Support Through Prayer
Jul/30/2009 12:53
Sending out our support cards over the past few months has provided a heavy reminder of how dependent we are upon God for our entire enterprise. Most missionaries during the support process focus mainly on the financial side of support because without money, missionaries cannot go. However, as Larry McCrary reminds us, the prayer supporters are just as, if not more important than financial supporters.
Even though we’ve lived through a cross-Atlantic move before, the process is still daunting. After we arrive in Portugal we will be settling into a new home, learning our way around, making new friends, obtaining things like drivers licenses, turning on utilities, learning how and where to shop for groceries, opening bank accounts, getting lost on public transportation, being dragged to all of the local tourist destinations, learning cultural do’s and don’ts, changing our wardrobes to match the culture and the weather, getting involved in the local Christian community, learning the Portuguese language, learning holidays and celebrations, and finding out where to get great coffee, just to name a few. Some of these will be made easier through sufficient financing but none of these can be accomplished without prayer and supplications to the Father. As missionaries, there is simply no way to live in all of these moments and remember to pray for strength to accomplish them at the same time. We need people lifting up these individual issues to God and covering them with prayer as we’re trying to live through them and come out unscathed on the other end. That is where prayer supporters come in and that is why they are so important. Thanks for the reminder Larry.
Looking back nearly 8 years ago I still vividly remember needing a reminder of this the third week on the field. Why it took three weeks I do not know but I still remember that I was on the bus going to language school in Madrid and I was overwhelmed by several thoughts. On one hand I could not believe we were finally here. Then it hit me that I did not know anyone here. I cannot speak the language. I could barely order a cup of coffee. The list could go on. But then it struck me that I had to have a total dependence on the Lord. I could not do this on my own.
Even though we’ve lived through a cross-Atlantic move before, the process is still daunting. After we arrive in Portugal we will be settling into a new home, learning our way around, making new friends, obtaining things like drivers licenses, turning on utilities, learning how and where to shop for groceries, opening bank accounts, getting lost on public transportation, being dragged to all of the local tourist destinations, learning cultural do’s and don’ts, changing our wardrobes to match the culture and the weather, getting involved in the local Christian community, learning the Portuguese language, learning holidays and celebrations, and finding out where to get great coffee, just to name a few. Some of these will be made easier through sufficient financing but none of these can be accomplished without prayer and supplications to the Father. As missionaries, there is simply no way to live in all of these moments and remember to pray for strength to accomplish them at the same time. We need people lifting up these individual issues to God and covering them with prayer as we’re trying to live through them and come out unscathed on the other end. That is where prayer supporters come in and that is why they are so important. Thanks for the reminder Larry.
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