CHINA. As massive relief efforts continue following the 7.9 earthquake in Sichuan province, conditions look dire for the 100,000 people who are still missing and the 19,000 who are known to be trapped under buildings. Although China has mobilized a massive relief effort, many roads are impassible, making the efforts extremely difficult. At present, 13,000 are reported to have died, but the figure is expected to rise considerably. Pray for all who are buried alive, asking our merciful God to lead rescuers to their aid. Pray for those who are involved in relief efforts, asking the God of wisdom and strength to supply their needs. Pray for all who have lost loved ones, asking that God will send messengers to share His saving love with them. Pray that as this tragedy continues to unfold in Chengdu and surrounding cities and mountain communities, many millions of Chinese people will reflect on the meaning of life and search for Truth.

WORLD LEADERS. “Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence” (1 Timothy 2:1-2). Please pray today for President Litokwa Tomeing of Marshall Islands (midway between Australia and Hawaii).

COSTA RICA. Villas de Ayarco is a church with a heart for reaching the lost. Please join them in prayer as they begin to extend their ministry through cell groups (home-based congregations). Ask the Lord to provide open homes led by Christians who have contacts with unbelievers who will be drawn to these Bible study groups and come back week after week. May they accept Christ and grow in their spiritual walk so that they, too, may reach others for Christ.

MANDARIN CHINESE IN CANADA. A young Chinese church in Calgary, Alberta, called Truth Baptist Church needs prayer protection as the leaders have their first encounter with church discipline. Ask God to give wisdom, courage and faith to the leaders as they seek to lead a group of very new believers to stand firm against Satan’s attack and against blatant sin in the church family. As many new Christians struggle by failing to resist the patterns of the world in order to embrace the standards of God’s kingdom, they are easily deceived, confused and discouraged. Please pray that God will protect His church, cause the Chinese believers to stand firm in their faith, and empower them to live in Christ-likeness.

MESTIZOS OF NON-URBAN QUERETARO, MEXICO (keh-REH-tah-roh). Viborillas: the place of the vipers. Team Queretaro para Cristo writes: “Although we have never actually seen any snakes in this town of approximately 1,000 people, a different kind of enemy is creeping through. The people are closed to any new teachings because the church has told them not to listen to outsiders. Recently two established church groups and one house church group met to prayerwalk together in this small town. The one contact who was known there decided that he did not want to study the Bible, even before they got started! But during the time of prayerwalking, the man was contacted again. He decided after seeing people praying for his town and his family that maybe he does have something to learn from the Bible. Please pray for A., asking that he will continue to be open to God’s Word and that he will understand the need for salvation. Pray that he will invite his family and neighbors to learn more. Ask that a house church can be started, even among the snakes.”

CRIOLLO OF NORTHERN ARGENTINA (cree-OL-yoh). The Northern Argentine Criollo Strategy Group writes: “In Barrio Jardin (Garden Neighborhood), there is a brand new church-in-formation. The congregation is about two months old, and we have seen three people accept Christ. This is an exciting work, and it differs from many of our others in that it is made up principally of men and pre-teen boys! This is a change, as most Criollo men are not interested in anything to do with religion because they see it as a weak man’s crutch. Baptism is the next step for the new believers in Barrio Jardin; however, this is a difficult decision for many because of family pressure and teaching from the traditional church. We are working to build stronger relationships and to make new friendships among the people of Barrio Jardin. Please join with us in prayer for C, H and G as they follow Jesus and wrestle with this decision to be obedient and be baptized.”

DEAF OF URUGUAY. “The Uruguay Deaf Team asked you to pray for our second National Deaf Church Planting Conference. The Lord was so very gracious. Join us in giving thanks that there were 48 people present, and all the worship times and workshops were Deaf led, which encouraged other Deaf to take a more active part in reaching Deaf in their area. Five received the Lord, and we baptized three. We had an extra treat with the participation of V. and A., a Deaf missionary couple who are working in Argentina. They shared with the entire group, met with the youth and helped with the workshops, and A. preached and assisted with the baptisms. Thank you so much for your prayer support.”

