20th June-26th July 2026 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

_______________________________________________________________________

Makhuwa Marrevone of Mozambique

2025 Status Update

“In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.” (2 Corinthians 4:4 ESV)

Local leaders from multiple denominations have a heart and a strategy for expanding gospel engagement among the Marrevone. Besides a few Christian churches, two new groups of believers meet in one town, and one group meets across the river. They meet and work together when the river is passable. Believers offer food relief and medical assistance to older Marrevone, and they serve the younger generation through sports.

Prayer Requests

 

·       Pray that the gospel will go forth in this area where people are resistant to the gospel and difficult to access.

·       Pray for those suffering from food shortages and lack of shelter after cyclones destroyed their homes and harvests.

·       Pray for an end to lawlessness and the crime syndicates in the area.

Praise God for His Faithfulness and Protection from the Last Week

03^rd–17^th August 2026

Thank the Lord with the Herrons for the Past Two Weeks    

We Praise God for:

Traveling Grace:

•  As the Herrons traveled in and around Jinja this past two weeks.
•  We continue to thank God for the church planting effort of Pastor Odongo and his ministry team, and the progress that the team are making on developing disciples and leaders on Sigulu Island.
• Pastor Odongo and the ministry team weekly visit to spiritually develop new churches on Sigulu Island.
• We thank God for Pastor Odongo and the Hasusuni Baptist Church for their commitment to the reaching and discipleship of the those who accepted Christ in March.
• Planning Organizational Meetings with Pastor Odongo and the associational leaders next for the coming mission teams. 
• The successful Planning and Organizational Meetings with Pastor Odongo and the associational leaders next for the coming mission teams. 
• Thank God for the 313 persons who accepted Christ during the South Reno Baptist Church mission team 23^rd-30^th July.
• The follow-up on the children who accepted Christ during the Children Program and the people who accepted Christ during the food distribution. 

Pray for the Herron’s This Coming Week

17^th—23^rd August 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 as we continue planning for the next mission team from:
• O’Fallon First Baptist Church 27^th September –10^th October.
• Pray as the team prepare to teach Theological Training and Pastoral Care training
• Pray for our request for additional personnel in ministering to the peoples of the islands of Lake Victoria.
• 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 that the Herron would be salt and light 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 as he seeks God’s directions in his vocational life, and his wife Marsha and their two sons Jacob and Joshua
• Our youngest son, Jeremy, his wife Jennifer, and his three children, Kim, Colie, and Cy as he serves in the Army in stationed Kansas. Pray for this family as they make adjustment to a new post with new duties.  Pray that they quickly are assimilated into a Bible believing, Bible teaching church for their family. 
• Babra and her Dr. Christin Hoffman. Pray for their spiritual growth and development
• Madison as she completed her first year at RVA and as she prepares for her second year at RVA.
• Pray for our siblings, aunts and uncles, nieces and nephews 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)   

Worship on 

Pastor Odongo and Leaders from Sigulu Island 

James and Joseph

Traveling on Lake Victoria 

Training Session on Sigulu Island

29th June-06th July 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

_______________________________________________________________

Wolof of Mauritania

2025 Status Update

“Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.” (Isaiah 43:19 ESV)

The Wolof follow a mystical form of Islam known as Sufism. They believe in good and bad spirits, and they consult a local spiritual leader with supernatural powers to make decisions. Although the New Testament, parts of the Old Testament, and additional audio resources are available in Wolof, we know of only one believer among the 64,000 Wolof of Mauritania. Persecution is high. Even foreigners have lost their lives.

Prayer Requests

 

·       Pray for the Wolof to move away from their spiritually dark Sufism and be open to listening to the gospel.

·       Pray that the few Bible stories that have reached the Wolof will pierce the soul and spirit (Heb 4:12).

·       Ask the Spirit to protect and guide the hidden believers.

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

21^st –28^th June 2026

Thank the Lord with the Herrons for the Past Two Weeks    

We Praise God for:

• Traveling Grace:
•  As the Herrons traveled in and around Jinja this past two weeks.
• James and Joseph travel to Sigulu Island for Mission Team Planning Meeting 25^th—27^th June
• We continue to thank God for the church planting effort of Pastor Odongo and his ministry team, and the progress that the team are making on developing disciples and leaders on Sigulu Island.
• Pastor Odongo and the ministry team weekly visit to spiritually develop new churches on Sigulu Island.
• We thank God for Pastor Odongo and the Hasusuni Baptist Church for their commitment to the reaching and discipleship of the those who accepted Christ in March.
• We thank God for the good meeting we had this past weekend and all the work done on scheduling activities for the Food Distribution and Children and Women Ministry activities.  n 
• Madison adjustment to her classes at Rift Valley Academy in Kenya.

