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Don’t stop prayingdaily for the work of the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge Australia and its partners around the world.
Together we can empower writers and publishers to create life-changing Christian literature.
SPCKAInspiring Christian writing
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Big picture peopleSPCKA advances God’s Kingdom by empowering Christian writers, publishers and distributors.
We make Christian books available, accessible and affordable where support and resources are scarce.
We stimulate life-changing Christian writing. Our strategy is to direct funds, expertise and energy to publishers where indigenous Christian writing is needed most. As a result, lives, communities and cultures are transformed as people discover Jesus in a way that’s authentic and culturally meaningful.
Your gifts are used to:
1. Supply books. We make theological texts and essential reference works available to students and pastors in Asia, Africa and the Middle East.
2. Nurture emerging publishers. We encourage local initiative and support sustainable enterprises.
3. Equip publishing professionals. We invest in promising writers, editors and designers. We embrace strategic opportunities and love discovering hidden talent.
Cover. An SPCKA loan has made possible the publication of the first two titles in the India Commentary of the New Testament series, First Corinthians and Timothy and Titus. www.primalogue.com
DAY 1 CHINA Please pray for the editorial staff at ZDL Books in Beijing as they encourage, train and nurture local authors. An SPCKA grant has made possible the publication of Marriage: A covenant for
Life by Andrew Yuan. Pray that this book will reinforce and extend Andrew’s flourishing ministry to couples and families throughout China. www.zdlbooks.com/english/followme
DAY 2 CHINA An SPCKA grant has sponsored the distribution of a personal theological reference library to hundreds of gradu-ating students from five seminaries and two Bible training centres in China.
While only in their mid-twenties, many of these graduates will eventually become pastors responsible for congrega-tions of up to 3000 members. Pray that they will serve with godly wisdom and humility.
For over a decade, former corporate executive and training consultant Andrew Yuan Da Tong and his wife Li Er Ling have exercised a ministry to thousands of couples and parents across China.
DAY 3 MYANMAR An SPCKA grant has provided a Bridgeway Bible Commentary and Bible Dictionary to students graduating from Myanmar Evangelical Graduate School of Theology (MEGST) and Holy Cross
Anglican Theological College, Yangon. Pray that Gloria and the other graduates will faithfully and boldly fulfil their preaching, teaching and pastoral responsibilities.
DAY 4 CAMBODIA Pray for Fount of Wisdom Director, Chim Titmakara, and his staff as they endeavour to nurture local writers and generate a vibrant body of indigenous Christian literature. An SPCKA grant
has helped to equip the publishing office and will fund the publication this year of Preaching Mark. There is very little Christian literature in Khmer. Please pray that the Cambodian church will find creative ways to foster a reading culture. www.fountofwisdomph.com
DAY 5 PHILIPPINES Pray for Gerald Agway and the other graduates from St Andrew’s Theological Seminary in Manila. We receive regular expressions of appre-ciation from final year students for the
provision of a Bible commentary and concordance upon graduation. As their personal resources are meagre, these gifts become indispensable tools. Please pray especially for the graduates who take up teaching and pastoral responsibilities in remote or unsympathetic contexts.
DAY 6 EGYPT The Alexandria School of Theology campuses in Cairo and Alexandria have not escaped the effects of recent political and sectarian tension. Please pray for the Principal, Emad Azmi
Mikhail, staff and students. Give thanks for the successful launch of the Master of Arts programme and the appointment of Arabic-speaking faculty. Please pray that the staff and students will use library books provided by
SPCKA to deepen their love and devotion for the Lord of the harvest. www.ast-eg.org
DAY 7 PAKISTAN Located in Lahore, Masihi Isha’at Khana publishes Christian books in Urdu. Please pray for MIK Director, Petnjing Calvin, and his staff as they endeavour to satisfy the need for Christian books
in this powerful and strategic country. Pray for the Society as it considers how to respond to a request for training and technical assistance. www.mik.org.pk
DAY 8 INDIA Give thanks for the vision and enthu-siasm of George Korah, Managing Director of Primalogue Publishing in Bangalore. An SPCKA loan has made possible the publication of the first two
titles in the India Commentary of the New Testament series, First Corinthians and Timothy and Titus. Pray that these commentaries will enable Indian pastors and teachers to deepen their understanding and application of God’s Word. www.primalogue.com
Gerald Agway celebrates his graduation from St Andrew’s Theological Seminary in Manila with his parents and lecturer and mentor Andrew Daunton-Fear and Andrew’s wife, Jennifer.
