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September 2010
1 Wed. CLC Day of Prayer and Fasting
Around the world our CLC teams will have a special time of prayer and fasting sometime early in September. Pray that the Lord will speak to us about local, national and international issues. Our desire is that CLC be a mission led by the Holy Spirit, and that only happens as we come together in prayer.
2 Thu. New Zealand – Shop Matters
Please pray as the staff meet on 3 September to make some important decisions about the way forward for all the shops. Pray too that the renewal of the Feilding shop lease will remain unchanged from the current agreement as we can not afford an increase. Pray for wisdom as we begin bulk buying for all the shops and also collaborate more with CLC Australia.
3 Fri. Australia - CBAA
From 6 to 8 September we have the CBAA (Christian Booksellers Association of Australia) meeting in Adelaide, South Australia. A number of CLC staff from the Head Office in Kippa-Ring will be attending. Please pray for good contacts, that many more people will become aware of the CLC ministry, for increased wholesale and retail sales and that God’s overall purposes for our involvement in CBAA will be fulfilled. Please pray too for a safe journey there and back. Thank you.
4-5 Sat/Sun. UK – Dundee
CLC in Dundee is relocating to larger premises, closer to the main shopping area. Pray for Manager Peter Taylor and the team as they settle into the new location. During September we hope to computerise procedures in the shop. This will mean another big adjustment for Peter and the team. There will also be a need for more volunteer help, especially with the approaching Christmas Holiday Season. Please pray.
6 Mon. USA – Trade In, Trade Up
On 6 September the CLC U.S.A. bookstores are holding a special ‘Trade In, Trade Up’ Bible’ sale today. Customers can bring in an old Bible and receive a discount off the purchase price of a new Bible. The donated old Bibles will be distributed through a local prison ministry.
7 Tue. Italy – Warehouse
Andreas Bader writes: “From our CLC warehouse near Catania we supply the eight CLC bookshops in Italy, almost every other literature ministry within this country and CLC in Switzerland. Most of our website orders are processed from here as well. This means that large quantities of books are constantly going out and coming in. I am in charge of the warehouse and also, since our staff meeting in June, the Director for CLC Italy, so it has become necessary to bring in new and qualified personnel. Please pray for Ivano and Luisa, from CLC Rome, as they move at the beginning of September to Catania to expand our ministry even further and to release me to concentrate on my other responsibilities.”
8 Wed. Trinidad – Parking and Staffing
For some time there has been a problem with parking outside our Port of Spain bookshop. So many vehicles are parked in the road it makes loading and unloading outside the shop almost impossible. At the time of writing a trial period of ‘no parking’ on this part of the road was in operation. Please pray that a long term solution to the problem will be found.
Another long term solution is needed for extra staff in the shop. A young man has been helping recently on a temporary basis but staff are still needed, particularly in Port of Spain and San Fernando.
9 Thu. Netherlands - Annual Bookfair
“The Dutch annual Christian Bookfair is held, in two different locations, on 13 and 20 September. Almost all the Christian booksellers in the Netherlands attend these events. It is a place to meet acquaintances and friends and to buy books, DVD's, CD's and other items. We are privileged to have such a wide variety of products to choose from. Pray for discernment that we spend our money wisely in choosing material that will enrich people's lives.” Els Oosterhuis
10 Fri. European Regional Conference
“The European Conference for CLC Leaders will be held near Catania (on the island of Sicily in Italy) from September 13-19. This is a wonderful event during which we joyfully fellowship and find encouragement for our ministry. Among other things, we will think of ways we can collaborate more closely together to expand the ministry of CLC throughout the entire European continent. Pray for Gerardo Scalante, the CLC Regional Director of the Americas, who will be our speaker for the daily meditations. Please pray that our week together will be a great time of spiritual refreshment and encouragement for all of the participants.” Gary Chamberlin
11-12 Sat/Sun. UK –Welling
The CLC team are holding an activity day ‘Living Word Living Faith’ for nearby churches today. Stephen Gaukroger will be speaking and running a seminar. There will be Bible studies and, in the evening, a young people’s event. There will also be a bookstall during the day. Please pray that many will be blessed and encouraged by the event.
