April, 2009

This week, as we celebrate Easter, remember to pray for the Beng people, that each year more and more of them would come to know Jesus personally and join in the celebration of Jesus' death and resurrection as well.

Also, you may have heard about the recent tragedy in Cote d'Ivoire's capital city surrounding a soccer game. Thousands had gathered at the stadium for a World Cup qualifier game. There was stampeding as many waited in line prior to the game and a wall collapsed. Many died, and over a hundred others were injured. Pray that this tragedy would lead people all across Cote d'Ivoire to reflect on their own lives and on eternal things.

Thanks for praying!


March, 2009

Our church's missions conference starts this weekend. We spend a week focusing on what God is doing in other parts of the world and how we can come alongside Him in His work through praying, giving, and going.

Each year there is a "theme song" of sorts that we sing throughout the week. This year it's Chris Tomlin's "God of the City". Here are some of the lyrics:

You're the God of this City
You're the King of these people
You're the Lord of this nation...
You're the Light in this darkness
You're the Hope to the hopeless
You're the Peace to the restless

There is no one like our God

For greater things have yet to come
And greater things are still to be done in this City
Greater thing have yet to come
And greater things are still to be done in this City

I was thinking about the words to this song and what an encouragement they are in our prayers for the Beng people. (Maybe we should substitute the word "village" for "city", as I wouldn't consider any of the Beng villages a metropolis:)

God is the only one who can bring light to their darkness and hope to their hopelessness. And, as we pray, we can see greater things come to the Beng.

So pray with me this month that God would move in greater ways among the Beng and that they would come to know Him. Thanks for praying!


February, 2009

God has been showing me lately that I need to think about Him more. He's the One who made me, loves me, gives me everything I need, and is the only one who can ultimately help me with anything that may come my way, but sometimes I can go through my day without really giving Him much thought. There are lots of things in life that can keep us from thinking about God- being busy and being tired are two that come to mind readily. When you're busy, your mind is filled with so many other things that there's no room for God, and when you're tired, your mind is just too worn out to think at all.

I was thinking about how busyness and tiredness may keep the Beng from thinking about God too. Most Beng spend all day, every day working in their fields and/or getting their crops ready to eat or sell. On top of that, the women have water to fetch, meals to cook, and children to care for. Usually, they don't get a break all day- until 9:00 or so. By then they're usually exhausted. So maybe, like us, their minds are usually either filled with other things or too tired to think at all.

Pray for God to break through this cycle somehow. Pray that God would make Himself known to the Beng and turn their thoughts toward Him.


January, 2009

Did any of you make any New Year's resolutions this year? How many have you broken so far? It's true that- without God's help- it's hard to keep any of our resolutions. And I think it's also true that we need others' help as well along the way. I've found that to be the case in my own life. The encouragement and support of others helps me to be who God wants me to be.

I'd like us to resolve this year to be diligent in praying for the Beng people. I hope that I can be an encouragement and help to you in that. I'll be continuing to send out emails each month to remind us all to pray. I'd also like to provide any of you who are interested with a magnet for your fridge that reminds you to pray for the Beng. It has a magnetized picture of a Beng women and children. Email me back if you'd like me to send you one.

I wish you all a happy new year. Keep praying!