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Pray to the Lord of the Harvest

What happens when we pray for mission? The Lord raises up workers for His harvest fields, according to Matthew 9:37-38,

“The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into His harvest field.”

In early 2005, a year after Joyce and I took over the National Director and Candidate Coordinator roles on the Australian homeside, there were very few enquirers for long-term service. We were naturally puzzled and worried. At this time the verses in Matthew greatly challenged us, to bring our concerns to God, asking him to raise up and send his workers. We were also reminded by the words of Hudson Taylor that “to obtain successful la bourers, it’s not by elaborate appeals for help but [ by ] earnest prayer to God.” In addition to this we came to realise that many appointees face various obstacles in their preparations to go to East Asia. Our prayers became not only for God to send more workers, but to enabled and strengthen them.

With all these prayer needs we started a Prayer Group for Labourers (PG4L). This is a great network of faithful prayers across Australia who receive monthly prayer updates about labourers and appointees. Indeed our a ppointees are bathed in prayer as they journey to the field or to Orientation Course. God has marvelously answered the prayers of many. We began to see in 2006 an increase in enquirers and a flow of applicants coming to Candidate Courses. The number of Candidate Courses also grew from two to three per year. This gradually resulted in an increased number of workers for the fields. This year, the Lord sent us 25 candidates and added 18 new workers to our team. There are also 26 appointees preparing to go out to the fields in the next 12-18 months.

During the week of Prayer for Australia in May, we prayed specifically for the needs of the homestaff team. God has sent us Ken & Wendy Ridge to take up the State Director role in WA and Tracy Lam to be the NSW Serve Asia Coordinator. Steve and Sarah Paterson will also move to Sydney in early January to take up the role of the NSW State Director. God has prepared Harlan and Vivienne Wright to fill in as Acting State Director for SA. Johan Linder with Debbie has also been appointed as the next National Director.

We can only testify that this is not because of any new strategies or extra effort on our part, but it is a wonderful testimony of the Lord of the Harvest who responds to the intercessions of His people, sending forth workers who are called, equipped and willing into His service. According to 1 Thess. 5:24,

“The Lord who calls is faithful and He will do it.”

Indeed, despite the global financial crisis, our team support by the end of October was 100% (including 7% from general fund). We can confidently look to Him in prayer to provide for all the appointees’ support needs and for the other urgent personnel needs (VIC State Director and Candidate Coordinator).