Prayer requests

The PrayerLine


Wednesday, May 14, 2008

“…Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us” (Hebrews 12:13b, KJV).

Dear Intercessors, this is Eleanor Witcher of the International Prayer Strategy Office, challenging you to pray for sports ministries.

International Service Corps workers make a difference in the missionary task. They bring enthusiasm and new ideas to reach people groups for Christ. Rhonda Criswell will be leaving language school in Costa Rica to begin her time in Uruguay in the area of sports evangelism. Pray for her, as she will be working with both the Urban and Criollo teams of Uruguay to start new outreach groups through sports exhibitions, clinics and impacts. Also, she will work alongside the Uruguayan national convention, regional associations, and local churches to plan and to train other sports workers to start new outreach groups.

Please also pray for Persians working in the world of sports in Iran. There are well-developed professional clubs such as soccer, basketball and volleyball, as well as many recreational leagues. Iran has an organized Olympic committee and is known for strong programs of wrestling, weightlifting and Tae Kwon Do. Persian athletes, coaches, team managers and sports administrators are often well-traveled and have more diverse experiences than the typical Persian. Ask God to use these experiences to prick their hearts so that they might recognize their need for Him.

Intercede for a group of Chinese Christian youth in the Pacific Rim who are reaching across their ethnicity to play soccer with a group of Indian children. Ask that the Christian youth will be encouraged and challenged to share their story. Pray that the young Indian boys will see a way of life and joy for which they will hunger.

* Please pray for salvation to be proclaimed and joyfully received through sports evangelism.

* Intercede that God will open opportunities for sharing the Gospel at the 2008 Olympics in China.

* Let us personally run with patience the race that is set before us.

You can receive the PrayerLine directly through e-mail by signing up for the IMB's free Mailing List service.