I had never heard of this man when I signed up for a one hour Spanish course by the same name my first semester of college. It was just one hour. A light addition to my pre-med course load, just to keep me using Spanish regularly. It seemed nonthreatening enough. I was so wrong.

On the first day of class, I and three upperclassmen learned that Bartolome de las Casas was a Spanish priest who lived 1485-1566 and that we would be studying his original writings on the topic of slavery in the New World. If I thought reading Shakespeare’s English was complicated, well, 16th century Spanish was something else. It’s just as well that Dr. Garcia refused to sign my drop slip the second week of school. (Two of the upperclassmen had beat me to it, leaving me as one of two remaining students.) The reading for this one hour course was brutal, but the introduction to Bartolomé de las Casas was unforgettable.

No Small Change: Slave Owner to Protector of the Indians

Bartolomé de las Casas was among the earliest European immigrants to the New World, settling in Hispaniola with his father in 1502 and becoming a land owner and slave owner in the Spanish encomienda system. He differs markedly from other missionaries we have looked at this month in that his relationship to the people group he served was initially exploitative rather than bearing the Gospel.

Las Casas participated in slave raids and the active enslavement of Indigenous peoples during his early years on Hispanola, including the conquest of Cuba in the years following his ordination as one of the first priests in the Americas.  Years later he wrote, “What we committed in the Indies stands out among the most unpardonable offenses ever committed against God and mankind and this trade [in Indian slaves] as one of the most unjust, evil, and cruel among them.”

The words of visiting Dominican friars and Scripture began to affect his perspective. As he prepared for a Pentacost sermon, Las Casas was convicted of the injustices committed against the Indigenous people through the encomienda system and of his own participation in such atrocities. He responded by releasing ownership of his hacienda land and slaves and then traveling to Spain to advocate before King Charles V against the encomienda system of Indigenous enslavement.

Despite his clarity on the injustice of Indigenous enslavement, it was much later before he repented of initially advocating for the enslavement of Africans in place of Indigenous Americans. With time, he came to recognize that the enslavement of any people was wrong. In 1548 Las Casas wrote in Defense of the Indians, “Christ wanted love to be called his single commandment. This we owe to all men. Nobody is excepted.” 

Las Casas also argued against forced conversions, which were common in the Spanish colonial Americas. After writing a treatise on the subject, Bartolomé de las Casas led a group of Dominican friars into Guatemala in 1537 to bring the Gospel to native peoples peacefully, employing the use of Christian songs to introduce and teach the faith. In this way, a number of local chiefs came to Christian faith, and several churches began in the area.

180° Repentance

As a young college student wrestling with the Spanish of the 1500’s and some very sobering Church history, I discovered that the arguments between Las Casas and his opponents centered on the question of whether the Indigenous were “barbarians” and thereby “natural slaves,” or fully human. It was with grief and horror that I saw how such terms have been applied to people made in the image of God to justify exploitation.

Today, as I look more closely at Bartolomé de las Casas’s personal history and early years, I am struck by his life trajectory, from fully entrenched in the enslavement of Indigenous people to the first appointed “Protector of the Indians” under King Charles V. I marvel at the way God revealed truth to Bartolomé and walked him through a full (though not instantaneous) 180° repentance, personally rejecting his former ways, and then fervently advocating for the protection of the people he’d harmed. Over time, God further developed Bartolomé’s understanding of the value of every human life.

I wonder if you noticed the similarities between the life of Las Casas and that of English slave ship captain turned abolitionist John Newton. The Apostle Paul also comes to mind, as God carried him from violent persecution of early Christians to missionary to the Gentiles. Our God is all about redemption. What hope it is to see how fully his grace turns our lives around.

Psalm 130

Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord!
O Lord, hear my voice!
Let your ears be attentive
to the voice of my pleas for mercy!
If you, O Lord, should mark iniquities,
O Lord, who could stand?
But with you there is forgiveness,
that you may be feared.
I wait for the Lord, my soul waits,
and in his word I hope;
my soul waits for the Lord
more than watchmen for the morning,
more than watchmen for the morning.
O Israel, hope in the Lord!
For with the Lord there is steadfast love,
and with him is plentiful redemption.
And he will redeem Israel
from all his iniquities.

Lord, expose and uproot sin in my life.
May I be grieved by what grieves your heart.
May I see injustice for what it is.
May my heart be supple and responsive to your conviction, obedient to your leading.
Soften my heart in repentance and fill my life with redemption as you did the life of Bartolomé.
May my life be marked by a love for the people whom you made and love.
Amen.

