The Invitation, January 11, 2024

Please pray for Bible translation this month, the passion of YWAM’s founder Loren Cunningham, who died in October of 2023. Thousands of languages, spoken by hundreds of millions of people, still do not have a Bible. The goal of the Oral Mother Tongue (OMT) approach is that the Bible be accurately and clearly translated by mother-tongue speakers into their languages. This can be accomplished in as little as two years. Since launching OMT in May 2023, YWAM Nigeria alone has finished 30 translations that have been received with joy by churches, who testify to their accuracy. Please pray for oral Bible translations by taking a few minutes right now, and please also pray with us on January 11, our prayer day for YWAM’s prayer initiative called The Invitation.

1. Pray for the launching of a global prayer movement in YWAM that would birth a global translation movement.
2. Pray for more bright examples of OMT around the world, like the work Paul Dangtoumda is doing in YWAM Nigeria to equip and strengthen YWAMers with testimonies and with methods that can be replicated.
3. Pray for grassroots funding to accompany the prayer movement. For OMT to remain a movement, it must remain modular and decentralized in its finances.
4. Pray for renewed pioneering grit and grace to sweep the global YWAM family as we embrace the OMT vision that every mother tongue in the world would have the full Bible.

Take Action

• Register at prayomt.com to pray for a Bibleless language. While there, get familiar with a wide range of OMT documents.
• Start a weekly prayer group and adopt a Bibleless people group to pray for and fund.

Join The Invitation

Sign up for prayer emails and find translations in many languages at ywam.org/theinvitation. Please contact us at prayer@ywam.org to let us know how you prayed, to recommend a prayer topic, or to request an advance copy of the prayer guide.

The Invitation, December 14, 2023

YWAM Uganda asks for prayer as they reach out to an ethnic group in the northeast of their country. The Karamojong (also spelled Karimojong) number nearly one million. Cattle are their main livelihood and there are often violent cattle raids among three neighboring tribes: the Acholi, Lango and Iteso. The increase in modern firearms has increased the death toll, and there is a growing number of widows. According to data from the Joshua project, the Karamojong is about 30 percent Christian, with about two percent Evangelical. Other Karamojong follow various ethnic religions. YWAM Uganda is starting an outreach center in the midst of the Karamojong and is reaching out through medical care and short-term teams. Please pray for the Karamojong people by taking a few minutes right now, and please also pray with us on December 14, our prayer day for YWAM’s prayer initiative called The Invitation.

1. Pray for an increase in Christians among the Karamojong. Pray for courage and boldness for those who are already followers of Christ to share their faith with others. Pray also for hearts to be softened and open to hearing the good news.
2. Pray for the YWAM presence in Uganda. There are currently six different YWAM locations in Uganda. Please pray for an increase in staff, resources and financial provision for these ministry centers.
3. Pray specifically for the YWAM Soroti, Uganda location. YWAM Soroti is pioneering a new YWAM location in Kaabong, a town in the midst of the Karamojong people. YWAM workers are helping to feed the patients at the local hospital. This enables families to stay with their sick family members there. Pray that this ministry will lead to more opportunities to share the gospel at the hospital. The Soroti location also runs a Discipleship Training School which is doing its outreach among the Karamojong people. Please pray for their safety and for God to use them to bring hope to the people.
4. Pray for those who are ill. In general, care for the sick is lacking. Most family members drop their sick family members off to the hospital and then leave. Please pray for an increase in care for the sick, both in terms of resources and ability for families to stay with their loved ones.
5. Pray for their crops to thrive. The rainy season is short where the Karamojong people live and it is a very hot and dry environment. Pray for enough rain for their crops to mature.

How We Prayed

YWAM’s founder, Loren Cunningham, died on October 6 at the age of 88. Many have been praying for the Cunningham family and for YWAM. Please join us in prayer. Also, you are invited to attend one of the celebration of life events planned for the coming months. Please go to lorencunningham.com to find out more.

Join The Invitation

Sign up for prayer emails and find translations in many languages at ywam.org/theinvitation. Please contact us at prayer@ywam.org to let us know how you prayed, to recommend a prayer topic, or to request an advance copy of the prayer guide.

The Invitation, November 9, 2023

In the midst of a fierce civil war in north Sudan, a YWAM team of nearly 30 Sudanese staff continue to live and serve. Before the war, which began in April 2023, most lived in and around the capital. All of these staff have moved themselves and their families to safer areas of the country. They continue to look for opportunities to serve in the midst of the war, hosting “revival” meetings in their new locations, gathering women together to encourage them and looking for opportunities for mercy ministry. Please take a moment right now to pray for the people of Sudan and the YWAM team there, and please also pray with us on November 9, our monthly prayer day for the prayer initiative called The Invitation.

1. Pray for provision of food, water and medicine for the Sudanese people. Very little international aid has made it into the country due to the fighting and instability. The Sudanese people, including the YWAM team, are struggling to find their daily needs of food, water and medicine.
2. Pray for ministry to happen in the midst of the war. YWAMers and other Christians carry the good news with them as they are displaced. Many Sudanese Christians have found themselves in remote areas, living among unreached tribes. There is an openness to the gospel and we are hearing testimonies of evangelism and discipleship.
3. Pray for plans for mercy ministry. YWAM has been involved in mercy ministry in Sudan for the last 20 years. They are now looking for ways to distribute blankets to the displaced as the weather is getting colder in the displaced areas.
4. Pray for the peace of the country. Both the government army (SAF) and the militia (RSF) have committed atrocities during the fighting in the last six months. Most Sudanese people are not sure who could return their country to peace. Pray for the plans of Satan to steal, kill and destroy to be frustrated. Pray for peacemakers to be raised up in the country.

