Week 40: 29 September – 5 October

The Leprosy Mission Trading Prayer points Mon: Give thanks for TLM Trading’s loyal customers who are so generous in topping up their orders with donations. This makes a huge difference; donations amount to in excess of £100,000 a year. Also give thanks for the astounding success of the Gifts for Life range which raises about £150,000 to support programmes and initiatives in implementing countries.

About TLM Trading

TLM Trading was formed in 1995 from small beginnings selling diaries and pens. It now operates with a small staff team from an office in Peterborough, UK. TLM Trading publishes three main catalogues each year which are mailed to customers in the UK and around the world. TLM Trading develops and sells a wide range of products including greeting cards, calendars and diaries, quality gifts and an ever expanding range of books. In recent years their range of virtual gifts, known as ‘Gifts for Life’ have seen a growth in sales. TLM Trading’s main aims are: • To provide products and services that inspire and motivate people to support TLM. • To assist TLM countries in raising funds and awareness of leprosy. • To help provide livelihoods to leprosy-affected people.

Tues: TLM Trading holds a weekly team meeting on Tuesdays to review on-going projects but also to highlight blessings over the past week. Pray that their meetings today and in the future will be productive and blessed with God-given wisdom and inspiration. Weds: Give thanks for the continued popularity of the TLM published books and exclusive greeting and Christmas card ranges which raise awareness of TLM’s work. Give special thanks for the on-going legacy of Eddie Askew whose books and paintings are still enormously popular and being discovered by new customers. Thurs: Pray for Jo-Anne Thomson, director of TLM Trading, and the staff team as they continually explore new avenues for sales and also for the TLM Trading Board of directors who meet quarterly to provide valuable guidance on strategic direction under the leadership of Stephen Hammersley. Fri: Pray for the small team of freelance sales representatives who visit many trade bookshops around the UK. Pray that sales will grow in this area and also that Christian bookshop managers and other outlets will continue to be enthusiastic about stocking goods from the TLM catalogue. Sat/Sun: Give thanks for increasing cooperation and partnership between TLM Trading and supporting countries in the TLM Global Fellowship. Pray for these working relationships to grow and flourish to enhance both sales and awareness of TLM’s work.

Key Personnel Top: TLM Trading staff team, with Jo-Anne Thomson, CEO, second from left Above: A necklace produced by artisans in India and sold by TLM Trading

Jo-Anne Thomson – Chief Executive Stephen Hammersley – Chairman of the Board

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Week 41: 6–12 October

Country Focus: Chad and Guinea Prayer points Chad Mon: Chad is a semi-desert country which makes providing enough food for its 11.8 million citizens a struggle. Pray particularly that food security programmes will meet the needs of the poor and disadvantaged during times of drought.

About TLM Chad

TLM has supported work in the Guéra region since 1991. TLM has recently extended its work to include other people with disabilities. Thanks to TLM’s support, Mongo Hospital has a trained physiotherapy technician and a senior technician in cataract surgery. TLM currently supports disabled people’s organisations (DPOs) in the Guéra region with training and follow up of the executive committees and the development of income generation projects. TLM also promotes basic human rights, stipulated within the Chadian law system, for people with disabilities including leprosy-affected persons. Aims for 2014 include: • Awareness creation in leprosy within the remaining third of all villages in the Guéra region • Leprosy control and disability prevention of newly-detected leprosy patients • Provision of walking aids to people with disabilities • Eye care and physiotherapy for disadvantaged people • Training of members and the executive comittees of DPOs on running and developing their organisations • Networking with other local organisations

Tues: Pray for positive development of the newly created Disabled People’s Organisations within the Guéra region. Pray that these groups will enable people with disabilities to live their lives with dignity and will empower them to make a living. Weds: Pray that national leprosy supervisors and health centre nurses will have motivation and courage to work in sometimes challenging situations. Thurs: Pray for Bunmi Oluloto, TLM country leader for Chad and Niger, as he travels to Chad, from his home in Niger, for meetings. Pray too for all other TLM Chad staff as they partner with other NGOs and the government in delivering leprosy services. Guinea Fri: Pray for the continued spiritual work in the Medical Centre despite the centre not currently having a local chaplain. Sat/Sun: Pray that the Medical Centre will have the financial resources to provide good quality care for all its patients, in spite of the increasing demand from poor patients needing treatment.

About TLM’s work in Guinea

TLM has been supporting leprosy work at the Mission Philafricaine Hospital in Macenta in the Forest Region of Guinea since 1982. TLM’s goal here is to ensure that people affected by leprosy receive holistic care. The work at the hospital includes providing good quality medical and surgical services and prevention of disability for leprosy-affected people. The Mission Philafricaine Hospital is the national leprosy referral hospital in Guinea. Top: Stefan Strahm, in Guinea, with his wife Rahel

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Key Staff Chad Bunmi Oluloto – TLM Country Leader Geeske Zijp – TLM Chad Programme Manager Guinea Dr Stefan Strahm – Medical Director of Mission Philafricaine Dr Eric Bafende MD SPMI – Hospital Director, Mission Philafricaine de Macenta

Week 42: 13–19 October

Country Focus: Denmark ‘Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see,’ Hebrews 11:1

Prayer points Mon: Pray that God will bless TLM Denmark’s attempt to attract volunteers to be active in fund/friend and prayer-raising. Pray that the stories of people affected by leprosy in magazines, letters and at events will touch people’s hearts and motivate them to become involved. Tues: Pray that God will bless TLM Denmark´s partnership with TLM Bangladesh and give thanks for the hard working staff there. Weds: Praise God for the support from the Danish Government for the work in Bangladesh. Thurs: Pray that God will give wisdom and skill to acquire new individual donors and business donors. Fri: Give thanks for Klaus Leonhardt and pray that he will have strength and inspiration as he undertakes the work of TLM in Denmark. Pray that he will experience support and encouragement from the Board and from the wider TLM fellowship. Sat/Sun: Pray that God will make it possible for TLM Denmark to set up a strong volunteer programme which benefits them and their partner, TLM Bangladesh.

