# data[].attributes.body
"I found out this morning that a very close work colleague and his son were on that flight (his son was a champion ice skater coming back from that camp). It's hit everyone here at our company (AES) pretty hard."

# data[].attributes.body
Her aunt has been in hospice for some time now. We found out that she will be with the Lord soon and has maybe hours to live. Please pray for her and our family.

# data[].attributes.attachment_caption
Basketball ministry in slums of Nairobi. Thank God for the gospel. 

# data[].attributes.body
We’re done with the all the schedule and boarded the plane back. Layover in Dubai then to Dulles (around 23 hours total). Thank you so much for your prayers. Looking forward to seeing you soon.

# data[].attributes.body
We visited with a village and went door to door explaining the gospel. Bryan is a new believer who came to faith last year. I was blown away how he was able to articulate the gospel clearly. Please pray for the Lord to bear fruit from His Word!

# data[].attributes.body
Hi I’m Johnny and this baby girl is Pastor Jerrod’s youngest daughter!

# data[].attributes.body
We also got to visit with KBTI (Kenya Baptist Theological Institute) to encourage the students there. Please pray that the Lord would raise up men and women who are grounded in sound doctrine.

# data[].attributes.body
These wives of pastors are true heroes of faith, caring for many children in the home and in the church. They are also the primary counselors in the church, and the primary women’s ministry leader. Please pray that these women would be built up and grow in the knowledge of God’s grace.

# data[].attributes.body
We got to hear from and minister to pastors in rural Roka region. They were being encouraged by book discussions. One pastor confessed going from preaching whatever came to mind to preaching expositionally (main point of the text) as a result of book discussions. Another pastor walks to his church building on Sundays for 1.5 hours in order to save bus money , and still rides bus for 30 minutes. That’s 2 hours each way just to get to the church building!! Would you pray that our Father would provide resources for these brother pastors to be trained in God’s Word and for transportation?

# data[].attributes.body
This brother on the left (Cosmos) works night shift and another day job just to make a living, while sleeping an average of 3 hours per night. Yet, he faithfully pastors in the local church while reaching out to children in rural areas. Nevertheless, we were so humbled by such example of radical sacrifice. Please pray that God would cultivate such selfless humility in us.

# data[].attributes.body
We visited with Pastor Jerrod’s church building (Southend Baptist Church) and heard their testimony. He started preaching under a tree with just his wife Joyce and her baby son. At times it became so discouraging for Pastor Jerrod that he wanted to give up, but Joyce wouldn’t let him give up and continued to encourage him. Now, by God’s grace, the church has 24 members with over 65 people worshiping together in a beautiful building. Please pray that pastors would be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord (1 Cor 15:58).

# data[].attributes.body
We visited with a group of pastors and leaders. They were blessed with some of the items such as Bibles and clothing. The men shared how the greatest challenge is how much the false teaching such as the prosperity gospel is luring people away from the true gospel.

# data[].attributes.body
Praise God for our partnership in the gospel (Phil 1:5)!

# data[].attributes.body
Proclaiming Jesus as the Son of God from God’s Word to a JW family.

# data[].attributes.body
We got a chance to listen to and pray with brother pastors while women on the team met with pastor’s wives. These men are faithfully plodding on hard soil while trusting in the power of God’s Word and His Spirit. Most of them are bivocational, meaning they work another job on top of pastoral ministry to provide for family.

We met in Pastor Stanley’s church building. He was going to build his own home on this property before deciding to build a meeting space for his local church family to worship while renting out another home. One of his greatest needs was to provide enough Bibles for his own church family. They have 30-50 people and people have to share Bibles.

Please pray for the Lord to provide resources out of His glorious riches in Christ Jesus. Please pray for strength upon these pastors and families as they toil in faithful ministry.

# data[].attributes.body
We went around the village to explain the gospel to over 10 adults (plus many children). Many were from diverse religious backgrounds (Muslim, Jehovah’s Witnesses, nominal Christianity, etc.). Praise God we were able to sow the seeds of God’s Word with them. Please pray that the Lord would bear fruit 30, 60, 100 fold from His Word and that they would be added to the church.

# data[].attributes.body
It’s a new day in Mombasa and Johnny is sharing his testimony with other Kenyan pastors and leaders. We’re about to head out into the village for evangelism. Please pray for “words to be given to us that we may proclaim the mystery of the gospel boldly” (Ephesians 6).

# data[].attributes.body
Pastor Ken is the pastor of Emmanuel Baptist Church and leads Ekklesia Afrika. He helped us envision spread of the gospel throughout Kenya by multiplying healthy, biblical churches like EBC.

Now - We’re on our way to the airport to fly out to Mombasa. Please pray for our trip and our ministry as we start visiting with different churches and pastors.

# data[].attributes.body
Pictured here is a seminary student named Wycliffe. He listens to sermons from MBC every week and was pretty shocked to meet members of MBC in person.

Praying for you all as you sit under the preaching of God’s Word today.

