1. Give thanks for Brian who will be taking over Martin's Operation Leadership role from June. There is a lot for Brian to learn so Martin will need to stay involved for the following months. Please pray that the transition will be smooth and for good communication and understanding.

2. Pray for Fran and the CaraDonna team of staff and around twenty volunteers as they hold a follow up creative event on May 30th. This event and others planned are an opportunity for not yet Christians to hear more about Jesus, This also gives the believers in the group the opportunity to share their faith. Please pray for meaningful conversations. 

3. Give thanks for the recent Agape Italia Bible training conference that Fran and Martin attended. They studied Psalms. It was a real privilege to take time out of their usual weekly responsibilities and concentrate on God's word. Being in English made a big difference as well. Praise the Lord.

4. Give thanks for the many women Fran has the opportunity to share her faith with. Many of her friends and contacts ask her for prayer and see the difference that Jesus has made in her life - Pray that this will lead to deeper spiritual conversations .

5. Both Fran and Martin have been challenged by learning the Italian language. After 13 years they still don't feel very fluent. Now Martin will have fewer responsibilities; he will return to language classes, and Fran too. Pray for them as they work to improve their language skills during this year.
 
6. Pray for the teams across Italy mainly based in Rome, Bologna and Florence. Pray for open hearts and minds among the audiences of Athletes, Artists, Students, Families and refugees. Please also pray for relationships amongst staff, for love and grace to win out and the love of Jesus to be seen in our friendships and working relationships. 

7. Some of Fran and Martin’s ministry partners' circumstances have changed, which has affected their financial support, and they are currently looking for more ministry partners to join their team. Praise the Lord, He has provided everything they have needed during these 30 years. Please pray for them, for enthusiasm and energy as they discover the additional support to continue their work in Italy. 

Fran will be attending the women’s getaway weekend so do pray that it will be a encouraging & refreshing time for her.
 

1. The Athletes ministry have been at the Paralympics supporting the team and getting opportunities to share about Jesus. Thank God for these open doors with sportspeople. During 11-12th March the team also organised a schools event in Florence with many visiting previous Paralympians. This was officially endorsed by the Florence City Council which is a turning point and another opening door for more collaboration with the city authorities. Pray that we can continue to build relationships not just in the city but across the country.
2. In a few weeks Agape Student ministry is sending a mission team to engage with university and high school students as well as Italian professors in Palermo, the capital of Sicily. This too is breaking new ground. We have a great local ministry host there in Jonathan Gilmore, a British missionary who grew up in Sicily and has been able to connect us with the university. There is a combined team of Italian students and a handful of university lecturers from the US coming. There are also that the other events in Palermo, Padova, Prato, and Florence to encourage Italian believers and pique spiritual interest in not-yet-believers over the coming weeks.
3. After 10 years of leading the Operations team Martin is stepping out of this role in the summer and to focus on some new projects and responsibilities. Pray for wisdom for him and the new leadership as they discuss together his best contribution(s) and to get a better work/life balance for the future. Thank the Lord for his recovery from surgery and the excellent healthcare he is receiving.
4. Thank you so much for your prayers for CaraDonna 2026. There is so much to praise the Lord for : the relationships started during the photographic sessions, the team of volunteers, the 120+ women who were part of this years project. There was a fantastic atmosphere at the Inauguration on Friday 13th March. and we shared the vision - that everyone will come to know Jesus as their Lord and Saviour. Please pray for the team as they follow up with the women.
5. Thank the Lord for a new group of female friends that He has given Fran. These women are affluent or have had distinguished careers. Their life experiences are very different to ours. Please pray for wisdom for Fran as she spends individual time with Jeanette and Madeleine in particular. From denying Jesus and laughing about prayer, they both are being more open to spiritual conversations.
6. Recently Fran met a friend she made in 2022 during the VivaVittoria knitting and crocheting project. Maria one of the women insisted she came back to join the crochet group meeting.  Fran realised that this is another mission field with Italian women, a similar age to her, brought up as Catholics who know about Jesus but don't yet have a personal relationship with Him. Prayer for them is not unusual, rote prayers are part of their lives, but hearing Fran talk to God on their behalf, and talk about verses from the bible is a novelty. Give thanks for this marvellous opportunity that Fran has been given.
7. Some of our ministry partners circumstances have changed, and we are currently looking for more personal financial support. This is our 30th year serving the Lord with Agape and we aren't planning to stop yet - Praise the Lord has provided everything we have needed during these years. Please pray we can discover the additional support to continue our work here.