13 Mon. St. Lucia – The Future
At the time of writing, the future of the CLC bookshop in St. Lucia is still uncertain. Tashia Martin took over the management of the shop earlier this year - initially for just a few months. Hopefully by now a decision will have been taken if the shop should remain open or not. Whatever the outcome please pray that people on this island will be encouraged to read the Bible and Christian books, and that a well stocked Christian bookshop will continue to be available to the general public.
14 Tue. Canada – Opportunities for Growth
“We are in the process of formalising a relationship with a church bookstore in the Laurentian Mountains - about 30 minutes north of our Ahuntsic bookstore. It is a small church by most standards, though in Québec a church of 200 is a large church, but it has great vitality. We pray that this will be a real help and encouragement as we supply this congregation, and others, with good products for their spiritual growth.” Rod Fowler
15 Wed. Australia – Townsville
Juliana Mills, CLC Townsville, is currently on maternity leave for a year. Pray for new staff members, Tarn Sparrow and Adrienne Ferguson, who are working in the bookshop with Ben Dixon, the manager, while Juliana is away.
16 Thu. Japan – Staff Health
Yayoi Nakahashi, who works with Mitsuhiko Fujio, the CLC National Director, and his wife in the Kanazawa bookshop had a major operation recently. Please pray for her as she recovers and has further hospital treatment as needed. Pray also for the shop staff as they take on extra responsibilities in Miss Nakahashi’s absence.
17 Fri. Barbados – Hurricane Season
The hurricane season in the Atlantic Ocean runs from June 1 until November 30 and it affects the eastern and Gulf Coasts of the USA and the Caribbean nations. A worse season than normal has been predicted this year. Please remember in prayer the countries that may be affected. CLC works in many of the Caribbean islands and staff and shops have suffered from hurricane damage in the past. As well as asking for prayer for protection during this time, CLC Barbados is also concerned about the downturn in the economy in the country and the resulting loss of sales. Pray that they would be kept safe and encouraged in these days.
18-19 Sat/Sun. UK – Bolton
CLC Bolton will have an official re-launch next Saturday, September 25. This is to mark the transition this year from Wesley Owen to CLC. The new signage has been put up and the computerised stock control installed. The Bishop of Bolton will speak at the event and many local churches have been invited to share in the celebration. There will also be a special discount on purchases for that day. Please pray for Julian Gittings, the manager, and the team as they organise this event.
20 Mon. Russia – Tenant Turnaround
CLC has rented out the shop on the ground floor of our property in Moscow since we opened our ‘first floor’ bookshop four years ago. There have been several changes of tenant and, at the time of preparing this prayer news, a new tenant is planning to start a business there. Please pray that we will have a good working relationship with this person, and that the necessary paperwork will all be in order. Please pray that this situation will become more stable and reliable in the future.
21 Tue. Dominica – And Other Countries!
This request is for CLC in Dominica but it applies to a number of other CLC countries too. Please pray for innovative ideas for the team as they strive to maintain viability at a time when they are experiencing a decrease in sales. Normally sales are even slower during the holiday season, which has just passed for CLC Dominica, so ask the Lord for encouragement and enough growth in sales to maintain a healthy business and serve the community well.
22 Wed. The Netherlands - Children’s Book Week
Els Oosterhuis writes: “From 25 of September until 16 October the annual Children’s Christian Book Week is being held. The theme this year is ‘Look!’ and it focuses on imagination in children's books. There are three action books and a children’s CD which will be promoted and sold at a special price. There is also a website and a schools program, related to this event, which will be used in many schools. Pray that these materials will reach a lot of children who don't ‘grow up with the gospel’.”
23 Thu. New Zealand – Wholesale
CLC has recently taken over a wholesale business which is based in Palmerston North, just a few doors away from our bookshop. This will involve changes in duties for our existing staff, and a change in focus for the whole of CLC New Zealand. Pray for good relationships with the suppliers from the USA and South Africa that we are representing, and for the bookshops we will be serving. Pray too for a gifted younger person to take on the management of the wholesale department who could, in time, take on the position of NZ Director.
