CLC Prayer Focus August 2018
July/August – Week 31: Focus on Africa
Monday (30th) – Benin
We praise God for 20 years of ministry in Benin, and for the fact that, during all that time, we have been able to stay in the same place. Now the landlord has died, and the heir would like to sell the property. He is giving us ‘first refusal’ but the asking price is exorbitantly high. It looks like we will need to move soon. Please pray for God’s will to be done in this matter.
Tuesday (31st) – Burkina Faso
We thank God for the way that Luc Noufé has taken on the leadership of CLC Burkina after Prosper Weda left us in 2017. Please pray for Luc and his colleague, Gérard, as they seek to make the ministry more widely known and increase the sales of Bibles and Christian literature in the country. They are always on the lookout for book table opportunities – which means hard work for such a small team, so please pray that they will be fruitful.
Wednesday (1st) – Ivory Coast
We praise God that despite competition from a number of sources, CLC Abidjan has good sales and continues to hold its head above water. The team is always looking for diversity of stock, different from the other Christian bookshops in town. This year, they even won an award for their management and distribution of Christian music in the country. Please pray for the small team of three, Martine (ND) Noel and Linda, that they may continue to serve with excellence.
Thursday (2nd) – Sierra Leone
Praise God for the heart for outreach being demonstrated by our team in Bo City. Please pray for book deposits in other local shops to be effective and reach people who might not consider coming to a Christian bookshop. Also pray for a new motorcycle to help Matthew in the outreach ministry - this need has not been met at the time of writing.
Friday (3rd) – Liberia
We give thanks to God for the book mobile, which we received from a grant awarded to us by the Tyndale House Foundation, with the help of CLC USA. Please pray that we can keep the vehicle well maintained so that it will serve us for many years. We have a schedule for visiting the various provinces with the book mobile and we would appreciate prayers for safety on the road and for wisdom in taking the right selection of books to events and churches.
The Weekend (4th/5th) – Kenya
We have so much to praise God for! Despite various ongoing challenges this year, we rejoice that we have been able to supply so many copies of the Africa Study Bible to individuals and organisations since its launch in Nairobi last year. We have also received quantities of free books from one of our partners, which we have been able to match with the right customers as a “bonus” added to their purchases.
August – Week 32: Focus on Europe and Central Asia
Monday (6th) – CA1
The manager of the bookshop in this country asks for prayer as each month there seems to be a drop in Christians coming into the bookshop to make purchases. Please pray for guidance, new ideas and creativity for the manager and others who help him. One major step forward could be the launch of the shop website – please pray especially about this matter.
Tuesday (7th) – CA2
CLC relocated recently and much work has been done to prepare the bookshop for use. Most of the physical remodelling work is complete but, at the time of writing, permission is still needed to sell religious books from the bookshop! This could be quite problematic for a number of reasons, one of which is the need to have the deeds changed to commercial zoning. A supporting document for this has been promised, but there will be ongoing work to complete this process. Pray the bookshop will be able to open soon and that there will not be any need to go to court to resolve some of the issues involved in this move.
Wednesday (8th) – Germany
CLC Germany is experiencing parcel problems! With so many different products ordered online in the country now, some delivery companies are struggling to fulfil their commitments, especially from the smaller online suppliers. This is affecting the time it takes for shop orders to arrive from publishers, and sometimes means extra trips to collect books that were not delivered on time. Praise the Lord for CLC Germany’s faithful and supportive customers, and pray that people will understand if their specific orders do not arrive as quickly as expected.
Thursday (9th) – Cyprus
Praise the Lord for new opportunities and openings! Recently Sotos and Eva, who manage the bookshop in Nicosia, were at a Filipino church in Limassol, where Sotos was invited to preach. They also held a book table there. Praise God for the opportunity to share in this place, and pray that it would lead to a new outlet for the CLC ministry in this city.
Friday (10th) – France
Hervé Lessous, the Director for CLC France, has been acting as manger for the ‘7ici’ bookshop in Paris, which belongs to the Reformed Church, for the past two years. Now CLC is considering taking on the shop, which will mean a lot of technical and legal issues to resolve over the next few months.
Hervé is also travelling to visit the CLC France bookshops in Martinique and Guadalupe (September 6th-14th). The main purpose is to facilitate the sale of our shop in Fort de France (Martinique). CLC hope to be able to stay there until next January and, in the meantime, find a suitable new location to rent.
