S P A R K L I T P R A Y E R D I A R Y 2 0 1 5

Fan the flames of faithDon’t stop praying daily for the work of SparkLit and its partners around the world.

S P A R K L I T P R A Y E R D I A R Y 2 0 1 5

Where the gospel is preached, books are neededYou can help SparkLit advance God’s kingdom by empowering Christian writers, publishers and distributors.

Together we can make Christian books available, accessible and affordable where commitment is strong but support and resources are scarce.

Together we can provide Christian writing that helps people discover Jesus in a way that’s authentic and culturally meaningful. Our strategy is to direct funds, expertise and encouragement to publishers where indigenous Christian writing is needed most.

Your gifts are used to:

1. Supply books. We make theological texts and essential reference works available to students and pastors in Asia, Africa and the Middle East. Where possible we source these books locally.

2. Nurture emerging publishers. We encourage local initiative and kindle sustainable enterprises.

3. Equip publishing professionals. We invest in promising writers, editors and designers. We embrace strategic opportunities and love discovering hidden talent.

Cover. Pastors and church leaders complete their final exams at the Word of Life School of Theology in Kianjai, Kenya. This year SparkLit has been asked to provide graduating students with an NIV Study Bible.

DAY 1 EGYPT With the help of SparkLit grants, the Episcopal Publishing House has been re-established in Cairo with a new management team and a fresh vision. There is a great need to educate and

equip church leaders across the region and across denom-inations. Pray for the publishing team as they build a catalogue of key books in Arabic. Pray for their bishop, the Most Revd Dr Mouneer Hanna Anis.

DAY 2 PAKISTAN While Pakistani law promises minor-ities a degree of religious freedom, in practice non-Muslims and non-Sunnis must practise their faith cautiously and under threat from Islamists. Please

pray for Julius Qaiser as he completes his doctoral studies in Australia and returns to Lahore to resume his respon-sibilities as director of the Open Theological Seminary. SparkLit supports OTS. Pray that Christian leaders will be equipped to serve a church under increasing pressure. Ask that they will be given the gifts of grace and courage so that our Heavenly Father might be praised and glorified.

Thanks to your support, graphic designer Yasmin Talaat and Bishop Mouneer Anis celebrate the publication of the Arabic edition of the popular introduction to biblical archaeology, The Stones Cry Out.

DAY 3 INDIA Give thanks for the vision and enthu-siasm of George Korah, managing director of Primalogue Publishing in Bangalore. A SparkLit loan has financed the publication of the first

two titles in the India Commentary on the New Testament series, First Corinthians and Timothy and Titus. Pray for the Primalogue team as they prepare to publish the third volume in the series, Acts. Pray that these commentaries will enable Indian pastors and teachers to deepen their understanding and application of God’s Word.

DAY 4 CENTRAL ASIA Theological college staff in a former Soviet republic are working with an emerging local publisher to make N T Wright’s popular New Testament For Everyone series of commentaries

available in the predominant language. A SparkLit grant has made possible the publication of the first volume in the series, Matthew For Everyone. Give thanks for the enthusiasm for this project among local leaders. Pray that the team of translators and editors will grow in wisdom, grace and competence. Pray that revenue generated by the sale of each title will fund future publications. Pray that these books will encourage first generation Christians in this independent Central Asian republic to grow in maturity and equip them to advance God’s kingdom.

DAY 5 NEPAL Thank God for the initiative and diligence of Nepal Ebenezer Bible College principal, Ram Kumar Budhathoki. SparkLit grants have made possible the preparation and

publication in Kathmandu of a Nepali translation of Preaching Philippians and Preaching Mark by Phil Crowter. Preaching Deuteronomy and Preaching God’s Big Story are currently being prepared for publication. Please pray that these books will enable leaders and pastors to preach and teach biblical truth to their congregations and fellowship groups accurately, faithfully and confidently so that God’s kingdom will flourish in Nepal and beyond.

DAY 6 NORTHERN TERRITORY Praise God for the 480 students who have applied to study at Nungalinya College in 2015. For many years graduates who have completed a Certificate III in Theology have been

asking for further training. This year the college will offer a Certificate IV in Theology and Ministry. Pray that the forty lay and ordained church leaders taking this new course will be equipped and encouraged to meet the challenges they face. Give thanks for the college, the growing popularity of its courses and the desire of the principal, Judith Long, to train and encourage indigenous staff.

