Waast 2018 Prayer Guide

WEST AFRICA ADVANCED SCHOOL OF THEOLOGY 2018 PRAYER GUIDE The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.

James 5:16

West Africa Advanced School of Theology

Training for Missio Dei through Pentecostal Servanthood “WAAST‒an instrument in the hands of God for missio Dei [the mission of God].” “The impact on my life and ministry has been tremendous and continues to be a reference for me.” So say alumni from Cameroon and Ghana.

Similar sentiments are echoed by students and alumni in ministry all over West and Central Africa and beyond. They serve as national and regional church leaders, pastors, Bible school directors and teachers, missionaries, evangelists, and more. They minister to men, women, youth, and children, and among the unreached and disadvantaged. They use radio, the Internet, the printed word, and other media to share the gospel. WAAST seeks to help every student play his or her part in the mission of God, directed by and moving in the power of the Holy Spirit.

We will begin the year by praying for the challenges WAAST faces, then pray concerning v the Assemblies of God (AG) work in the countries that WAAST serves (Jan. 14–April 1); v the WAAST extension centers and the work of the AG (or partner church) in the host countries (April 8–June 23); v the personnel and physical needs at WAAST's central campus in Lomé, Togo (July 1–15); v other ministries based on the campus (July 22–Aug. 12); v the various challenges confronting the Church in Africa, which demand trained, Spirit-filled leaders (Aug. 19–Sept. 16); v students' families, churches, and financial needs (Sept. 23–30); v the various areas of ministry in which students and alumni serve (Oct. 7– Dec. 30); v annual events, on the weeks they occur.

About WAAST and AGGST v West Africa Advanced School of Theology (WAAST) is based in LomĂŠ, Togo. The campus is actually home to two schools: the undergraduate WAAST and the Assemblies of God Graduate School of Theology (AGGST). The campus also hosts the doctoral classes of Pan-Africa Theological Seminary (PAThS). v WAAST and AGGST emphasize the Pentecostal mandate and the fulfillment of the Great Commission, equipping men and women for outreach in the power of the Holy Spirit. v WAAST opened in 1971 and offers its courses in both French and Englishto train Christian workers from West and Central Africa. Its 3-year program grants a post-secondary diploma and a bachelor of theology degree. More than 1,500 alumni now serve the churches in Africa and in other parts of the world. v AGGST opened in 1994; its French program began in 2002. The 4-year program offers a master's degree in missiology and is adding tracks in Christian education and pastoral counseling. AGGST counts nearly 300 alumni. v WAAST and AGGST serve some 20 nations in West and Central Africa, covering about a third of the continent. More than 12 million AG adherents live within this area, which is larger than the US, including Alaska and Hawaii. v WAAST courses are given in block sessions twice a year. AGGST students meet from May through July. v Ten extension centers, including one on the island of Madagascar, make it possible for students to study closer to home. They spend their last semester at the central campus and graduate together. v Since the first extension center was opened in the 1990s, enrollment has grown more than 13 times, from about 45 students to more than 600. v In the area WAAST serves, the ratio of churches to credentialed pastors is nearly 2 to 1. Training is critical, and WAAST and AGGST play a vital role in supplying qualified teachers and administrators for Bible schools all over West and Central Africa.

Visit West Africa Advanced School of Theology on Facebook. You may subscribe to the WAAST e-newsletter, Campus Connexion, by sending an email to news@waast.org.Extension Centers

1. Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso 2. Mbalmayo, Cameroon 3. Daloa, Côte d’Ivoire 4. Kinshasa, Dem. Rep. of the Congo 5. Libreville, Gabon 6. Kumasi, Ghana 7. Antananarivo, Madagascar 8. Niamey, Niger 9. Dakar, Senegal 10. Freetown, Sierra Leone Central Campus‒Lomé, Togo

Look What the Lord Has Done!

Thank God for answered prayer in these areas: Class of 2017: On November 11, 115 “Co-laborers in the Great Harvest” were awarded their diplomas: 18 the Post-secondary Diploma, 73 the Bachelor of Theology degree, and 24 the MA in Missiology. One of the 3 PAThS graduates is an alumnus and WAAST professor.

AGGST: Two new study tracks in the MA program are slated to begin this year: Christian Education and Counseling. The MA in Missiology will continue. All tracks are offered in French and English.

Angola: In May, 66 students graduated from the Angola AG’s first BTh-degree program, led by a WAAST/AGGST alumnus. Twelve of the graduates have been assigned to teach in the extensions and main Bible school.

Central African Republic: The general secretary of the AG here just graduated from WAAST and will be working to begin a formal Bible school.

Four pastors from CAR are in Bible school in Burkina Faso, and the AG-Côte d’Ivoire has accepted to train 10.

Chad: The Bible school in Moundou counts 52 graduates, who are now planting churches in many of the 23 regions The number of Chadian AG pastors has increased from 40 in 2008 to 90 today.

Ghana: The goal of the AG-Ghana’s Vision 3000 program‒to plant 3,000 new churches by the end of 2020‒is close to being met. As of August 2017, more than 2,600 new works had been opened.

Guinea-Conakry: The Bible school, which had just a handful of students, now has some 30 enrolled. The AG-Guinea has begun an aggressive effort to mobilize local churches to mother new ones.

Senegal: The Bible school here is growing and now has nearly 40 students.

Sierra Leone: Land has been purchased and construction has begun on a new Bible school in the interior city of Bo. This school will train not only Sierra Leoneans, but also workers from Liberia and Guinea.

Campus Improvements: A new kitchen and dining hall are in use. The PAThS doctoral program began using its floor in the new multipurpose building in July 2017. Work continues to complete 12 apartments on the top floor.

January 7

This week pray concerning CHALLENGES FACING WAAST This year brings some changes in leadership personnel and in the resident team, and change requires patience as people settle into their roles and learn to work together. As new tracks are added to the Master of Arts program, more professors qualified in these areas are needed. New construction and basic maintenance of campus buildings require funds and prioritizing. Wisdom is needed in overseeing a network of extension centers, each of which has its own challenges. And always the focus must remain on the mandate to form servant leaders for the Church of Africa.

