Prayer Powerlines—June 2008
KEY REQUEST: A REASON TO WEEP. Would Jesus weep over our world today? Pray he would give us hearts that truly weep for the lost. According to Keith Green (“Why You Should Go to the Mission Field,” 1982), “There are more than 2.7 billion people who have never heard the gospel at all. Right now worldwide there are only 85,000 workers on the mission field, working mainly among those who have heard the gospel before.” Pray that God will raise up a genera-tion that is ready to sacrifice and proclaim boldly the truth of the gospel and make the name of Jesus known among the nations.
1. EXPANDING IT ROLES. The “IPS Connecting People” project is a new initiative to ensure that OMF is able to best manage its most important resource-people-to serve God in the most effective manner. This is another opportunity for Christian IT professionals to use their skills for missions ministry. Ask God to provide gifted IT professionals who are called to use their skills to build an IT support center in Singapore and a development center in Cambodia.
2. CAMBODIA. Recently, many religious groups gathered in Cambodia to publicly share their beliefs. Currently Cambodians are free to worship the living God, allowed by the law of freedom of religion established by the government. Pray for those God has called to serve in Cambodia, that they continue to share the love of Jesus with those who are hurting physically, emotion-ally and spiritually while the door is open.
3. FINANCE. Praise God for answered prayer. OMF (U.S.) has been approved for special status under federal law that will help us operate with greater flexibility to achieve our vision, mission and values. Pray that all we do will be honoring to God.
4. RESPONSE TO THE GOSPEL. One worker shares that soon after arriving on the field, a student wrote a note of welcome and shared how she often felt sad. A relationship began which opened the door to faith for this student and her mother. The student was then linked with another believer and is now a teacher herself. There are always those who are inter-ested in the gospel. Pray for workers to be guided to those who are ripe for harvest.
5. NORTH KOREA. June 25 is the anniversary of the outbreak of the Korean War in 1950. Join many Korean churches around the world in praying that the Holy Spirit will sweep through the North and bring liberation to the people there.
6. LAOS. Laos has massive supplies of fresh water per capita, yet only 60% of the population has access to drinkable water. Many villages still rely on surface water sources which are often contaminated by human and animal waste. Pray for wisdom in developing a water sanitation and hygiene program.
7. CHAOS IN MYANMAR. The aftermath of the cyclone in Myanmar has left widespread death and destruction. Cyclone Nargis devastated Myanmar on May 3 with more than 28,000 killed, 34,000 missing and thousands left homeless and without safe drinking water, food or any means of communication. Pray that the government will respond wisely and with compassion to this crisis.
8. JUNE CANDIDATE COURSE. Candidate Course begins in Littleton, Colorado, today through June 21 to prepare and train potential new missionary candidates. Pray that God will make his will and way known to each of those attending.
9. IHQ. Submission to God and confidence in his faithfulness to provide for our needs are the foundation regarding the finances of OMF International. Consequently, we are stewards accountable to Christ regarding all financial resources, administering them in line with biblical principles and under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Join us in prayer as we trust God to provide.
10. CORRECTION OF STATISTICS. The prayer request in the May PPL stated that the number of suicides in Japan was greater than the number of people who regu-larly attended church last year. This statistic was in error. The church attendance rate is about 0.2%, whereas the suicide rate is 0.02% of the population (in one year alone). That is still very low for church attendance and a very high suicide rate, so continue to pray for spiritual breakthrough in Japan.
11. JAPAN. Doug and Haunani Whittet request prayer for the annual OMF East Japan conference, scheduled for June 16-19 in the beautiful mountains of Karuizawa. The theme of the conference is “Encouragement.” Pray for God to encourage and refresh each missionary.
12. CARE OF THE CHILDREN. The care of missionary children on the field is a key support role to the overarching mission of OMF International. have responded to the need and accepted the call to be dorm parents in Chiang Mai, Scott and Jen TibbettsThailand. Pray for full provision for the Tibbettses as they return to Thailand and prepare for this role.
13. PERSECUTION. Recently 60 Hmong Christian leaders were arrested in Northern Laos. These Christian leaders fled persecution in Vietnam in 2002 and settled in Laos where things seemed to be quieter. But last year the Vietnamese officials learned where these families were and came to take them back to Vietnam. In some cases both parents are in prison and the children left behind to fend for themselves. There are also a number of leaders from Vietnam and Laos in hiding. Pray for the Lord to bring his peace and deliverance to this oppressed people.
14. MONGOLIA. The good news about the Hoton church in Mongolia is that they have been regularly meeting again. For a long time they met sporadically. Two of the elders have been working hard to encourage the church, meeting people in their homes. The other elder has been pasturing his herd in the open range. Pray that he remains close to the Lord and is a good witness to other nomadic herders. Pray for Bill and Kwai Lin Stephens as they seek to encourage the elders.
15. RENEWABLE ENERGY. Energy is one of the greatest needs of many areas in East Asia, and wind power is a sustainable, renewable and peaceful energy source. Work-ing in conjunction with government officials, a renewable energy project has the potential to benefit one local economy and to spread to other areas bringing light to a people in darkness. Pray that the wind project would be a blessing and would continue to open doors for greater work in the future.
