Friends, our prayer focus for November brings us right into my backyard: the USA. 

Many things will be decided and revealed in this month of our nation's history, but what cannot be changed is the power of intercession to guide our country God-ward. Prayer is timeless, but affects every single moment of time. Hearts that come before the Lord—carrying purity of desire to see His will accomplished—will never be ignored by Him. This cannot be underestimated. Clean hands and a pure heart are the most powerful instruments of change. Money, fame and influence dwarf the might of a persistent woman or man in Christ, whose righteous prayers avail much! 

On November 11, friends from across the SEAPC community will be meeting in Plymouth, Massachusetts to celebrate the 400th anniversary of the Pilgrims landing on our shores. We believe this is a strong prophetic moment, and reminder to our nation in 2020. We will unite with churches and ministries from the Boston area, led by our friends from a Chinese-American congregation, River of Life Christian Church Boston. This church family has been praying faithfully at Plymouth every November 11 for the last 15 years.

I walked and prayed with them last year alongside my two oldest children, and witnessed the power, joy, and persecution they received right here in America for their gratefulness to God of what happened at Plymouth. I was deeply humbled to see Chinese-American believers, who have endured great oppression and persecution, genuinely give thanks to God for what happened here 400 years ago. The courage of a small, persecuted group of families coming from England to America for freedom and future resounds with them, as it must with each one of us.

There are many forces at work this month trying hard to divide America, and pit people against each other as leverage for gain. I believe this simple celebration returns us to what builds a truly godly nation: the presence of God and family. Our nation’s spiritual roots are planted not on politics or power-plays, but on one family after another choosing to build a future that looks like Jesus. As November 11 reminds us, this is no easy task, no matter where you are from. However, this is the bedrock that builds a godly nation. We are blessed in America to have this heritage at our roots, and for remembrance in a year like 2020. We are not perfect, but His ways are. We must pray and follow them.

Galatians 3:14 says, "Through Christ Jesus, God has blessed the Gentiles [Nations] with the same blessing He promised to Abraham, so that we who are believers might receive the promised Holy Spirit through faith." 

This Blessing ofAbraham is the eternal way our Father builds a nation set-apart. It is whereevery believer in America must place our eyes and prayers this month. ThisBlessing is not for certain races or nations, at the expense of others. It'sfor ALL who believe in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. It is true, and itworks. God will back it up, and bless every single family that makes the choiceto enter into it. 

Let God continue to bless America, because our land has chosen to follow after His way of Blessing. We cannot forget the power of pure hearts and the strength of godly family to guide our way forward. It's this posture that will unite us all under Him. 

Thank you for praying with us for the USA this month. It is prayer and the way we live our faith that speaks to the soul of our nation. It's time for God's blessing to unify and heal us all! 

"Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in authority have been placed there by God. "

Romans 13:1

ElectionDay 2020. It’s almost here. And, like much that has happened in this strangeyear, there is more division, negativity, misunderstanding, and outrightanimosity than in recent elections. Even within faith communities, it’sRepublican versus Democrat, Conservative versus Liberal, I’m Right versusYou’re Wrong. Everyone is adamant about his or her preferred candidates; mindsare not being changed. 

Jesus didnot belong to a political party. If he had, it would have been the Love Party,because that was and always will be God’s basis for everything. It’s easy toforget that. One side says the world will end as we know it if the oppositionis in power. The opposition believes the same thing of their adversary. Onenewscaster backs this, another that. Who is telling the truth? For whom shouldwe vote? It’s a very important election. What to do, what to do?

It’shelpful to look at Scripture to get a handle on this election and the currentcrop of potential leaders. A leader is someone who influences the thoughts andactions of others, to achieve a specific outcome. Some are good, some not somuch.

Badleaders exclude God from their lives and pursue their own desires, even ifothers are harmed in the process. What signifies a “bad” leader according toScripture?

Trusting in human resources rather than God. (Isaiah 31:1)

Being open to lies. (Proverbs 29:12)

They oppress others. (Proverbs 28:15-16)

They openly attack God and his people. (Revelation 13:6-7)

They make people groan. (Proverbs 29:2)

Conversely,a good leader’s first desire is to follow God humbly and derive values andstrengths from the Lord. What does the Bible say about “good” leaders?

