As You sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world John 17, verse 18

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1 Tuesday 27 th September South Africa:- Pookkattu Paul (IMM SA) and Stuart Burns (IMM USA) visited a former Hindu home and removed and destroyed all idols inside and outside the home, now that the lady involved has given her life to Christ. Pookkattu led the way, and placed an NIV Bible in the place where the idols once were. It was signed by all of those present. Much prayer took place during this visit. Pookkattu leads prayers to dedicate the home to the Lord Jesus Wednesday 28 th September South Africa:- Soli who leads the MBS at Sandfountein, is a fulltime miner and graduate of the MBS. He is father of two children and faithful husband, and a leading Pastor of the Reconciliation Church. His influence in the region is contagious and the vision of the MBS is spreading to various churches in the community. The couple have started a day care centre in the church. Please pray for this passionate and hardworking family as they seek to share the word and grow disciples. Thursday 29 th September Zimbabwe:- S, a prostitute in Shurugwi writes. "When Pastor Marijeki visited me at my home I was quite clear that I did not want to hear his Good News about Jesus. I was furious with him and I frankly wanted to kill him, because he was constantly pestering us with his preaching. I even made a contract with two men to carry out this deed for me. I promised these men that I would sleep with them. But the plan got changed when Pastor Marijeki visited us yet again and spoke to us about peace. He said, if you accept Jesus, then you have peace. These words pierced deep into my heart so I decided that I must give my life to Jesus. I stopped the contract that I had made with the men. God helped me. Friday 30th September Worldwide:- Give thanks for all IMM s wonderful partners across the world who, often despite limited resources, tirelessly serve the mining communities in their areas. We pray for all the families and individuals they reach out to each day as the practically demonstrate God s love. Sometimes IMM partners get overwhelmed with the needs around them. Please give them sure hope in Christ s worthy Name. Amen. CONTACT DETAILS:- David Shillitoe, General Secretary 5 Old Rectory Court ~ 61 Wood Street ~ Barnet ~ Hertfordshire ~ EN5 4BL Visit our website at David at dshillitoe@minersmission.com The International Miners Mission is registered charity and company limited by guarantee Registered office: 5 Old Rectory Court ~ 61 Wood Street ~ Barnet ~ Hertfordshire ~ EN5 4BL Glynn-Vivian Miners Mission Incorporated 1906 THE INTERNATIONAL MINERS MISSION AUGUST SEPTEMBER 2016 As You sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world John 17, verse 18 Monday 1 st August Ethiopia:- Beletew Kibede of the Ethiopian Addis Kidan church reports that 33 leaders and pastors from the Shakiso mining area attended a Leadership Conference mainly focussed on leadership and mission. It was a time of great encouragement and built up relationships and fellowship Leadership Conference between pastors, evangelists and the leaders. A huge challenge addressed was how to share the Gospel with those of other faiths. This is a particular issue when Christianity is in the minority. There was a great time of prayer together about these challenges. Tuesday 2 nd August Pacific Rim:- Peter Robertson has travelled extensively over the last few weeks and months. In mid July he spent a week with Richard Fortune of Out of the Pit ministry at Kalgoorlie, Western Australia s biggest mining City. Peter was presenting IMM to all the pastors there. Please pray that there will be much good fruit and that Peter will be strengthened and encouraged. Wednesday 3 rd August IMM collaborates closely with UFM ministries in Sierra Leone and we give thanks to Jayne Smyth who keeps in touch with news from Dennis Mannah and his family and work in Tongo Fields. Today there is a meeting with Dennis and a new team member will be introduced who will have responsibility for supporting Dennis and other pastors. Please pray that this trip will be a good time of relationship building and strengthening friendships. Please send all correspondence to: David Shillitoe ~ General Secretary

2 Thursday 4th August Bolivia:- Please hold Ruben Paco in your prayers as he has transitioned into development of the IMM Bolivia work including special projects such as a building for the children s ministry. Ruben has a heart for communication and is working to improve relationships and getting news and prayer requests to IMM USA supporters. He also aims to visit the workers in the mining areas on a regular basis. Friday 5 th August Bolivia:- IMM is praying that discipleship classes will make a real difference to Christian miners, maturing them in the faith that they may become strong solid believers, setting a godly example in the mining environment, boldly telling their fellow devil worshipping miners about Jesus without fear. Saturday 6th August Please pray that we in IMM UK might have more and new opportunities to speak about and introduce the needs of miners more widely to churches and Christian groups (throughout the United Kingdom). Please ask the Lord to show us the right strategy to accomplish this. Sunday 7 th August Kenya:- Rev Simon Okoyo and his wife Dorothy really appreciate your prayers on the days they are mentioned in this prayer calendar, so please keep on lifting them to the Lord for spiritual breakthroughs in the tough world of artisanal gold mining. Monday 8 th August Sierra Leone:- Please remember Dennis Mannah and the ministry he is involved in during these few months of rainy season - logistically things are more difficult with the