December 1988
GLOBAL
The Week of Prayer for Foreign Missions is Dec. 4-11. Plan
now to call the Foreign Missions PrayerLine, 1-800-ALL
SEEK (from Virginia call 1-804-355-6581), to receive cur¬
rent prayer requests from Dr. Keith Parks.
PRAISE
THAILAND (southeast Asia). Praise God for His protection
of Thai laborers during the construction of educational facili¬
ties in Bangkla. Bangkla Baptist Church had held a Christian
ground-breaking ceremony, taking the place of the traditional
Buddhist pre-construction ceremony. No injuries or accidents
occurred during construction, indicating to the people the
power of God. Church leaders report that construction workers
also expressed interest in the gospel by listening as they
worked to open air Bible studies and children’s programs held
at the church.
GUADELOUPE (eastern Caribbean Sea southeast of
Puerto Rico). Missionary Judy Gary had been praying for her
neighbor Marie, a French woman who had failed to accept
Christ. The Lord worked through the prayers of many, and on
Aug. 12 Marie finally gave her life to the Lord. Judy writes,
“Is there any accident that this date was three days after my
birthday when prayers everywhere were being lifted for me?
We’re sure the angels are rejoicing in heaven, and we are too!”
SIERRA LEONE (western Africa). Missionaries Bert and
Ruth Dyson give thanks to the Lord for the stable growth of
Tokeh Baptist Church. Pray for this church’s leader, Pastor
Noah, as he participates with 18 other pastors and church
leaders in a pastoral training course led by missionary Calvin
King.
GRENADA (island off northeast coast of Venezuela). Thank
God for two young men, Aaron George and Standford Simon,
who recently responded to God’s call to become pastors. They
are preparing at the Barbados Baptist College to help meet the
critical need of national pastors in this country.
BOTSWANA (southern Africa). Thank God for the healing
He has brought to troubled marriages among Batswana church
leaders. Pray that God will continue to work in these hearts
and homes so they may be fully dedicated to God and become
faithful, responsible church leaders.
REQUESTS AND REPORTS
TOGO (western Africa). Missionaries will agree that taking a
child to boarding school for the first time is a traumatic ex¬
perience. The separation was complicated for missionary Mike
Key, whose son, Micah, had always been taught at home. To
leave home (two countries away) and adjust to social and ed¬
ucational changes seemed too much at once for both father and
son. But this difficult task took place on Mike’s birthday, and
he felt encased by the prayers of Southern Baptists. The trip
and school enrollment went very smoothly, but more important
was the peace Mike felt that certainly “passed” his understand¬
ing. Pray for missionary families as they face the uncertainty of
separation.
SWAZILAND (southern Africa). Christmas traditions and
observances are limited and very simple in this country. School
is closed for six weeks, and factories, industries and offices
close from Dec. 15 through Jan. 15. Gift-exchanging is not
practiced so advertising is rare. The festivities are confined to
a mass exodus of city dwellers returning to village kraals for a
big meal, but there are no Christmas trees or home decora¬
tions. Caroling in neighborhoods after dark is unacceptable
because only thieves and robbers walk the streets at night.
However, choirs perform at the city plazas, government offices,
hospitals and prisons during the day, and churches offer wor¬
ship services. Pray that the Christ of Christmas will become
evident to those living in this country.
VENEZUELA (northern South America). Pray that Vene¬
zuelan Baptists will reach their goal for the Siomoara de
Nunez Offering, the convention’s Christmas offering that sup¬
ports missionary efforts in Venezuela and abroad. Missionary
Shirley Clark reports that this year’s offering will make possi¬
ble the sending of the Sanchez family to Bolivia and the D’Ar-
mas family to Panama.
CHILE (western South America). Summer in Chile begins in
December, and with summer comes many Vacation Bible
Schools in the Baptist churches. Pray for the churches in the
Austral District as they plan for these summer ministries.
GAZA (southeastern Mediterranean coast). Only about 1
percent of the population of Gaza has a Christian background,
most of them Greek Orthodox who will celebrate Christmas on
Jan. 7. Pray that seeds of the gospel will be planted among
nonbelievers during this time of year and that Christ will be
presented in a very real way.
