The latest Points For Prayer Update for 28th May 2014 can be found below.

The latest Points For Prayer Update for 21st May 2014 can be found below.

PORTUGALJames and Heather Cochrane send the following prayer points:-

• Last Monday, James and Nathan Griffith visited the Portuguese Bible Institute in Lisbon to talk to staff and students about the church planting project with a view to receiving a student on a short term placement.  Give thanks for the encouraging time with staff and students.  Pray that God might use this student placement programme to raise up future Portuguese co-workers. 
  
  
• Last Tuesday the first ‘English night’ was held.  Although only one woman turned up, they had a good evening with her.  Lots of leaflets and posters have been distributed and they have had a few phone enquiries.  Within Portugal it takes a while for initiatives like this to become established.  James and Heather are encouraged and ask you to keep praying for others to join us and for opportunities to build relationships.
  
  
• From 16th to 31st May, there is a major religious festival in Senhora da Hora.  Pray for the Cochranes as they plan to be out on the streets to try and understand what is happening and why, and seek to have conversations with people on the street.

SPAINDerek and Jane French continue in student ministry with the GBU Norte Team in the north of Spain. 

• Pray for Derek and Jane and the team in their ongoing work in student ministry.
  
  
• Give thanks for the commitment of the members of the GBU Norte Team working alongside Derek and Jane.  Praise God for the opportunities they have to share their faith with others and also for the encouragements and challenges they bring to Christian students in their walk with God. 
  
  
• Pray for a number of students who the team has been in contact with in recent months and that they would come to faith in Christ. 
  
  
• Pray for Derek's health, he has been experiencing pain in his lower back recently. 

ROMANIAIKE have been celebrating 15 years of IKE University Student’s Mission in Cluj and ten years of ministry in Tirgu Mures. 

• Praise the Lord for the many faithful staff members and volunteers who are involved with student mission serving through cell groups, youth services, worship and social events.
  
  
• Pray for the three Reformed chaplains working with IKE; for energy, creativity and strength, as they encourage students to follow Christ and live to serve Him.

KENYAGary and Mary Reid report that during May the ‘Get REAL’ for Christ programme (Reaching, Educating, Assisting, Loving), will begin in some of the local nursery schools. 

• Pray the seeds sown will flourish year after year for Him.
  
  
• Pray that God’s Kingdom will come and His will be done in the Olkinyiei area. 
  
  
• Pray for those in the area who hear God’s Word being taught each week, that God’s Holy Spirit will work deep in their lives, and that hearts will be changed. 

Naomi Leremore is currently working on material for the Theological Education by Extension (TEE) Diploma in Children’s Ministry.  Rev Brian and Jean Gibson from N Ireland are assisting with the writing of Book 1 on Parenting Patterns. 

• Pray for Naomi, Brian and Jean as they write Book 1 on Parenting Patterns.
  
  
• Pray too for the Sunday School editing team and the TEE writers.
  
  
   
• In the busyness of life and work, pray that Naomi’s strength and focus will be renewed.

EAST AFRICANS in the UKEdwin Kibathi reports that the PCEA London choir has been invited to perform at the Church of Scotland’s General Assembly this weekend.  They will travel to Scotland on Friday night and return on Sunday.  The Rev Kania returned to Kenya today (14th) after commissioning a group of men into the Presbyterian Men’s Fellowship during the worship service last Sunday (11th). 

• Pray for a couple in the congregation whose daughter, named Precious died recently.  Pray that the burial service will go smoothly and for Edwin as he takes part in the service. 
  
  
• Pray for safe travel for the choir, and that God will be glorified as they minister with songs.
  
  
• Pray that the men commissioned will keep their vows as they serve God in the men’s ministry.

MALAWIOn Tuesday 20th May, Malawi will hold its fifth multi-party elections for president, parliament and local councils.  Recent polls have shown that the outcome is too close to call. 

• Pray that the elections will be free and fair.
  
  
• Pray for a peaceful election day. 
  
  
• Pray that the results will be accepted by all parties and their supporters.
  
  
• Pray for Christians working at the heart of the government in Malawi, facing many pressures and challenges! Pray they will make wise and just decisions that would make life better for the poorest in society. 