Please pray v for the Spirit’s wisdom and direction in finding the right person to serve as vice president of the school. v that the Lord would call still more qualified people‒people with a servant spirit‒to minister at WAAST in various capacities. v that each challenge would draw those involved to earnestly seek God’s will in the matter and to work together for His glory.

January 14

This week pray for ANGOLA In 1987, in the midst of Angola’s 25-year civil war, the Angola Assemblies of God opened a Bible institute. They knew that proper Bible training is critical to ministering to people influenced by Marxism and traditional religions. AG churches now number more than 3,000, but many still lack a trained pastor. Rural parts of the nation have few churches, and many people still cling to traditional spiritual practices or are swayed by the prosperity teachings of “revival churches.” The Bible school now offers a degree program, providing more teachers for the extensions in Luanda, Huambo, and soon Cabinda. “Roots of Faith” basic courses and Bible school courses given in local churches train more servants.

Please pray v that more workers may receive Pentecostal training, that they might avoid the traps of syncretism and preach God’s Word in power. v for spiritual breakthrough in the northern provinces, and for more servants willing to live and begin works in the cities and villages there. v for the AG leaders and programs, which focus on training and church planting.

May all be done under the Spirit’s direction. v for continued stability and peace in Angola under its new leader.

January 21

This week pray for BENIN The AG Benin is on the move‒into the streets of Cotonou and into lesser-reached areas of the nation. Cotonou Kidz was recently launched to share Jesus with street kids in Benin’s largest city. Church-planting efforts in animistic and Islamic areas continue. The 2 Bible schools are growing; more than 60 new students are enrolled for this academic year. WAAST alumni lead and teach in these schools or train lay workers. Most alumni are pastors, often leading a church and training deacons to serve the annexes the church begins. Some alumni serve at the national- church or district level. Some are home or foreign missionaries.

Please pray v for land and provision for new works in resistant areas in the north. v for God’s blessing on ministries of the women’s and children’s departments: Ruth Center (training vulnerable young ladies), Naomi Project (empowering widows), and Cotonou Kidz. v for the Bible schools: for more resources for the libraries, for needed campus improvements, and for the faculty.

January 28

This week pray for CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC (CAR) In 2003, conflict forced US missionaries to leave the growing work in CAR. Since 2013, continuing Muslim/“Christian” conflict has displaced some 600,000 people. Today just 13 AG churches are functioning, and only 8 pastors have received formal training. Some congregations meet within the guarded refugee camps in the capital city. The needs are great: pastoral training, church planting, social works, missionaries to partner with the AG-CAR‒and resources for all this. This year a WAAST graduate, a leader in the AG-CAR, is working to open a Bible school. He shares these requests: Please pray v for peace and stability, and wisdom for the government. v for the new Bible school: for finances for professors, a place to rent or buy, furniture and equipment, and books. v for the reopening of 17 churches around the country that closed after 2003; the AG still owns the land and buildings. v for resources to minister through meeting social needs, e.g., water pumps, schools, health care, rehabilitation of child soldiers, etc.

February 4

This week pray for CHAD More than half of Chad’s people follow Islam, mixed with rituals from their traditional animism.

Sadly, many who claim Christianity also continue traditional practices. Consequently, they cannot confront the advance of Islam, nor the tribalism, corruption, and other spiritual problems in the nation. But God and His people are working! Today 52 graduates of the Assemblies of God training school in Moundou are taking the full gospel to and establishing works in difficult areas.

Please pray v that the gospel would take firm root in all of Chad’s 23 regions. v for more workers; severe poverty and other difficulties cause some to hesitate to follow God’s call. v concerning the spirit of religiosity that keeps many from a true relationship with Jesus. v for the Bible school as it trains and sends church planters, and its church as it reaches children and youth. A sewing center trains young women, who face much oppression and abuse in society.

February 11

This week pray for CONGO Congo is considered a Christian nation. However, mainstream churches allow traditional practices to corrupt right doctrine, and “revival churches” preach an unbalanced prosperity message. The AG is different, says an alumnus, and “people see that the AG is serious.” But he cites challenges to growth in the Congo AG. Many who would like to be in ministry hold secular jobs and cannot serve full time. Young people are dynamic, open to the Spirit, and eager, but hesitate to enter full-time ministry for economic reasons. Some 60 students are in the Bible school and 4 in the WAAST center in DR Congo.

Please pray v that more young people would accept God’s call to full-time service. v for the implementation of a mobile lay-training program. v for workers willing to leave the cities to begin or reopen works in rural areas; roads have improved and opportunities are greater. v for leaders and pastors as they preach Pentecost, and for a great outpouring on and mobilization of church members for outreach.

February 18

This week pray for EQUATORIAL GUINEA (EG) The Assemblies of God of EG celebrates 30 years in 2018. The Bible school, with 2 campuses, is directed by a WAAST graduate and has about 50 students. A new partnership with a Bible school in Spain will allow the school to offer a bachelor’s degree. Most of the 85 churches minister to children and youth through Castle Clubs and King’s Castle programs, discipling them and teaching them to share their faith. The AG runs 7 primary schools and is opening a second high school this year.

Roman Catholicism has a tremendous social influence. It allows people to practice animism, but strongly opposes any evangelical work.

Please pray v for strong, Spirit-guided leadership at every level. v for the Bible school partnership, that more workers may be trained at the degree level and then pastor and teach more effectively. v for greater missionary vision on the part of churches to reach their communities and to invest in young people who sense God’s call. v for believers, particularly youth, who face pressure from their families in the Roman Catholic church.

February 25

This week pray for THE NEW SESSION & NEW STUDENTS From various corners of West and Central Africa, they’re coming‒returning students and a new intake! Over the next 9 weeks these men and women will take 6 courses, gleaning knowledge from professors from around Africa and from North America. Lessons continue outside the classroom, as they live, eat, and study with those from other countries. They will share ideas and opinions (and argue!), sharpen one another, and broaden their perspectives. They will worship and pray together and grow as brothers and sisters in the diverse yet unique body of Christ.

Please pray v that each student would thrive and embrace the opportunity to learn from their professors and from one another. May the cross-cultural experience at WAAST help them to have a more effective ministry. v for the new students’ adjustment to campus life. v for health and strength for both students and professors.

