Word of the week: The LORD is my strength children and family members over this COVID-19 and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he period, in particular that they might find peace and 5 helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my rest in God. song I praise him. Psalm 28:7 SOCIETY Australia – Eternity: Please pray for the Kenyan Bible Society: Please pray for Bible storytellers at Eternity as they continue to Society staff in Kenya who are working with 11 share seriously good news with Christians. 6 Love of Christ Foundation to meet the physical Pray that they would continue to be faithful, and spiritual needs of children living on the streets of respectful and generous in the way that they gather Prayer Nairobi. As well as providing food, the Bible Society and produce stories. is providing trauma healing and offering the children Trust in the LORD with opportunities to engage with the Bible. Pray that Word of the week:  July 2020 all your heart and lean not on your own letter these precious little ones would grab hold of the hope 12 understanding; in all your ways submit to him, that is held out to them. and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6 – George Whitfield College:  Australia – CPX: Praise God for the release of Join us in Please pray for the Explore Bible project at the a new book from CPX Research Fellow Richard Arab-Israeli Bible Society:  thanking God for the staff and supporters of 1 college. Thank God that, while COVID-19 has 7 Shumack, Jesus Through Muslim Eyes. Please brought its challenges, students are still managing to 13 the Arab-Israeli Bible Society as they adapt pray that many people would engage with the book, to the changed needs of their communities. Please participate in the program. Pray for students as they particularly Muslims. navigate learning from home, that their knowledge pray that the Society’s family workshops would and faith in God may be strengthened. Laos: Please pray for literacy programs that encourage families to pray together, read the Bible we support among the Laotians. Pray that the and to have fun. Australia – RIMS (Australia): Please pray as 8 participants would enjoy both an increased Please pray for the RIMS team completes final preparations for quality of life and access to the word of God as a Australia – Publishing:  our publishing team and the work they 2 the Pitjantjatjara Bible app. This app will contain result of the program. Pray also for the Christians features that enable people to engage with the 14 do in selecting projects and nurturing there as they seek to live out and share their faith in a them to fruition. Thank God for their talents and Bible in audio and written modes, as well as share context where this can often be difficult. scriptures with others. Pray also for those who will their commitment to Bible Society. Pray that they download and use this app, that they will be inspired Australia – Youth Ministry: Give thanks for might have the both the grace and the fortitude by the words they hear and read. the grit and constancy of youth ministers around to work with authors and printers respectfully and 9 Australia as they respond to the ever-changing productively. UBS: Praise God for the Bible-based trauma restrictions in meeting together. Pray that teens Please pray for our Literacy healing resources created by American Bible doubting or despairing during the difficult season Myanmar:  Through Listening program which aims to 3 Society for use around the world. Many Bible of isolation would find the courage to speak to their Society projects support people emerging from 15 equip local peoples with skills to be able to leaders, teachers or ministers and that they would access the Bible in their own languages. Pray that traumatic circumstances. Pray that because of this find fresh hope in Jesus. work, people will find comfort and hope in God. each person in the program would meet Jesus in the Nicaragua:  Bible and know him and his salvation. Australia – Christian SRE: Please pray for Please pray Australia – Auslan:  Praise God for the Christian school scripture which has been 10 for the Hope Auslan Bible work conducted 4 suspended during the COVID-19 lockdown and and Smile for Children restarts in term three. Pray that churches would 16 over the last 23 years. Many who began project. Through this this project are now heading towards retirement. be able to find enough volunteers to cover classes project, families affected Pray that the new committee currently being formed and that the transitioning back into the school by childhood cancer would come together with one heart to continue this community would be a joy and delight for teachers receive emotional, important work in making God’s word accessible to and the students. spiritual and financial the deaf community in Australia. assistance. Pray for families who have lost Cambodia – Learning through Listening:  to support these churches with resources China – Scripture Literacy for Please pray for the