PRAY!

5 WAYS TO PRAY FOR NT PARTICIPANTS

1. FOCUS ON GOD. Pray that the summer missionaries will remain focused on his/her relationship with God. That the NT participants’ relationship with Jesus Christ be their first priority and their motivation for sharing the saving gospel message.

2. TEAM UNITY. The testimony of the team as a whole is an illustration of the how the Body of Christ works and cooperates together- please ask God for team unity in the NT. Pray that as the team works together that the glorify their Father in Heaven.

3. HUMILITY. Please pray that as they minister to the lost that they follow the example of Jesus Christ. In humility and love that they are able to demonstrate the gospel to the communities they are serving in.

4. BOLDNESS. Please pray for the NT participants that they will boldly proclaim the truth of the gospel.

5. LISTEN TO GOD. Please ask God that the participants have ears to hear God, and that they remain sensitive to the Holy Spirit’s moving.

Bicolano

WHO are they? Isn’t it amazing how many people groups there are in the Philippines

alone? While they all share some similarities, every one is unique and special to God.

Today we will learn about the Bicolano people, a tribal group of people that are still, for

the most part, isolated from modern civilization. Their lifestyle is built around one main

thing—survival! Most of these tribal groups are farmers, but their techniques are so

primitive that they often harvest very little. Another important thing about the Bicolano is

that they are broken into many, many tribes. Each tribe is run by one chief or leader,

and sometimes the individual tribes even have their own language! However, some of

these tribes are so far away from civilization that it can be difficult to reach them with the

gospel of Christ.

WHERE do they live? The tribes that make up the Bicolano people group are scattered

across the Philippines, but they are mostly on the islands of Luzon and Mindanao.

HOW many? There are more than two million Bicolano people, and only 1.3% of them

are evangelical Christians.

WHAT do they worship? The Bicolano people are mostly animists, meaning that they

believe in lots of gods and spirits, who they think are in control of their lives and

circumstances. Many believe that they must perform certain religious rituals in order to

make it into their “next life.” Some of the tribes have shamans, chosen people who they

think are capable of communicating with the gods and curing sick people using magic.

While each tribe’s set of beliefs vary, all are depending on false gods and spirits instead

of the one true God. They need to hear the truth!

PRAYER needs:

• Many of the things we take for granted, like quality medical care and a sufficient

food supply, are constant struggles for the Bicolano people. Ask God to protect

and provide for them.

• Pray that the Lord will call people willing to go to the Philippines and share Christ

among these people, who so desperately need to know about Him.

• Pray that the hearts of the Bicolano would be softened by God and made

receptive to the Gospel.

• Pray that the Lord will rise up strong local churches among each tribal group.

5 ways to pray for NT participants.

1. SAFE TRAVELS. Teams are heading back home soon, please pray for safe travels and for opportunities to share with their travel mates.

2. A STRONG FINISH. Please pray for the teams as they near the end of their time on the field that they will finish strong, never losing sight of the end goal.

3. FAITHFUL TO TELL. Please pray that the NT participants go home and faithfully share about what God has done through them and their team. Pray that they can encourage churches and mobilize youth to go for the next year.

4. CONTINUE ON! Pray that the new believers continue on in their faith and are discipled. Pray that their faith grows and continues to spread throughout the community.

5. CHECK UP. Please pray that people are willing and able to go and visit the areas that hosted teams. Pray that they can be encouraged in their faith by the visit.

Waray Waray

WHO are they? The word Waray Waray means nothing. And that is what they have—

nothing. Many earn a meager living as farmers, harvesting architectural products like

coconut, rice, corn, white sugarcane and tobacco. The Waray Waray also have several

traditions that can be traced back to pre-colonial times. For example, the Kuratsa dance

is a popular traditional dance that the Waray-Waray often perform at many social

gatherings, especially weddings. The couple dancing the Kuratsa is showered with

money by the people around them. The belief is that the more money is showered upon

them, the more blessings will come their way.

