SOMA SEYCHELLES MISSION PRAYER BULLETIN #4
13th May 2010
Dear prayer supporters,
Both teams have relocated and have commenced the marriage training in Praslin and the other team completed on Monday the full day training on the 7 steps to freedom in Christ. Both groups have seen the impact of the work done by the other team during the week preceding and our prayer is that this continues to occur. On Sunday team members preached at a number of churches on both Islands.
On Praslin there are 6:00 pm rallies at St Thomas on Monday, St Marks on Tuesday, St Matthews on Wednesday and Anse Kerlan on Thursday. On Friday the one day pre marriage seminar will be held. On Mahe on Monday at the Cathedral the 7 steps to freedom was conducted; at Holy Saviour church Anse Royale we held a 4:30 pm rally; at Holy Saviour more of the same on Wednesday evening; St Paul's Cathedral on Thursday at 4:30 pm a healing rally and another rally
there on Friday.
On Friday evening Bishop James is hosting a seminar and reception for the President of the Seychelles and other ministers, Chief Justice and judges and some business leaders to hear Reuben Rose speak on marriage the last frontier of leadership. Reuben and Kate are travelling back from Praslin to join other team members at this function. We praise the Lord for a steady number of people each night accepting Christ as their Saviour.
Prayer points:-
- . For the 2 teams and their programme this week, strength for the team and good health . For the Friday night function that there will be a real impact for Jesus on the leaders of this small nation and that marriage will be given a higher importance in the running of this country.
- . For Saturday when the teams come together again at the guest house in Mahe
- . For the services around the Island on Sunday and a trouble free pack up on Monday before leaving on the 8:00 pm flight to Singapore and home to Sydney arriving 6:55 pm on Tuesday.
- . For Bishop James as he continues to sort out the problems he inherited whilst still actively building the church and its impact in the Seychelles.
- . For the marriage team as they minister at Anse Kerlan on Thursday in the light of the events the other tem confronted there. News of the happenings there last Thursday have spread throughout the islands and we understand that the local priest and his band of trained prayer warriors witnessed another of the girls involved confessed that Jesus was her Lord. It is thrilling to see darkness being pierced by God's light. Continue to prayer for this team as they wage spiritual warfare in this village at Anse Kerlan.
- . For those who have given their lives to Christ that they will be properly discipled.
The teams are very aware of the prayer that you have lifted up before the Lord - keep going please as we draw our strength and courage for each day from the Lord.
SOMA SEYCHELLES MISSION PRAYER BULLETIN #3
Dear prayer supporters,
We are coming to the end of our first full week of ministry here, with much praise and thanksgiving to God for our faithful prayer partners, each one of you who is standing with us and supporting us in this amazing and important ministry.
As you know, our team of 8 people has been separated on the 2 main islands here, with the Holy Spirit Team on Praslin Island, and the Alpha Marriage Team on the Island of Mahe. They have been warmly received and God has opened up wonderful doors of ministry.
For the Marriage Team Thursday 6th evening would have to be the high point of the week's visit when 150 people gathered in St Paul's Cathedral in Victoria. It was an amazing night with many coming to faith in Jesus and the opportunity to minister at every point to children, to men as husbands and fathers, to women as mothers and
wives with much healing and strengthening and blessing in their lives.
What was so exciting was that Bishop James Wong has stood alongside the team and ministered at every point. We have been able to stand alongside some of the leadership in the church and have been made very aware of the challenges that face Christians in the Seychelles. God is graciously at work and we count it a privilege to join with our brothers and sisters in God's work.
Prayer points for the Marriage Team:
- Thanks for the good health of the team and continued covering for the
team's well being as we prepare to swap islands and go to Praslin.
- Wisdom in how to integrate ourselves now with what the other team has done in Praslin, to build on what they have already done.
has taken place.
- We have been made very aware of the power of witchcraft on the Islands
and so really value your prayer covering over everything we do and
that we will stand on the authority of Jesus Christ, secure in Him.
- Continue to pray for unity within the team and in our partnership with
the leadership of the Anglican church. To date we have been blessed in
this area and know that unity is critical to command the blessing of
God.
The other Holy Spirit Team has been on Praslin island until this Saturday, May 8th, when we switch places. Sound confusing? Well, we are praising the Lord for these many opportunities!
How hungry the people are! In each of our evening rallies at Praslin we’ve seen the attendance increase from about 35 (Monday night), to over 130 (last night, Thurs. night). So many people are coming forward for personal prayer and ministry at the end of the message. We are finding many of the dear ones asking for prayer for healing, for relationship needs, for their unsaved husbands and boy-friends, and amongst these needs we are also finding that some need physical healing, deliverance from demonic powers, or from putting their trust in black magic, etc.
- Please pray for us, that we will be filled with the Holy Spirit on every occasion, at every point of need, and be able to minister the healing and freeing work of Almighty God into every situation.