March 4

This week pray for GUINEA-CONAKRY “For 30 years we have been stuck at 60 churches, and we are working to add 300 more by the end of 2020,” says a WAAST graduate and leader in the AG-Guinea.

As part of a commission formed for this effort, he travels around the nation to mobilize men’s, women’s, and youth groups and local churches to do their part to begin new works. To provide pastors, a lay-training program has been revived, and teachers from the Bible school travel to teach courses. Workers from several West African nations are involved in training and church planting here as well. The AG also reaches out through 6 primary schools and 2 clinics.

Please pray v that more would be filled with the Spirit and burdened to reach out. v for more workers who will accept the economic and cultural difficulties and move into new areas, and for their training. v for finances for church plants, social works, and training. v for means to expand the Bible school, which has only 1 classroom. .March

11

This week pray for LIBERIA With the goal of 800 new churches added by the end of 2020 before them, the Assemblies of God, Liberia, has prepared more than 150 church-planters. The missions department, under the direction of a WAAST alumnus, is sending out these pioneers, targeting specific less-reached areas. The home missions couple who works with children in a Muslim area has been able to add dormitories and expand their center. Some AGL churches run primary schools as well, and projects such as providing water filters open doors to communities. Seven Bible schools train pastors and leaders.

Please pray v for God’s direction as to the placement of each church planter, favor in the communities, and financial resources for land and churches. v for continued emphasis on the baptism in the Holy Spirit among the leadership and in the churches. Animism, secret societies, and false doctrines are prevalent, and people need discernment and power to resist. v for spiritual breakthroughs in areas gripped by animism and/or Islam. v that more Liberians could pursue the Master’s degree at AGGST to better serve the AGL in the Bible schools and other ministries.

March 18

This week pray for MALI This Muslim-majority desert country has become increasingly unstable as jihadist groups disrupt daily life in the central and northern areas. Of the 100 churches of the AG-Mali, only a dozen exist in these areas. But, one by one, people are coming to Jesus and being discipled.

Two Bible schools are training more workers. WAAST alumni serve as leaders, pastors, and teachers, and some as foreign missionaries to Mali. Three Malian AG pastors, including the assistant general superintendent, currently attend WAAST and share these requests: Please pray v that God would raise up workers willing to go to the north, for their training and for divinely opened doors to go. v that the Lord would burden the leaders with a strong missionary vision. v that more Malians would sense and obey God’s call to ministry and be able to attend Bible school; only about 25 are currently enrolled. v for wisdom in reaching the Fulani people, particularly through children. v that more Malians could attend WAAST, in Togo or at a center.

March 25

This week pray for NIGERIA Under the leadership of a WAAST alumnus, the Nigeria AG is targeting unreached areas, working to plant 6,000 new churches by 2025. Local churches support these efforts and reap the blessings of giving, but more need to become involved. Pastors and believers in the northeast, living under the shadow of terrorism, say they consider themselves already dead and so serve the Lord without fear. The Nigeria AG runs 10 Bible schools, and a WAAST/AGGST graduate recently became vice president of the premier school‒the first woman to hold this position in any of the schools.

Please pray v for church-planting efforts in a southwestern area, home to both Muslims and animists. Pray for favor and provision for workers. v for greater influence of WAAST/AGGST alumni in the Bible schools; their perspective on servant-leadership and missions is greatly needed to train leaders who will pursue God’s vision. v for the Spirit’s conviction upon those tempted to embrace the “prosperity gospel,” that they may focus on God and His values.

April 1

This week pray for OUR HOST COUNTRY‒TOGO “Jesus is coming soon...fan the flame within you” was the 2017 theme of this growing church. The Togo AG continues to emphasize the Holy Spirit, who empowers people to reach out. WAAST alumni head nearly all departments of the Church, and direct and teach in the 2 Bible schools and the lay-training programs around the nation.

Every worker is needed to serve the 2500 churches and annexes, and to start more in under-served areas. Togolese missionaries‒all WAAST and/or AGGST alumni‒serve in 4 nations. The Togo AG operates more than 40 schools, several clinics, and ministries to the handicapped and drug addicts.

Please pray v that these faithful workers would continually “fan the flame” and use their gifts according to the Spirit’s direction and in His power. v for open doors and God’s provision of land in resistant areas, and for means to construct buildings that cannot be burned down. v for infrastructure needs at both Bible schools: building repairs in one, and provision of a large hall and electricity in the other.

April 8

This week pray for THE EXTENSION CENTER IN BURKINA FASO The Assemblies of God here continues to grow, with the help of 100+ alumni who serve as department heads, pastors, Bible school directors, teachers, church-planters, home and foreign missionaries, and more. This extension center trains many lay leaders as well as those in full-time ministry, holding classes in the evenings. Nine Bible schools around the nation prepare more workers to serve the nearly 5,000 churches and to open and lead new ones. As the disruptive influence of Islam grows, more Spirit-filled believers are needed to preach true peace‒the Prince of peace!

Please pray v for favor on the part of employers to allow those students who have jobs to attend courses and to come to Togo for their final semester. v for the provision of furnishings and space dedicated to the center, which currently shares resources with the main Bible school. v for protection over the churches; many have received direct threats. v for open doors and for land for new works in resistant areas.

April 15

This week pray for THE EXTENSION CENTER IN CAMEROON This nation has seen increased turmoil in the past year.

Normal life is disrupted for many, by political clashes in the English-speaking southwest regions and by terrorist activity in the north. Students and alumni from this center, working with the Full Gospel Mission and AG-Cameroon, serve at all levels of church leadership and as church planters, Bible school teachers, in media ministry and more. They bring God’s message of perfect peace to children, youth people, university students, and to those who follow other religions that offer no peace.

Please pray v for the continued growth of this center and funds for those traveling to Togo in August to complete the program. v for students and alumni working in tense areas of the nation, for wisdom, protection‒and many souls brought to Jesus! v for the presidential election scheduled for October, that it would be carried out in peace and that freedom to share the gospel would continue.

April 22

This week pray for THE EXTENSION CENTER IN COTE D'IVOIRE The AG-Côte d’Ivoire is building up and reaching out!