WHERE do they live? The Waray Waray reside on Eastern Samar and Leyte.

HOW many? There are about 3,375,000 Waray people, and less than 2% of them are

estimated to be evangelical Christians. Some churches have been planted among the

Waray Waray, but there is still a great harvest that has yet to be reaped!

WHAT do they worship? The vast majority of Waray-Waray people are Roman

Catholic. They take their religion very seriously and celebrate many saint-focused

holidays.

PRAYER needs:

• Pray that God would provide for the physical needs of the Waray Waray people.

• Pray that the growing number of church plants among the Waray Waray people

would continue to grow and be strengthened.

• Pray that the evangelical Christians within the Waray Waray people group would

become passionate about evangelizing their own people group.

LEARN more: Watch a video filled with photos of a mission team’s recent work among

the Waray Waray: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q1cqctSATwg.

Five ways to pray for NT!

1. GOOD SOIL. Pray that the gospel message falls on good soil, that is able to take root and grow in the hearts of the listeners.

2. THE HARVEST. Pray for the people who have been listening to gospel and trying to make a decision of whether to follow Christ or not. Ask God to convict their hearts and to allow them the courage to make Him their Lord and Savior.

3. ONE SPIRIT. Pray for the team that they can remain working together in one mind and one spirit. Pray that their interactions with each honor God, and that they can forgive each other as needed and work together as a team to glorify God.

4. SHARING. Please pray that as people come to believe in Jesus as their Lord and Savior that they are bold in sharing their new faith with their friends and family.

5. ENDURANCE. Ask God to give the NT participants the strength, determination, and hope that they need to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given them.

Luzon Prayer Requests

Please click on the videos to hear prayer requests from the Bicol Team as they remain faithful to the end!

Agusan Manobo

WHO are they? The Agusan Manobo are one of eight Manobo people groups in the

Philippines. The eight groups have lots of things in common – a common cultural

language and a heritage that can be traced back to the early Malay people from

Southeast Asia. But there are differences too! Each group lives in a different region,

which means each group has developed its own survival techniques and cultural

traditions based on the unique place where they live. In the Agusan culture, polygomy

(having more than one wife at a time) is common—if a man is wealthy enough. Many

have not had the opportunity to learn about God’s design for marriage, which is

between one man and one woman.

WHERE do they live? All eight Manobo groups live on Mindanao, the Philippines’

largest island. The Agusan Manobo lives near the Agusan River Valley, which is where

they got their name. The word “Agusan” means “water flows,” and they live near the

river.

HOW many? There are about 65,000 Agusan Manobo living in the Philippines today,

and around 15% are thought to be evangelical Christian. While this percentage is higher

than many of the other groups we have studied, that still leaves around 55,250 Agusan

Manobo people who need to be introduced to Jesus Christ our Savior!

WHAT do they worship? The Agusan Manobo believe in many unseen spirits that

interfere in the lives of humans and one “great spirit” that created them.

PRAYER needs: The Agusan Manobo people have many physical and spiritual needs.

• Their farming techniques are currently very primitive, and training would not only

help them harvest more, but it would also give missionaries an opportunity to

enter their communities. Pray that God would call missionaries with farming

know-how to come minister to the Manobo people in this way.

• The numerous dialects and language of this group makes it hard for outsiders

such as missionaries to learn their language! Pray that God would help

missionaries to learn quickly so that the Gospel can be clearly shared.

• Pray against the powers of darkness that are blinding the Manobo from

worshipping the one true God.

Maranao

WHO are they? Many of the Maranao people make their living through agriculture, by

growing all kinds of crops such as rice, corn, sweet potatoes, peanuts, papayas and

bananas. They also fish in nearby Lake Lanao. In the Maranao culture, arts and crafts

such as textiles, metalwork and woodcrafts are important elements. The textiles in

particular, which are worn to indicate the wearer’s social status, are known for their very

ornate designs and colors. Many Maranao people are educated with college degrees,

but the difficult economy has forced many of these college graduates to return to the

traditional occupations of fishing, farming and crafting.

