As we prepare to celebrate, Immanuel, God with us, please join us this Christmas to remember the peoples of the globe who don’t yet know Jesus.
SIM have Faithful Witness teams serving in some of the least reached places of the globe. We asked them how best we could pray.
East Africa
The Faithful Witness team in East Africa serves amongst five million people, less than 10 of whom are Christians.
With our small team we try to use every opportunity to share about the one who came to save mankind. It is such wonderful news which almost nobody in this country has ever heard about. In the lead up to Christmas we are hoping to host visitors from Kenya who might be the ones preparing the way for more workers in our town and our land. Pray the people of this land hear of God’s love and accept his gift of Jesus. May many people believe in Jesus and not perish but receive eternal life (John 3:16).
At this time, may God provide us with opportunities to meet with true God-seekers. May Jesus enable us to point them to himself.
Pray for the few believers in the country—less than ten people. Ask strength and boldness when they face persecution or intimidation.
As we pray for the government may God bring more freedom for the small number of Christians. Pray that those who are in prison for their faith will be released and find freedom to worship Jesus, with others, without fear. That dream is almost too bold to dream but it is our hope and vision for this nation.
As experienced team leaders seek a team to join them in bringing good news to a people long resistant to Jesus, may God begin a new work and bring many from this region to know him and bow before him. Pray for English teachers willing to serve here. The doors are wide open because the need is so great. And yet the workers are so few who are even thinking of a small insignificant country like the one we live in. With technology one doesn’t even need to cross the ocean to help us in our ministry—retired teachers or those a little extra capacity could teach remotely at the university and make a significant difference, for the Kingdom’s sake.
Pray God will build up a team of front-line intercessors to stand in the gap for the people of this land.
Northern Nigeria
The Fulani are a majority Muslim, semi-nomadic people group. 20 million Fulani live in Nigeria alone.
Pray for peace and protection and ask for God’s peace to reign over Nigeria, especially in regions of violence and unrest. Pray for the safety of all families as they gather to celebrate Christmas.
Pray for hope and healing. Pray for those facing hardships this season, including those suffering from poverty, illness, or loss. May they find comfort and hope during this time.
Pray for joyful celebrations, commencing December 1st. Pray that the spirit of Christ brings joy and togetherness to communities, fostering love and unity among neighbours and families. As churches meet on Christmas morning, pray the glory of God is evident and transformational.
On December 26th as Christians take food to prisons and share this and the gospel message with prisoners, may many receive salvation in Jesus.
As Christians intentionally visit friends and families with needs within their communities on December 27th, pray the sharing of gifts and Christian love will be a great blessing.
Pray for the Christmas-related programmes as we visit four Fulani villages, providing special gifts to the leaders and others in need. Ask for the boldness to share God’s love in a way that the community can truly understand.
Pray for more resources for the Fulani holistic ministry, as we face significant challenges in meeting the real needs of the community.
Ayutthaya, Thailand
Ayutthaya is the historic capital of Thailand and a Buddhist stronghold.
Pray for the Holy Spirit to go before us in preparing the hearts of the people we will get to share the gospel with this Christmas season, especially those who may hear the gospel message for the first time.
Pray for the three school outreaches – that God would turn the hearts of many (students and teachers!) to him.
Pray for plans to start reading through the Christmas narrative/Jesus’s life with the neighbourhood kids – that they would come to know Jesus personally as their Saviour and King
We are hosting a Christmas party for the community. We hope that people will come and sing carols with us, play games and hear the truth about Christmas.
The Joyful Heart Bilingual school will host a Christmas party for our students and their families on December 14th. It is our team’s prayer that we will be able to “unwrap” the true meaning of Christmas with the families and share the Good News of our Lord Jesus with them.
Pray for the Christmas party at the Santisuk Peace Church that we will get to know each other deeper and get closer together as a body of Christ.
As we do every year, this Christmas Eve we will invite those who are alone or just want to celebrate Christmas to join us in our home. Pray for great blessing on the time we will have with these people.
Mali
Among the Hassaniya people of Mali, known believers can be counted on one hand.
Christmas is the best time to share the Christian message openly in Mali.
The Moors, Soninkes and many Fulani are still in the darkness and don’t know Christ. Pray the light that dawned at the birth of Christ will shine into their hearts, and its warmth will draw them into an eternal relationship with him.
Ask God’s wisdom as we plan to host a two-day Christmas and evangelism programme. It will be held in a village in an area with no known believers. We will present Christ as a gift through singing, dancing, preaching, and feasting. Pray God’s provision to enable this outreach to over 300 people. We will need to hire trucks and musical instruments, give gifts, and feast together
Pray for a move of the Holy Spirit so we might see miracles and people coming to Christ.
In our language classes, Christmas is included in our textbook under ‘favourite festivals’. This is a great opportunity to share its significance with our tutor and class. Ask for fruit.
Pray for the peace and the prosperity of Mali.
Asia
Eight million people live stretched across a desert region of South Asia, where less than 0.02% of people are Christians.
Pray for the people of this land to see the true light of Jesus in the darkness.
Pray for spiritual awakening to come in our city, and upon the people in the villages – many have never heard the good news.
Pray for the Christmas service as we invite local people, non-believing family members and friends. Many people are open to come even though they have faith in other gods and religions.
Pray workers and their children will be good witnesses of Jesus’s love and salvation, shining Jesus’ light by our faith, attitudes, and by showing love.
The Middle East
This majority Muslim nation is home to nearly 45 million people.
Christmas day is a normal working day though many public areas will have Christmas decorations and Santa is appearing everywhere for the new year. Most people don’t make a distinction between the two which is so sad.
Pray for the Christians to really explain the reason for the celebrations. Unusually for this region, the Christmas day services at the few different churches are usually packed with majority background people who come out of interest to see, even though it’s not a public holiday. It’s an amazing opportunity. Pray that Christ will be preached!
Pray for the many house maids and other migrant workers who often get to have Christmas day as the only day off in the year, and head to church. Pray that the churches will welcome them and extend hospitality to all not just on Christmas day but to think creatively how to reach these people all year round.
As a young adults Bible study group continue their studies in Mark’s gospel, pray for encounter with Jesus as the Son of God, Emmanuel! At a heart level not just at a head level!
Pray our lives reflect the glorious hope we have in us.
North Africa
Most of the 106 million people in North Africa have never heard the name of Jesus, or met a Christ-follower.
In our Islamic context Christmas day means nothing to the majority of people. There will be no public holiday and no national recognition of the day. While we may see Christmas trees for sale and in restaurants and cafes these will be for celebrating the New Year.
Christmas is a time that often raises many questions among Muslims about the true meaning of Nöel. Pray the Lord will open doors to share the gospel with our friends.
Though very small in number, local believers will meet together. We will sing together in Arabic, following along with YouTube videos to sing Christmas songs as we don’t yet have any in the local Arabic dialect. Pray for an older local man hoping to bring along his grandchildren—he is the only believer in his family but last year was able to bring along his daughter’s children and bring them into Christian community for the first time.
In another city a large gathering of believers is expected, a unique gathering when we come united in boldness to worship Emmanual. Pray this celebration of Christmas will continue for generations to come— a witness of love and unity to those who seek true love and community.
Pray that the Lord will give us the opportunity to share God’s love with our neighbours and with the sick.
Central Asia
In a region of Central Asia where 2.8 million people live, only 0.01% call themselves Christians.
Pray for God to strengthen faith of our brothers and sisters and for them to constantly and consistently grow in the knowledge of Christ.
Pray for a small retreat for the youth of the region, asking God’s guidance and direction.