DAY 11 HAUSA PEOPLE IN GHANA Isa 11:1-3, NET (This story is intended to illustrate the lifestyle of A shoot will grow out this people group.) of Jesse’s root stock, a bud will sprout from his ssibi lifted her head roots. The Lord’s spirit A and noticed the will rest on him—a spirit Hausa children dust covering her hands from today’s work. She that gives extraordinary glances at her children, wisdom, a spirit that not much younger in age than she is. Assibi rises to provides the ability to her feet, one hand on her achy back from the long execute plans, a spirit that day. That day she had cared for her children and sold produces absolute loyalty textiles at the market. The house was now in order, to the Lord. He will take and dinner was ready when her husband came home. delight in obeying the She wonders if her children will repeat this difficult Lord. He will not judge cycle. She questions if her sons will be ashamed to be by mere appearances, or Hausa, or if her daughters will be married young like make decisions on the she was. basis of hearsay. It has been 500 years since her people first settled Pray that the Hausa people in Ghana, and many do not consider Hausas to will soon recognize and obey be Ghanaians. During the 15th century, Hausa their Savior, Jesus Christ. tradesmen migrated to Ghana from “Hausaland,” overlapping Nigeria and Niger. Eventually establishing lives in Ghana, they married local women and held on to their culture and beliefs. According to the Joshua Project, 100 percent of the Hausa people are Muslim, though many believe in traditional rituals.

Pray that the Hausa may find their true identity in Christ. Pray that women and girls will receive education, equality, and dignity. Ask the Holy Spirit to start a church planting movement among the Hausa peoples.—Bianca Ontiveros, guest writer

60 DAY CHAKALI PEOPLE OF GHANA 12 hy is Chakali still spoken?” asks a linguist in Isa 51:6, NIV an online article. Only 8,400 people speak this“W dying language. The Joshua Project tells us that Lift up your eyes to the they live in only seven villages in northwestern Ghana. heavens, look at the earth beneath; the heavens Except for speaking a language that might not survive the 21st century, the Chakali are much like other will vanish like smoke, people groups in this region. They are subsistence the earth will wear out farmers who also raise cattle. Their main crop is yams, like a garment and its which they often present as a gift to outsiders. inhabitants die like flies. But my salvation will last Though the Chakali people have always held to forever, my righteousness traditional animistic religion, they have a lot of will never fail. contact with the nearby Muslim Wali people. In the past 20 years, many Chakali people have embraced Pray that the Chakali Islam because of the influence of this Wali people people of West Africa will group. The Chakali people have a man from the Wali understand that what people as their chief, and they might be speaking the matters is His eternal Wali language in another 100 years. salvation. Pray that they There are few Christian resources in the Chakali will seek and find His language other than Global Recordings Network righteousness in Christ. (GRN) materials. About three percent of the Chakali people are Christian.

Pray for the distribution of Chakali recordings throughout Ghana. Pray for a spiritual revival among the Chakali Christians that will give them the willingness to follow Christ with all their hearts and draw others to Him as well. Pray for a church planting movement in northwest- ern Ghana that will affect both the Chakali and Wali speaking peoples.—KC

61 DAY 13 CHALA PEOPLE OF GHANA Deut 9:6, NIV ow many people would there have to be before you would devote 15 years of your Understand, then, that lifeH to translating the Scriptures for them? Would it is not because of your you do that for a people group of only 4,200? Bible righteousness that the translators have to struggle with such questions in Lord your God is giving a country like Ghana where there are small people you this good land to groups. Those producing radio broadcasts, the possess, for you are a stiff- JESUS Film, and gospel recordings would ask the necked people. same questions. Only Global Recordings Network has produced materials in the language of the Chala It is not because unreached people, and you can listen to them online (https:// nations like the Chalas www.youtube.com/watch?v=BHF2rRfAub0). It is a are righteous that God is much simpler and shorter process to produce gospel reaching them, it’s because recordings than a Bible or a full-length movie. of His great love for them. The Chala people have their own traditional religion, Pray that they will realize and converting to one of the major world religions this, and feel humbly like Islam or Christianity is viewed as being like honored as they accept Him joining another tribe. Perhaps for that reason, the as their new King. Chala people are only about five percent Christian, and only about one percent Evangelical. As far as we know there are no Muslims among them.