24 Fri. Togo – Closure in Lome
Sadly the bookshop ministry in Togo was closed recently after more than 20 years of service as it was no longer sustainable. It is not too early to pray that the Lord will allow us to begin again at some point in the future. Pray for the former team members, that the Lord will lead them in a new direction for their lives. Pray too for CLC worker Joseph Awoki, as he continues to run the Livr’Afrique ministry in Lome.
25-26 Sat/Sun. UK - Inverness
Christmas preparations start early for CLC! Les and Esther Dowey are already planning their journeys round the north of Scotland with Christmas bookstalls. Please pray for wisdom in planning and preparing for these events.
27 Mon. Sierra Leone – School Library Project
“We had a successful launch of the school library project in April 2010. We started with fifty schools and we told the school authorities that we will keep in contact to make sure the books are being well used, and to have opportunities to interact with the children. We are going to do this with the assistance of the Sierra Leone Library Board whose primary responsibility is to establish libraries and monitor them. Please pray that this exercise will be a success. Pray also for strength and courage for the team because it will require a lot of travelling.” Alfred Kai Kai
28 Tue. Italy - CLC Media
“In Italy we are increasingly receiving requests for good Christian DVD's. We have now produced the Italian version of the Darwin DVD and a documentary on the Mormons. Our dream is to develop a European CLC Media project, where the same film could be dubbed in several European languages to reduce costs and increase production runs. Please pray with us, that we might communicate with the right people to see this project become reality.” Andreas Bader
29 Wed. Panama – Changes in Albrook Mall
With the Lord’s help, CLC in Panama are working towards opening a bookshop in Albrook Mall, Panama’s largest shopping centre, before the end of this year. We already have a kiosk here which will remain open until early next year. Remember Director Milton Cheng and the CLC team as they prepare for this exciting new development.
30 Thu. Mozambique - Beira
“Praise God for a visit to Beira in July by a CLC team who were able to meet with Claudia Middendorf (AIM Mozambique) and Jose Sacramento (a Bible School graduate). It would appear that the time is now right to open a new CLC bookshop in the newly-built AIM Bible Institute complex on a busy main road in Beira. There is much demand for Bibles and Christian books. Please pray as plans are finalised and the ministry is launched. Especially pray that we can get adequate stocks to meet the needs of those who are spiritually hungry in that region.” Liz Patten, CLC Regional Director for Africa
October 2010
1 Fri. Chile – 50th Anniversary
Tomorrow there will be a special service in Santiago to celebrate fifty years of CLC in Chile. Congratulations! Remember Isaac Zuñiga, the Director, and the team at this very special time, and praise God for all that has been achieved through the ministry over the years - particularly this year, following the devastation caused by a major earthquake. Gerardo Scalante, the Regional Director for the Americas, will be speaking at the service.
2-3 Sat/Sun. UK – Wolverhampton
Volunteers have come forward to help share in the ministry, praise the Lord. Please pray for them and for Steve Aston (manager) in their adjustments to the new responsibilities and pray that the shop will continue to see people coming to know the Lord.
4 Mon. Panama – Stock Control, Software and Sales
Please pray for the upgrade of the invoicing, stock control and accounting software. Pray too for a sales person to cover the central and western parts of the country. We are looking for someone who loves the Lord and who wants to serve in our ministry
5 Tue. USA – Pastors’ Breakfast
We will be holding a Pastors’ Breakfast this month. Pray for a good time of fellowship and encouragement for local pastors as they meet together to hear our special speaker Tom Elliff, the author of the recent CLC publication A Passion for Prayer.
6 Wed. Canada – Decisions Regarding Directors
“It has recently been decided, by our Board members, that we should hire a ‘Director of Development and New Projects’ and we are looking to have the person in place for October 2010. Please pray that this position will be filled by the right person. I think it would also be wise to be thinking of a person that could replace me in the next 2 or 3 years. I have let the Board know that I will be stepping down from being the CLC Director by May 2013 at the latest.” Rod Fowler.
