February 2000
IH I
These past months have been ones of unique opportunity, as
we have united our hearts with God's in prayer on behalf of
the Jews, Hindus and Muslims of the world. Later this
spring, we will pray for Buddhists. With the joy that comes in
loving people through prayer, there is also the wrath of people
who do not know God's love and are strongly opposed to Him.
Press reports spread the outrage that many felt, as we acknowl¬
edged the truth that all are lost apart from a faith relationship
with Jesus and as we prayed for them.
Just now, the words of an Indian man are very fresh upon
my mind. His call came quite a while after our focused prayer
for the Hindus, but his feelings and convictions were still very
strong. Daily he had bowed before the Hindu statues in his
house and asked the gods that they represented to help him.
Finally, in desperation, he began to say to them, "Are you lis¬
tening? Do you care about me and my problems?" The
answer was always the same: silence.
Then, one day he was invited to the home of acquaint¬
ances who began the evening by singing a Christian hymn. It
was his first encounter with the loving presence of Jesus, and
he said to himself, "1 want this. This is what I have been search¬
ing for." Soon after, he received Christ as his Savior.
Prayer is love, and where there is prayer, there is the lov¬
ing presence of Jesus. Thank you for loving and praying
despite opposition. The salvation of the world depends on it.
Gratefully,
Randy Sprinkle, Director
International Prayer Strategy Office
1 BANGKOK, THAILAND. Praise the Lord that He is
I placing a burden in people's hearts to join "PrayerWalk 2000"
and cover Bangkok in prayer. At least one team of 20 has confirmed
that they have answered, "Here am I, Lord; send me." Pray that many
others will be sensitive to the Holy Spirit's leading. Ask God to give
home-based intercessors an extraordinary burden and zeal to pray
for the 10 million lost people in this megacity. Pray that thousands
of these lost Thais will hear and accept the life-changing Truth.
NORTH CAUCASUS (western Asia, be¬
tween the Black and Caspian Seas). A law has
ieen passed in the territory of Krasnodar that government permis¬
sion is now needed to openly evangelize on the streets. In the
Kabardino-Balkar Republic, 250 members are now required in
order for a group to meet legally as Christians; most of the groups
that have been meeting are very small. Please pray for believers
living in these places to have wisdom as they face these new realities.
2 SWAZI OF SWAZILAND AND SOUTH
AFRICA. You prayed in November for an AIDS video that
was shown at the Swazi Baptist churches and for information that
was handed out concerning this disease. Please pray for the Swazi
Team to have more opportunities to share the AIDS presentation
with the Swazi people. Also pray for the Swazi Christians who are
HIV positive, that they will be able to deal with the realities this
brings to their lives, and for the Swazi who are not Christian but
are HIV positive, that they will accept Jesus before it is too late.
3 RUSSIA (between eastern Europe and
Asia). Baptist representatives Mel and Nancy Skinner live
in Ivanovo, a city caught in the grip of poverty and without hot
water or heat. Pray that God will use these circumstances for His
glory and cause people to look to Him. As Mel and Nancy seek to
minister in this situation, pray that God will lead them to the work
He has prepared for them in Ivanovo. Ask the Father to provide
guidance and enlightenment to the new believers there so that
they can grow in the knowledge and grace of the Lord. Pray for
Nancy as she explores the beginning of a mentor relationship and
continues helping with a Sunday School program.
4 MESTIZOS OF PERU. While many people go back
and forth to work in cars or subways, missionaries like Elbert
Smithen, who works with theCajamarca Storying Project, travel to
their work areas on horseback or by hiking exhausting mountain
trails. As fruits of those efforts, eight new believers who meet in a
home in the tiny village of Negritos Altos committed to baptism
during a special Christmas service. Pray for God's protection as
missionaries and national brethren alike endure physical and spiri¬
tual challenges in order to take the gospel to remote, unreached
areas of the Andes.
5ISAAN OF THAILAND. Baptist representatives
serving on the Isaan Team are ministering at a place called the
Home for People with AIDS. They write: "Praise the Lord that we
are able to have weekly worship services and have full reign to
minister in the Lord's name." Give thanks for those who have
believed in recent months, and ask the Lord to continue to draw
many to Himself through His love and compassion.
MONGOLIA (north of China). A group of doc¬
tors spent three weeks this fall in Mongolia. They were working
with Mongol doctors and were able to share their faith. One of the
Mongol doctors told one of the American doctors, "I can see the
love of God in your eyes." Pray that this man will become a Chris¬
tian through seeing the love of God in another person.