They have committed to planting 5,000 new churches by the end of 2020, and so far have opened more than 1,200. The 3 Bible schools are overflowing, and a 4 th is under construction. As they emphasize missions, God is calling workers, and in 2017 some 170 men and women made a commitment to be sent. WAAST alumni are at the forefront of these initiatives and others, such as social work (schools, clinics, etc.) and outreach through various media. Many direct and teach in the Bible schools.

Some work in areas where Islam dominates.

Please pray v for those involved in church planting, that they may find open doors, land, and favor in the towns, particularly in Muslim areas. v for the construction and completion of the new Bible school. v for the launch of the new national AG TV station and for a printing press, that these tools may take the gospel into more homes. v for God’s direction and provision for those called to missions. v for the continued growth of the WAAST center here.

April 29

This week pray for THE EXTENSION CENTER IN KINSHASA, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO (DRC) Despite instability in this nation, the extension center has been able to hold classes, and students from the interior have been able to attend. A dormitory for 28 and visiting professors quarters are now in use. This center has produced more than 170 graduates. Most serve the AG, which counts 6,000+ churches; some serve in other Pentecostal churches. In times of political and ethnic turmoil and economic woes, more Spirit-filled leaders are needed to bring God’s message of hope and to build the Kingdom through evangelism, churchplanting, teaching, media, and social works.

Please pray v for safety for those traveling within the country to the center, and for provision for the 3rd-year students coming to Togo to finish. v for security for the center, located on a church campus in an area of the city that often sees unrest. v for an outpouring of the Spirit on the AG leaders and local-church believers, that they might show His power in the face of conflicts and lead nominal Christians, Muslims, and animists to Jesus.

May 6

This week pray for THE EXTENSION CENTER IN GABON The first group of students from this center, 16 of them, are slated to come to Lomé in August to complete their studies, and a new class will begin in 2019. The number of AG churches here has grown to 200+, but many are led by lay people because of a lack of trained pastors. The Bible institute in Port-Gentil, directed by an alumnus, now has 15 students, and other programs train lay workers. The Gabon AG’s Decade of Pentecost Committee conducts conferences and encourages pastors to regularly emphasize the Holy Spirit and missions.

Please pray v for the students from this center as they finish, and for those preparing to enter the program. v that more would answer God’s call to full-time ministry and seek training; more pastors and church planters are desperately needed. v for an outpouring of the Spirit upon pastors and churches, that believers might stand firm against pervasive false doctrines and give themselves to evangelism and missions.

May 13

This week pray for ASSEMBLIES OF GOD GRADUATE SCHOOL OF THEOLOGY AGGST students begin their first of 5 courses tomorrow. Beginning this year, all students will complete 7 core courses, then 6 courses and a practicum in their chosen track: Missiology, Christian Education, or Pastoral Counseling.

After 3 years, they enter the final, thesis-writing phase. The goal: Spirit-filled workers better equipped to do their part to fulfill the Great Commission. As leaders, teachers, missionaries, etc., AGGST graduates are making a great impact in raising the level of training and instilling a greater vision for missions in their churches.

Please pray v for wisdom for professors, that each course would respond to the students’ needs and challenge them practically and spiritually. v that the Lord would guide students in choosing the track that will best equip them for the work He has called them to. v for those working on thesis projects at home. May this research project enhance their ministry and help them grow.

May 20

This week pray concerning THE NEED FOR PENTECOSTAL RENEWAL Since 2010 Assemblies of God national churches across the continent have been engaged in the Decade of Pentecost. Collectively they have set goals to plant 49,000 new churches and to begin works among nearly 200 unreached people groups. This year’s theme, “In the Power of the Spirit, Boldly Go!” is based on Acts 4:31.

The believers prayed, not for personal blessing, but for boldness to witness. As they were filled anew with the Holy Spirit, they spoke out with His wisdom and performed signs and wonders‒and the Church grew!

Please pray v that more believers would grasp the missionary purpose of the baptism in the Holy Spirit and seek to be equipped for witness. v that God would bless the efforts of the various AG national churches as they plant churches and send workers to new areas. In some areas growth is slow; pray for spiritual breakthrough. v for pastors and church leaders as they continue to emphasize the need for the Spirit’s empowerment for witness.

Today is Pentecost Sunday!

May 27

This week pray for THE EXTENSION CENTER IN GHANA Under the direction of 2 alumni, this center has some 50 students. Both as pastors of churches who mother new churches, and as trainers of church planters, the 300+ WAAST alumni here play a major role in the AG’s Vision 3000 project. The vision: to plant 3,000 new churches by the end of 2020‒and already the goal has nearly been met. By necessity, many new works are led by trained laypeople. More full-time pastors and more training are needed to help these congregations avoid the syncretistic teachings prevalent in many high-profile independent churches. More workers are needed to reach Muslim areas.

Please pray v for desperately-needed library resources for this center. v that more who are already engaged in ministry would be able to attend this center for further training, to better equip the believers in the new churches and to train others to do so. v for those establishing works in Muslims areas, for wisdom and favor in the communities.

June 3

This week pray for THE EXTENSION CENTER IN MADAGASCAR This center has now graduated 13 students, and all of them are involved in training more workers to serve the 1,000+ AG churches in this nation. The one Bible school has 7 extension centers around the island, with a total of more than 200 students. Pastors are desperately needed; in one area a family of 3 pastors (husband, wife, and son) oversees 22 churches! Most Malagasy consider themselves Christians and attend mainstream Protestant or Catholic churches, but cling to traditional practices as well. One church leader notes that many see a great difference between their powerless, formal churches and the vitality of the AG churches.

Please pray v for divine strategies for the AG to reach all 24 districts; hundreds of communities have no AG or Pentecostal presence. v for a still greater emphasis on the Holy Spirit, so that believers might witness in power and draw others to the Truth. v for the medical, radio, and other social outreaches of the AG. v for more qualified students and for finances for this center.

June 10

This week pray for THE EXTENSION CENTER IN NIGER The government of this Muslim land declared, “There are no Christians in Niger.” Then, in January 2015, many churches were burned‒and the Church became known.