They are servants to all. (1 Kings 12:7)

They care about the poor and needy. (Psalm 72:12-14)

They rule with integrity and skill. (Psalm 78:72)

They rule with wisdom. (Proverbs 8:15-16

They use impeccable judgment. (Proverbs 16:10)

They bring stability by adhering to justice. (Proverbs 29:4)

They govern by loyalty and truth. (Proverbs 20:28)

They govern in righteousness. (Proverbs 16:12-13)

Add tothis list honesty, standing against the wicked, searching to find the facts ofa matter, preserving the rights of others by clear thinking, being surroundedby wise counselors, and delegating responsibilities to trusted others. It’squite a list, all God-breathed.

Are theseattributes attainable? The answer is a resounding yes…if the leader is seekingGod with all his heart, mind, soul, and strength. The qualifier is that everyearthly leader is a human being. Free will and sin are dragged into theequation, even in the best of us. If we are searching for perfect, then theonly choice for president is Jesus 2020.

How do weelect Jesus as President of the United States? Trick question. This comingTuesday, in the United States we will vote for a choice of two human beings.Both are imperfect, flawed, sometimes maddening, certainly anything but perfect.Even if our favorite candidate seems to say the right things, how do we knowit’s the truth? 

That’swhere the good news comes in. Yes, we all need to research issues and those whoare running for office. And we have to vote. But no matter who wins, it will beGod’s choice. That’s not to say the winner will be a “good” leader. The Biblerecords many people in leadership who fell under the “bad” category:

Rehoboam,Solomon’s son, listened to his peers’ advice instead of wise counsel. Israelsplit into two nations, Judah and Israel.

QueenJezebel led her Israelite husband Ahab into the worship of Baal. She had thetrue prophets murdered and called for Elijah’s death.

King Herodthe Great sought to kill newborn baby Jesus. In doing so, he ordered theexecution of all male children two years old and under in the vicinity ofBethlehem.

It’salmost impossible, from the perspective of the ages and from humanunderstanding, to grasp why God would permit people like these to be in power.But he did. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Which means he stilluses whomever he wills to accomplish his purposes. Because we now see througha glass darkly—have an imperfect vision of God’s reality. We don’t getit. 

For firstcentury believers, it had to be impossible to understand why God put Saul ofTarsus in a position of power. Many were imprisoned or killed at his behest.And yet at our point in history, believers can see that his conversion tofollow Jesus changed the world—for the better. 

DickEastman, in his book, The Hour that Changes the World, begins with thisstatement: “Prayer is the divine enigma—that marvelous mystery hidden behindthe cloud of God’s omnipotence.” That phrase, ‘the cloud of God’s omnipotence,’says it all. God has unlimited power and potential. It is partially hidden fromus now. On earth, we can’t even hope to fully know what he knows. The clouds ofhis godliness keep much wisdom in the heaven above, where the Son shines. Onearth, so much is obscured.

What we doknow is that God has got this—whatever “this” may be. Including our nation, ourupcoming election, and our wellbeing. If, to further his kingdom, he put Herodin place as King, forcing Mary, Joseph, and young Jesus to flee to Egypt evenas many others were slaughtered, we can certainly trust him to handle ourtemporal concerns in the here and now. 

As weapproach the election, something becomes clear. Jesus is in the running for2020 as he is for all time. We vote for him by praying for God’s perfect will.By being knowledgeable about Scriptural principles, and by trusting that heis able to do more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that isat work within us. (Ephesians 3:20).

Let’sresolve to come together, not as political rivals, but as the body of Christ.And to listen when God tells us: “If my people, who are called by my name,will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wickedways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will healtheir land. (2 Chronicles 7:14)

May Godtruly bless America.

God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.

2 Corinthians 9:8

The plane lands in Yangon, capital of Myanmar, formerly known as Burma. The weather could be humid and hot, monsoon downpour, or slightly cooler and dry, depending on the season. What doesn’t change are the friendly smiles and pleasant greeting, “Mingalaba.” Literally translated, this Burmese word means, May this day be filled with blessings.

And Myanmar is filled with blessings, indeed.

For fifty years the borders of Myanmar were closed to all outsiders. Through Pastor Hubert Chan, Mark Geppert entered the country before it opened and began building a relationship with James, a local pastor. As they prayer walked in the northern states, Mark was arrested. An American in Myanmar? No way.

When Pastor James went to the jail to try to gain Mark’s release, the jailer stopped him. “Do you remember me?”

James did not.

After much back and forth, the jailer removed his military hat. “When I was a little boy, your mother gave my family food and shelter when we were starving.”

At this point James did remember the man. And through this “chance” occurrence, Mark was released. No coincidence here; God’s provision for that very moment had begun decades earlier.