DAY 9 CENTRAL ASIA Theological college staff in a former Soviet republic are working with an emerging local publisher to make Tom Wright’s popular New Testament For Everyone series of commentaries
available in the predominant language. An SPCKA grant will fund the publication this year of the first volume in the series, Matthew For Everyone. Give thanks for the enthu-siasm for this project among local leaders. Pray that the team of translators and editors will grow in wisdom, grace and competence. Pray that revenue generated by the sale of each title will fund future publications. Pray that these books will encourage first generation Christians in this independent Central Asian republic to grow in maturity and equip them to extend God’s kingdom.
DAY 10 MONGOLIA Give thanks for the vision, enthu-siasm and creativity of Timothy Byambatogtokh. Timothy is an outstanding journalist and broadcaster and promising writer. His innovative
and popular daily radio program, The Love Project, is typical of the unique contribution being made by Chris-tians to the reconstruction of Mongolian society following the profound social crisis provoked by the collapse of the Soviet Union. Timothy’s ambition to extend and consol-idate his broadcasting ministry by publishing books is supported by SPCKA. So far our encouragement has taken the form of technical advice, mentoring and a professional reference library.
DAY 11 MEXICO Please pray for Ana and René Menchaca as they apply at home what they learnt during their three months working with Certeza Argentina in Buenos Aires. SPCKA sponsors
carefully tailored on-the-job training for publishers and booksellers working in strategic literature ministries. Please pray that these publishing professionals will be equipped to make vital Christian literature accessible to those who most need it.
DAY 12 CARIBBEAN An SPCKA grant has made possible the publication and distribution of a Spanish edition of Preaching the whole Bible as Scripture by Graeme Goldsworthy. The book has been
published locally by Torrentes de Vida and made available to a thousand church planters and pastors enrolled in the strategic, interdenominational Training the Trainers program. Praise God for the growth of his church and the hunger for teaching.
DAY 13 ARGENTINA Government restrictions on importing and exporting threaten to bring local publishers to their knees. Pray that Certeza Director, Beatriz Buono, will continue to lead her team with vision,
creativity and courage. Our partnership with Certeza Argentina over three decades demonstrates the value of open and enduring relationships with those we serve. Thank God for Certeza’s progress in a volatile economy and growing influence in the Spanish-speaking world. Praise God that Certeza Argentina is in turn assuming
Gerald Agway celebrates his graduation from St Andrew’s Theological Seminary in Manila with his parents and lecturer and mentor Andrew Daunton-Fear and Andrew’s wife, Jennifer.
During a recent visit to Melbourne, Mongolian broadcaster Timothy Byambatogtokh met Sharon Witt, popular speaker and author of the best-selling Teen Talk series of books for parents and teenagers.
a mentoring role with developing publishers and booksellers. www.certezaargentina.com.ar
DAY 14 NORTHERN TERRITORY Give thanks for Nungalinya College, the growing popularity of its courses and the desire of the new Principal, Judith Long, to train and encourage Aboriginal teachers. Pray that the
staff, students and their communities will be transformed by a personal knowledge of Jesus. Pray for Nungalinya College as it empowers Aboriginal Christians to lead and serve their churches and communities. Pray that students will be able to come to Darwin for their intensives and grow in their faith through their studies. Pray also for their need for Christian materials in their own heart languages, as well as in simple English. www.nungalinya.edu.au
DAY 15 THE AUSTRALIAN CHRISTIAN BOOK OF THE YEAR AWARD was won in 2012 by Murray Seiffert with Gumbuli of Ngukurr (Acorn), a unique and timely contri-bution to the story of Aboriginal
engagement with western culture and Christianity. Second prize was awarded to A Short History of Christi-anity (Viking Penguin) by Geoffrey Blainey. Love, Tears and Autism: An Australian mother’s journey from heart-break to hope (Ark House) by Cecily Paterson took third prize. Please pray for the judges and team responsible for administering the Australian Christian Literature Awards. Pray that the awards will encourage Australian Christian writers and publishers and that their work will help seekers to find Jesus and Christians to grow.
DAY 16 THE AUSTRALIAN CHRISTIAN LITERATURE AWARDS also include prizes for unpublished manuscripts by young writers. Faith Like a Mushroom earned Claire van Ryn the 2012 Young Christian Writer
Award. Daniel Li was awarded the 2012 Australian Christian Teen Writer Award for A Short Walk. Pray that our emerging
Christian writers will be encouraged to fulfil their calling to contribute to the church’s written testimony.
