Week 40: Papua New Guinea, Thailand and Korea
Thursday (1st) – Opportunities for Growth (Thailand)
One area where CLC Thailand could grow and expand is in the English titles section of the bookshop. Praise the Lord for His provision of help and support in this area once again. The stock of English books was replenished recently and a couple from the USA, Don and Betsy Veldboom, are preparing to move to Chiang Mai early next year to support this part of the ministry; they both have plenty of experience in cross cultural ministry and in book selling.
Friday (2nd) – Study Books (Korea)
CLC in Korea is known for publishing academic and study books, and this is appreciated especially by pastors and seminary students. Recently they have been working on multi-volume sets such as the Anchor Bible Commentaries and the John Frame series. Their prayer is that these volumes will be used to help and encourage the spiritual growth of many Christians in Korea.
The Weekend (3rd/4th) – Other Books (Korea)
There is significant interest in overseas mission in Korea, and CLC has recently published two titles written by Korean missionaries, one working in India (Understanding Mission in India) and the other in Africa (Little Paradise in Africa). By the end of the year they hope to publish a seasonal book as well – Messages for Christmas.
Week 41: CLC Concerns
Monday (5th) – Multiple Issues
As with any mission, there are always issues to be addressed: staff changes, our spiritual effectiveness, our ability to change with the times. CLC has an extra dimension in that we are also a business, and that brings a whole different set of challenges: economic recession, unstable political conditions, changing exchange rates, technology affecting the book industry, to mention a few. During the rest of the week some specific examples will be mentioned, but please pray particularly for leaders grappling with multiple issues.
Tuesday (6th) – Latin America
For many years the work of CLC has grown strongly in Latin America, and in some countries it continues to do so. However, there have been some external factors that have slowed that growth. In recent times the strong US dollar has made the importation of books from the US far more expensive than before. Local book prices in Latin America cannot be increased by the same amount or they would be unaffordable. Please pray for our teams as they look for ways to overcome this.
Wednesday (7th) – Hungary
The ministry in Hungary is at a crossroads. The work has grown under Heiner Rindisbacher and then Zsolt Karpati and now has three bookshops in the country. However, Zsolt now feels it is time for someone else to take the work on and he will be stepping down at the end of the year. Please pray for just the right person to take over as CLC Hungary seeks to move into publishing and develop the online work.
Thursday (8th) – Spain
Our Spanish team is working hard to stabilise the work, fighting against the financial crisis that is still holding the country back, with more than 25% unemployment. Many changes have taken place in the last 4 years, most recently with the retirement of former leader, Antonio Vargas. Some of the changes are now bearing fruit but we still need to see a generalised improvement that is sustainable. Pray for Darwin Vergel as he leads this team.
Friday (9th) – Japan
In the last ten years the work of the team has been focused on managing decline. Both the church and the economy have been stagnant, and buying habits have changed. These changes are affecting all of the Christian book trade and our team has looked for ways of working with others for mutual benefit. Obviously it is not easy to work under these conditions so please pray for encouragement and blessing for this hard-working team.
The Weekend (10th/11th) - Austria
Please continue to pray for the future of the CLC bookshop in Graz. It has been a Christian bookshop for more than 50 years! Edeltraud Heumann cannot continue to run the shop on her own. Together with local people, we are urgently seeking alternatives. After closing the present shop in November, the intention is to re-open at a new location hopefully within a few months.
Week 42: Kenya and Mozambique
Information from Liz Patten, CLC Regional Director for Africa
Monday (12th) – New Person (Kenya)
When our National Director resigned unexpectedly and left CLC at the end of April, we prayed for a suitable successor. After an interim leadership period, we have been delighted to appoint Patrick Omukhango, who had previously worked in CLC, to this post. It appears that the Lord has brought him back "for such a time as this", as it is a time of major changes in the ministry.
Tuesday (13th) – New Premises (Kenya)
Earlier this year, we were informed by our landlord in Nairobi that we would have to vacate the current premises. This is the second time in 8 years that we have had to move our warehouse! At the time of writing, it seems that a suitable new place may have been found. By the time you read this, the move will have taken place. Please pray that with this move, we will be able to retain our former customer base, and at the same time build a new one.
Wednesday (14th) – New Project (Kenya)
At the end of April, we were very pleased to install equipment for a new Print on Demand (POD) facility, as an additional feature of our ministry in Nairobi. This was a significant answer to prayer, a dream finally becoming reality. Please pray for the person we will appoint as manager for the project, that he or she will be able to develop the project well in all aspects and help to supply the need for good but low cost materials in Kenya.
Thursday (15th) – Refurbishment (Mozambique)
Following the destruction, by termites, of most of our bookshelves in the CLC shop in Maputo, a large quantity of second hand fixtures and fittings were donated by CLC UK and funds raised to ship these in a container to Mozambique. Praise the Lord, the container finally arrived in July and remodelling has begun in the Maputo shop. We hope to get some of the shelving transported on to Beira, where we have our other CLC shop, by the end of the year.
Friday (16th) –Sales, Growth & Mission (Mozambique)
We praise the Lord for increased sales and general growth this year for CLC Maputo. We are also grateful for the opportunities that come our way to support those working in mission in Mozambique by supplying Bibles. Please pray for Gary Bolton and his team, as they come from Ireland on 23rd October for a 10-day mission in Beira. They have requested a supply of more than 750 Bibles and New Testaments in Portuguese and two local languages (Sena and Shona), and, at the time of writing we are working to obtain these in good time.
