June Partner Update

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We believe that prayer has the power to bring about change, and as we continue the work of George Müller, we are continually reminded that 'God is faithful still and hears prayers still.' Thank you so much for your continued prayer support for us and our partners. By praying through the Partner Update, you are actively supporting the work of those sharing the Gospel and caring for the vulnerable around the world.

‘For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.’

Habbakuk 2:14

1st - 3rd June: Müllers Bristol, UK

  • Müllers seeks to honour God, following in the footsteps of George Müller, by strengthening the Church to meet the needs of the vulnerable. We do this by freeing children from poverty, focusing people on Jesus, and fuelling leaders for mission and evangelism.

  • Last month, we hosted our annual Local Church Partner Gathering. At this event our Local Church Partners gathered for an evening of sharing and celebrating all that the Lord is doing in the lives of under 18s across the Bristol region. This month we are hosting our final STC Taster Day which gives individuals the opportunity to come along to a day of our free theology course to find out more about the course and consider if studying theology is for them.

    • Our new Grant Giving Officer who will be joining our team. Pray that they would settle well into the team, quickly learn our systems, processes, and feel fully supported in their new role.

    • The Summer Y&C Retreat on the 25th June. That this event for youth and children’s workers in Bristol would be inspiring and encouraging to those who come along.

4th - 6th June: Shared Hope, International

  • Shared Hope serves local communities through three key approaches: expressing mercy, promoting justice, and upholding dignity. The organisation works to meet the social, medical, educational, and economic needs of under-served communities.

  • Shared Hope recently held their biannual committee meeting which is where they review projects and consider which ones to continue to support. Recently, Shared Hope have welcomed some new members to their team as they begin thinking about succession planning. Last month Douglas and Barbara returned from a trip to Egypt, Trevor has been visiting projects in Pakistan and Keith & Senga are planning a trip to Zambia later this year.

    • The new members of the Shared Hope team to feel valued and involved.

    • Wisdom and safety for the team as they travel and visit projects.

7th - 9th June: Africa Naturally, Mozambique

  • Africa Naturally has a couple of initiatives. ‘Farming for Orphans in Mozambique’ (FOM) grows and provides food for local orphans from a working farm and training base. ‘Growing Hope’ partners with pastors and churches to equip families with ‘Farming God’s Way’ (FGW) techniques. Both projects provide nutritious food for the poorest families and generate additional income to support widows, orphans, and other vulnerable members with essentials like medicine and school fees.

  • Africa Naturally are giving thanks for their recent training with 20 churches to build three greenhouses. Continuous rain from January to March has meant that the usual time to sow vegetable seed in the gardens is no longer possible and flooding caused delays in sowing seeds for this season. Africa Naturally are continuing their biblical training for churches which looks at what the gifts of believers are at the churches, the role of The Church in the wider community and building of Farming God’s Way in empowering churches in the fight against poverty.

    • Successful harvest of crops and vegetables even with the delays and rain conditions they have faced.

    • The provision of two months of fuel for Africa Naturally’s car.

    • Fuel stored by the major companies to be released to petrol stations.

    • The biblical training to inspire, encourage and equip those in the local communities and for the Church in Mozambique to grow.

10th - 12th June: Dufatanye, Rwanda

  • Dufatanye’s mission is to combat HIV/AIDS, malnutrition, and poverty by supporting vulnerable populations in regions experiencing high levels of malnutrition and extreme poverty. Dufatanye Organisation in the Villages of Hope is a beacon of compassion and inclusivity, embodying Christ’s call to care for the marginalised.

  • Dufatanye are giving thanks that through the Lord’s provision they have been able to send 30 children to school, renovate 13 homes and continue welcoming and supporting 400-600 children who come for the Bible programme every Saturday. Dufatanye are hoping to train 9,000 farmers each year in good agricultural practices which will empower families to sustain themselves.

    • Provisions needed to build a new facility for the children and staff.

    • Funding for the remaining houses in Nyaruguru that need repairing.

    • The training Dufatanye do with farmers, that this would inspire and equip them to create sustainable livelihoods.

13th - 15th June: Ian and Caralee Loring, UK

  • Ian and Caralee live and work in the Bristol region as teachers in the church. They are also involved in supporting church leaders and local church work around Clevedon.