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Having many Muslim family members and knowing how difficult it can be at times to share the Gospel with people of the Islamic faith, I was intrigued by the idea of learning more about the American missionary long designated as “the Apostle to Islam.” As I dug deeper into this man’s history–rich in theology and an unswerving commitment to an enormous percentage of the world’s population largely ignored and considered “unreachable” at the time–I also learned what an impact his wife made on their ministry and that, together, they showed the unfailing love of Jesus to the lost.

Consecrated to God

Samuel Marinus Zwemer was born in Michigan in 1867. Like his Old Testament namesake, Samuel was consecrated to service to the Lord from infancy (a fact Zwemer did not learn until years later). When he was almost 17 years of age, Samuel put his faith in Jesus Christ. Soon after, he became active in campus missions. While at seminary, he met with other students and an Old Testament professor who had been a missionary in Egypt. Their meetings began with planning a mission to Muslims, which ultimately led them to focus on Arabia–one of the most difficult regions to send and support Christian missions.

Because Muslims were viewed as extremely hostile toward Christians, Zwemer and his comrades could not find any American mission agencies to sponsor them (like our friend, David Brainerd). So, when Samuel was 21, they formed their own agency:  the Arabian Mission. He was often quoted as saying, “If God calls you and no board will send you, bore a hole through the board and go anyway.” Two years later, after his ordination, Samuel sailed to the Middle East to study the Arabic language, eventually settling in Basrah for six years.

God Sends a Helper

When an Australian mission sent two young women missionaries to Basrah, Zwemer was the one to teach them Arabic. Soon he and one of the women, Amy Wilkes, a trained nurse, fell in love and married. (The story goes that the Australian mission insisted that Samuel reimburse them for Amy’s travel expenses, since she would no longer be working for them, and from then on, Samuel would joke that he followed the Arabian custom of purchasing a bride!). Samuel was a prolific writer, but Amy herself authored three children’s books about the customs and life of Arab people.

Just before the turn of the century, Amy began the first girl’s school in Manama, by which she was able to reach into the homes of women in the community. Only three years later, the school went from a homeschool to meeting in a building; what began as an all-girls school expanded to boys, and the American Mission School still exists today.

Because of Amy’s medical training, the Zwemers also opened a mission hospital in 1903, but loss and suffering came on the heels of triumph. The following year, their two daughters, Katharina (seven) and Ruth (four), contracted malaria and died within a week of each other. Close to the school their family had founded and which they had attended, the girls were buried. On their tombstones were etched the words, “Worthy is the Lamb to receive riches.”

“Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.” –Revelation 5:12, KJV

An Unflagging Spirit

Through setback, heartbreak, and few victories in the way of converts, the Zwemers never faltered in the desire to see Jesus glorified through the salvation of the people of Islam. “What motivated the Zwemers was that they never stopped marveling at what Christ had done for them on the cross, and they wanted Muslims to experience the same” (Roger Greenway). In his lifetime, Samuel spoke in Egypt and numerous countries across North Africa, South Africa, Indonesia, and China, as well as across the United States.

As I studied Samuel’s life, what impressed me most was not his zeal, but the focus of his passion. Through all his days, he continued to tell other Christians that “to be a missionary to Muslims required a strong Christology and an overpowering emphasis on the unique work of Christ in the atonement and the resurrection” (Greenway). 

“The Cross is the centre of the universe and of history. It will yet witness the reconciliation of all things upon the earth or things in the heavens through His blood.” –Samuel M. Zwemer, The Glory of the Cross

Because the Zwemers camped at the foot of the cross, they continually saw their need for and the glory of the Savior. I think it was this humble, worshipful posture that sustained them through decades of ministry. Heaven was not just their home, it was a place to which they wanted to ensure they would continue to acquire neighbors. How fitting that when Samuel Zwemer died just before his 85th birthday, he was laid to rest in the only piece of land he ever owned on this earth:  his burial plot. Just like Abraham. “For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God.” (Hebrews 11:10)

Greenway, Roger S. “Brief Biography of Samuel Zwemer.” https://www.zwemercenter.com/brief-biography-of-samuel-zwemer/

Larson, Dr. Warren. “A Lasting Legacy of Samuel and Amy Zwemer in Bahrain.” https://www.zwemercenter.com/a-lasting-legacy-of-samuel-and-amy-zwemer-in-bahrain/

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I learned about this young missionary from the 1700’s around ten years ago, while I was doing some research for a Bible study I was writing. I discovered that he suffered greatly from depression and physical illness, yet he continued in faithful service to the Lord, blazing trails as he took the gospel to the lost. 

