Prayer Focus 2015 - July
Week 27 - Ecuador & Panama
Monday (29th) - Quito (Ecuador):
We continue to pray that the Lord will allow us, according to His perfect will, to buy a property in Quito. We have already made a formal offer to the Christian ministry that owns the building and we are waiting for their decision about whether or not our offer is acceptable. It would be a great blessing for us if this purchase could go through.
Tuesday (30th) - Maintaining Sales (Ecuador):
Please pray with us that we will be able to maintain sales in our 5 CLC bookshops in Ecuador, a country where the economic situation is changing. In the first quarter of this year we have seen a significant drop in sales.
Wednesday (1st) - Guayaquil (Ecuador):
David, the manager of the main bookshop in the city of Guayaquil, has been under some emotional pressure this year as his wife has recently had a gall bladder operation and is also expecting a baby. Please pray for good health and peace of mind for this couple, and for the safe arrival of their baby.
CLC Ecuador information provided by Carlos Marín
Thursday (2nd) - Needs (Panama) :
Please pray for CLC Panama regarding the following needs the team have. We need two more sales-people on the team, specifically for the mobile work – one for Panama City and another for the city of David. We are also praying that we will be able to buy our own property for the warehouse, offices and wholesale departments. A year ago we moved into rented premises, but we see this as temporary.
Friday (3rd) - Special Event (Panama):
Jim and Elizabeth George, international speakers and authors of many books, will be participating in three special events (for women, pastors and couples) organised by CLC and some Christian publishers in Panama this month. Please pray that this time will be an encouragement and blessing for everyone involved.
The Weekend (4th/5th) - A New Project (Panama):
CLC Panama recently instigated a new project, Círculo de Lectores Kenesis, which is a reading club held once every two weeks in CLC Albrook. This bookshop is situated in a large modern shopping mall and, as it is open late, it is an ideal location for evening events. A voluntary helper arranges the programme and authors or other guests are invited to read and talk about passages from different books. At the time of writing, around 12 people regularly attend this – but that number could grow as people hear about the project.
CLC Panama information provided by Milton Cheng
Week 28 - Switzerland, Cyprus & Germany
Monday (6th) - New Website (Switzerland) :
Last November, we launched our new website. In the first three months of this year, website sales had already doubled compared with the same period last year. However, total sales in the bookshop were down. While we are pleased that people are ordering from us on the Internet, we still want customers to visit us in person.
Tuesday (7th) - Shop Improvements (Switzerland):
As the bookshop in Lugano-Agno now has some extra volunteer help, there are plans to make some changes to freshen up the appearance of the bookshop and improve the signs for the different sections. Pray that the results will make shopping for books easier for customers, and that the shop will be more inviting for everyone who enters.
CLC Switzerland information provided by Carlos Ciafani
Wednesday (8th) - Books at Camps (Cyprus):
Once again we plan to hold book tables at Christian camps. At the time of writing, a book table at a children’s camp is already planned for July 8th and a family camp in August. There may be more arranged nearer the time. Please pray that the books and other items chosen will benefit those who will purchase them and help to meet people’s needs at each event.
Thursday (9th) - Co-operation in Limassol (Cyprus):
An English speaking fellowship in Limassol has turned one of the rooms where they hold their Bible studies into a bookshop! They recently obtained some Greek Bibles from us for the bookshop. Please pray that this co-operation will
increase, and expand to supplies of our books and other items as well.
CLC Cyprus information provided by Sotos & Eva Photiades
Friday (10th) - An Answer before Praying! (Germany):
A gifted and much appreciated work colleague, who has worked for CLC Hamburg for the past 10 years, had to leave us recently. We will miss this lady who was warm-hearted in her service to customers and was often called on to give counsel and advice. Before we found out about this move we had already found another lady, also a mature Christian with a lot of experience, who was willing to work with us. Sometimes a solution arrives before we pray!
The Weekend (11th/12th) - Challenges in the Market (Germany):
As the Director of CLC Germany, I am involved in a number of working groups of Christian booksellers and publishers. I am very aware of the huge challenges that we all face in this market these days, and we value your prayer support. However, it is God himself that is building His Kingdom. As long as it is necessary, we have great joy in being in His service through the Christian bookshop ministry.
CLC Germany information provided by Valentin Schweigler
Week 29 - India & Indonesia
Monday (13th) - The Sales Situation (India) :
Pray for good sales in all the ELS centres. On the whole, there has been a drop in sales since the beginning of 2014 and the trend seems to be continuing this year too. By God’s grace, the 2 new bookshops opened last year, in Ranipet and Bangalore, are doing well. The bookshops in Delhi and Guwahati are struggling the most financially and the teams there would appreciate your prayers for increased sales.
Tuesday (14th) - ‘The Heat is On’ (India):
Pray for good health and stamina for all the staff as the hot summer season has already started. Our bookshops in Delhi and Ludhiana reach the hottest temperatures - that can rise up to 44ºC.
Wednesday (15th) - A Special Sale (India):
A ‘Special Sale’ was held in the CLC Headquarters bookshop, in Chennai, for four days in April. Praise God for the good response. Praise God too that during this time several people from other
religious backgrounds walked into the shop and bought books and Bibles. Pray that God would minister to them by His Spirit and that they would be saved.