Take Action

To find out more, to make a donation, or to find out how to get involved with Sudanese refugees in Egypt, contact sudanese@ywamcos.org.

How We Prayed

YWAM Flotilla, October 2023

• From D. H.: “I have wanted a boat for years and am finally in a position to buy one. I always wanted a mission for me, my wife and the vessel. I want to help.”

Join The Invitation

Sign up for prayer emails and find translations in many languages at ywam.org/theinvitation. Please contact us at prayer@ywam.org to let us know how you prayed, to recommend a prayer topic, or to request an advance copy of the prayer guide.

The Invitation, October 14, 2023

In the Pacific lie 936 isolated islands with no airports or regular ferry services. How can we reach all of the people on those islands? Even with YWAM’s 27 vessels worldwide, we can’t get to everyone. YWAM’s new Flotilla ministry partners with private yacht owners to reach isolated areas, thus opening more opportunities to reach the most remote islanders, people loved by God. Please take a moment now to pray for these isolated islands. Please also pray with us on October 12, our prayer day for YWAM’s prayer initiative called The Invitation.

1. Pray for French Polynesia. Sixteen isolated islands in the Tuamotu group have no airport. We have two yachts reaching them this year. Pray for more access to become available.
   • Operation Christmas Child. Pray for continued partnering with this organization so every child may know God’s love for them.
   • Oral Mother Tongues. There are nine known mother tongues in this region, but we are told there are many more. Pray that everyone can have the Bible in their language.
   • Community assessments. Pray for deep connections with the local people as we dream about God’s heart for each community.
   • Translation. Pray for French speakers to have a heart to help local people to translate.
2. Pray for Southeast Asia. In parts of Asia, islands with fewer than 500 people are considered uninhabited. God sees every person and has plans and purposes for their lives.
3. Pray for new locations. Flotilla yachts are either already active or planning ministry in the Eastern Mediterranean, the Solomon Islands and Fiji. Pray for more groups of ministries to partner together.
4. Pray for Christian yacht owners. Pray for more to answer the call of the Great Commission, because there are many more isolated places to reach.

Take Action

• Visit www.ywamflotilla.org.
• Talk to Christian boat owners who might be interested in volunteering their vessels for missions.
• Consider doing a School of Navigation to be equipped with marine skills for sailboats.
• Pull a team together and go. We position our boats near airports so that volunteers can fly in, get on board, and then sail out to isolated islands. We match the needs of the isolated Islands with the many tools that YWAM has to offer.

How We Prayed

September, 2023: YWAM Leadership

• Ivory Coast: A YWAM team prayed for unity and for YWAM leaders “to keep carrying the spirit and flame of YWAM.”
• South Korea: A YWAMer prayed for growth after pruning: “It’s time to grow again, time to transform, and time to seek more of Him!”

Join The Invitation

Sign up for prayer emails and find translations in many languages at ywam.org/theinvitation. Please contact us at prayer@ywam.org to let us know how you prayed, to recommend a prayer topic, or to request an advance copy of the prayer guide.

The Invitation, September 14, 2023

This is a significant time for the YWAM movement and its leaders. YWAM’s founder, Loren Cunningham, is continuing to influence the mission with energy and vision despite stage four lung cancer, maximizing the days he has. During this post-Covid season there have been many regional and focused YWAM leadership gatherings, including a group of 242 young leaders who met in Hawaii in April to consider how to “strengthen the steel” in their leadership. The first YWAM global gathering of leaders since 2014 is taking place this year in Chiang Mai, Thailand from September 14 to 18. At least 650 leaders will attend. God has always led us in major leadership gatherings and we are expecting Him to do this again. Please pray for a deep and powerful move of the Holy Spirit among us. Please take a moment to pray right now and please also pray with us on September 14, our prayer day for the YWAM prayer initiative called The Invitation.

1. Pray for YWAM leaders globally that they would be guided by a “GPS” of Generosity, Purity and Servanthood. This message strongly emerged from the Strengthen the Steel gathering in Kona, Hawaii.
2. Pray for preparation of every leader’s heart for the Chiang Mai gathering and provision of resources to get there. For protection over all in the YWAM family, ministry locations and campuses as leadership gather from around the world.
3. Pray for the backbone team, for wisdom and skill for those working behind the scenes on logistics, tech, registration and other areas preparing for and during the gathering. For the Thai venue and accommodation facilitating team to know great grace on them as they seek to serve us. For protection and security over every aspect of the gathering to ensure the health and well being of each participant.
4. Pray for God to be glorified through all that is said and done during this time together. For Jesus to be lifted high above all YWAM ministries.
5. Pray for unity, for the gathering to be marked by a deep spirit of humility, unity and love–that we know a oneness in spirit and faith together at a new level.
6. Pray for the convening team, for an anointing of wisdom on the convening team, and those presenting or facilitating things publicly. For the “word of the Lord” to be discerned clearly and followed through on each day.
7. Pray for wisdom and clarity in strategy as we look forward to the decade ahead and beyond. Pray for a renewed understanding of our role as a movement in the Body of Christ in these days and a release of faith and boldness to go to the next level globally.
8. Pray for each participant to be encouraged, strengthened and empowered by the Holy Spirit during the gathering.
9. Pray for the Cunningham family at this tender time. Pray for Loren Cunningham, for strength and guidance as he shares the vision God has given him about oral Bible translation in every mother tongue on earth.

How We Prayed

YWAM’s Broader Family, August 10, 2023

A participant in The Invitation asked us to pray for her relationship with a YWAM friend. As she prayed with us she thought of a possible misunderstanding between them.

Join The Invitation

Sign up for prayer emails and find translations in many languages at ywam.org/theinvitation. Please contact us at prayer@ywam.org to let us know how you prayed, to recommend a prayer topic, or to request an advance copy of the prayer guide.