There have been multiple changes in Myanmar since that day. The main artery to the north, a narrow dirt path, is now a four lane paved highway. Spotty, daytime-only electricity is available around the clock. Free elections are held on a regular basis, versus army-controlled government appointments.

And starting in2010, SEAPC received both an earthly and a heavenly call to Myanmar. PastorJames contacted Mark. The source of support for Charity Children’s Home, theirhome for orphaned and abandoned children, had suddenly dried up. Immediately,SEAPC agreed to come alongside in support and prayer.

Although Buddhism is the primary religious construct in Myanmar at over 89%, there are pockets of strong Christian faith in Chin State and elsewhere. In Yangon, this is certainly true for Church on the Rock. Through Charity Children’s Home, the church, and ACTS Bible College, there is a very clear vision for growing the Kingdom.

SEAPC is blessed to come alongside their efforts. Over the years, local people and teams from around the world have prayer walked every major city and site. Church on the Rock has planted more than 120 churches. Through these rural church plants, individuals have prayer walked, medical missions teams have served, and the Word has gone forth. My Precious Book, a children’s introduction to Scripture, has been translated into Burmese and disseminated through the church to every state.

God has lavishedso much favor on Myanmar as the people’s faithfulness is proven over and overagain. This year, the Vice President of Myanmar worshipped at Church on theRock, bringing hope of lasting, nation-changing revival. There is a new eraunfolding.

As SEAPC focuseson Myanmar in prayer this month, there is much to celebrate—and much toaccomplish. On November 8^th, there will be a general election.People are proud to vote and happy to display an inked finger to show that theyare participating in the peaceful transfer of power. But political forces bothinternal and external are exerting pressure that can only be overcome throughstrategic, prayerful support and encouragement—from the faithful in all nations. Because as followers ofJesus Christ, we are one united family of faith.

As much as the Burmese population revels in wishing mingalaba to visitors, let we who serve the same Father, Son, and Spirit around the world use our prayers to fill the days in Myanmar with blessings.

Join with SEAPC inprayer this month and let the blessings flow!

This October, we are turning to the nation of Myanmar as our prayer focus. What a strategic time to focus in prayer for a great nation and friends that serve God with every fabric of their being. If there is one takeaway that we have from a year full of turmoil and changes, it is that our priority is, in fact, prayer. Prayer is what changes nations, people, and the atmosphere. Meeting people's needs is still our passion, but prayer must remain our priority.

November 8th, 2020 is a significant day in Myanmar's short democratic history; it is the day of the general election. This election is a significant one as it catches Myanmar at the tail end of the Rohingya genocide, one of the worst human rights atrocities in recent history. Having walked and prayed on the Rakhine border and with refugees, there is no doubt that we need to see righteousness restored in Myanmar. Our hope is not in the election or the person who may become president. Our hope is firmly rooted in Jesus Christ and we are believing that, through His resurrection power, we may bear witness to a mighty move of the Holy Spirit taking place in Myanmar.

Our friends have been strategic in walking and praying in places of spiritual activity and government centers, from Kalay, Tuanggyi, Mandalay, Lashio, Bagan, Sittwe, and Yangon.

When praying for Myanmar this month, please pray this scripture over the land and our dear friends: "so prepare your minds for action, be completely sober (in spirit-steadfast, self-disciplined, spiritually and morally alert), fix you your hope completely on the grace (of God) that is coming to you when Jesus Christ is revealed.” (1 Peter 1:13 AMP)

Our hopes are up in Myanmar.

Greater love has no one than this: to lay one’s life down for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything I learned from my Father I have made known to you.

John 15:13-15

What is a friend?

The word is defined as: a person one knows and with whom one has a bond of mutual affection. That’s not bad, as far as it goes. But it isn’t really a satisfying picture of friendship at all. Because being a friend is not a surface interaction, as in: I kind of like you and you kind of like me, so we get along. That is boring at best.

The answer can be qualified. To a five-year-old,a friend is someone who shares his or her toys. To a ninety-year-old, a friendmay be the memory of good times shared in better days. But always, friendshipdenotes love, closeness, support, guidance, understanding, forgiveness, mercy, andgrace, among other attributes. And of all the things that define a friend, loveis at the core.

Jesus said that this love iselevated to the status of a willingness to die for a friend. Seriously? Die?Yes, seriously. That’s what Jesus did for us. And although he meant thatstatement literally, there are other sacrificial ways to look at the concept. Thingslike giving of one’s time, talents, and treasures—giving fully of one’s heartin every sense—are all ways to give up self for others.

