Jesus often used the picture of a seed to describe God’s Kingdom. A seed may appear small and insignificant, but when planted in good soil, it has the potential to grow into something far greater than anyone first imagined.
Across the world today, God is planting seeds through His Word, through new churches and through faithful disciples who are raising up others. While the full harvest is yet to come, we have the privilege of praying over what God has already begun. As you read these stories from the Amazon, the UK and Egypt, would you join us in praying that every seed takes root, grows strong and bears lasting fruit for God’s Kingdom?
Seeds of God’s Word
A small Harvesters’ team recently travelled deep into the Amazon, flying by tiny aircraft before continuing by simple canoe along the mighty Juruá River to reach some of the region’s most remote churches and communities. They carried with them 5,000 waterproof Bibles – a precious answer to a growing need.
As churches have been planted across the region, many new believers have longed to keep growing in their faith but had no Bible of their own. The need became our urgent prayer: “Lord… could we ever get Your Word into the hands of these tribes?” God answered through Harvesters’ partnership with Biblica, miraculously providing 5,000 unique Bibles specially designed to withstand the harsh conditions of the Amazon.
Local leaders were amazed to discover, “The whole Bible can lay in the water for three months… you take it out, you can still read it.” Designed for life on the river, these Bibles are now travelling by canoe into communities where ordinary paper copies would quickly be damaged by water and humidity.
Their nature gods never answered their cries, but the true and living God has come to them. Every Bible given is a seed of God’s Word, planted in eager hearts where many believers have little access to biblical resources.
Seeds of a New Church
Thousands of miles away in Leeds, UK, another kind of seed is being planted. During a recent Harvesters training, church leaders gathered to pray, plan and map out how they would plant a new church in the next town.
Albert, who will lead the new church plant, shared how the training had strengthened his understanding of the church’s mission. “The purpose of the church is to teach, make disciples… unto obedience,” he said. “We decided to plant a new church in Castleford.”
Pastor Ebenezer, whose church is sending the new congregation, echoed the same vision: “Everyone who is saved, is saved to make a disciple.”
Pray that this small beginning will grow into a thriving church where many people come to know Jesus and are equipped to make disciples of others.
Seeds of Future Leaders
In Egypt, the seeds planted through discipleship are already beginning to multiply. One church leader described it beautifully: “I see myself as a seed planted.”
Having first been discipled himself, he was sent to serve in another church. Today, he leads discipleship groups in two locations and has already seen additional groups grow from those first gatherings. Reflecting on the training, he explained how it showed him “how a small group can become a cell that multiplies and divides to form new groups.”
Elsewhere in Egypt, another leader is preparing to begin discipling 10 to 12 young people after returning from the training, helping them understand God’s Word and grow in their faith.
Prayer Points
None of these stories has reached its conclusion. God’s Word has been planted in the Amazon. A new church is taking shape in the UK. New disciples are being raised in Egypt. Now we have the privilege of praying that God will bring the growth, so that these seeds will bear lasting fruit for His glory and for the fulfilment of the Great Commission.
- Thank God for the opportunity to place His Word into the hands of believers living in remote communities across the Amazon, and pray that every Bible distributed will be read, treasured and shared.
- Give thanks for Harvesters’ partnership with Biblica, and pray that many more people will gain access to God’s Word through this ministry.
- Pray for Albert and the team preparing to plant the new church in Castleford, asking God to guide their planning, evangelism and discipleship.
- Thank God for the leaders being equipped across Egypt, and pray that every discipleship group will grow, multiply and raise up future leaders for God’s Kingdom.
