Martin
Thanksgiving:
- Thank God for his patience, grace, mercy, and loving hand upon my life.
- For an improvement to sleeping patterns over the past few months. Though I’ve had a few nights where sleeping’s been difficult, for the most part I’m sleep normally. I’m no longer feeling like a zombie every day.
- Thank God for the opportunity to learn the Myanmar language. I thank him for what I’ve learnt and for the encouragement of my friends here to “jaw za”, which means keep trying.
- I’m grateful to God that the university learning is over though, and that I can now focus on that which I came here for – teaching, preaching, and evangelism.
- Thank God for providing for my physical needs, with good food, good shelter, clothing, friends, transport, safety, and so on.
Petition:
- I didn’t learn all I wanted to or needed to while at uni, so I’m considering a private tutor. Please pray that I would have wisdom regarding this, and that if I proceed I would find a good teacher who’s not too expensive.
- On October 15th my visa runs out and at the time of writing this we’ve not found a way to secure my long-term residency. We’ve had a couple of possibilities for assistance but they’ve not eventuated. Please pray that I’d be able to extend my visa with the least amount of disruption to the work and with minimal costs.
- I’m preparing for lectures that will begin in November. I’ll be teaching two subjects, evangelism and post-reformation church history. Please pray that I’d prepare well for these lessons.
- I had this as a prayer point last time (April’s prayer points) and I want to include it again as it’s so very important. Please pray, as Paul did for the Colossians (Col. 1:9-12) …
- “And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.“
ERC (Evangelical Reformed Church / Thang Bwee’s church)
Thanksgiving:
- Thank God for his continued blessing upon the work and ministry of ERC.
- For the continued partnership with Mission Partners and the financial support that that brings with it.
- Thank God for the many new students this year at RBI. They’re a keen lot and, like sponges, ready to absorb everything. They’re obedient and willing to learn and follow, and they’re good students too.
- Thank God for providing full sponsorship to all of the students of the Reformed Bible Institute (RBI), the Bible college of ERC.
- The ongoing discipleship (which started in July) is proving to be helpful to everyone with growth already evident in many.
Petition:
- Please pray for the minister of the Tada Township church plant, Mr Mor Dan, who is working tirelessly in evangelism and church planting for the Lord in that place. Please ask the Lord to strengthen him, to give him wisdom and knowledge, and to be diligent in all he does, walking in a manner worthy of the Lord (Cf. Col. 1:10).*
- Pray for Thang Bwee’s translation work on Concise Theology by J.I. Packer.
- For guidance and protection for the English teaching classes to be held at RBI during October by Betty Murry and Jan Turner from QLD pressie congregations.
- For God’s blessing and guidance for the upcoming seminars in January 2012 at RBI. These seminars will be on selected major prophets and reformed church history taught by Peter Barber (Townsville Presbyterian Church) and Peter Barnes (Revesby Presbyterian Church) respectively.
- Pray for the needs related to building a Church building at Tada Township as well as a dormitory at Shinletwa (in Chin State) in 2012.
- And for God’s ongoing providence for all the essential needs of Thang Bwee’s family.
FRCM (Free Reformed Church of Myanmar / James’ church)
Thanksgiving:
- Thank God for his grace. James writes, “We enjoy the life of FRCM and GBS. We thank God for His helping us up to this day with every blessing we need.”*
- Thank God for providing full sponsorship to all of the students of the Grace Bible Seminary (GBS), the Bible college of FRCM.
- For some significant financial blessing over the past couple of months that has helped them out of debt.
- The injection of funds also allowed them to finally get a concrete floor put in throughout the house. This is where James and his family along with all the GBS students live. They’re thrilled to no longer be walking through the muddy, slippery floor inside and that things aren’t so dirty any more.
- For the ongoing discipleship sessions of the FRCM congregation and GBS students.
Petition:
- That God would provide the needed funds for the daily needs (food, water, etc.) of the FRCM community.*
- That the students would learn well and be properly prepared for future ministry.
- That the church would grow in numbers as well as maturity.
- For finances for Pastor Samuel’s mission field. Pastor Samuel is a recent addition to the leadership and outreach team of FRCM.*
- For the safety of GBS’s leaders and students as they travel around Yangon. Particularly, there is a lot of travel required during October when the students of GBS will travel about 1 hour each week day to attend the English classes being held at RBI by Betty Murray and Jan Turner.
- The financial needs of this fledgling church plant are many at this time. Please pray that there would be an outpouring of generosity toward these folks so that they may be equipped and ready to grow in number, maturity, and influence.
* Thanksgiving and petition items with an asterisk indicate an ongoing prayer point, that is, one that was listed in a previous prayer letter.