7 Thu. Russia – Growing Family Responsibilities
Roger and Anita Jones are expecting their second child this month. Please pray for them as their family responsibilities increase; pray too for the right medical care and a safe delivery for Anita.
The CLC team now has four members as Natasha Lavrik joined them at the Russian Annual Conference earlier this year. Natasha will be taking over the ordering while Anita is on maternity leave. Please pray for her in this new responsibility.
8 Fri. Myanmar – Projects
“Please continue to pray about the ‘warehouse project’ for Myanmar. We are grateful for the funds that have come in so far but they will only cover around 30% of the cost of a suitable property. Please pray too for our other major building projects. The re-building of our bookshop is still underway and we are looking to the Lord for clear guidance and direction regarding opening a bookshop in Kalaymyo.” Jacob Mung, Director.
9-10 Sat/Sun. UK – Point of Sale Software
Point of Sale software has, or will be, installed in our Coventry, Guildford and Dundee bookshops during September and October. Pray that our shop teams quickly get used to doing things differently and that our customers benefit from this investment. Please pray too for those on the team who are involved in training the staff.
11 Mon. Italy – More Bookshops Wanted!
Almost every week we receive enquiries, from Christians from all over Italy, asking how to open a Christian bookshop in their town. We would like to help them but, unfortunately, most of these projects are not viable. Please pray that we would have wisdom and understanding from the Lord to know how to respond to these people.
12 Tue. Japan - Ochanomizu
Yusake Naito works in the Ochanomizu bookshop and manages the on-line shop. The website has recently been revised – please pray that it will work well and be used by many people. Yusake has also recently married so please pray for him and his wife that together they will build a good Christian home.
13 Wed. Trinidad - Crime Situation.
The crime situation in this country of 1.2 million people is out of control. At the time of writing this prayer point (end of July) there have been over 300 homicides so far this year. Marlene Ramroop writes to say that “It is really difficult for a little country. Please pray for God's continued protection on our lives.”
14 Thu. Australia – Wagga Wagga
Our shop staff praise God for the conversions at the nearby army base and at Junee Prison this year. Several army and prison chaplains are customers of Wagga CLC. It has been an honour and privilege for us to pray for the ministries of these chaplains and support them by providing Christian resources. Please join us here in praying that these new brothers and sisters in Christ will grow in their knowledge and love of God. Also pray that the chaplains will continue to preach Christ crucified and be strengthened in both their teaching and pastoral roles.
15 Fri. Lausanne Congress
The Third Lausanne Congress on World Evangelization in Cape Town, South Africa takes place from 17-24 Oct. Following on from the previous gatherings in Lausanne and Manila, this Congress will be truly global with 4000 delegates representing 200 countries. This movement has been responsible for uniting and mobilizing evangelicals for worldwide evangelization. Neil Wardrope will attend the Congress representing CLC International. Pray for him that this Congress will help CLC understand their role in worldwide mission, and for contacts that will enable fruitful partnerships. The main sessions will be streamed live on internet.
16-17 Sat/Sun. UK – Birmingham
Naomi Thorp left CLC at the end of August. Richard Morris has been Manager since 1 Sept. Susan Walbridge has transferrd from Wolverhampton and Steve Aston is now manager there. Pray that the Lord provides the staff we need for the busy Birmingham shop.
18 Mon. Sierra Leone – And on Behalf of CLC Africa!
Alfred Kai Kai, acting Manger for CLC Sierra Leone, asks for prayer for the team during his absence later this week when he attends the CLC Regional Conference for Africa. Please pray too for safe travel and good health for Alfred during this time. Of course this request applies to all the other CLC countries that will be represented at the Conference as well: Benin, Burkina Faso, Cote d’Ivoire, Kenya, Mozambique, Swaziland and Tanzania.
