A sympathetic smile for a frazzled mom and cranky children at the end of an exhausting flight. A listening ear for an airport employee who has just experienced a grievous loss. A willingness to pray on demand in the middle of a busy terminal. A comforting presence in a quiet chapel. Airport chaplains Tricia, Godfrey, Joan and Gerald and their team of volunteers have ministered to hundreds of people in the six weeks since they took the first steps toward fulfilling God’s call to ministry at O.R. Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg. These godly men and women share God’s love unconditionally, but when asked by fans to pray for a particular World Cup team to win a match they only agree to pray for the team on the condition they may pray for the opposing team as well!

Walking the halls in pairs wearing their Airport Chaplain jackets, they are stopped by an airline employee requesting prayer for an ailing family member. A few minutes later a policeman asks them for a Bible. Prayerwalking when not praying for someone at hand, these servants of the Lord make themselves available to anyone with a need.

Thanks to the generosity of another Christian organization, Bibles have been provided for those who were on the waiting list, and now there is a small stock for future requests.  Praise God for this provision, and pray for more volunteers to keep this ministry alive when the World Cup is over.

South African Christians in the Johannesburg area are welcoming World Cup visitors as they fly into O.R. Tambo International Airport, praying for them and offering a place for guests to learn more about the Lord. Churches located near O.R. Tambo refurbished the airport’s Christian prayer room and followers of Jesus are prayerwalking the terminals and manning the prayer room daily from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.

The response has been amazing. There is a waiting list of people wanting Bibles! Pray that a way will be found to provide copies of the Word of God for those who desire it.

Pray for Patricia, Gerald, Dhano, Joan, Hans, Thobeka, Len, Tendayi and other Christians who are faithfully keeping this ministry going and making a way for visitors to see the Lord Jesus lifted up from the moment they arrive in South Africa.

“Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together in unity!” (Psalm 133:1)

Praise God for a partnership among a local church, a Youth for Christ worker, and IMB missionaries that is helping protect children from the risk of human trafficking in George. The Lord is using another partnership among Brazilian Baptist volunteers and Baptist Union of South Africa members in Gauteng province to reach into communities that were previously untouched by the Gospel. Pray that the love and unity these brothers and sisters in Christ demonstrate will bring glory to God and attract non-believers to Jesus.

Players on the soccer pitch face continuous physical obstacles as they work together to score a goal. Brazilian volunteers in South Africa are facing spiritual obstacles as they strive to lead people to Christ. Intercede for these faithful brothers and sisters in Christ who could easily become discouraged. Pray that the volunteers will have good health, safety and abundant opportunities to share their faith.

Watch Brazillian volunteer Michell Castro with Connection Africa 2010 share prayer requests from Troyeville Baptist Church in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Praise God for the 32 pray-ers who were able to spend time at Soccer City stadium this week! As they toured a locker room, stepped into the president’s box, and walked down the players’ tunnel toward the pitch, these intercessors were going before the Father on behalf of everyone who will enter the stadium during the World Cup. Covenant with them to continue interceding for every aspect of the events that will take place in Soccer City and the other nine stadiums around South Africa.

A new church was recently started in Snake Park, an area of Soweto that borders Dobsonville, location of a World Cup practice field. Pray for Snake Park church members who are looking for ways to turn the interest in activities at Dobsonville Stadium into interest in learning more about Jesus through Holiday Bible Clubs and home Bible studies. Thank God for volunteers from the US who are coming to assist Snake Park members in these endeavors.

School children at four Snake Park schools are involved in soccer clinics and Life Skills classes right now. Pray they will choose to make wise decisions about how they use their time during the long break from school during the World Cup.

Pray for the faithful members of a Deaf church in the Soweto area of Johannesburg, who have been learning about how to share their faith. Ask that they will have boldness to share the Good News about Jesus with other Deaf.

Thank God for the Athletes in Action teams around Africa who will be working with South African Athletes in Action teams to reach out to kids in the Johannesburg area through soccer clinics and life skills classes. Pray many children and families will come to understand and accept God’s love for them through the work of these teams.

Pray that Berea Home of Hope, which provides a safe haven for children who are victims of trafficking and other forms of abuse, will be able to find a larger facility in which to house the children. Ask God to keep the children safe from people who seek to exploit them.

Pray for volunteer teams from Brazil who will be ministering in the greater Johannesburg area, working with churches and holding soccer camps for children who will be out of school during the World Cup.

Pray for athletes and fans from Spain, Slovakia, Brazil and Argentina who will be at the games at the two stadiums in Johannesburg—Ellis Park and Soccer City.

Special missionaries who have come out with a program called Hands On are ministering alongside long-term missionaries in Johannesburg and Soweto. Pray that they will grow in their relationships with Christ and that they will have many opportunities to share His love.

Building Hope Foundation seeks to assist individuals who have been victims of human trafficking. In an attempt to reduce the trafficking of children, they have a program through which palm-size dolls are given to schoolchildren as a constant reminder that God holds them in the palm of His hand and that their lives have value. Volunteers are needed to help knit the small dolls. Pray that many children will be spared a lifetime of suffering through these efforts.

Pray for athletes and fans from Cote d’Ivoire, Denmark, Honduras and Italy who will be at the games at the two stadiums in Johannesburg—Ellis Park and Soccer City.

Johannesburg is known as an economic powerhouse of Africa. Pray that people whose primary focus in life has been making money will see there is no lasting value in the things of the world.

People from many different African countries have migrated to South Africa in search of a better life. Pray that relationships among the different peoples will be friendly and that everyone will be given a chance to succeed.