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APRIL 2024
“Continue steadfastly in
prayer, being watchful
in it with thanksgiving.
At the same time, pray
also for us...”
Colossians 4:2-3a
PRAYING FOR MISSIONARIES
Every day, your missionaries work to impact lostness. They engage communities,
proclaim the gospel, make disciples, train leaders, and partner with sending churches
and churches overseas — all to advance the gospel and bring glory to God. As we
steadfastly pray for the lost, let us also pray for our missionaries among them.
EVEN WHEN PLANS SEEM TO FALL APART,
'OBEDIENCE TO GOD IS THE GOAL'
By Sandra Star, missionary to Asian Pacific Rim Peoples
Planting a church in a small town in a
closed country was a challenge - learning
the language, finding a place to meet, and
trying to find other Christians to partner
with. As hard as entry work was, we kept at
it because God had called us. Then He pro¬
vided an amazing co-worker! Michelle just
knocked on our door one day. She heard we
were there and was interested in what we
were doing. She spoke English and the local
language and was passionate about Jesus.
Together, we began a small church. It was
growing and reaching the university com¬
munity. But one day, Michelle told us she
was moving to a new city. I didn't complain
to her, but I sure complained to God. "She
can't leave! How can you let this happen?
Now we have no one to help us! Everything
we've worked so hard to build is going to fall
apart!" My disappointment and frustration
turned to prayer as I surrendered control of
the situation to God. On the verge of tears,
I remembered that this is God's work, and
He is able.
Missionaries are not superheroes. We
are not immune to emotional pain from
unmet expectations. We can become
discouraged when people we love chose
to not follow Jesus or walk away after
professing faith; when the church plant
doesn't happen or when it starts and
fails. When we're struggling with minis¬
try plans, it's hard to admit that we can
become discouraged when we see the
success of other missionaries. Please
pray for us to remember that obedi¬
ence to God is the goal, which does
not always look like worldly success.
My story of discouragement had
a happy ending. Michelle ended
up not moving. Today, she and
her husband are still involved
with the church God used us to
plant. Happy ending or not, pray
that discouragement will cause
missionaries to look to God for
comfort, strength, and direction.
ANSWER
TO YOUR
PRAYER
Last fall, we asked God
to move in a mighty way
at a camp where Deaf
learn about the gospel
and Bible translation. "One
never knows what God is-
doing after these camps,
but glimpses of Him at
work are such a joy to see,"
workers, Paul and Hannah
Yount, shared. A hearing
interpreter from Nigeria who
pastors a Deaf church was
there. He learned that Deaf can
and should be leaders of Deaf
churches. Now he wants to shift
church responsibilities to Deaf
believers. Thank you for praying!
