Guest post by Dolores M. from Westside Bible Church in Victoria, BC.
I am an elderly believer who has served my Lord in various ways for many, many years. With increasing limitations on my physical and mental abilities, there is still an important area of ministry the Lord has for me: prayer.
From the comfort of my Canadian Christianity, God called me to pray for the persecuted church. Many of the persecuted church have had to flee for their lives from their home countries, becoming refugees.
For quite a number of years I have been part of a weekly Bible study with a treasured group of women. When it comes to application of Biblical truths, we are often challenged to obey in new areas of life.
One week I shared that I had started praying, in general, for the persecuted Church. One of the young women of our group suggested it may be better to pray for specific believers in this situation. She said she was sure her Mom could put me in touch with some. Her Mom just happens to be Susan Davis, AGC Compassion and Justice Co-ordinator. Well, I did.
So far, Susan has provided me information so I can pray for 3 refugee families specifically - by name, for their particular needs. They are each hiding while they wait for a welcoming country/community where they can worship and live again in freedom. With the information provided, I started to pray for these families and even let them know I was praying for them via e-mail. In turn they have let me know more about their specific needs as time has passed.
We have seen God answer our prayers in the most amazing and often unexpected ways. One family’s rent was overdue by 3 months and they had been threatened with eviction. We prayed and someone in the USA provided the funds. When finally paying his overdue rent, the father witnessed to the landlord that his God is great and would provide the rent again next time. He gave “All praise to God!” My heart did too.
As God has answered our prayers, I have witnessed how these persecuted believers have given the praise and glory to God. In the midst of their hardship, these families are looking to their Lord who loves and cares for them. They are living for long periods of time in a single room, some for 6 or 7 years. Some for longer. What an example of endurance! In their waiting God is working.
How humbling it was for me when one father asked how he could pray for my family. Here was a brother-in-Christ, with so little, showing his love for a fellow believer.
Being part of this prayer ministry has increased my compassion for persecuted believers, deepened my gratitude to God for who He is, and enlivened my faith. The power of prayer is great. I have witnessed it in the lives of these refugee families.
“Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters. 2 Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it. 3 Continue to remember those in prison as if you were together with them in prison, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.” Hebrews 13:1-3