Fwd: Unexpected outcomes

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: EMM <catherine.merkey@emm.org>
Date: Fri, Jul 31, 2026 at 6:00 AM
Subject: Unexpected outcomes
To: <gehmanmennonitechurch@gmail.com>

UNEXPECTED OUTCOMES

Watching Unexpected Peace (2024) with a group of young Tanzanians, a few months after a major outbreak of political violence, was far and away the most intense and engaged audience that I have sat with. They stayed after the film for two hours debating the issues raised and talking about the application of lessons learned for their situation. None of the film’s stories came from their region, but they felt connected to the themes and internalized the message! What has emerged as most helpful for evaluating how different audiences connect with the film is to ask about their proximity to violence or their experiences of living in a mixed faith community.

DAILY PRAYER

West Africa

1 | Pray for the Bambara in the Gambia. Over 80% of this people group is Muslim. Pray that God would reveal his son to them in a way that is impactful to them, so that as one of the most powerful and influential people groups in West Africa, they can share him with others.

2 | Ask the Lord to call short-term workers to serve in West Africa.

3 | Pray for Jon and Heleen Yoder as they prepare for a visit to Sierra Leone in the coming months to support the local team at the beginning of a new school year.

4 | Ask the Lord to call long-term workers to serve in West Africa.

Central Asia

5 | Pray for the Dargin in Uzbekistan, who are comprised of 100% adherents to Islam. In Uzbekistan, many raise livestock. Pray for provision for their physical and spiritual needs, and a revelation of Jesus to them.

6 | Ask the Lord to call short-term workers to serve in Central Asia.

7 | Pray for the Lyuli in Uzbekistan. Over 99% of this people group is Muslim. As they are a close-knit people, pray that God would reveal himself to them, and for effectiveness in sharing him both within their clan structures and beyond.

8 | Ask the Lord to call long-term workers to serve in Central Asia.

Other parts of the world

9 | Join William Higgins in prayer for his trip to Kenya during the first two weeks of this month. Pray for safe travel, good health, and for blessings as he teaches two classes in the Kenya Mennonite School in Migori (MATCO).

10 | Pray for the children of EMM worker families, as they prepare for the back-to-school season.

11 | Pray for those completing service with EMM and are returning to their home contexts. Lift them up during this transition.

12 | Please join Mike and Nancy Hostetter in prayer that God will provide a full-time English teacher and part-time English teachers for the remainder of the school year for PROMESA Mennonite School in Cusco, Peru, which ends in December.

13 | Join J.C. Ebersole in praying for the All-nations Association of Bible Schools (AABS) Africa Director as he works to expand AABS into several countries in East Africa. Pray for divine connections and favor with church leaders and a productive visit in each country.

14 | As Carissa Sherer is in the U.S., on leave from ministry in Guatemala for 3 weeks this month, ask the Lord to fill her trip with rest, meaningful time with family, and renewed connections with friends and supporters.

Central Europe

15 | Pray for Karen Hess as she interacts with mothers who visit Crossroads library in Prague, Czech Republic. Pray for meaningful conversations with those who are seeking, that they would be drawn closer to God as he meets them in their journey.

16 | Ask the Lord to call short-term workers to serve in Central Europe.

17 | Pray for Vojta and Stacy Prknovi, who are entering a time of sabbatical. Pray for the ability to hear God's voice and to walk in obedience to the things he's calling them to.

18 | Ask the Lord to call long-term workers to serve in Central Europe.

Southeast Asia

19 | Join Timothy and Madison* in thanking God for twenty years on the field and being able to see their twins graduate in May! They never dreamed this would be possible, but God has done exceedingly more than they could have imagined in work and school. All glory and praise to him!

20 | Join Brody and Abigail* in praying for wisdom and discernment for support raising and for a smooth transition as they move out of their home. Join them in praising God for unexpected blessings.

21 | Ask the Lord to call short-term workers to serve in Southeast Asia.

22 | Join Mark and Sarah Schoenhals in prayer for physical, spiritual, and relational protection over members of LEC house churches in Northeast Thailand as they grow as disciples of Jesus and seek to disciple others.

23 | Ask the Lord to lead and guide the search process for the Southeast Asia regional representative role.

24 | Join Steve Horst and Bethany Tobin in prayer for their children, Anjali, Manny, and Tierzah, as they begin a new school year; for new friendships and growing in their relationship with God.

25 | Ask the Lord to call long-term workers to serve in Southeast Asia.

Lancaster, Pa.

26 | Ask the Lord to call volunteers to serve at Neighbors Community Center at Hub450.

27 | Pray for the process of getting the 433 N. Prince Street house set up. Pray that it comes together for Advance participants to be able to stay there starting this fall. Pray that the renovation and furnishing is able to be completed by the end of this month.

28 | Pray for wisdom and discernment for EMM CAO staff in the processing of many applications, for both short and long-term assignments. Praise God for the call that he is placing on people’s lives!

29 | Join Phil and Linda Gottschalk in praising God for their safe journey from Bucharest to Romania to Lancaster. Praise God for the positive time of connections and refreshment in the Netherlands. Pray for their continued role teaching online with the Baptist Theological Institute in Bucharest, Romania.

30 | Pray for Daryl and Jen Hoover as they transition from Costa Rica to Pennsylvania. Pray for those filling their roles at VidaNet. Pray for their son Adam as he starts a new school with new friends.

31 | Pray for God to call business leaders to sign up for the Business Leaders’ Breakfast hosted at Hub450 next month, on September 15th. Pray that it is a meaningful time as the theme “Local Business — Global Impact” is explored.

Some prayer requests adapted from joshuaproject.net.

*Names changed for sensitivity reasons.