DAY 7 THE AUSTRALIAN CHRISTIAN BOOK OF THE YEAR AWARD was won in 2014 by Bible Society CEO Greg Clarke. His manifesto, The Great Bible Swindle … and What Can Be Done About It

(Bible Society Australia), is a concise, persuasive and friendly appeal to read the Bible. Second prize was awarded to In God They Trust? The Religious Beliefs of Australia’s Prime Ministers 1901–2013 (Bible Society Australia)

Publishing a Nepali preaching guide for at least one book from each biblical genre will enable pastors and leaders to preach from the whole Bible and nourish a growing church.

by Roy Williams. C S Lewis and the Body in the Basement (Strand Publishing) by Kel Richards took third prize. Please pray for the judges and team responsible for adminis-tering the SparkLit Australian Christian Literature Awards this year. Pray that Australian Christian writers and publishers will be used by God to help seekers find Jesus and Christians to grow.

DAY 8 THE YOUNG AUSTRALIAN CHRISTIAN WRITER AWARD is given annually for an unpublished manuscript by a writer under thirty years of age. Heidi Waddell from Victoria was awarded the 2014 SparkLit

Young Australian Christian Writer Award for her elegant allegory The Bridge. Pray that Heidi and other emerging Christian writers will fulfil their calling to contribute both to public debate and to the church’s written testimony.

DAY 9 THE AUSTRALIAN CHRISTIAN TEEN WRITER AWARD is an annual prize for an unpublished manuscript by a writer under eighteen years of age. Annie-Jo Vogler from Queensland, won the 2014 SparkLit

Australian Christian Teen Writer Award with her evocative and subtle composition Ellesmere Road. Do you know a budding author who might be encouraged by partici-pating in next year’s awards? Pray that young Christians will be inspired to develop and exercise their gifts.

DAY 10 CHINA As laws regulating the religious instruction of children are relaxed, churches with no experience of teaching children struggle to cater for the sudden demand for Christian

education ministries for children and youth. Each year SparkLit sponsors the training of a cohort of Sunday school teacher trainers. Pray for these young leaders as they undertake this intensive training program and series of internships. Pray that in their home provinces they will model creative and engaging teaching methods and the effective use of Christian literature.

DAY 11 CHINA This year a SparkLit grant will make possible the translation and publi-cation of a simplified Chinese edition of The Call to Joy and Pain by Ajith Fernando and its distribution to 3000

seminary and Bible college graduates. Pray that a gener-ation of Chinese church leaders with no experience of oppression and unsure how to respond to persecution in an era of political liberalisation and economic growth will heed The Call to Joy and Pain. Please pray for these graduates as they take up their teaching and pastoral duties. Pray that this book will help them to grow in boldness, patience and perseverance.

DAY 12 NATIONAL DIRECTOR Please pray today for the SparkLit national director, Michael Collie. Pray that Michael will lead the SparkLit team with professionalism, vision and godliness. Pray that he will build open

and enduring relationships with those we serve. Pray that under his guidance our Grants Committee will respond wisely to the many requests we receive for assistance.

The Call to Joy and Pain by Ajith Fernando speaks to a generation of Chinese church leaders responding to suffering and persecu-tion in an era of political liberalisation and economic growth.

DAY 13 KENYA Pray for Peter Ibui and his team at the Word of Life School of Theology in the Meru district of Kenya. Praise God for Peter’s vision to make theological education accessible to pastors who

cannot afford to relocate or study full-time. Pray that he will continue to be blessed with the energy and enterprise necessary to make this vision a reality under challenging circumstances. Pray for the successful completion this year of the school’s own facilities in Kianjai. SparkLit provides Bibles and theological books for students and graduates, and office equipment to enable the economical prepa-ration and printing of the school curriculum, corre-spondence course material and evangelistic tracts.

DAY 14 KENYA Pray for evangelist Am Bilha Githinji and the other graduates of Carlile College as they assume their preaching and pastoral responsibilities. SparkLit grants have been used to build up the

college’s theological library and provide pastors and graduates with key Bible references. “While studying in Nairobi I have access to the college library. But when I return to Western Kenya I will need my own concordance, dictionary, commentaries and other theological books. Your gift will help me prepare better sermons and avoid repeating the same things or preaching heresies. Will you pray that my congregation will grow in their under-standing of God’s word and trust in Jesus so that lives will be transformed?”

DAY 15 TANZANIA Please pray for Olaph Joseph Mhema and the other graduates of the Theological Faculty at St Mark’s University College in Dar es Salaam. Pray that they will be equipped to

teach, serve and encourage their congregations with grace and love. SparkLit has restocked the college’s theological library and provides book prizes to graduates. Please pray for the college staff and all those responsible for the care and preparation of church leaders.