Knowing of his intense suffering, specifically with a mental health struggle common to modern times, made me view him as ultra-relatable.

God Can…

I’ve read about missionaries who had adventures in the jungles and encounters with people who welcomed them lovingly. I’d also heard about spiritual oppression that ended with a powerful testimony to God’s victory. (…You know, the types of stories that make little kids want to go out and be missionaries, too!)

These stories are exciting and powerful — and I’m so thankful for them and for God’s mighty activity of spreading the gospel. But they aren’t the only type of missionary stories that exist.

David Brainerd’s story, on the other hand, is the type that makes my heart weep with compassion, sympathy, and empathy.

God can use anyone. He can use someone who suffers intensely from mental health struggles. He can use someone with physical illness (or multiple physical illnesses.) Not only can He, but He does!

Praise God! When we hand our lives to Him, for His purposes, He will use us. And sometimes that means that we serve exactly how we are, and right where we are.

For reasons I could never guess, God didn’t heal Brainerd. He used him in spite of his mental and physical health. And Brainerd? He just kept plodding along faithfully. He pursued the Savior and shared Him with others, blazing trails (both figuratively and literally) all while obeying God’s call on His life.

His Story

So just who is this man of whom John Wesley said, “Let every preacher read carefully The Life of David Brainerd.” (Referencing a book about him.)

David Brainerd lived in Connecticut in the early 1700’s. He heard “God’s call” as a young man and so he went to Yale in order to receive the credentials that were necessary at the time to become a minister. All the while he attended school, he was very ill with a disease (likely tuberculosis).

Just two short years into his education, he criticized both his tutor for a lack of grace and the Rector for administering fines to “over-zealous” students. The result? Yale expelled him. 

This crushed Brianerd! At this time and place in history, he couldn’t preach without a degree. But he didn’t allow this to stop him from obeying God’s call on his life. David continued on, remaining faithful in obedience and devout in prayer. He continued to look for an avenue in which He could obey the Lord’s call to service.

“Here I am, Lord, send me; send me to the ends of the earth; send me to the rough, the savage pagans of the wilderness; send me from all that is called comfort on earth; send me even to death itself, if it be but in thy service, and to promote thy kingdom.” – A prayer from David Brainerd

What a lesson for us! When God calls, we should obey – despite the obstacles.

David Brainerd decided to pursue missions, where he would not need a degree. Interestingly, the Honorable Society of Scotland hired the American man from Connecticut and ordained him to be a missionary. 

His health was such a factor, they hired him to stay put. He stayed in the northeast and became a missionary to the American Indians right there in that region. He worked tirelessly, traveling by horseback during the day, camping at night, and sharing the gospel everywhere he went.

God answered his prayer. 

Once, while traveling for missions, he was caught in a horrible storm. He plodded along in the cold wind and rain, having no food and no shelter. He would likely have died, except that God provided a hollow tree and later, food– by means of a little squirrel who dropped nuts at the tree’s entrance. 

It’s absolutely incredible isn’t it? God’s faithfulness is so beautiful!

Jonathan Edwards, the famed preacher of the Great Awakening, took an interest in David Brainerd and invited him into his home many times, especially in his final months. As he became more and more ill, probably as a result of his tireless service, he resided there. 

Edward’s 17 year old daughter, Jerusha, was very touched by Brainerd’s love for God and passion to follow Him. It is reported that the two fell in love. She became Brainerd’s caretaker until he died at just 29 years old. (Jerusha herself became ill, possibly from caring for David, and died just four months later. Her father had her buried beside him.)

Serving While Suffering

Look at this excerpt from his diary:

“Thursday, April 7. Appeared to myself exceeding (sic) ignorant, weak, helpless, unworthy, and altogether unequal to my work. It seemed to me I should never do any service or have any success among the Indians. My soul was weary of my life; I longed for deaths beyond measure. When I thought of any godly soul departed, my soul was ready to envy him his privilege, thinking, `Oh, when will my turn come! must it be years first!’” (David Brainerd)

When I imagine Brainerd, depressed, sick, and weary, plodding along in the cold wind and rain with no food or shelter in sight, I think of “serving, while suffering.”

His story seems so relatable, doesn’t it? 