South East Asia Prayer Center is inthe business of building friendships around the world. Through relationshipthere can be a harvest of workers for God’s Kingdom. Friends don’t bully orinsist; they stand alongside to support and cheer. For our friends in thenations, it goes well beyond knowing someone and sharing mutual affection,although that’s certainly part of it. There are gaps in life. We stand in themfor one another.

SEAPC is, “A global Christiancommunity of friends that believe lives and nations are changed throughprayer.” Our culture is one in which we pray, we honor, we serve, we network,we multiply, we manage from the floor, we strive for excellence, and weprioritize. And through it all, Jesus reigns.

How are friends made? You know.There’s a guy at the gym, you exchange a few words, find that you enjoy theconversation, go out for coffee, and it grows from there. Or the friend onFacebook with whom you share interests, who “likes” your stuff, offers prayerwhen your child is sick. In both cases—in person or remotely—making a friend involvessharing. Not just weight lifting stories or recipes. It means doing life, hope,and love together.

In our modern society we think oflove as much more flat than the ancient Greeks, who had different words todenote nuances of the feeling. Philia,deep friendship. Ludus, playful love.Pragma, longstanding love. The listgoes on, seven in all. In Scripture, the ultimate expression of love is agape. This denotes a pure, willful,sacrificial love that intentionally desires another’s highest good.

When we channel our love into agape, we are there when the gym friendis about to make a bad decision, offering him godly counsel so he doesn’t fall.We don’t just hit the praying hands emoji on Facebook and forget about it, butinstead lift the circumstance to the Lord. Love is dynamic. Exciting. And yes,sacrificial.

SEAPC makes friends in the nationsin many ways. Working with one person leads to meeting several more. Whetherbuilding a house shoulder to shoulder, praying hand to hand, or weeping cheek tocheek, the bridge that has been built becomes a filament of steel. We are onein the body of Christ. And as such, when we plow, sow, plant, and watertogether, our friendships become the stuff of legend. When God permits us toexperience a harvest of souls for him together with our friends, it is theculmination of agape.

Friends, in the SEAPC sense, standtogether and try to model the first century church. We pray together. We shareresources. We laugh, cry, plan, eat, heal, disagree and agree, set goals—inshort, do what friends do. The only difference between the world and us is thateverything is done to bring glory to God. This is a huge difference. Becausewhen you add in the word sacrifice, love rises to a whole new level.

This month ofSeptember our prayer focus is on Friends Around the Table, a regular gatheringof our friends in the nations. The event is not a business meeting, althoughgoals, needs, and plans are presented and discussed. It is primarily a prayermeeting, a place to come together with friends to worship, praise, thank,repent, and beseech the Lord as a unified body. Because as different as onecountry may be from another in certain aspects, in Jesus we are united. As wework together, we are Jesus’s hands and feet in bringing nation-changingrevival to a world that desperately needs it.

Just to be clear on the whole lovething, Jesus expects us to express the fullness of agape—including the part about desiring the highest good in another—toeveryone. He did not designate this to only include friends. In Luke 6:32, hetells us, “Do you think you deserve credit for merely loving those who loveyou? Even the godless do that!” Through pure love, aka agape, those to whom we show love, even when they hate us, may bedivinely inspired to become a friend. And move onward to accept Jesus.

If you are reading this, you areour friend. SEAPC is inclusive, not exclusive. What we all share is acceptanceof Jesus as our Lord and Savior. Everything else flows from there. And thething that permeates that core is agape.

Practice agape with lavish generosity. Set the table for a crowd of friends.If “a cord of three strands is not easily broken” (Ecclesiastes 4:9), imaginethe strength of a world unified in friendship through Jesus!

Be a friend. Indeed.

"Farmers who wait for perfect weather never plant. If they watch every cloud, they never harvest. "

Ecclesiastes 11:4

Are you a farmer? Although there are many who would answer yes, there are far more of us who enjoy the bounty we do not grow. Thus a farmers’ market —always a destination on a hot summer day—is something to anticipate. There really is nothing like homegrown produce to set the taste buds on fire. But as to what precedes that juicy tomato on my salad, no clue. I’m not even curious. It’s not my job, after all.

But even a cursory dive into Scripture makes it plain that, to an agrarian culture, farming metaphors made perfect sense. They still do, bringing to life concepts that should make us curious. Because at the end of the day we are all called to be farmers—farmers of souls. What does that mean, how does that look, and what can we do to learn the best techniques for the most robust crop? Read on!