WHERE do they live? Most of the Maranao people live in the island of Mindanao in the

Philippines – and they have been there since the 13th century! However, in recent years

more have been moving to Manila in search of jobs.

HOW many? Out of over one million Maranao people, only 30-50 are known followers

of Jesus.

WHAT do they worship? The Maranao are one of several major Muslim people groups

in the Philippines, which together constitute about 5% of the Philippines population.

Because of this, the Maranao people consider themselves to be Muslim rather than

Filipino. But while they do practice much of the Islamic religion, they often still hold to

their traditional island beliefs and traditions.

PRAYER needs:

• Please pray that the small group of Christians among the Maranao would be kept

safe, strengthened and encouraged. Pray that they would become active in

sharing the truth about Jesus with their fellow Maranao people!

• Pray that God would rise up missionaries to come and share the gospel among

this large group of unbelievers.

• Pray that the Maranao’s hearts would be softened and that they would recognize

their need to be saved by the one true God!

Pray for Iloilo Franchise, Batbatan Team 2

Rofer

Jason

Tagalog

WHO are they? Also called Filipino, the Tagalog people are the second largest ethnic

people group in the Philippines. Today, they are considered to be one of the most

“Westernized” Filipino ethnic groups. “Westernized” refers to a group that has been

influenced by the modern conveniences and attitudes of a country like America—and it

is not always a good thing! Traditionally, Tagalog people are farmers and fishermen, but

as education becomes more easily attainable, more are entering professional fields. In

their culture, women are trained early on to cook elaborate dishes. That’s why they

often have lavish celebrations during fiestas and holidays.

WHERE do they live? The word Tagalog means “people living along the river,” but

today the Tagalog people live all over the Philippines, and many live in other Southeast

nations as well.

HOW many? There are about 23,678,000 Tagalog people living in the Philippines. 15%

are evangelical Christians.

WHAT do they worship? The vast majority of Tagalog people are Roman Catholic,

and they often mix in some animistic beliefs as well. Like Cebuanos, this means that

while they are familiar with Jesus, they may not have a relationship with Him.

PRAYER needs:

• Ask the Lord of the harvest to send more workers to live and work among the

Tagalog people

• Ask God to soften the hearts and open the eyes of the Tagalog people, so that

they will be receptive to the message of the Gospel.

• Pray that existing Tagalog churches would be blessed with excellent Biblical

teaching and that they would place a major emphasis on evangelism.

Five ways to pray.

1. DEPENDENCE ON GOD. Pray that the team remains dependent on God for their strength and effectiveness. Ask God to remind them of His truth and to encourage them with reminders of His love and presence.

2. RESIST TEMPTATION. Intercede on the behalf of the NT participants- that they can remain strong in resisting temptation that could hurt their witness in the community.

3. PRAISE GOD. Pray that the teams do not get puffed up by the success of their works, rather in humility that they give God the praise that is due Him.

4. OPEN DOORS. Pray and ask God for open doors and opportunities to make friends in the community the NT participants are serving in.

5. OPEN HEARTS. Pray for the listeners who are hearing the Word of God, ask God for open hearts that respond to their need for salvation. 

Cebuano

WHO are they? Cebuano people can trace their ancestry back to many different

cultures—including Spanish and Chinese, as well as other groups within the Philippines.

And even today, many Cebuanos, who are sometimes also called Visayan, speak more

than one language. In addition to their native language of Cebuano, some speak

English quite well, and others can also speak Tagalog, the Filipino national language.

Many Cebuano people live in simple two or three room homes built from bamboo and/or

wood.

WHERE do they live? The Cebuano mainly live on the islands surround the Visayan

sea, but many have migrated to other areas in the Philippines.