DAY 17 LETRAVIVA is a network of forty Latin American Christian publishers that exercises a ministry of logistical support, professional devel-opment and mutual encouragement. Please pray for the LetraViva coordi-
nator, Ian Darke, based in Costa Rica. Pray especially for the effective functioning of the LetraViva dispatch centre in Miami, an essential means of book distribution run cooperatively by member publishers. www.letraviva.com
DAY 18 PUBLISHERS AND BOOKSELLERS face great challenges as readers embrace the digital delivery of information and literature. Please pray for those who work in your nearest Christian bookstore and all
those involved in writing, publishing and distributing Christian literature. Pray that in every nation God will raise up bold, robust and innovative Christian publishers.
Gerald Agway celebrates his graduation from St Andrew’s Theological Seminary in Manila with his parents and lecturer and mentor Andrew Daunton-Fear and Andrew’s wife, Jennifer.
At Nungalinya College in Darwin, husband-and-wife song writing team Berribob Watson and Elizabeth Nabarlambarl prepare to lead and serve their church and community at Manmoyi, Western Arnhem Land.
DAY 19 YOUR CHURCH Does your local church support literature ministries in difficult places? Pray for Christians who don’t enjoy the resources we take for granted. How can you encourage your congregation
to help make Christian literature available where it is most needed through SPCKA? Pray for your leaders as you praise God for those who introduced you to Jesus and nurtured your Christian growth by recommending helpful books.
DAY 20 FRANCE An SPCKA loan has made possible the publication of Soif de la Parole, the French edition of Search the Scriptures. This is an initiative of GBU, the French IFES-affiliated student movement.
Pray that this book will nourish and inspire French-speaking students in Europe, Africa, the Caribbean and Canada. gbu.fr
DAY 21 GRANTS COMMITTEE members are selected for their experience and knowledge of mission and Christian literature needs in various parts of the world. Pray today for Michael Collie. As National
Director he is responsible for providing information to help the Grants Committee respond wisely to the many requests for assistance we receive.
DAY 22 KENYA Pray for Peter Ibui and his team at the Word of Life School of Theology in Kianjai, Kenya. Praise God for Peter’s vision to make theological education accessible to pastors who cannot
afford to relocate or study full-time—and the energy and enterprise to make this vision a reality under challenging circumstances. SPCKA has provided books for graduating students and office equipment to enable the economical preparation and printing of Bible studies, correspondence course material and evangelistic tracts.
DAY 23 SOUTH SUDAN Pray for the contribution that Chris-tians will make to the development of this new nation. SPCKA will sponsor the publication this year of liturgical resources for Dinka-speaking
Christians in South Sudan and the diaspora in Australia and elsewhere in Africa. Thank God for the initiative and endeavour of Abraham Ayur Mayor Dit.
DAY 24 TANZANIA Please pray for Edgar Pilla and the other recent graduates of St Mark’s Theological College in Dar es Salaam as they assume their teaching and pastoral responsibilities. Australian
missionaries Jill and John Morshead both teach at the Muhimbili University of Health Sciences and at St Mark’s Theological College. SPCKA has restocked the college’s theological library and provides book prizes to graduates. Please pray for the college Principal, Maimbo Mndolwa, and all those responsible for the care and preparation of church leaders.
On your behalf, National Director, Michael Collie, presents an Africa Bible Commentary to pastors graduating with a one-year certificate at the Word of Life School of Theology in Kianjai, Kenya.
DAY 25 TANZANIA A library provided by SPCKA has enabled St John’s University, Dodoma, to offer advanced degrees in theology. Pray for the students undertaking Masters level studies in Theology and
Contemporary Issues. Thank God for the Christian commitment of the University staff and the oppor-tunity to be partners in this nation-building enterprise. www.sjut.org
DAY 26 TANZANIA SPCKA has equipped the Diocese of Kagera with a duplex laser printer to produce a series of fifty systematic Bible studies. The studies are locally-written and used in small groups.
Please pray for the Bishop, Aaron Kijanjali, and the Diocesan team of evangelists. Pray that the printed studies will extend and reinforce their teaching and training ministry.
DAY 27 DR CONGO Typically, students coming to Berea Bible College in Kindu have never owned a book and clergy and congre-gations in villages have no access to printed resources. SPCKA funds have
been used to build up the college library, provide students with key Bible references and print Bible study and liturgical materials prepared locally in Congolese Swahili. Please pray for the college staff and their Bishop, Masimango Katanda, as they equip and encourage lay and ordained church leaders.
