31st March-06th April 2025 Herron's Prayer Letter

   

James and Sonya Herron, IMB Missionaries

Uganda East Africa

Island Ministry team (Upper Buvuma Islands)

The vision of the International Mission Board is to see a multitude from every language, people, tribe and nation knowing and worshiping our Lord Jesus Christ

______________________________________________________________

55 in 5 Status Update

Syenara Senufo of West Africa

2025 Status Update

How God Is Working

    The Syenara Senufo live in an area of West Africa that has experienced instability for     many years. However, a few denominations in the region organized themselves into a     group to develop a strategy for church planting. There are now several churches and     missionary pastors among the Syenara Senufo people. Even the young people are            responding to the good news. 

How You Can Pray

·      Pray that these churches will multiply throughout the Syenara Senufo villages.

·       Pray for the pastors to remain faithful and preach only the pure gospel.

·       Ask God to protect the believers and help them stand strong in persecution.

Thank the Lord with the Herrons for the Past Week   

We Praise God for:

• Traveling Grace:
•  As James and Sonya traveled around the Jinja area during the last week without problems.
• As the Herrons prepare for several ministry opportunities this week:
• Sonya two Weekly Tuesday Bible studies
• Sonya Saturday Bible Study and On-Line Prayer Ministry
• James preaching on Sunday at Acacia Community Church.
• Thank God for the ministry outreach on Sigulu Island this past weekend and the reaching of many souls by the ministry team.
• The use of Personal Testimonies and the Roman’s Road in sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ during this weekend outreach.  leaders to train congregations how to develop their personal testimonies and utilize them in sharing the Gospel.
• Madison returning home from boarding school in Kenya for a four-week school break.  
• Pastor Odongo and the Hasusuni Baptist Church for their commitment to the discipleship of the those who recently accepted Christ during the last few weeks.  

Pray for the Herron’s This Coming Week

31^st March—07^th April 2025

• Pray for our travel this week:
• As we travel around Jinja this week.
• James and Sonya driving in and around Jinja area during the week.
•  Pray for as she finishes her second term at RVA this Friday. 
• Pray for Madison as she begins a one month being home with her parents and friends.
• Pray for our effort to build a new boat to use in reaching the people of the islands.
• Pray for the work on the 33 feet boat we will use to reach the people of the islands with the Gospel of Christ.
• Pray for the funds needed to complete this task
• Pray for God’s provision for the coming months as the Herron’s has many opportunities to expand their work to different islands on Lake Victoria. 
• Pray for the Herrons as meeting scheduled concerning the Upper Buvuma Island Baptist Ministry (UBIBM) as James’s schedule meetings with leaders of UBIBS next week.
• Pray for the physical, emotional, and spiritual health of the Herron’s.
•  Pray that God will give the Herron’s insight and spiritual wisdom in making wise ministry decisions as they engage in ministering on Buvuma and Sigulu Islands.
•  Pray that the Herrons would be light and salt to the people they meet this week.
• Pray that the Herrons will be given the words to share to others about Jesus and how they might receive the salvation from God offered through a relationship with Christ.
•  Pray for our families in the USA: 
• Our three sons and their families 
• Our oldest son Keith in Memphis, Tennessee
• Our middle son, Jason, and his wife Marsha and their two sons Jacob and Joshua
• Our youngest son, Jeremy, and his wife Jennifer, and his three children, Kim, Colie, and Cy as he serves in the Army in stationed on Stuttgart, Germany.   
• Babra in Heidelberg, Germany
• Madison as she attends boarding school in Kenya.
• Pray for our siblings, aunts and uncles and their families.

