From online courses for writers in Ukraine and Latin America to in-person workshops in Greece and Africa, here’s a quick recap of MAI’s training workshops in 2025—and how you can pray.
A Prayer Book for the Central African Republic
Jan 2025: MAI-Africa trustee Kirimi Barine ran a workshop for over 50 Christian writers in Bangui, Central African Republic. By the end of their time together, most of the book’s prayers on 14 themes had been written.
Pray for this newly published book to stir the church to pray fervently for the Central African Republic, and inspire even more writing for God’s kingdom.
Fiction Writing Workshop in South Africa
Feb 2025: MAI-Africa communications coordinator Joan Campbell facilitated a Christian fiction writing workshop in Johannesburg in partnership with Kate Walsh, who runs an online ministry that creates spaces for women to explore and grow their creativity.
Pray for an online ministry in South Africa that creates spaces for women to grow their creativity. May this result in compelling fiction that draws readers to Christ.
Partnering on a Writing Workshop in Italy
Apr 2025: MAI-Europe partnered with La Casa della Bibbia to organize a workshop for Christian authors and digital creators. La Casa della Bibbia director Giancarlo Farina and digital strategist Ruben Bianco facilitated the hands-on training in Italian.
Give thanks for all who came from different backgrounds and churches to learn writing in Italy. May their writing be excellent and impactful for local readers—and beyond.
Equipping Writers in South Asia
Apr 2025: Volunteer trainer Robinson Gill of MIK publishing house explored the uniqueness of Christian writing and the elements of an effective story. Participants reported plans to write books, write stories for children and even form a writers’ group.
Give thanks for a well-received creative writing workshop in south Asia. Pray for excellent stories to be written and read, and Christian writer communities formed.
Online Kids Book Club in Latin America
May-Jun 2025: “It’s exciting to see little ones writing!” says MAI-América Latina Board member Keila Ochoa Harris, on an online kids book club she ran for six weeks. Children read three stories and participated in a creative challenge—with some writing their own stories.
Pray for more books and book clubs that encourage children to write stories, and for the publication of more kids’ books in Latin America that point readers to Jesus.
Writing and Editing workshop in Singapore
Aug 2025: MAI-Asia partnered with Our Daily Bread (ODB) Ministries Singapore for an interactive workshop with poet, song lyricist and editor Aaron Lee. “Everyone brought their own experiences to sharpen one another,” Aaron says.
Give thanks for the work of Our Daily Bread Ministries. Pray for Christian writers and editors in Singapore as they create content to grow and mature the global church.
Great Commission Writing Workshop in South Asia
Aug 2025: MAI-Asia partnered with two Christian organizations to run a writing workshop in south Asia with author and entrepreneur Ardy Roberto. A printed 144-page anthology was written, edited and published by the end of the third day.
Pray for Christian writers and publishers in south Asia as they seek to write to share the good news. Pray for ongoing training, and that they may encourage and spur each other on.
Online Training on Writing and Illustrating Biblical Fiction for Children
Sept-Dec 2025: Keila Ochoa Harris and Patricia Cabral ran 6 online sessions on how to write biblical fiction, guiding participants in writing and editing a biblical short story. This was followed by 4 sessions with José Carlos Gutiérrez Martínez and Iván Anaya on illustrating biblical stories.
Give thanks for the children’s biblical fiction writers the Lord is developing across Latin America. Pray that projects will be published and read, that children may grow in their love for God.
West Africa Short Story Writing Workshop in Ghana
Sept 2025: MAI-Africa trustee Lawrence Darmani, alongside Joel Borboryoe, facilitated a 3 day short story writing workshop in Ghana. Twenty-four participants learned new skills and had opportunities to share ideas in the morning, while the afternoon was given to writing.
Give thanks for the stories birthed from the Ghana workshop. Pray for the publication of an anthology, as well as future workshops to connect and encourage Christian writers in Ghana.
First Writers’ Training in Greece
Oct 2025: Our first formal MAI-Europe writers’ training in Greece, where only 0.5% are evangelical Christians. MAI-Europe trustees Janet Wilson and Anna Shirochenskaya, along with award-winning fiction author Balázs Zágoni, facilitated workshops.
Pray for Christian resources in Greek to be published for the growth of the evangelical church in Greece. May many come to faith in Jesus through the writing of local authors.
Publishers Training in Madagascar
Oct 2025: MAI Director of Publisher Development Ramon Rocha ran a one-day training workshop on Advancing the Gospel in Madagascar Through Publishing with a team of ten staff from 3M, a ministry based in Antananarivo.
Pray for Christian writers and publishers in Madagascar as they pursue excellence in their calling. May their work grow the Church in Madagascar and beyond.
West Africa Short Story Writing Workshop in Nigeria
Oct 2025: MAI-Africa’s second West Africa Short Story Writing Workshop was held in Nigeria in partnership with African Christian Textbooks (ACTS), Journalists for Christ International Outreach and Step Publishers in Ghana.
Pray for Christian writers in Nigeria to write compelling short stories that prompt curiosity about Christ. May these stories reach many and draw each one to Him.
Online Training for Ukrainian Christian Writers
Nov 2025: MAI-Europe’s first online training course for non-fiction Ukrainian writers ran on three Monday evenings. Drawing on 45 years of experience, former MAI-Europe trustee Martin Manser led the training. A regular support group for Ukrainian writers was shortly formed.
Pray for Ukrainian Christian writers to gain skills and confidence in writing and publishing, and to contribute to building a community of Ukrainian Christian writers.
West Africa Short Story Writing Workshop in Burkina Faso
Nov 2025: MAI-Africa trustee Joanna Ilboudo was encouraged by participants coming from different church denominations throughout Burkina Faso —some travelled up to hundreds of miles—for the West Africa Short Story Writing Workshops in Ouagadougou.
Pray for Christian writers in Burkina Faso as they seek to write compelling short stories that make readers curious about Christ and His Word. May these reach many readers!
Online Training on Writing Fiction for Teens
Dec 2025: A joint collaboration between MAI-América Latina and Défi des Jeunes (“Youth Challenge”) magazine by publisher Marie-France Pierre-Pierre, 15 participants from across Haiti learned the foundations and art of writing Christian fiction for teens with Keila Ochoa Harris.
Pray for writers in Haiti to grow in skill, creativity and insight as they write Christian fiction for teens. May these stories be grounded in biblical truth and deepen teens’ faith in Christ.