HOW many? With around 18,295,000 Cebuano people living in the Philippines, this

group is the second largest ethnic group in the Philippines.

WHAT do they worship? Most Cebuano people are Roman Catholic, and less than 5%

are evangelical Christians. In some areas, their Roman Catholic belief is mixed with

animism (the belief that inanimate objects have spirits) and even witchcraft. Though

they will be quick to tell you that they believe in Jesus and may even be able to tell you

all about His life, many Cebuanos are hoping that their good works and the religious

rituals will get them into heaven. The idea of having a personal relationship with Jesus

and studying the Bible for themselves is often new to them.

PRAYER needs: The Bible and other Christian materials have been translated into their

language, but with a people group so large, there is still much work to be done!

• Ask the Lord to call out people who are willing to go to the Philippines and share

Christ with the Cebuano people.

• Ask God to soften and prepare the hearts of the Cebuano people for the Gospel.

• Pray that the existing Cebuano churches and believers would be encouraged,

strengthened and protected. Pray that God will call out missionaries and pastors

from them as well!

Please pray for the Luzon Franchise.

Batangas- Steeped in religious tradition and idolatry, many Batangueños have been resistant to Bible study, but that is slowly changing, especially amongst the younger generation. The more exposure they have to truth, the more barriers will continue to fall. Please pray for the Batanga team as they build a wall of truth around the province!

-Please pray for open hearts amongst the Batangueños, that hear God’s Word and believe in the name of Jesus!
-Please pray for the Batangas Team to be bold in sharing the truth of God’s Word.

Quezon
Trapped in superstitious beliefs and false religious teaching, Quezon remains less than 2% evangelical. Still there are areas where the Gospel has not yet been taken. In these places, people continue to live their lives in bondage. They long for a freedom that they think would only come when this life ends. Please pray that they accept the truth that will set them free!
-Please pray for the strongholds of superstitious beliefs to be broken and God’s truth to be revealed.

-Please pray that they people of Quezon understand the freedom that comes with a relationship with Christ.
-Pray that the Quezon Team be persistent in sharing the Gospel.

Agta/Bicolano, Without a grave, without proper burial ceremonies, the soul of the one who had died cannot enter heaven – this very popular belief has trapped many of the people of this region. They cannot leave their religion for a personal relationship with Christ because Christians have not a graveyard of their own. How long should they continue to live in this fear? Please pray for the Bicol Team as they share the truth about God ‘s redeeming love with the Bicolanos.

-Please pray for the fear to be broken and the power of the one true God to be revealed.
-Pray for the unity of the Bicol Team, that God be glorified by their actions and honored in the presentation of Him.

Please Pray for the Iloilo Franchise!

Batbatan is an island of Culasi, province of Antique. It is home to the people group called the TANGAYS. The island has only one barangay with 9 sitios, and has a population of around 2500 people and without any existing evangelical church. By the grace of the Lord, we will plant the first church! Please partner with these two teams, as they preach the name of Jesus Christ among the Tangays!

-Please pray for team unity as they work together to share God’s love to the Tangays.
-Pray for the safety of the team.
-Please pray for the people they will be ministering to, that they have ears to hear, eyes to see, and hearts that are ready to confess Jesus as Saviod and Lord.

5 ways to pray for NT particapants.

1. FOCUS ON GOD. Pray that the summer missionaries will remain focused on his/her relationship with God. That the NT participants’ relationship with Jesus Christ be their first priority and their motivation for sharing the saving gospel message.

2. TEAM UNITY. The testimony of the team as a whole is an illustration of the how the Body of Christ works and cooperates together- please ask God for team unity in the NT. Pray that as the team works together that the glorify their Father in Heaven.

3. HUMILITY. Please pray that as they minister to the lost that they follow the example of Jesus Christ. In humility and love that they are able to demonstrate the gospel to the communities they are serving in.