In HIS service  

James and Sonya Herron

 "...before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language...." Revelation 7:9 (NIV)   

Wafula Joseph Teaching-Sigulu Island

Some of the Pastors and Church Leaders Attending 

Evangelism Training

Training Taken Outside

Retuned to the Church for Completion of the Training

Some Girls Received Dresses from America Volunteers 

Island Village

The vision of the International Mission Board is to see a multitude from every language, people, tribe and nation knowing and worshiping our Lord Jesus Christ 

24th-30 March 2025 Herron's Prayer Letter

 

James and Sonya Herron, IMB Missionaries

Uganda East Africa

Island Ministry team (Upper Buvuma Islands)

The vision of the International Mission Board is to see a multitude from every language, people, tribe and nation knowing and worshiping our Lord Jesus Christ

______________________________________________________

55 in 5 Status Update

Bambara of Senegal

2025 Status Update

Challenges We Found

In early 2024, two churches came to prayer walk, share the gospel, and develop relationships with the Bambara of Senegal. However, the Bambara are difficult to engage with, and, according to other people groups, they are at times closed to other Senegalese. Approximately 8,000 to 12,000 Bambara live near IMB personnel, who know of one believer.  

How You Can Pray

·       Ask God to give churches and field workers the desire to come

work among the Bambara of Senegal.

·       Thank God for a good relationship with one chief who is Bambara. Please pray for him and his family.

·       Pray that SD cards that were distributed among the Bambara will bear fruit.

Thank the Lord with the Herrons for the Past Week   

We Praise God for:

• Traveling Grace:
•  As James and Sonya traveled around the Jinja area during the last week.
• James and Wafula Joseph travel to Sigulu Island last Monday—Friday
• As the Herrons prepare for several ministry opportunities this week:
• Sonya two Weekly Tuesday Bible studies
• Sonya Saturday Bible Study and On-Line Prayer Ministry
•  For Evangelism Training of on Sigulu Island 32 pastors and Church Leaders who will provide evangelism and discipleship follow-up for the early May Mission Team.
• Preparing Church leaders to train congregations how to develop their personal testimonies and utilize them in sharing the Gospel.
• The Medical Clinic in Namagera Village where 158 patients were served and 15 persons accepted Christ and are receiving follow-up.   Making preparation for Clinic scheduled for 22 March.
• Madison progress in school and the contact we have had with her this week.  
• Pastor Odongo and the Hasusuni Baptist Church for their commitment to the discipleship of the 57 people who accepted Christ during the Farming God’s Way Training.  

Pray for the Herron’s This Coming Week

23^rd—30^th March 2025

• Pray for our travel this week:
• As we travel around Jinja this week.
• James and Sonya driving in and around Jinja area during the week.
• Madison’s travel from RVA this Saturday.
• Our travel to Entebbe Internation Airport to pick Madison up Saturday
• Pray that the Herrons would be light and salt to the people they meet this week.
• Pray for Madison as she finishes her second term at RVA this Friday. 
• Pray for her as she begins a one month being home with her parents.
• Pray that the Herrons will be given the words to share to others about Jesus and how they might receive the salvation from God offered through a relationship with Christ.
• Pray for meeting scheduled concerning the Upper Buvuma Island Baptist Ministry (UBIBM) as James’s schedule meetings with leaders of UBIBS next week.
• Pray for our effort to build a new boat to use in reaching the people of the islands.
• Pray for God’s provision for the coming months as the Herron’s has many opportunities to expand their work to different islands on Lake Victoria. 
• Pray for the physical, emotional, and spiritual health of the Herron’s.
•  Pray that God will give the Herron’s insight and spiritual wisdom in making wise ministry decisions as they engage in ministering on Buvuma and Sigulu Islands.
•  Pray for our families in the USA: 
• Our three sons and their families 
• Our oldest son Keith in Memphis, Tennessee
• Our middle son, Jason, and his wife Marsha and their two sons Jacob and Joshua
• Our youngest son, Jeremy, and his wife Jennifer, and his three children, Kim, Colie, and Cy as he serves in the Army in stationed on Stuttgart, Germany.   
• Babra in Heidelberg, Germany
• Madison as she attends boarding school in Kenya.
• Pray for our siblings, aunts and uncles and their families.