Many have been touched by the Christians’ ready forgiveness. The Niger AG has established evangelism committees at the national- and local-church levels. Each member is encouraged to lead at least one person a year to the Lord. These are then discipled, and when they reveal their faith, they can stand firm. Church leaders emphasize the Holy Spirit, church planting, and modeling Christ before others.

The pastors’ wives have their own program to reach the ladies.

Please pray v for more Nigerien workers; foreigners live there at great risk. v for AG schools and health programs. Every pastor is allowed to run an NGO; pray for wisdom as to how to help each community. v for land; many now fear renting to a church or to Christians. v for more students in the 2 Bible schools and lay-training program. v that the WAAST center may reopen or an alternative be created.

June 17

This week pray for THE EXTENSION CENTER IN SENEGAL This center opened in 2009, but few have been able to complete the program. Finances and logistics of leaving their ministries keep many from attending the 2 6-week sessions offered yearly. Trained Pentecostal leaders are greatly needed in this Muslim-majority land, to disciple believers, establish new works, go to the 26 unreached people groups‒and train others to do the same in the power of the Spirit. The AG-Senegal reaches out through schools and other social helps, working in all 14 regions of the nation. More workers are seeking training at the Bible institute.

Please pray v for both finances and personnel to oversee the students’ churches so they may attend sessions in Dakar and the final semester in Togo. v for more qualified students to come for advanced training. v for missionaries, both African and American, working in resistant areas and for spiritual breakthroughs in individual hearts and communities. v for the continued great impact of the AG-run primary schools, and of the church-attached kids’ clubs that minister to more than 100,000.

June 24

This week pray for THE EXTENSION CENTER IN SIERRA LEONE Some 60 workers have graduated from this extension center and are involved in district- and national church leadership, pastoring, and training of both pastors and layworkers. Leaders who depend on the Holy Spirit are needed to ground believers in the full gospel so they may resist the false “Christian” doctrines and pagan practices around them. Pastors and church members alike need the Holy Spirit to burden them for their Muslim neighbors and other unreached groups in and outside Sierra Leone. New training initiatives are in place as the AG works to plant more than 200 new churches and to send out 50 home missionaries in the next few years.

Please pray v that God would open doors for pastors who hold secular jobs to study at this center. Pray their employers would grant them time to attend the biannual sessions and the final semester in Togo. v for a greater commitment on the part of local AG churches to invest in future church growth by sending and supporting students. v for a miracle in the purchase of the land on which the extension center, the AG Bible school, and the AG headquarters sit. The lease expires in 2020.

July 1

This week pray for RESIDENT STAFF Teaching, performing administrative tasks, hosting, mentoring‒the faculty and staff based on the central campus do all this and more to serve the students.

This year brings a major shift as some personnel leave and others join the team, either for the first time or in new roles. Transition requires patience, grace, and a servant’s heart on the part of each member so that the staff can continue to work well together. May each one use his or her gifts in the most effective way to train and influence the lives of students, who are in turn training and influencing others.

Please pray v for a smooth transition, unity of the Spirit, and the continued growth of each staff member. v that the Lord would help the staff, individually and corporately, to model Christ to the students and visiting professors. v for health and strength for each one, especially during the intense teaching sessions.

July 8

This week pray for ADJUNCT FACULTY Twenty years ago, the list of WAAST professors consisted of the resident missionaries, with just a few African names. Today that list has grown to more than 40 professors, most from West and Central Africa, and some from North America and Europe. Many are graduates from WAAST and/or AGGST and serve in their respective nations as church leaders at national and district levels, pastors, Bible school directors, etc. Some serve as missionaries in other nations. They leave their posts for 2- or 3-week sessions at WAAST, and not only teach the course material but also share from their experience and cultural insights.

Please pray v for the Spirit’s anointing on each professor as he or she teaches and helps the students apply this knowledge to their own contexts. v for good rapport and understanding between students and teachers, that they may learn from one another in and outside the classroom. v for God’s protection over these visiting professors as they come by road or air, and for health and strength as they teach.

July 15

This week pray concerning CAMPUS IMPROVEMENTS & LIBRARY RESOURCES With the influx of students coming from extension centers for the second semester, beginning next month, dorms fill up quickly. Often local students are asked to stay at home to accommodate others.

The oldest dorm on campus, a 2-story building, needs to have another floor added, as does at least 1 men’s dorm. In the library, the English holdings have grown, but more French theological resources are needed. The Internet offers more resources in both languages, but service remains slow, hampering research.

Please pray v for funds and teams to renovate the 2-story dormitory. v for wisdom in anticipating construction needs to meet the demands of growth in the coming years. v for more appropriate Pentecostal/evangelical study materials in French, especially those produced by Africans for this context. v for better Internet service, which has been an ongoing challenge.

July 22

This week pray for WAAST INTERNATIONAL CHAPEL From many African nations, Europe, America, even China, over the past 25+ years thousands have been a part of WAAST International Chapel. The first generation is now bringing up their children here. Many outside have benefited from the Chapel: 2 million listeners of Radio Jesus Loves You, missionaries and Bible school students, people facing crises or simply needing Jesus. Some have benefited indirectly through members or former members elsewhere who share God’s love with them in many ways. May this church continue to point people to Jesus in Lomé and beyond.

Please pray v for those in leadership roles, from senior pastor to Sunday school teacher, that each would be used by the Spirit in discipling people and helping them to become empowered witnesses. v for members of the various committees, from evangelism to cleaning, that God would bless them and every act done for Him. v for the young people and children of the Chapel; as they learn to serve Jesus now, may they remain faithful to Him as adults.

July 29

This week pray for

About 80 students around the continent are actively pursuing their doctoral studies (PhD and DMin) through PAThS. Some are in the dissertation phase.

Each of the 13 students in the 2016 West Africa Cohort is a WAAST and/or AGGST alumnus, and 4 more alumni took the prerequisite Greek class in 2017. Students from East Africa have joined the West Africa class here on campus for the current session.

Please pray v for God’s provision for those in need of funds for their schooling. v for professors who are writing new courses for the program. v for strength for those doing their dissertation research and writing. v that appropriate textbooks may be found or translated into French so that the courses can be offered in this widely-used language. v for safe travels for administration, faculty, and students as they come from the US and from various African nations.