rain - roads become rivers, and attendance at church services can be reduced resulting in feelings of discouragement for church workers. Tuesday 9 th August Worldwide:- IMM coordinators and facilitators, pastors and evangelists often working in remote areas can frequently feel isolated and it can be a tactic of the enemy to try to keep believers from fellowship that supports, sharpens and promotes growth. Please pray for all who struggle with feelings of isolation, loneliness and discouragement. Wednesday 10 th August Erbamuda Addis Kidan Baptist Church, Ethiopia has around 60 members serving the Lord. They have been able to build a good prayer house. They are praying and looking for a right pastor to advance the work of the Lord. Please join them in prayer that God will provide the man of Wednesday 21st September South Africa:- Pastor Elijah Dube and his helper Phillip, a bus driver, visit the Kloof and Libanon Gold mines for open air meetings. Miners tend to linger nearby praying and interacting after the meetings and taking the opportunity to ask questions. Father God please bless these meetings, that there will be many hearts turning to the Lord Jesus Christ. Thursday 22nd September Thank God that civil society has not turned its back on the artisanal and small-scale miners of the world. There are efforts the world over to improve the lot of our fellow workers in their daily struggle to win minerals from the rocks, riverbeds and soils of our Earth. Friday 23rd September Bolivia:- Please pray for effective ministry for new workers Andres Negretti (responsible for 50 small churches) and Eugenio Nina, evangelist in the Llallagua tin mining area. Andres is fully supported but IMM USA need a donor or two to fund Eugenio with $200 pm. Please pray for the Lord s provision. Saturday 24 th September Please uphold before Our Lord the Trustees of IMM and ask Him to bless them with great wisdom; that He will give them vision for His work in the mining communities. Pray for unity in their regular Committee meetings and that further openings for ministry will be revealed so that more miners can be introduced to the Master. Sunday 25 th September South Africa:- Pookkattu Paul heads up the Miners Bible School, and recently spoke powerfully to Christian Xhosa miners at Libanon Gold Mine, during which time he promoted the MBS courses in a very compelling way. Pray that the Lord will stir hearts, and give them a hunger for the word, and a passion to learn that this could be the beginning of revitalizing the MBS program in the West Rand. Pastor Elijah Dube was encouraged, as the uptake has been disappointing in the past. Monday 26 th September Romania:- Mihai Dragu is an elder and the Secretary of the Maranata Baptist Church in Targu Jiu. His wife is a believing woman dedicated to the work with the children and especially with the gypsy children in Targu-Cărbunești, some 25 miles from Targu Jiu. They are very committed to this work. Please pray that they will be encouraged and strengthened. His choice Artisanal miners in Ethiopia

3 Thursday 15 th September Kenya and Uganda:- Fairtrade, an organisation dedicated to improving social justice for primary producers in the majority world, is hoping to improve revenues to artisanal miners through their trading systems. Please pray for wisdom for Fairtrade Gold as they embark on certifying mine sites in Africa, and that their ambitions are fruitful. Friday 16 th September Zimbabwe:- Bible School Student Tafadzwa Chikudo writes From time to time I carry out five weekly visits to West Nicholson and Gwanda for my practical experience training. I preach on Sundays at church services. During the week I do house visiting to many families. People not only open their doors to him but also their hearts! My ministry of pastoral care is very much appreciated. Praise God. Again and again people are ready to put their trust in the Lord Jesus. Tafadzwa is grateful for the support he has received from IMM Switzerland. Saturday 17 th September The mining communities in Romania are under great strain as further mines and quarries have been scheduled for closure. Many of the younger population have left looking for jobs and work in other countries or in other parts Romania leaving the older generation and those who are unable to move. Please pray that the Lord will give hope to these ex miners and their families and that jobs will be created in these impoverished areas. Sunday 18 th September Kenya:- Our Trustee, Terry Garde, is assisting organisations in Britain to pioneer fair trading in ecological gold, i.e. gold won without the use of toxic mercury. He requests your prayers for success in these endeavours. Monday 19th September The IMM South Africa ministry celebrates its 10th anniversary this year. God is blessing the work. Lives are being changed and people are growing in their faith as they go deeper with God. Yet, there is so much more potential for more miners and their families to be reached, and we are asking God to build on the good foundation of ministry that has been laid. Tuesday 20 th September Zimbabwe:- Evangelist Kelvin Chipangura, Kadoma writes; Greetings to you all in the Name of Jesus Christ. Many people here in Kadoma experience the spiral of ever greater need. They need encouragement just to live, encouragement to entrust their whole lives to Jesus. We rejoice that funds raised by one of IMM s supporter churches near Leeds have now been sent to Kadoma to start a chicken rearing unit to support widows from the church. 