July 2000
It is a truth that has great importance for us as interces¬
sors: Social instability intensifies the innate human
need to better learn how to live.
A quick game of word association centering on the
nation of Colombia would, no doubt, produce responses
such as drugs, violence, murder. I want us to add another,
less obvious but equally appropriate word — openness.
Colombians, in their desperate search to learn how to
live in their culture of violence, are eagerly open to the
good news of the Savior.
Last summer missionaries led a four-hour stress
management workshop for 16 vice presidents of a major
bank in Colombia. During the workshop three interces¬
sors prayerwalked outside the building, and ever since,
the missionaries have continued to intercede, by name,
for all 16 of the participants. In October, the first came to
Jesus. By spring two more had as well. The missionaries
have rejoiced, started discipling and kept right on pray¬
ing. God is calling out more missionaries to take the
Word of life to Colombians, but no one has responded
to His call. It seems that the danger is just too strong a
deterrent. Would you help them and the people of
Colombia by interceding for them? Jesus gave us both
the solution to and the responsibility in this tragic situa¬
tion: "Beseech the Lord of the harvest."
Gracias,
Randy Sprinkle, Director
International Prayer Strategy Office
1SRI LANKA (island off southeastern
coast of India). Baptist representatives David and
Paula Eddins write: "We have four pastors in our area that
are beginning new ministries. Please pray for God-given
vision and direction in these new works."
2MALOZI OF ZAMBIA AND NAMIBIA
(mah-LOH-zee). Missionary Daren Davis, Inter¬
national Service Corps worker Lavona Stafford (who is a
nurse) and a team of Baptist leaders have been surveying
the remote district of Kalabo in the Western Province of
Zambia. After several weeks of surveying and one false
start, God led them to begin teaching in the island village
of Mwandi, which is surrounded by the floodwaters of the
Luanginga River. Daren began teaching from Genesis
through the gospels so that the people could come to know
God. The men of this village were very interested and
asked questions like "Who created God?" and "Where will
we go when we die?" They are struggling with the fact that
God has always existed and was not created. They believe
God was created by the wind, when in fact God created the
wind. Pray for the people of Mwandi so that the gospel can
penetrate the hearts which have been hardened by years of
lies and explanations influenced by the great deceiver.
3 SPAIN (southwestern Europe). Baptist rep¬
resentatives Larry and Virgie Henry, who serve on the
Valencian team, are giving thanks to God that they have
won the confidence of two Valencian families through their
English classes. Pray that God will open doors for them to
share the Good News of Jesus Christ with these families.
Pray for more contacts to be made through this medium.
4CRIOLLO OF NORTHERN ARGENTINA
(cree-OL-yoh). Missionary Steve Woods is translat¬
ing a horse-training video for use in opening doors among
the Gaucho (cowboy) people who form part of the northern
Argentine Criollo population. Pray that he will be able to
complete the work quickly and that God will use the video,
which includes the testimony of the horse trainer, to melt
the traditional resistance of the Gauchos to the gospel.
5 THAILAND (southeast Asia). A man who will
be called "Mr. B" has expressed a desire to become a
Christian, but he has held back because of his family and
his social relations. He has been involved in a Bible study
group and has listened to the gospel for one year now.
Please pray that the Holy Spirit will convict his heart con¬
tinuously until he makes a bold decision.
62001 PRAY (Pray 'Round Africa Yes). Why
is prayer for Africa so important? Seven hundred and
fifty million people inhabit the continent. About one-fifth
of these are affiliated with a church. Statistics tell us that
6,000 Africans die of AIDS every day. By the year 2010, at
least 22 million Africans are expected to die of the disease.
Many more will die from other diseases, malnutrition, war
and natural causes. Many of them will die without ever
knowing the love of God. Prayer is the most effective tool
we have to combat lostness. Great Commission Christian
groups are being invited to partner with our missionaries
and churches in this tremendous responsibility. God has
given the church the resources necessary to finish the task.
