I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone. 1 Tim. 2:1
This month has been a month of prayer. A month of petitions. A month of requests. A month of intercession. And a month of thanksgiving. I think I have ‘talked’ to God more this month in regards to other people than I have ever before.
When we arrived at our ministry site, we go through orientation and learn that we will be going to the bars 4 times a week (2 times at night and 2 times during the day) and that we will be having intercession 5 times a week. I had a couple first thoughts.
1. Yay! I have wanted to incorporate more prayer into my life.
2. I thought this was bar ministry, why are we spending more time at our house in prayer than actually on the streets and in the bars?
As we began ministry, it soon became clear to me why intercession was so important. Thailand is a dark country. A county spiritually lost and misguided by Buddhism. Thailand is a place dominated by the sex industry and human trafficking.
Thailand needs hope.
Thailand needs truth.
Thailand needs life.
Thailand needs light.
Thailand needs God.
Thailand needs prayer.
I have always heard Christian organizations and missions say the phrase, “This is a battle- and we are on the winning side.” And it has never been real to me until this month. This is a spiritual battle like none I have encountered before. Prayer and intercession are needed if we are going to make it through this.
The time spent in intercession- pretty much benefits everyone. And I am asking you to join us in prayer for this ministry. You don’t have to be here to pray for the women. I am sure all of us are posting enough blogs that you can get a sense of what is going on here. Prayer can be done anytime, anywhere, and with anyone. Yeah I would love to get out there and rescue girls from the bars and for all the bars to close, but it won’t happen with one person. But when we all join together in prayer, great things are going to happen, because:
Our God is Greater.
Our God is Stronger.
Our God is Healer.
Our God is Redeemer.
Our God is Savior.
Our God is Love.
And Awesome in Power.
And if our God is for us, then who can ever stop us,
And if our God is with us, then what can stand against?
NOTHING! (cliché, I know – but it’s so true!)
Here are things we are praying for and would love for you to join in with us:
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Pray for spiritual, emotional, physical and mental strength for us as we go into the bars. - Pray for the women in the bars. That they would see the love and truth of God.
- Pray that there would be open doors and opportunities for the women to get out of the bar life.
- Pray for the presence of the Lord to fill bar street like never before.
- Pray for the kids who are born into this lifestyle, have to experience these terrible things and have no other place to go except to sell flowers on bar street.
- Pray for the bar owners- who make money off of selling out the women. Pray that truth and salvation would come to them. They have such an influence in the bar scene.
- Pray for Lightouse In Action as they reach out in multiple ways to the women and the bars.
- Pray for the men who are half of the issue. Pray for restored lives and open eyes to see what is going on. Pray for them because they are just as broken, in need of love and attention.
- Pray for the wives and the families of these men. Whether or not they know what is going on- give them recognition and discernment. And a hope in the Lord.
- Pray for funds for a building that LIA is trying to purchase. This building would be on bar street and be a safe place for the women to go. And for a training center and opportunity for the women- options for a lifestyle other than the bars.
- Pray for the bars to close. There is already one closing and another one for sale. Pray that for whatever reason the bars would close and that other job opportunities would open up for the women.
And it’s not just prayers for us, but during this month in Manistry- the men have been in Northern Thailand near Burma involved with Burmese refugees. Prayer is needed there as well. This is from my Family Force 6 Teammate Nick:
PRAY BOLDLY.
PRAY FOR CHANGE.
PRAY THAT THE ELECTIONS ON APRIL 1ST GO WELL.
PRAY THAT THESE KIDS ARE FREED FROM THE REFUGEE CAMPS.
PRAY THAT THE WORLD STEPS IN AND MAKES A DIFFERENCE HERE.
I firmly believe that Prayer will change the World.
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” Phil 4:6
God hears us and answers the prayers of His children.
