One Month Prayer Journey for Missions in Malawi Africa Thanks for joining us in this journey of prayer. We are the Menser family – Tim, Jill, Zac (15 years old, who just completed the 9th grade) and Will (10 years old, who just completed the 4th grade) and we serve as missionaries in Malawi, a small country in east Africa. During the next month we are asking you commit to pray for our family and the work the Lord has called us to do here in Malawi Africa. We are asking you to pray for the people that we have grown to love in this place. We will open each week with a brief introduction about Malawi and our work. Then, we will provide a daily guide for prayer covering a different topic each day as follows: Sundays: The nation of Malawi Mondays: The personal needs of the Menser family Tuesdays: The national churches in Malawi Wednesdays: For boldness Thursdays: For safety Fridays For the lost Saturdays: For good communication As you pray, we will be joining you in praying for your church and community along the same themes. Again, thanks for joining us. Be prepared to hear of God doing great things here, and witnessing Him doing great things in your community and in you. Week 1 Introduction and Prayer Focus Malawi is a beautiful country in Eastern Africa. The land is covered with flowers, mountains and wonderful Lake Malawi. Malawi is called the “warm heart of Africa” because the people are so kind and welcoming to all. The top agricultural products are tobacco, cotton, tea, and corn. During the summer, rainy season (November to March) nearly every open piece of land is being used to grow food. In spite of the beauty of the land and the people, Malawi faces many challenges. It is almost always listed as one of the world’s top five most impoverished nations. Because of the extreme poverty, hunger and disease are always severe challenges to the people. The average Malawian makes less than $40 per month. Many survive from day to day as they seek out “piece work” in order to raise enough money to feed their family. They try to grow enough food to eat each year; however, due to poor soil conditions, the high cost of agricultural products (seed and fertilizer), and the lack of availability of farmable land due to large population growth, farming is becoming more difficult and less reliable. Christianity has been taught for generations in Malawi as David Livingstone first brought the Gospel to Malawi in the mid 1800’s. The Gospel, however, has often been mixed in with the local customs, traditions, and superstitions creating an often confused culture which is steeped in fear and power. It is not uncommon to find a “faithful, church-going, Christian” who also visits witchdoctors and wears charms for protection from spirits. In addition to local traditional religions, there is a strong influence from Muslim and Hindu religions in Malawi. There has also been significant growth in masquerade Christian religions such as Jehovah Witnesses and Mormons as well. God called us to Malawi to teach the truth of God’s Word. He called us here to train other Malawians to serve in Christian leadership. We are here to encourage the hurting and pray for the broken. We have already seen God work in so many incredible ways. As we partner together in prayer this month, we know we will see even greater things than before. Week 1 Sunday Pray for the Nation of Malawi. Pray for the president, Bingu wa Mutharika. Pray that he would have the wisdom that he needs to lead this country. Pray against government corruption and waste. Pray for continued peace as the national elections were held in May 2009. Monday Pray for the Menser family, Tim, Jill, Zac and Will. Ask God to keep them healthy. Pray also for the health of the workers on their property (Willis and Frackson) and their families as well. Tuesday Pray for the Baptist churches (as well as other churches) in Malawi. Pray that the pastors would have the desire to study and know God’s word. Pray that they would boldly teach the truth. Pray that they would teach, shepherd and lead their churches. Pray for the Seminary which trains the pastors, that it would have the resources it needs to provide the facilities, books and other materials in order to meet the educational needs of the pastors. Wednesday Pray for boldness in sharing the Gospel. It is so easy to get busy with daily life and miss a spiritual need in the grocery store or at the market. Pray that we would always be seeking those who desire to hear the Good News and that we would share, even when it doesn’t seem convenient or practical. Thursday Pray for safety for the Menser family. Especially when traveling (either by car or by foot) on the roadways. Friday Pray for the lost of Malawi. Nearly 20% of the population is Muslim. We have three mosques in Lilongwe. Pray that they would be open and receptive to the truth that salvation only comes through a relationship with Jesus Christ. Pray that we would sow seeds that might lead to a harvest of righteousness. Saturday Pray for our ability to communicate the Gospel in the heart language of the people, Chichewa. Pray that our knowledge (and recall) of the language would grow each day. Week 2 Introduction and Prayer Focus During our time of ministry in Kentucky, we found that prayer is much easier to teach about than to actually practice. It is so easy to begin praying with really good intentions only to quickly become distracted. Before you realize it, you are doing something else and the prayer time is long gone. We have always admired the great spiritual giants who would speak of hours in prayer. Many times we, however, find it difficult to stay focused. Finally, we began to figure out the problem. First, we have often tried to model our prayer life after others, rather than after Jesus. Jesus said in Matthew 6:7 “And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words.” He goes on to model prayer for us by using just slightly more than 50 words. We have found that we need to pay more attention to that prayer. We need to more fully understand Paul’s teaching in I Thessalonians 5:17 to “pray continually” – to spend our day in His