Week of Prayer - Advance Prayer Focus - Day 3

This week it’s a Week of Prayer at Redeemer, and over the next three days we’re going to be highlighting areas within the Advance sphere of churches, which you can be praying for!

Today we’re asking you to pray for the Holy Spirit to move powerfully in two ways, in the life of a church leader struggling with serious health issues, and by equipping those across the world who are passionate about church planting.

Pray for Dar Es Salaam

Sheshi and Trudie Kaniki, along with their wonderful eldership team lead God's Tribe Church in Dar es Salaam. Sheshi is currently battling cancer, and we would love you to pray for them personally as well as for their church - here's what they are trusting God for:

- Please pray for Sheshi as he is starting what is scheduled to be his last round of chemo. As well as wisdom and peace moving forward as he considers treatment options.
- Continued prayer for Sheshi and Trudie's children, that this season, although stretching and hard, would be for the strengthening of their faith.
- Pray that the Spirit would continue to move and work in God's Tribe as whole and in the lives of individuals as they increase their focus on evangelism and outreach.

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Pray for the Advance Church Planters Course

The Advance Church Planters Course (ACPC) exists to equip leaders both theologically and practically to plant and lead Gospel-centred, missional, Spirit-empowered and reproducing churches. It has been so wonderful to see the batches of leaders come through the course over the years, as well as the churches who have benefitted from this strengthening and training! 

The course is currently offered in the UK, the US and in South Africa. Pete Cornford from Redeemer London, Tom Taping from One Harbour, and Dave Adams from Jubilee, oversee each hub's course respectively. We recently caught up with them to hear about the current participants and modules.  

"We are so grateful for the technology that allows us to meet online when we can't meet in person. The whole program can continue. We can also draw on speakers from around the country and further afield! It's been hard because the peer relationships are not being formed, so that is limited when we are meeting online, we are trusting that we can soon return to that!" - Dave Adams, South African ACPC 

Pete Cornford, who coordinates ACPC in the UK, celebrated this being the first time participants had gathered physically in the same place together. 

Prayer Points

- Pray for current participants of ACPC as some gear up to plant. 

- Pray for 'would-be' participants, that God would add to the course and use this content to equip and encourage many church planting couples and families. ( On the 17th of July, the UK hub is hosting an online event for people to learn more about planting with Advance.) 

- Pray for God to continue to raise up future church planters for the next generation.

Week of Prayer - Advance Prayer Focus - Day 1

This week it’s a Week of Prayer at Redeemer, and over the next three days we’re going to be highlighting areas within the Advance sphere of churches, which you can be praying for!

Today we’re focusing on two nations where Advance churches are seeking to transform their local areas through the power of the gospel - South Africa & Nepal.

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Pray for South Africa

For much of this week, South Africa has been in the grip of destructive looting and unrest. Mainly in the Gauteng and Kwa-Zulu Natal provinces, however fear and uncertainty has rippled throughout the nation.

Here is an update from Gareth Bowley from Reconciliation Road Church, Greg Tait from GodFirst, and Mosala Balatseng from Grace Generation Church on behalf of the KZN and Gauteng church leaders:

"Thankfully, our people are safe and no loss or destruction have come to any church properties. Sadly, however, economic and retail infrastructure has been destroyed in all towns across the province of KZN and many in Gauteng. In Durban and Pietermaritzburg, there are almost no business or public services open to the public and all COVID vaccine sites have been stopped. There is concern about availability of food, fuel and essential items in many areas.

Added to this, it seems as though racial tensions in some areas have been fuelled, highlighting the deep divisions within our nation."

Prayer Points

- South African leaders as they govern in this difficult time.
- Restoration of law and order, of supply chains for food, medical supplies, fuel and ambulance services.
- For community members and municipal workers who are beginning to join forces to clear up the streets.
- Pray for businesses that have been destroyed and individuals who have lost employment.
- Pray for the restraint of vigilantism and opportunistic evil.
- For Christ followers to lead in racial reconciliation, and demonstration of love and unity.
- Pray that churches and individuals would cling to the Hope of Christ and be strengthened by him.

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Pray for Nepal

Puran and Rebecca Rasali from Khatmandu, wrote to us all with an update from Advance relating churches in the Nepal region. You can read that here. 

Here is how you can pray:
- The whole area has been very hard hit by COVID19, please pray for health and restoration.
- Damak Fellowship in Eastern Nepal is in the process of purchasing a piece of land for a church property. Half the money has been paid and they are trusting for the rest. Please pray for God's provision.
- Aiselukharka Community Church in Khotang are building a venue, after meeting in homes almost for 3 years. Half the work is done. Please pray with us that it can be complete by end of this year.
- Funds have been provided for Kathmandu Capital Church to procure a small piece of land. Pray for the clearance from Social Welfare Council. They are trusting for the funds for building, by the end of this year, we like to start construction work.