Power of Prayer

Briyana and I want to thank everybody for their prayers this past week. Much of last week I was on the road meeting couples and churches and sharing about our ministry. The trip was amazing. Your prayers were heard by God and he answered them. Thank you!

So often people think that writing a check and praying every now-and-then is all they can do to help their missionary. But that just isn't the case. God has designed the church body in such an amazing way. Some people are called to go into the field of missions, while others are not. If it weren't for those people who stay at home, missionaries would not be successful. God has given each person a special gift to use for extending the Kingdom. Some might be good at making money and choose to support missionaries. Others might have the gift of hospitality and allow missionaries to stay with them when they come back home. Still others might of a gift of encouragement and write an encouraging note to their missionary at a time when an encouragement is greatly needed. We all come together to form the body of the church. When one takes a look back and realizes how amazing this blessing is, one can't help but be awestruck.

Here is a story of how prayer has recently had a major impact in the missions field. I received this email from a missionary of ours down on the field of Haiti just a couple of days ago. Here is an excerpt of the email.

My mind is just whirling from the past days...no electricity has meant no internet, but I am praising the Lord this morning for some city power, some water, and a chance to share with you! You all must be praying, because these past stretching days have brought some beautiful things to pass.

While we've had some hot days and some shower-less nights, everyone's attitudes have been brilliant, and not one complaint has fallen on my ears. Lily is happy to not be bathing, we've had enough city power at times to pull all the drinking water that the 70+ of us need, we are the only Seminary I know of that now has a designated "pee in the garden" rule, and last night was SO uncharacteristically cool that everyone slept well without fans. EVERY time the situation has neared "urgent", city power has popped on, something our dear friend and maintenance man Abel marvels as a complete miracle. "I have never seen such consistent city power in my life!"

And finally, and perhaps the biggest gift because it is that which only HE can provide, is, in the words of Nicole (3rd year student), that "last night, God came down and dwelt among us. It was AWESOME." Around 7:30, Matt, Lily and I checked in on the students to make sure everyone had enough drinking water, and everyone was happily hanging out in the cafeteria with a few flashlights. The plan was for everyone to go to bed early, then get up early with the sun to study for classes that they had been unable to study for that evening. But despite early bedtime, this morning my guys were noticeably exhausted. They did indeed all go to bed at 8 pm. However, at 9:30, Junior (1st year student) was shaken awake by "hands that gripped my face and were chocking me! I was scared, and I couldn't breath or move, and in my mind, I called, 'JESUS!' and I heard his voice clearly tell me to pray." Junior lay in bed praying desperately for several minutes, until he heard Jesus speak again. "Now, get up! Pray!" So he did, bounding out of bed and quickly shaking awake all of his room-mates. They all began to pray, and several heard a voice telling them to "Pray, Pray." They woke up all the men in the dorm, then all the women, and from 9 pm until 1 am, our beautiful student body did just that...PRAY.

They prayed and shared, read and prayed, in deep darkness with only a few flashlights, and all testify this morning to feeling the intimate presence and urgency of the Lord to be praying for Emmaus Biblical Seminary, for Saccanville, and for their Haitian people. They testify to feeling the Spirit intimately with them as they prayed and shared together, and this morning, we have a different student body. Tired, but bound...excited, but burdened...urgent, but full of hope and praise.

Thank you for joining us in prayer for power, for Emmaus, for Haiti...for the world.

Brie and I really do covet the prayers you send out. Thank you again for your support and prayers!

Brent and Briyana