PRAYERLINE: PRAY FOR THE WORKERS ON TEA PLANTATIONS IS SRI LANKA, AND FOR A SPIRITUAL AWAKENING.8/26/2016 Friday, August 26, 2016
He “will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.” (Philippians 3:21, ESV) Hi, this is Eleanor Witcher of IMB’s prayer team, joining you in prayer that hearts will be transformed. For thousands of years, the people of Bhutan have lived in fear of spirits. Whether they follow Buddhism, Hinduism, or traditional religions, many exert great effort to appease or avert the powers of evil spirits. You may have seen the pictures . . . their colorful saris dotting the hillsides as they work their way through the tea, plucking the tender shoots and tossing them into baskets or sacks on their backs. They are the lifeblood of the Sri Lankan tea plantations. For 150 years, their families have lived in virtual slavery, receiving a few dollars a day for long hours of grueling, tedious work. Pressures from Western countries have led to increased wages or better housing and medical care, but in the minds of these women, they are just slaves, just property. Their husbands return from work only to beat them and their children, drink themselves to sleep, and begin another day. For the women of the longhouses, life holds little hope. Hinduism, the majority faith among them, tells them that they are getting what they deserve and that all they have to look forward to is a chance to improve the next time around. For those who have never heard that through Jesus they can have forgiveness of their sins and the hope of an eternal heaven, the gospel is a blast of sunlight through the darkest of nights. * Please pray that God will awaken His church in the hill country of Sri Lanka to see each person, each dot, on the hillside as one beloved by God. * Ask the Lord to reveal His truth to the people of Bhutan so they may be released from centuries of darkness and fear. * In humility and surrender, submit yourself to the power of the Holy Spirit and the redemption of the Savior.
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Wednesday, August 10, 2016
“Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus, that you may with one mind and one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Romans 15:5-6, NKJV) Hi, this is Eleanor Witcher of IMB’s prayer team, asking you to pray for refugees. Four Romanian Turkish families have moved near workers in Germany. The workers write: “They are not believers, but they are all related to a Turkish pastor in Romania and may be open to meeting for Bible study. They moved to Germany for work but have found everything to be much different than expected. The job for which they came here is not providing enough work hours for the families to survive. We are trying to help them as much as possible. They are desperate and may be close to coming to faith in Christ.” Syrian refugee Rawaan* gave her heart to Jesus. She prayed with sisters in Christ that God would mend her separated marriage. Just hours later, her husband came home, hoping for reconciliation. Smiling, she says, “Jesus hears my prayers.” In the Netherlands, a worker has been having interesting conversations with a new friend, Hamidi*, who is a refugee. The worker asked a general question. “If you could ask God one question, what would it be?” Usually this is answered in a multitude of ways, but Hamidi gave a sad, unique, and very honest answer. “I would ask God if I was a mistake. Was I just the result of my parents ‘getting together’ one night, or was there some sort of purpose to my life?” The worker and Hamidi are continuing to meet. * Please ask the Lord to guide the worker in the right words to share and that Hamidi will soon know God’s true purpose for his life. * Pray that many refugee families, stressed by the traumas of war, will be restored and will glorify God. * Intercede for these four Romanian Turkish families to accept the Savior and follow Him faithfully. (*name changed) Monday, August 8, 2016
“If anyone competes as an athlete, he does not win the prize unless he competes according to the rules.” (2 Timothy 2:5, NASB) Hi, this is Eleanor Witcher of IMB’s prayer team, joining you in prayer for ministry through sports. Soccer is the world’s most-played sport, with more than 250 million players in 200 countries. It’s so popular that it has even drawn Deaf nationals into heated discussions over the exploits of teams like Real Madrid and Manchester United. For the younger men, this mania for soccer leads them spend long periods of free time playing pick-up games, barefooted and in the sand. Although the women do not play as much as the men, they often develop soccer skills that would be the envy of any American player. In a land of soccer fanatics, Hannah and Paul Yount* had an opportunity to watch a game between Deaf nationals from two cities. The game was such a big deal that the Deaf went all out by renting a real, honest-to-goodness stadium and having the teams play under the lights. A newspaper reporter was even invited to cover the event. The excitement drew more than 200, and possibly 300, Deaf people to the game. In that fun-filled night, Hannah and Paul made many new and exciting connections among the Deaf of their country in West Africa. The sport of Frisbee® has caught the attention of young people in the Ararat Valley Plains of Armenia. Such sports activities are being used as a way to reach young people with the gospel. As individuals are drawn to fun activities, their hearts and lives are often drawn to the Good News of Jesus. * Please pray for sports and children’s outreach that will be held in the Ararat Valley Plains. * Pray that God will turn Deaf nationals to Himself through the new connections the Younts made at the soccer game. * Give thanks for our remarkable bodies that allow us to play sports and experience the thrill of healthy competition. (*names changed) |
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