Standing in the Need of Prayer

I was going to write a blog about our missions team, who left this morning for Haiti. It’s a life-changing trip for them, and I wanted to talk about how it could be for the rest of us in the congregation, as well. Through our prayers for them during this week, by making sure we learn from the team when they return home, by asking God to open our hearts to the opportunities that will present themselves to us – all this and more can make a difference in our lives too.

But then I heard the news today about the mission team that was murdered in Afghanistan. These were people of God who were simply trying to give medical aid to those in need in that war-torn country. The Taliban executed them, claiming they were trying to convert people to Christianity, which is against the law in Afghanistan. Family, friends, and the mission organization deny this claim. These men and women were just trying to be the hands and feet of Christ, bringing healing and friendship to this village.

This is the reality of bringing Christ to the world. People die. Martyrdom isn’t just something that happened to the apostles or the early church. It’s happening today, in our “enlightened” era. And, if we live our faith, it’s possible that we could be called upon to give our lives, literally. There are people all over the world that do so, every single day.

So today, this week, pray for our mission team. Pray that God would keep them safe. Haiti may not be a Islamic terrorist stronghold, but it is a lawless, chaotic place. Pray that God keep them safe, but keep them true to their faith. May He give them the courage and the words they need to speak to people to reach them.

But also pray for the families of the mission team who has gone home to their Father. And pray for believers all over the world who face death for their beliefs. Next week, Dr. Pat will tell us more about the persecuted church and we will learn about many ways we can pray. But let’s begin now, that God may be glorified and triumphant, despite the evil that mankind does. God bless your week…

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