12th -18th January Herron's Prayer Blog

 

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

___________________________________________________________________

Zande of South Sudan

2025 Status Update

“Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.” (1 Timothy 1:15 NIV)

2025 Status Update

We’ve discovered that the 860,000 Zande in South Sudan—farmers who practice a mix of African Traditional Religion and Christianity—are engaged by thriving Episcopal churches and other evangelical partners. Local partners are evangelizing, making disciples, and training leaders. The full Bible has been available in their language since 2007. The Zande can also access God’s Word through audio recordings and the Jesus Film.

Prayer Requests

 

• ·       Thank God for the churches that are working among the Zande.
• ·       Ask God to reveal the lies of African Traditional Religion and turn people’s hearts toward him.
• ·       Pray for solid biblical discipleship throughout this people group.

Praise God for His Faithfulness and Protection from the Last Week

05^th-11th January 2026

 Thank the Lord with the Herrons for the Past Weeks    

We Praise God for:

• Traveling Grace:
•  Sonya traveled from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma from visiting Jason our middle child and his family she returned to Jinja 09^th January.  
• James as he traveled around Jinja and to Entebbe this past week.
• James traveled in and around Jinja since returning 26^th December.
• We praise God for the church planting effort of Pastor Odongo and his ministry team.
• We thank God for Pastor Odongo and the Hasusuni Baptist Church for their commitment to the reaching and discipleship of the those who recently accepted Christ during the last few weeks. 
• Thanks God as Madison begin a new tern at Rift Valley Academy in Kijabe, Kenya.
• We thank God for being with us as we visited with our son, Jason and his family from 07 November 2025 until 06 January 2026 and seeing us back to Africa without many problems.

Pray for the Herron’s This Coming Week

12^th—18^th January 2026

• Pray for the Herrons as they travel this week:
• James and Sonya as they travel in and around the Jinja area this week.
• Pray for the Herrons and the Jinja Mission Station as we are preparing for election days 14^th-17^th January.
• Pray for Pastor Odongo and his team as we go through election time and prepare for Farming God’s Way Training after the election session. 
• Pray for the Herrons as plans for 2026
• Preparing for our first mission team and March 2026.
• Discussion with prospective mission for the future.
• 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 the physical, emotional, and spiritual health of the Herrons.
• Pray for the Herron’s ministry tasks we have this week.
• Pray that the Herron would be light and salt to the people they meet this week.
• Pray that the Herron’s 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 begins a new term.
• 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)   

Island Children Church During Mission Team

Sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ 

Children actively involved in Bible Lesson 

Sharing the Gospel to an 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

05th -11th January Herron's Prayer Blog

 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

______________________________________________________________

Ngongo of the DRC

2025 Status Update

“And what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.” (2 Timothy 2:2, ESV)

2025 Status Update

A local team has translated Luke and Mark into the Ngongo language and is working on the translation of Acts. The Ngongo people love hearing God’s Word in their language and are eager for the team to translate the rest of the Bible. However, a local pastor explained, “The Ngongo people have suffered so much under injustice and lies that there is much hate and mistrust among them. The message of love needs to be preached to change their hearts.”

Prayer Requests 

• ·       Ask God to intervene amid the injustice, dishonesty, hate and mistrust in this community.
• ·       Pray for the Bible translation among the Ngongo.
• ·       Ask God to draw the hearts of the Ngongo to Himself. 

Praise God for His Faithfulness and Protection from the Last Two Weeks

03^rd 29^th December 2025–04^th January 2026

Thank the Lord with the Herrons for the Past Weeks    

We Praise God for:

• Traveling Grace:
•  The Herons traveled to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma to visit Jason our middle child and his family,
• Traveling grace as James and Madison traveled to Uganda on 21^st—26^th December.
• Madison traveled to Johannesburg on 27^th December for Mission Kid Camp und the Madison travel to RVA 03^rd January.
• James traveled in and around Jinja since returning 27^th December.
• Sonya is traveling with family members in Oklahoma City, OK. area during the last weeks without problems or difficulties.  
• We praise God for the church planting effort of Pastor Odongo and his ministry team.
• We thank God for Pastor Odongo and the Hasusuni Baptist Church for their commitment to the reaching and discipleship of the those who recently accepted Christ during the last few weeks. 
• We thank God for the three men who attended Cross Cultural Ministry Training in Nairobi Kenya late October.  We are thankful for their willingness to utilize what they have learned during the ten-day training. o reaching others with the gospel of Christ.
• We thank God for Bro. John from Sigulu Island and the ministry he is doing among displaced children of Sigulu Island.
• Thanks God as Madison attended the MK Camp and was instrumental is leading one of the campers to receive Christ. begin classes at Rift Valley Academy in Kijabe, Kenya.

