Prayers Around the World

We can reach our world, if we will. The greatest lack today is not people or funds. The greatest need is prayer. — Wesley Duewel 

I wrote in my journal, "My jar of tears won't be very full, unless God counts the heart tears." Tears don't form in my eyes often, but my heart sheds them frequently -- especially when I think of those around the world and in our own country in need.  

The needs are heartbreaking. One in nine people are hungry -- that's seven hundred and ninety-five million hungry people. Two million women and children are forced into sex trade each year. One hundred million are homeless and one billion have inadequate housing. Eight hundred thousand suicides are committed every year. 17% of adults and 122 million youth are illiterate. 2.5 million people die from alcohol-related deaths. 750 million people lack access to clean water.

Even more heartbreaking is the statistic that 1,629 billion people have never heard the Gospel. 66,000 people die each day having had no access to the Gospel – statistics I can barely wrap my head around.

Yet, there are people across the globe dedicated to changing the statistics. They are missionaries -- 400,000 Evangelical missionaries sent out each year.

This week let's pray extra for our missionaries. I have a friend leaving for Ghana Wednesday. She has written a phonics program using items in their culture. It's hard to teach them "A is for Apple" when they've never seen an apple. "M is for mango" is more understandable." I'd love for you to add Chris to your prayer list.

Christians in other countries are awakening to America’s needs for missionaries. 100 million Americans are unchurched. Korea is recruiting and sending hundreds of vibrant young Christians to bring the Gospel here. A number of Christian Mexicans minister on the U.S. side of the border, and born again former Hindus are reaching Indians for Christ in North America.

I also have a nephew who serves on a Native American Reservation. He and his wife fight against alcoholism and suicides -- a battle that on the surface seems slow and disappointing. Their love for the people is deep. Pray for Jordan and Kayla as they labor faithfully!

Do you have a missionary you pray for? Leave their name and the country where they labor so we can pray for them this week. You can leave your missionary's name in the comments, or on Facebook publically or in private messenger. 

Come back each day and pray through the list. Bottle some tears for the unreached around the world. Ask God to burn Vicky Beeching’s words on your heart...

Break our hearts
With the things that break Yours.
Wake us up to see through Your eyes.
Break our hearts
With the things that break Yours.
And send us out to shine in the darkness. 

It's time to move outside our comfort zone
To see beyond our churches and our homes;
To change the way we think and how we spend,
Until we look like Jesus again

Here I am, send me
To be Your hands and feet.
Here I am, send me; I will go.