Prayer Focus: October 2014
1 Wed. Panama – A New Location
In June this year CLC Panama moved the wholesale operations and the administrative offices to a new location. This is something we have been praying about for a while as, in the past two years, the work had been carried out from the main bookshop premises and conditions were cramped. Praise the Lord for the benefits of this move, and pray that our wholesale customers will quickly adjust to finding us in this new location – any change has an adjustment period of course!
2 Thu. Liberia – Shop Location
“We would like to praise God for improvements in our sales; many people are responding to our radio advertisements and are visiting the shop from all over the country! We are also looking at the possibility of moving to a more suitable location; please pray with us that we will find somewhere ideal and affordable”. James Cooper, Manager.
3 Fri. Japan – Managers’ Meetings
On October 5th, the CLC shop managers will be meeting to discuss the financial problems they are facing and also to plan their Christmas sales. Please pray for wisdom in decision making and the ability to plan strategically for the Christmas season. Pray too for health and strength for the staff.
4-5 Sat/Sun. UK – Warehouse
The CLC Warehouse gets increasingly busy as the autumn progresses. In addition to the seasonal uplift in business, the number of orders and boxes shipped has increased since another wholesaler/distributor, TMD, ceased trading earlier in the year. They anticipate a possible uplift of as much as 50% during the Christmas period. Pray for strength and stamina for the whole warehouse team. They need to know God’s peace and calm in the midst of frantic activity!
6 Mon. Germany – Frankfurt Book Fair
The Frankfurt Book Fair takes place from the 8th to the 12th of October. This event is becoming increasingly important for publishers making contacts. Many Christian publishers will be present this week. Pray that any representatives from CLC who may attend this book fair will have good and meaningful conversations and appointments with publishers.
7 Tue. Hungary – CBA Marketplace
Following on from the Frankfurt Book Fair, mentioned in yesterday’s prayer point, a number of Christian publishers will go on to Hungary for the ‘CBA Marketplace’ in Budapest (October 13th-14th). ‘Marketplace’ is a forum for publishers and retailers to meet, and learn and be encouraged.
8 Wed. Panama – Falling Sales
“We would appreciate it if you would join us in prayer for our sales, which have declined noticeably since April this year. We have evaluated the situation and believe one of the causes is the economic recession that has affected most regions of the country before, during and after the general elections in May. A new government took up office at the beginning of July.” Milton Cheng, Director
9 Thu. Dominica – Credit and Rental Arrangements
“Please pray for God’s wisdom and direction for the ministry in Roseau. Two specific areas where we would appreciate prayer are, firstly, that we can receive credit from publishers for our stock as it is not always possible for us to pay in advance. Secondly, we would like the monthly shop rent to remain nearer the current amount (a temporary arrangement agreed on by the landlord) rather than go back up to the full rent we paid before.” Davis Laudat.
10 Fri. Venezuela – International Book Fair
“From the 11th to the 19th of October, we will be participating in the International Book Fair in Valencia, Venezuela. At this event we look for many opportunities to make the ministry of CLC known, and pray that people who visit our stand will be challenged by the books and Bibles we offer. Please pray too for the staff on our stand who will be working long hours during these days.” Yohel Peña
11-12 Sat/Sun. UK – Canterbury
Pray for a new manager for the Canterbury shop to enable Paul Chandler to reduce his hours. Pray too that the shop can build increasing links with churches in the area to secure the future of our ministry when the lease expires at the end of June 2015.
13 Mon. Ecuador – Special Visitors
We thank God for the way the second CLC bookshop in Guayaquil is becoming established and accepted in the community. We have a good number of people entering the shop who are visitors at the hospital nearby, and the shop is becoming an oasis for family members and friends of patients staying in the hospital. Our prayer is that the shop staff will be able to recommend good books and discern customers’ spiritual needs.
14 Tue. Cyprus – Know-how Needed!
“The economic situation is getting a little better but it will still take time to show real signs of recovery in Cyprus. We thank the Lord that He still keeps the ministry going. There are two members in our church, who have the ‘know-how’ to help us towards enhancing our website and promote sales over the Internet. Although they are both very busy people, we hope that they will be able to help us in this direction.” Sotos and Eva Photiades
15 Wed. CA2 – Large Order of Books
By the time you read this, we should have submitted a request to the government for a large order of books from Russia. Please pray that they would receive the request without problems, and process it quickly. This procedure took over a year to complete on a previous occasion!
16 Thu. Myanmar – Major Project
We praise the Lord for good health for our staff and that our bookshop sales are being maintained. The publishing side of the ministry continues to grow, and our main work at the moment is the translation and publication of a Burmese Study Bible. Please continue to pray for this major project.
17 Fri. Sierra Leone – New Director
Please pray for Donald John who has recently taken over as the new CLC National Director in Sierra Leone. Pray that he will be able to settle well into this new role, and pray for the rest of the staff that they will form a good and cohesive team together.