19 Tue. Hong Kong – Chinese Books
“CLC Hong Kong publishes many Chinese books, and some are running out of stock. Please pray that we will know which ones to reprint and, in each case, how many to print.” Mare Allison
20 Wed. Paraguay - Progress
The legal process involved in establishing CLC Paraguay is taking much longer than expected but, praise the Lord, we are now dealing with a Christian lawyer in Asuncion, the capital, who is giving us all the help and direction we require. The administrative process will take some months but we are praying that we will be close to finishing this by the end of this year. In the meantime, please pray for Sunilda, the bookshop manager, as she works faithfully each day in Cuidad del Este.
21 Thu. France – Paris
There is a need for more workers in this very busy bookshop. Please pray for Quentin Lala, the manager, and his wife Jocelyne both of whom suffer from insomnia which can affect their capacity to work well. Jocelyn also has serious and painful back problems; in recent months she has had to spend a lot of time lying flat on her bed.
22 Fri. Africa Regional Conference
The second Africa Regional Conference will take place in Nairobi from 25-29 October and the team leader from each CLC Africa country is looking forward to attending. The theme will be one of personal development with a view to growing the local ministries represented. Liz Patten and Lloyd Hodkinson will also be participating and Neil Wardrope, CLC’s International Director, will visit briefly in between other commitments! Please pray for a time of refreshment that will really make a difference in the long term, and for Edith Wamalwa with all that she has to do as the team leader of the hosting country.
23-24 Sat/Sun. UK – Ipswich
Penny Rivett has been appointed as manager of CLC Ipswich. Praise the Lord that Amanda Lutes, who also edits the CLC World magazine, has been willing to stand in the gap until Penny could move from Birmingham in July. Please pray for Penny as she settles into this new responsibility. Amanda will continue to help part time and she writes: “There have been many changes in the Ipswich shop over the last few years and we are looking forward to giving CLC Ipswich a stability that our customers can trust.”
25 Mon. Hong Kong – Property Problems
Please pray for wisdom and direction about matters to do with the CLC Hong Kong book shop premises. There is a lot of water damage due to the poor condition of the outside walls, but repair work from the inside will not stop this. This building, in which CLC is located, is nearly 50 years old. In the tropics, that is about the age that the concrete used starts to turn back to sand! However, the original construction was quite good, and the main support beams are sound.
26 Tue. Netherlands – Shop Struggles
Our shop in Arnhem is struggling, not only due to the economic crisis, but also because there are two other Christian bookshops in the area. In August we talked with the Board of the larger of the two bookshops as it is also struggling. Recently this shop has been run entirely by volunteers. The future of our shop depends also on the future of this other bookshop. Please pray for wisdom in making decisions.
27 Wed. Papua New Guinea – Town and Country
“Instability in the country has crippled many provinces here. All resource rich areas are underdeveloped and without the necessary services like health, roads, schools and proper sanitation etc. There are government services but they are mostly in the cities. Agriculture is the wealth of our country, but the lack of services encourages people to come to the cities and create settlements, which in turn produces more problems. Please pray that our leaders in the Government, and the church, will know what to do to improve the situation, and that CLC will be a lighthouse for people who are disorientated.” Vere Babona
28 Thu. Belarus - Brest and Minsk
Praise the Lord for the newly decorated shop interior in Brest. A recent visitor from The Netherlands was very impressed with the shop and the helpful staff. He took this photo and sent it to CLC Netherlands!
Please pray for the team as they continue to trust the Lord for the right time and location to open a bookshop in Minsk. This has been a dream for some time and we would love to see it become a reality.
29 Fri. Ecuador – Shop Managers
Please pray for the bookshop managers in each shop in Ecuador. They are: Luz Lopez in Quito, David Navarrete in Guayaquil, Mesías Villalta in Cuenca, and Patricia Cabrera in Manta. May the Lord strengthen and lead them so that they can direct and help the many people who enter the shops looking for help through a book or a word of encouragement.
30-31 Sat/Sun. UK – Pray for Called Workers
Praise the Lord we are getting lots of enquiries. But most are from people desparate to find a job and each email takes time to write. Please pray that people would seek the Lord and His direction re their future, and that He would direct to us those of His calling.
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