10 Thursday 11 th August Kenya:- Please pray for the forthcoming trip of our Trustee Terry Garde. He is going to East Africa in August to visit artisanal gold mining sites in Uganda to set up the nation s first mercury-free processing centre. He trusts your prayers will protect this project as a step towards caring for God s Creation. Please pray for CRED Foundation, a Christian organisation that has raised the funds for this project as part of their Mercury Free Campaign. May these efforts be blessed so that more ecological gold processing sites September be established. Friday 12 th August Ethiopia:- Nigussie Denbela is a very inspirational, committed and passionate pastor serving the Lord at Zenbaba Addis Kidan Baptist Church in the gold mining area. His congregation has a real burden to reach all people of all faiths in their communities for the Lord and frequently spends all night in prayer. Pray they will see much fruit. Thank the Lord for the new Church building which they were able to build in spite of there being many challenges from the local community. Saturday 13 th August Ethiopia:- Thank the Lord for the faithful witness and integrity of Nigussie who has been approached to become a leader for the town of Zenbaba. Pray that the Lord will protect him and that his position in this society will open further doors to reach more people with the Gospel. Batwa (pygmy) house built traditionally of grass generally houses 8 or more people. Picture from Harvest for Christ IMM mission partner in Burundi Sunday 14 th August Praise the Lord for the Children s Clubs run by Etienne in Butihinda, Burundi. Over 150 kids come along to learn songs and Bible stories week by week. Pray too for Chantal, Etienne s wife and their two small children. The living conditions are very basic and the cost of food is increasing all the time. It is hoped to establish a permanent church in the area. 3 The new building built with IMM UK Support

4 Monday 15 th August Burundi:- Thank the Lord that Etienne and Chantal faithfully minister to the poorest and most vulnerable of people namely the Batwa pygmies. Please pray that they will be strengthened and encouraged, and that they will see people coming to faith as they share the Love of Christ with them. Tuesday 16 th August South Africa:- The Boitekong AEC church and day care premises are led by Pastor Patrick and his wife, Julia Langa. It is evident the Lord is blessing and growing this ministry. They have recently acquired adjacent land for expansion, and Patrick has a vision to Outside the Boitekong church in the platinum mining area open up a Bible School in the area in the future. Wednesday 17 th August South Africa:- Praise the Lord for answered prayer. Patrick and Julia Langa s and also Mohau and Belelwe Mofokeng s homes are slowly coming to completion thanks to IMM donors in the USA and UK, although for both buildings final funding is being sought. The Langa s house is going up! Thursday 18 th August Burundi:- This country is considered to be one of the poorest in the world and there is a great desire to earn money, so much so that many children are skipping school to supplement family incomes even though they are not allowed to work in the mines. Please pray that young people will be encouraged into learning and work rather than joining the gangs and getting caught up in the prevalent violence that has affected many. Friday 19 th August Please join us in seeking the Lord s guidance about where else IMM might take up new challenges for reaching out to miners and their communities. An opening may be taking shape in Tanzania, where there are very many mines, particularly artisanal gold mines. Please pray. 4 So is the house for the Mofokengs Pst Roland IMM evangelist with Bestre Mangallwan, Alan Matilac and Jezreel (host) right. IMM will work with these pastors to reach thousands of mountain miners with the wonderful gospel of Jesus Christ. 9 Saturday 10 th September Philippines:- There is hope on the island of Mindanao that local pastors will be able to establish churches for the mining communities and people who are largely unreached with the Gospel. The mountains each side of the Compostela Valley are rich in minerals, especially hard to get gold and copper. Please pray that the Lord will provide a way and build up leaders to shepherd the flock in these remote areas. Sunday 11 th September Zimbabwe:- Pastor Chingovo says; Please pray for our country which has been known as a Christian nation. We live in difficult times. I thank God for IMM Switzerland s valuable assistance, which means so much to us and constantly encourages us! Pray that he will be encouraged as he leads the Mine Ministry team in Zimbabwe where there is so much need in the mining areas for the saving grace of the Lord Jesus Christ. Monday 12 th September Romania:- Mihai Dragu is a church elder and he and his wife, Lidia, are dedicated to the children s work in various ways, but particularly with the gypsy children in Targu Carbunesti. Please pray that they will be encouraged and see more souls enter the Kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ. Tuesday 13 th September Zimbabwe:- The testimony of a prostitute who gave her life to Christ. Thank the Lord who showed mercy to me. I will take this Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ to other prostitutes. I used to do evil things with them but now I am born again. Florence is now a strong member of the Rutendo church, writes Rev Pardon Chingovo. We give glory to God. Please pray for Florence, that the Holy Spirit will keep her strong in the faith. Prostitution is a big problem in the mining area. Wednesday 14 th September Dangers for men working in mines are always matters of concern for their families as they work in potentially perilous conditions underground. Recently we heard of three colleagues of Elder Ambros Moyemi of Ledig church, South Africa, who have gone to be with the Lord, following an accident when they were on duty at the mine. Please pray for those grieving their loss.

