Pop quiz: Are you familiar with Eid* al-*Fitr? How about *Diwali? Why is *Visakah *Puja celebrated?
If you're anything like most Americans, you (we) couldn't really answer those questions. Christianity is the predominant religion in our country, and its holidays are the only ones we know much about. We've never heard of most of the Muslim, Hindu, and Buddhist holidays such as the ones listed above.
Imagine it were reversed. What if you lived in a place where Easter wasn't talked about? That's what it's like for many of the Beng people. Some of them have heard of Easter and maybe a few could tell you why it's celebrated, but the majority are altogether unfamiliar with this eternally significant holiday.
Let's pray this Easter that God would give the Beng Christians many opportunities to share with friends and neighbors what Easter is all about and that many would come to faith in Christ as a result.
Thursday, April 1, 2010
March prayer requests
This week is the annual missions conference at my church. It's always an exciting time- exciting to hear about what God is doing in other parts of the world and hear stories of people's lives being transformed as they give their lives to Him.
The missionary who is visiting this week spoke on Sunday of his service in a country in Asia. At the present time the government of this country is allowing missionaries/ development workers, but they don't know how long this window of opportunity will be there. They are trying to train leaders in that country so that when or if the "missionaries" have to leave, the church will continue to grow and flourish, with nationals serving as missionaries in their own country.
That is in fact what has happened in other countries in Asia. Missionaries have been forced to leave, but the number of Christians has continued to grow. Praise God for this exciting phenomenon!
As this man spoke, I couldn't help but think of the Beng. When I last visited them 9 years ago, there was a small number of Christians in a few villages. I pray that when I or someone else next visits the Beng, they will find that the number of Christians among the Beng has grown exponentially and that they are growing and thriving. Would you pray with me?
The missionary who is visiting this week spoke on Sunday of his service in a country in Asia. At the present time the government of this country is allowing missionaries/ development workers, but they don't know how long this window of opportunity will be there. They are trying to train leaders in that country so that when or if the "missionaries" have to leave, the church will continue to grow and flourish, with nationals serving as missionaries in their own country.
That is in fact what has happened in other countries in Asia. Missionaries have been forced to leave, but the number of Christians has continued to grow. Praise God for this exciting phenomenon!
As this man spoke, I couldn't help but think of the Beng. When I last visited them 9 years ago, there was a small number of Christians in a few villages. I pray that when I or someone else next visits the Beng, they will find that the number of Christians among the Beng has grown exponentially and that they are growing and thriving. Would you pray with me?
Saturday, February 6, 2010
February prayer requests
Romans 1:5 says, "Through Christ, God has given us the privilege and authority to tell Gentiles everywhere what God has done for them, so that they will believe and obey him, bringing glory to his name." (NLT)
Though we may not be able to (at this time) go in person and tell the Beng about Jesus, we can pray these verses nonetheless. Let's pray that the Beng will hear "what God has done for them" and that they will "believe and obey him, bringing glory to his name".
I think sometimes we underestimate the power of prayer. I know I sometimes catch myself thinking, "Well, since God hasn't called me to go overseas at this time in my life, I guess I'll just have to pray instead." Just pray?! Prayer is just as much an action as going overseas is. When you pray for the Beng, you are taking an active role in their coming to Christ. You may even get to meet a Beng believer in heaven one day who is there because of your prayers! That's so much fun to think about. So let's pray!
On a side note this month, I have some personal news... My husband, sons, and I are soon moving to Fredericksburg, VA to help start a new church there. We're excited. I'm attaching our newsletter for those who are interested in learning more.
Though we may not be able to (at this time) go in person and tell the Beng about Jesus, we can pray these verses nonetheless. Let's pray that the Beng will hear "what God has done for them" and that they will "believe and obey him, bringing glory to his name".
I think sometimes we underestimate the power of prayer. I know I sometimes catch myself thinking, "Well, since God hasn't called me to go overseas at this time in my life, I guess I'll just have to pray instead." Just pray?! Prayer is just as much an action as going overseas is. When you pray for the Beng, you are taking an active role in their coming to Christ. You may even get to meet a Beng believer in heaven one day who is there because of your prayers! That's so much fun to think about. So let's pray!
On a side note this month, I have some personal news... My husband, sons, and I are soon moving to Fredericksburg, VA to help start a new church there. We're excited. I'm attaching our newsletter for those who are interested in learning more.
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
December, 2009
I'm having fun teaching my 3 year old about Christmas this year. He's getting to that age where he's beginning to understand things, but doesn't quite get it all. It's fun to see him try to wrap his little mind around things sometimes. We've told him Christmas is Jesus' birthday. He loves birthdays, so he's all about that. He continues to talk regularly about his last birthday party (which was 3 months ago)- mostly about his friends all coming over. So in thinking about Jesus' birthday, he's excited about the party side of Christmas. I think he thinks Jesus is coming over for the party. (Wouldn't that be fun?!) He keeps finding things around the house that he wants to give to Jesus for his birthday.
