prayer letter Dec 16, 2008

Dear Friends,

With the approach of the festive season, writing Christmas cards,buying turkey and baking numerous cookies with the children,I usually go into reflective mood. I like to reflect on the year and to see what the Lord has done.
It is exciting to see All Nations getting established,house churches emerge, long term missionaries finding their feet in the new country, workers being trained.
My heart overflows with gratitude to Jesus who made it happen as well as to you, our
prayer supporters who are covering us in your prayers.

We are grateful to the Lord for:

Testimony/ answer to prayer
This past year our team has invested their lives in the Red Hill community. I was there last week and was amazed to see beautiful gardens flourishing between «cosy shacks» that were rebuilt after the fire in February. The Lord is growing house churches in Red Hill and we are excited.
It is wonderful to see people come to know Jesus and be baptised, poor and needy get training, find jobs, provide for their families. Our team has been living out Jesus and touching lives.


Please pray:
For rest for both of us – we trusting that our 2 week break will be sufficient to rebuild strength and to relax.
I ( Inesa) will be focusing on home schooling my children next year. And though I will be involved in some ministry, home schooling and supporting Nelis would be my primary responsibility. Please pray for me in this exciting, new and a little daunting season.
School Materials and supplies for the next year are still on our payer list. Because of the US dollar rate going up we are now trusting for R8000 to cover this expense. Please be in prayer with us about it.
Wisdom on how to go forward with our raising support we are still trusting the Lord for the 32% of our essential monthly budget.


All Nations is in the process of buying its fist home. It will be a base for training workers to go into the unreached and poorest places to be the hands and feet of Jesus. Please be in prayer with us for the funds for the property. We have seen wonderful provisions and are trusting for more to come!

Thank you for serving us through Prayer & Friendship! We experience daily how your prayer makes a difference!

Love,
Inesa

Prayer Letter 4 November 2008

Hello Everyone!

I was just thinking this morning how privileged we are to have you on the team!!! There is no ways we would be able to do any of this without your faithful prayer & support.

We have had a wonderful month behind us and here are some miracles I would like to share with you:
Testimony/ answer to prayer
Thank you for praying for Masi & peace in the township. The situation has stabilised and Masi is relatively safe at the moment.
Thank you for praying for our finances – we had 2 supporters who could not carry on supporting us. By the Lord's grace He has supplied and we are now up to 62% of our budget!
Our team has successfully installed a Baby Safe – anonymous drop off point for unwanted babies («through away babies»). There are only 3 of them in SA and this one has newest technology of reading baby's vitals.
Please pray:
For rest for both of us – our days are very intense. We carry a lot of responsibilities and we starting to take strain.
Grace – especially for me ( Inesa), I get overwhelmed from time to time with our financial situation and the anount of work to be done. I need the Lord's grace & strength.
School Materials and supplies for the next year – we are trusting for R6000 in order to pay for the curriculum, text books and supplies.
Wisdom as we are full on involved in Church planting School's planning for 2009.

Thank you for serving us through Prayer & Friendship! We experience daily how your prayer makes a difference!

Love,
Inesa

Prayer Letter 16 October 2008

Hello all our faithful prayer supporters,
It has been a while since I’ve written to you. I have thought a lot about all of you on our trip and was very thankful for your prayers
Testimony / answer to prayer
Safe Trip
We had a wonderful trip. God’s protection and provision was amazing! He provided every step of the way. We drove 5000km with no flat tires and were blown away with the hospitality and openness of those who we visited.
We were also able to share and encourage congregations in Vredendal & Pretoria. We praise Jesus for new relationships and friendships. We trust that through them the Kingdom of God will be advanced.

Areas of need in prayer :
Masi
There has been a rise in violent crime in the townships where some of our teams are working in the last few weeks in Cape Town. In one community called Masiphumelele, "Masi" for short, a young man and a young girl were shot and killed two weeks ago. This past weekend a Xhosa toddler went missing. She was found on Monday brutally murdered by presumably foreigner. We are facing a possible xhenophobic outbreak.

We need prayer for the house churches we have started in Masiphumelele with the foreigners, especially people from Malawi and Zimbabwe. Please pray for their safety and for the safety of our team members.

Missionary care/ member care weekend
I am organising a special 3 day event for our missionaries here. The goals are : to spoil them ( we all have a long year behind and are tired), team building, growing closer together, learning about one another cultures as well as focusing on SA cultures, history etc

Please pray for the weekend of 20-23 November as well as for arrangements and finances that are necessary to fall into place.


Nelis and Inesa

Please pray for wisdom for Nelis and for creative ways to rest and get refreshed in our off time

Inesa: I have be been feeling very overwhelmed by everything that needs to happen in our lives. Please pray fro the Lord to give me strength, clear mind and ability to handle areas that need to be handled.

Please also pray for our financial needs. We are on 52% of our monthly budget at a moment and are trusting the Lord for next year’s school materials (R6000).

Thank you for your faithfulness and serving our family through prayer.
Love
Inesa

1 of September 2008

Dear Friends,
Thank you so much for responding to my e-mail!
It means a lot to us to know that we have a team around us that believe in what we do and praying for us.
I very excited because my first prayer letter is starting with an incredible praise report! The Lord has given us an amazing gift – a car!!