5 Sunday 4 th September Kenya:- Give thanks for Reverend Captain Simon Okoyo and his wife Dorothy living in the heart of the Migori County goldfields near Lake Victoria. Miner to Miner Ministries is developing, and possible members have been invited to join the Committee to lead this work forward. Pray that the Lord will settle the Committee together quickly, and give them passion and vision for the work ahead. Monday 5 th September Peru:- Pastor Churata asks for continued prayer for the Theological Education by Extension (TEE) courses in the church. Currently he has four students taking the Abundant Life course and four taking the Pastoral Theology course. One student taking the Pastoral course is a Christian miner in the local church. Praise God for them because the study of the Word of God strengthens each student and brings blessing to the church believers. Tuesday 6 th September Peru:- Pastor Roberto Masca and Rene Churata need our prayers for spiritual strength and endurance, as they spend long times and travel long distances from home walking many miles to deliver tracts and to talk to miners and their families. Thank the Lord for their faithfulness and tenacity in this challenging ministry and ask the Lord that necessary funding will be released for the Kingdom s work. Wednesday 7 th September Zimbabwe:- The economy deteriorates with each passing day. Virtually every institution is struggling and so the support of IMM Switzerland for the Mine Ministry team under Rev Pardon Chingovo is vital. But in spite of the difficulties the Lord is blessing the outreach in the mine areas. Indeed some 98 people have given their lives to Christ in the last few months. Hallelujah! God is indeed great in His grace and mercy! Glory to the Lord. Thursday 8 th September Pacific Rim:- Peter and Gwen Robertson, IMM Australia, have plans to visit South Africa about now. Their visit had to be delayed as Gwen has needed eye surgery due to a detached retina. Praise God that the trouble was spotted in time and Gwen is hopefully now fully recovered. Please remember all the spouses of our IMM colleagues all round the world today. Friday 9 th September Stuart Burns IMM USA, is considering a trip to Bolivia hopefully later on in the year. Please pray for this dedicated brother and his wife Cherry who have such a ministry of encouragement, support, envisagement, and empowerment. Pray that they will both have good health Saturday 20 th August Philippines:- Currently Peter Robertson IMM Aus. is visiting the island of Cebu to spend some time with pastors Wennie, Loven, Salvador and Roland. Please pray for this time together, that it will be a blessed time of strengthening and encouragement for everybody. May ministry challenges be addressed and the Lord s counsel and strategies understood that more miners may hear the Gospel and rescued for eternal life with the Lord Jesus. Sunday 21 st August Ethiopia:- Arenfama Addis Kidan Baptist Church is located at the source of minerals and gold mining and have many investors coming into the area. They have a vision for a great harvest and are planting more churches. They bought a plot of land with IMM support and built their prayer house, but are asking the government for more land in order to build a better church building. Thank the Lord for their commitment and enthusiasm. Monday 22 nd August Ukraine:- Growing tulips and cucumbers, pig rearing, and chicken breeding, are all initiatives providing food and resources to sell to support the people training/working in the Rehab Centre in Chasov Yar, of which there are currently 40 employed, some of them being refugees. Please pray for Andrey and Christina who run the centre and who are so grateful for spiritual support and encouragement from IMM UK supporters. Tuesday 23 rd August Ukraine:- Praise the Lord for answered prayer. We have had news from Pastor Vasiliy informing us that they were able to hold a children s camp in July. Around 30 children of refugee miners attended. Please pray for them and their families that they will know the Lord s comfort and that they will grow in trust and faith. Thank you to all our supporters who give, often sacrificially, that the lost mining communities have a chance to hear about the love of the Lord Jesus Christ. Wednesday 24 th August Ukraine:- Please hold Vasiliy, Alexy B, Alex K, Andrej and Christina in prayer for their faithful love and care to the many refugees and those caught up in the war in the Donbas area in Eastern Ukraine. Pray that they will experience the Lord s love, peace and joy, and be encouraged in their ministries, and see many people placing their trust in the and the Lord s provision as they 8 seek to win miners for the Lord. Lord Jesus Christ. 5 Meeting and prayers with church leaders