Pray for the Herron’s This Coming Week

29^th June—06^th July 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 as we continue planning for the next mission team from:
• South Reno Baptist Church 21^st July—01^st August.
• Pray as we prepare for food distribution to 313 families in Uganda and ministering to 400 plus children and youths.
• O’Fallon First Baptist Church 27^th September –10^th October.
• Pray as the team prepare to teach Theological Training and Pastoral Care training
• Creation to Christ Training to be conducted to the pastors and Church Leaders of the Sigulu Baptist Association in two weeks.
• Pray for our request for additional personnel in ministering to the peoples of the islands of Lake Victoria.
• 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 that the Herron would be salt and light 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, his wife Jennifer, and his three children, Kim, Colie, and Cy as he serves in the Army in stationed Kansas.   
• Babra and her Dr. Christin Hoffman.
• Madison as she continues term three of this school year.
• 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)   

Wolof Woman

Wolof Woman Carrying Water

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

15th-21st June 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

_____________________________________________________________

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)

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 Week

08^th–14^th June 2026

 Thank the Lord with the Herrons for the Past Week    

We Praise God for:

• Traveling Grace:
•  As the Herrons traveled in and around Jinja this past week.
•  We thank God for the church planting effort of Pastor Odongo and his ministry team.
• The Pastor Odongo and the ministry team weekly visit to spiritually develop new churches on Sigulu Island
• We thank God for Pastor Odongo and the Hasusuni Baptist Church for their commitment to the reaching and discipleship of the those who accepted Christ during the last mission team.
• Thank God for the Herrons celebrated their 48^th Wedding anniversary 11^th June.
• Praise God for Jeremy and his family as they adjust their return to the USA after being in Germany for three years.
• We thank God as Madison adjustment to her classes at Rift Valley Academy in Kenya.
• We praise God for meetings we had last week for planning mission trips from South Reno Baptist Church and our sending church O'Fallon First Baptist Church as we discuss the ministry they will do during their visits in July-August and September-October.
• Praise God for our request made for additional personnels for the Island Ministry Team in 2027. 

Pray for the Herron’s This Coming Week

15^th–21^st June 2026

• Pray for the Herrons as they travel this week:
•  James and Sonya as they travel in and around the Jinja area this week.
• James travel to Kyindi Landing Site 17^th June
• Pray as we continue planning for the next mission team from:
• South Reno Baptist Church 20^th July—01^st August.
• Pray as we prepare for food distribution to 313 families in Uganda and ministering to 400 plus children and youths.
• O’Fallon First Baptist Church 27^th September –10^th October.
• Pray as the team prepare to teach Theological Training and Pastoral Care training
• Planning Organizational Meetings with Pastor Odongo and the associational leaders next for the coming mission teams.  
• Pray for our efforts to have two mission teams this year:
•  Pray for our request for additional personnel in ministering to the peoples of the islands of Lake Victoria.
• 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 that the Herron would be salt and light 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, his wife Jennifer, and his three children, Kim, Colie, and Cy as he serves in the Army in stationed Kansas.   
• Babra and her Dr. Christin Hoffman.
• Madison as she continues term three of this school year.
• Pray for our siblings, aunts and uncles and their families.

In HIS service  

James and Sonya Herron 

Ngongo-Bible Translation Team

Small Group Exercises 

Classes are Outdoors

Children Carrying Water for the Well 

Arrival to the 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

01st-14th June 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

_____________________________________________________

Naath of South Sudan

2025 Status Update

“Open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Me.”

(Acts 26:18)

Baptist Convention of South Sudan. Five are in South Sudan. Eleven are in Ethiopia along the border with South Sudan. These churches range in size from about 40 to 100 believers who regularly gather for worship and Bible study. Believers in both Ethiopia and South Sudan are actively sharing the gospel with the Nuer.

Prayer Requests  

• ·      Pray that these churches remain faithful to study God’s Word and make disciples.
• ·      Pray for Nuer believers to boldly share their testimonies and the gospel.
• ·      Pray that more Nuer repent and trust Jesus as their Savior and Lord.

Praise God for His Faithfulness and Protection from the Last Week

18^th May- 07^th June 2026

 Thank the Lord with the Herrons for the Past Week    

We Praise God for:

• Traveling Grace:
•  As the Herrons traveled in and around Jinja this past two weeks.
• James travels to Kyindi Landing Site 01^st June
• James travels to Kampala on 28^th May and 02^nd and 04^th June  
• We thank God for the church planting effort of Pastor Odongo and his ministry team.
• The Pastor Odongo and the ministry team weekly visit to spiritually develop new churches on Sigulu Island
• We thank God for Pastor Odongo and the Hasusuni Baptist Church for their commitment to the reaching and discipleship of the those who accepted Christ during the last mission team.
• Thank God for the progress James and Sonya has made in completing several reports this past week.
• Praise God for Jeremy and his family as they adjust their return to the USA after being in Germany for three years.
• We thank God as Madison adjustment to her classes at Rift Valley Academy in Kenya.

