will send out workers into His harvest field. Portugal:Praise God for openings in two new schools, one in Paredes and another in Valongo County, for evangelical religious education classes. Pray that the scheduling will allow both schools to offer these courses for all students who have registered for them. Spain: Continue to pray for a good transition for new families that have arrived in Spain recently. Pray for Raymond Ebbett and the national church president, Jos Zapata, as they participate in meetings in Manchester, England with Alliance leaders from Europe and England, October 1820. The topic will be church planting among Latin American immigrants in European cities. Pray for wisdom and discernment in coordinating these efforts. Pray that the Lord will provide new workers for a ministry to women caught in human trafficking. Conversations are being held with several potential workers. Pray for Gods clear leading and provision.

LATIN AMERICA Brazil: Pray for preparations for the first Alliance Marriage Encounter (ALMA) in Brazil next August. Pray that it will have a significant impact on marriages, families, and the community. Pray for couples who will assist international workers Len and Diane Warden with this retreat. Also, pray for effective training of facilitators for future ALMA events. Dominican Republic: Pray for the medical/VBS team coming on the 19th of October from Lima, Ohio. They will be ministering in Haitian churches during the week and the Encounter church on Sunday. Pray that as the doctors minister to the physical needs, the people will be receptive to the gospel that will be shared with each patient. Pray for Brad and Dorothy Wood as they take the fall break week off from their classes at Toccoa Falls College to speak in Alliance Hispanic churches in New York City. Pray that God will use the Woods as they share what God is doing in the Dominican Republic. Mexico: Recently, the Greenfields asked the Alliance family to pray for the safe delivery of Lily and Chavas baby girl. The couple lost their first daughter to complications before she was three years old. Several weeks ago, their second daughter, Valentina, was born. Some routine testing is being done, but she seems to be perfectly healthy. Praise the Lord for answered prayer! NORTH AND CENTRAL ASIA Mongolia: Pray that God will provide the right pastor for Cornerstone Church of All Nations. Praise the Lord for 64 students enrolled in fall English classes. Pray for Alliance workers as they teach the courses and seek to develop intentional relationships with participants. Russia: Pray for Matt Fisher as he teaches classes at a Christian university in St. Petersburg. Pray for the development of relationships that will speak into the students lives. Also, pray for Terri Fisher and another worker as they create a mento rship group with young women from local churches. Pray for a short-term ministry team coming from Wyoming to St. Petersburg at the end of the month. Pray preparations for the activities to be offered, including English ministries and other creative outreaches. Pray with workers in St. Petersburg who are developing a new church plant. Pray for a Spirit-led vision and for Russian believers to join the team. Pray for Diane Rorabaughs ministry to many disabled and seriously ill people in southern Russia. Recently, members of a monthly support group for young people with disabilities have asked for help. Pray for wisdom in knowing how to assist and that their hearts will be open to hearing the gospel. UNITED STATES Church Ministries:Pray for the following District Conferences: Metropolitan, October 2123; and Mid-Atlantic, October 2830. Carolyn Bush, wife of Rev. Richard Bush, has suffered from severe back pain due to spinal stenosis. Pray for complete healing, relief from pain, and discernment for her and the doctors as they consider surgery. October is Pastor Appreciation Month. Pray that Alliance churches will find creative ways to affirm and express gratitude for pastors and their spouses. Central District:Pastor Trevor Morris of Rosedale Alliance Church, Rosedale, West Virginia, requests prayer for a 14-year-old boy. Pray that God will use Trevor in the young mans life and that he will trust in Jesus. Pray for members of Christ Community Church in Shaker Heights, Ohio, as they seek to connect with their local school district.The Refugee Impact Collaborative church plant in Ohio requests prayer for Josh as visits the home of a man he met at Home Depot. This individual has a friend from Iraq who is seeking Jesus. Pray that Josh will be able to connect with his friend and share Christ with both men. In addition, praise the Lord for providing two jobs for Stephanie, who also serves at this church plant. She is also thankful to have made new friends in her community. Pray that God will bless these relationships. MidAmerica District: Pray for the following churches in the MidAmerica District that are seeking new pastors: Osage (Iowa) Alliance; Bellevue (Nebraska) Community; C&MA Church, Cedar Rapids, Iowa; and Wallace (Nebraska) Community Church. North Central District: Pray for Gods blessing on two new church plants in the North Central District: RiverLife Church in St. Paul and Crossword Church in Bloomington, Minnesota. Pray for the family of Rev. Joel Nelson, whose father, James, passed away recently. He was a long-time Big Sandy Camp board member and supporter of Alliance missions. Pray for Rev. Keith Beckwith, Air Force Reserve guard chaplain, who will be deployed for active military duty in Kyrgyzstan this month. Pray for protection for Keith and those whom he will serve, as well as for his wife and son. Southeastern District: Rev. Ron Raymer of Sunnybrook Alliance Church in Englewood, Florida, praises God for eight people who were baptized last Sunday. Pray that they will grow strong in their faith.

Western Pennsylvania District: Lynette Norris, the wife of District Superintendent Rev. Jeffery Norris, had a PET scan that showed no new cancer. The doctor reports that Lynette is in remission. Praise the Lord for this answer to prayer, and continue to pray for Lynette and her family. Rev. Jack Chapman, father of Lynette Norris, received a report that his white blood cell counts are good. Although he was able to return home, Rev. Chapman is still quite weak. Pray for complete healing. Rev. David Snyder, associate pastor of First Alliance in Erie, Pennsylvania, suffered a broken scapula and fractured ribs in a fall. Pray for his complete recovery.