6 Thursday 25 th August India:- There are many mines in North West India and Pookkattu Paul IMM SA Board Chairman who is an Indian national, and Peter Robertson have a heart for the miners. Please pray that as they meet to seek the Lord and discuss IMM work in India that they will hear the Lord s leading. Pray that the Lord will rise up people to minister to lost miners in this huge area. Friday 26 th August Austria:- Thank you to all those who prayed for the trip in June made by David Shillitoe (IMM UK) and Kurt Feurer (IMM Switzerland) when they visited the Bergmannsmission (Miners Mission) in the ex-coal mining town of Ampflwang, as they celebrated 50 years of witness. It was a real joy to meet Graham and Erika Lange particularly as Graham founded the church all those years ago. Please pray for the ongoing need for a resident pastor for the church. Saturday 27th August Worldwide:- IMM Committees and Trustees need wisdom to be in step with God and look to Him for provision for the work. Please pray that He touches people to become involved with the International Miners Mission. A broad experience from many people is so beneficial for our Committees as they seek to bring God s saving grace to thousands of men and women in mining communities who have yet to hear the Good News of Jesus Christ.. Sunday 28 th August The evangelists in the Philippines are so grateful for the prayers, and the support of IMM, as they take the Gospel to remote mines travelling on bad roads and in heavy rains, which makes the journeys very dangerous. Wennie and Salvador tell us that they know that they are at risk but know; Praise God their labour is not Pastors Espante, Loven, Roland and Wenceslao in vain. Thank the Lord for His with miners after morning meeting before day provision and encouragement. Monday 29 th August Kenya:- The Miner to Miner Ministry in Kenya has received a little more capital, and Pastor Simon Okoyo is pleased with his new laptop computer which he sees as vital to preparing lessons and communicating the Christian faith. Please pray for opportunities to present this teaching on the gold mines surrounding our M2MM office in Kabobo, Migori County. 6 Tuesday 30th August Romania:- Praise the Lord that Marian gives us the news that there are candidates wanting to be baptised at a service later in the year. Please pray for spiritual revival to break out here that hearts will be softened and people will know the Truth and that The Truth will make them free. The local Orthodox tradition can discourage people turning to Christ as they fear exclusion from the community should they decide accept Jesus as their Lord and Saviour. Wednesday 31st August Romania:- Please pray for the encouragement of the young people (in particularly the Christians) in the Targu Jiu area. Marian Popescu is keen to develop a leisure centre for sport and recreation in one of the villages where there is a church already established. There is land available to set up this club but funds are needed to develop the site. IMM UK is considering supporting this project which has been on Marian s heart for some time. Thursday 1st September Please continue to ask the Lord to identify those who would be willing to serve with us on the various IMM Councils. We seek men and women of God who could join us in this part of the Lord s work, who have a heart for mission, and feel called to offer themselves, and their time as we seek by the grace of God to extend the Kingdom of Jesus in mining communities around the world. Friday 2nd September Zimbabwe:- Rev. Elias Katiyo writes; One lady I visited in her home, clearly suffered dreadfully from her illness. She absolutely needed an operation, but had no money for the doctor. She was desperate. I prayed with this lady and asked God for His help. God heard the prayer and she was successfully operated on and is now on the road to recovery. How did God answer our prayer? An overseas doctor offered a free of charge operation. To our eyes that was a great miracle! Thank you, Lord God! Saturday 3rd September South Africa:- Rev. Elijah Dube has recently taken on a new role responsible for evangelism and missions in the West Rand gold mine area. Please pray that he will know the Lord s plans and be guided by Him. Elijah is very gifted in preaching and passionate about sharing the Word to those who do not yet have a relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. Pray that he will be further encouraged and will see much fruit from this ministry to the miners at the West Rand 7 goldfields.