Lifewords Prayer, April 2021
“Then some women from our group of Jesus’ followers were at his tomb early this morning, and they came back with an amazing report. They said his body was missing,
and they had seen angels who told them Jesus is alive!” Luke 24:22-23 NLT
The Bible tells many stories of women. Some of them we may be very familiar with, others rarely make it into sermons or Bible studies. Where women do appear in the text they are, at best, very quiet heroes. Or at least, we have made them so. But many of their stories turn out to be anything but quiet. In the context of an ancient world where “women’s rights” didn’t exist as a concept, these women are leaders, agitators, prophets, subverters.
I wonder how often you have heard an Easter sermon that talks about the women in this story. With courage they stay at the cross when everyone else flees. Risking their own safety, they follow Jesus’ body to burial. And at the break of dawn, they become the first witnesses to the extraordinary truth that Jesus has risen from the dead. They are terrified, confused, and not believed.
The single most important moment in human history is announced by women whose culture could not hear them. We are reminded that the Kingdom of God is radically good news, subverting our idea of who and what matters. Those without power are lifted up. Everyone is included. These same women, who were not believed, give birth to the early Church. Together with Jesus’ twelve disciples, they are counted in the first small band of followers of “the way”. And from this small group, a worldwide revolution grows.
Throughout the New Testament the radical inclusion of women is evident in the life of Jesus and beyond – if we have eyes to see it. Women lead, they form churches, they are commended for their teaching and their wisdom. They take their full part in the body of Christ, that knows no division – neither Jew, nor Greek, nor slave, nor free, nor male, nor female.
In a world still marked by gender inequality this is a story the Church should be telling in every way it can. The Bible both champions women’s voices – often against the odds – and also lays bare the injustice and oppression that women are subject to, now as well as then.
Believe the women. Trust their voices. Listen to their stories. Hear the call for justice and for change.
Welcome to the April edition of Lifewords Prayer. This month we hear stories from those using our Easter resources, prayer requests from Pavement Project in Mozambique, news from Indonesia, and updates about both our digital and new languages projects. Please join us as we pray.
28 March – 3 April Easter stories
This week as we approach Easter, churches are helping their communities engage with Jesus’ death and resurrection. While the coronavirus pandemic continues to restrict large gatherings, churches and groups are finding creative ways to reach people. In Fleetwood, Lancashire, Emmanuel Church are using The Easter Journey booklets
and digital resources to help people discover the Easter story. “We [are offering] our community a virtual ‘Journey Through Easter’ by setting up 12 parts of the narrative from Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday,” says John, from the church. “Each part or station will consist of a picture, created by our artists. … Visitors will be invited to make the journey through the stations with their mobile phones, scanning a QR code at each point, to pick up a song, original reflection, monologue, or poem which will help them reflect on the events, and we hope and pray, realise their significance for themselves.” The church is using The Easter Journey as part of the initiative, and visitors will be able to take a copy with them. Give thanks for Emmanuel Church, who have found a way to engage people with the Easter story. Pray that the ‘Journey Through Easter’ event would be visited by many people and that they would discover hope and meaning for their lives. Other churches, groups and individuals are using Day Three: Believe the Women in
small group settings; Witness: Easter Voices in food parcels; and sharing One Friday in the wider community. Give thanks for opportunities to share good news this Easter. Pray for churches who are gathering together online or in small groups; for those who are doing outreach work through food banks, homeless projects, and visiting those who are isolated; for individuals who are being God’s presence with their neighbours and friends. Pray that relationships and meaningful connections would thrive as we show God’s love this Easter.
Our office in Australia is launching Day Three: Believe the Women this Easter at a time when the country is engaging in a wider conversation about women’s rights. “We’re already receiving a strong response to these booklets, with a number of enthusiastic receivers suggesting this is such a timely and pertinent booklet,” says Dan Hardie, Australia Director. One Lifewords supporter in New South Wales, said: “I just received a copy of Day Three: Believe the Women – I’ve been waiting for a Christian organisation to do something in this space! This is fantastic as I have a group of women who are Christian activists but are often defending their religious beliefs while agitating for change in attitudes toward women.” Give thanks for how the Bible helps us negotiate and discuss issues in society. Pray for Australia, and for the rest of the world, as we seek to see justice done and mind-sets changed.
4–10 April
Pavement Project in Mozambique
Pavement Project – active in over 20 countries, through partnership with over 500 churches or organisations, with over 700 workers using the green bag – has continued to counsel vulnerable children throughout the pandemic. Clenir dos Santos, Pavement Project Director, updates us on the work in Mozambique:
“A new partnership has been established with the International Assembly of God, in Milange, Zambézia. They work with 105 children, most of whom are orphans. A preacher who visited the church told them about Pavement Project when he met the children they work with, and now the pastor is eager to be trained and start using the green bag.” Give thanks for this new partnership for Pavement Project. Pray for the set-up and training of Pavement Project in this church – for the resources, people, and infrastructure to make it happen.
“A group of Pavement Project workers were trained in Mozambique in 2018, but are currently inactive since the cyclone of 2019. However, these workers have told us they will soon be able to pick up the counselling activity.” Pray for these workers – that God will remind them of their training and guide them as they begin to counsel children in Mozambique.