Pray for widespread distribution of gospel recordings in the Chala language. Pray that their hearts will be open to the great Name of Jesus, the only Savior. Pray for the Holy Spirit to move among Chala elders in such a way that they will see that one can follow Jesus and also be a faithful member of the Chala people.—KC

62 KANTOSI (AKA, YARSI) PEOPLE DAY CHALA PEOPLE OF GHANA OF WEST AFRICA 14 oday is February 14, also known as Valentine’s Isa 54:10, NIV Day. It is a day when people often get married, or Tengaged to be married. There were at least three St. “Though the mountains be Valentines throughout church history, and there are shaken and the hills be all kinds of legends regarding why we associate that removed, yet my unfailing name with romance and marriage. We can’t say for love for you will not be sure if any of the legends are true. shaken nor my covenant But we do know that when a people group is “engaged” of peace be removed,” by Christian workers, they finally have the potential says the Lord, who has to become part of the Bride of Christ. The Kantosi compassion on you. people group we are praying for today number only 3,200, and the only Christian resources they have in Pray that the Kantosi people their heart language are gospel recordings. No Bible will accept the intense love portions or videos are available to them unless they of the Lord, and share it with learn someone else’s language. other peoples in Africa. About 20 years ago four Christian partnerships came together to pray for this people group. There were seven short-term prayer efforts. Now about one percent of these Muslims are Christian, and about one in 500 is evangelical. It could take much more prayer before these people see the Light of the World.

Pray for the Holy Spirit to give dreams and visions to members of the Kantosi people that will open their hearts to Christ. Pray for many to hear in whatever language they have available, that Jesus Christ wants them to have an abundant life now and forever more. Pray for a rapid church planting movement among them.—KC

63 DAY NGBANYITO CONGA PEOPLE 15 OF GHANA EFFORTS Isa 61:1-2, NIV overty may cause people to seek God; but the Ngbanyito Conga people of Ghana are very The Spirit of the Sovereign Plimited in how they can find out more about Him. Lord is on me, because the With a literacy rate no greater than five percent, the Lord has anointed me to gospel message must be presented orally both for proclaim good news to the evangelism and discipleship. Videos and recordings poor. He has sent me to would be great tools, but someone needs to

bind up the brokenhearted, distribute them. International Create to proclaim freedom for the The Ngbanyito Conga people have a population captives and release from of about 335,000. Only around four percent are darkness for the prisoners, Christians, and only about one half of one percent are to proclaim the year of the evangelical. The largest religion among them is Islam Lord’s favor and the day of with approximately 58 percent. vengeance of our God, to While the Conga people live in Ghana’s northern comfort all who mourn… regions, the wealth of the country is located in the Pray that the Ngbanyito southern part of this nation. Most people of the Conga people will soon go north (like the Ngbanyito Conga people) barely make out to proclaim the Savior a living in subsistence farming. They live in mud whom this verse describes. brick, thatched-roof homes. Most Ngbanyito Conga Pray for them to be children cannot go to school because they are needed transformed and to be used to help with farm work. Their lack of schooling locks by Him to transform others. them into a cycle of poverty. Poverty remains a huge challenge for this people group that suffers from a lack of drinking water, food, and employment.

