Have a Care!

Unable to bear the sight of over 1000 Christians praising God and rejoicing in their salvation, while millions perished without Christ, James Hudson Taylor rushed out of the church, wandered onto Brighton beach and prayed fervently for 24 workers for China. It was the start of the China Inland Mission, now OMF International, founded by Hudson Taylor with “Ł10 and all the promises of God.”

All of us have been given Christ’s great commission to “Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation” Mark 16:15 We may not be called to do this by going abroad, but we do need to share this good news wherever we are.

We also have a responsibility to support those who do become missionaries overseas. This can be done by giving, praying, encouraging - an essential expression of our faith (Romans 15:24,30 Phil 4:10-19 Eph 6:19-20). As Pastor Cooper reminded us in the Ladies’ Fellowship recently, we in the Western world have many blessings. “If you have food, clothes, and a roof over your head you’re richer than 75% of the earth’s inhabitants. If you’ve money in the bank, you’re among the world’s top 8%. If you’ve a Bible, you’re better off than the 1.5 billion people who’ve never seen one.”

The suggestions below, by Margaret Godfrey, will help in praying for missionaries:

* Spiritual life - for consistent times of prayer, learning from the scripture, meaningful worship and fellowship.

* Ministry - for a work of the Holy Spirit in the hearts of those they meet, boldness in witness, good relationships, opportunities to share, and wisdom.

* Family - for strong marital and parent-child relationships, support from family at home.

* Fellow workers - for a willingness to submit to one another and those in authority, to willingly learn from one another, to be accountable, to willingly co-operate.

* Country of service - for the political and economic situation and for the growth of the indigenous church

* Communication - for diligence, skill and encouragement in language study

* Physical needs - for their family’s health and safety, housing and schooling needs.

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*	Spiritual life	- for consistent times of prayer, learning from the scripture, meaningful worship and fellowship.
*	Ministry	- for a work of the Holy Spirit in the hearts of those they meet, boldness in witness, good relationships, opportunities to share, and wisdom.
*	Family	- for strong marital and parent-child relationships, support from family at home.
*	Fellow workers	- for a willingness to submit to one another and those in authority, to willingly learn from one another, to be accountable, to willingly co-operate.
*	Country of service	- for the political and economic situation and for the growth of the indigenous church
*	Communication	- for diligence, skill and encouragement in language study
*	Physical needs	- for their family’s health and safety, housing and schooling needs.