Bible Society in as they introduce new English speakers to Jesus. Illiterate People: Pray for the 17 Cambodia’s Literacy Program. Pray that it 29 Provincial Christian Council, as they will continue to reach students in safe and effective South Pacific: Please pray for the work with local churches to run Scripture literacy ways, and that staff and volunteers may find strength South Pacific as the inhabitants face the classes emerging out of the COVID-19 crisis. and perseverance in God. 24 aftermath of both Cyclone Harold and Pray participants continue to learn quickly COVID-19. Pray our Healing the Wounds of Trauma and well, despite disruption to their normal Australia – Churches: Pray for ministers and project would be a useful tool in this season, as well lessons. Pray teachers might find motivation and pastors around Australia as they consider as throughout 2020. Pray that as the participants wisdom in God’s word as they navigate easing 18 all that is necessary to bring church back to share, they would be open to God’s word and its restrictions. physically meeting. Pray that there will be no more healing power. outbreaks of COVID-19, and that God’s people will Australia – : Please pray rejoice in being able to spend time together, either Australia – Church relations: Pray for our for continued energy for our Koorong virtually or face-to-face, around his word. church relations team as they transition 30 staff as they serve customers each 25 back to physical meetings. Pray that they day. Thank God for their patience and dedication Word of the week: Then Jesus declared, “I would make the most of the opportunity to refresh to helping people to access the and am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me relationships and share in the joys and frustrations of resources that help them grow in their faith. Pray 19 will never go hungry, and whoever believes our partner churches. that customers will continue to support Koorong in me will never be thirsty…” John 6:35 in these uncertain times. Word of the week: How, then, can they China – Bible Study Resources: Pray for call on the one they have not believed in? Lebanon: Please pray for our Bible- Christians in China as they face the effects 26 And how can they believe in the one of based literacy skills project. This project 20 of COVID-19 on their communities and whom they have not heard? And how can they hear 31 exists to care for Iraqi and Syrian children churches. Pray our Bible study resources are a useful without someone preaching to them? And how can living in Lebanon as refugees. Pray that the tool in this time, and that through the Bible and these anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: children would rediscover a love of learning and resources, church leaders would continue to sharpen “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good be able to join local schools. Moreover, pray and refine their Biblical knowledge so that they can news!” Romans 10:14-15 that they might find Jesus as they read God’s be effective ministers to their people. word together with Christians in their local Zimbabwe: Pray for Zimbabwe and the communities. Australia – Grants: Pray that God will compounding challenges that COVID-19 protect the Bibles in Schools program. We 27 has brought. Pray for people who can no 21 provide class sets of Bibles for primary and longer earn an income, as well as those who have high school students, and also Jesus Storybook been further disadvantaged by COVID-19. Pray that Bibles for younger children to borrow and return. our hampers of food and sanitary products will be a Pray that the Bibles will be well used and spark a love blessing to families of children with disabilities, who for God. are greatly disadvantaged by lockdown measures. Pray that as these families navigate this season, they Mozambique: Pray for Mozambique as may find strength and courage in God. they work through the effects COVID-19. 22 Pray for our Literacy for Life program – that Australia – Fundraising: Pray for Bible it be an effective tool even if participants cannot Society’s fundraising initiative, 20/20 meet in person. Pray teachers might find motivation 28 Challenge. Several staff members have and encouragement in God’s word. Pray for already started working towards their goals in participants as they continue to improve their literacy fitness, Bible reading and other pursuits as generous levels and engage with the Bible. supporters encourage them with donations towards To receive this Prayer Letter regularly via email please contact us at [email protected] our missional work. Thank God for those who have Australia – ESL Programs: Pray for engaged with this enterprise, and pray that this fresh Bible Society the churches hosting ESL programs in fundraising idea would be an encouragement to all M: GPO Box 9874 In Your Capital City 23 person and via the internet. Pray for the who participate. E: [email protected] partnership Bible Society Australia is developing with P: 1300 BIBLES (1300 242 537)