June 1998
Missionaries newly returned to their field from furlough sent
me this word. “Wow! God does answer prayer. When we
gave out around 50 handcrank tapeplayers last term, we did so
with some fear that they would be misused, stolen or even sold.
But we asked people to pray for this ministry, and they were
faithful, and God was faithful. I only found one that needed
repair and all were being used. I was able to pass out about five
more. The cassettes that they traded me back for new ones were
very used. So, that meant that they had listened to the Bible stud¬
ies over and over.”
On the 24th of this month, missionaries to the Hmong/Miao
of East Asia ask us to intercede for this unreached people group
who live in the darkness of animism. We have the privilege of
praying for 40 Chinese evangelists God has called to live the
gospel among the Hmong. As the tapes saw hard usage, so, too,
have these bearers of the precious seed.
Already, they have come through the fire of persecution, as
have the few Hmong believers, who also remained faithful.
Neighbors watched to see what a new Hmong believer would do
when his pigs were stolen. “I looked it up in my Ancient Book
(Bible), and it says that the Emperor of Heaven (God) will repay
evil. I feel sorry for the man who stole my pigs.” The next morn¬
ing his pigs were back.
God is faithful. He honors those who honor Him. He does
and will answer our prayers for the Hmong/Miao.
Randy Sprinkle, Director
International Prayer Strategy Office
INDIA (south Asia). Last month, you began praying for a new
believer whose husband had demanded that she turn from her faith
or be sent away, leaving her young son. Give thanks to God that
there has been a major breakthrough as a result of your prayers!
Her husband has agreed to a position of tolerance regarding her new
beliefs. This is a complete change of position on his part. Please
keep remembering him in prayer. It would take another major break¬
through for him to move from tolerance to his own personal faith.
3 REUNION (island in western Indian Ocean). Missionaries
Steve and Tara Smith work with the youth group at the church
in St. Benoit. They write: “We thank the Lord for the good attend¬
ance at the youth meetings. We ask your prayers that the youth
will continue to invite their friends and that they will grow in their
knowledge and understanding of the Lord.”
JAPAN (eastern Asia). Journeyman Marla Rudd asks you
to pray for a new student ministry that began in April at Lukuoka
Education College. Lukuma Church is hosting this outreach to the
students. As Marla and church members contact students, pray
that they will be receptive to the gospel message.
4 SOUTH AFRICA (southern Africa). Please pray for mis¬
sionaries Sonny and Deen Sweatman as they seek to begin
new evangelism teams in the northern part of South Africa.
LITHUANIA (east of Baltic Sea). Baptist representatives
Milton and Lara Magalhaes are giving thanks to God that believers
in Klaipeda are catching the vision of starting new works. Two
leaders in Klaipeda Baptist Church came before the church coun¬
cil this past week, expressing a desire to start new churches in the
city and to establish a Sunday School department in their church.
They found the council to be very supportive. Pray as the church
council searches for believers willing to begin new works.
1 UGANDA (eastern Africa). Missionary doctor Larry Pepper,
who serves at the Mbarara University Medical School and
Teaching Hospital, writes: “The last few weeks have been busy
with the close of another term of teaching, hospital work, and dis-
cipleship with the university students. We see God’s hand at work
as the group of students attending the Sunday evening Bible study
grows, with deep discussions about God’s will in their lives, how
to live as a student and as a follower of Christ.” Pray as prepara¬
tions are being made for next term. Two five-week sessions will
be taught, at the request of the students, on “Discovering Your
Spiritual Gifts” and “How to Help Your Friends.”
TOGO (western Africa). Missionary John Crocker asks you
to pray for new work to begin in the village of Atchangbade.
He writes, “I need a local official’s support to gain permission for
working here among the Kabiye people.”
VENEZUELA (northern South America). Missionary
Carol Brown asks you to pray for 18 children and youth in the
town of Copipe. They recently received Christ and are now being
led in discipleship studies.
ROMANIA (eastern Europe). On Feb. 15, Baptist repre¬
sentative Ron Gunter prepared to lead an Experiencing God group
in one of the local churches in Bucharest. The pastor told him to
expect maybe 10 to 15 people in attendance, but when Ron arrived,
32 adults and three children had come and were very excited about
the study. Pray for Ron as he leads the study for the next 12 weeks.
SOUTHEAST ASIA AND OCEANIA. Two families have
committed themselves to work full time among an unreached
people group in southeast Asia. Pray for boldness, protection and
peace as they trust God for their future and ask Him to provide for
all their needs.
