Prayer Life

(Last updated 01-13-12)

Burkina Faso

Many years ago, my pastor, Maurice Irvin, showed me a picture of him with a group of Chinese pastors. He said how embarrassed and totally unworthy he felt to be standing with those who had suffered so much for the gospel.

Those were my feelings recently as I posed for pictures at the end of our pastors’ wives seminar. During those few days, I heard firsthand what these women were enduring for the sake of the gospel. Many live in remote villages. Most find it difficult to provide for the basic needs of their family. Some are not accepted because of their faith in Jesus Christ. We heard of church problems and challenges to their ministries. One woman said that she had come to the seminar convinced that she should leave her husband and return to her own village. We shed many tears together and often felt our hearts would break.

When I went to take my place beside these women for a photo, I felt awkward. Who was I to stand with these who were enduring huge difficulties for a Savior they still didn’t really know a whole lot about? I realized anew the huge privilege that was mine to be beside these women; totally unworthy to be counted with them, and yet one in Christ, united in encouragement and support. I was reminded of how unworthy all of us are who stand at the foot of the cross.

Last month a new woman showed up at our Wednesday afternoon Bible study. It was soon evident to the rest of the Dogona Church women that she was unfamiliar with everything we did—our songs, our Bible study and, especially, our way of praying. But these differences didn’t seem to bother her. When I stood up to teach, I noticed that she was smiling and listening intently to everything I said. When the time came for prayer requests, she shared her story:

“Some time ago there was an evangelistic outreach in my village, and I heard about Jesus for the very first time. I immediately knew that I wanted to follow Him and Him alone. I left my former religion and no longer participated in their prayers. But there was no church in my village, so I felt very alone. I had so many questions about Jesus, but no one to teach me.

“Recently, I moved to Bobo-Dioulasso to live with my son. Everyone in his courtyard pressured me to participate in their daily prayers. But I refused. In my heart, I knew that Jesus was the way and that I could no longer join in these [majority religion] practices.

“This afternoon I set out, determined to find a place where I could learn more about Jesus. I saw the Dogona Church sign and was so pleased to discover women here who could help me understand this new road I have chosen to follow!”

This woman found what she was seeking. Through the prophet Jeremiah, God promises, “ÔYou will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart!’” (Jer. 29:13). Please pray that many more Burkinabe will seek Him with all their hearts!

We are so thankful for you who stand with us in this ministry. And we thank our Lord Jesus for the wide open door He has placed before us here!

—Esther Schaeffer

Cambodia

Last fall, Cambodia, along with the rest of Southeast Asia, endured its worst flooding in more than 10 years—resulting in more than 200 deaths and the loss of 13 percent of the rice crop. CAMA assisted the Khmer Evangelical Church (the C&MA in Cambodia) by providing funding to distribute rice seed. (If people can grow rice, this will be much more helpful in the long run than just giving them food to eat.)

Because Cambodia is a low-lying country, many houses are built on stilts. In homes near the Mekong and Tonle Sap rivers, the waters rose higher than the stilts. This particularly affected the Vietnamese minority, who tend to live on these rivers.

Amid this hardship, it was encouraging to see the faith of the faithful. Although the water had risen above the stilts and the floor was flooded, the believers in the Prek Kdam church still came to worship—in boats. Since the church flooded, they tied the vessels together in front of the church every Sunday. These are people, who—in the midst of the floods—have chosen to build their “house” on the solid Rock of Christ.

Thank you for your prayers for those who have been impacted by the flooding. Continue to pray for our field team and Cambodian believers, who are helping their countrymen to understand that there is a true Rock upon which they can lean when the inevitable floods of life come.

—David Manfred

Portugal

One Saturday we went to a nearby town where there is a small church. Missionaries and Christians from several areas came together to pray, distribute literature and have an outdoor service. As I walked and prayed, I was touched by the intense interest of one gentleman, who had received a rather lengthy tract. He immediately started reading. We passed on, had coffee and made our way back. He was still engrossed in the tract. I thought of the Ethiopian, whom Philip asked, “Do you understand what you’re reading?”

Pray that this little congregation would grow, that the written Word would find a place in the people’s hearts and that there would be a pastoral couple who can live and minister there.

—Mike and Ruth Davis

Alliance Life

The Christian and Missionary Alliance
8595 Explorer Drive
Colorado Springs, CO 80920
Phone: 719-265-2171
Fax: 719-599-8234
E-mail: alife@cmalliance.org