Reading in Acts 1, the disciples had been told by Jesus to “not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about.” Then in verse 8, just before ascending into heaven, he charges them, “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” In verse 12 the 11 disciples do return to Jerusalem, and then we come to verse 14: They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.
Then later, as Paul (Saul) and Barnabas are set aside by the Holy Spirit and sent off by the church in Antioch on a missionary trip to Asia, we read in Acts 13: 2-3, While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” 3 So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off.
Our point? The “Great Commission” given to all Christians by Jesus has always been “bathed” in fervent prayer and fasting, from the praying of the apostles and first Christians for the arrival of the Holy Spirit in the 10 days leading up to Pentecost to their being set aside and sent out to this very day. God still sets us aside in response to our prayers, guides our choices and paths forward in response to our prayers, prepares us in response to our prayers, and send us off in response to our prayers and fasting. In short, PRAYER AND FASTING HAVE ALWAYS BEEN AND WILL ALWAYS BE AN ESSENTIAL COMPONENT AND ENABLER of extending Jesus to the world! God “moves” when whole churches fervently pray and fast.
Thank you so very much for your prayers for us and others in the carrying out of Jesus’ Great Commission!!
MARCH PRAISES & PRAYER POINTS
- For years we have been asking for your prayers as we seek land on which to establish a permanent children’s and youth camp/retreat center in middle Chile. Domingo’s and Sandra’s daughter Viky was recently contacted by a Chilean real estate agent that she has been in communication with that there is a good-sized parcel of land for sale near Licantén (the site of our second children’s camp last month) with access to water and a river. We have an appointment to go with Viky on March 10 to see it if it is still available. We will worship with the church in Licantén that weekend and then go to view the land. Thank you for praying for this possibility that God has set up.
- We give thanks for a recent 10-day visit of a young Christian couple, Mark & Ellie and their one-year-old son. They embody the Christian’s response to Jesus’ charge to the original disciples and Christians to go and they feel led to serve him in another country. They in turn felt guided to check out Chile first. Very cool! 😊 Their time with us was very blessed and through all of their and our joined prayers on their behalf, God WILL lead them forward to where they will continue to serve him according to his will and plan for them. Their life journey is another example of God’s response to fervent prayer in setting aside, guiding, preparing and sending his followers out. Please join us in praying for their (and others like them) path forward.
We give thanks and praise for the February 27th 52 baptisms (41 men and 11 women) of men (and wives) participating in the drug & alcohol rehabilitation program at the Casa del Alfarero (House of the Potter) Christian live-in center for men where Jack is involved once per month in their morning devotions. It was a beautiful day of celebration and family. The program at the center runs a full nine months and is geared toward the entire family, focused on nothing less than the “rebuilding and re-birth and life” of the men. Thank you for praying for these men’s and their families’ going forward.
Please pray for the last few weeks of Camila’s pregnancy and safe birth of their first child, Santiago. She is due around the 25th of March. Cesar & Camila are the couple who live on our mission property and handle all details of mothers and children who come to one of our houses while in Santiago for the long-term medical treatment of their child.
Praising, praying, and fasting to the One, True, “Responding & Commission-Completing” God,
Chile Mission 