CLC India information provided by Justin Chellapan
Thursday (16th) - Praying for a Re-Opening (Indonesia):
If it is God’s will, we are considering re-opening a CLC centre in Manado, North Sulawesi. There are many Christians in this city and we recognise the need for a supply of Bibles, books and other Christian materials. Please pray for guidance in this matter.
Friday (17th) - CLC Publishing (Indonesia):
CLC Publishing in Indonesia has about 50 titles in print. At the time of writing, we have a book by Watchman Nee, Love Not the World, being prepared for printing and a book by Warren Wiersbe is going through the translation process. Praise God for the opportunity to publish Christian books in this country and pray that the books will bless many people.
The Weekend (18th/19th) - Promotion Programme (Indonesia):
Please pray for our promotion programme. We send letters and leaflets to many theological schools and trust God for a good response. Our goal is that students will buy, and appreciate, the books we have to offer. In particular we want to make contact with new schools.
CLC Indonesia information provided by Donny Kairupan
Week 30 - Volunteers
Monday (20th) - CLC Volunteers around the World:
Praise the Lord for all the volunteers (currently we have over 200 regular volunteers) who help CLC around the world. CLC would not be what it is, or do what it does, without them! Please pray for them - some will be mentioned in the following prayer points but God knows all of them by name.
Tuesday (21st) - Switzerland:
“In Switzerland it is hard to find volunteers - people need well paid jobs due to the high cost of living here. I want to thank God for a new volunteer in our bookshop. Her name is Gina, and she has come from Peru with her husband and two children to live in Switzerland. She only works a few hours each week, but she is very capable and willing and it is good to have a lady’s contribution to the aesthetics of the shop!” Carlo Ciafani, bookshop Manager
Wednesday (22nd) - Dominica:
“Tajya is a volunteer worker for CLC in Roseau. She is married with four children and would love to start up her own business from home but at the moment she does not have the finances for this. Meanwhile, we thank God for her dedication and contribution to CLC. Tajya is one of the main speakers on our newly established radio programme ‘CLC and the Open Book’.” Davis Laudat, bookshop Manager
Thursday (23rd) - United Kingdom:
“We are so thankful to have a new volunteer currently with us in CLC London, UK, for about three months. Becky is a nineteen-year-old who has just completed YWAM Discipleship training in Australia. She plans to return to Australia in September to serve for another 2 years with YWAM. We are grateful that this young lady is willing to serve with us at a time when we really needed help.” Shelley Webb, bookshop Manager
Friday (24th) - Philippines:
“CLC recently started to publish a children’s Sunday school curriculum “Sa Puso at Diwa”. As more orders are now coming in for the curriculum, CLC has secured the services of volunteer workers to do the revisions of the curriculum and add the final touches. Thank the Lord for these young people who are available and happy to help us.” Don Tan, CLC Philippines
The Weekend (25th/26th) - Portugal:
“We praise God for the work of João Silva, a key volunteer in CLC Portugal’s publishing department that started just last year. João is involved in the publicity, the cover design and the editing and he also has great ideas to develop the work in the future.” Carlos Cunha, National Director
Week 31 - UK Changes
Monday (27th) - New Warehouse:
Give thanks for the purchase, at the end of March, of a new warehouse just outside Chester. Pray that the renovations and fitting out are finished on time and that the warehouse is ready for use on the projected start date of early September. Pray for Mick Goodman as he oversees the work of preparing the premises.
Tuesday (28th) - Project Management:
Pray for David Scouler, the project manager for the warehouse move. As well as supervising the actual move, David is managing the setting up and configuration of the new integrated computer software for the warehouse and shops. Give thanks that we have been able to identify a system that suits our needs and pray for warehouse and shop staff as they are trained in, and get used to, the new software.
Wednesday (29th) - From Alresford to Chester:
Pray for the actual move and transfer of the supply operation from Alresford to Chester. The stock will need to go north as well as other equipment. Pray that books and Bibles will continue to be sent out to the UK book trade with no problems and interruptions. The last two weeks in August and the first week of September is the crucial period.
Thursday (30th) - Staff Relocation:
As well as the stock, the Scoulers and some other staff members will also be moving north. Pray for those considering whether to relocate to Chester. For all involved it will be a new and unsettling period. Pray for the whole UK team as it goes through these changes.
Friday (31st) - Opening and Closing Shops:
Give thanks for the recent acquisition of the Re:Fresh Christian Bookshop in Tolworth, Greater London. Pray for Graham Lapthorn, the manager, who has transferred from CLC Guildford to Tolworth, and for the staff who have joined us from Re:Fresh. The trustees reluctantly made the decision to close our shops in Canterbury and Guildford at the end of the leases in May.
The Weekend (1st/2nd) - Future Plans:
The UK Leadership Team would like to be able to open new shops in cities where there is no Christian bookshop. The economic problems of the past few years saw many Christian bookshops close. Please pray that if this vision is from God, we will be able to find the right premises in the right location and at an affordable rent.