Any endeavor begins at, well, the beginning. The field must be plowed to turn under weeds and old crops to decay and to put nutrients back into the soil. Furrowed trenches are dug as a template for the next step.

Soul farmers follow the same process. Instead of using a plow, they walk the land in prayer to soften hearts. Sinful beliefs and practices are left to decay, lifting to God a desire for preparation and change. A clear plan is laid out, step by step, to set the process on the proper course.

On a farm, seeds are sown into fertile soil and then watered. The moisture breaks down the seed coating so the embryo can absorb nutrients from the soil. Farm by farm, each family takes care of their own acreage from start to finish.

But farming souls is not a one-farmer process. The one who plowed may not be the one to sow the seeds. Others come along to plant by building relationships through service, Scripture, and teaching. Jesus shines his love into the mix, much as sunlight and water grow a field of grain. The hard shell of disbelief is opened to reveal the inner person who is able—and eager—to absorb everything about living a Christ-centered life.

A farm duringharvest is a busy place, as crops are gathered in, stored, processed, and takento market. This final step is active, not passive. Soul farmers understand thatalthough much groundwork has been laid, the work must be brought to completion.Only then can those who are harvested become farmers themselves. And spread theKingdom in another cycle of plow, sow, water, and harvest, until Jesus returnsfor the final harvest of his people at the end of the age.

The farm metaphoris not just a pretty picture of children in a field of sunflowers, cavortingthrough the fields on a bright, happy day. Farming is a 24/7, 365-day process —cropsor souls. As Proverbs points out, thework will never get done if the farmer waits for clear, perfect weather. Thereare glorious days, to be sure, but not all of them.

This is so true inmissions. Teams who enter a town, state, or nation to plow in prayer may notget a warm welcome. People and nations are not about change. Old attitudes,values, and beliefs are passed on from generation to generation. That’s badnews, in the context of change. But once a soul is claimed for Jesus,generations can come to saving grace in a lasting harvest.

Many teams have prayerwalked with friends in a multitude of nations. One example is Nepal. Walkingthrough Kathmandu includes passing ubiquitous statues, altars, and paganworshippers. It doesn’t really look like anything is changing, as if the plowhas lost its handle. Those who are prayer walking don’t routinely see statuesfall, hear people ask about Jesus, feel the love flowing through the streets.Plowing is like that. It’s preparatory. Not celebratory. God never lets go ofthe plow or of those plowing.

Traveling through the Himalaya Mountains to a remote village church does not mean being greeted by hoards of Christ-followers. It’s more likely to include a young pastor and his wife, with perhaps a few others, who have given their lives to Jesus. The others have maybe adopted a hybrid practice of old and new beliefs. But because plowing has already been started, there are hearts open to seeding. As teams pray and serve, the love of Jesus is modeled. Scripture is read. The Holy Spirit envelops the place. There may not be a run on baptisms, but God’s Word will not return to him empty.

Then comes thetrip where true change is evident. The young believer who was just starting outhas matured and been harvested. He is now called to plow, sow, and water sothat an even bigger harvest can be realized.

It is rare towitness the entire process from plowing to harvest. So many things get in theway for those who are not full-time missionaries. This is where we meet at theintersection of faith and hope. It’s not necessary to be everything toeveryone. That’s God’s job. Our responsibility is to carry out whatever portionof the farming he calls us to accomplish, in the sure and certain knowledgethat he is the CEO of personal and nation changing revival.

Don’t wait forperfect weather. Ignore the cloud cover. Go out onto your street, into yourtown, through the highways and byways of your state and country, and acrossoceans. Plow in prayer. Sow in the Word. Let the Living Water flow. And trustthat there will be a harvest in God’s perfect timing.

We are, after all,called to be fishers of men. And to be farmers of souls. Amen.

Welcome to the fourth quarter of a year like none other —2020! Let us finish strong, full of faith, and see God's purposes realized bythe impact of prayer. Our September prayer focus is centered on a very special gatheringthat takes place in the nations, rather than a specific nation itself. Oh, howmuch your prayers for this month ignite my spirit! The effects of your prayerstowards the annual "Friends Around the Table" or "FATT"gatherings, touch every single place SEAPC makes a footprint on the planet.Your prayers this month touch and minister to lives in 133 nations. We are sograteful for them.

