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PRAYER CIRCLE
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17 Apr-1 May 2017
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Pray for Christians in Egypt following the Palm Sunday attacks on two churches.
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"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."
It seems that wherever we look in the world, people are suffering. Whether through persecution, terrorism or natural disaster, so many are in desperate need of hope.
Our prayer for those who love Jesus and continue to witness is that they would know the joy and peace He brings no matter what despair they face around them.
Pray with us for God's hope and love to overflow, by the power of the Holy Spirit, though all who love and serve Him through Bible Societies. Praise God for all He is doing through His servants to extend His kingdom here on earth.
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Coptic Christians in Alexandria and Tanta were attacked as they gathered to celebrate Palm Sunday.
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"Forgiveness Based on Truth"
Christians stand firm after Palm Sunday attacks
On Palm Sunday, Christians gathered to worship Jesus by remembering His triumphal entry into Jerusalem. On this day of celebration, during Sunday worship, two churches were attacked by suicide bombers. Once again Egyptian Christians of all denominations are left reeling, knowing they are all potential targets. In times of persecution, all Christians stand together, focusing on that which unites rather than the differences in their traditions. The entire body of Christ is hurting.
Christians in Egypt are hurting, but they have a deep-rooted faith in the salvation and resurrection power of Christ. Time and again these dear brothers and sisters remain strong in faith in the face of suffering and even death. The public are stunned by the reaction of Christians to persecution. One non-religious broadcaster spoke with a survivor after the Palm Sunday bombings. He commented, 'These people have so much forgiveness based on truth, based on conviction! Christians are humans made of something else!'
The Bible Society in Egypt have asked us to pray for the following:
· That God would comfort those who lost their loved ones like only He can · That God would heal the injured · For comfort and peace for fear-filled Christian hearts · For divine protection over the Body of Christ in Egypt from other similar attacks · That the perpetrators would be found and brought to justice · That God would use Christians to be salt and light at such a time as this · That many hearts and minds would be enlightened and come to a saving knowledge of Christ through this unspeakable evil.
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An elderly Lule Sami woman reading the NT in 2003.
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Old Testament in Lule Sami Langauge
The second largest Sami language in Norway and Sweden.
In the autumn of 2016, following a couple of years of preparations, a project to translate the Old Testament to Lule Sami language was begun. The New Testament was published in 2003, one hundred years after the first translation of the New Testament to Lule Sami.
Lule Sami is the second most spoken Sami language in Norway and Sweden, yet the Old Testament has never been translated. For this reason, the Norwegian and Swedish Bible Societies launched the translation project of the Old Testament.
Translators from both Norway and Sweden have been engaged in the project.
Partnership is key for this translation and the project is owned by the Norwegian Bible Society, the Swedish Bible Society, the Church of Sweden, the Church of Norway, and the Sami Church Council in Norway and Sweden.
Please pray for all involved including administrators, fundraisers, translators, consultants and many more. May they all now God's calling and help in everything they do.
Can we also ask you to take a moment to pray for the Bible Society team and Church in Sweden following the terror attack in Stockholm. May they know God's peace and wisdom as they share His light and love in these difficult days of grief and fear.
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Five Years to Wait in Burkina Faso
Binifor speakers, waiting expectantly for full Bible.
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Birifor literacy class. Getting ready to read the full Bible.
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Burkina Faso's Birifor speakers were elated when they heard the news last July that the work to translate the Bible into their language was restarting.
There are around 300,000 Birifor speakers in the south-west of Burkina Faso, around 125,000 in Ghana and about 4,310 in the north-east of Côte d'Ivoire. Despite their relatively large numbers, little is known of the Birifor people. But we know that God loves them and they need His Word!
The aim is to translate the Old Testament and revise the New Testament, which was published in 1993. Since then, Birifor Christians have been waiting for the full Bible.
The Birifor Old Testament translation project was launched in 2008 by a Missionary couple in partnership with the Evangelical Protestant Church. But this stopped after 5 years when funding ended. When the church approached the Bible Society, a new partnership began and it is hoped that the translation should be complete within five years.
When the New Testament was published, many learnt to read through the literacy classes that ran at the time. Pascal Hein, project coordinator said that many people learned to read and write at that time and most of them own and read the New Testament each day as a result. The New Testament is also available in audio format, through the Faith Comes By Hearing programme. This is used in listening groups, and by people with visual disabilities.
Pray for the Birifor believers who are patiently waiting, that God would prepare their hearts and stir interest among those who do not know Jesus. Pray that the Old Testament will be completed as planned in 2021, and for the resumption of literacy classes in preparation.
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HE IS RISEN |
The next Prayer Circle will be with you on May Day. We can't quite believe we are racing through the year so fast. Perhaps you are starting to think about your programme for September? Don't forget we are available to speak to your church or group. We have some amazing stories to share about what God is doing around the world!
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The Bible Society NI offices will be closed for Easter on Mon 17th and Tues 18th April. We will also be closed on Mon 1st May.
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Speaking Engagements and Events
Give thanks for the opportunities we have had this year so far to speak about the work of the Bible Society NI and our partnership with Bible Societies around the world. Our speaking team has a few quieter weeks ahead as groups are off over the Easter break. Pray for them as they prepare for a new term of speaking engagements.
Nordic + Conference
Tue 25- Fri 28 Apr
- Leah is travelling to Austria to attend a United Bible Societies conference known as 'Nordic +'. This is a group of Bible Society Fundraisers from the Nordic countries, and a few other European countries, who meet each year to share ideas and learn from each other. Please pray for good discussions and growing relationships between partner Bible Societies. Pray for Leah, that she will come back enthused and spurred on with new ideas for ministry!
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If you have any questions, give us a ring on
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