Right now, you have the opportunity to pray and listen to God in partnership with our international team leaders. Join us in a very practical way (keep reading)!
We believe that God is preparing this East African team for an ‘explosion of churches among the poor.’
What can you and I do right now?
During the next several weeks, as we travel throughout East Africa, we will be asking each of our team leaders to pray and ask God what He wants them to believe for. As we spend time with them praying and listening, we will see some clear goals emerge.
But, they cannot accomplish this alone!
We need to act first, right now, so I am asking you to join us in these two ways:
1. Pray!
2. Share whatever Scripture, prayer, or encouragement that God gives you for this team or for this vision! Either do it right now before you move on to other things, or take some time this week and then make sure you come back to share with us so that we can share with the leaders.
We will take your prayers, words, and encouragements with us as we travel and each one will be shared with our team.
I cannot express how vital this is to the process of releasing Kingdom power where it is so desperately needed. The Kingdom advances by the power of His Spirit as we listen and follow His leading! Doing this in partnership—together—will greatly enhance and empower the forward momentum of this vision.
Join us by praying and then sharing:
By emailing us: roger@appleseedministry.com
Or by joining our Facebook prayer group and share there
Go ahead and pray and share. OR, take a couple of moments and look over our key team leaders as you pray:
Dawson, married to Elizabeth, lives in Kitale, Kenya and his church planting influence extends throughout East Africa. He is the one who recently said, “I believe we are ready for an explosion of churches.”
John, married to Eunice, has planted many new churches in Kakamega, Kenya with a heart to see every person, from women to disabled people, empowered to live productive lives.
Henry, married to Dorcas, has begun planting churches in Uganda throughout this past year and has been very fruitful. He also serves in his community educating people about AIDS and health care for families.
Justin, married to Anne Marie, has been planting churches in Rwanda over the past year and is expanding into different rural areas as well as Burundi. He is committed to seeing a reproducing movement of churches in these areas.
Steven, married to Angel, is in D.R. Congo and has such a heart to see this war-torn nation reached. He trains leaders throughout his region and also works to see the unreached people groups of D.R. Congo, including Pygmy tribes, reached with the love of Christ.
Appleseed Travel Journal 
My first impression is that these are men who have vision and are dynamic leaders. We need to stand behind them to see the kingdom of God come to the people groups (ethnos) that do not have a viable reproducing church. The fact that they have already planted several churches is
something we can learn from. We are already reached and are blessed with abundantly more than they could ever ask or think in many ways.
Let us focus our energies with all we have to see the task of reaching all ethnos completed! At the rate the gospel of the kingdom is advancing we can see it in our lifetime. We are on the last stretch of the race. Let’s run alongside those who are doing it with the truly unreached.
We can so easily forget this focus that God has for each of us because it’s far away. God has called each of us repeatedly beginning with the Abrahamic covenant, repeated and repeated throughout and ending in Revelations where we all get to worship with every tribe and tongue before the throne! Every tribe and tongue needs to be there! Wow!! What a worship that will be!!
I’m so grateful that Roger and Brooks, you are training these men in simple rapidly reproducing communities of Christ followers. It’s alive, contextualized, self-motivated, spirit led and grass roots.
As I read about what each of you are allowing our Father to do through you, I am ashamed of the condition of CHRIST’S body here, in our nation. We should be asking you to pray for us! Nevertheless, I pray that Father will empower you beyond what you are able, that He will use each of you in a way that brings glory and honor to Him, to raise the Name of Jesus CHRIST above all in every place you go. I pray that you will be planting seeds that will grow into a beautiful harvest of souls to the glory of our LORD and Savior, Jesus CHRIST.
I pray that (each of you) :
9 He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it. Titus 1:9
GOD’s richest blessings on each of you and your loved ones.
In CHRIST,
pam
Lord, bless Roger and Brooks on there mission to Africa. Bless these leaders in Africa
that have stepped up and shown your love through out Africa. Watch over and protect
these leaders you have raised up to spread your love throughout Africa. Thank you for
allowing me along with you, on this mission blessed by God. Bob Mccrory
Thanks for the invite and encouragement to pray. Seems like such a current theme to pray and listen. Wish we were with you. Father, let Roger and Brooks be excited. “Nudge” them to anticipate You in their lives as they leave their comfort zone to be instruments of your kindness and love. Remind them that they are poor and needy especially when it comes to this arena.
For the weapons of our warfare are not fleshly,but powerful to God for bringing down of strongholds.I pray that God would do exceedingly more than you could ask or think,and that HIs power is manifested through each team member. May His presence surround you as you minister in His name,and may countless numbers come to a saving knowledge in Jesus Christ.