That could be any of us, plodding along in service, despite how we feel. That could be you, wanting desperately to follow God’s call but seeing every obstacle pop up right in front of you, time and again. It could be her who wanted the education, but couldn’t get it. …Or me, feeling unworthy and unequal to my work.

It could be any of us, not understanding why God doesn’t heal, and then longing for death.

Friends, life is hard and sometimes ugly, but God can use us despite all that.

Obedience At All Costs

Brainerd’s story reminds me to obey, no matter what, and let God’s work be done. I’m not sure of all the souls that came to know Jesus because of Brainerd, but his work was considered by many to be successful. Yet, his story doesn’t have what most would call a “happy ending,” which maybe gives a lasting impression of his intense daily battle with depression and illness. 

Though I would love to paint a beautiful and happy ending onto the story of his life, I think doing so would miss the point. Brainerd’s life was a portrait of obedience at all costs. 

And that, my friends, is what serving Jesus is all about. It’s about going all in. It’s about submitting your whole life and will to His Lordship. (And yes, I know that’s easier said than done.)

May the Savior use us all… and help us to serve Him wholeheartedly. In spite of any suffering we may experience, may we be found serving while suffering. May we blaze trails and share Jesus — even if God calls us to share Him exactly how we are and right where we are.

I leave you with this passage from 2 Corinthians that comes to mind when I think of David Brainerd:

“So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.” (2 Corinthians 4:16-18)

Read more about David Brainerd here, in this biography written by Jonathan Edwards.

Blessings and prayers for faithful service to the Lord,
Ali

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I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me. (John 17:23)

Series Re-Cap

Led by our contributors, we have prayed for seven nations. Below, you will find a link to each post, in case you missed one or would like to read it again.

Pray for Papua New Guinea

Praying for Hungary

Pray for the Children of El Salvador

Pray for the Nations: The Solomon Islands

Praying for Nigeria

Pray for Bolivia

Pray for Cambodia

As we celebrate the resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, may we continue to pray for countries and believers around the world.

May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the

Holy Spirit be with us now and always until the day of Christ’s return.

Access all of the links in our “So that the World May Know” Series in one post. #Christian Missions
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If you are reading this, you have access world prayer resources at your fingertips via the world wide web. Today’s payer focus is Cambodia based on a prompt from a visit to OperationWorld.org.

World Prayer a “Click” Away

A simple web search, “how to pray for …..,” yields several results. Amongst the resources I have found, OperationWorld.org is one of the most trusted. Using this resource, you can pray for a different country each day, knowledgably and effectively. The picture below shows you how.

Prayer Requests for Cambodia

According to the OperationWorld.org website, we can pray for the following:

• that opportunities to share the Gospel now will be maximized as long as the current openess is available.
• for the loosening of Buddhism’s stranglehold.
• for inroads to the Gospel amongst Muslim population, tribal peoples, and ethnic Chinese.
• success of print, radio, and video outreach. Cru’s Jesus Film, for instance, reaches several language groups.

To get the details on these bullet points, visit Operation World– Cambodia.

Learn More

To learn more about praying for Cambodia, here are some additional world prayer websites:

Prayercast– Cambodia

Wycliffe Bible Translators– Cambodia

Overseas Mission Fellowship– Cambodia

Learn how to use technology to pray for the nations, as we focus on praying for Cambodia. #ChristianMissions
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Upon reading my friend’s list of prayer requests for Bolivia, a word kept coming back to me— impoverished. Economic hardship abounds, but a poverty of spirit and discipleship intensifies the difficulty of daily life in Bolivia.

Economic Realities

Despite a wealth of natural resources, especially mining, Bolivia is one of the poorest countries in South America. Being landlocked limits transportation of valuable goods. Increased government takeovers of the means of production and foreign investment have not yielded better returns for the economy. Lost economic opportunity, decreased political freedom, and government corruption weakens the nation. The government in unable to mount an effective Covid 19 response, crippling life for many in Bolivia. Ask God to intervene in these issues and raise up leaders who will seek justice and care for their fellow citizens.

Give us this day our daily bread… —Matthew 6:11

Crushed Spirits

With a lack of employment and a dismal economy, many engage in destructive behaviors to fill the void. Among these, alcoholism is rampant. It is one of Satan’s weapons of choice as it wreaks havoc in relationships, endangers lives and livelihoods, and creates a general malaise and indifference. Additionally, the enemy uses his cunning to confuse people. Many Bolivians go to churches where mixing indigenous religion with Christianity is acceptable. Pray that God will send missionaries and strengthen Believers to combat the schemes of the enemy, so more can know salvation through Christ alone.