BRATISLAVA, SLOVAKIA (BRAH-ti-slah-vah). P is a pre-Christian contact who works for the national government. Pray for his salvation, and pray for all government officials, asking that they will be people of integrity and come to respect Christ as their Supreme Ruler.

HUNGARIANS OF WESTERN HUNGARY. Pray that God will bring a literal “man of peace” (Luke 10:6) who speaks both English and Hungarian to help build a house church with Paul and Tena Brock, International Service Corps workers in Nagykanizsa, Hungary.

UNIVERSITY STUDENTS AND YOUNG PROFESSIONALS OF ROME, ITALY. The University/Young Professionals Team asks: “Continue to pray about our involvement with the students from the campus as we help them with their English and build relationships with them.”

NAFUSA BERBERS OF NORTH AFRICA (nah-FOO-sah). Pray for the Nafusa Berbers to fix their focus on Jesus, and not to let problems, worries or hardships draw their attention away from Him. Let them turn to Jesus for help and not to rely on their own understanding.

FULAKUNDA OF SENEGAL, GUINEA-BISSAU AND THE GAMBIA (FOO-lah-KOON-dah). Missionary Julie Bradford shares: “As I go to visit the women in my neighborhood, they always say ‘alaa kaleys’ (no money). ‘Life in Africa is hard, and there is no money here,’ they lament. ‘If I could only have the money to build a better house or go to Europe to make more money, things would be better.’ The Fulakunda crave more money and a better life, but they will never be satisfied until they find Jesus.” Pray that Fulakunda women will not find satisfaction in money, but in knowing Jesus and serving Him. Pray that they will see that money will not solve their problems, but that Jesus is the only one able to do that. As you intercede for the missionaries ministering to Fulakunda women, pray that they will be able to share that Jesus is the only way.

FULANI OF WESTERN NIGER (foo-LAH-nee). Please pray for a Western Niger Fulani woman named A. Like most Fulani women, she is not a follower of Jesus. Pray for A. as she hears stories shared by missionary Michelle Spannagel. Pray that the stories will touch A.’s heart and that she will recognize her need for the Savior.

ONESTORY: WEST AFRICA. A West Africa OneStory Team member shares: “As we work in West Africa, we continually need wisdom and discernment to know how to spend our time. Some time has to be spent on the computer as we craft stories, do back translating, and other tasks, but we also want to be out with the local people. Ask God to give us guidance in knowing how to balance these things and in knowing where we need to spend our time. Also, our first believer is ready to be baptized! Pray that God will give us wisdom and direction as we disciple this new believer.”

SAMOGHO (DUUN TRIBE) OF MALI (sah-MOH-goh/doon). Continue to pray for J, the only Christian in his village. J was baptized last month--a huge step and one that will provoke resistance from the enemy. Ask God to protect J as he continues to learn, walk and live out his faith in the village. Pray for others to believe and be baptized as well.

UNENGAGED PEOPLES OF WEST AFRICA. The West Africa Engagement Team in Nigeria shares: “The BK are a large people group with few known Christians. They have the Bible in their own language, but they live in fear of persecution. In the past, any BK individuals who converted to Christianity were persecuted and returned to Islam. The BK in Nigeria live close to the Benin border, and the BK who live in Benin are predominately Christian. A training event is being planned for May 17. Pray that many believers will attend--not only from Nigeria, but also from Benin. Ask the Lord to work in the hearts of the BK in Benin so that they will desire to reach their brothers and sisters who live in Nigeria. This training has the possibility of being a turning point for all the BK in Nigeria. With your prayers and the Lord’s hand moving in it all, we anticipate a great spiritual breakthrough. Please ask God to do more than we could ever imagine among the BK.”

CENTRAL, EASTERN AND SOUTHERN AFRICA (CESA). Please be in prayer for Baptist Global Response, a Southern Baptist development and relief organization, as it works with some of our IMB missionaries to meet the human needs in Southern Africa. Pray specifically for wisdom and discernment, and for the Lord to be glorified in all of this ministry in Southern Africa.

