September 1998
James Hoover was killed last Friday.
I never knew Mr. Hoover. Neither did most of the citizens
of Richmond, Va. On the day of his murder in June, the basic
information about him could have caused many to sin the sin of
stereotyping.
He was a truck driver. “Just a law-breaking, road renegade.”
He was riding a motorcycle. “Probably some kind of gang
member.”
He was shot at 4 a.m. “No decent person would be out at
that hour.”
By Monday, the real circumstances, and the real man, had
emerged. James Hoover was a fine Christian husband, father
and friend, with a big smile and a big heart. As he came home
from the night shift, a carload of toughs pulled alongside and
shot him dead.
A response of hatred and vengeance would be natural.
Forgiveness, though, is supernatural, and Mrs. Hoover is
exhorting her children to forgiveness. “As Christians, we have
to forgive these men. I want them to know what we know . . .
forgiveness.”
As intercessors, we must shield our hearts from the violent
and hate-filled acts of lost people around the world, so that we can
pray for them that they, too, might know forgiveness in Christ.
Fallen but forgiven.
Randy Sprinkle, Director
International Prayer Strategy Office
1 COSTA RICA (Central America). Please continue pray¬
ing for the Residencial Cartago Mission and the cooking
classes being taught by missionary Laura Lane. A Costa Rican
friend has teamed up with Laura to lead a Bible study along with
the cooking class, and another believer leads a prayer time. More
join the group each Thursday. What a blessing it was recently
when one of the new women attended the Sunday worship serv¬
ice with her husband and children! Pray that each of the new ones
in the class will become a part of the congregation of believers,
and pray for the continuation of this outreach ministry after Laura
leaves for furlough.
INDONESIA (southeast Asia). In June the Baptist congre¬
gation’s building in Tegal, central Java, was attacked by a
mob and almost completely destroyed. The mob was brought in
for this purpose, and neighbors were warned not to come outside.
This congregation struggled for years for this building, and now
they have lost it. Please pray for these believers and their need for
a place to worship. There was a similar attack on the building in
Secang, Kediri, east Java. Funds have been raised to rebuild, but
officials seem afraid to issue a permit. Believers in Indonesia
need your prayers. Pray that they will remain faithful, and ask
God to grant them boldness to share the good news. Pray that the
Lord will call out more believers from these two communities.
3 ETHIOPIA (eastern Africa). Pray that suitable facilities
will be found for a new leadership training center. Two loca¬
tions are needed, one in Addis Ababa and another in the nearby
town of Nazareth.
LAST FRONTIER. More than 200 people have responded
to the Christian program that aired on television last month in a
Last Frontier country. Following the broadcast, an ad was placed
in a local newspaper that included an address where viewers
could write for additional information. As the ad continues to run,
pray that hearts will be receptive to God’s Word and that people
will hunger for more of the Truth.
4MISKITO (Middle America people group). The Honduras
Miskito Association held a leadership training conference.
In spite of the difficult travel and extreme living conditions in the
small village, almost 300 people attended. The study, taught by
missionaries Jim and Viola Palmer, focused on stewardship. Pray
that these leaders will take the teachings back to their churches
and lead their people to be God’s faithful stewards.
LAST FRONTIER. Workers in a country closed to a tradi¬
tional gospel witness are facing new requirements in order to
receive visas to live and work in that country. Pray that they will
be able to satisfy these requirements without jeopardizing their
ministry in any way.
5 BELGIUM (northwestern Europe). International Service
Corps workers Claude and Delma Jacks, who are serving at
International Baptist Church in Antwerp, ask you to pray as they try
a new approach for their Tuesday evening Bible studies. They plan
to move the study to different members’ homes each week, hoping
to find the best location for continuing Bible studies in the future.
TANZANIA (eastern Africa). Missionaries Brad and Darla
Veitch lead a team seeking to reach the metropolis of Dar es Salaam
with the gospel. Pray that God will give leadership and wisdom in
the plans that are made, and pray that the pastors with whom they
are working will be used by God to impact this city for Christ.
6 SPAIN (southwestern Europe). Baptist representatives
David and Joy Borgan ask you to pray for three people in
Caceres who are very open to the gospel. Pray that as the Borgans
share the good news with them, they will be convicted of their
need for salvation and pray to receive Christ.