presence, taking needs to Him moment by moment, rather than in one long, three hour marathon at the beginning of the day. Learning to pray all day has taught us to constantly depend on our Father in Heaven as we carry out the work to which He has called us. St. Augustine said it this way, “Pray as though everything depended on God, and work as though everything depended on you.” The problem, according to Warren Wiersbe, is that “we approach prayer with little sense of urgency and danger because most of us are comfortable in our Christian walk. If more of God’s people were witnessing for Christ in daily life, there would be more urgency and blessings” in our prayer life. When the disciples prayed, they knew they were totally dependent on the power of God to carry out their calling. It is interesting that they never asked God to change their circumstances or keep them safe. They asked God to empower them to make the best use of their circumstances and to accomplish their task according to God’s plan. “Do not pray for easy lives,” writes Phillips Brooks. “Pray to be stronger men and women.” Do not ask for protection, according to Wiersbe, ask for power. You will notice that at times we will ask you to pray for protection for our family. We believe that prayer is biblical (Matthew 6:13b “deliver us from the evil one” as an example). However, we ask that the focus of your prayer to be for power. Power for our family as we serve Christ here in Malawi, power for your church in your community, and power in your own life as you walk with Him daily by serving Him and sharing your faith. Week 2 Sunday Pray for a good harvest in Malawi. Most Malawians depend on a strong harvest for the food they eat. If the harvest is poor, many will die of starvation. Pray that the corn will be full and will be protected from pests and disease. Pray that the harvest will be abundant so there will be food left over for the storehouse, and the children will have plenty to eat. Monday Pray for Tim, Jill, Zac and Will. Pray that they will grow in their love for the Lord. Pray that they would hide God’s word in their hearts and seek to obediently follow him in all of their steps. Tuesday Pray for the churches in Malawi. Pray that the church members will be obedient in giving so that God may bless them. Pray that the churches will have the resources they need in order to support their leaders and maintain their building (if they have one). Pray for the financial needs of the seminary. Wednesday Pray for boldness in confronting evil. Pray for the Mensers to have discernment and wisdom as they encounter evil of all kinds. Pray that they would speak truth in such circumstances and would witness God’s power at work as His word is spoken in the presence of evil. Thursday Pray for safety in our home and yours. Pray that at night as we sleep, that we would be able to rest knowing full well that we are resting in the arms of our Heavenly Father. Pray that we would be kept safe from anyone who would intend us harm. Friday Pray for the lost in Malawi. Pray specifically for the Hindu. Pray that they would understand that there is only one God, and He loves them and desires a relationship with them. Pray that they would trust that only through Jesus can their sins be washed away. Saturday Pray for our communication skills with the Father. Pray that we would grow in prayer as we pray for the people in Malawi, our missionary friends across the globe, and our friends and family back home. Pray that we would seek Him first in all of our challenges and victories. Week 3 Introduction and Prayer Focus Malawi is the land of lakes and mountains. We have talked about the beauty of the land and in the people. Most of the year (April through October) the sun shines and the temperatures are in the mid 70’s (at times a little hotter or a little cooler). Even on the Malawian flag, there is a picture of a rising sun. There are children everywhere. At first glance, one might wonder if there could be a more joyful place than this. However, behind the smiles, hidden by the beauty, you will find a land filled with brokenness, sorrow, fear and tragedy. Part of the problem is disease. Due to impact of the HIV/AIDS pandemic, the constant struggle with malaria, the poor sanitary conditions, and the lack of medical care due to poverty, the average life expectancy in Malawi is 37. With so many people dying at a young age, we have an abundance of orphans throughout Malawi. Death is our constant companion here as there are funerals and mourning every day. There is a road in Lilongwe that the missionaries call “Coffin Road.” It is so named because lining the road is one carpenter’s shop after another making and selling coffins – big coffins and small coffins. They are always busy, always struggling to meet the demands of yet another funeral. In America, we have a saying that “tomorrow is never promised.” Here it is more than a saying, it is a reality. The other part of the problem is the darkness of the enemy. Satan has done a great job of masquerading as an angel of light in this place. He has confused the faith with worship of ancestors, allegiance to witchdoctors, involvement with witchcraft, and living in constant fear of evil spirits. The end result is that the people live in defeat. While they may smile, sing, and dance, they are constantly searching for an anchor of hope. They are looking for power over the darkness. The greatest need in Africa in not more money or more medicine, the greatest need is truth. They have heard the name Jesus, but many have never been confronted with the Gospel (through discipleship) in such a way that would help them understand that it is necessary to turn away from the darkness in order to face the light. They have been told about Jesus and given many great gifts by missionaries, but they have never been taught how to follow Him and depend upon Him for their daily needs. This week, as you think about the Malawi sunshine, pray for God’s light to shine in the hearts of the Malawian people. Pray that we will have the courage to shine his penetrating light in the dark places. Week 3 Sunday Pray for the health