Pray for the Herron’s This Coming Week

08^th–14^th June 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 as we continue planning for the next mission team from O’Fallon First Baptist Church in late June-early July.
• Planning Organizational Meetings with Pastor Odongo and the associational leaders next for the coming mission teams.  
• Pray as we work with the team leaders in America as we plan for their coming in June, July and August.
• Pray for our efforts to have two mission teams this year:
• O’Fallon FBC has desire to reschedule their arrival because of Eboli threats in Congo, pray fully we will be able to have them come in august or October.
• South Reno Baptist Church scheduled 20 July—01^st August.  Pray as we prepare for food distribution to 313 families in Uganda and ministering to 400 plus children and youths.
•  Pray for our request for additional personnel in ministering to the peoples of the islands of Lake Victoria.
• 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 that the Herron would be salt and light 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, his wife Jennifer, and his three children, Kim, Colie, and Cy as he serves in the Army in stationed Kansas.   
• Babra and her husband Dr. Christin Hoffman.
• Madison as she continues term three of this school year.
• Pray for our siblings, aunts and uncles, nieces and nephews 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)   

Nuer Man

Nuer Woman

Nuer Man Smoking

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

18th-31st May 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

________________________________________________________________________

Ngiri of DRC

2025 Status Update

“I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone – This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus …”

(1 Timothy 2:1,3-4)

The Ngiri live in a heavily forested area on the edge of the largest freshwater wetland in all of Africa. They were once renowned warriors but today they are looked down upon and discriminated as “those forest people.” The Ngiri face the challenges of poverty, poor hygiene, alcoholism, domestic violence, fear of sorcery, and a shortage of opportunities to grow intellectually, spiritually and economically.

The Ngiri are primarily farmers; women tend the crops while men fish, hunt and clear the farmland. While the Ngiri reject non-Christian religions such as Buddhism and Islam, they don’t worship the one true God, and few understand the gospel. Instead, they practice a form of religion that involves ancestor and spirit worship.

Prayer Requests

 

• ·       Pray that God would place a longing in the hearts of these “people of the forest” to know Him.
• ·       Pray for current work being done by Seed Company to translate the New Testament into the heart language of the Ngiri.
• ·       Ask God to make a way to reach isolated villages in this vast and heavily forested area.

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

18^th-24^th May 2026

 Thank the Lord with the Herrons for the Past Week    

We Praise God for:

• Traveling Grace:
•  As the Herron’s traveled in and around Jinja this past two weeks.
• James and Joseph traveled to Sigulu Island 21^st—23^rd May
• We thank God for the effort of Pastor Odongo and his ministry team in assisting the planting and spiritual growth of the churches of Sigulu Baptist Association.
• Bro. John a d Bro. Denis from Sigulu Island completing term at Uganda Baptist Seminary and the ministry they are doing on Sigulu Island.
• We are thankful for the planning meeting and discussion conduced on 21^st—23^rd May.
• Plans for providing petrol and boda travel and meals for those providing ministry to developing churches
• Plans to provide support to Sigulu Baptist Association
• We thank God for the plans to prepare for the upcoming mission teams.
• Thanks God as Madison adjustment to her classes at Rift Valley Academy in Kenya.
• We thank God for Jeremy and his family returning to America where he has taken command of an 1st Battalion 63rd Armor, Fourt Raily, Kansas.

Pray for the Herron’s This Coming Week

25^th–31^st May 2026

 

• Pray for the Herrons as they travel this week:
•  James and Sonya as they travel in and around the Jinja area this week.
• James travels to Kampala Thursday 28^th May
•   Pray as we continue planning for the next mission team from O’Fallon First Baptist Church in late 27^th June- 10^th July.
• Contacting team leader for FBCO for planning for next month’s mission team
• Completing Team’s Budget and Itinerary
• Assuring the team members complete Go Method application in a timely manner
• Pray as we work with the team leaders in America as we plan for their coming in June, July and August.
• Pray for the work on Sigulu in the construction of the latrine and storage space.
• Pray for plans to repair boat before mission team arrival.
• Pray for David and Isaac, from Acacia Community Church who attended Cross Cultural Ministry Training in Nairobi Kenya from Acacia Community Church as they plan to implement what they learn to reach the community around ACC with the Gospel of Christ.
• We are thankful for their willingness to utilize what they have learned during the ten-day training in reaching others with the gospel of Christ.
•  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 that the Herron would be salt and light 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 at Ft. Raily, Kansas.   
• Babra and her husband Dr. Christin Hoffman.
• Madison as she continues term three of this school year.
• 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)   

Pray for work being done to 

translate the New Testament 

into the heart language of the Ngiri.

Pray for the 

NGIRI

Of the Democratic Republic

of the Congo

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