“I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me….” —John 14:6

Increased Discipleship

Although these difficulties exist, there is good news. There are churches that preach the truth of God’s Word, Bibles in the languages of the region are accessible, and evangelical churches are growing. Yet there is a need for increased discipleship in churches throughout Bolivia. Low literacy impedes discipleship. Pray for teachers to teach people how to read and study the Bible. Ask God to impart to Bolivian Believers a desire for increased biblical knowledge. Pray that increased discipleship will bring increased unity with other Believers. Joined together, Bolivian Christians can bring Gospel life and transformation to their country.

But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.  —2 Peter 3:18

Bolivia is our focus today as we pray for the nations to know Jesus. #ChristianMissions
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Learn More

To learn more about praying for Bolivia, visit the following websites:

Prayercast– Bolivia

Operation World– Bolivia

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Nigeria, the most populous country in Africa, is also one of the most linguistically diverse countries in the world. Nigeria is home to more than 250 ethnic groups speaking more than 500 different native languages. Both Christianity and Islam have growth substantially in recent decades, with Nigeria generally divided into the predominantly Muslim North and the predominantly Christian South.

Praise God for the Church in Nigeria

As we pray for Nigeria this week, we begin by rejoicing in the Nigerian Church. My friend tells me that she sees in her Nigerian brothers and sisters in Christ a unique perseverance and strength. She sees that their faith is not easily shaken by the difficulties and heartache of life.

Nigerian Christians are undertaking a massive translation effort. Through the National Bible Translation Trust, Nigerians are currently working towards the translation of the Bible into 250 additional languages. However, many of these projects have encountered roadblocks during the pandemic. Pray for the furtherance of Bible translation in Nigeria and for safe ways for translators to gather and collaborate. Pray also for the safety and protection of pastors and other Believers supporting Nigerian Christians from Muslim people groups, particularly in Northern Nigeria.

Pray for the Safety of Nigerians

According to BBC reporting this month, more than 800 children have been taken in four mass school kidnappings in the past 3 months. Pray for their protection — physical, spiritual, and emotional, and for their safe return to their families. My friend tells me small-scale, roadside kidnappings are also so common that “fear of kidnapping” is a common every-day worry of her husband’s seminary students.

Pray for Nigeria’s Girls and Women

The rates of teenage marriage are particularly high in Northern Nigeria and in more rural areas; the median age of marriage in some regions is 15 years of age according to a 2018 Demographic and Health Survey, with more than 40% of Nigerian women marrying before age 18. Among married women, 80% have risk factors for high-risk births. The report also reflects normalization of “wife beating,” with 20-30% of women reporting belief that it is okay for a husband to beat his wife in circumstances such a burned dinner, a disagreement, or turning down sex. Pray for God’s hand of mercy in protecting women in Nigeria and worldwide and for healing of the factors underlying violence.

Join Me in Prayer

Lord, may Your name be glorified in Nigeria among every people group and in every language.

Strengthen and encourage your Church there. May they treasure Your Word and increasingly have the Bible translated into every language. May truth, love, and grace spread across the land, igniting hearts for You.

“…So that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.” (Ephesians 3:17-19)

Free the children and adults held captive in Nigeria today, releasing them to their families and healing their wounds. Protect the vulnerable, and bring justice. May each man, woman, and child come to see him or herself and those around them as Your image bearers.

“But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.” (Amos 5:24)

“Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.” (Ephesians 3:20-21)

As you pray for Nigeria, check out this beautiful recording of Mai Taimako Na (My Helper) by Nigerian worship musician Solomon Lange, who sings in Hausa, a language of Northern Nigeria, with English subtitles.

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As a Christian community, let us join in prayer for the people of the Solomon Islands. Pray for wisdom in combating Covid 19, the translation of the Bible into every language spoken there, and spiritual revival in the churches.

Covid 19 Response

A nation of approximately a half million people, the Solomon Islands has kept the number of Covid 19 cases low. This is the result of government lockdowns and tight restrictions of people leaving and entering the country. With the spread of Covid 19 contained, the lockdowns have made it difficult for ministries on the islands to continue their work. Unlike the U.S., technology and internet access are not readily available or reliable. People in the Solomon Islands depend on gathering together to stay in touch. As aid from developed nations makes it way to the Solomon Islands, we can pray that people will be able to gather, so ministry may continue.

