July 1997
It was a morning flight to Atlanta, and the lady in front of me
was having a Bloody Mary for breakfast. Next to her, a middle-
aged man sat reading. Approaching Atlanta, they began to
talk, and soon the woman asked: “So you’ve been a doctor, but
you’re no longer in practice. What do you do now?”
“I’m a minister.”
The easy rapport of a moment before disappeared into nerv¬
ous laughter. Then self-conscious defensiveness replaced it as
an alcohol-dulled brain did its best to offer a politically correct
theology that would justify a life with little interest in God.
The minister listened, then finally responded only when the
lady asked, “Why did you change careers?”
“Doctors are doomed to lose all of their cases sooner or
later; I like to win a few.”
Two lives on the same flight, but going in opposite direc¬
tions: one, from life to death; the other, from death to life — and
helping people to find that way in the process.
May it be so that we help others find the Way,
Randy Sprinkle, Director
International Prayer Strategy Office
1 BOLIVIA (west central South America). In April 1996, you
began praying for God to send more missionaries to El Alto,
the fastest growing city in Bolivia. Recently, two local churches
of El Alto have started a total of 10 preaching points. Most of
these mission points have lay missionaries. Also, the Bolivia Bap¬
tist Convention has appointed missionary Juan Cesari to work in
church planting in El Alto. Give thanks to God for answering
your prayers, and please continue to pray for more workers.
DOMINICA (eastern Caribbean Sea). Pray for Doyse and
Mildred Thompson, International Service Corps workers in youth
evangelism, as they arrive in Dominica this month. Pray that God
will give them a vision for His work.
PHILIPPINES (southeast Asia). Church planter mission¬
aries Phil and Retha Brewster and Robert and Diana Clark,
along with a team of Filipino believers, have been working to
start a church among middle- and upper-class people in Manila.
You have been praying as they have been seeking God’s will in
building their team of leaders. Thank the Lord for three new team
members. Continue to pray as they make contacts and seek God’s
will for a name for the church, which held its first worship service
in April. Pray that many unbelievers will attend and will be
drawn to Christ as Savior.
3EL SALVADOR (Central America). Missionary Steve
Baillio writes: “Our bookstore is in the middle of a violent
area of the most violent city in the Americas. There is anarchy in
here; the police will not even come to investigate robberies. For
the second time in three weeks, our bookstore was robbed at gun¬
point. We want sell the property and move to another area, but
the value has fallen by about half in the past two years. Pray that
God will provide and lead us to the place He has prepared to have
the literature ministry. Pray for protection for the employees, for
the customers and for those who live in this area of town. Pray for
those involved in the robberies. Though we hate what they are
doing, we cannot hate them. They are enslaved by Satan and need
the freedom of Jesus Christ in their lives.”
BOTSWANA (southern Africa). Please pray for the 60-
plus young adults who will be coming on temporary assign¬
ment to work for one year in the village of Masunga. Every year
the government sends high school graduates out into the country
for assignments in government schools, offices, health clinics, etc.
These youths are often placed far from home and need guidance,
care and a substitute family. Pray that missionaries Ron and Jan
Langston will be able to show Christian love and concern to these
youth and that many will be won to Christ. The Langstons are
planning youth outreach activities to present the gospel to them.
5 ZIMBABWE (southeastern Africa). Missionary Shirley
Randall writes, “Let us rejoice with Sanyati Baptist Hospital
that Dr. George and Miriam Mhinga have come to work here!”
Thank you for praying for a Christian national doctor to come.
Also, give thanks that the local people have given more than 150
100-pound bags of maize (com) to the hospital, enabling the hos¬
pital not to have to buy maize since July 1996.
ST. LUCIA (eastern Caribbean Sea). Missionary Joe Prickett
will return to the United States for a crucial medical check-up fol¬
lowing cancer treatment. Pray for him and his wife, Helen, who
will remain on the field in his absence.
6 TANZANIA (eastern Africa). Thank you for praying for
the severe drought in Maasai land. Missionaries Betty and
Paul Smith send this encouraging report: “The rains have come to
Arusha and the com is growing! After only being planted two
weeks, it is up to about two inches. The feeding program, headed
up by missionaries Tim and Ann Tidenberg, is going well. So far,
World Hunger Funds (provided by the International Mission
Board) have bought com, which is a staple here, for about 2,400
families. This will supply their needs for about six weeks. Hope¬
fully, other foods will be available then.”
7 ISRAEL (east of Mediterranean Sea). As the forested hill
of the
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between Jerusalem and Bethlehem is bull-
