January 2nd - 8th
Week 1: 2017 Goals & Challenges for CLC Monday (2nd) – Gerardo Scalante, International Director:
Most of our workers around the world are nationals, less than five percent of them are cross cultural missionaries. Please pray that we will be able to develop the mission side of CLC up to the point that we can prepare and send more missionaries to countries where this sort of work is much needed. Right now there are open opportunities in areas like Africa and Asia.
Tuesday (3rd) – Gary Chamberlin, Europe Regional Director:
The biggest challenge we face is to find stability in our shops across Europe. There has been a notable decline in Christian retail over the past 8 years as many people now increasingly purchase online. The struggle is to maintain a viable shop ministry in the face of lower sales, which makes sustainability more difficult. The result is often a reduction in staff and a search to reduce costs. One major way that we are diversifying our ministry is through publishing, which is having a positive impact. We look to the Lord in hopes that our internet and publishing efforts will grow significantly in 2017.
Wednesday (4th) – Gerardo Scalante, International Director:
Most of the countries where we are working in Latin America are facing difficult economic situations. For example, due to inflation, salaries in Venezuela are very low and an inexpensive version of the Bible from CLC is worth a week’s salary for many people. We thank God for dedicated CLC members who love God and serve people so that they come to faith and maturity in the Lord Jesus Christ. These team mates continue to explore alternative ways to spread Kingdom resources throughout their countries - knowing how they transform lives! Please pray that the economies of these countries will stabilise and that they will be given better access to the foreign currency they require to purchase books from US publishers. Pray also for us to be able to make Christian literature available in these countries at affordable prices.
Thursday (5th) – Romualdo, Macinas, Asia Pacific Regional Director:
We have three main challenges that we are currently facing: communications, financial sustainability and cooperation. As each country in the Asia region has its own language, please pray that God will open our ears and hearts to better understand each other. This will increase our unity allowing us to work together more efficiently for God’s Kingdom and to help each other when there is a need that another can supply. Pray also that each team will regularly communicate with me, especially concerning financial struggles, so that we can develop a clear strategic plan to grow their ministry and make it sustainable.
Friday (6th) – David Almack, North America & Caribbean Regional Director:
Please pray for our CLC bookshops in the Caribbean as they are functioning in islands that have suffered from economic downturns in recent years. One team in particular is still recovering from the effects of a major storm that destroyed infrastructure and roads on the island. Our major goal is for financial stability in 2017 so that we will be able to keep supplying needs for Christian literature. In North America, we desire to impact the culture with Christian books at a time when there many other entertainment options that distract Christians from developing a habit of reading. Another goal is to see many more Christians reading on a regular basis.
The Weekend (7th/8th) – Liz Patten, Africa Regional Director:
Please pray for us, that we will get a renewed understanding of the core values of CLC and how they relate to what