DURBAN, SOUTH AFRICA (DER-bun). Although it may not be as dismal as in some neighboring countries, the rapid increase in the prices of fuel, food and utilities in the past couple of months has been hard for most South Africans. Durban churches are feeling the crunch as they endeavor to support their pastors and church programs. Pray that believers will give sacrificially so that church ministries can continue to grow.

LUGBARA OF N.W. UGANDA, N.E. CONGO AND SOUTHERN SUDAN (loog-BAR-ah). Please lift up six volunteers who will be coming to work among the Lugbara in late May. Pray that they will adjust to the heat and conditions of walking and biking daily to move among the Lugbara. Intercede for the encounters they will have with people while sharing their testimonies, prayerwalking and storying the Bible chronologically. Pray that they will encourage the Lugbara to love God’s Word and obey it. Ask that the Lugbara will also deeply impact the lives of the volunteers so they will return to the United States as changed people.

RURAL XHOSA OF SOUTH AFRICA (KOH-sah). Through an afternoon tutoring program at Albany Baptist Church in the township of Grahamstown, leaders have found many opportunities for meeting new people in the community. As relationships are built and visitation continues, pray that many will see their need for salvation and will accept the Good News.

UNIVERSITY STUDENTS OF BOTSWANA. R, a student at the University of Botswana, is known as a committed pray-er among her friends on campus. Her family is from the neighboring country of Zimbabwe. She shares her concerns with a missionary for her sister and extended family who are still living in her home country. Please pray for students like R who come from different places around the world to study at the university. Pray that they will come not only to grow in knowledge, but also to know the greatest Teacher of all, Jesus Christ!

CHINA. Pray for obedient hearts in those who have begun training in a Hebei province city.

DEAF OF JAPAN. A “Sign His Love” Deaf volunteer team will be coming on May 17-30 to join missionaries Ed and Nan Jordan in reaching out in the Kansai area, focusing on the city of Osaka. Many Deaf Japanese are interested in American Sign Language (ASL). The team will be sharing their testimonies with these people in ASL, as well as prayerwalking, following up on former Deaf contacts, and looking for “persons of peace” (Luke 10:6). On May 24, they will be spending the day with a Japanese Deaf/Blind Group and their guides. Each of the team members has been faithfully and prayerfully preparing to come to Japan. As each team member shares about their daily life in the United States, their family, their church life, and their relationship with Jesus Christ, ask God to help each one to be sensitive to the Japanese culture. Ask God to break down the spiritual barriers hindering Deaf Japanese people from coming to believe on Jesus as their Lord and Savior.

PACIFIC RIM. Volunteers are still needed for childcare during the upcoming regional summer meeting. The blessings of a large group of babies and TCKs (the children of IMB personnel) creates opportunities for special bonding and new relationships for many children. Ask that babies will sleep well and be happy with strangers who have traveled so far to hold and love on them. Pray that TCKs will stay healthy and go home affirmed in their relationship with the Lord.

PEOPLE OF PEPPER PORT IN INDONESIA. Pray for the teachers in one school who have a set of English lessons to study that teach the Good News. Pray that the Holy Spirit will open their eyes and hearts to Jesus!

PHILIPPINES. Baptist representative Dwight Fern serves as the strategy coordinator for Metro Manila, and he covets your intercession for his ministry. One focus is upon “abundant seed sowing” through the birthing of home Bible listening groups, beginning within the church among pilot families and then moving outside the church through the natural, close relationships of each family. A shared goal with local pastors is to play a recorded version of the Word of God during their church services and then pray for the pilot families who are involved in listening to the New Testament on CD at home with their extended family and neighbors. They believe that each of the pastors could be shepherding more than 1,000 people in the next six months through their listening groups. These home listening groups could become the nucleus for home worship groups in the days ahead.

NORTHERN KHMER OF THAILAND (k’MY). Pray for student volunteers who are or will be working among the Northern Khmer people from April to August. In all, there will be 10 individuals coming to serve. Pray that God will call several of these young people into full-time ministry, and pray that all of them will grow deeper in their walk with Christ as a result of this time.