The Weekend (11th/12th) – Italy
In Italy, the decline in reading continues. It is already lower than many other countries in Europe and there is also a marked difference between north and south Italy, which is worrying. We pray that we may be more effective in our ministry, helping people to discover the pleasure of reading the Word of God and healthy Christian books.
There is also a decline in retail sales in Italy that means, for CLC, that it is becoming harder to keep bookshops open. Please pray for CLC Italy’s Director, Samuele Di Ruocco, and the team members, as difficult decisions need to be taken in terms of cutbacks and adapting to the current circumstances. Pray for wisdom, and that the team would remain strong in their faith.
August – Week 33: Focus on The Caribbean and South America
Monday (13th) – Antigua
The Carnival week has just concluded in Antigua. Although this is a secular event these days, and with an emphasis on enjoyment and celebration, it is also a time when the crime rate goes up, and many people suffer the consequences of excessive drinking etc. Pray too for the people of Antigua’s sister island of Barbuda that was devastated last year by hurricane Irma. Many people are still homeless and the recovery period is slow and problematic. Remember Arah Martin and her team in the CLC bookshop, as they seek to play their part in reaching out to the needy people around them.
Tuesday (14th) – Barbados
Please pray for the CLC ministry in Barbados as it is going through very difficult times. Tax changes made by a newly elected government mean extra monthly costs for CLC and, at the same time, customer footfall is in decline and there are days when the total sales are very low. Wilbert Charles, the manager, would appreciate your prayers for the team who are currently only working two weeks a month in rotating shifts due to the financial situation.
Wednesday (15th) – Bolivia
The recent re-location of the CLC bookshop in Santa Cruz has not brought the increased footfall and sales as anticipated. Despite much hard work, and a move to a better location, sales are still not covering costs. Team meetings last month, with Gamaliel Padilla (the National Director) and CLC’s Regional and International Directors, were held to prayerfully consider options, work out a strategy for the coming months and seek God’s guidance regarding the future of the ministry. Please pray.
Thursday (16th) – Ecuador
As with a number of our CLC teams in Latin America, CLC Ecuador facilitate Thompson Bible Seminars, for pastors and church leaders, around the country. Pray for the Seminars already held this year, that the training and encouragement given at these events would have long lasting benefits for those who study, teach and receive the Bible message. The next Seminar will be held in the city of Libertad – September 20th-22nd.
The team in Ecuador, led by Monica Rojas, is grateful to God for an increase in sales compared to the previous year and for the progress now being made towards the long awaited building of a new wholesale and retail space in Guayaquil.
Friday (17th) – Panama
Praise the Lord for all the hard work and commitment of the CLC staff whose efforts have made it possible for CLC Panama to get up to date with paying all their outstanding debts. Currently the team are in the process of acquiring two small vans for mobile work in and around Panama City and the city of David, which is near the border with Costa Rica.
The Weekend (18th/19th) – Venezuela
Please pray for the CLC team and ministry in Venezuela. The living and working conditions in this country have been extremely difficult for a number of years with no sign of improvement. Our work and our staff have been badly affected along with everyone else. In the last few months, CLC has had to look at closing one or two shops and some staff have left. Please pray especially for our new Director for Venezuela – Deivis Blanco. With support from other CLC teams, publishers and donors, it was possible to send a shipment of books from Miami recently.
August – Week 34: Focus on Africa and Europe
Monday (20th) – Spain/Equatorial Guinea
CLC Spain is working to provide materials for Equatorial Guinea - the only Spanish-speaking country in Africa. Though CLC no longer has a shop in the city of Bata, we do still have contacts in the country and some funds available specifically for books and Bibles. We hope to provide some important books for the WEC Bible School and another Seminary as well. We also want to provide Study Bibles and a large assortment of books on Christian Living. Please pray for us as we work out the details for this project, and that the books and Bibles will be a true blessing to pastors, seminary students and many churches in Equatorial Guinea. We are also exploring the possibility of providing 5,000 economic Bibles for the country. Please pray for guidance and provision.
Tuesday (21st) - Mozambique
We were amazed at the speed with which our “Bible for All” project came about last year! Please join us in praising God for His financial provision and in thanking Him for all the people who contributed to the print run of 10,000 economy edition Bibles in a modern version of Portuguese. We have had two special launch events in Maputo and Beira and we plan a third one in Nampula in September. Please pray that this will be well supported and that we can truly distribute these Bibles all over the country.