On Thursday night all the team experienced a demonic onslaught which started after an hour or so of prayer ministry when Bruce prayed for a teenager who fell to the floor and started manifesting an evil spirit at the name of Jesus spoken over her. Coincidently her two girl friends some distance away outside the small hall began to manifest, arms flaying, eyes rolling, blasphemous screeching noises, teeth bared and whole body contortions, the demonic spirits moving from one to the other and back over and over again. When our leader instructed that the girls be released from those holding them (preventing harm) 2 of them hugged each other and fell to the ground motionless but when the ‘leader’ of this “pack” appeared from the hall they sprang like feral cats snarling and fighting as they jumped on her. We saw how satan’s agents turn on themselves and try to destroy. We called the meeting to a conclusion after one of them quietly and reverently proclaimed Jesus is my Lord and was totally at peace when the sign of the cross was made on her forehead. The whole time there was over 4 hours, many were healed, several released from affliction, several gave their lives to the Lord and the disruptive ones returned to their village and we felt strongly that Jesus’ lordship prevailed. The area is a cauldron of demonic witchcraft and the evil things done revolt you and the battle is on against these forces of darkness. Please don’t tell us when we return that this battle is over or that this dark world does not exist, we have witnessed it and we have seen the light of God rolling back the horrible powers of satan.
- Pray for the teams as they minister and these dark things emerge, pray for continuing victory and also for protection over us and that we keep our eyes on the risen Christ from whom we receive our authority and power.
- Praise God for the real growth that has occurred in the people and the church here on Praslin, for the babies born to barren women following prayer last year, for healings (many) and for God’s light that has grown more evident in this area.
- Pray for boldness for the local churches as they go out into the high places and proclaim release to the captives, this is gutsy work but the ministry team is now being asked by some of these villages to come and heal their village and stop the violent destructive behaviour that is wrecking them.
The all day teaching on Friday went well and the 38 who attended were taken through a comprehensive course ‘Seven Steps to Freedom’ (from Neil Anderson) and are now better equipped in their ministry to lead people to freedom in Jesus. Ministry followed and many were blessed and refilled with the Holy Spirit for their work of ministry.
Bless you all for your prayers and support.
SOMA SEYCHELLES MISSION PRAYER BULLETIN #2
Dear prayer supporters,
Without qualification, the island sovereign country of the Seychelles has to be one of the most beautiful of God’s creation. It has but 85,000 inhabitants and even considering this small population it provides a reasonable level of infrastructure for its people. With the beauty comes a darkness that robs the nation of the freedom in Christ that should be their delight. The retired Bishop French commented to Richard about going to Praslin (the second most populated island) that Richard and the team were going to the garden of Eden but that they must be careful of the serpent – the bishop is a quiet intensely spiritual man of considerable insight.
The first day was spent getting familiarized with our environment and arranging our travel requirements backwards and forwards between the islands of Mahe and Praslin.
On Friday 30th and Saturday 1st May we conducted in the guest house chapel, a retreat for the clergy of the two islands. Due to a number of reasons we had only 6 on Friday and 7 on Saturday but they were the ones who really are seeking after renewal in their churches. Whilst teaching freedom in Jesus, we started to receive feedback as to the matters concerning the churches in the Seychelles. Praise God that there has been considerable growth in the church in the last 12 months since the last SOMA mission, accompanied by more and more people coming into renewal in the Holy Spirit. We heard of numbers of people who, as a result of prayer, have had their lives changed and their faith renewed and brought to life. A Seychellois woman with 2 small children approached Bruce in the plane on the tiring journey from Singapore to the Seychelles and told us that she was prayed for(together with her husband) last year and that she was so grateful for that ministry. Her brother in law was captured in mid April by Somalian pirates operating just outside the international waters of the Seychelles and they were then subjected to a torrid gunfight between the pirates and the Coast Guard. Bullets flew all around them but miraculously none were touched and how they prayed!!! The pirates were captured but not before they had seriously damaged an Indian freighter who eventually limped back into port. Later three more pirate ships engaged the coastguard and were sunk in a bitter firefight with no survivors. The mother of this brother in law is a wonderful deacon in the church on Praslin who has a deep pastoral passion for her people. She is such a blessing to the team and the parish she works in.
After the Saturday retreat had concluded half of the team caught the inter island ferry to Praslin to be given a wonderful welcome ‘home’ in this beautiful island.
On Sunday we spoke at 2 churches on each island and following the preaching of the word quite a deal of ministry occurred and blessings flowed. The people really do seek to be free of the oppressions that have plagued their nation and their families.
The marriage team had their all day teaching on Monday 3rd with about 70 attending as well as Bp James whose support is always strong. There was a strong sense of the Lord’s presence on the days teaching, testimonies and sharing. Pray that this continues to grow as more and more consider being united under God’s blessing in marriage.
· Please pray for the teams as we begin the rallies each night of the week, for the team on Praslin who have their all day teaching on Friday, 7th May (who are teaching on freedom in Jesus and receiving the Holy Spirit.)
· Pray for many to obtain release from their work for the day of teaching and for God’s light to flood their lives displacing any lingering darkness and deception.
· Pray for the team as the climate is very enervating, and the humidity relentless. Praise God for the improving health of Reuben (respiratory infection) and for strength for all to remain standing throughout the long hours of ministry and teaching. The team is dedicated to serving the church here and to stand with them as they grow in a community emerging from Satan’s dominion.
· Pray for the Leadership dinner on Friday evening, 7th May, when the prime movers of the Government, the judiciary and the business sector have been invited by Bishop James to hear Reuben speak on leadership and marriage from God’s perspective. Pray for light to shine on this awful situation of illegitimacy, broken family relationships and low self esteem beginning from the top of the society here.
