When I attended the OMF Mekong Minorities team annual conference for the first time almost 20 years ago, a colleague introduced to us a newly published prayer guide for a country where sharing of the good news of Jesus Christ is restricted.
One of the events during the conference was a concert of prayer where we would pray for our teams and the people groups that we serve in the Mekong region. We visited different prayer stations, one of which was based around the new prayer guide. There was a copy on the floor, and I felt compelled to kneel down and lay my hand upon it. After the prayer concert, I got my own copy and prayed through it in my daily devotions. At that time, I lived in a different country but faced similar restrictions. The prayer guide not only allowed me to pray in specific ways for that country, but also inspired me to pray for the country where I lived.
Joy in persevering prayer
Mekong Minorities teams serve among people groups who are often marginalised. Many live in rural and hard to reach places where education and medical provision are lacking. Sadly their culture and languages are often not respected. Nevertheless, the biggest obstacle keeping them from believing in Jesus Christ is spiritual, and this can only be addressed through prayer. We want to see God’s transforming power working among the Mekong people groups through strategic prayer and ministry. I believe it is the power of prayer that has sustained me throughout my years of ministry. Apart from my own prayers, those of our prayer partners are a source of my strength and hope. It is my greatest joy to know God answers prayers, even though it may take many years to realise.
20 years of answered prayer
Since the prayer guide was published 20 years ago, we’ve heard news of tears and sorrow from Christians in that country. Instead of being discouraged, we continued to pray and asked our prayer partners to pray into those challenging situations. By the grace of God, our teams on the ground press on to reach these people groups.
The teams strive to share a vision of locally-led churches that reproduce and plant more churches. Over the last few years, and in answer to the prayers of many supporters around the world, new churches have been planted, Christians have been discipled and trained and are going on to teach others. We are excited to learn that local Christians are inspired to share the good news of Jesus Christ with their own people group as well as other people groups beyond their borders.
Praying through Scripture for the Mekong
Let the Bible inspire your prayers. Hebrews 5:7 reminds us that ‘during the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission.’ In 1 Timothy 2:1 Paul urges ‘that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people.’ ‘And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.’ (Ephesians 6:18)
Please join us in prayer to the one ‘who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine … to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.’ (Ephesians 3:20-21)
Please pray for
- The Lord to raise up prayer coordinators to facilitate the composition and distribution of prayer updates through different media channels
- More people to become faithful prayer partners and join our ministries in supporting or frontline roles
- The Holy Spirit to transform the lives of believers as a witness to Christ
- For movements of locally-led churches planting churches among all the people groups of the Mekong region
