International.
Kris & Linh Castro // Japan

The Castros have launched overseas! They are currently in the final season of preparation as they strive towards planting a Japanese-speaking church in Tokyo. This summer was busy with traveling to South Carolina, Indiana, and California. One highlight from their travels was the ability to share their burden for Tokyo with six local churches that gathered together at Pillar Community Church in Charleston, SC. This is Immanuel’s granddaughter church in SC. While there, Kris had the opportunity to preach that Sunday.

After spending weeks traveling, preaching, teaching, and sharing about their vision for Japan, Kris and Linh were able to enjoy some time with friends and family before heading overseas. Currently, they are in specialized cross cultural training in western Asia (with the Fikes) before heading to Tokyo. 

  • Pray that God would graciously provide all they need to be fully funded (currently approaching 70%).  
  • Pray that several churches would become active partners in the work.
  • Pray that God would use the training program to prepare the Castros for the task ahead. 
  • Pray that the Lord would prepare the hearts and minds of the Japanese people to believe in Christ and eagerly work towards establishing a local church.
North America.
Josh & Julie Kary  // Cochrane, AB

Josh Kary serves as the Lead Pastor of Grace Church of Cochrane in Alberta, CA. Josh and Julie are rejoicing at the ways God has grown Grace Church over the past year. Their weekly congregational prayer meetings have been fruitful, and they are encouraged by how the church has been fervently pleading with God to cause His kingdom to come and His will to be done on earth as in heaven. Grace Church has been praying for a few visitors to come to their church, and they are thankful that God has recently answered this prayer. 

Grace Church has started doing a monthly ministry at a local senior living facility. There have been around 12–15 residents who consistently join them to hear the Word preached and sing a few songs. Grace also currently has a group of young men and women in their church who they are hoping to see come to faith in Christ and be baptized.

  • Pray that the visitors would seek to become faithful members at Grace. 
  • Pray that God would save the young men and women in their church and that they would experience the joy of seeing them baptized. 
  • Pray that God would give Josh wisdom to train up men in their church and that God would raise up more elder-qualified men to help lead the church. 
  • Pray for Josh and Julie to continue to grow in grace, and for God to save their children (Amelia, Carson, & Margaret).
Kentuckiana.
Immanuel Kids

At every level of IK, Immanuel strives to provide excellent care and biblically sound instruction from volunteers who are committed to joyfully serving children. IK volunteers count it a great privilege to partner with families as they love, serve, and train children to love God and his mission. They are intentionally building a foundation of Bible truth into the lives of the next generation as they teach, listen, laugh, discuss, pray, and sing. This army of volunteers labors together to make Christ known by sharing the good news with joy to the children of the church!

  • Pray that God would supply more eager, mature, and gifted members of Immanuel to volunteer their time to train up the next generation of believers in IK.
  • Pray that the volunteers in IK will be filled with the Spirit and have renewed strength as they invest in the lives of children.
  • Pray for many children to repent and believe as they hear the good news week after week.
Unreached.
Arab of the Gulf

Location:

United Arab Emirates

Population:

2,154,000

Ev. Christian:

0.3%

Main Language:

Arabic

Spiritual Beliefs:

99.6% Islam

Bible in Heart Language:

Yes

The Arab culture was developed by tribes of nomads and villagers who lived in the Arabian Desert. The Gulf Arab live primarily along the southern edges of the Arabian Desert.

  • Pray that God would use local believers to reach the Arabic people of the gulf.
  • Ask that God would establish His church in this region.
  • Pray that the believers living among these people would winsomely proclaim the gospel.