Prayers for our ministry:
Open Doors and Boldness in Witness – Pray that God would provide us many opportunities to share the gospel boldly, unashamedly, and with joy to our neighbors in eastern Chad, so that His word may be spread and glorified.
Protection – Pray that we will be protected against the schemes of Satan as we take Light into dark places. Ask God to protect us physically from harm while travelling and from serious illness.
Persons of Peace – Ask God to provide “people of peace” (Luke 10:6) who allow us access into their homes, neighborhoods, and villages in order to reach many people with the gospel. Pray that the life-changing news of the gospel would go beyond just our immediate contacts. Pray that those people would in turn share the stories and truths we tell them to their family, friends, and neighbors so that many have to opportunity to hear and respond to the message of the gospel.
God’s Guidance – Pray for God to give us immeasurable wisdom and discernment as we make decisions, both large and small. From knowing who might be truly seeking Christ to who may only be seeking the material benefits we can offer to which people group and villages on which to focus our time and energy. Pray that God will provide us words that communicate effectively in the culture and language(s) in which we will be ministering.
Language Acquisition – As you know, we spent close to a year learning French in order to conduct governmental business in Chad. Next, we need to learn Chadian Arabic, the trade language of most of the population. Down the road, we will also focus on a tribal language in order to share the gospel with people in their “heart language.” It takes a lot of time, energy, and dedication to learn a language and we recognize that it is the grace of God who has blessed us with minds to be able to put together the pieces of the language puzzle. Pray that God would give us clear minds and good memories as we have much farther to go in the realm of language learning!
Financial Needs – Pray that God would continue to use his Church to faithfully support our ministry financially so that we can stay on the field, doing His work.
Teammates – Ask God to provide like-minded teammates, both singles and families, who can work alongside us with a common vision. Pray for us to have wisdom as we choose teammates.
Pray that God would use our ministry to mobilize many others into missions.
Prayers for our personal and family needs:
Health – Living in Africa will undoubtedly include a share of sickness. Pray that we will be joyful under these trials when they come, that we can trust God’s goodness even when we feel horrible, and that God will keep us healthy and free from any serious illnesses that would prevent us from continuing in the ministry in Chad.
Children – Pray for our boys to recognize their need for a Savior, to be an effective witness to their friends in Chad, for God to show Himself faithful to them despite the constant transitions and goodbyes their life will hold, and for us as their parents to be loving, patient, and wise as we homeschool and seek to raise them to fear the Lord.
Marriage – Ask God to draw us closer to one another, to love and respect each other. Pray for God to use our marriage to point many in Chad to the relationship Christ has with His Bride, the Church.
Refreshment/Relationship with God -Pray that we will guard our time in prayer and the Word, making it a priority and knowing that it is our lifeline to thriving in ministry and life. Pray that God will provide opportunities for us to spend time with other believers and that He will provide times of peace and relaxation to refresh us.
Relationships with family in America – saying goodbye to our loved ones is never easy. Pray for us to maintain close relationships with relatives and that God would comfort our grieving hearts (and our parents).
Relationships with our supporters –Pray for us to know how to communicate effectively to you what God is doing in Chad, what the needs are, how you can be involved. Thank God for your part in this ministry! We pray that your heart will be encouraged and challenged as you walk this road with us.
Some helpful resources on praying for missionaries:
https://www.wycliffe.org/prayer/why-pray-details/how-to-pray-for-missionaries
http://www.encompassworldpartners.org/prayer-news/30-ways-to-pray-for-missionaries