Dear Friends
Thank you for your prayerful support of the work of Langham Preaching around the world. There is so much for which to be thankful as God does his work among us and through us. Here is one example from Jennifer Cuthbertson, our Coordinator for Facilitator Development, based in Parksville, British Columbia (Canada).
Some years ago, ‘gratefulness journals’ were introduced into our North American society. People were encouraged to write down, at the end of the day, everything they were grateful for from that day. Those jottings included the ordinary and the extraordinary. I don’t keep a written ‘gratefulness journal’ but the suggestion brought me to a deeper consciousness in this area and, for that, I am grateful! When I give thanks, even for the smallest of things, I am happier and more fulfilled in my life. This morning, as I do every morning, I reflected on a poem. I’ll share a couple lines here: ‘Never has the world seemed so fresh and precious: Have a cup of tea … and rejoice.’
Please pray for the work in various places around the world…
Asia & South Pacific: This is a big week as the Continental Leadership Team gathers in Colombo (Sri Lanka), starting Monday. Please pray for Dwi Maria Handayani and Benji Stephen as they facilitate the meetings and for Mayukha Perera (preaching movement coordinator, Sri Lanka) as the host. From West Asia come Kanat K. and Paul Guttridge; from India come Veena & Praveen Bunyan and Johnson Raih; from South Asia comes Qaiser Julius; from East Asia come Phil Nicholson, MeeFang Njoo, Hamdani Tedja and Santi Widiastuty; from a big East Asian country comes someone who cannot be named (!); and from the South Pacific comes Tukana Nakesu. As part of our commitment to cross-pollination, Roland Tamini (from the Africa team, Burkina Faso) will also participate. Please pray for a joy in their fellowship; a unity in their decision-making (in such a diverse continent); and a progression in their work, under God’s hand.
Uganda: There are two Level Two seminars running from Monday to Wednesday. One is in Maracha, with 40 participants, and the other is in Kitgum, with 16 participants. We are asked to pray that the ushirikas (clubs) be strengthened and that the ministry of expository preaching be established—and that the Lord’s hand will be on Isaac Nuwamanya and David Isoke as they facilitate.
Indonesia: From Tuesday until Thursday there will be a seminar aimed at training facilitators to teach Level One—in Manokwari, Papua. The 13 participants to be trained are all from a preaching club, with Beatris Pangala and Hendra Prasaja as the facilitators. We are asked to pray for ‘the smooth implementation of the training and that participants will learn skills for facilitating seminars in their local settings.’
Bolivia: The coordinators of escuelitas nationwide have been part of a refresher program, starting in March and concluding in December. They meet again in the coming week. In-person meetings occur on the first Saturday of each month in Cochabamba (with 15 coordinators), while virtual meetings take place on the first Monday of each month (with 26 coordinators). Whether in-person or virtually, participants continue to study the wonderful book by Darrell Johnson, The Glory of Preaching. We are asked to pray that ‘our messages be shared through our words and reflected in our actions, demonstrating the integrity that should characterize a preacher.’
Thank-you for your faithfulness in this ministry of prayer.
The Langham Preaching Team