4. BOLDNESS. Please pray for the NT participants that they will boldly proclaim the truth of the gospel.

5. LISTEN TO GOD. Please ask God that the participants have ears to hear God, and that they remain sensitive to the Holy Spirit’s moving.

Kamayo

WHO are they? Mostly farmers and fishermen, the Kamayo live a simple lifestyle that is

focused on surviving, not thriving. They practice traditional ethnic religions that

emphasize superstition. Another name the Kamayo are sometimes called is Kinamayo.

WHERE do they live? Most live in the Southern Surigao del Su province, with some

also living in Davao Oriental and Agusan Sur.

HOW many? There are about 9,400 Kamayo people living the Philippines, and only

about 3.5% of them are evangelical Christians.

WHAT do they worship? Most of the Kamayo people put their faith in animistic,

traditional ethnic religions. These religions are a major part of not just their spiritual

lives, but their culture as well.

PRAYER needs:

• There are no reported Bible translations in the Kamayo’s language. Pray that

God would call out great translators to come translate the Bible so that the

people can learn more about Him.

• Pray that the existing churches here would be strengthened, and that God would

continue calling out missionaries and pastors from among the Kamayo people.

• Pray against the powers of darkness that are blinding the Kamayo from

worshipping the one true God.

Please pray for the SC Franchise.

Less than 1 percent (1%) evangelical Christians. They hunger for His Word. They must hear the Gospel and learn the truth about the Loving God and apply His Word at all cost. The dominant religion is Roman Catholic and Rizalian.

-Please pray for the Camotes Team as they share the truth of God’s Word.

-Please pray that the God’s Word will fall on open hears and hearts ready to understand the gospel and to accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

-Please pray that the team will be effective witness in their area, and bring honor to God’s name.

Please pray for the Mt. Carmel Franchise

The Nehemiah Teams Mt. Carmel Franchise opens an avenue to share the truth of God’s Word with have had little or no access to the gospel. The lost have been waiting for generations to hear the good news! Will you partner with us to being the saving name of Jesus to those who have never before heard His name?

-Please pray for team unity.
-Pray for focus of the team members, that they remain faithful in sharing God’s Word with boldness.
-Pray also that the strongholds can be broken and the truth be seen.

Higaonon Manobo

WHO are they? The Higaonon Manobo are also one of the eight Manobo people

groups who live in the Philippines. The Higaonon people are known for being good

hunters and farmers, and they often travel from one mountain to the next, looking for

fertile soil for a better harvest. They are warm and friendly people, but they can also be

fierce warriors when intimidated. Like other Manobo groups, the Higaonon Manobo use

the “datu” legal system. One main leader, called the datu, rules over several clans. He

is responsible for the goings-on in the whole community! When a datu realizes he is

about to die, he passes on the title to one of his sons.

WHERE do they live? All eight Manobo groups live on Mindanao, the Philippines’

largest island. The word Higaonon means “people of the wilderness” or “people of the

mountain” which is a good fit for the Higaonon people because many do live in remote

areas throughout the Bukidnon Province!

HOW many? There are about 40,000 Higaonon people, and about 15% are estimated

to be evangelical Christians. That means that 34,000 still need to hear the gospel!

WHAT do they worship? Like the Agusan Manobo, many Higaonon people believe in

many unseen spirits that interfere in the lives of humans and one “great spirit” that

created them.

PRAYER needs:

• Only the New Testament has been translated into the Higaonon people’s

language. Pray that God would call out great translators to come and finish

translating the Bible so that the people can learn more about Him.

• Pray that the existing churches here would be strengthened, and that God would

continue calling out missionaries and pastors from among the Higaonon people.

• Pray against the powers of darkness that are blinding the Higaonon Manobo from

worshipping the one true God.

Please pray for the Zanorte Franchise!

People are lost and dying without the hope of Christ. Please pray for the Cebu Teams as they share the gospel of Christ with the people of rural Cebu.

-Please pray that for open homes and opportunities to share the gospel.

-Pray for team unity.