January 1999
As we move into this new year of our Lord, 1999, 1 want the first
words you read to be words of appreciation and affirmation from
some of our missionaries. Bob and Jerry Worley work in a Euro¬
pean nation where response is slow and life is sometimes dangerous.
They write, "Thank you, dear friends, that you care, and that you
intercede. Often, we share with you the victories which God gives
us as a result of your intercession, but much of a positive and satis¬
fying nature happens that you would have to be here and observe
to appreciate. However, rest assured, Dearly Beloved, that God is
at work, and you are a vital part of something of eternal importance
when you pray. Thank you once again that we can count on you."
Our work in prayer here is actually co-labor together with our
missionaries there. One of our personal intercessors came to a new
realization of her vital part in our ministry last spring as she read in
The Commission magazine of a prayer journey that I had led across The
Last Frontier. Receiving my itinerary in advance, she had been inter¬
ceding along with and out ahead of me. As she read the account of
the China portion of the trip, she suddenly found herself saying, with
gratitude, "I was there. I was there." By prayer we are there. In
this new year, let's recommit ourselves, through prayer, to being . . .
There for the lost of the world,
Randy Sprinkle, Director
International Prayer Strategy Office
1 UZBEKS OF CENTRAL ASIA. God is doing mighty
things in a particular valley, and many responses make follow- up
difficult. The team is making plans to tell stories in the area each week¬
end as a method of personal growth and outreach. Pray for those He
wants involved in this. Ask for much grace as they intensify the study
of these marvelous stories in the Uzbek language. Pray that for each
person He calls out for this work, He will provide one believer who
can go along and learn how to do storying.
2 MAURITIUS (island in Indian Ocean). Please pray for
the showing of the Jesus film in the Mauritian Creole language.
This is the first known film to be done in the heart language of the
people. Pray that many doors will be opened.
LITHUANIA (east of the Baltic Sea). Baptist repre¬
sentative Milton Magalhaes often takes his 3-year-old daughter
when he goes to witness in Klaipeda. Because she speaks the lan¬
guage well, her presence opens many doors. She tells people that her
father can tell them how to let Jesus into their hearts. She sings cho¬
ruses in their heart language. Milton and his wife, Laura, ask you to
pray that they and their children will effectively communicate God's
love to the people.
3 SWAZI OF SWAZILAND AND SOUTH AFRICA.
Thank you for praying for the 10-day evangelistic effort in the
town of Badplaas. The team did survey work during the day and
held evangelistic services in the evenings. Missionaries Bobby and Jo
Carol Elliott write: "We had been praying that the Lord would open
up an opportunity for us to begin a Bible study or church in this
area. We were encouraged to see the headmaster (principal) of the
school where the children go. We were welcomed with open arms
by the headmaster. He told us, 'The gospel is always welcome in our
school,' and said the facilities were ours to use in any way that we
wanted. We praise the Lord for this wonderful blessing."
4 BELARUS (between Poland and Russia). Pray for
Baptist representatives Andy and Elizabeth Leininger, who serve
in Minsk, as they work on developing ministry strategies for 1999
and 2000. Their plans include new church starts and "preaching
points," ministries to alcoholics and the "new Russians" (people
with new businesses), and teaching English.
VIETNAM (southeastern Asia). Please pray that
Vietnamese Christians will catch the vision to start new house
churches and will be more open to beginning new works instead of
just adding "incremental" growth to existing churches. Pray for the
training of these believers to lead in this task. Only by starting thou¬
sands of new churches can there be hope of reaching the 78 million
Vietnamese for Christ.
50UEME OF BENIN. Pray for God's leadership and wisdom
for those who will soon begin a Bible study at Awonou. There is
a fetish altar in one of the homes there, yet the family has invited
believers to come and tell them about Jesus. Pray for the Beninese
man who has been making the difficult trip there as he learns how to
present chronological Bible stories.
MOLDOVA (eastern Europe). Baptist representatives
Tom and Tammy Fox are working in three villages this year. They
ask you to pray for the small group of believers in Briciani (on the
border of the Ukraine) who need an adequate meeting place and
who are concerned about a local non-Christian group that is attract¬
ing many followers.
6 MALTA (island south of Italy). International Service
Corps workers Earl and Robin Pinkston are thanking God for pro¬
viding an apartment and a car within three weeks of arriving. They
consider their apartment a blessing from the Lord, as it is one block
from the home of the local pastor with whom they are closely work¬
ing. The Pinkstons ask you to pray for that pastor, who leads the
Evangelical Baptist Church of Malta and works in many other min¬
istries. Pray that Earl and Robin will be able to free him up not only
for more ministry opportunities, but also for time with his family.