In HIS service  

James and Sonya Herron

 "...before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language...." Revelation 7:9 (NIV)   

Bambara Man

Bambara Happy Man 

Bambara Lady

The vision of the International Mission Board is to see a multitude from every language, people, tribe and nation knowing and worshiping our Lord Jesus Christ

17th–23rd March 2025 Herron's Prayer Letter

 

James and Sonya Herron, IMB Missionaries

Uganda East Africa

Island Ministry team (Upper Buvuma Islands)

The vision of the International Mission Board is to see a multitude from every language, people, tribe and nation knowing and worshiping our Lord Jesus Christ

______________________________________________________________

55 in 5 Status Update

Hima of Uganda

All the (Hima) will worship you, and will sing to you; they will sing to your name. Come, and see God’s deeds O (Hima) — awesome work on your behalf. He turned the sea into dry land. Rejoice in him for he rules by his might forever. His eyes watch you O (Hima people)! Don’t be rebellious and rise up against him. (Psalm 66:4-7)

How God Is Working

Older documents identified the Hima as a significant unreached and unengaged people group in southwestern Uganda. However, current interviews and research confirmed that the Hima do not have an identifiable presence in Uganda. A smaller population of Hima live in the neighboring Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), and they have been engaged with the gospel. We’re grateful for the research that informs our gospel proclamation efforts.

How You Can Pray

• Pray that more Hima in the DRC will respond to the gospel.
• Pray for church planters in Uganda as they strive to see healthy churches among all people groups in their country.
• Pray that IMB researchers can continue to learn about people groups to inform our ministry efforts.

Praise God for His Faithfulness from 10^rd—17^th Mach 2025 

 

• Traveling Grace:
•  As James and Sonya traveled around the Jinja area during the last week.
• As the Herrons prepare for several ministry opportunities this week:
• Sonya two Weekly Tuesday Bible studies
• Sonya Saturday Bible Study and On-Line Prayer Ministry
• James Saturday Discipleship Training Saturday.
• Making preparation for Clinic scheduled for 22 March.
• James Bible Study Saturday 15^th March in Jinja.
• Making preparation for Evangelism and Discipleship training for the upcoming mission team scheduled for Monday—Friday 17^th—21^st March.
• Madison progress in school and the contact we have had with her this week.  
• Pastor Odongo and the Hasusuni Baptist Church for their commitment to the discipleship of the 57 people who accepted Christ during the Farming God’s Way Training.  

Pray for the Herron’s This Coming Week

17^th— 23^rd March 2025

• Pray for our travel this week:
• As we travel around Jinja this week.
• Sonya driving in and around Jinja area during the week.
• James and Joseph Travel to Sigulu Island for Discipleship and Evangelism Training in preparation for a mission team in early May.
•  Pray for the church planters on Sigulu Island as they reach people with the Gospel and Christ and disciple new believers.
• as they disciple new believers.
• Start new Bible Study Groups.
• As they minister to the spiritual needs to their community
•   
• That the Herrons would be light and salt to the people they meet this week as James travel the various villages on Sigulu Island, and as Sonya have contact as she travels and meet people in Jinja area while James is away. 
• Pray that the Herrons will be given the words to share to others about Jesus and how they might receive the salvation from God offered through a relationship with Christ.
• Pray for meeting scheduled concerning the Upper Buvuma Island Baptist Ministry (UBIBM) as James’s schedule meetings with leaders of UBIBS next week.
• Pray for God’s provision for the coming months as the Herron’s has many opportunities to expand their work to different islands on Lake Victoria. 
• Pray for the physical, emotional, and spiritual health of the Herron’s.
•  Pray that God will give the Herron’s insight and spiritual wisdom in making wise ministry decisions as they engage in ministering on Buvuma and Sigulu Islands.
•  Pray for our families in the USA: 
• Our three sons and their families 
• Our oldest son Keith in Memphis, Tennessee
• Our middle son, Jason, and his wife Marsha and their two sons Jacob and Joshua
• Our youngest son, Jeremy, and his wife Jennifer, and his three children, Kim, Colie, and Cy as he serves in the Army in stationed on Stuttgart, Germany.   
• Babra in Heidelberg, Germany
• Madison as she attends boarding school in Kenya.
• Pray for our siblings, aunts and uncles and their families.