August 5

This week pray for STUDENTS IN THE FINAL SEMESTER Students are arriving, and 3rd-year students face a long semester consisting of 6 courses and a thesis project. Most students from the extension centers are here for the first time. “I’m a pastor, and I need this,” remarked one.

“This” includes interacting with students from different nations and learning new perspectives and solutions that he can adapt. “This” includes gaining from the wide experience of the teachers as well as from books and lectures. “This” includes building lasting relationships with classmates as they live and share together.

The studies and multicultural environment, while intense, serve to strengthen and broaden the character and ministries of the students.

Please pray v that the Lord would help each student to adapt well and to profit from this cross-cultural experience. v that students would remain healthy physically and spiritually to meet the academic, social, and spiritual challenges before them. v for divine guidance in the thesis projects, that their research and writing would contribute to their effectiveness in ministry.

August 12

This week pray for RADIO JESUS LOVES YOU A young believer, forbidden to follow Jesus, listens to a Bible study in secret.

A lady, depressed and alone, hears words of hope, calls for counsel, and meets Jesus. “Radio goes where people can’t,” notes the director of RJLY. “It is a tool for missions.” Reaching 2 million listeners in more than 10 languages, RJLY touches people in Togo, Benin, and Ghana with the gospel through preaching and music. Programs on social issues, health, marriage, and more offer a biblical perspective. Firmly apolitical, RJLY seeks to propagate the values of God’s eternal kingdom and to bring people to Him. Please pray v for authorization (pending for several years now) to place an antenna to broadcast into northern Togo, and for the equipment. v that every worker at the station would be mindful of the missions objective of the radio, and for the Ethics Committee in its work to see that only doctrinally sound programs are broadcast. v for more funds for operation and maintenance. May God honor decisions to refuse lucrative ads that do not reflect Christian values.

August 19

This week pray concerning SYNCRETISM & CULTS Paying for potion that promises power or healing. Wearing charms for good luck. Exchanging goods for success and blessing. Seeking to curse an enemy.

In traditional African religions, people consult “priests” for answers. Sadly, many leaders of popular independent churches also help people find answers‒ not in Jesus, but in such things as holy oil, or pens that guarantee success in exams. They accept goods for praying and giving blessings. They teach people to pray “dangerous prayers” against enemies. Such syncretism‒mixing of traditional and Christian practices‒points out the need for solid biblical training and a heart change for these pastors and their people.

Please pray v for church leaders motivated by ego and possessions, that the Spirit would graciously convict them and they would seek to glorify God. v for believers who fall prey to false doctrines, personality cults, and quasiChristian cults such as Jehovah’s Witnesses and Freemasons. May they come to know and cling to the Lord and His Word. v that pastors and teachers would pursue holiness and training so they can teach right doctrine and be models for others.

August 26

This week pray concerning THE CHALLENGE OF ISLAM At a university, a Muslim group pays any member who woos and marries a Christian lady. In a town, a Muslim charity digs wells for those who espouse Islam. Young boys are offered education‒then must beg on the streets for their teacher. Across Africa, Islam’s influence is growing and affecting the economy, politics, education, and the freedom of churches and believers. We invite you to pray us for the Muslim world every Friday (1 p.m. GST, 9 a.m. EST); you may request our weekly Jumaa Prayer e-bulletin at news@waast.org.

Please pray v for God’s wisdom for His people as they confront the effects of Islam and show God’s love to the Muslim people around them. v that God would raise up more workers to go in the Spirit’s power to Muslim areas, and more intercessors for this spiritual battle. v that Jesus would reveal himself in dreams and visions to Muslims, and place in their path those who can explain the gospel.

September 2

This week pray concerning TRIBALISM & REGIONALISM Discrimination, prejudice, and ethnocentrism cause dissension throughout the world. It should not be so among the body of Christ. Sadly, in Africa, some churches bow to social pressure, catering to certain tribes and excluding others. The results: internal politicking, a loss of credibility, and hurt people with nowhere to turn. But every person is God’s creation, and the Church has the opportunity and responsibility to show His love to those deemed as being from the “wrong” tribe or the “wrong” place, and to help them find their rightful place in the Kingdom.

Please pray v that the Holy Spirit would graciously remind His people that the same love that saved them extends to those of every tribe, tongue, nation, and social status. v that believers would be guided by this conviction and minister to all, regardless of social, family, or political pressures that would discourage them from reaching out to certain people.

September 9

This week pray concerning THE CHALLENGES OF INSTABILITY & PERSECUTION Forces are increasingly at work to destabilize areas and peoples in West and Central Africa, for political, economic, or religious gain. Terrorist groups have displaced nearly 5 million in Nigeria and RD Congo alone. Natural disasters, mainly floods, force others from their homes. In these situations, people cannot continue farming, or lose their jobs, and their children cannot attend school. In many areas, those who choose to follow Jesus suffer persecution at the hands of the community. Some churches must meet under guard, or their members are dispersed.

Please pray v for believers who are displaced or in unstable areas, that they would remain strong in Jesus and show His light to those around them. v for pastors and other Christian workers who serve in dangerous areas. May the Spirit give them wisdom and open doors in these places where they face opposition. v that believers who face persecution would stand firm and have the joy of seeing their persecutors (usually family) accept Jesus.

September 16

This week pray concerning THE CHALLENGE OF POLITICS In one nation, the paramount chief of an ethnic group, despite his evangelical education, cannot serve Jesus and perform the ritualistic duties his position requires. In other countries, believers elected to high government posts have compromised God’s moral laws under political pressures. National church bodies have seen more division over personal power than over doctrinal issues. Christians in Africa (and everywhere) are needed as lights in the world, and those whom God has placed in positions of authority in secular or church governments need our prayers so they may shine, boldly uphold God’s laws, and stand firm against great temptations.

Please pray v for Christians who hold government posts, that they would use their influence wisely. May God use them to resist other powers that would restrict freedom to spread the gospel (2 Ti 1:3). v that the Holy Spirit would remind leaders Whom they really serve, that they may serve humbly and resist compromise, whether in the secular or church context. v that believers and churches would likewise take care to exalt the King of kings over any earthy political entity.