16. VIETNAM. There are now two Center of Hope homes in Vietnam where orphaned and abandoned children receive the love, care and schooling that would otherwise not be avail-able to them. The new center has 32 children who are striving to catch up with their academic work and learn the basic rules of living in this home. Pray for the children to grow in grace and knowledge in every area-spiritually, emotionally, physically and mentally.
17. LIVELIHOOD PROJECT. Mark and Ruth McDowell are thankful for the livelihood projects developed as an extension of the ministry they have to the children of Manila, Philippines. Currently there are 24 people working to make gospel bracelets, accessories and cross-stitch cards. Pray that these projects will allow families to earn money for their daily bread and for their children’s education.
18. PHILIPPINES. Faith Academy still desperately needs teaching staff for the new school term in August. The principals of elementary, middle and high school are preparing alter-nate plans. Pray for God to show the administration team at Faith Academy the best way forward for the students and the school. Pray for provision of all teachers needed for the school term.
19. PERSPECTIVE ON CHINA. China has an incredibly difficult job in governing 1.3 billion people in a culture that is very different from the West, especially with the eyes of the world focused on them. Pray for peace in China in the final months before the 2008 Olympic Games. The games are important to China and may have more connection to long-term work than might be evident from the outside.
20. BOUYEI . For ancestral worshipers, all problems, illnesses, calamity and relationship problems are said to be caused by angry spirits who want recognition or revenge. The Bouyei live in continual anxiety and fear of their inability to please and appease their ancestors. Pray for the Bouyei people to be released from the bondage of fear and find freedom in Christ.
21. CALLING MEDICAL STUDENTS. Short-term medical workers have been rotating through Kunming Medical College in China. This is a good opportunity for students to learn about the Chinese medical system and see what it is like to live overseas. Pray for the medical students who are given this opportunity to carefully evaluate and consider whether God might be leading them to full-time overseas ministry.
22. PROTESTS. As news about Tibetan protests spread, the local government started reacting negatively, especially toward foreigners. Some foreigners were told their activities would be watched more closely and their communication monitored. Pray for protection of workers, the visas they need to remain in country and that they would be able to continue to do the work they have been called to do.
23. MALAYSIA. Pray for increasing numbers of local pastors and churches in Malaysia to have a genuine heart for the lost and to be willing to consider creative ways of sowing seed and impacting the unreached majority with the love of Jesus.
24. RESEARCH REAPS INSIGHT. Neel Roberts has completed his study leave which has been a valuable learning experience. A summary of the research revealed that individual efforts, of themselves, count for very little. Those who make the greatest impact on East Asia for the cause of Christ were those who recognized their part in co-operative, multi-generational efforts to establish the church no matter the cost. Pray that OMF International will take the initiative, count the cost and work co-operatively to establish the church.
25. TESTIMONY OF A BELIEVER. Mr. Hwa was a neighbor of Randy and Janet Adams (Taiwan) for eight years. After becoming a believer he openly shared his faith with neighbors. Now he is with the Lord, but his testimony lives on. Pray that the Holy Spirit will move among neighbors and bring them to faith in Christ.
26. MEDICAL ADVISOR. Mary Jeanne Buttrey (Taiwan) must have medical registration from the Singapore Medical Council and an employment pass in order to deputize for OMF’s medical adviser. Pray that OMF will find favor in the eyes of the government authorities and that the needed documents are issued.
27. CHURCH PLANTING WORKSHOP. OMF Thailand has completed the first “Church Planting Workshop” under the leadership of Mark and Becky Leighton, which is designed to better equip our missionaries. New missionaries come to Thailand willing to be used by God, but not really knowing where to begin. Pray that each participant will leave this training with a clear vision and strategy for how to evangelize and disciple their town or area.
28. MIEN BIBLE. The Mien and the Bible Societies celebrate of the completion of the Mien Bible translation from Genesis to Revelation. Ann Burgess was the main translator who worked with Mr. Gwey Fong (Mien) over a period of about 30 years. Ann lived in a Mien mountain village for the last 18 years. It was a first for the Bible Society because the whole Bible was printed in four scripts: Old Roman, Thai, Lao and New Roman scripts. This will meet the needs of Mien readers all over the world including a million in China who are able to learn and read the New Romanized script. Pray that these scriptures may be used to lead many more to salvation in Christ.
29. AIDS PREVENTION. Praise God for answered prayer regarding the AIDS prevention project work. You prayed that the team would find favor with government officials. A contract with the government has been signed to do HIV/AIDS prevention and education. The work will include HIV prevention in the general population, in schools, with village doctors, with high risk groups and help with AIDS orphans. Pray that God will continue to open doors and provide all that is needed for this work.
30. TRANSITIONS. Cheryl Eichman is joining the U.S. Serve Asia team as the facilitator, two team members are leaving and two new team members are replacing them. As the Serve Asia team goes through this transition pray for a spirit of unity and a good team dynamic.
31. ADDITIONS AND TRANSITIONS. Mark Bradley praises God for a strong OMF U.S. mobilization team and for the provision of new team members throughout the U.S. There are at least 10 new people starting on the mobilization team in 2008. Pray for Mark as he deputizes for the International Director for Mobilization, Jon Fuller, from mid June to mid August in Singapore. Pray for the U.S. team to stand strong in his absence.