The Weekend (17th/18th) – CLC Beira (Mozambique)
One of our primary goals over the next months is to see CLC Beira become financially autonomous. Please pray that we will have wisdom in our financial management and in our ordering, as these are two key elements in reaching that goal. We are already thinking about where to open our third CLC shop in Mozambique, but Maputo and Beira must first be standing firm! We are still very challenged by the whole process of ordering Bibles and books from Brazil as it is generally a lengthy and very expensive exercise.
Week 43: UK Developments
Monday (19th) – Going Live
Give thanks for the completion of the work on the new warehouse and for “going live” early in September. Pray that it will be a blessing to the whole of the UK Christian Book Trade and enhance CLC’s mission and ministry.
Tuesday (20th) – Team Work
Pray for the new warehouse staff team. Some have moved to Chester from Alresford and others have joined us locally. Pray that they will work well together and blend into an efficient team. Pray too that the CLC team and the Eden team can also work well together as Eden (a Christian internet retailer) are leasing a portion of the warehouse for their operation.
Wednesday (21st) – Change of Ministry
Pray for Chris and Lynne Magee who have worked for many years with CLC UK initially in a bookshop and more recently in the warehouse. They are now moving on from CLC and are planning and working towards joining Operation Mobilisation. Pray that everything falls into place for this change of ministry. Pray too for others who will be moving on to new jobs and ministries.
Thursday (22nd) – All Things New
A new warehouse and new computer software! Please pray for the smooth running of the new warehouse system and software. Pray for the team as they learn how it operates. Give thanks that in David Scouler and Geoff & Miriam Bearham, CLC has three people who have already used the Chreos system in CLC Australia and know it well; they will be able to train and oversee others.
Friday (23rd) – Shop Software
Pray for the 19 UK bookshops that will also change to the new Chreos software. At the start of February 2016 a programme to put the shops on Chreos will begin and the first shops are likely to be London, Sheffield, Stockport, Leicester and Tolworth. CLC Wolverhampton may go on this autumn as a trial shop. Please pray that the shop staff quickly master the new system and that there are no major problems. Pray too that the more efficient links to the warehouse will improve both warehouse and shop efficiency.
The Weekend (24th/25th) – Choosing Titles to Stock
With many new English language books being published each month, wisdom is needed as to which titles to stock - both in the warehouse and the shops. Pray for guidance for the warehouse buyer as both UK and USA publishers are keen for us to hold their titles. Pray that the Bibles and books CLC supplies will be ones which bring people to faith and build them up in that faith.
Week 44: Answered Prayer
Monday (26th) – Belarus
We praise God for the opportunity to arrange CLC bookstalls at some major conferences earlier this year. It was a concern, and a matter for prayer, that we were unable to attend these events the previous year. One of the bookstalls was at a youth conference in Kobrin and although we do not have a CLC centre in this city now, it is where CLC Belarus started!
Tuesday (27th) – Swaziland
Liz Patten (Africa Regional Director), Petra Nemansky (CLC IO) and Carol, a visiting friend and previous CLC colleague, were in Swaziland on CLC business earlier this year. They had to go back to Mozambique with extra luggage and shop stock. Travelling by public transport is arduous and uncomfortable and Carol prayed fervently for a better solution for the return journey. Praise the Lord they were offered a lift with a pastor they knew. It was a comfortable journey in a spacious car and, as an added bonus, the pastor had a diplomatic passport so there was no waiting or inspection at the border!
Wednesday (28th) – UK
If Anumonye, the manager of CLC Chatham, wrote the following earlier this year: “Hallelujah! We have witnessed a miracle! A regular customer who has been using a walking aid for about ten years just got healed in the shop when another customer was moved to pray for him! He has had surgery twice for his knees and back, but to little avail, and was due for more surgery. He came in using his walker, barely able to walk or stand unaided, and has just left with that same walker, this time carrying it on his shoulder. Amazement from us all....as if we should be surprised! It's the Holy Spirit at work. God be praised!”
Thursday (29th) – USA
Recently in one of the bookstores, where there is a regular prayer time for staff and customers, a young lady shared her serious problem of a force that repeated commands over and over in her mind, filling it with negative thoughts. Prayer had previously given temporary relief but any peace was short lived. The shop manager, another lady and the concerned customer prayed together and the customer left with a book by John Eckhard – Prayers that Rout Demons. Praise the Lord this lady got in touch some weeks later to say the voices had stopped.
Friday (30th) – France
Praise the Lord that after months of prayer and searching we have found a new location for the Paris bookshop. It is not far from the current bookshop and the rent is cheaper. After some long and complex negotiations, this move should now take place, although at the time of writing a contract had still not been completed.
The Weekend (31st/1st) – Ecuador
CLC Ecuador was hoping to purchase a property in Quito for the HQ and warehouse. After a long time in negotiations, the property was taken off the market. The decision was taken to look for suitable premises in Guayaquil instead, as it is the largest city in Ecuador and the port where our supplies enter the country. A property was found close to our main bookshop in this city and at a price we could afford to buy it outright! In addition, there is enough available space for a good warehouse, offices and to relocate the main bookshop!