September 23

This week pray for STUDENTS' FAMILIES & CHURCHES Third-year students are beginning their last 6 weeks of classes. Some were able to visit their families and churches during the break last week, but most from the extension centers stay on the campus from August to November. For many, facing homesickness and the natural concern for those left behind is a challenge.

Nearly every semester a student receives news of a death, birth, or illness in the family. Problems may arise in the church that demand their attention. Everyone is thankful for cell phones and the Internet to stay in touch!

Please pray v for peace in the hearts of the students and a sense of assurance that their families and ministries are in God’s hands. v for health and strength for those left at home. Often the spouse assumes the ministry responsibilities of the student. v for the smooth running of the church or other ministry in the leader’s absence.

May the Lord give wisdom to those left in charge.

September 30

This week pray for STUDENTS' FINANCIAL NEEDS Paul assured the Philippians, “And my God will meet all your needs….” Those who work to further the Kingdom, as the Philippians did through helping Paul, can depend on His faithful provision. Paying for schooling is difficult for some, especially those who must travel from centers or who pastor small works. But God provides through their churches, family, friends, and colleagues. He provides through scholarships‒and sometimes through other students and unexpected sources. One alumnus, testifying of God’s provision, concluded, “God honors faith and stepping out in faith.”

Please pray v that students would see miracles of provision as they step out in obedience to come to WAAST. v for God’s blessing on the churches and individuals who invest in their pastors and other workers in order that they may be more effective Kingdom builders. v for wisdom in disbursing the limited scholarship funds.

October 7

This week pray for NATIONAL AND DISTRICT CHURCH LEADERS WAAST and AGGST alumni who serve as national, regional, and district church leaders face many challenges. For some, rapid church growth means a need for more trained workers, land, etc. Others pray for strategies to reach resistant, even hostile, peoples. Some must confront false doctrines that would detour the Church. They need encouragement, God’s direction, and wisdom as they serve.

Please pray v for unity of team members on executive committees at all levels. v for divine strength to meet the particular challenges they face in their positions and in their social contexts. v for the Spirit’s wisdom as they oversee and work together to implement projects, e.g., church plants, social works, etc. v for their spiritual lives, that they might walk humbly and close to Jesus so that they might be effective servants of His Church.

October 14

This week pray for PASTORS AND CHURCH PLANTERS Most WAAST students and alumni pastor churches. As shepherds, they face varying challenges, from confronting the false, ego-centered doctrines of highprofile preachers to discipling secret believers who cannot yet reveal their faith. Wherever they serve, pastors must teach without compromise the full gospel and lead the people to be filled with the Spirit according to Acts 2:4. So empowered, they can resist false teaching and stand firm despite persecution.

They will become witnesses‒and they and their pastors will begin new churches. Some workers feel specially called to plant churches and need wisdom and provision.

Please pray v that pastors would take care to walk each day in the Spirit, Who gives them wisdom and power to meet every challenge and to minister to every person according to his need. v for provision for pastors and their families so that they can devote themselves to the work and so people will see God’s faithfulness. v that God would lead each church planter to key people He has prepared, grant him favor in the community, and provide land.

October 21

This week pray for EVANGELISTS People watch, some from the shadows, as the gospel story is depicted through the Jesus film in their own language. They hear that God loves them‒a message they’ve not heard from the fetish priest or imam. They are invited to talk to the speaker and those with him to learn more. Some hesitate, but others are eager. Such is the joy of the evangelist, to bring people the gospel of hope.

Some go into untouched areas, often with equipment and a team. They may help a pastor begin an annex in a new neighborhood. They may stay for days or weeks until the new work is begun and people are under the care of a local pastor.

Please pray v for the Spirit’s wisdom as to where to go and how long to stay. v that God would prepare hearts to receive the gospel, and prepare “people of peace” who will give them favor in the community. v for protection as they travel and minister, from accidents, thieves, and those who oppose their message. v for the provision of ministry equipment and of land for new works.

October 28

This week pray for BIBLE SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS & PROFESSORS About 200 AG Bible schools train workers from lay to graduate levels in West and Central Africa. Many WAAST/AGGST alumni direct or teach in these schools. Their contexts and challenges vary. Some need more space for growing numbers of students; others train just a few. Study resources, especially in French, are often lacking. But what many directors see as the greatest challenge is helping future church leaders develop a proper understanding of the Holy Spirit and missions, and a strong Spirit-endued prayer life. Thus trained, they will in turn raise up Spirit-led, missions-minded churches that will glorify God and build His kingdom.

Please pray v for the spiritual lives of administrators and teachers, that they might model a healthy, consistent Christian lifestyle to students. v for wisdom for those who engage or assign teachers, to ensure that each one teaches sound doctrine without compromise. v that God would meet the personnel and material needs of each program, whether residential, distance, or mobile.

November 4

This week pray for THE 2018 GRADUATION Exams are over, the Class of 2018 have enjoyed their banquet, robes have been issued and pictures taken, and everyone is preparing for Graduation Day on Saturday. Those from extension centers eagerly await reunions with family and church members who will arrive throughout the week. The celebration begins at 8 a.m., with words from graduates, singing, a message, and cheers as diplomas are conferred‒and continues into the afternoon in various receptions around the campus.

May this day honor our graduates and the God who has called them.

Please pray v that final preparations would go smoothly. v for safe travels for those coming by road and air. v that the messages of the speakers, both student speakers and the guest speaker, would touch and challenge the hearts of believers and unbelievers alike according to their needs.

November 11

This week pray for THE WAAST BOARD OF GOVERNORS Since WAAST first opened in 1970, its Board of Governors has included faculty members, African AG church leaders, and US missionaries from the nations WAAST serves. They have offered guidance as the school has grown to include extension centers and a graduate program. They discuss issues and take decisions based on WAAST’s mission: “Training for Missio Dei through Pentecostal Servanthood.” We thank God for this body of dedicated people who pray for WAAST and seek to further its mission. This Board concludes its annual meeting on the campus today.