DAY 16 TANZANIA Pray for Happiness Mbumi and the other graduates from Msalato Theological College. After studying for four years Happiness moves to a remote parish in the Diocese of Central

Tanganyika where she will be responsible for several churches and catechists. She will take with her a Swahili edition of the Africa Bible Commentary. “Please ask God to help me to lead his people in a true way.”

DAY 17 SOUTH SUDAN Pray for the contribution that Chris-tians will make to the development of this new nation. A SparkLit grant has made possible the publication of the new Dinka Book of Prayers and Hymns.

Copies arrived in Juba as fighting broke out. Despite the hostilities the books were successfully distributed in seven dioceses. Thank God for the initiative and endeavour of the editor, Abraham Ayur Mayor Dit. Pray that this liturgical resource will be a blessing and encouragement to Dinka-speaking Christians in South Sudan and the diaspora in Australia and elsewhere.

In response to local demand for Bible teaching, the Word of Life School of Theology Kenya opened a new campus in Mutuati in September 2014 with fifteen students from diverse religious backgrounds.

DAY 18 LETRAVIVA is a network of forty Latin American Christian publishers that exercises a ministry of logistical support, professional devel-opment and mutual encouragement. Please pray for the LetraViva coordi-

nator, Ian Darke, based in Costa Rica. Pray especially for the effective functioning of the LetraViva dispatch centre in Miami, an essential means of book distribution run cooperatively by member publishers.

DAY 19 TRAINING Pray for Walter Saucedo as he applies with Certeza Argentina in Buenos Aires what he learned during his six-month internship in Melbourne. Praise God for his passion for publishing Christian

literature and desire to develop his skills. SparkLit sponsors training opportunities for publishers and booksellers working in strategic literature ministries. Please pray that these publishing professionals will be equipped to make vital Christian literature accessible to those who most need it.

DAY 20 CUBA A SparkLit grant has financed the publi-cation and distribution of a Spanish edition of Preaching the Whole Bible as Scripture by Graeme Goldsworthy. The book has been published locally by

Torrentes de Vida and made available to a thousand church planters and pastors enrolled in the strategic, inter-denominational Training the Trainers program. Praise God for the growth of his church and the hunger for teaching.

DAY 21 MONGOLIA Praise God for the vision, creativity and enthusiasm of Timothy Byambatogtokh. Timothy’s daily Bible-based talk-back show, The Love Project, is Mongolia’s most popular

radio program. The Love Project has grown to embrace television and a counselling ministry and is supported by SparkLit. Our encouragement has taken the form of capital

to secure accommodation, technical advice, a professional reference library and mentoring. Pray for Timothy as he revives and manages radio station Smart FM 107.

DAY 22 FRANCE A SparkLit loan has made possible the publication of Soif de la Parole, the French edition of Search the Scriptures. This is an initiative of GBU, the French IFES-affiliated student movement.

Pray that this book will nourish and inspire French-speaking students in Europe, Africa, the Caribbean and Canada.

DAY 23 PHILIPPINES Pray for Terence Yangyang and the other graduates from St Andrew’s Theological Seminary in Manila. We receive regular expressions of appre-ciation from final year students for the

provision of a Bible commentary and concordance upon graduation. As their personal resources are meagre, these gifts become indispensable tools. Please pray especially for the graduates who take up teaching and pastoral responsibilities in remote or unsympathetic locations.

For a pastor in rural Cambodia, $5 is a significant investment. Add $38 from a SparkLit supporter and a discount from local publisher, Fount of Wisdom, and that pastor will own a theological and pastoral library.

DAY 24 CAMBODIA Pray for Christian publisher Fount of Wisdom as it helps to recreate a national literature following the devas-tation wrought by the Khmer Rouge. SparkLit supports FoW with grants,

training and advice. Pray that the director, Chim Titmakara, will lead his team with wisdom, creativity and boldness. Pray that FoW books will equip Christian leaders to teach, challenge and edify those entrusted to their care.

DAY 25 CAMBODIA Translations of the evergreen IVP New Bible Dictionary have proved to be a critical reference for young churches around the world and instrumental in establishing emerging Christian

publishers in difficult settings. A SparkLit grant will finance the final editing and printing this year of the first volume of the Khmer edition. Pray for the Fount of Wisdom team as it completes this ambitious project and pray that the dictionary will be a blessing to the Cambodian church.