My dear brothers and sisters of Africa, how close I feel in spirit to you and your heartbeat for His kingdom to come as you advance by sharing the message of the gospel/good news of Jesus Christ’s redemption of every man, woman and child. I have prayed that the Lord of the harvest would sent forth laborers; what joy to recognize that the Spirit of the Lord is indeed upon you to heal the sick and proclaim that this is the acceptable, favorable year of the Lord. We pray that each of you would walk worthy of your calling in Christ Jesus and that His joy, strength, wisdom, revelation, grace, power and authority would be given to you in fresh measure EVERY DAY. We partner WITH you and continue to remember you and your families in prayer. We love and bless you from America. May you be radically satisfied with delight in Jesus our glorious bridegroom King.
Father, I lift each of these leaders up to you. I also pray for their wives, as I believe you have brought them together, as one, to minister to each other and to the people around each of them. Father, we know that you are the One already at work in the hearts of the people these leaders have not even met yet. You are preparing their hearts to be furtile soil that the seed of the gospel will find a place to grow in supernatural ways.
Father, give these men and their wives the Peace they need to endure things that our outside of their control. And, God, give them Your Wisdom as they make decisions they can control. Holy Spirit, give them the words they need to speak to bring the Kingdom to life in the places You send them.
I’m the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, amen.
God bless these men of God for wanting to make a difference in their own war-torn countries. If only we have an equal burden to reach the lost and hurting in our own sin-sick nation. I wish these men God-speed and pray the Lord will open up doors of opportunity that their ministry be effective and bear much fruit. Thank you for sharing this with me Roger and I wish you all the best.
During a training several years ago one of the leaders told us why they had been in missions now for nearly 50 years. What she said had very little to do with their choices, their extensive training, or the guidance of the board they served under. The very heart of what motivated them was that they recognized there was a world full of people who did not know that their loving Heavenly Father was reaching out to them, inviting them into a loving relationship with Himself. Godspeed to you in all He calls you to. I will ponder and pray and if lead, write more later.
My prayers are with you…James 1:27 comes to mind. It was certainly heavy on my heart when I was in Zambia and Zimbabwe.
The words that came to me are “not by power”. My method is a little embarrassing (which goes along with the idea of “not by power”!), but I typed “not by power” into the online Bible search and the following passages came back. As I read these passages, my spirit responded with being humbled, that I as just one person am so small compared to the whole history of what God is doing. God has brought this universe into existence, a universe that is larger than I can imagine. Many many lives have been lived since the beginning of the earth and God has been working through it all. There are prophecies that we still don’t know how or when they will be fulfilled. But our spirits, the Spirit of His Bride, do get a sense that the end is near. That even the horrible prophecies of Revelation will come to pass. So all we can to is join together and say: “Be not ashamed of the Gospel! Do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord!” “Not by might, not by power, but my My Spirit!” says the Lord. We have his Spirit. Let God’s army, “Charge!”
Psalm 59:11 – Kill them not, lest my people forget; make them totter by your power and bring them down, O Lord, our shield!
Isaiah 40:26 – Lift up your eyes on high and see: who created these? He who brings out their host by number, calling them all by name, by the greatness of his might, and because he is strong in powernot one is missing.
Jeremiah 32:17 – ‘Ah, Lord GOD! It is you who have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and by your outstretched arm! Nothing is too hard for you.
Daniel 4:30 – …and the king answered and said, “Is not this great Babylon, which I have built by my mighty power as a royal residence and for the glory of my majesty?”
Daniel 8:24 – His power shall be great— but not by his own power; and he shall cause fearful destruction and shall succeed in what he does, and destroy mighty men and the people who are the saints.
Zechariah 4:6 – Then he said to me, “This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the LORD of hosts.
Romans 1:16 – For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
2 Timothy 1:8 – Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God,
Hebrews 7:16 – …who has become a priest, not on the basis of a legal requirement concerning bodily descent, but by the power of an indestructible life.
Revelation 16:9 – They were scorched by the fierce heat, and they cursed the name of God who had power over these plagues. They did not repent and give him glory.
Dear Roger and Brooks, please forgive ahead of time for the length of the following. I don’t want to leave anything out in case the Lord wants to use any part for the teams’ edification. Firstly, thank you for the opportunity to join in your labours in Africa by prayer and allowing us to know of these young men who are labouring for the gospel and the expansion of God’s Kingdom.
