Prayer Focus: June 2015
Monday (1st) - Italy:
CLC Turin recently organized a meeting with Emanuele Fardella, the author of two books, published by CLC Italy, about the influence of the
occult and subliminal message in music. The books are bestsellers for CLC Italy as thousands of copies have been sold. Over 500 people came to the meeting. We have had similar meetings in Naples and Catania as well. We praise God that thousands of people are becoming informed on these topics, and for the positive impact on the ministry of CLC Italy.
Tuesday (2nd) - USA:
CLC USA is publishing several key books, on the topic of global missions, leading up to the triennial Urbana Student Missions Conference that takes place in December. Of particular importance is the new book Send Me, I’ll Go that has just been released.
It is written by a young, but experienced, missionary church planter who worked in Mainland China and is now in Taiwan. The book is designed to challenge young people to long-term commitments to serving God wherever He sends them.
Wednesday (3rd) - Portugal:
Many years ago CLC published a book by a Scottish missionary in Portugal. Now, under Carlos Cunha’s leadership, CLC Portugal has taken up publishing once more. In December 2014, the devotional book A Noite de Deus (Night of God) by Clarisse Barros, a Portuguese author, was published. In the first two months almost half the initial print run had been sold and feedback about the book is encouraging.
Thursday (4th) - Romania:
CLC Romania is currently running two bookshops, a website with online sales and a translation and publishing programme. At the time of writing they have 6 more books translated and ready for the layout process, one book ready for print, one book in the process of being translated and two titles waiting for permission to publish. Please pray for wisdom and energy for Ronela Micula and her team; they are as
busy as ever but with a significantly reduced number of staff.
Friday (5th) - The Philippines:
CLC in the Philippines have published over 200 titles. However, almost half of these titles are either out of print or the contracts have expired. Please pray for the publishing department as they negotiate with foreign publishers for permits to publish their books. At the same time, CLC Publications have a project to provide reference materials to pastors and Christian workers in the Philippines at prices lower than
bookstore prices. For this, there is a need for reference books, such as Systematic Theology, that can be published by CLC Philippines.
The Weekend (6th/7th) - International Office:
In recent months we have collaborated with a UK evangelist to produce a Gospel of Mark specifically directed at people who are not used to reading the Bible. It comes in a magazine style and is entitled ‘Look Closer’. The New Living Translation of the Bible has been used, along with testimonies and explanations of ‘spiritual’ words in every day language. Please pray that this project will enable many people to read part of the Bible for the very first time.
Monday (8th) - Warehouse Relocation, Project Manager:
David and Roelina Scouler (ex CLC Australia) have joined the UK team. David is the project manager for the warehouse move. Pray
for them as they settle into the UK and for David as he learns how the Christian book trade works in the UK and all the other information he
needs to oversee the enterprise.
Tuesday (9th) - Warehouse Relocation:
Please continue to pray for the warehouse move. The trustees have identified a suitable property in the Chester area. Once all the
legal processes, which hopefully will be well underway by now are completed, the process of equipping and moving begins. Pray
for all the people for whom this move will bring big changes and elements of uncertainty, that they may know God’s peace.
Wednesday (10th) - Computer System for Warehouse & Shops:
With the warehouse move will come a new computer system requirement for the UK ministry. Pray for Mick Goodman, the advisory group and the trustees as decisions are made as to which supplier is selected and for the work which will have to be done to adapt the system for CLC’s particular needs.
Thursday (11th) - CLC Interim General Manager:
Pray for Eddie Olliffe in his short-term role as UK General Manager. Part of his brief is to facilitate the finding of a longer term National Director for the UK possibly from outside CLC UK. Pray that we will know God’s person for this job.
Friday (12th) - Retail Managers Group:
Richard Morris, retires after the conference in May and John Watkins, will be retiring shortly thereafter. Geoff Fanning will continue with the retail management but pray that the Leadership Team will know the best way of overseeing the shops in the future. With God’s help CLC UK wants to keep as many High street shops open as possible and perhaps dream of opening others in strategic locations.
The Weekend (13th/14th) - Stock and Supply Chains:
With changes in the supply chain to shops continuing, and in particular USA publishers looking for UK outlets, pray for the warehouse as they evaluate the stock ranges being offered to them for distribution and wholesaling, particularly when more space becomes available in the new warehouse. Pray too for the shops and warehouse as they work together to ensure the availability of the Bibles, books and other
supplies our customers need.
Monday (15th) - Wroclaw, Poland:
Please pray as, at the time of writing, we are looking for a new manager for the CLC bookshop in the historic city of Wroclaw. The shop is located in the premises of a Baptist church, but it is also open to the public. At the end of March, after many years of service with CLC, the previous shop manager left the ministry. We see this as an opportunity to find a new manager, someone who can take the bookshop
forward and be active in organising book tables and in connecting with the local churches.
