West Asia and Silk Road Prayer Night

Last summer, Restoration sent two teams to West Asia. I didn’t go with either of them; I’ve never even been to West Asia. So your question must be: why are you praying for West Asia and the Silk Road?

Why West Asia and the Silk Road?

Some governments and cultures of West Asia and the Silk Road are discriminatory and can be openly hostile to Christians. Christians in these areas typically walk their faith with little support from family or from a church.  Their faith and resolve are continually tested by the negative environment. Rationally, we should have little hope for the church there. To pray and work for the Church there is truly to have faith in the God of the Crucifixion and the Resurrection, the God of the Miraculous and Wonderful.

Why Prayer?

Prayer is an essential part of our relationship with each other and with God. We pray for West Asia because

• · Prayer is worship. Prayer proclaims that God is King and Christ is Lord over the topic about which we pray. We honor God with our prayer for the world.
• · Prayer forms us. Prayer prepares and opens our hearts to the Holy Spirit. The act of turning our hearts towards West Asia and the Silk Road invites the Holy Spirit to soften and sensitize us to a place and culture different and far from our own. For many of us, our prayer is preparation for a future trip with Restoration.
• · Prayer enables our participation. The length of the trips from Restoration are counted in days. We can be involved in West Asia year-round through prayer. In prayer, we recommit our hope for the seeds God sows and our love for both the people we met and those we do not yet know. Perhaps more importantly, we cannot experience the past for West Asia or know its future. Prayer allows us to participate in Christ’s plan, His work, and His Kingdom across space and time.
• · Prayer impacts those for whom we pray. Simply put, as Christians we believe that prayer makes a difference. We pray for this part of the world because we hope forWest Asia and believe that God listens to our prayers.

As for me, I hope to travel to West Asia on a trip with Restoration next year. I desire to love the land, its people, and God’s missionaries there, starting by praying for them.

I hope that you will join us on November 11 at 7:30 PM. The agenda is short: we plan on reading from scripture and letting the Spirit lead our prayers.

However, if you can’t come, remember, you don’t need an hour or to make your prayer a production. We were made to worship and glorify God; we were made to pray. Spend just a couple of moments turning your heart to West Asia and the Silk Road (or to Cambodiaor the persecuted church), praising God and asking that His Kingdom come. He will listen.

Eric Lessels, contact me ericlessels@gmail.com  for more details!