Please pray v for the unity of the Spirit and His wisdom in dealing with issues at hand. v for those on the Executive Committee as they work more closely with the school, and for the Board of Administration on campus. v for greater participation on the part of some national churches to send students and to better support the school.

November 18

This week pray for MISSIONARIES Dozens of WAAST graduates have heeded God’s call to go to other nations, both in Africa and beyond. The strong missions emphasis that permeates WAAST courses encourages them to pray, give, and go. But, notes an alumnus, studying about missions and experiencing the realities of the mission field are two different things! African missionaries serving in other African nations often do not expect the culture shock they feel on the field and again when they return home. Many face issues concerning finances, children’s adjustment and schooling, language, health, relationships with colleagues, and, in some areas, persecution.

Please pray v that each missionary would have a clear vision from God as he or she goes to the field. Without a strong focus, observes a missionary, “You do everything‒and you do nothing.” v that the Holy Spirit would give each one His wisdom in dealing with the various difficult issues that arise. v for the marriages and family life of missionaries. v that each one would be encouraged by an inner joy and the assurance of God’s call and presence each day.

November 25

This week pray for WOMEN IN MINISTRY In the Bible, God raised up women to influence nations (Deborah, Esther)‒and to be a quiet witness (Dorcas, Acts 9). In Africa today He uses women to build His kingdom. Some are in the forefront, as pastors and pastors’ wives, evangelists, missionaries, Bible school teachers, or leaders of Women’s Ministries and children’s departments. Others are not as visible as they work in compassion ministries, counsel and disciple, or use print or social media to edify and teach others. Some quietly live among and build relationships with people who need to see God’s love personified. Each woman needs the Spirit’s wisdom and direction for her respective ministry.

Please pray v for married women, they might wisely nurture their families as well as meet the demands of ministry. v for those who serve among unreached or resistant people, that they would be encouraged and their lives would draw others to Jesus. v that God would open doors for women to minister in regions or in churches that have restricted them. Every worker is needed!

December 2

This week pray for YOUTH PASTORS In a workshop, youth pastors from around West Africa discussed their concern for the spiritual lives of young people.

Many faithfully come to church and youth meetings‒but during the week immerse themselves in dubious Web sites, soap operas, and other diversions that encourage immorality.

Some are attracted by the false teaching of “prosperity” churches. Those from families who follow traditional religions or Islam often face persecution for their faith. Youth pastors need to help them become established in God’s Word and filled with His Spirit so that they may stand firm and follow God’s leading without fear or compromise.

Please pray v for wisdom for those working with young people, from the local-church to national-church levels, as they help them follow Jesus in a world that seeks to turn them from Him. v for a fresh anointing of the Holy Spirit on youth workers, that they might consistently model Christ before the young people. v for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit on young people, empowering them to be witnesses to resistant peers and family members.

December 9

This week pray for CHILDREN’S WORKERS Most WAAST graduates are involved in some way in reaching the newest generation. Pastors must identify and see to the training of local children’s workers.

Some alumni devote themselves full time to children’s ministry. They hold outreaches, camps, conferences, and other activities. They offer seminars to teach workers sound doctrine and about issues affecting children. Others are involved with Christian schools, orphanages, clinics, and various social works. These services give them opportunities to reach kids and families who may never come to church. In Togo, at least 15 churches have opened as a direct result of reaching children!

Please pray v that more churches would see the need for and implement programs to train teachers in theology and teaching methods, to ensure that children learn proper doctrine in effective ways. v that God would raise up more mature workers; in many cases the youth are called on to help, and children are teaching children. v for children from non-Christian homes. Many have no spiritual support and may even be prevented from attending church.

December 16

This week pray for WORKERS AMONG MUSLIMS After attacks that destroyed dozens of churches in Niger in 2015, many Muslims were touched by the forgiveness shown by Christians. “Islam can do all it wants,” observes an alumnus, “but there is a spiritual influence it can’t share because it doesn’t have it‒love.” This unfamiliar love draws people, and those who work among Muslims must model a consistently godly life, often in the face of passive rejection or even aggressive persecution. They need the patience of the One who waits patiently for more to come to Him. Please pray v that workers would be filled with and act and move in God’s love. v for the Spirit’s wisdom as they minister to those who come to them, often in secret, for prayer and with questions. v for strength in times of discouragement, and for opportunities for Christian fellowship. Some workers are quite isolated. v that God would use His people in power encounters that speak to Muslims.

December 23

This week pray for WORKERS IN COMPASSION MINISTRIES In the 1940s a missionary took the gospel to a certain village‒with no response. But he had a basic medical kit, and for several weeks he treated a lady with sores until she was healed.

This demonstration of Jesus’ love led to the salvation of most in the village, and today a medical complex there serves and shares Jesus with many who would never attend a church.

Whether through clinics, wells, centers for street boys or drug addicts, disaster relief, orphanages, jobs training, etc., meeting people’s physical and social needs can open doors to meeting their true need: reconciliation and relationship with God the Father.

Please pray v for WAAST students and alumni involved in compassion work, whether fulltime or as part of their church’s ministry. Pray for strength to meet the incessant demands of this work. v for wisdom to guide the work in ways that are sustainable (i.e., that people can continue should the director leave), and for discernment in choosing and training godly people to help. v for divine favor and opportunities to share the gospel.

December 30

This week pray for WORKERS IN TRANSLATION AND MEDIA When members of a certain tribe saw the Jesus film in the language of another tribe, they expressed their wish that God would do such a wonderful thing for their people. Hearing or reading the gospel message in one’s own language makes it personal. Some WAAST student and graduates work to translate the Bible and other Christian materials into indigenous languages and teach people to read them.

Others produce radio programs in local languages as well as in the widely used English and French. Some use Web sites, CDs, DVDs, and SD cards to spread the Good News. Some write and publish materials for evangelism, discipleship, and ministry training.

Please pray v that the Spirit would guide each translator, that the words chosen would be the most accurate and meaningful to the readers. v for those using media to reach restricted-access areas, through radio and TV, Web sites, microchips, etc., and for creative means of following up those who hear the message and seek to know more. v for the means to produce and distribute programs and materials.

B.P. 2313 LomĂŠ, Togo Tel.: 228-22-25-06-63 www.waast.org