However, even more than a single gathering,"Friends" itself represents the Kingdom culture of relationship amongthis entire global community. Together, we covet the honor to be authenticFriends of Christ, which fully empowers us to be authentic Friends of eachother.

Understandably, this year has brought some adjustments and changes to the FATT 2020 gathering. However, it has only confirmed the value and strength of relationships. A core value of SEAPC is “relationship before ministry.” It is here that we actually find unprecedented success in ministry. The prayers and love for "Friends" and bringing Friends together legitimately changes nations from a holistic perspective. Please pray with us this month as important decisions are made and plans are put in place for Friends 2020 in October. Also, please keep Friends 2021 in your hearts. We are preparing for major growth steps to expand Friends Around the Table to four locations worldwide each year. The world is ripe for life-giving relationships that unify to bring about real change. 

Simply put, Friends around the Table (FATT) is an international gathering for the purpose of prayer, fellowship, and receiving vision from God for the coming year. Vital business within our Father's Kingdom takes place, and we seek to do this business in the Father's way. 

"As my Father has appointed a Kingdom and conferred it on Me, so do I confer on you, that you may eat and drink at My table in My Kingdom." Luke 22:29-30 

One of the reasons FATT is very special to many is the value placed on each Friend's place in and around the Table of the Lord. This is key. SEAPC is a circle of relationships, not a triangle of authority. When each of those relationships come around the Table—which is led and served by Christ—Heaven's abundance happens. That’s why I love the acronym FATT. It paints a picture in our hearts of God's absolute abundance for the Nations. Unity, friendship and family within Jesus unlocks plenty and prosperity.

What a time for the Body of Christ to see and experience thegoodness of the Lord's Table of common-union. There is life and refreshmentfound here that will bless and heal the nations!

Thank you for engaging in prayer for the Friends of SEAPCacross the world this month! Relationships are more vital than ever, and wethank Jesus that He has connected our hearts together with yours.

While it may feel like our world has turned completelyupside down with COVID-19, racial tensions, political unrest, joblessness, andmany other things, there are foundational truths that have not – and will never– change. Jesus is Lord over all. God is the author and creator of all things.God is in control. The enemy will never win. These are the things we must holdon to as we walk through current events day to day.

As we’ve been going and continue to go through the effects of COVID-19 and everything else, it has brought us challenges that we have never faced, as well as exaggerated the existing challenges. These challenges have brought us to the place that we always desired and worked toward: the place of developing sustainability within nations, especially in Cambodia.

For Cambodia, we feel that the time is now.

We have tried things in the past. It’s not that we haven’t.There have been chicken farms, regular farms, plans written for businesses,trainings from small business educators—but nothing had really stuck. In otherwords, the timing was not quite right. Some small individual endeavors atvarious homes have worked to provide for a special meal or smaller need, butnothing large scale has succeeded to give a foundation in sustainability.

Now, after years of raising, educating, and discipling, there are more young people within Cambodia than ever who are able to develop and sustain some sort of business in Cambodia that will provide for ministry needs. They come from both NHO and Banteay Meanchey Arise. They have attended our schools and lived in our homes. They know first-hand how the ministries they are a part of change lives, and what needs to happen so that more young people like them can have opportunities for better lives. They have the education for high level skills and the knowledge of culture and limitations to be able to creatively work through difficulties.

Overall, we have been abundantly blessed to see that theeffect of joblessness and financial downturn has not been too much on childsponsorship and providing for the needs of the children. There have been somelosses and temporary adjustments, but the vast majority of our sponsors havestayed firm. Not only have they stayed firm, but quite a few have given extrato help with the increased costs of necessities in Cambodia due to COVID-19. Inaddition, we have added some new sponsors. We have actually been sending moreto Cambodia in 2020 for providing for the needs of the homes than we have beenin previous years. However, one area that has always struggled is staffsalaries for both NHO and BC Arise. As the ministries grow, the number of staffmust increase with them. In addition, salaries for current staff need toincrease to meet the increased cost of living in Cambodia. It has beendifficult to meet those needs.

In talking with our friends, we are of the same heart and mind. Over the past couple of months, we have gathered via the internet with leaders in NHO and BC Arise. Ideas have been presented and initial business plans developed. The young leaders are excited about this opportunity to bring the ministries to a new level of operating and serving within Cambodia and abroad. They are taking their knowledge, skills, and experience and putting them together for the common goal of developing a business (or businesses) that will be making enough profit by July 2021 to provide fully for competitive salaries for all staff within BC Arise and NHO, provide a percentage toward all future construction for both ministries, and to be able to bless ministries in other nations.