Pray for the Herron’s This Coming Week

05^th—11^th January 2026

• Pray for the Herrons as they travel this week:
• Sonya as she travels from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma to Entebbe, Uganda 06^th—07^th January.
• James, is he travels in and around the Jinja area.
•  Pray for Pastor Odongo and his team as they continue to assist with the training and outreach efforts to develop new believers.
• Pray for the Herrons as plans for the coming year as we make plans for the coming year.
• Pray for the physical, emotional, and spiritual health of the Herrons.
• 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 the Herron’s ministry tasks we have this week.
• Pray that the Herron would be light and salt to the people they meet this week.
• Pray that the Herron’s 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 as she prepares for critical examinations in June.
• Madison as she is near the end of her first term and preparing for her school break.
• 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)   

24th -30th November Herron's Prayer Blog

 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

Tswa of Zimbabwe

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor…” (Luke 4:18 ESV)

Challenges We Found

Most Tswa live in southern Mozambique, but as some migrated to work in the South African mines, they settled in Zimbabwe on the way. Zimbabwean believers explored the rural region bordering Mozambique and South Africa but didn’t find a significant number of Tswa. They noted, however, a lack of healthy churches and job opportunities, which has led to drug abuse and crime. Further trips are needed to find the Tswa and plan gospel outreach to address the prevalent African Traditional Religion. 

How You Can Pray 

·       Pray that church planting and gospel witness will spread among the Tswa.

·       Ask God to send more believers to explore this part of Zimbabwe.

·       Pray for the few Tswa believers to stand firm in their faith.

Praise God for His Faithfulness from 25^th November—24^th Mach 2025

 

Thank the Lord with the Herrons for the Past Week   

We Praise God for:

• Traveling Grace:
•  James as he traveled around the Oklahoma City, Oklahoma area during the last week.
• We praise God for being with Sonya as she traveled around the Jinja and the surrounding area during the past week.
• As the Herrons prepare for several ministry opportunities this week:
• Sonya two Weekly Tuesday Bible studies, and her Saturday Bible Study
• James Church Connection activities this past week
•  For the work being done on Sigulu Island as the Herrons are away for holidays.
• Madison in the final week of classes for the first term at RVA.
• Preparing Church leaders to train congregations how to develop their personal testimonies and utilize them in sharing the Gospel.
• James completed reports for Send Relief project and other reports needed by the end of the month.
• Pastor Odongo and the Hasusuni Baptist Church for their commitment to the discipleship of the new who accepted Christ during the last outreach activities. 

Pray for the Herron’s This Coming Week

24^th—30^th November 2025

• Pray for our travel this week:
• As we travel around Jinja this week.
• As Madison travel from RVA in Kenya to Jinja.
• As James travel in Oklahoma City with his son Jason and family.
• As 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 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 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 

Training Sigulu Island

We Moved the Training Outdoors

Farming God's Way Training

Clothes Give-Away Buvuma

Discipleship Training Buvuma Island

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

07-23 November Herron's Prayer Blog

 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

_______________________________________________________________

Manga Kanuri of Nigeria

2025 Status Update

“.. and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.” (2 Corinthians 5:15)

2025 Status Update

The Manga Kanuri live in northeast Nigeria amid conflict and insecurity. Islam is their primary religion, and past ministry attempts have yielded little fruit. However, recent conflict has led some to question Islam, creating an openness to the gospel. Nigerian believers have shared the gospel among the Manga Kanuri, and a few have professed faith in Jesus. Relief projects have met physical needs, opening doors for gospel witnessing. Bible translation into the Manga Kanuri dialect has also begun.

Prayer Requests

• Pray for an end to the conflict so more ministries can be conducted among the Manga Kanuri.
• Pray for Nigerian believers to bravely proclaim the gospel.
• Pray for the few believers in this region to stand firm in their faith.

Praise God for His Faithfulness and Protection from

10^th–16^th November

 Thank the Lord with the Herrons for the Past Weeks    

We Praise God for:

• Traveling Grace:
•  James and Sonya traveled around the Jinja area during the last weeks without problems or difficulties.
• James travels to the Metro-East from Oklahoma City on Saturday 15^th November without any problems visit OFBC and meet with prospective mission team members,
• For the Herrons having several ministry opportunities this week past week:
• Sonya’s Tuesday Bible Study and On-Line Bible Study and Prayer Ministry.
• Sonya’s involvement in a Women Conference on 14^th and 15^th November in Mukono.
• James traveling to the Metro-East area for preparing a team to come to Uganda 26^th June--10^th July.  Meet with Church Connection pastors in the Metro-East area.
•  We continue to thank God for Pastor Odongo and the Hasusuni Baptist Church for their commitment to the reaching and discipleship of the those who recently accepted Christ during the last few weeks. 
• We thank God for Bro. David and Isacc from Acacia Community Church and Robert Odongo for completing the cross-cultural ministry in Nairobi on October 28^th—13^th November 2025.
• Thanks God as Madison as she is about to complete this term 28^th November at Rift Valley Academy in Kijabe, Kenya.