DAY 26 INDONESIA Pray that Efendi Zamesi and the other graduates from the Aletheia Theological Seminary in East Java will grow in wisdom and grace as they take up teaching and pastoral responsibi-

lities in challenging contexts throughout Indonesia. They set out with biblical and preaching reference books in Indonesian provided by SparkLit.

DAY 27 MYANMAR Pray for the people of Myanmar as they prepare for historic general elections in November 2015. SparkLit has agreed to sponsor the preparation and publi-cation this year of English and Burmese

editions of a biography of the Most Revd Stephen Than Myint Oo, Anglican Archbishop of Myanmar. Archbishop Stephen’s wisdom and courage are timely gifts. Pray that this book will support and reinforce his leadership as he guides his people through this time of transition.

DAY 28 ARGENTINA Inflation, paper and ink shortages, and importing and exporting restrictions threaten to bring local publishers to their knees. Pray that Certeza director, Beatriz Buono, will continue to lead

her team with vision, creativity and courage. Thank God for Certeza’s progress in a volatile economy and growing influence in the Spanish-speaking world. Praise God that Certeza Argentina is in turn assuming a mentoring role with other developing publishers and booksellers.

DAY 29 ARGENTINA The National Bible Teachers’ Network was formed in 2010 to encourage and train teachers in churches throughout Argentina. Pray for the director, Viviana Barrón de Olivares, as she

mentors teachers and supervises the production of innovative printed Bible study guides for all ages. SparkLit supports this initiative with publishing capital. Pray that the New Bible Training program will encourage and enable children, adolescents and adults to study God’s Word and to put it into practice.

The New Bible Training program responds to the great need in Argentine churches to encourage and enable children, adolescents and adults not just to study the Bible but also to put it into practice.

DAY 30 NATIONAL COUNCIL Please pray today for the SparkLit president, Bishop John Harrower, and the members of the National Council who guide the work of SparkLit and support our National Director,

Michael Collie. Pray also for those who serve on our Awards, Grants, and Management Committees as we seek to faithfully fulfil our purposes under God.

DAY 31 OTHER MINISTRIES Colleagues from a variety of denominations and mission agencies including ABM, BCA, CMS, Interserve and Pioneers draw our attention to opportunities to support strategic

Christian literature work. Please pray for these co-workers and also for our sister societies: SPCK (UK), ISPCK (India) and SPCK USA. Pray that we will all be Christ-focussed in our work and purpose. Pray today for SPCK (UK) as it embraces the opportunities and challenges presented by digital publishing technologies under the leadership of its new chief executive, Sam Richardson.

A prayer for SparkLit

Your Word, O God, is the spark of life. Through the prophets of old, in the person of your Son, on the written page, and in the power of your Spirit, your Word goes out across time and space.

Bless all who write, publish and share your truth, especially through SparkLit and its partners.

By your creative Spirit, empower them to work with skill and courage.

Through their ministry, make the hearts of readers wise, their minds sound, and their living true, so that the whole earth may hear the Good News.

We pray in the name of your Word made flesh, our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

S P A R K L I T P R A Y E R D I A R Y 2 0 1 5

You can fan the flames of faithOur ministry depends on your prayers. At all times we seek to prayerfully discern God’s work in the world. We have seen time and time again that when prayer is matched by careful research and wise counsel, surprising opportunities and fresh solutions abound. Thank you for your concern and faithfulness. May God richly bless you.

We rely on the generosity of donors like you. If you would like to financially support the work of SparkLit and its partners in difficult places, please consider the following options:

1. Giving regularly increases the effectiveness of your investment by enabling us to budget for new initiatives and plan ongoing project support. Regular giving also reduces our administrative burden. For more information telephone 1300 13 7725 or email us at: admin@SparkLit.org

2. Transfer your gift directly to our bank account. Our bank account details are as follows. Account name: SparkLit BSB: 085-005 Account number: 516 701 561 Reference: Your Name Please send us the transaction details by email so that we can acknowledge your donation.

3. Cheques can be sent to: SparkLit, PO Box 198, Forest Hill, Victoria 3131, Australia.

4. Online. Grab your credit card and visit: www.SparkLit.org/donate.html

PO Box 198, Forest Hill, Victoria 3131, Australia Telephone 1300 13 7725 admin@SparkLit.org www.SparkLit.org ARBN 119 800 645 Formerly the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge Australia and the Australian Christian Literature Society.