Tuesday (16th) - Katowice, Poland:
Please pray for the staff of the small CLC bookshop in Katowice. The manager, and CLC Director for Poland, Ewa Rymer, has been very
committed to the ministry here for over 10 years. Praise God for the help of Sabina who assists Ewa in the bookshop and with adding new
articles to the website - www.clc.org.pl. Please pray with the team for an additional person to help CLC Poland with the change over to the
CLC International ePlatform website either this year or early in 2016. Thank God that the shop is now more financially solid than it was
several years ago.
Wednesday (17th) - Publishing in Poland:
CLC Poland was able to publish a number of books in 2014. These included Amazing Love by Corrie Ten Boom, Reason for my Hope: Salvation by Billy Graham and two titles by Evelyn Christenson. We are currently translating the new title by Francis Chan; You and Me Forever and, at the time of writing, working on printing Billy Graham’s book How to be Born Again. Praise God that there is much interest in
Billy Graham’s books. Please pray that the Lord will guide us as we search for new titles that can truly make a difference in the lives of the readers.
Thursday (18th) - Budapest, Hungary:
Last year we saw dramatic changes in the Christian book market with two publishers opening bookshops in Budapest. We could sense the direct effect of this on our sales, even though our Internet sales rose significantly. This impacts the way we work and we have to concentrate more on online activities. Please pray as we adjust to these realities.
Friday (19th) - Debrecen, Hungary:
We have received news of an opportunity to move our Debrecen bookshop from its present location, in a small shopping mall, to a church property. At the time of writing, we don’t have all the details but we know the overhead costs would be lower. After 4 years of operation in Debrecen the overhead costs are still very high and a move like this could help the shop become self-sufficient. Please pray for
wisdom in decision-making.
The Weekend (20th/21st) - Miskolc, Hungary:
For the past two years the future of our shop manager, Ilona, has been uncertain. At the time of writing, it now seems probable that her husband, a pastor, will be moved to a church in another town in Hungary possibly in the next few months. Please pray for the Szuhanszkys at this time as they prepare to move after many years living and serving in Miskolc. Pray too for the CLC ministry as this will mean decisions
will need to be made about its future in Miskolc.
Monday (22nd) - Trinidad:
Trinidad has a high crime and murder rate and the CLC team there pray daily for God’s protection. Recently, they believed a man was attempting to steal from the Port of Spain bookshop. The staff were amazed to see how God kept sending customers into the shop while the man was waiting to make his move. As he finally drew closer to the cashier’s booth (a protective screen around the till as in the photo on the left) two more men entered the shop, which seemed to confuse him and he walked straight out having been in the store for about an hour and a half. The police had been alerted but arrived just after the man left. Please pray for continued protection for our four bookshops in Trinidad.
Tuesday (23rd) - USA:
CLC USA is praising God for His direct answer to prayer this past Christmas season. The team had been praying that sales would increase after several years of declines and bad weather. Not only did God provide good weather, but also sales increased by 30% in December in two of the three stores. What a good God we serve.
Wednesday (24th) - Dominica:
The landlord of the CLC bookshop in Roseau, Dominica, reduced the rental substantially for the whole of 2014 - an answer to prayer, for which we were very thankful. In last October’s Prayer Focus this temporary arrangement was mentioned and we asked for prayer that the rent would not be increased too much in 2015. Praise the Lord it has stayed at the same amount as 2014!
Thursday (25th) - Ecuador:
National Director Carlos Marin writes: “We give thanks to God for the Thompson Bible Seminars we were able to arrange in two cities earlier this year. In Quito, 81 pastors and church leaders attended and in Otavalo there were 122 participants. Dr. Phil Train from Bolivia led the Bible seminars, including one that was specifically for the families of the pastors. The event was a great blessing for everyone.” Photo of event:
Friday (26th) - Portugal:
Carlos Cunha manages a vibrant CLC ministry based in, and reaching out from, a small bookshop in Coimbra. Recently, Carlos’ wife tarted helping part-time in the shop. She had previously been employed elsewhere and volunteering with CLC meant significant financial sacrifice for the family. Praise the Lord for His provision for all their needs during this time though, on occasions, their faith was really stretched as well as built up! They have now been given the promise of extra financial support for the next two years – praise the Lord for this answer to prayer.
The Weekend (27th/28th) - Cyprus:
Sotos and Eva Photiades write from Nicosia: - “The previous occupants of the shop next door to us had a small business and insisted that their customers should be able to park across our driveway, blocking our car and creating problems for us. We have been praying this would not happen with the new occupants. Praise the Lord, a very pleasant man is now renting the property, which he uses as an office for only a few hours every day.”