September 2001
The apostle Paul said, "My heart's desire and my prayer
to God for them is for their salvation" (Rom. 10:1,
NASB).
The "them" in Paul's testimony are the Jews. Over
the past few years we, as Southern Baptists, have taken
much abuse because of our love for all people and our
heartfelt prayer for them for their salvation. Perhaps
most heated has been the criticism of our intercession
for Jews who do not yet know the Messiah, Jesus Christ.
Despite this criticism, love compels us to again go
before God on behalf of His chosen people. This month,
beginning on the 18th, we will give ourselves in daily
intercession during the Jewish Days of Awe. As in past
years, we have prepared a free pocket prayer guide to
aid you in your daily prayer. If you do not have one,
please call to order one for yourself and some for your
praying friends. And wlaile you are calling, would you
also ask for copies of the Hindu pocket prayer guide,
Divali: Festival of Lights (Oct. 10-21) and the Muslim
prayer guide, Ramadan: Fasting and Seeking God (Nov. 16-
Dec. 15). To order, call 1-800-866-3621.
Finally, let's take Psalm 51:10 as our own guiding
prayer so that "Then I will teach transgressors Thy ways,
and sinners will be converted to Thee" (Ps. 51:13, NASB).
May it be so,
Randy Sprinkle, Director
International Prayer Strategy Office
1LOBA OF NEPAL (LOH-bah). The Loba of Nepal
I live at an altitude of about 12,000 feet in a windy, arid,
desert-like climate in the Mustang District of northern
Nepal. Farmers, shepherds and merchants, the Loba are
only about 30,000 strong. Their entire population is Bud¬
dhist. Until 1992, the Loba community was closed to the
outside world; the people have yet to hear the gospel of
Jesus Christ. The Lobas are completely unevangelized. No
Loba churches exist. The Scriptures have not been translated
into Lopa, the Loba people's language. The Lobas hear no
Christian radio broadcasts in Lopa. They remain isolated
physically and spiritually. Pray for the the Loba of Nepal,
who remain in need of Jesus and His grace.
2TUMBUKA OF MALAWI AND ZAMBIA
(toom-BOO-kah). Kalweya Baptist Preaching
Point is a struggling little preaching point (new work) in
the Mzimba association. They have been meeting for a few
years but have not seen much growth. Please pray with the
Tumbuka team for the spiritual growth of these believers.
Ask God to raise up a strong and dedicated leader for this
congregation. Pray that God would be honored among
them and that they would desire to share the gospel of
Christ with their neighbors and family.
3 SPAIN (southwestern Europe). The Leader¬
ship Development team gives thanks and praise to
God for His harvest in a recent Sunday morning church
service in San Sebastian de los Reyes. Five immigrants
stood to their feet and confessed Christ as Lord and Savior!
In addition, after the service, a young lady approached a
team member and expressed her desire to attend baptismal
classes! Please intercede for these new babes in Christ as
they grow in their newfound faith. Pray also for team mem¬
bers as they disciple and counsel them in the coming days.
4 CHILE (western South America). New mis¬
sionaries Dick and Trisha Price have just started teaching
classes in a church-based program in Santiago called "English
Alive." Six people who have no connection with the church
responded to advertisements placed in public places. They
now will be learning English in a systematic, progressive
program which includes prayer, Scripture and Christian
friendship. Please pray that these six students will be
pleased with their progress in English and will receive
"more than they bargained for" — eternal life in Jesus Christ.
5XIANTAO, CHINA (SHE-an-taow). Mission¬
aries passed through Xiantao in the late 1800s and early
1900s, but few ever put down roots in the city. Today, only
0.9 percent of the population adheres to any form of
Christianity. That leaves more than 1.7 million people in
Xiantao who have no lasting hope for their lives or for an
eternity with Christ Jesus. Pray that this stronghold of tra¬
ditional religion will be transformed into a place where
hundreds of thousands will find freedom in Christ. Pray
that gospel seeds sown in Xiantao will fall on fertile hearts,
take root and grow.
6 INDIA (south Asia). Pray for two brothers who
are the spiritual leaders of a clan whose members are
Baptists and are in a very high government post. The ene¬
mies of God have realized their power and influence and
have targeted them as never before. Their phones have
been tapped, and they are followed wherever they go. The