DAY 28 SOUTH AFRICA Pray for Joan Campbell and the other writers encouraged by a workshop organised last year by our partner A Rocha South Africa. This was the first in a series of training events designed
to stimulate writing by South Africans that communicates the gospel in a variety of genres for South Africans of all linguistic backgrounds. Pray that local Christian writers
will combat continuing inequality, illiteracy and disadvantage.
DAY 29 TRAINING Ayelén Horwitz is an editor and project manager at Certeza Argentina in Buenos Aires. Praise God for her passion for publishing Christian literature pertinent to her culture and
desire to develop her skills. SPCKA sponsors training opportunities for publishers and booksellers working in strategic literature ministries. Please pray that these publishing professionals will be equipped to make vital Christian literature accessible to those who most need it.
DAY 30 NATIONAL COUNCIL Please pray today for the Society’s President, Bishop John Harrower, and the members of the SPCKA National Council who guide the Society’s work and support our National Director,
Michael Collie. Pray also for those who serve on our Awards, Grants and Management Committees as we seek to faithfully fulfil our purposes under God.
With your support, Certeza Argentina editor and project manager, Ayelén Horwitz, joined one hundred and fifty Christian publishing professionals from fifty nations at LittWorld in Nairobi in 2012.
DAY 31 OTHER SOCIETIES Colleagues from a variety of denominations and mission agencies including ABM, BCA, CMS, Interserve and Pioneers draw our attention to opportunities to support strategic
Christian literature work. Please pray for these co-workers and also for our sister societies: SPCK (UK), SPCK USA and ISPCK (India). Pray that we will all be Christ-focussed in our work and purpose. Pray today for Ella Nini Sonowane, as she supervises the ISPCK book publishing program. ispck.org.in
A Prayer for SPCK Australia
Almighty God, we thank you for rescuing us from sin and the ignorance of your love by sending your son, our Lord Jesus Christ. By his death and resurrection you have opened the way to true knowledge of you, our Father in heaven.
By your Holy Spirit, fill us with the knowledge of your love, so that we will be willingly involved in your purposes for the world.
Raise up more people to pray for and give to the work of SPCK Australia. Give wisdom and discernment to all involved in gathering and allocating resources, so that through Jesus Christ our Lord, the light of the knowledge of your glory will fill the Earth.
Amen
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Investing in the big picture Our ministry of encouragement depends on your prayers. Thank you for your concern and faithfulness. May God richly bless you.
If you would like to financially support the work of the Society and its partners in difficult places, please consider one of the following options:
1. Giving regularly increases the effectiveness of your investment by enabling us to budget for new initiatives and plan ongoing project support. Regular giving also reduces our administrative burden. For more information telephone 1300 13 7725 or email us at: [email protected]
2. Transfer your gift directly to our bank account. Our bank account details are as follows. Account name: SPCKA BSB: 085-005 Account number: 516 701 561 Reference: Your name Please send us the transaction details by email so that we can acknowledge your donation.
3. Cheques can be sent to: SPCKA, PO Box 198, Forest Hill, Victoria 3131, Australia.
4. Online. Grab your credit card and visit: www.spcka.org.au
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The big picture bookA Christian book seller in the Middle East watches a young man systematically search the shelves of his bookshop. Defeated, the seeker approaches the counter. Looking at the Bibles locked in a cabinet behind the counter and then at the bookseller he asks: ‘Do you have The Christian Book?’ The bookseller shrugs his shoulders. ‘I don’t know what
you are talking about.’The seeker withdraws and again scours the bookshelves
before returning to the counter. ‘I would like to buy The Christian Book.’
‘Why do you ask me again? Haven’t I already told you that I don’t know what you mean?’
‘I want to buy a copy of The Christian Book.’ The customer points to the Bibles in the cabinet. ‘That one!’
Appearing surprised, the bookseller turns to open the cabinet, selects a Bible and places it on the counter. ‘This is not the Christians’ book. Where did you get that idea? Whoever told you such a thing? This book is not just for Christians. This book is for everyone.’
We have much to learn from our brothers and sisters in difficult places. Sharing God’s Word in a hostile world requires boldness, imagination and vision. Because we serve a big God. A God who wants no one to perish.
When the Son of Man comes will he find faith on the earth? Will the Son of Man find you praying?
Michael Collie National Director
[email protected] for Promoting Christian Knowledge Australia Incorporated ARBN 119 800 645 and the Australian Christian Literature Society. PO Box 198, Forest Hill, Victoria 3131, Australia. Telephone 1300 13 7725 | [email protected] | www.spcka.org.auInspiring Christian writing
Michael Collie at LittWorld 2012 with publishers Viola Mukassa of Uganda and Lucy Nduta of Kenya.