“Mayre, one of our trainee trainers in Maputo, has been unable to counsel children in the shelter she volunteers in as the place has been under water from recent flooding, but it is hoped that it will be open again in a few months. The shelter has an internet connection – a rarity for shelters in Mozambique – so Pavement Project is sending a tablet there so that the children can have online counselling with Mayre.” Give thanks for the internet connection at this shelter and for the provision of a tablet. Pray for the safe transportation of the tablet and for Mayre as she counsels the children.
11–17 April Lifewords Kids
In Indonesia, the Lifewords team are continuing to grow their ministry of training and outreach. Gunar Sahari, Indonesia Director, tells us about a new project:
“God has given us the opportunity to reach more children every week with our new initiative ‘Lifewords Kids’. We have started Lifewords Kids in three different locations: Cibubur, Cileungsi, and Cicadas, and we want to extend it to different places in Indonesia. We have been told that many people want to join Lifewords Kids and others are interested in running the project where they are.” Give thanks for the innovation and commitment of the team in Indonesia, and for the desire they have to reach young people with good news.
“Since starting Lifewords Kids in Cibubur, the number of the children who join is increasing every week. Our commitment is to bring every child to Christ, and hope that in the future all of them become leaders. We have been using the flip card resources, and also the children watched the animated version of An Invitation. … In Cileungsi, there are about 75 children, mostly from very poor families, who join Lifewords Kids every Tuesday and Saturday. There are about 300 children who want to join, but due to the pandemic we are only allowing about 75 children per session.” Give thanks for the enthusiasm for this new project and for all the children who are attending. Pray that they would feel valued and loved, and that they would discover faith in Jesus.
As the coronavirus pandemic continues to disrupt children’s lives and, in many cases, put them in positions of vulnerability, danger and poverty, pray that individuals, organisations and churches would be in place to offer support, safety, education and love.
18–24 April Digital outreach
Curating digital spaces for engaging young people with Scripture is vital – it’s how a generation shares its pain, its hopes, its fears. Our vision is to create authentic “digital-first” Bible encounters by engaging with the young people that so expertly and naturally use the technology.
“We are in a new era where people are prioritising social media as a tool of engagement, alongside physical resources,” explains Murima Thodi, Lifewords Digital Lead – a new role created for this purpose. “Sharing our content online works in a similar way to dropping a booklet round to a friend. So, it’s natural for us to reach out to people with God’s Word online. If we don’t adapt, we risk missing a wonderful outreach opportunity.” Give thanks for this new opportunity to reach people with God’s Word. Pray that God would give us the people, resources, creativity and inspiration as we develop this aspect of ministry.
Our digital communications are enabling us to continue ministering right through the pandemic as we respond to churches looking online for worship, teaching, and fellowship: “We wanted to find new ways to let the Bible speak into this moment,” says Jarek Jankowski, Lifewords Bible Resources Director. “So, we created animated versions of our booklets, Finding Hope and An Invitation. These animations – now in 9 languages – have already registered over 900,000 views and over 15,000 shares on YouTube and Facebook.” Give thanks for how digital media has helped us share the Bible across countries and cultures during the pandemic. Pray that we would continue to adapt and respond to current and future issues that affect our communities and the wider world.
Our Global Bible Resource website* is where people all over the world can order resources in over 20 languages. Last year, a new resources section was launched where digital resources can be downloaded and immediately shared at church gatherings, online services, or via social media platforms such as WhatsApp. Pray for the Lifewords team in Poland as they develop and promote the digital section of the website. Pray too that we would see an organic growth in orders and downloads in the coming months.
25 April – 1 May 50 languages by 2023
A large part of Lifewords work is built on a core range of Bible literature in multiple languages – equipping hundreds of thousands of Christians all over the world as we share good news.
Today, our literature is offered in over 20 languages with people and groups from all over the world ordering it through our Global Bible Resources website*. Over the next few years we are working to translate into more priority world languages and to extend the range of languages available – building up to at least two core titles in 50 languages by 2023. Jarek Jankowski, Bible Resources Director, explains: “Lifewords is all about creating ways into the Bible, so we want to carry on presenting Scripture in ways that resonate with people’s sense of identity and belonging. Language is key.” Give thanks for the longstanding ministry of producing Bible resources in many languages. Pray for this new initiative to provide more resources in more languages.
In Brazil, people share Lifewords resources in Portuguese. One group in São Paulo is using Consider the Wildflowers and Day by Day to reach women working in
prostitution, and people who are homeless. Another supporter uses You Matter and An Invitation with children in their community – they play games with them and are helping them to learn to read using Lifewords resources. Give thanks for those who are ordering and sharing the resources in Brazil. Pray that they would see lives change as they share the good news of Jesus.
In Gdańsk, Poland, the Street Church use Day by Day, Finding Hope, and One of Us to minister to passers-by and people who are living on the streets. In a coffee house project in another part of Poland copies of One of Us were included in Christmas parcels which were given to men who were homeless, and also those who were recently out of prison. Give thanks for how Lifewords resources are used as part of practical ministries where people’s physical, emotional, and spiritual needs are served.
Help us provide bible resources in 50 languages by 2023 – you can partner with us in prayer and giving. Find out more about how you can get involved at www.lifewords.global/get-involved/
* Please note the Global Bible Resources website is for non-UK orders only. Visit www.lifewords.global to browse and order resources in the UK.
Thank you for praying with us! Your partnership in prayer is vital to all that we do as we share the Bible’s life words around the world. You can make a donation to our work online at www.lifewords.global, by post, or by calling 020 7730 2155.