In HIS service  

James and Sonya Herron

 "...before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language...." Revelation 7:9 (NIV)   

Mission Team Women Ministry 

Small Group Activities-Discipleship Training

View of Boat from Island

New Church Using What They Have for Shelter

Teaching the People 

The vision of the International Mission Board is to see a multitude from every language, people, tribe and nation knowing and worshiping our Lord Jesus Christ

10th–16th March 2025 Herron's Prayer Letter

 

James and Sonya Herron, IMB Missionaries

Uganda East Africa

Island Ministry team (Upper Buvuma Islands)

The vision of the International Mission Board is to see a multitude from every language, people, tribe and nation knowing and worshiping our Lord Jesus Christ

_____________________________________________________________________________

55 in 5 Status Update

Kotafon of Benin

How God Is Working

Voodoo, the prosperity gospel, and syncretism create challenges among the Kotafon. However, since 2015, IMB partners have planted seven Kotafon churches. (Sadly, two of these churches were lost during the COVID pandemic.) Ten pastors from the Baptist Bible School of Benin and additional church planters have been trained to serve the Kotafon. Thirty Kotafon have been baptized.

How You Can Pray

·       Pray for evangelism through door-to-door prayers and a program for teenagers and students from local technical schools.

·       Ask God for resources, unity, and spiritual growth in Baptist churches.

·       Pray for an African partner who serves as a missionary among the Kotafon.

·       Pray for Kotafon who are persecuted.

Praise God for His Faithfulness from 03^rd—09^th Mach 2025 

Thank the Lord with the Herrons for the Past Week   

We Praise God for:

• Traveling Grace:
•  As James and Sonya traveled around the Jinja area during the last week.
• As the Herrons prepare for several ministry opportunities this week.
• As the Herrons ministered in and around Jinja this past week
• Sonya two Weekly Tuesday Bible studies
• Sonya Saturday Bible Study and On-Line Prayer Ministry
• James Saturday Discipleship Training which starts this Saturday.
• Jame Bible teaching and preaching at Acacia Community Church this Sunday.
• Plans for Evangelism and Discipleship training for the upcoming mission team scheduled for next Monday—Friday,
• Madison progress in school and the contact we have had with her this week.  
• Pastor Odongo and the Hasusuni Baptist Church for their commitment to the discipleship of the 57 people who accepted Christ during the Farming God’s Way Training.  

Pray for the Herron’s This Coming Week

10^th— 16^th March 2025

Pray for our travel this week:

• As we travel around jinja this week.
• Sonya driving in and around Jinja area during the week.
• Pray that the Herrons would be light and salt to the people they meet this week.
• Pray that the Herrons will be given the words to share to others about Jesus and how they might receive the salvation from God offered through a relationship with Christ.
• Pray for God’s provision for the coming months as the Herrons has many opportunities to expand their work to different islands on Lake Victoria. 
• Pray for the physical, emotional, and spiritual health of the Herron’s.
•  Pray that God will give the Herrons insight and spiritual wisdom in making wise ministry decisions as they engage in ministering on the island.
•  Pray for our families in the USA: 
• Our three sons and their families 
• Our oldest son Keith in Memphis, Tennessee
• Our middle son, Jason, and his wife Marsha and their two sons Jacob and Joshua
• Our youngest son, Jeremy, and his wife Jennifer, and his three children, Ki, Colie, and Cy as he serves in the Army in stationed on Stuttgart, Germany.   
• Babra in Heidelberg, Germany
• Madison as she attends boarding school in Kenya.
• Pray for our siblings, aunts and uncles and their families residing in America.