Pray for the Herron’s This Coming Week

17^th—23^rd November 2025

• Pray for the Herrons as they travel this week:
• Sonya as she travels in and around Jinja during this week.
• James as he travels from the Metro-East area and returns to Oklahoma City Thursday 20^th November.
• James sharing with the church what God is doing in Uganda with the congregation of OFBC.
• Possible contact with mission personals from Meto-East Baptist Association.
• Pray for Sonya as she has two Tuesday Bible studies. 
• Pray for Pastor Odongo and his team as they continue to assist with the training and outreach efforts to develop new believers.
• Pray for the Herron’s ministry tasks we have this week.
• Pray that the Herron would be light and salt to the people they meet this week.
• Pray that the Herron’s 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 the Boda Bible Study this Wednesday 19 November.
• 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 the physical, emotional, and spiritual health of the Herrons.
• 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 as she prepares for critical examinations in June.
• Madison as she is near the end of her first term and preparing for her school break.
• 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)   

Manga Kanuri of Nigeria Man

Baptism In Lake Victoria-Sigulu Island

Discipleship Training Session-Sigulu Island

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

03-16 November Herron's Prayer Blog

 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

________________________________________________________________

Ndengereko of Tanzania

2025 Status Update

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16 NIV)

2025 Status Update

Western missionaries have attempted to reach the Ndengereko for decades but have faced resistance. However, a Tanzanian family has been working in Muhuro since 2017. After Cyclone Hidaya struck Muhoro in 2024, 900 families received food from Send Relief, which opened doors for sharing the gospel. A Muslim community leader expressed gratitude, saying, “We will remember your love and care. You are welcome back.” Some Ndengereko have since come to faith and joined the church.

Prayer Requests  

• Pray for the Tanzanian family as they continue their work among the Ndengereko.
• Thank God for the partnership of the Southern Baptists through Send Relief.
• Praise God for the new believers among the Ndengereko.

Praise God for His Faithfulness and Protection from

03^rd –09^th November

 Thank the Lord with the Herrons for the Past Weeks    

We Praise God for:

• Traveling Grace:
•  James and Sonya traveled around the Jinja area during the last weeks without problems or difficulties.
•  James travels to America for visit with Jason and his family for several weeks.
• For the Herrons having several ministry opportunities this week past week:
• Sonya’s Tuesday Bible Study and On-Line Bible Study and Prayer Ministry
• James is preparing to travel to Oklahoma City this Friday 07^th November. 
•  We praise God for the Evangelism and Discipleship follow-up and training conducted on Sigulu Island on a weekly basis by Pastor Odongo and his ministry team.
• We thank God for Pastor Odongo and the Hasusuni Baptist Church for their commitment to the reaching and discipleship of the those who recently accepted Christ during the last few weeks. 
• We thank God for Bro. David and Isacc from Acacia Community Church and Robert Odongo for attending the cross-cultural ministry in Nairobi on October 28^th—13^th November 2025.
• We thank God for Bro. John from Sigulu Island after completing his third term of seminary classes at Uganda Baptist Seminary.
• We thank God for the Boda Wednesday Bible Study and the 20 plus to attend the class every other Wednesday
• Thanks God as Madison begin classes at Rift Valley Academy in Kijabe, Kenya.

Pray for the Herron’s This Coming Week

10^th—16^th November 2025

• Pray for the Herrons as they travel this week:
•  Sonya as she travels in and around Jinja during this week.
• James as he travels to the Metro-East area to visit O’Fallon First Baptist Church, the sending church for the Herrons.
• James is travelling to the Metro-East area, Saturday 15^th, Thursday 20^th November.
• James sharing with the church what God is doing in Uganda with the congregation of OFBC.
• Meet with prospective team members for the 2026 Uganda Mission.
• Schedule meetings with pastors in the Metro-East area for possible mission trips in Uganda
• Planning contact with some Church Connection pastors
• Possible contact with mission personals from Illinois Baptist Association.
•  Pray for Sonya as she has two Tuesday Bible studies, and a Women Fellowship on this Saturday, 15^th November. 
• Pray for Pastor Odongo and his team as they continue to assist with the training and outreach efforts to develop new believers.
• Pray for the physical, emotional, and spiritual health of the Herrons.
• 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 the Herron’s ministry tasks we have this week.
• Pray that the Herron would be light and salt to the people they meet this week.
• Pray that the Herron’s 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 as she prepares for critical examinations in June.
• Madison as she is near the end of her first term and preparing for her school break.
• 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)   

Ndengereko Woman #1

Ndengereko Woman #2

Sonya Sharing the Gospel in a Village 

near Jinja as Madison watch 

Gospel Presentation With Needed Medical Care 

Was Provided to this Village

Farming God's Way Sigulu Island

Outdoors Training Session (Sigulu Island)