of the people of Malawi. Diseases, such as Malaria, TB, chronic diarrhea, malnutrition and HIV/AIDS are claiming so many lives each day. Pray for sanitary conditions and needed medical resources for this country. Pray for the doctors who serve here. Pray also that more doctors would respond to the call to serve here in Malawi. Pray for God’s healing hand to cure and to comfort those who are sick. Monday Pray for the Mensers. Pray that their social needs would be met as they continue to build new friendships with the local Malawians as well with other missionaries. Tuesday Pray that the local churches in Malawi would grow in discipleship. Pray that the local Malawians would turn away from false teachings and the evil traditions of the past generations and fully turn toward the Lord. Pray that the seminary would be diligent in teaching the Word of God and would communicate the urgency of purity in doctrine to the students. Wednesday Pray that the Menser family would have the boldness they need to teach and speak truth in all circumstances. Thursday Pray that the Mensers would be protected from those who intend evil in any and all circumstances. Friday Pray for the lost in Malawi, especially those involved in traditional and tribal religions. Pray that those involved in witchcraft would come to know the truth and be saved. Pray that those who put their trust in witchdoctors and charms would trust the only one who can protect them and save them – Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Saturday Pray for the Mensers to be able to maintain good solid communication with the churches in America. Pray that we would be able to clearly communicate the needs so that others may respond as God leads – in praying, giving, and going. Pray that we would have good reliable services such as electricity, internet, computer equipment, and telephones so that good communication would be possible. Week 4 Introduction and Prayer Focus As we enter into this final week of our partnership in prayer, we want to invite you to begin to turn your focus back to your own community. As you have prayed for the needs in Malawi, begin to look around and examine the needs in your own community. God has called each of us to be “on mission” with Him. Some, like our family, are called “to the ends of the earth.” But many are called to stay and serve right where they are. Consider how your commitment to missions, both at home and abroad might grow in the upcoming months and years. Carefully examine your life, your finances, and your time – in what ways are you investing in His Kingdom? As you consider your next step in serving Him, we want to remind you of seven truths about evangelism. 1) God is patient as he waits for the lost to come to know Him. 2) The “Good News” of salvation must also include the “Bad News” about sin. 3) The way to reach the masses is to start by reaching your neighbor. 4) The best way to defend your faith is by living a changed life. 5) Whenever God blesses, Satan shows up to oppose the work and quiet the witness. Often he uses religious people to do his work. 6) God has promised to bless and use His Word, so we should know and share it. 7) The name of Jesus still has power! (Adapted from Be Dynamic by Warren W. Wiersbe) We pray that you have seen God at work in your community and your life already this month. If you haven’t, then ask Him specifically to reveal Himself to you this week. Ask Him to show you something that only He can do. Then, watch for Him. God desires more than anything to be known by you. If you do not know Him (if you do not trust Him or do not follow Him), He will be faithful to show Himself to you in a real way. You must simply ask. We pray not just for your community, we pray for you, that you would know Him as we have come to know Him, as mzanga (my friend) and as a Atate Wakuwamba (Father in Heaven). We pray that you will know that Yesu amakukondani (Jesus, he is always loving you). Thank you for praying. We thank our Lord always as we remember you in our prayers. Zikomo Kwambiri (thank you very much). Week 4 Sunday Ask God to heal the biggest “disease” of Malawi – poverty. Ask God to help the people become dependent upon their own abilities in Him rather than on the gifts and resources of others. Pray that industry would grow and jobs would be available to the people. Pray for people to be good managers of their resources. Monday Pray for the Menser family. Pray for their financial support as the markets continue to go down, and the US dollar weakens. Pray for the Lottie Moon offering (thanks to those who have given). Pray that it would continue to grow as we strive to send out even more missionaries to shine the light of God in a dark and lost world. Pray for the IMB organization as they undergo change and transition, so that we might more effectively reach out to everyone on the globe with the Good News of Jesus. Tuesday Pray for the national churches in Malawi. Pray that the pastors as well as the laity would be faithful to witness and reach out to the lost. The true test of our effectiveness as missionaries comes when we see Malawians reaching and discipling other Malawians. Wednesday Pray that we would grow in boldness in our study of God’s word and in our prayer life. Thursday Pray for our safety as we encounter officials. While many are good, some are corrupt. Pray that we would have discernment and wisdom, and that the Lord would protect us from being taken advantage of or falsely accused. Friday Pray for the lost of Malawi. Pray specifically for those who have been misled by false teachings. Also pray for those who have become enslaved by alcohol, drug use and other addictions. Pray that they would be set free by the Redeemer. Pray that they would find peace and hope in Jesus. Saturday Pray for the Mensers as they communicate with the national Malawians. Pray that we will build solid relationships with Baptist leaders and pastors. Pray that we will be able to clearly communicate the Gospel to the lost. Pray that we will clearly communicate His Word so that the saved will grow. |
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