18-19 Sat/Sun. UK – Coventry
In Coventry, the Fair Trade shop on the first floor of our premises has moved to a new location. Pray for the shop manager, Angela Adams, and the team as they turn the space into a remainder shop and pray that these bargain books will increasingly draw customers to the shop.
20 Mon. Thailand – Challenges
“Please pray for CLC Thailand; bookselling has been very challenging in recent days, especially for CLC Bangkok. In Chiang Mai, another Christian literature ministry has received a big shipment of countless Thai and English books that they are giving out for free! This, of course, affects our sales considerably and put us in a very critical and challenging situation. May the Lord continue to bless our ministry.” Yongyut Kanthaseema
21 Tue. Chile – Paperwork Delays
We have identified a suitable property in Coquimbo that we hope to purchase for CLC’s eighth bookshop in Chile. At the time of writing, the owners of the building still don’t have all the paperwork ready in order for the sale to go ahead. Please support us in prayer over this matter as we hope to open a bookshop in this port city soon.
22 Wed. Papua New Guinea – Book Link
We have recently received news from Mark Ridenour (CLC Christian BookLink USA) informing us that CLC PNG will be receiving a shipment from BookLink soon. We praise God for this provision as we have lots of people who still come into our bookshop looking for good reduced-price books. We are grateful for this much-needed stock for our customers and for the fact that it will help us to settle all outstanding debts - especially the Land Tax and Land Lease which have been increased again this year. We are still praying for Tax Exemption, and have been actively seeking this for over two years now.
23 Thu. Belarus – Concern for Neighbours
At the moment, we really value the peace that we have in this country. For the past 25 years, we did not think that war could come so close; how quickly peace can be lost! Now our concern is for our neighbouring (or even sister) country of Ukraine, where war is taking place. We pray for understanding among people with different points of view and we pray for the Christians in the country. Publishers of Christian books in the Ukraine are a main source of books for CLC Belarus.
24 Fri. The Bible Society
There is a long history of good working relationships between the Bible Society and CLC. Apart from the ongoing relationships, there have been a number of additional contacts this year as we seek to find ways to work together, and have our mutual desire fulfilled to see the Word of God distributed. Praise God for opportunities to work in partnership with others.
25-26 Sat/Sun. UK – Chatham
The CLC team in Chatham are working hard to partner with local churches in order to sustain the ministry of the bookshop. Over recent years the shop has seen a big drop in customers coming to the shop. Please pray for the new manager, If Anumonye, as she meets with local church leaders in order to strengthen CLC/Church partnerships. Pray also for Ben Krakowczyk and the other members of the small team. If would also like to see more volunteers coming forward to help.
27 Mon. Canada – Situation Analysis
Pray for Antoine Roberge and Rod Fowler who lead the CLC team in Canada. Pray that they, together with the team and the board, will be able to make a proper analysis of the current situation in CLC and that, by the grace and help of the Lord, they will make the necessary adjustments so that CLC Canada can continue working for many exciting years.
28 Tue. Look Closer
An evangelistic magazine entitled ‘Look Closer’ has been produced in the UK in collaboration between CLC and an evangelistic ministry called The 40:3 Trust. This is part of our desire to be involved in the production of quality materials that can be used to present the Gospel. ‘Look Closer’ is an invitation to non-believers to look at the Gospel of Mark.
29 Wed. Netherlands – Special Customer!
A customer in one of the CLC bookshops in the Netherlands told staff that it had been 40 years since she last read the Bible, but a book she had recently read had prompted her to start reading the Bible again. It is wonderful to see this renewed curiosity to know more about the Bible. Please pray for her, that what she reads will touch her heart and that she will find and hold firmly to the word of life. Phil 2:16
30 Thu. Netherlands – Special Destination!
While paying for a postcard in a CLC bookshop, a customer shared that it was to be sent to a prisoner on Death Row in the USA. The customer had made contact with this prisoner and a friendship developed. The person who will receive the post card has been in prison, waiting for his final sentence, for 26 years. Pray that the message on this card, and those contained in many Christian books, Bibles, cards and calendars that are shared with prisoners, will bring the truth and hope of the Gospel to people in need.
31 Fri. Benin – Hopes and Dreams
Emmanuel Ladeyo continues faithfully in the ministry in the bookshop in Cotonou. He now has two part time helpers, after the only other full-time person left CLC earlier this year. Emmanuel continues to dream of having a CLC Centre (ie. our own bookshop with extra rooms for hospitality and events) and has opened a special account to start a fund. He also hopes to visit CLC France in November and attend the Publishers’ Fair in Paris. This will be his first trip beyond Africa. Please pray for fruitful contacts with the various publishers and wisdom in ordering. Above all, pray for the strengthening of the bond of fellowship and partnership between CLC France and CLC FWA.