Wednesday (22nd) – Portugal
After many years working on his own, with a small and faithful group of volunteers, Carlos Cunha now has a part time worker, Vinicyus Fortes, in the Coimbra bookshop. Vinicyus is from Brazil and he is still going through the process of applying for a visa to stay long term in Portugal. He will be taking documentation to the relevant authorities in September. Please pray that he will have all the right paperwork in order to be accepted. This will make it easier for him to take on more work – a second part time job to help with finances and possibly more responsibilities within CLC.
Thursday (23rd) – Romania
CLC Romania has just had a difficult and discouraging period with dropping sales on the old website, increases in taxes, and some holdups (beyond our control) in the publishing programme. In addition, severe winters, and heavy rain this spring, caused damage to the CLC building. To get the repairs done is also a problem as many people with the relevant skills have left the country.
Praise the Lord for answers to the team’s prayers in July! The new website was launched, which we hope will be appreciated by Christians, and encourage customers again. We are also grateful that God touched the hearts of some people to come and help us with the repair work – some of which has already done and more is planned.
Friday (24th) – Netherlands
We have been asked to help a bookshop, from a book chain company, which will be closed down by the end of this year. Please pray for wisdom and guidance to decide if we should get involved with this.
In Apeldoorn, we have rebuilt our office into an apartment so we can rent that out to generate extra income for CLC – hopefully from October. Thank God for this opportunity, and that the whole process went very well.
Weekend (25th/26th) – Belarus
In 2019 the ancient city of Brest, where CLC’s bookshop is located, will celebrate its 1,000th birthday! The Bible also has a long history in the city as a man called Mikalai Radziwill printed the Bible there back in 1563. Churches in Brest are planning a special tour ‘Evangelical Brest’ devoted to the history of the evangelical movement in the city. The CLC bookshop will probably be the finishing point of the tour - a place where people can chat, browse and purchase Bibles, books and souvenirs. Please pray for this event and CLC’s part in it.
August/September – Week 35: Publishing, POD and eBooks
Monday (27th) – Partnership with Josh McDowell Ministries (1)
For Praise… CLC has had a growing relationship with Josh McDowell Ministries (JMM) over recent years. Several CLC countries have been printing books by Josh McDowell, including the bestseller More than a Carpenter and his moving autobiography Undaunted. In the past few months our two ministries are now joining forces to print the updated version of Evidence that Demands a Verdict into multiple languages. JMM is giving the rights for CLC to publish in French, Italian, Russian and probably Polish - and others could follow. We are delighted that JMM is raising the necessary funds for our CLC teams to oversee the translation, editing and layout of this 800-page book.
Tuesday (28th) – Partnership with Josh McDowell Ministries (2)
For Prayer… Following on from yesterday’s prayer point, CLC then needs to have the necessary funds for the printing costs. This is a huge project, which will take many months before the book is ready to be published in the various languages. Please pray that the Lord will provide all of the funds needed for this wonderful project. And pray with us that this book will bless and challenge the lives of thousands of readers.
Wednesday (29th) – CLC UK and POD
CLC UK is just about to launch a new Print on Demand platform in collaboration with a Dutch technology company. This platform will allow us to print books in multiple languages in multiple locations. Publishers can also use the service to order small to medium print runs, again in many different locations. This technology allows us to provide foreign-language books, which is a great opportunity in these days when populations and cultures are being mixed together in unprecedented ways. Once the platform is tested we intend to extend it to other CLC websites.
Thursday (30th) – CLC Kenya and POD
POD (Print on Demand) continues to keep us very busy, as we focus increasingly on publishing local authors. Please pray that we will be able to offer quality publishing to the right authors to bless our nation - and even beyond our nation – in the coming months.
Friday (31st) – CLC Sierra Leone and POD
We thank God for the new Print on Demand equipment that we received this year, with the help of CLC USA. Please pray that we as a team can market this well and let it be widely known what this new branch of CLC Freetown can offer! Also pray as we get to grips with using and maintaining the equipment - it’s a big learning curve! Pray especially for Mr. Tamba and Emmanuel who are in the “POD department”, that they will have a good flow of the right kind of work coming in and that they will be able to produce books of a high quality.
The Weekend (1st/2nd) - eBooks
Please continue to pray for the eBook project that has taken us a long time to develop. As you read this, the Android App is being tested in various countries so that we can identify any problems that need to be addressed. Pray that we will soon be able to launch this project, and make it available in many countries.