Africans love parties too. I remember losing sleep at night sometimes when I lived there as the drums beat and the people danced into the wee hours of the morning. They celebrate all kinds of things- marriages, birth of children, various festivals associated with their belief system. How wonderful it would be if they would party hardy for Jesus' birth too.
Pray with me this month that the Beng people would come to know Jesus and experience all the joy and excitement that Christmas brings.
Africans love parties too. I remember losing sleep at night sometimes when I lived there as the drums beat and the people danced into the wee hours of the morning. They celebrate all kinds of things- marriages, birth of children, various festivals associated with their belief system. How wonderful it would be if they would party hardy for Jesus' birth too.
Pray with me this month that the Beng people would come to know Jesus and experience all the joy and excitement that Christmas brings.
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
November, 2009
November is the time of year we typically focus on giving thanks. Yes, we should be good at doing it all the time. But somehow the turkeys, cornucopias, and pilgrims adorning everything from grocery ads to home decorations give us that extra nudge this month to meditate on what we're grateful for.
I have a Thanksgiving journal that I write in each year and list the things I'm thankful for. Psalm 100 is written on the inside cover. Here's a portion of it:
4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving
and his courts with praise;
give thanks to him and praise his name. 5 For the LORD is good and his love endures forever;
his faithfulness continues through all generations.
I thought that maybe this month instead of petitioning God with a specific request for the Beng, we could just thank Him for the Beng people and thank Him that His love for them endures forever.
I have a Thanksgiving journal that I write in each year and list the things I'm thankful for. Psalm 100 is written on the inside cover. Here's a portion of it:
4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving
and his courts with praise;
give thanks to him and praise his name. 5 For the LORD is good and his love endures forever;
his faithfulness continues through all generations.
I thought that maybe this month instead of petitioning God with a specific request for the Beng, we could just thank Him for the Beng people and thank Him that His love for them endures forever.
Sunday, October 4, 2009
October, 2009
Do you ever read through the pages of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John and just sit and marvel at Jesus' people skills? He knew exactly the right thing to say to each and every person that He encountered- knew when someone needed encouragement, when someone needed to be challenged, when someone needed good hard words of truth, when someone needed forgiveness. I wish I had just an ounce of that wisdom sometimes!
I've been praying for some of my friends here around me who don't know Jesus and praying for His help to know how to introduce them to Him. I feel so powerless and lacking in wisdom sometimes. I've been trying to pray in the midst of conversations, "OK, what do I say now, God? What does this person need to hear from you?".
I thought this month that we could pray for Beng Christians, who though they live in a place far from us and a culture different from ours, probably have some of the same struggles that we do. Pray that these Christians would engage in meaningful conversations with nonbelievers around them and that the Lord would give them wisdom as to how to answer each person they speak with.
I've been praying for some of my friends here around me who don't know Jesus and praying for His help to know how to introduce them to Him. I feel so powerless and lacking in wisdom sometimes. I've been trying to pray in the midst of conversations, "OK, what do I say now, God? What does this person need to hear from you?".
I thought this month that we could pray for Beng Christians, who though they live in a place far from us and a culture different from ours, probably have some of the same struggles that we do. Pray that these Christians would engage in meaningful conversations with nonbelievers around them and that the Lord would give them wisdom as to how to answer each person they speak with.
August, 2009
My youngest son is two months old. The past couple months have been a bit difficult for me. Though Beckett is generally in excellent heath, he has trouble while he's eating. He wriggles and kicks and cries and appears to be in pain. We (the doctors and us) are not sure exactly what is causing his distress. It's tough to see your child hurting and not know what to do for him.
Today as I sat down to write this prayer letter, I thought of all the Beng mothers who are so often in similar (though much more difficult) situations. Sick babies are very common in West Africa, and medical care is not so common. They often have to watch their babies suffer, not having the knowledge to help them themselves or the means to find and pay for medical care to have someone else help. I can't imagine how difficult it must be to be a Beng mom!
On top of this, few of them know Jesus in a personal way, so they don't have Him to turn to in their fears, worries, and sorrows.
Pray with me this month for Beng mothers. Pray that they will come to know Jesus so that He can help them through difficult times as a parent. Pray that the Lord would bring proper medical care to the Beng.
Today as I sat down to write this prayer letter, I thought of all the Beng mothers who are so often in similar (though much more difficult) situations. Sick babies are very common in West Africa, and medical care is not so common. They often have to watch their babies suffer, not having the knowledge to help them themselves or the means to find and pay for medical care to have someone else help. I can't imagine how difficult it must be to be a Beng mom!
On top of this, few of them know Jesus in a personal way, so they don't have Him to turn to in their fears, worries, and sorrows.
Pray with me this month for Beng mothers. Pray that they will come to know Jesus so that He can help them through difficult times as a parent. Pray that the Lord would bring proper medical care to the Beng.
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