That is just the starting point from which to grow. The ultimate goal is for the ministries to be so sustainable that nothing that happens can place the ministries at risk. In a world that seems to be becoming increasingly unstable, to have businesses within the nation that are providing for the ministries in the nation is a very wise action.

Right now, the team is looking into hydroponics and a printshop to start. The team is so excited that they quickly put together a smallexperiment in hydroponics to check it out. They have spent hours taking theirknowledge from their various university degrees and researching on the internetto make decisions on many different things. To put it mildly, “they arepumped!” Other potential business ideas include technology repair, datamanagement, and electricity. Variation in business is best for long-term goals.

On the SEAPC side, the team has been talking with variousbusiness leaders from around the world.  A team is coming together to walk alongsidethe team to help start and grow the businesses. This brings together theirexcitement, youth, and knowledge together with experience and further knowledgeto create the best situation possible.

We are excited and encouraged by this sustainabilityventure. Although the world may say that it is not the right time to startbusinesses, God’s kingdom says that the right time is when He says so. We feelthat He is leading us into this time.

Please pray for the leadership team in Cambodia – PastorSinai, Oudom, Veha, and Sokhom—as they lead this venture, which will ultimatelyaffect thousands of lives.

You knit me together in my mother’s womb. You saw me before I was born.

Psalm 139:13, 16

“Be here at 7:00 AM.” Dr. Sarahleft us in the garden after dinner.

Night fell quickly over John BishopMemorial Hospital (JBM) in Anantnag, Jammu-Kashmir, India. It had been a busyday of travel for the medical mission team. We met Dr. Sarah, head of the110-year-old Christian obstetrical hospital, and organized to begin clinics inthe region. The guesthouse on the hospital grounds made it easy to meet in the morning.The beds were very comfortable, air cool, blankets warm.

The sun peeked over the mountaintopas we straggled into the garden filled with the heady scent of blooming red andyellow roses. Jet lag and the general confusion of getting started in anunfamiliar place had us there a little after 7:00 for what we had assumed wouldbe a tour of the facility.

A young woman in scrubs ran intothe small, grassy area. “Hurry. You are late!”

She rushed us into the hospital buildingand shoved packages at us. “Put these on. Hurry!”

Inside the blue wrappings werecloth surgical gowns, masks, gloves, hats, and shoe covers. We fumbled into thegarb, helping one another to tie the ties, laughing at the sight we had become,wondering what would happen next. The young woman returned and ushered us intoanother room—a delivery room.

Dr. Sarah stood on one side of thetable with a nurse on the other side. She didn’t greet us, intent on theincision she was making in the abdomen of the woman lying there. We moved outof the way and watched. Seconds later, instead of holding a scalpel, Dr.Sarah’s gloved hands reached into the woman and emerged with a baby. A lustycry filled the delivery suite. New life had emerged from the darkness of thewomb into the light. The cord was cut, the mother greeted her newborn daughter,and the nurse hurried the child to a vintage bassinette right beside me.

The nurse dressed the infant inlayers of clothing, wrapped her in a thick blanket, and then went to fill outpaperwork, leaving me alone. I grazed the soft cheek and laid my hand on thenow-sleepy baby. And lifted this new life in prayer to Jesus with an intensitythat surprised me.

As I prayed, it occurred to me thatGod could use this one life to change a nation, starting with her family.Although Muslim, her mother and father had come to a Christian hospital for herbirth and for care. Their hearts were in some way open. And where an openingexists, the Holy Spirit can come in.

Even as I prayed, my mindenvisioned a Kashmir—an entire India—where the first cry of a baby became thefirst cry of souls hungry for the Lord. This child, barely three minutes old,could be a drop of Jesus rippling through her family, her village, her state,and her nation. Far-fetched? From a human perspective, certainly. From God’salmighty vision and plan? Just an inkling of what His power could accomplish.

Soon enough the nurse returned,other team members crowded around the bassinette, and the moment passed. We sawmom and baby the next day in the ward before we left the hospital. I stoppedlong enough to pray with them. Although the prayer was in English, this motherunderstood that it was being sent to Jesus on behalf of her family and herchild. 

What does this touching—but random—encountermean to anyone else? Maybe nothing. After all, no one reading this will evermeet this baby, watch as she grows up, know what happens to her. It’s just amission story. Or is it?

