July 2003
The longer I live, the more I marvel at the wonder of
written words.
One of my high privileges as director of the Interna¬
tional Mission Board's International Prayer Strategy
Office has been this monthly opportunity to sit down
and share with you. Our missionary service began with
appointment to Africa in 1975 but this service began nine
years ago. Then there were about 10,000 of you — faith¬
ful, daily intercessors. Now your numbers have tripled
to more than 30,000. 1 have been increasingly sobered by
the responsibility of this monthly word to you.
Aristotle held that good communication was framed
by three words. Logos — the appeal of rational thought.
Pathos — the appeal of emotion. And Ethos — the appeal of
character. In all that I have prayerfully communicated to
you through these years, I have sought to be faithful to
these. Supremely, though, I have sought to be faithful to
the Lord who is THE Word. That commitment to His
lordship has now brought me to a last word. By the time
you read this I will no longer be serving in this role but as
executive director of the Wyoming Southern Baptist
Convention.
So, from my heart of deep love and appreciation for
you, this last word from His Word (Ps. 63:8): follow hard
after Him — trust wholeheartedly in Him. To the degree
that we do, we will do well and He will do wonders.
To Him and for you, I am . . .
Ever grateful,
Randy Sprinkle, Director
International Prayer Strategy Office
Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come
after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and
follow me. Matt. 16:24 (NIV)
1 CHINA (central Asia). Thank God for the contin¬
ued witness of Christian teachers in classrooms through¬
out China. One such teacher was recently able to wrap up a
class discussion on death with a strong affirmation. "I am
not afraid of death. I am a Christian, and I know there is life
after death." Pray that through Christian teachers in China,
many Chinese university students will hear the good news
and choose life over death.
2TELUGU OF INDIA (TAY-loo-goo). The eyes
of many are being opened to God's spiritual truths.
Pray that Telugu believers would be strengthened by His
mighty power so that they will have all of the patience and
endurance that they need. Also, ask that they be given spir¬
itual wisdom, so that they will live in a way that honors
and pleases the Lord.
3 ISRAELI JEWS OF ISRAEL. Israeli Jews and
Americans have much in common these days: terror
attacks, grievous loss of astronauts in the Columbia disas¬
ter and unrelenting enemies in the terrorist realm. In the
spiritual realm, Israeli Jews and Americans have a common
salvation available. Please pray that God will protect both
Americans and Israeli Jews from physical harm, and that
during these stressful times, He will cause many from both
countries to put their trust in the Jewish Messiah.
4 ZIMBABWE (southern Africa). Continue to
pray for the quilting project that the ladies of Overspill
Baptist Church are engaged in. Most are doing well, and
seven baby quilts have been sold. Pray that this project will
become self-sustaining. There are four widows and several
abandoned wives in the group. This extra money can help
them feed their families.
5 GHANA (west Africa). Pray for M, a new
believer who has been shunned by his family because
of his new faith. Because he left His former religion, his
friends and family have nothing to do with him. Ask the
Lord to strengthen and encourage him as he begins his new
life in Christ, because he has given up all to follow Him.
But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have
been brought near through the blood of Christ.
Eph. 2:13 (NIV)
6 BUCHAREST, ROMANIA (BOO-kuh-rest).
Please lift up the 19 Romanians who are currently work¬
ing through a yearlong study of missions though a Baptist
church in Bucharest. These 19 are showing a great interest
in missions and in what God is doing around the world.
Please pray that God would light within them the desire to
serve Him in areas east of here into the Middle East and Asia!
7WA OF MYANMAR AND CHINA (wah).
God is doing some great things among the Wa. Not only
is He "calling out the called" from other places to travel to a
foreign land and work for His glory, but He also is calling
out nationals to work in the area, as well. For instance: In a
market town are two international English-as-a-Second-
