PARTNER WITH ACCI & PRAY FOR THE NATIONS

Partner with ACCI and Pray for the Nations

We believe one of the most effective ways to reach our world is to pray. When we pray, doors open, hearts soften and strongholds break. Prayer creates room for God to move and for the work we do to have a lasting impact.

'All missions are built on a foundation of prayer,' says ACCI Director John Hunt. 'It doesn’t matter how altruistic we are or how high our objectives are, without prayer it’s all going to come to naught.

'Please join with us in praying for our workers and their families, and for God’s will to be done throughout the earth.'

The importance of prayer to our field workers ACC EMag asked four field workers what prayer means to them and a testimony of how prayer has made a difference in their lives or ministries. We also asked for their current prayer needs. Here’s what they shared.

ALISON ATKINSON, SRI LANKA The prayer support of the Church is invaluable to us. Prayer connects the missions of the world and the Church together in partnership, so we can reach out and preach the gospel to all of creation. Through prayer, the Church gets closer to God’s heart for the world and is more aware of what is happening in the nations. Prayer definitely makes a difference!

The power of prayer: In September 2022, I was operated on for thyroid cancer. The fear that comes with this journey was overwhelming and literally crippled every part of my life. I believe it was the prayers of many that carried me through this time and gave me a wonderful sense of peace during this life-threatening storm. Today, I have recovered and received the best report from my doctor, but I know it was the prayers that opened up the doors of heaven and God has healed me and blessed me! Grateful!

Current prayer needs: The people of Sri Lanka facing a devastating economic crisis. Protection, good health and supernatural provision for team members. Greater impact through projects in 2023; and for churches in Sri Lanka to become a loud voice of hope throughout the nation.

PENNY NAKANISHI, JAPAN As a church planter in a previously unchurched area in rural Japan, there is a lot of un-ploughed land. It is very hard soil. Spiritually speaking, we are working on the front lines of enemy territory. It is only through intercessory prayer that any progress can be made at all. I consider intercessory prayer the most important thing I can do. However, living in a culture for a long time it is easy to become desensitised to the spiritual realities and become blind or just accept the spiritual climate for how it is. When people outside of the culture look in, they can often see things that long-term missionaries take for granted as the norm. They can pray with fresh eyes, which is a great blessing.

The power of prayer: When we were in the middle of our building project, we met on several occasions especially to pray that financial deadlines be met, and that we would be able to purchase Hirakawa city’s first ever permanent church building. It really did seem an impossible task in front of us. We also sent out many prayer requests for people back home to stand with us in prayer for our miracle building. God was faithful and we were able to settle the purchase of our building on Christmas Eve 2021!

Current prayer needs: More people to commit to being baptised; for strength, stamina and rest for the team; and the church’s love for Jesus to continue to grow.

RUSSELL AND JENNY BARTON, UGANDA We have always valued people that commit to praying for us and our team in Uganda. When you know people are committed to praying for you, it’s like a shield that goes before us protecting, providing and giving us strength and peace.'

The power of prayer: In November 2021, we were driving across to our community centre and church on the other side of Kampala. We had for some reason decided to travel a different route and our car radio was tuned into an English-speaking station. Three suicide bombs went off just minutes apart around Kampala; we could see smoke from one of the explosions. The news on the radio advised us of the explosions; we were supposed to be driving through one of the areas that was hit. Sometimes people say that was lucky but we know in times like that, people have been prompted to pray for us. Prayer is literally like a bulletproof vest when you're on the front line.'

Current prayer needs: Protection, safety and health.

KATE GREEN, THAILAND Prayer support for me is the most valuable support I can receive. Honestly, I have seen so many situations of breakthrough and safety when people have prayed for me. I am still here because of God’s miraculous protection and the faithfulness of prayer partners.

My daily prayer is, ‘God, please may my eyes see what You want me to see, my ears hear what You want me to hear and my heart be obedient to all that You call me to’.

The power of prayer: I work alongside the Thai/Myanmar border in Thailand. The civil war in Myanmar means many refugees run across the border into Thailand to seek refuge. I work alongside the local church, officials and community to deliver emergency aid. Every day, we pray before we leave the church to take aid.

We’ve had times where we’ve gone to go to one area and been turned away by officials. Then when we go to another area and we have had exactly what those people have needed in our trucks – right down to the community leader calling the last name on his list and our last pack in the truck going out to that family.

One particular day, we had planned to go to a military temporary refugee shelter to give clothes. As we were driving out, one of the ladies said she felt we needed to buy some bread roll snacks. We bought 1,000 and continued to the distribution centre. We drove an hour, and were 200 metres from the distribution centre when the pastor’s wife called our contact. She asked us to stop, reverse 150 metres and turn down the dirt track where we met our contact. She had come across 13 women, with all their children, who had run across the river that morning as the bombs were just on the other side. They hadn’t eaten in three days. We were able to help these women and children, and be at the right place at the right time.

Current prayer needs: For refugees and those internally displaced by Myanmar’s civil war. That our team would continue to find ways to bring hope and joy to those who have faced trauma. For team members – that they would not grow weary in doing good and continue to walk in God’s grace.