Partners in Prayer
Prayer is the key to everything in our Christian walk and certainly in missions work is no exception. In short term mission work most of us will not have the opportunity to be on the mission field for more than one or two weeks out of a year but we can be actively engaged in the battle 52 weeks out of the year by consistently praying. Due to the spiritual warfare that surrounds these efforts fasting is also needed many times to be able to more fully tap into God's power.
Prayer is needed before the actual mission trip takes place, during the week of ministry work on the field and after the weeks work has been completed. While there is no question that short term missionaries that are mobilized from the U.S are key to opening the doors in many villages along the Amazon, so much of the critical follow up work will take place in the weeks and months after the mission trip itself has been completed. Your commitment to praying throughout the year is in many ways as important as your faithfulness during your actual week on the mission field.
The following are a few ideas of areas where you can be faithful in prayer to this work:
Ministry Partners - The Baptist Church in Parintins, the Presbyterian Church in Manaus, Chapada Baptist Church, and the Constantinopolis Church in Manaus are currently our major ministry partners in Brazil. Please pray for Pastor Elmer Lessa in Parintins, Pastor Jose Joao and Pastor Djard from the Presbyterian Church, Pastor David Hatcher from Chapada Baptist Church, and Pastor George Max at the Constantinopolis Church. Please pray for all of their families also. Pray for God to strengthen their own home churches which serve as vital support bases of ministry to Amazon
Outreach Ministry Staff - In Brazil this would include our staff Marco, Grace and Norman, our boat captains, Antonio and Nilo, our boat crew, and translators. In the US this would include Jed, Phyllis, and Brenda. Please pray for all of their families also.
Short Term Missionaries - Pray for spiritual protection on those that are going to share the Gospel on the field. In addition lift up their families that are at home while they are ministering. Pray for them to be spiritually prepared for the work they undertake. Pray for their efforts to raise support for their trip. Pray for their safety. Pray for them that as a result of their missions work and experience that they will in turn be more effective servants of Christ in the United States. Pray for the supernatural work of the Holy Spirit to be done.
Well Drilling Ministry - Pray for the crew that will lead the Aguas De Amor (drilling boat) into villages to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Please pray for their safety and their families as they travel. Pray the Holy Spirit works powerfully through them as they give fresh water to the villagers and as they demonstrate the love of Christ through their work.
