Week of Prayer for Missions

If you are a follower of Jesus, you are part of the task to fulfill the Great Commission.

Paul says, “All of you together are Christ’s body, and each of you is a part of it” (1 Corinthians 12:27). Jesus has commissioned us to be His heart, His hands, His voice. Through praying, giving, and going, Southern Baptists have fulfilled this legacy for more than 160 years.

Yet billions remain lost and time may be running out for them. We must pray more intentionally and give more sacrificially than ever before. Our churches must take direct responsibility for helping reach the nearly 3,800 unengaged, unreached people groups that missionaries may never be able to get to.

And, since most unreached people groups likely are represented in the world's urban centers, we have unique challenges and opportunities to reach the world through the cities, as illustrated in this year’s week of prayer features.

What can you do, individually? Start by being “Southern Baptist missions” through your prayers to be an extension of His heart, hands, and voice through unprecedented giving to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering®.

- excerpt taken from the International Mission Board website.

Yesterday began the Week of Prayer for Missions. Each day this week I would like to share a story of a missionary from the book Voices of the Faithful. Today's story is written by Angie who is serving in South Asia.

Beginning with One

You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:14-16 (NIV)

            One thing you can count on in Asia is that the electricity will go out. A prudent homemaker has a candle (and matches) in every room for such occasions. One night when the power went out, my husband and a friend stepped out onto the balcony into the pitch darkness. No house lights, no streetlights, no lights from cars or motocycles, just darkness. They faced a hill some distance away, which was peppered with houses. As they watched, one candle was lit, and they saw its small light shine. Two more were lit, then five more, then 20 more. At an increasing rate, the hill became illuminated with small lights.

Sometimes our family feels overwhelmed at the task before us, especially when we focus on the many lost people in our target group. There just isn’t enough time in each day to impact every life by ourselves. But we have chosen to pour our lives into a few believers who have a strong influence in the community. These few, in turn, are each discipling several new believers, who will disciple several more and so on, spreading the Light. Even Jesus chose only 12, knowing that those 12 would impact their own people as well as other nations surrounding them. He knew our human limitations.

            Using His example of discipleship, many more will be added to the kingdom at an increasing rate. That’s what I hope for – the rapid spread of the gospel, starting with just one: me.

Angie, South Asia