Bishop Hannington Church has been hugely supportive over many years in helping NGM transform the lives of all those in their care especially the boys at Keegan House.
 
The economic climate in Zimbabwe is extremely challenging and the monthly running costs have increased progressively in recent years. In addition, NGM are now paying for extra schooling as well as high school and tertiary education for two of the boys.  On average the monthly outgoings are £5000. However, the monthly income from regular giving has not increased in line with UK inflation, gift aid contributions have decreased, and several key supporters have passed away. Thus, on average 21 supporters donate a total of £2000 per month, leaving a monthly deficit of £3000. BH have been generous in their giving to projects, but the ministry struggles for regular monthly support. 

​The charity only continues to exist by God’s grace, and His generous and timely provision, meeting the shortfall with legacies and one-off donations. 

​The running costs associated with Keegan Home are the main expense, along with wages. NGM employs 16 members of full-time staff in roles such as social worker/administrator, Keegan Home house mother, carers, security, drivers, maintenance team, gardener to grow crops, storeman, cook and cleaner, and 3 teachers part-time. In Zimbabwe, where unemployment is high, NGM provides vital income to many families as well as looking after the children in our care. 

Want to make a difference this Easter? Pick up an Easter Eggschange card to send to friends and family explaining that you have donated to NGM through the JHMT Easter appeal this year!

Please make payments direct to the JHMT Bank Account- Account Name:
The James Hannington Memorial Trust
Account Number: 00016678 Sort Code: 40 52 40
Please don’t pay it into the BH bank account.
When making a payment please clearly show your surname and the words “Easter Appeal” on the bank reference section.
 It would also be helpful if you could confirm whether your donation can be gift aided by emailing or sending a note via the church office.

There will be an interview and video update in the services on the 4th of Feb and
 at the prayer meeting on the 14th of Feb so come along to find out more.
Don’t forget to book your tickets for the barn dance fundraiser on the 10th of February
Things to pray for:

1. Please give thanks for the last year where additional teaching for the children is now running smoothly and a fine Christmas party was held in the orphanage for the children and the staff.
2. Please pray for the boys’ spiritual growth and for Pastor Dauti who is supporting them.
3. Please pray for the two after-school teachers, who have established good relations with the boys and the staff, that they will be able to identify the individual needs of the boys and successfully help them progress in their mastery of English (the language mandated for use in schools).
4. Please pray for the electricity situation: blackouts on the national grid mean that most of the time there is no electricity, and the steep cost of fuel limits the amount of time that the backup generator can be run.
5. Please pray for rain, as the water supplies are very low. This year we are raising money to connect up a new water borehole: please pray for partnerships with Aldrington School and some of our supporting churches that will be helping to provide this additional water supply to the boys’ home. Please pray that these partnerships would help all involved grow closer to Jesus, the source of living water.
6. Please pray for safety for the boys and the staff. The social situation in Zimbabwe remains unstable thanks to significant inflation of the national currency and to poor harvests.
7. Please pray for the Barn Dance which will be held at BH this month to raise awareness for the ministry.