The Lord brought out certain scriptures and I found myself praying the following:
1) they would be strengthened with power through His Spirit in their inner being (Eph. 3:16);
2) that they would do nothing of their own initiative but be like Jesus who only did what the Father led Him to do and speak, seeking only the Father’s will and not His own (John 5:30);
3) that they would speak boldly by the power of the Holy Spirit (Eph. 6:20) and that the Holy Spirit, working with them, would confirm the Truth in the hearts of the listeners (John 16:8-14);
4) that enclaves of believers willl form in different areas in the power of the Holy Spirit for the
edification, comfort and teaching of the saints and that they would raise up their children in the
nurturance and admonition of the Lord, in love serving one another;
5) that the saints would be rooted and grounded in love and unwavering in faith;
6) that the workers and families would be protected and fruitful;
7) that Roger and Brooks would be effective and blessed and all the work and everyone involved would dwell in the blessings and favour of the Lord;
8) and taking hold of the promise that the last shall be first: that those who have suffered so much will now come into the place of blessing and favour with God and see Hos miraculous hand move for this people, that they will be a people mighty in faith nd obedience, to His glory.
again, thank you for being so inclusive in sharing your efforts with us and offering us a way to participate.
For Christ,
Virginia
May God bless you richly in your endeavors to further His Kingdom by attending to His calling. I am honored and humbled to be able to share in prayer with you on this God adventure. In the name of Jesus right now we command anything not of the Lord on the path ahead of you be removed. We speak to all spirits of witchcraft, jezebel, and racial hatred — We say to you God reigns, He alone is King of Kings and Lord of Lords. We declare you and your team walk in Him, you talk in Him, you live in Him, you breathe in Him, and you have your very being in Him. Spirits of witchcraft, jezebel, and racial hatred cannot operate in His Light therefore they cannot operate in or around you. We declare them to be useless and their attempts to thwart the Lord we call null and void, in Jesus name. You will walk in the Lord, and the power of His might. You will be strengthened by the Holy Spirit of God, you will go forth and accomplish everything you do in the power and blood of Jesus Christ. May He be in you, around you, beside you, in front of you, behind you, on top of you, and under you. Poverty, lust, perversion, spiritual wickedness in high places, will bow and surrender in the name of Jesus. The Lion of Judah will and has arrived to take back His Kingdom on earth as it is in heaven. Be strong like flint and keep your eye on the Prize. Lord, I entreat You to protect them and keep them. Give Your angels charge over them to keep them in all their ways. May Your salvation go forth to conquer all the power of the enemy. May Your salvation saturate the very atmosphere where these dear Brother and Sisters of mine tread. Let Your salvation come forth and accomplish EVERYTHING, YOU, GOD set it in to existence to accomplish. Deliverance, love, joy, peace, mercy, and grace fill up the places the enemy once tread. Heal the land, Lord. Heal the broken hearted, bind up and heal their wounds, and set the captives free. To God be the Glory!!!
” Where are the men and women of this generation who will hold their lives cheap, and be faithful even unto death, who will lose their lives for Christ’s, flinging them away for love of him? Where are those who will live danerously, and be reckless in this service?” Howard Guinness
Prayers for you and excitement to see people run with the Holy Spirit after people!
Dear Roger and Brooks and my Brothers and Sisters of Africa,
The last few weeks, I have been spending much time reading in and thinking about the words in John’s book of Revelation. During my time of prayer for you all, the Lord brought to mind a few thoughts to share from that marvelous book that “sees believers as conquerors”. You, most of all, know that we are indeed at war, just as Revelation 12 paints for us. The dragon Satan has been thrown to earth. He “has come with great wrath, because he knows that his time is short!” (Rev.12:12b)
Hallelujah, his time is short! And we are more than conquerors in Christ Jesus – King of kings and Lord of all!
The phrase “new song” (Rev. 5:9; 14:3) keeps ringing in my mind as I read about the work all of you do in your respective countries. Israel sang “new songs” in celebration of their deliverance and of their God-given victories (ex. Psalm 33, 96, 144). You too shall sing new songs in celebration of God’s work in and through you! Your Deliverer goes before you and the victory has already been won.
You press forward and push against the darkness as you “follow the Lamb wherever he goes” (Rev. 14:4). Just like Jesus, you proclaim good news to the poor, set captives free, make the blind see, and lift the yoke of the oppressed – the poor, the sick and disabled, the harassed and battered among men, women and children. (See Luke 4:18-19)
You are the “firstfruits for God and the Lamb” (Rev.14: 4). You are the promise of much more fruit to come. For there is “an eternal gospel to proclaim to those who dwell on earth, to every nation and tribe and language and people” (Rev 14:6). I think it may be that “explosion of churches” Dawson is talking about.
In light of an angry, increasingly more violent enemy, who realizes that his time is short, and in light of the fact that you all are poised to enter into battle even with more determination and diligence, I believe the words in Revelation 13:10 and 14:12 offer a very timely call – the “call for the endurance and faith of the saints.” The enemy’s time is short. He’s thrashing about. Let us endure and be of those who do not shrink back (Hebrews 10:39). For we follow a RISEN Savior and Lord.