About TLM Denmark

TLM Denmark is a small entity. It is administered on behalf of the Board by the staff of the Leonhardt Fundraising company, owned by Klaus Leonhardt who works as the national director for TLM Denmark on a part-time basis. TLM Denmark has about 1,000 private donors and is in the fortunate position of receiving substantial funding from the Danish Government for projects in Bangladesh. TLM Denmark’s main focus is on fundraising primarily to support The Leprosy Mission in Bangladesh with whom they have a partnership agreement. This is achieved through: a magazine five times a year; sending four to six letters to their donors; and running five to ten fundraising projects with churches around Denmark each year. Top: Klaus Leonhardt, TLM Denmark country leader, on a visit to Bangladesh Below: Klaus Leonhardt, second from right, and his team

Key events in 2014

2014

• • • •

Five magazines Five appeal letters Four board meetings Two events with fundraising volunteers • Attempt to receive funding from companies through Corporate Social Responsibility • Donor visit to Bangladesh • Volunteers’ visit to Bangladesh

Staff Klaus Leonhardt – TLM Country Leader

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Week 43: 20–26 October

Country Focus: Indonesia ‘Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The Lord, the Lord himself, is my strength and my defence; he has become my salvation,’ Isaiah 12:2

Prayer points Mon: Give thanks to the Lord for the Board members who are committed to people affected by leprosy and their communities. Pray for wisdom for them as they govern the work of The Leprosy Mission Indonesia/Misi Kusta Indonesia. Tues: Pray for the development of a pilot project on the island of Papua as TLM Indonesia seeks to work through a local partner there. Weds: Pray for the staff of the partner organisations that TLM Indonesia works with as they learn about the causes and consequences of leprosy. Pray that they will be able to understand and disseminate knowledge about leprosy well.

About TLM Indonesia

Indonesia has the third highest number of new leprosy cases in the world. Many people at grass roots level are still ignorant of what leprosy is. The aim for The Leprosy Mission Indonesia (Misi Kusta Indonesia) is to build the capacity of people affected by leprosy and their communities so they will have basic knowledge of leprosy and will know what to do, where to go for treatment and how to prevent impairments and disabilities due to leprosy. TLM Indonesia also aims to advocate for the integration of leprosy services in already existing health and development services of other local and international non-governmental organisations. And to inspire churches to get interested in the work of TLM Indonesia .

Thurs: Pray for advocacy activities aimed at different levels in society that people will understand leprosy better and a change in attitude will take place towards those affected by leprosy. Fri: Pray for new TLM Indonesia staff as they take office, that they will be inspired by the love of Jesus for those who are marginalised and speak out for those who do not have a voice. Pray for Tanny in her role of developing and supporting the Board and staff. Sat/Sun: Presidential elections were held in Indonesia in July. Pray that the new leader will have wisdom and sensitivity as he leads the country.

Tanny Hagens is the interim country leader for Indonesia. Misi Kusta Indonesia is in the process of being registered as a non-governmental organisation. Tanny will set up the programme and then recruit local staff.

Key Staff Tanny Hagens – TLM Country Leader Top: Tanny Hagens, TLM Indonesia country leader

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Week 44: 27 October – 2 November

Resource Mobilisation ‘May the favour of the Lord our God rest on us; establish the work of our hands for us – yes, establish the work of our hands,’ Psalm 90:17

Prayer points Mon: Pray that, over the next months and years, all TLM Fellowship members will develop and implement a fundraising strategy for significant income growth. Pray too that resources will be used strategically and in close partnership with other members. Tues: Praise the Lord for the new enthusiasm for fundraising within the Global Fellowship. May the Holy Spirit continue to fan the desire for fundraising among us so we not only can sustain our work but see it extended. Weds: Pray for innovation and creativity as communications and fundraising staff explore new ways to raise the profile of TLM and to attract new donors. Pray particularly for member countries that only have a small staff team, or even just one paid member of staff. Pray that there will be greater collaboration between member countries so that they can work as small teams to raise funds and prayer support.

In 2013 TLM member countries agreed a new vision, mission and strategy for TLM globally (see page 2). Part of this new strategy involves a renewed focus on mobilising resources such as prayer, funding and partnerships to enable TLM to effectively achieve its mission. Historically much of the fundraising has been done through supporting countries rather than countries where we operate our programmes. But there is a growing awareness that all TLM member countries need, to some degree, to look at ways funds can be raised locally, either through trusts, governments or individuals. Yet prayer remains our most valuable resource; there is a strong desire around The Leprosy Mission world that we will engage more prayer partners and build relationships with more churches.

Thurs: As this year marks TLM’s 140th anniversary, many member countries are planning events, campaigns, book launches and appeals. Pray that there will be interest from the media, and that member countries will be able to effectively express the rich history of TLM and the life-changing work it has carried out over so many years. Fri: Give thanks for the strong church partnerships that exist in many countries where TLM works. Pray that more church leaders will be inspired by TLM’s vision and will want to support TLM’s vision of seeing leprosy defeated and lives transformed. Sat/Sun: Pray for the Fundraising Working Group, made up of country leaders , Board members and other key staff. The group meets regularly throughout the year to discuss topics such as strategy and effective stewardship and to look at ways fundraising can become more of a priority around the Mission. Pray for good working relationships among the group and insightful discussions.

Top: TLM New Zealand’s Running 4 Rights team, raising support for TLM Above: HEAL India – a new campaign to raise awareness about leprosy and support for TLM India

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