  • Ian and Caralee have taken on several new schools in Bristol, in addition to Portishead, Clevedon and Backwell, to do sketch board Bible stories with applications and a prayer. Caralee is looking to paint the stories and tell them in a way that will be engaging, understood and remembered by the children.

    • Open doors and opportunities for Caralee to go into more schools.

    • Caralee as she prepares a new sketch board story.

16th - 18th June: Glyn and Annette Oliver, UK

  • Glyn and Annette work to support children within Devon Social Services. Glyn also continues to preach, teach, and hold a leadership role within a church in Devon.

  • Glyn and Annette have four adult sons, as well as three foster children who are now in their permanent care. D, the young girl needs a specialist pushchair for postural support which will allow her to be transported in a wheelchair accessible vehicle. Glyn and Annette’s hope was that the wheelchair service and social services would cover the cost of this, however after four months of waiting the wheelchair service has started the whole process again which could take up to six months to resolve. As a lot of the equipment D needs for her care is complex and expensive Glyn and Annette have found lots of resistance in getting the equipment she needs as many of the services do not wish to take responsibility for the cost.

    • For a swift resolution to get the equipment needed before the summer.

    • That the professionals include Annette in the discussions and decision making.

    • For the Lord’s peace to be with Glyn and Annette in this whole process.

19th - 21st June: Eodie Nindamutsa, Burundi

  • Eodie leads Generation d’Honneur au Burundi which works to build strong and responsible families. These strategies include education support, parenting training, youth training, couples’ training, economic empowerment, water access and rehabilitation of homes for widows, orphans and elderly.

  • Last year Generation d’Honneur distributed notebooks to over 300 children below 18 in different schools. They have had testimonies how this back to school programme has allowed young girls and boys to remain in school. It is their hope that this programme will continue to grow so that no child will be removed from school because of a lack of school materials.

    • Continued funding and support for the provisions of school materials for children and young people who need it and for this part of their ministry to grow.

    • Funding to support young girls with sanitary products.

22nd - 24th June: Soul Winning Mission, India

  • SWM’s primary responsibility is to ensure providing good education to poor and vulnerable children. SWM also has a training centre where they educate young students in The Word and skills to send them out to share the good news of our Lord.

  • Soul Winning Mission currently have 50 children in their children’s home where they receive a good quality education, careers advice and counselling sessions. They are also hoping to develop sports and extra-curricular activities for the children. In their state the literacy rate is 61% and girls are statistically less likely to get an education. SWM’s hope is to provide a good education for all and to give them the best opportunities for their future.

    • The upcoming graduation where 17 young people will be graduating this year.

    • The provision of more books for the library in the children’s home.

    • Love, unity and grace to reign in the children’s homes and schools.

25th - 27th June: Kondwani and Thokozani Elias, Malawi

  • Kondwani and Thokozani make the Gospel known through youth ministry, an interest free loans programme, a nursery school, food distribution, village evangelism and prison ministry.

  • In March this year, Kondwani and Thokozani hosted a gospel outreach to young people. They organised a football tournament where the gospel was shared to them and their leaders. Kondwani and Thokozani were able to give out over 100 New Testaments, a few complete Bibles and gospel leaflets. Kondwani and Thokozani continue to meet with teenagers each week to share the gospel and to provide support in areas of practical need like education and food.

    • The young people and leaders who came along to the football tournament to be inspired by what they heard and would come to know the Lord.

    • Provision for Kondwani and Thokozani’s youth ministry that they would be able to reach more young people with the gospel and give more support for practical needs.

28th - 30th June: Sub:Mission Zambia

  • Sub:Mission Zambia support five groups in Livingstone, Zambia. These include schools and churches that are providing care for widows and vulnerable children including orphans. They are also currently supporting one family in helping their children through education and providing them with their basic needs.

  • New regulations for education have brought significant financial commitments that are heavy to bear in such a deprived area. Please be praying for Idris, the school leader, as he navigates a demanding season. Sub:Mission are giving thanks for Hellen, who they have supported since birth. Recently she qualified as a teacher and has begun working at Sub:Mission Zambia’s school.

    • God’s continued provision to meet every new requirement and for a spirit of encouragement to rest upon Idris, Hellen, and the entire community as they work together to provide a hopeful future for the children.

    • Hellen, that her journey from a supported child to a professional educator would inspire every student she encounters.

    • Idris to have wisdom, favour with officials, and the resources necessary to turn these administrative hurdles into a firm foundation for the school’s future.