Prevention is better than cure. This proverb is not practised in
missionary work. Only when calamities or problems hit the missionaries,
we mobilize prayer for their deliverance. Why don’t we have some
regular PREVENTIVE PRAYER for them? Here are five basic preventive needs
of missionaries—
Prevention from Defilement
The enemy’s arrows are aimed at the missionaries to weaken their
testimony. Loss of personal holiness creates hollowness both in life and
work. Sex is a great snare.
Prevention from Diseases
Every other missionary becomes sick due to adverse climatic conditions,
poor sanitation, lack of balanced diet, and inadequate rest. The devil
rejoices to see the worker inactive because of some physical weakness.
Prevention from Depressions
Separation from children and family people, problems of children, fruitlessness
in the field, unkind and inconsiderate leadership, financial stress, lack
of fellowship and spiritual food, and such things leave the missionary
depressed. Unless he enjoys a free spirit, he cannot serve joyfully.
Prevention from Divisions
There’s hardly a mission field where there’s no relationship
problem between the workers. When unity and team spirit are lost, there’s
no blessing in the work. Prayer must be constantly made that the missionaries
glorify God with "one mind and one mouth."
Prevention from Dangers
Missionaries die of accidents, snake or insect bites, food-poisoning,
epidemics, etc. The promises of Mark 16:18 and such passages must be daily
claimed for them. During their outstation programmes, the workers’
houses are sometimes looted. Besides all these, there are threats from
the enemies of the gospel.
We invite you to become a Preventive Prayer Partner (PPP) in our missionary
work. Write us if you are burdened. We will allot you a missionary for
whom you must pray daily covering the five needs mentioned above. You
will hear from the missionary quarterly about his or her welfare. There’s
no other obligation for you than to pray. Let each missionary have the
privilege of several persons praying daily for his or her spiritual, mental,
physical and social needs. Here’s an opportunity for you to go to
the mission fields on knees!
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