Pray that the disadvantaged Conga tribe will soon have the opportunity to allow their children adequate education. May they soon rise above illiteracy and poverty. Pray that they will hear the gospel of Christ presented in their language and respond by dedicating their lives to Him.— Diane Tolsma, guest writer

64 DAY LIGBI BANDA PEOPLE OF GHANA 16 (This story illustrates Isa 61:6-8, NIV truths about this people group.) And you will be called priests of the Lord, you arissa was babbling will be named ministers frantically as Cshe ran into her hut of our God. You will holding her woozy feed on the wealth of

Create International Create nine-month-old son. nations, and in their Notice the charm around his neck She put him on a cot. riches you will boast. Her aging mother-in- Instead of your shame law sat nearby frowning at Carissa. “What is wrong you will receive a double with my grandson?” she demanded. Carissa mumbled portion, and instead of something about tsetse flies, which set the old woman disgrace you will rejoice off even more. “How many times have I told you all in your inheritance. And the children need magic charms to protect them from so you will inherit a danger? That boy might die because you were careless!” double portion in your This Ligbi Banda family is actually Muslim, though land and everlasting joy they believe that the spirit world can harm them in will be yours. For I, the many ways. Amulets and charms are what they use Lord, love justice. I hate in defense. They have many enemies in the world of robbery and wrongdoing. nature; their homeland is awash with mosquitoes, tsetse In my faithfulness I will flies, and blackflies that carry diseases like malaria, reward my people and yellow fever, sleeping sickness, and river blindness. make an everlasting Jesus tells us in John 10:10 that Satan comes to covenant with them. steal, kill and destroy. He is very active in causing misery among this people group of 21,000 in western Pray for the blessings of Ghana. Satan also keeps these Muslims confused this verse to reach the Ligbi with at least five different Islamic sects, none of people. Pray that the Ligbi which can save them. people will trade their tragic lives for new life in Christ. Pray that the Ligbi Banda people will soon find the way to the only Savior, Jesus Christ. Pray for missionaries to help them exterminate disease-carrying insects.—KC

65 DAY MAMPRUSI PEOPLE 17 OF GHANA IsA 61:10-11, NIV (This story illustrates truths about this people group.)

I delight greatly in the he frown on the Mamprusi girl’s face seemed Lord; my soul rejoices in my incongruous with the beautiful wedding God. For He has clothed me Tdress she was wearing. Her mother, Jallah, told her, “Sit down. You aren’t going to your wedding with garments of salvation with that kind of attitude.” The bride-to-be and arrayed me in a robe replied, “Why does Malash want me as his wife?

of His righteousness, as a International Create He already has one.” Her mother took a deep bridegroom adorns his head sigh before replying. “Two out of three men have like a priest, and as a bride more than one wife among our people. Look at adorns herself with her the bright side. You will have someone to share jewels. For as the soil makes the work with. Our ancestors must have been the sprout come up and right when they started doing things this way; a garden causes seeds to we are among the first peoples of Ghana, and we grow, so the Sovereign Lord once had a powerful empire.” will make righteousness This girl will probably never get the chance to learn and praise spring up before to read. Only about 15 percent of the Mamprusi all nations. people get the chance to read and write. Children usually have to help their parents with taking Pray for the Mamprusi care of livestock, leaving no time for books. Such people to seek and find a situation makes it difficult to evangelize them the garments of salvation without using oral tools. SIM International tells promised to those who are us that outreach to this animistic people started in willing to become part of His 1940, and today they have 46 Protestant churches. holy family. However, with a population of 341,000, they are still considered unreached.

Pray for the Lord to raise up story tellers and disciplers to reach out to the Mamprusi people. Pray that the followers of Christ among the Mamprusi people will disciple others in the ways of Jesus.—KC

66 DAY MANDINKA (AKA, MANDINGO) PEOPLE OF GHANA 18 hen you think Isa 35:10, NIV of Ghana and otherW countries in …and those the Lord Africa, you think of has rescued will return. a place where people They will enter Zion with love music. In West singing; everlasting joy Africa, a Mandinka will crown their heads.

