According to my plans, I was supposed to be preaching in the Philippines today and hosting Spiritual Leadership Asia Conference next week. A few weeks ago, however, I was disappointed when we had to make the difficult decision to postpone the conference due to the coronavirus. (Read a detailed explanation of this decision here.)
There were thousands of pastors, missionaries, Bible college students, and ministry leaders from over fifty countries who were registered to attend the conference. I, along with many others, had been praying that the Lord would use this conference to make a sizable impact across Asia for the sake of the gospel. The 10/40 Focus Nations, which we were targeting through this conference, includes over 5.3 billion people across the continents of Asia and Africa, a vast majority of whom have never heard a clear presentation of the gospel. It is a region that is home to all of the alternate religions, intense spiritual warfare, much persecution, and a scarcity of Christian workers and resources.
Since the postponement of the conference, however, we see another—perhaps even greater—opportunity to impact this region of the world with the gospel. And that is through the power of prayer.
We are asking Christians around the world to partner with us in a week of prayer, March 8–15, 2020, concentrated on the spread of the gospel throughout the 10/40 focus nations.
Who knows but that the difficult cancellation of the conference may be a tool God uses to renew the fervent prayers of multiplied thousands of His people for those who have never heard the gospel?
If you have a heart for missions and a heart for souls in this region, we would like to invite you to partner with us in this week of prayer for the 10/40 Focus Nations.
Here’s how you can be a part:
1. Sign up. Visit the conference website to sign up for daily emails with five specific prayer points each day. You will also receive computer and phone screensavers, that can serve as prayer reminders throughout the week.
2. Set your phone alarm. We are encouraging people to set an alarm for 10:40 a.m. or p.m. as a daily reminder to a season of fervent prayer.
3. Invite others. Share this blog post or the signup link with others, inviting them to join you in this coordinated prayer effort. If you are a pastor, consider engaging your church family this Sunday in a commitment to pray with us.
Join me in a week of prayer for the 10/40 focus nations. Sign up here: Share on X4. Pray. God promises us in James 5:16, “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” Please pray with us that the Lord will raise an abundance of labourers to take the message of the gospel throughout this region of the 10/40 focus nations.
Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.—Matthew 9:37–38
