September 1999
Behind the scenes.
These words describe the people on my mind this month. As I
write, Faith Bryan is completing the editing of this month's Global
PrayerGram. It will be her last, as she retires from service here at
the International Mission Board and moves into new ministry
alongside her prison-chaplain husband. Her careful, behind-the-
scenes work on Global PrayerGram, among many responsibilities
in the Prayer Office, has enabled other behind-the-scenes servants,
i.e. you, to be strategic and effective in their ministries. Your daily
ministry through prayer to the peoples of the world and the mis¬
sionaries called of God to move alongside them is powerful, but
largely hidden. We know you are there, though, and that you are
faithful, just as Faith has been, and we thank God for each of you.
Then, one more group of servants is fresh on my mind:
Christian parents. Last year, as we went with our son to his
school's See You at the Pole prayer gathering, we joined other
parents at the back of the large group. The students were up front,
leading in every aspect. We parents stood behind them, behind
the scenes, where we needed to be. On the 15th of this month, as
Christian students again gather in prayer around their school flag
poles, let's be behind them, as intercessors, for our schools, for our
nation, for the sake of ChrisF s kingdom.
Randy Sprinkle
Director International Prayer Strategy Office
BOSNIA (eastern Europe). Baptist representatives
Bob and Jerry Worley report that an International Service Corps
couple will arrive in September to work as "Bible study initiators."
They write, "Pray that the Lord will show just where to begin and
how He wants to use them and that they will be greatly used of
Him to gather precious souls into His eternal Kingdom."
INDIA (south Asia). Baptist representatives write: "We
are really encouraged about some recent progress. There was an
exciting breakthrough in a nearby district. Remember [in prayer] a
new believer — he is the village leader! Please lift up his entire vil¬
lage and the neighboring one. Let the breakthrough spread!"
CHUABO OF MOZAMBIQUE. Missionary John
Dina writes: "Pray for the Jesus film showings, scheduled
through September. This is being carried out by a team of four
nationals going to 15 locations where we have Baptist work. Pray
for safety of the leaders and their families as they travel and spend
time away from home. Pray for decisions to be made for Christ
and for the follow up of new believers to be done by the local con¬
gregation. Pray for the equipment to work well!"
MALAYSIA (southeastern Asia). Please pray
for a Chinese group as they begin church meetings. They are look¬
ing for someone to lead the work among Mandarin- and
Hokkien-speaking people. Pray that God will bring forth leaders
and that many will come to know Jesus through its ministry.
3 PORTUGAL (southwestern Europe). Bap¬
tist representatives Scott and Sandra George, who serve on
the Youth Team, ask you to pray for an on-going discipleship pro¬
ject that, in September, will launch the first of a series of studies to
be used by local youth groups. This is a cooperative effort of a
group of national youth leaders and the Youth Team. Through the
project, they hope to develop a greater support base for local
groups, to develop leaders and to actively disciple youth. Pray
that the translations being done and materials being used will be
appropriate for the target groups.
4MIJIKENDA OF KENYA. Missionaries Clay and Pat
Coursey ask you to pray for the Mijikenda to have a burden
for the lost of their people, as well as other groups within their area.
PHILIPPINES (southeast Asia). Baptist repre¬
sentatives Steve and Denise Musen, working with tribal churches,
are giving thanks to the Lord for explosive church growth. The
second annual meeting of the Mindanao Baptist Convention of
Tribal Churches had more than 400 in attendance, up from 100
last year. Pray that God will place a zeal in the hearts of tribal
Christians and give them a vision for reaching not only the lost of
their own tribal groups, but also the large number of other
unreached people groups of Mindanao.
NORTH CAUCASUS (southern Russia).
Please pray for the work in the Kabardino-Balkar Republic
and the ministries of the centers there where literature is pro¬
duced, music classes are offered, and library facilities are provid¬
ed. Pray that the centers will be allowed to remain open.
SOUTH KOREA (eastern Asia). TTie missionar¬
ies who work with Baptist Student Union (BSU) in South Korea
ask prayer for the calling out of Koreans to lead in this movement
on the nation's campuses. Leaders are particularly needed for the
ministries in Taejon and Cheju. Pray for God to impress on Kore¬
an Christians the importance of student ministries and for Him to
call out those who can serve Him best in it.
TAIPEI, TAIWAN. A member of the Project Taipei
Team has begun working with factory workers who are part
of Taiwan's "grass-roots" people. Ask God to use this team mem¬
ber's ministry to open doors for planting cell-groups (home-based
congregations) among this group, who represent the least-advan¬
taged segment of the population.