In HIS service  

James and Sonya Herron

 "...before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language...." Revelation 7:9 (NIV)   

03rd–9th March 2025 Herron's Prayer Letter

 

James and Sonya Herron, IMB Missionaries

Uganda East Africa

Island Ministry team (Upper Buvuma Islands)

The vision of the International Mission Board is to see a multitude from every language, people, tribe and nation knowing and worshiping our Lord Jesus Christ

________________________________________________________________________________

Antefasy of Madagascar

2025 Status Update

Challenges We’ve Faced

    Though the Antefasy call themselves Christians, many believe their ancestors are the intermediaries         between them and God, and they seek help from witch doctors. In their works-based belief system,         Christianity is a backup plan to get to heaven. They believe the requirement to be a Christian is to         attend church on Sundays. Very few churches faithfully teach the gospel. 

How You Can Pray  

• Pray for the few Antefasy believers who are making disciples and working to start healthy churches.
• Ask God to reveal his true Word to the Antefasy.
• Pray for new believers to boldly turn away from ancestor worship.

Praise God for His Faithfulness from 16^th February—02^nd March 2025 

Thank the Lord with the Herrons for the Past Two Weeks

We Praise God for:

•  Traveling Grace:
•  As James and Sonya traveled around the Jinja area during the last two weeks.
• James and Joseph Wafula traveled to and from Sigulu Island – Nampongwe for Evangelism and Discipleship training for the team who will be evangelizing the people who will receive the Tools and Seeds to be distributed during the coming mission team next week.  
•  As the Herrons as they traveled in and around the Jinja area during the past week.
•  We thank God for the 250 persons who attended Farming God’s Way Training and were exposed to the Gospel of Christ
• We praise God for the fifty-seven persons who accepted Christ as Lord and Savior.
• We thank God for the people who are requesting that a new church be planted in their village to accommodate the twelve new believers from their village.   
• Pastor Odongo and the Hasusuni Baptist Church for their commitment to the discipleship of the 57 people who accepted Christ during the Farming God’s Way Training.  

 

Pray for the Herron’s This Coming Week

03^rd—10^th March 2025

• Pray for our travel this week:
• As we travel around jinja this week.
• Sonya driving in and around Jinja area during the week.
• Pray that the Herrons would be light and salt to the people they meet this week.
• Pray that the Herrons will be given the words to share to others about Jesus and how they might receive the salvation from God offered through a relationship with Christ.
• Pray for meeting scheduled concerning the Upper Buvuma Island Baptist Ministry (UBIBM).
• Pray for God’s provision for the coming months as the Herrons has many opportunities to expand their work to different islands on Lake Victoria. 
• Pray for the physical, emotional, and spiritual health of the Herron’s.
•  Pray that God will give the Herrons insight and spiritual wisdom in making wise ministry decisions as they engage in ministering on the island.
•  Pray for our families in the USA: 
• Our three sons and their families 
• Our oldest son Keith in Memphis, Tennessee
• Our middle son, Jason, and his wife Marsha and their two sons Jacob and Joshua
• Our youngest son, Jeremy, and his wife Jennifer, and his three children, Ki, Colie, and Cy as he serves in the Army in stationed on Stuttgart, Germany.   
• Babra in Heidelberg, Germany
• Madison as she attends boarding school in Kenya.
• Pray for our siblings, aunts and uncles and their families.

In HIS service  

James and Sonya Herron

 "...before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language...." Revelation 7:9 (NIV)   

Pastor Safanie Preaching on Zirru-Muto Baptist Church

Members of Zirru-Muto Baptist Church

More Biblical Instruction to the People of this Island

Time to Travel Home

Other Islands at a Distance 

Some of the Children 

The vision of the International Mission Board is to see a multitude from every language, people, tribe and nation knowing and worshiping our Lord Jesus Christ

We have been away for a while, but we are committed to providing a weekly update of our ministry activities.  Please keep us in prayer as we endeavor to keep you informed.

In HIS service

 

James and Sonya Herron

 

 "...before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language