Create International Create man called a jalibaa Gladness and joy will Playing a kora (jal’ ee baa, or praise overtake them, and sorrow singer) accompanies his and sighing will flee away. songs with an interesting instrument called a kora (pronounced CORE-uh). It resembles a mandolin, Pray that soon the Lord will and its body is made of half of a calabash covered raise up Mandinka people with cowhide fastened on with decorative tacks. who will bless the Lord with Several holes are cut in the side of the instrument. singing His praise among The praise singer has to memorize the genealogy the Muslim peoples of West of patron families and sing their praises. He can Africa. Pray for a contagious also deliver a musical message as well as entertain everlasting joy to cling to his hearers. The jalibaa art form is diminishing, as Mandinka believers. fathers are no longer passing on their musical secrets to their sons. God has endowed people with the ability to enjoy and participate not only in vocal melody and harmony, but also with an ingenuity to create many kinds of musical instruments to meet various kinds of communication needs. The folk Islamic Mandinka people also enjoy sharing their many proverbs. People usually learn them by hearing them, not by reading them in books. Thoughts and ideas are taught through music, proverbs, and stories.

Pray that as harvesters go to the Mandinka people, they will find ways to take the good news through appealing music and other culturally-appropriate means.—KC

67 DAY 19 NANUMBA PEOPLE OF GHANA Isa 17:7-8, NET he Guinea Fowl War in 1995 started as a dispute over a bird in a market. The conflict At that time men will Twas between a man from the Nanumba tribe and trust in their Creator; a man from the Konkomba tribe. As the personal they will depend on the conflict morphed into a tribal one it resulted in the Holy One of Israel. They deaths of 1,000 to 2,000 people, the displacement will no longer trust in the of 150,000 people, villages burned, and farms altars their hands made, destroyed. In situations where there is poverty and or depend on the Asherah weak government, people fall back into tribalism, poles and incense altars especially when underdeveloped areas are forced to their fingers made. rapidly enter the 21st century. Fortunately, these kinds of disputes are relatively rare in Ghana. Pray for the Nanumba The Nanumba people are mainly farmers. people to soon put all their Weaving and carving provide items for trade trust in their Creator, and that help to increase their meager agricultural cast out whatever idols have earnings. Clan elders exercise moral authority hindered them. over their local communities. The majority of the 65,000 Nanumba people are animistic, involving idol and ancestor worship. They believe that the creator is unapproachable, so they look to local spirits for their daily needs. The Nanumba people need additional missionaries and medical teams. They do not have a system for pure drinking water, which results in bone diseases.

Pray that God will use His children to help the Nanumba people take care of their medical needs. Pray that God will use Nanumba believers and missionaries to share the kingdom of God with their own people. Pray that the Holy Spirit will prepare the hearts of the Nanumba people so that they can know that He is approachable. Pray for a strong church planting move- ment.—Gordon Oaks, guest writer

68 DAY KOYRABORO SONGHAI PEOPLE OF GHANA 20 hat would you do if someone gave you Isa 43:12-13, NIV an important message where half of the vocabularyW was foreign to you? How well would you “I have revealed and saved be able to piece together the message? The Koyraboro and proclaimed— I, and are a subgroup of the much larger Songhai cluster not some foreign god of peoples, and they speak a different dialect from among you. You are my other Songhai peoples. Any message in a different witnesses,” declares the dialect would make some sense to them, but much of Lord, “that I am God. Yes, it wouldn’t. and from ancient days I We do not know much about those who speak am He. No one can deliver the Koyraboro dialect, but we do know this. They out of my hand. When I act, are among the least reached people groups in the who can reverse it?” world and are categorized by the Joshua Project as unengaged. They number 8,500 in Ghana, and Pray that the Koyraboro 1,900,000 in four other countries. Songhai people will soon understand that the Lord is Their primary language is in written form. They do the only One worthy of their not have a complete Bible, but have Bible portions, devotion. Pray that they will including the New Testament in their language. soon thrust out workers to Audio Bible teaching is available through Global the lost in West Africa. Recordings Network (GRN). The JESUS Film has been available for a few years as well as World Missionary Press booklets. This group is 98 percent Islamic and two percent Christian.

Pray for laborers filled with wisdom from the Holy Spirit to engage the Koyraboro Songhai people with compassion and respect as they share the gospel. Pray that the current believers will tell others in their family and work about the God they know. Pray for the protection of His faithful workers.—Gordon Oakes, guest writer

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