“God will answer you prayers better than you think. Of course, one will not always get exactly what he has asked for....We all have sorrows and disappointments, but one must never forget that, if commended to God, they will issue in good....His own solution is far better than any we could conceive.” ― Fanny J. Crosby
FROM THE DESK OF: the Director of Operations
Last week, our president returned from an overseas trip with promising reports of new work in new places. We are so thankful for the doors God continues to open for us in the uttermost regions of the world. However, recognizing an opportunity and capitalizing on it are two different things. Envisioning what could be is a snap; crafting a plan and following through with it is much more complicated.
For us, finding opportunities to work in 'our' countries is only the first hurdle; developing and executing strategies to impact the people living in those counties is the highest hurdle. Overcoming that hurdle requires a coordinated effort from a lot of people: a talented staff, an army of prayer warriors and financial supporters, and a vast network of passionate 'goers'. The Lord has brought us many, but we're praying for more!
Praise God for open doors, and pray to God for the resources to take advantage of the opportunities!
For the Win[dow],
Ward Evans, DOO
VERSE OF THE WEEK: 2 Kings 17:35-39
“Do not worship any other gods or bow before them or serve them or offer sacrifices to them. But worship only the Lord, who brought you out of Egypt with great strength and a powerful arm. Bow down to him alone, and offer sacrifices only to him. Be careful at all times to obey the decrees, regulations, instructions, and commands that he wrote for you. You must not worship other gods. Do not forget the covenant I made with you, and do not worship other gods. You must worship only the Lord your God. He is the one who will rescue you from all your enemies.”
City Hall, Mogadishu, Somalia (photo credit: Sutika Sipus 2012)
COUNTRY OF THE WEEK: SOMALIA
The Federal Republic of Somalia, a country of almost 11 million located on the Horn of Africa, has an ancient history but a volatile present. Somalians are faced with many challenges, including climate extremes, high infant mortality rates, a 38% literacy rate, and social and economic instability leading to poverty. Unfortunately, due to these challenges and more, Somalia is well known for its pirates, civil wars, and starving children. More than 99% of all Somalians are Muslim, which means that 10.9 million people still need to hear the Good News about Jesus Christ. Somalia is currently #2 on the World Watch List, based on strong, growing pressure to purge the country of all Christians, particularly from the militant Islamic group al-Shabaab. Pray for the remnant of believers God has preserved in Somalia, despite the pressure, to trust in the Love that over comes fear. Pray also for secret house churches to continue worshiping God and boldly proclaiming the name of Jesus.
PRAYER REQUESTS:
- one of our workers has a daughter with terminal abdominal cancer, and recent news has not been good; pray for the Comforter to be with this sweet family during an unspeakably difficult time
- we are restructuring our staff to better match our personnel with tasks, responsibilities, and growth; pray for a smooth transition!
- it's time to promote promote PROMOTE our awareness event in Norman, OK, on October 29th; pray for many to come and hear about God's church around the world (and in the 10/40 Window)
- we are registering our secular sports company in several countries, needing paperwork and approval and all the right stamps and signatures; pray for diligence and favor through the process