Prayer Request - Encouragement and Protection

The focus for prayer today is encouragement and protection. It can be very discouraging to share the gospel over and over and see no response or fruit for your labor. Pray that Nathan and Andrew and the missionaries continue to share with the same urgency despite the lack of response they get from the people.

The guys are very safe where they are but it is always smart to pray for protection. They are evangelizing in a closed area which is why I have refrained from sharing the exact country they are visiting as well as not sharing the names of the missionaries they are working with. They are told to use code words for certain religious terms and some of that has to do with the extreme negative reaction the people have to these terms. Pray that the Lord keeps everyone safe and that they are able to build relationships with the people.

The group plans to visit a Filipino Market on Monday and visit with a local that the missionaries have built a relationship with. Here's the info I got from their itinerary:

"Filipino Market – We have many friends in and around the markets. They have heard truth many times. Yet they are still blind. Ask that the scales fall from their eyes.

'...One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!' ~ John 9:25

Visit with local – Ask that he recognize truth and make the decision to pursue it.

'Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision!'~ Joel 3:14

'But now in [Chirst Jesus] You who were once so far away have been brought near through the blood of [Christ]' ~ Ephesians 2:13"

Keep praying and I encourage you to use the Scriptures quoted above in your prayer.

Prayer Request - Sharing the Gospel/Encouraging Pastors

It is Saturday night in Southeast Asia so Nathan and Andrew are likely sleeping and preparing for Sunday morning. They will take this opportunity to encourage the local pastors and go out and spread the gospel with them. Pray that the Lord will prepare the hearts of those they will share with. Also pray that they are able to encourage local pastors who are no doubt discouraged with the lack of a congregation.

I was able to find an itinerary for the boys and there were some specific prayer requests for Sunday listed:

"Ask that [ministers] be sent to boldly share truth and distribute follow-up materials. Ask that the [church] already present would be convicted of the [Great Commission]. Ask that said [church] would be brave and courageous.

'And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ...' ~ Colossians 4:3"

I replaced some code words with the church language we're more familiar with. I heard from the guys that things are going well and I really want to thank all of you who are lifting up these requests because I know it's making a difference!

Prayer Request - Lasa

Nathan and Andrew will be working with the Lasa people. Their primary religion is Islam and they are very resistant to the gospel. Many of the people are not highly religious but the Muslim faith is mostly cultural for them. If they convert to Christianity, they are guaranteed total rejection from their families and excommunication from the church. We have been told there are only three known followers of Christ among this people group.

• Pray that the Lord softens the hearts of these people.
• Pray they begin to realize their need for a Savior.
• Pray that they have the courage to follow the truth, despite the inevitable consequences.
• Pray that the Holy Spirit gives Nathan and Andrew the words to say to the people.
• Pray mostly that whatever happens this week glorifies the Lord and furthers His name.

Prayer Request - Southeast Asia

Ranked number 19 among countries with highest number of unreached people groups with 56 unreached people groups. Islam is largest religion. The society faces a troubled and contested future as fault lines appear.

The largest, most dominant and most quickly growing population, are divided among themselves on a number of levels. Pray for changes in these realms:

• Economic. The ruling party’s affirmative action of the last 40 years has enriched a minority of the population, while increasing the gap between the connected elite and the poorer majority. Such discrimination and favoritism now hobbles economic progress as well as foreign investment.
• Political. The ruling party faces an opposition coalition comprised of moderates, liberals, Chinese ethnic parties and even Islamists. This indicates the level of disillusion with the government. The next election will demonstrate if the coalition’s recent strong showing is based on large-scale change or is just a protest vote against the party. Appeasing both the minorities and conservative Muslims, while holding the country together, is a difficult balancing act.
• Religious. Powerful and vocal Islamist agendas are resulting in passing legislations on state and federal levels that effectively introduce sharia law for the people and deepen the divide between Islamic radicals and moderates/liberals. Many rural people practice a folk Islam influenced by pre-Islamic Hindu and Buddhist elements as well as animist practices; they will inevitably be pushed into adopting a “purer” version of Islam.

Minority groups feel frustrated with discrimination and corruption as well as with changes to civil and religious liberties. Some seek legal and political solutions, but others plan for a future outside the country – a potentially tragic loss of diversity and economic clout for a land that has long prided itself on both.

Prayer Request - Rest

The boys are still traveling today but I want to focus on praying for rest.

They will be working hard once they arrive and they need to be well-rested so they can be as effective as possible.

The time difference from home to destination is 13 hours so pray they are able to make a quick transition.

They also have a 5-hour layover in Korea today so pray they are able to use that time wisely and get some good rest and food.

Pray that they are able to relax as I'm sure they are getting anxious as they get closer to their destination.

And it would certainly not be a lost cause to lift up the requests from yesterday as well since they are still traveling and will not reach their destination until the wee hours of the morning on Thursday (Texas time).