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Eat Pray Man Woman

Seventeen people sit in a circle. Most of them have been at work all day and grabbed something to eat on the way to the meeting place. They are aged between nineteen and forty-five, students and professionals (psychologist, teacher, doctor, engineer, pastor, IT, sales, banking). They joke around, read a few emails from friends, introduce newcomers, then get down to work. Their work this evening, as it is every month, is to pray for the people of Taiwan and the work of OMF.

They will recount a story, show some photos from their own experiences, or read from 30 Stories from Taiwan’s Working Class: A Prayer Guide to focus their thinking on the plight of Taiwan’s working class. Then it’s time for smaller groups to pray for the current needs of those working with OMF in Taiwan. They finish by sharing how God is moving in each of their hearts and praying about how He is calling them to serve the Taiwanese – in prayer, or more…

Out of a pool of forty people there are about eighteen regulars and others who come when they can. Who are these people? Why do they meet together so consistently? What drives them?

Meet Al. He is in his mid-40s, father of four children, including three teenagers. Since a life-changing trip to Taiwan in 2006, he has quit his job, gone to Bible college, and plans to move his family to this tiny island next year. He and his wife host the meeting, make contact with those working in Taiwan, and keep the fires of mission burning.

Meet Jase. He became a Christian at university, is now in his first year of work, and studying part-time at Bible school preparing to go to Taiwan. He will soon be married to Hiwin. The passionate enthusiasm of this young couple to serve the Taiwanese working class is contagious and an encouragement to the others!

Harold, in his own words “just comes to pray.” He is a family man who was born in Taiwan and has been in Australia for most of his life. His heart for the Taiwanese drives him to join with the group in prayer each month. He has been financially supporting workers in Taiwan for sixteen years and plans to visit and help at OMF’s annual conference for the first time this year.

Ruth has just started coming. She is married to Anthony, who led a short-term team last Christmas, but they have three small children and cannot both come at present.

Each person in the group has made a commitment to Taiwan. They have visited on a short-term team or have friends serving there. Each believes that mission is a vital part of their Christian commitment, and not a few are working towards joining OMF in Taiwan. They come from churches throughout the city, from different races and denominations. By meeting monthly they have become friends, supporters, and a community of prayer. They join together to serve the Taiwanese from their side of the world.

When one of their number left for a one-year internship in Taiwan, they sent her off with joyful prayer and a small celebration, knowing she represented the reason they meet each month. They are already planning a meal before the next prayer meeting to send another person off long-term to Taiwan.

This group is doing as Paul commands in Colossians:

“Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ…Pray that I proclaim it clearly, as I should.”

This group is an ideal outcome of short-term mission. Many young people join short-term teams as a Christian rite-of-passage. To go on a trip is easy; to remain connected and to continue to pray and care for the work and workers in the harvest field is difficult. These people are willing to do this hard work. Their short-term trip was not just Christian sightseeing, but helped kick-start deeper changes in their lives.

If even half of those who visited Taiwan for short-term mission were involved in a regular prayer group, can you begin to imagine what the work of God would be like in their lives and in the working class of Taiwan?

Irene Nicholson and Allan Lihou