One of our biggest prayers was for our vehicle situation as our Camry was unreliable for the trip we are about to undertake.
We are leaving tomorrow for 3 to 4 weeks. We will be visiting friends, having a bit of a holiday and meeting potential supporters.

Would you pleas pray for us for following:
➢ Safety on the road – we will travel over 5000 km ( west coast, free state, Pretoria, George)
➢ God’s provision for the trip and his favor
➢ We are trusting the Lord for an increase in our monthly support ( at the moment we are on 54% of our budget)
➢ We would love to be the Lord’s feet and hands on our trip – pray that we will hear His voice clearly

Thank you so much!
I will keep you updated re our progress of the trip via email or sms!


Love
Inesa

A Guide for Praying for Pastor/Missionary

HEDGING IN THE PASTOR/MISSIONARY

Ephesians 6:10-18
"Be strong in the Lord and the strength of His Might"

MEDITATE on the Greatness of God in behalf of your Pastor:
Romans 8:28, 31, 37 and 1 Peter 3:12

EXPOSE the plans of the devil: Ephesians 6:11-12

CLAIM scriptural promises for Pastors overall protection: Isaiah 54:14-17
Psalms 34:7, Psalms 91, Luke 10:19 and 2 Corinthians 10:3-4

PETITION God our Father to grant Pastor a discerning Spirit:
2 Corinthians 11:14 and 1 John 4:1



PRIVATE LIFE
"Stand, therefore, girded in truth"
Ephesians 6:14


REQUEST that pastor's boast and glory be solely in the cross:
Galatians 6:14

PRAY for Pastors continued renewal: Isaiah 40:27-31
for their holiness: 1 Peter 1:16

SEEK for them a clear vision of the merits of Christ: Philippians 3:7-10
for godly contentment: 1 Timothy 6:6

for the love of God to be shed abroad in their hearts: Romans 5:5



PASTOR'S PERSONAL LIFE
"Stand . . . having put on the Breastplate of Righteousness"
Ephesians 6:14

INTERCEDE for Pastor's spouse, children, and families: Psalm 91:9-12 and
Psalms 37:25

CANCEL in the authority of Jesus' name all assignments against them:
Matthew 16:19

REMOVE by faith in the Word all obstacles to their total health & prosperity:
Mark 11:23 and Philippians 4:19



PASTOR'S PRAISE LIFE
"Stand . . . having shod your feet with the shoes of the gospel of peace"
Ephesians 6:15


ASK the Father to give Pastor a strong heart of Worship
Matthew 4:10

BIND the spirit of fear: John 14:1
the spirit gloom: Isaiah 6:13
the spirit of negativity: 2 Timothy 1:6-7

LISTEN for any other direction to pray: Ecclesiastes 5:1-2



PASTOR'S PRAYER LIFE
"Stand . . . above all taking the shield of faith, with which you can quench all the flaming darts of the evil one."
Ephesians 6:16


QUENCH in the Holy Spirit, darts of doubt: Mark 6:5-6

REBUKE in the name of Christ all distractions from Pastor's devotional time:
Mark 5:36

LOOSEN by God's Word, all the forces of heaven to aid in prayer:
Mark 1:35 (private) and Acts 1:14 (corporate)



PROFESSIONAL LIFE
"Stand . . . taking on the Helmet of Salvation"
Ephesians 6:17


SHIELD Pastor from the fear of men: Isaiah 11:1-3 and Proverbs 19:23

BESTOW on them favor in the denomination: Proverbs 18:16
support among their peers: Proverbs 11:4 & 24:6

ENTREAT Jesus to give Pastor an uncompromising truth:
Proverbs 4:20-27 and John 14:6
and Wisdom in leadership: James 1:5



PREACHING LIFE
"Stand . . . with the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God."
Ephesians 6:17


BLESS Pastor with rich study time: Acts 6:4 and 2 Timothy 2:15

GRANT Pastor a bold proclamation of Jesus: Colossians 4:3-4
to the opportunities: Colossians 4:3-4

ANOINT Pastor to preach and teach: Luke 4:18 and 1 John 2:27
Pastor to see results: Act 2:37
Signs and wonders that Glorify God: Mark 16:20
Pastor to reveal truth: Matthew 16:17



PASTOR'S PERSEVERING LIFE
"Stand…pray at all times in the spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance" Ephesians 6:18


HONOR them with lasting fruit: Malachi 3:11 and John 15:16

CONFESS steadfastness over them: 1 Corinthians 15:58
Bold vision: Isaiah 41:10
rest: Hebrews 4 and Matthew 11:28

GIVE thanks for Pastor's call and gifts: Colossian 1:3-5

SECURE Pastor in courage: Joshua 1
"Fight the good fight of faith"
1 Timothy 6:12

EXPECT all that you have prayed . . ..

STAND behind them girding them in prayer . . .

YIELD to the Spirit for the other areas of prayer and intercession

In the name of our glorious Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
AMEN


Ephesians 3:20