Tomorrow, (Thursday 15th), Pamela McCullagh travels home from Malawi to begin her maternity leave. 

• Pray for Pamela as she travel back on her own.  Pray that all her connections will be hassle free and that she will arrive safely in Belfast on Friday.
  
  
• Pray for a good transition back to life in Ireland and as she prepares for the birth of the baby in July.
  
  
• Pray for David as he remains in Malawi until July.

The PCI Ignite Team to Malawi of 12 healthcare professionals arrived home safely last Sunday (11th):-

• Give thanks for their visit and the encouragement they gave to Neil Kennedy and others they met.  Pray for the members of the team as they tell people about the Lord's work in Malawi.
  
  
• Thank the Lord for a very successful training meeting, led by Neil Kennedy and Thandu, for magistrates and prosecutors last week.  Pray that a similar meeting with investigators and support officers in the police would take place soon. 
  
  
• Pray for Neil as he deals with a difficult management / personnel problem this week.

At the Faculty of Theology at Ekwendeni Campus’ where Matt Williams serves as lecturer and Acting Dean, students are currently involved in writing their end of semester exams:-

• Give thanks that the semester looks like finishing with no delays and all courses completed well.
  
  
• Pray that Matt and the other staff will make best possible use of the time in between semesters.

In her May Monthly Bulletin, Diane Cusick sends the following prayer points:-

• Pray for safety in travel as Diane and her colleagues travel to train workers and visit trainers and the Early Childhood Centres.
  
  
• Pray that Diane will have time to finish the dissertation for her Master’s Degree. 
  
  
• Pray for the Holy Spirit to work amongst the church leadership to enable them to have an understanding of the importance of children’s ministry.

ASIANS in the UKChristopher and Nivedita Benjamin continue to reach out to their Gujarati speaking Hindu friends with an aim to share the Good News in pastoral and practical ways.  They do this in a number of ways, including meeting twice a month for fellowship at which they share the Scriptures and pray together, and they also send out a weekly email with a short meditation called ‘MANNA’.

• Pray for this work and that their contacts with their Hindu friends may turn out to be a great blessing and opportunity to witness to the Christian faith and the Gospel of Christ in what is a multi-cultural and multi-faith society.

NEPALThe ‘40 Days of Global Prayer for Nepal’ Campaign organised by the Nepali Christian Community for Nepal continues.  Click here for a full list of the prayer requests is available

• Pray for political consensus on major and core issues affecting the successful completion of the Nepali peace process, and the writing and implementation of the new constitution.
  
  
• Pray for the establishment of sustainable peace, as well as good and just government with righteous leaders and a bureaucracy full of integrity.
  
  
• Pray for the country’s President, Vice President, Prime Minister, cabinet ministers, Constituent Assembly members freshly elected, judiciary, defence department and civil society.  Pray that they can work together in unity for the benefit of the nation and the people of Nepal rather than themselves.
  
  
• Pray for an end to political instability, violence, crime, impunity, injustice and corruption.

FEBAWilliam Mateer, FEBA Ireland Ambassador, reflects on Psalm 118:1 “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever”, as we remember the work of Feba in prayer, let us thank God for his goodness over the past 55 years and as we seek to partner in new areas of the world ask God to go before us and guide us to those who need our ministry most.

Africa: Feba are in the early stages of exploring a possible community-centred radio initiative in Rwanda, focusing on peace and reconciliation. Discussions are taking place with a potential partner who has already an established healing and reconciliation ministry, plus producing audio materials for churches. Please pray for Feba’s International Partnership Team as they decide whether this partnership and project is right for Feba. 

Asia: Feba’s new medium wave Pashto broadcasts to Afghanistan, northern Pakistan and northwest India continue to receive high levels of response.  Praise and thank God that a temporary follow-up worker has now been employed to speak with the many listeners calling into the station. Pray for Feba’s partners, as they find long-term solutions to follow-up for the programmes.

Middle East:  Please continue to pray for the Syrian people, who are struggling to survive amidst the chaos of this terrible conflict.  Pray for Feba’s Hope for Syriaradio broadcasts aimed at providing help and support to the millions of displaced persons and refugees, living in Syria and neighbouring countries.  New management is needed for this project, so please pray that a committed and cost effective partner will emerge that will take this project forward over the next year.