PRAY FOR GOD’S BLESSING ON OUR MISSIONARIES

BY REV HENRY HONG

This month of August is our Mission Month. We thank God for invited guest speakers who will encourage us on how we too can be engaged in the Gospel-mission of God in our homeland.

During this widespread pandemic and tumultuous times, it is an important reminder to pray for our missionaries.

I read in a recent missionary’s newsletter that a young OM Myanmar leader (Khai) succumbed to Covid 19, leaving behind his beloved wife (Khawn Nu) and three young children.

Your prayers sustain overseas Christian workers. Ordinary strains, extraordinary situations. Many difficulties your missionaries face don’t differ from those you face in your family, church, work, health, finances, or emotional struggles. But added stress comes through dealing with these difficulties in a foreign land and culture. These pressures are often greatest for wives and single women, who need to grapple more the nitty-gritty of daily living. Identify with missionaries as ordinary people, not as spiritual giants unaffected by trials. Then you’ll know better how to pray.

I have included a list of those missionaries who are supported by the church and you find out more details from the Mission Board Members and mission pastor, Dr Jeremy Chew.

Our support is incomplete without our prayers, which are vital for their well-being and the work of God. Here’s a sample prayer template on how you can pray for our missionaries, with scriptural references that you could reflect on and guide you in your prayer for them.*

‘Dear Lord, Your eyes are searching for the whole earth to strengthen those who are fully committed to You. May Your missionaries be given the grace and strength equal to the work You have assigned them. Enable them to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. I pray this especially for those labouring in Satan’s strongholds where his power has scarcely been challenged. And I want to include in these requests some missionaries I know: _____________________________________ .

May they cultivate a strong and fresh grasp on Your Word – the sword of Your Spirit. Increasingly make them men and women of prayer. Protect them from getting swamped by demands that crowd out time along with You.

May they rejoice in Your sufficiency and rely on You for wisdom and peace. Grant love and harmony in how they relate to their partners and children, to other missionaries, and to the people they work among. You know their personal trials today – loneliness, homesickness, the need for patience, official red tape, struggles in language learning, on and on. Give each one grace to trust You as their refuge and strength, as their sun and shield, as the best Person in their lives.

May Your full blessing be bestowed on their evangelism, their discipling, their church responsibilities – and on those with other gifts and callings. In the name of Jesus, the mighty Victor, defeat Satan’s attempts to blind people to the gospel and prevent the growth of believers.’

(*Sample Prayer sourced from 31 Days of Prayer by Warren & Ruth Myers.

References by paragraph – 1. 2Chron. 16:8-9; Deut. 33:25; Eph. 6:10-11.  2. Eph. 6:17-18; Lk. 10:39-42. 

3. 2 Cor. 3:4-6; Eph. 4:2-3; Ps. 46:1; 84:11; 73:25-26.  4. Ps. 67:1-2; Col. 4:3-4; 2 Cor. 4:4; 1 Pet. 5:8-9.)

THE FOLLOWING ARE MISSIONARIES SUPPORTED BY GPC UNDER VARIOUS SCHEMES:

Stephen Yew (GLO Ministries, Australia)

Linda Ngiam and Rachel Chua (Child Evangelism Fellowship / Singapore)

Leong Tien Fock (CRU / Malaysia)

Michael Wan (Wycliffe / Malaysia)

Lawrence Tong (Op Mobilization / OM International Director)

HH (OM)

Ng Eng Kiat & Anong (OMF / Thailand)

Samuel Lim & Kul (OMF / Thailand)

Michelle Goh (OMF / Thailand)

Matthew Ong (In preparation / Mongolia)

Raymundo & Lut Go (CRU / Singapore)

Chaimongkhol (Santiphap Mission Initiatives / Thailand)

Tharawat & Jimmy (Wycliffe / Thailand)

Peter & Sarah (Santiphap Church / Singapore)

Eric Hodge & Isabel (Edun Resources & Referrals / Thailand)

Peter & Janelle (OMF / Australia)

Moses & Grace Hahn (CEAI / Cambodia)

Lucille Gasper (The Hischild International / Cambodia)

KH (Caucasus)