It is such a privilege to lock arms in prayer with all of you. I shall continue to pray for your protection, strength, endurance, wisdom, increasing faith and discernment. I also pray for your children. May the fire of the presence of our Lord be the protective wall about them.
“Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:2). His is the Kingdom “that will never be destroyed,” the “Kingdom that cannot be shaken” (Daniel 2:44, Hebrews 12:28).
It’d like to end with the words to part of a song by Phil Whickam that has become very special to me lately. It beautifully describes what your labor is really all about – our beautiful Lord Jesus.
“I see you there hanging on a tree.
You bled and then you died and then you rose again for me.
Now you are sitting on Your heavenly throne.
Soon we will be coming home.
You’re beautiful.
When we arrive at eternity’s shore
Where death is just a memory and tears are no more,
We’ll enter in as the wedding bells ring.
Your bride will come together and we’ll sing
You’re beautiful! You’re beautiful! You’re beautiful!”
The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you!
Eph 1:17-23 I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father most glorious, would give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation through knowing Christ fully. Then, with the eyes of your hearts enlightened, you will know the hope of his calling, the riches of his glorious inheritance among the saints, and the unlimited greatness of his power for us who believe, according to the working of his mighty strength, which he put to work in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realm. He is far above every ruler, authority, power, dominion, and every name that can be named, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. God has put everything under his feet and has made him the head of everything for the good of the church, which is his body, the fullness of the one who fills everything in every way….Eph 3:10 He did this so that now, through the church, the wisdom of God in all its variety might be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realm…Eph 3:20-21 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
Thank you for the opportunity to pray with you for this very important matter. I thank God for putting this seed in your hart and pray that He will protect and guide you and the team, giving you and them a clear guidance regarding your trip and providing you with words that communicate effectively in other cultures and languages. May He change the hearts of those who are resistant to His Word, blessing partnerships and friendships as you travel throughout East Africa
2 Corinthians 1:11
New International Version (NIV)
11 as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favour granted us in answer to the prayers of many.
“Don’t trust in man’s wisdom,
Wait on the Lord
Dwell in the Secret Place to get your understanding.
My Kingdom will flow as you determine to trust Me irrespective of surrounding “evidence”.
As you operate from the Secret Place I will show you the people I have arranged for you to connect with.
Do not make plans without Me.
I will give you your marching orders as you wait for Me and wait on Me.
My plans do not depend on men.
Do not trust men. Trust Me.”
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(Prayer from Dori) These scriptures were put on my heart.
Eph. 6…Take the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God and having utterance from Him to reveal the mystery of Christ.
Heb.4…This sword is powerful to actively reveal to man his soul in relationship to Jesus as Lord.
1 Co. 12: 7 The Spirit is given and demonstrated to each one to help everyone. Listen for words of knowledge, and words of wisdom ect that only the Spirit of God knows about a person’s situation, (like as in the samaritan woman who said come meet a man who knew everything I did.)
Mark 16:20 God confirms his word with signs and wonders.
Isaiah 50:4 He gives you the tongue of the learned to speak a word in season to the weary, every morning wakening you to hear as the learned.
Prayer: May they go forth with the full assurance that God has put their desires of who to reach on their hearts. That He goes ahead and prepares the way and the people of peace. May they go boldly proclaiming the word of God and live gently among whom they go to. May they have confidence that the Spirit is given to them, and will demonstrate the power and love of God.
May they be protected and delivered from evil, and have the comfort of God.
I want you all to know that you are in my heart and prayers. May our Lord and Savior bless you with good health, perseverance and joy in all you do. A BIG hug to all.
Donna McCrory
I pray for great peace, discernemnt, direction and encouragemnt for Roger and Brookes and for our sisters and brothers in africa. I pray for increased faith and trust and a out pouring of Gods Love and grace. I pray for joy and laughter and renewed strength. I pray that God clearly directs every step and that we dont get in the way of what He is doing. I pray for a increased protection Rogers health.
my scripture so far is “Be still and know that I am God”
I came across an excerpt of a talk given by Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams. I thought the following may offer some encouragement to you all.
“…part of what we’re about in mission is trying to be the sort of peoples or sort of communities around whom and with whom or through whom people see things differently. And that’s not just abstract seeing, that’s not theory because when you see God and yourself differently, things really do happen, you become a different person when you see differently …giving people the opportunity to see what they’ve never seen – about themselves, about the possibilities of their community, about the possibilities that God opens up – in a world where so many possibilities are getting closed down all the time and, for me, part of the heart of the gospel is always a matter of saying, ‘the world is much bigger than you think and there is much more to you than you ever suspected’.”
“Leadership is very much about helping people see.” (He said at another occasion.)
Here’s the link to the excerpt. On that page, one can also link to the full video of his talk.
Oops! I forgot to place the link. Here it is.
http://www.jesus360.org.uk/rowan_williams_360.html