The key to medical missions—allmissions—is not stuff, money, or even teaching. It is relationship. What wepresent is ourselves, the temple of the Holy Spirit. We carry Him with us. Hetouches those we touch. He holds those we hold. He hears the first cry of thosewho cry out to us. And He uses us as witnesses to the many who are potentialworkers for the harvest.

The staff at JBM needs you to pray,as they are a Christian presence in a Muslim region. Turmoil surrounds them inthe form of ongoing war, virus, government mandates, and shortages of supplies.We who have been blessed are called to listen for God’s call as to how we eachfit into His perfect plan.

The small life that took a firstbreath, uttered a first cry, experienced her first prayer that day in ahospital set amidst sheep herds and towering mountain peaks is today two yearsold. I imagine her toddling around her house in bare feet, starting to babblein Kashmiri or Urdu, eating a fistful of rice.

Does she know Jesus? Theintroduction has been made. His Word will not return to Him empty. Because Heknew this child before He ever knit her together in her mother’s womb.

Everything begins with a singlemoment. Be part of that moment as we stand in the gap and pray for this nation.Your first cry in prayer might be theone that sends ripples of Jesus throughout India.

And Elijah arose and ate and drank, and went in the strength of that food forty days and nights to Horeb, the mount of God.

1 Kings 19:8

Numbers have meaning, even to the math-challenged. The world couldn’t run without them. Big numbers are great if it’s a bank balance. Not so much with age. Those who approach their 40^th birthday do so amidst groans of, “I’m getting so old.” As the birthday numbers continue to rise year after year, forty seems young.

In the Bible, numbers carry significant meaning. “One” is independent, only divisible by itself—as in the Godhead, three in one. “Two” denotes companionship and witness—two become one flesh, two angels at the tomb. “Seven” is the number of completion—on the 7^th day God rested from Creation, seven covenants of God with man. It’s fascinating to look behind the numbers, which often have more significance than their quantitative value.

Pray Americas is now in its fifth week. One more to go. But why didn’t we plan for a single, intense week? Or how about an intense month? Both seem neater, easier to manage. But forty it is, and for good reason. This number is especially pervasive in Scripture and connected to consecration and the fulfillment of God’s promises

There are numerous events in the Bible that happen over forty days or forty years—157 in all. Some are legalistic. Forty days after birth, a male child was dedicated to God. Some are historical. Moses lived in Egypt for forty years and then in the desert for forty years before God’s call to lead his people out of slavery. And then there are the Jesus forty. He fasted in the wilderness and was tempted for forty days. And after his resurrection he taught his disciples for forty days before ascending to heaven.

Each Biblical instance when things happen in the realm of forty, it is a time of testing, trial, and preparation. And so it is with Pray Americas. Much has already been poured into the effort. How has that been working?

Although the United States is a majority Christian nation, simply identifying as “Christian” is not the same as practicing as such. The testing of the past many years has culminated at this point in history in a multitude of shared national trials. Unless you’ve been living in a cave without Wi-Fi for the past six months, you get it. Pandemic. Brutality. Riots. Anarchy. Poverty. Disenfranchisement. Fear. Racism. Disunity. To name a few.

It’s so easy to say, “Nothing is impossible with God.” And that’s true. It’s also true that there is an important if in 2 Chronicles 7:14. Summarized, God says that IF my people pray, seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear, forgive, and heal their land. We are called to pray. Yes, God can do anything. Yes, sometimes He acts in mercy even when we don’t come to Him first. But the default is this: pray continually.

The forty days of Pray Americas is preparation, a biblically-based season set aside to reach out in faith on behalf of our nation. Think big, start small. Jesus taught and prayed with his small group of disciples for forty days before he ascended. Then they went out and through the power of the Holy Spirit changed the world.

Walking and praying begins in neighborhoods, communities, cities, counties, and states. With prayer warriors in every state at every level, intercession is rising to God. One prayer at a time. One person at a time. To one God for all time. We are already seeing God change the United States in positive, holy ways. Doing so over forty days is firmly rooted in Scripture.

If you haven’t yet joined in, find out more about the remaining days of prayer on the website. It’s never too late. Sign up to prayer walk. Connect with others who are longing for us to be one nation under God. Indivisible. With liberty and justice for all. Lofty goals. An even loftier empowerment by the One who creates, saves, and guides.

Be humble. Pray. Seek the Lord. Stand in the gap to turn our nation away from its wicked ways. And God will hear from heaven. He will forgive. And He will heal our land.

We have forty days. It’s not just a number.Let’s make each one count!