February 1997
Although it is winter now, I am looking toward spring, both
this year's and last, and specifically the spring Day of Prayer
and Fasting. You'll remember that last May we focused our pray¬
ing on Tibet. I want you to know that just over 2,000 churches
requested the free prayer guide packet to help as we focused our
prayer for the Tibetans. Only God knows how many tens of thou¬
sands of intercessors prayed fervent prayers that Tibetans might
pass from darkness into the light of the glory of Christ as Savior.
I so had wanted to share with you many specific developments
since the Day of Prayer, because God has marvelously answered
your prayers. Concern for security has made it necessary for me to
be more general here than I’d like, but know that each word here
represents real specifics and ongoing evidences of the hand of
God. First, this great word: There is now a small congregation of
believers in one of the areas where Tibetans live! Thank God with
us for this. In addition, a number of other Tibetans have heard the
great news of Christ and are considering decisions. As you pray
for protection and growth for the believers, please continue to
pray for these seekers that they, too, might be saved. In addition,
several new opportunities for ministry to Tibetans have come into
being since the Day of Prayer. Doors have been miraculously
opened, workers have been protected and healed, and laborers
thrust out— all in answer to your prayers. Also, as you would
expect, one other result of the prayer focus has been an increase in
spiritual attack from the evil one. Persecution and oppression have
increased even as victories have multiplied.
So many of you have written or called to say that God has con¬
tinued to burden you for the Tibetans and that you are interceding
for them. Thank you. As you pray, remember that this spring's
Day of Prayer and Fasting will be on May 16-17. Our focus this
year will be Libya and the Libyan people, and it's not too early to.
call and place your order for the free Libyan prayer guide packet.
Gratefully,
Randy Sprinkle, Director
International Prayer Strategy Office
1 INDIA (south Asia). One million Kui people live in the hills of
southern Orissa. They are tribal people and are treated as out¬
casts by caste Hindus. They number among the poorest people of
rural India. The mountainous soil they farm is eroded. The seasonal
rains, on which they depend, do not always come when needed.
Malaria is endemic in their hills. A form of the genetic disorder, sick¬
le-cell anemia, claims the lives of many. In the midst of these prob¬
lems, the Kui people are turning to the Lord. Praise the Lord for
the 500 Kui Baptist churches and pray that the Lord will raise up
evangelists and church planters who will carry the gospel into the
thousands of Kui villages where the good news of Jesus Christ has
yet to be proclaimed.
2 SRI LANKA (island southeast of India). Pray for the start¬
ing of a small goat project and seeding nursery in north cen¬
tral Sri Lanka. This country has been wracked by a civil war since
1983, claiming thousands of lives. Pray that the human needs proj¬
ects sponsored by your world relief offerings will help bring peace
to that part of Sri Lanka.
SWAZILAND (southern Africa). A medical team arrived to
conduct eye clinics here. Not knowing how this type of work
would be accepted and with limited advertisement, they began
their work with patients who came. Crowds then came to see what
their friends were talking about. The following Sunday, church
attendance at the Baptist churches increased, and one preaching
point that had almost closed for lack of attendance was packed.
Praise the Lord that God uses such talents to reach the lost.
3 GRENADA (island northeast of Venezuela). Missionary
Jimmy Joseph asks: “Please pray for an opportunity that has
opened up for Anita and me to possibly begin meeting with a
group of students at the St. George’s School of Medicine. Since
we arrived here, I’ve had a dream of beginning some sort of work
at the medical school.”
SOUTHERN ASIA. Pray for the starting of a center in south¬
ern Vietnam where local farmers will be trained in soil and water
conservation techniques. This training center, which is supported
by world relief funds, will be ministering to a number of Viet¬
namese ethnic minority Christians who have been cut off from
contact with outsiders for 20 years. Pray for the American and
Filipino personnel who will staff the project.
4 COTE D’IVOIRE (western Africa). Pray for the prison
ministry in which missionary Tim Mahoney is involved. It is
one of our most productive ministries. Relief funds are about to
run out and the prison church will be responsible for its own feed¬
ing program. Pray for a smooth transition and that the work will
continue to flourish. One concern is the loss of funds to buy
medicine for prisoners who come down with malaria and infec¬
tions. Pray that God will provide. Tim writes: “Thank you for your
prayers. We are dependent upon them.”
PERU (western South America). Missionaries Ronnie and
Gwenn Fox work with Divine Grace Baptist Church in Lima. Pray
with them for leadership in every aspect of planting new churches
from this church.
