Praying for Gospel Opportunities

From April to June, the church is participating in the ¡§Richmond Gospel Campaign¡¨ organized by the Short Term Missionary Centre. Thank God! Around 30 of our members are knocking on doors and handing out gospel tracts during different sessions each week. According to the Centre¡¦s enumeration, 4 local churches are participating this season. As of May 6, 294 people were involved in the door-to-door evangelism. They approached 681 persons, resulting in 129 instances of evangelization. 30 of these individuals expressed a longing for the Truth, and one person became a believer. During last week¡¦s outreach activity, our members led 2 to conversion. Thank God for giving us the opportunity to sow the gospel seed, and to experience the joy of harvest. May all glory be to our Lord!

The writer deeply senses the close relationship between prayer and gospel opportunities. I remember the first day I went out with the team to knock on doors. Of 10 door bells rung, not one dwelling had a person responding. It was rather a frustrating homecoming. After self-examination, I realized that it could be the consequence of a lack of ardent prayer. So before each subsequent dispatch, I prayed much harder for that day¡¦s venture. Sure enough, more gospel opportunities would be encountered on that occasion.

When Jesus Christ, the Son of God became flesh and preached the gospel of the Kingdom of God on earth, He was also a man of prayer (Mark 1:35, 6:46; Luke 5:16, 9:18). He prayed when He was baptized (Luke 3:21). Prior to picking the 12 apostles, He prayed through the night before making His decision (Luke 6:12). In the teachings of our Lord to His disciples, He discoursed more on praying than on listening to sermons. He taught us to pray to our Heavenly Father (Luke 11:1-2), to supplicate in His name (John 14:13-14), and He admonished us to have the proper attitude when praying (Matthew 6:5-8, 21:22; Mark 11:23). He used parables to encourage us to always pray and not give up (Luke 18:1), and reminded us to cast out demons through prayer (Matthew 17:21). He prayed for little children and laid His hand on them to bless them (Matthew 19:13), and also led His disciples together in prayer (Luke 9:28). He Himself confronted the suffering of the Cross through praying (Matthew 26:36-44), and prayed for the believers (John 17:20). Even now, Christ has not stopped interceding for us in Heaven (Hebrews 7:25). We see then how important prayer is to the lives and testimonies of God¡¦s children on earth.

Prayer and evangelism are even more intimately entwined. Just as Paul asked the church at Corinth to support the gospel work of the missionaries through prayers, he recognized that the concerted praying of the whole church will assist the spread of the gospel. ¡§As you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many.¡¨ (2 Corinthians 1:11) He encouraged the church at Colosse to pray for missionaries, so that they may clearly proclaim the mystery of Christ and receive more opportunities from God to do their work. ¡§Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should.¡¨ (Colossians 4:2-4) For God listens to the prayers of believers, so that the Truth may be spread rapidly (2 Thessalonians 3:1). Praying is not reciting a spell, yet the expression of reliance on God by a believer through prayer is very important.

Dear brothers and sisters, the writer wishes that everyone will seize more of these opportunities to testify for the Lord, and try most earnestly to join the door-knocking evangelism or our monthly mall outreach. Set yourself a numerical goal of participation in gospel preaching each month. If you really cannot be physically involved, at least endeavour to pray each day for the church¡¦s gospel work and petition God for gospel opportunities. This way, we will surely see more of the handiwork of our Lord. ¡§Will you help us by your prayers?¡¨

By: Daniel To

Peace Evangelical Church of Richmond Vancouver

May 28, 2006