​Susanna will be at both services on Sunday 26th November, and you can come along to find out more about her ministry over tea & cake on the 26th in the church lounge from 4.30-6 pm.
Please pray for -
1. Give thanks for the continued impact of the Plain English Version (PEV) Bible portions. We are particularly thankful for some stories of transformation coming out of prison ministry among Indigenous Australians.
2. Pray that the final checks and edits on the PEV draft of Genesis will soon be completed, so that the book can be passed for publication.
3. Give thanks for two new part-time team members who will be assisting with PEV drafting next year. Pray that we can keep up to speed with checking their work and providing feedback.
4. Give thanks that our new team director, Nico, is settling in well, and pray that our staff and projects will flourish under his leadership.
5. Pray for our team as we support various Indigenous Christians working on their own translation projects. Time and resources are often against them, so pray that God will provide what's needed for them to make good progress in their work.
6. Please continue to pray that God will raise up more workers for the vast ministry field of Bible translation - in Australia and all across the world.
7. Give thanks for the generosity of prayer and financial supporters - it's such a privilege and joy to be part of a big team doing this work!

​Mission Partner of the Month for November is FESTIVE who seek to equip and inspire Gospel work in the often-overlooked area of VI Form & Further Education Colleges (16-18 year olds).

​

1. Give thanks for the slower pace and rest Fran & Martin have been able to take during the summer and the weather begins to cool. Pray that the Lord sustains them physically as well as spiritually - particularly as Martin still battles with his autoimmune problem.
2. As students return, pray for the Student Ministry teams in Bologna, Rome and Florence. They all meet together with key students at the MOVE conference 9-11 September - Pray for the staff to be courageous in sharing their faith and to be fully equipped by the Lord to follow his call on their lives.
3. Pray for Fran's conversations and opportunities to share her faith and pray for the many women she is meeting through the Viva Vittoria project raising awareness and funds for charities working with women at risk of violence and abuse across the city.
4. Pray for Martin as Brian, Maria and him lead Agape Italia nationally. They are travelling a lot during September as they meet all the staff individually to get a better understanding of how the staff are doing and the dreams and plans they have personally and for their local ministries.
5. Pray for Martin - September is a particularly busy month with budgeting and planning for the ministry. Pray for the new staff joining his team, starting a long term project with the communications team to connect more effectively to the Italian public and pray for Maria and Him as they plan the next staff family gathering including volunteers and guests in Assisi 26-28 October.
6. Give thanks for all the ministry partners that support Fran & Martin (including BH) their encouragement, prayer and help towards their ministry expenses. They are all vital and help make a difference to Italians through their partnership with Martin & Fran. (Phil 1:3-4).
7. Pray for Martin and Fran, that they can persevere with improving their Italian language and vocabulary. Martin meets each week with his coach Alessandra and as Fran has many opportunities to practice with the women she spends time through the Viva Vittoria project.
  

Restoring lives and hope of the homeless, women at risk.
and vulnerable school children in Brighton & Hove.
Some of the Off The Fence team will be interviewed at the services on Sunday 4th June and the prayer meeting on Wednesday 14th June, so come along to find out more.

Please pray

1. For the recruitment process for Paul and Wendy’s successor
2. For Gateway as they introduce more groups month by month and less one--to-one phone support
3. For Schools with a stand at Big Church Day Out and the following Wildfires festival
4. For Antifreeze building on a recent art exhibition held in the centre exhibiting some art produced by the clients and looking to be an official ‘Open House’ next Brighton festival
5. For the Fundraising team at an upcoming Acumen Business Convention – a big business event in the city
6. For newly recruited candidates to settle into OTF well
7. For the Core team as we endeavour to support our frontline staff well