# data[].attributes.body
After conference, we met Joel, who is pastoring a church in Northern Kenya. He drove for 2 days(!) to get to this conference. He is praying for God’s help against severe persecution from Muslims and false prosperity gospel teaching. He ministers close to Somalia (where they would kill all Christians and families) but by God’s grace, he has a Somali background believer in his church! I told him that I would ask for your prayers so please pray for Joel and his church family in northern Kenya.

# data[].attributes.body
And we’re off!

# data[].attributes.body
We finally got to Nairobi after over 24 hours travel! We were delayed 3 hours at customs because of the donated goods (Bibles, books, and used clothing for Kenyans). They charged us heavy “tax” and we were discouraged by this hiccup in our entry. Nevertheless, God gave us refreshing rest last night and we’re now attending a conference for preaching God’s Word. Kenyan churches are described as “mile wide and inch deep” in their theology and doctrine so these conferences based on God’s Word really helps to bring health to local churches.

Please pray that our team would continue to focus on the Lord and that 400+ pastors and church leaders would be strengthened with hope in God’s glory with renewed zeal for God’s Word. Please pray for faithful preachingk of God’s Word in the churches represented.

# data[].attributes.headline
Titus and Stephany’s second son, Elias broke his arm.

# data[].attributes.subject
Titus and Stephany’s second son, Elias broke his arm.

# data[].attributes.body
Monday night our son Elias (1and a half y/o) climbed out of his crib and fell and broke his forearm. Both bones in his arms were fractured with a “greenstick fracture”. Stephany and I went in to the ER where the proceeded to set and put a splint on him. The next morning we went to an orthopedic clinic and they put a cast on him. After the cast had hardened, the had an x-ray done which sadly showed that the bones in his arm were still not straight.

We now need to schedule to go in again for them to put Elias under so they can more aggressively align the bones in his arm and redo the cast.

Please pray for Elias, that he may be able to be his normal fun self without pain, but to also be careful to not re-injure his arm. Also pray for quick and complete healing as the doctors said that there is a chance in the future for re-injury.

# data[].attributes.body
Please pray for health and continue recovery for my good friend, Feon who has been fighting against breast lung cancers for the past few years. 🙏🙏

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Turkmenistan is comprised of almost 70% desert. It is one of the least-visited countries in the world and came into modern existence in 1991 after the fall of the Soviet Union. With only two leaders since 1991, the county persists under a dictatorship and is one of the most repressed countries in the world. Both the former and current presidents have enacted some of the world's most restrictive laws. For example, only men older than seventy can maintain a beard; black or dirty cars are not allowed in the capital city of Ashgabat; all video games were banned in 2006; and makeup is prohibited.

The religious reality for Christians in Turkmenistan is harsh, and persecution is normal. Very few ethnic Turkmen follow Christ, though the number has steadily grown since the fall of the Soviet Union. The majority of known Christians are of Russian, Ukrainian, and Armenian descent. Many Christians have been expelled, especially foreign ones, and national Christians frequently endure unfair treatment. Pastors have been exiled, beaten, fined, and imprisoned. Authorities routinely intimidate churches and sometimes force them to shut down. This is the case even among churches that are officially registered with the government, which is a near-impossible process that often only subjects the church to greater scrutiny and surveillance. Due to the harsh conditions in their homeland, many Turkmen have fled to surrounding regions.

That God would strengthen and empower the church in Turkmenistan and give them favorable status with the government.

That God would sustain and encourage believers in Turkmenistan, who are often denied equal justice under the law, and that God would protect and strengthen them.

That God would soften the hearts of the authorities to act justly and fairly as it relates to human rights and religious freedom.

That God would give grace to those who minister among the scattered Turkmen and that God would grant faith to many.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Turkmenistan is comprised of almost 70% desert. It is one of the least-visited countries in the world and came into modern existence in 1991 after the fall of the Soviet Union. With only two leaders since 1991, the county persists under a dictatorship and is one of the most repressed countries in the world.

# data[].attributes.body
We pray Proverbs 22:6 over our children. We pray for their hearts to be tender soil and be receptive to your Word and that they may come to know the saving power of Jesus. Instill in them a love that is steadfast, strong, and real that they will cling to Jesus as the Lord and Master of their lives. We pray that they will heed the Word in their hearts so that even when they are old they will not depart from it.

# data[].attributes.body
Please pray for God’s calmness for me and my husband in the mixed of our divorce and for salvation for my husband and son

Omo

# data[].attributes.body
Please pray for my parents’ salvation, and personally, that—in accordance with John 15:8– I glorify God by bearing much fruit (both the fruit of the Spirit and of making disciples).

# data[].attributes.headline
Bob's Preparations for Volunteering Overseas

# data[].attributes.subject
Bob's Preparations for Volunteering Overseas

# data[].attributes.body
1) God will prepare my heart for ministry. Not my will but His will be done.

2) Pack Out - Sorting and cleaning (not my favorite task), completing repairs to my home, and renting out to a military family.

3) Elderly Mom - She will not go see a doctor at all, my sisters' ability to deal with her while I am away, and wisdom in how to manage her care.

# data[].attributes.body
Please pray for our Church Group to care for one another like a family, to grow together to become more like Christ, to make disciples on mission in the world.