AZERIS OF IRAN (ah-ZEYR-ees). Pray for those who are strategically seeking ways to reach the Azeri people. Ask that each person will gain a deep desire to participate in future work among the Azeris.

BANGALORE HOSPITAL, KARNATAKA STATE, INDIA (BANG-ah-lohr). Pray for Mr. R, who was baptized recently. Even before his baptism, he was actively telling his story of faith in villages near his home. Pray that he will continue to grow in his faith, and that he will be bold in telling others about Jesus. Pray that he will lead many to faith and be used to train others.

KOLKATA, INDIA (kohl-KAH-tah). It is known now simply as Sector 5. This part of the city of Kolkata has become the center of the government’s attention because of the economic promise it brings to the city and state. A dream of the chief minister of the State of West Bengal has been to create an IT (information technology) economic zone that would create jobs and a prosperous future for the state. That dream is becoming a reality, as the expectation is 50,000 new jobs to be created. Many large international IT companies have already built offices here. This dream has also produced an incredible opportunity for the church to reach thousands and thousands of people with the gospel. Please pray that the body of Christ will be convicted to reach the people represented in this area. Pray that God will show team members how to reach into this community. God knew that this place would exist before the government even thought of the idea, so please join in proclaiming this area for God and ask Him to guide them where they need to work.

SOUTH ASIA. The coconut is the most common offering given in a Hindu person’s worship. Cross-cultural workers have learned to use a coconut in a way that bridges the gap between Hindu rituals and Christian significance. In Christian worship services, they will hold up a coconut and say, “Before we came to know Jesus, our hearts were as hard and dirty as the outside of this coconut. But Jesus was nailed to the cross. He bore our sins on the cross.” At this point, the coconut is cracked open with a hammer. While pouring the liquid into a bowl, they say, “And He gave up His life for us. He poured out His blood for us to pay for our sins.” The coconut is then broken apart so all can see the pure white inside. “And after putting our full faith in Jesus, our hearts become as white and pure as the inside of this coconut.” Pray that many will see the significance of Jesus in their symbol, the coconut.

LAST FRONTIER. Workers serving among a Last Frontier people group write: “At a recent discipleship training time for some of our national partners, a challenge was put forth to be more intentional in beginning new church-planting movement (CPM) efforts. We want to offer praise to the Lord of the harvest for raising up laborers to go into our fields that are ripe unto harvest. In the end, more than 18 of these nationals were moved to commit to working toward new CPM efforts. Please pray for them as they begin processing what this new vision and direction will be. Intercede for them as we partner with them to help implement these visions, reaching this nation for Christ.”

AIDS. As the thin, gaunt man lay on the mat on the floor, he could barely speak. The room he lay in was small and stifling hot. His right arm was drawn up toward his chest. A caregiver had cleaned him up and was now doing exercises to prevent his arm from staying in that position. No family members were around, and he apparently had no one left. This is the scene in many rural villages in South Africa. People are dying in the village of Sweetwaters at an alarming rate from AIDS. Pray for the Spirit of God to move evangelical churches to care for and witness to those infected and dying from AIDS. Pray that the people will turn to Jesus and no longer follow their traditional ways. Only Jesus can change a culture.

MISSIONARY PERSONAL NEEDS. Missionaries Jim and Lori Spikes will be taking their youngest daughter to the United States in a few months for college. Please pray for her during this transition time.

MUSLIMS: PRAYING BEYOND THE WALL. In the last 15 years, the Kazakh homeland--the vast country of Kazakhstan--has found economic prosperity unlike any other former Soviet republic. This is due, in large part, to vast oil resources. This financial blessing has its downside: the 15 million Kazakhs are feeling their spiritual hunger less as their lives are filled with money, work and new opportunities. Ask God to enable the estimated 15,000 Kazakh believers to demonstrate by their lives the true riches found only in Christ and to lead others to faith in God through their Spirit-anointed witness.