1. We praise God for some new people who’ve started coming to church in Zalla. Pray for Miriam and her grandson, as well as for Mauricio and Tatiana and their  2 young kids, as well as Tatiana’s mother, Ruby. They come from Venezuela and Colombia and have only recently been drawn into church and seeking to know Jesus personally. Pray they would all come to repentance and faith. 
2. As we launch the Camino Guesthouse Project, pray that the Lord would provide the right building and that people would be led to give financially towards this project. Praise God for those who have already shown interest and support. 
3. Give thanks for Lauren, a short-termer from Australia, who will be arriving on the 1st of February and staying until November. Pray for her as she adapts to life in the Basque Country, learns Spanish and develops relationships with the church family in Zalla and with others in the community. She will be teaching English part-time to young people in a local language academy. 
4. Please keep praying for good connections with non-church families through the church rugby training in Bilbao and pray that we might be able to set up our own club in Zalla this year. It’s a great way to get to know youth and reach out to them. 
5. Pray for our teammates, the Aldanas, about to return from home assignment in Guatemala; for them to feel refreshed and excited about starting their 3rd term in Spain. 
6. Please lift up our boys, Toby & Gabriel, in prayer; that Jesús would increasingly shine through their lives so that their friends can see the difference knowing Jesús makes. 
7. Pray for us and our own relationship with God to be enriched as we participate in the Deepen spiritual formation course throughout the year.

Thanks for praying for us! 
James & Carolynn

Praise God for

1. The way he has strengthened the Alfarero SC team and brought back 3 former leaders and key players to complete their team and give them more stability for the future.

    2.  Alfarero La Paz that now has their legal identity and are finishing their registration as an         NGO to be able to open their bank accounts and receive the donation which will enable            them to begin the purchase of the building in La Paz. 
    3. Alfarero Sucre recently receiving a donation which will enable them to update their                    events facilities and buy a coffee machine. 
     4. The visit of Debbie's Mum and our son Sam and his wife in November. 
Please pray for

1. Personal health challenges and wisdom for doctors.
   
2. Each of the Alfarero's this month as in each one the team teach the course about sexual abuse  - an intense month and a spiritual battle.
   
3. For wisdom as we look at buying a flat in Leicester so that we can get our feet on the property ladder in the UK which will enable us to have options as to where to retire when the time comes.

This week we are praying for FESTIVE who seek to equip and inspire Gospel work in the often-overlooked area of Further Education (16-18 year olds).
They support individual students and Christian unions around the country offering mentoring, encouragement, prayer, and free resources.

​Please pray and give thanks as follows:
 

• Praise God for the 270 new Christian students we have recruited to our network so far this summer.  Pray for them as they start or head back to sixth form/ college this month.  Pray they would be bold in living for and sharing Jesus where they study.
• Please pray as we invite students in our network to various training events we are involved in running including Scattered online and Amplify evangelism academy.  Pray that lots of students would sign up and be inspired by the teaching and encouragement at these events.
• Pray for CUs that are starting back up after the summer in colleges across the country.  Pray for new people to join and new vision.
• Please pray for our staff team at what is our busiest time of the year!  Pray for capacity and wisdom to know what to give our limited time to.
• Praise God for a new grant that we received over the summer which secures our core income for another year!  Pray we would be wise in how we use the resources God has given us.

 

​This week we are praying for Martin & Fran Russell who serve on the National Leadership team for Agape Italia in Florence, Italy.

This week we are praying for Graham & Debbie Frith in Bolivia. They are involved in several projects including; a Masters in Strategic Leadership for Ministry (El Aprendiz), El Alfarero Student ministries and the new Mission Training School (AYLA) for Latins.

Thanks God for… 

• That the last week of July we were able to visit Alfarero Sucre and La Paz.
• That Sucre celebrated it's 21st anniversary.
• That we are beginning to get interest for new students for the Master's wanting to begin in 2023. 
• The 4th of August is our 31st wedding anniversay!

 Please pray for… 

• 2 of the Master's students, Nelio and Ingrid, who are doing their practical experience weeks in the different Alfarero's.
• From 1st August we are doing daily classes at Highlands International School training their staff in Intercultural Communication. 
• On August 2nd we begin the second semester of classes.  We are teaching Deepening your Intimacy with God; Prevention, Care and Restoration in Pregnancy Crisis;  Developing a Support Team and the couples course this month (August).