Bible Translation

Despite English being the official language of the Solomon Islands, only 2% of people speak it. About fifty percent speak the trade language, Pijin, but most islanders speak one of almost 80 local languages. Reading God’s Word in the language in which one dreams, thinks, and prays is transformational. Currently the Zabana people anticipate a complete translation of the New Testament in 2021. There are missionaries waiting to enter the country to help with the translation effort. The delays are caused by Covid 19 restrictions. Please pray that the Zabana translation will cross the the finish line with few obstacles.

Spiritual Revival

Although many churches exist throughout the Solomon Islands, there is great need for revival. Amongst the organizations that write about how to pray for the nations, this is a common prayer request. Some who claim to be Christian adopt animism and magic into their belief system. Revival that aligns the people and culture with the truth of God’s Word is needed. Pray for the Holy Spirit to ignite a revival in the churches, so many may know Jesus is “the way, and the truth, and the life” (John 14:6).

Learn More

You can read more about praying for Papua New Guinea at the following websites:

Prayercast– Solomon Islands

Wycliffe Bible Translators– Zabana People

Operation World– Solomon Islands

Join us today as we learn how to pray for the Solomon Islands. #ChristianMissions
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I’ve received a new photo of Jose once a year in the mail since he was 4 years old. I see his growth. I get a small glimpse into his world. He’s now 13.

But this year I got a picture of his mother.

And it hit me hard. She’s a real person. With a real heart. A mother’s heart. Just like mine.

José is our sponsored child in El Salvador. It’s a country that holds memories for me. I went there in the summers of 2011 and 2012 with my church. We partnered with the church already there, hosting VBS-style events in their public schools, building structures, meeting families.

I still have friends there. And some of those friends are now here in the U.S.

But I never saw José there. And I’ve never seen his mother. Until now in this photo.

Walk with me now in El Salvador. You’ll like what you see. But it may also scare you to death.

This is why we need to pray for El Salvador.

The Tom Thumb of the Americas

Here’s where El Salvador is on the map. It’s the smallest country in continental America (smaller than Massachusetts).

It’s sometimes called “the Tom Thumb of the Americas.”

Yet it’s also the most densely populated. And of the 6.5 million people here, almost half live below the poverty line.

The people here are friendly, kind, and generous, despite living in this country also known as the Land of Volcanoes because of its frequent volcanic activity, its devastating earthquakes, and occasional hurricanes as it borders the Pacific Ocean.

But the people in El Salvador are also troubled.

Gang-related crime is high. Gangs (maras) plague the cities as its population shifts from an agrarian society to a more urban one. The government is often corrupt. Inequality is blatant.

3 Things to Pray for Salvadorans

Many in El Salvador know Jesus. It’s not unusual to see religious icons throughout their towns. Roman Catholicism has had an active presence there for decades, with almost half the population identifying as Catholic, 35% as Protestant, and 14% with no religious affiliation at all.

Here are three specific ways you can pray for Salvadorans.

1. Pray for the boys to stay out of gangs.

Gang violence attributes to the abnormally high crime rate in this small country. The best-known gangs are MS-13 and their rival M-18. Many boys are drawn to the gangs when they are young, either by choice or by coercion.

Pray for healthier families, for better employment opportunities, for church involvement, and for young boys like my José to have the courage to resist the economic and social opportunities that a gang offers.

2. Pray for the girls to not become victims of violence.

About seven people go missing in El Salvador every day. Many of them are women. They are often the victims of murder, of sexual exploitation, of trafficking, of abuse.

Pray for women to be valued equal to men, for girls to have affordable education opportunities, for the vulnerable to be protected from exploitation, and for strong leadership to arise among young women in Christ.

3. Pray for the church to unite in protecting the children.

The churches in El Salvador recognize the urgent crisis of stopping the violence in their country. As a result, many are united in their efforts to protect the children.

Pray for the Lord to continue giving strength, wisdom, and integrity to the Salvadoran believers as they come together to take care of their own, breaking any cycles of domestic and social abuse.

The Same Blessings

As I look into the eyes of José’s mother in the photo now on my refrigerator, I see a woman who wants the same thing for her children as I want for mine: health, opportunity, safety, love, even though the challenges they face are unique.

May we stand alongside the mothers (and fathers) in El Salvador, asking God for the same blessings on their children that we ask for our own.

Ask God for the same blessings on the children of El Salvador as for your own children. #ChristianMissions
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Share your thoughts in the comments.

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Hungary is a country in Central Europe, about the size of Indiana. It is bordered by Slovakia, Romania, Ukraine, Serbia, Croatia, Slovenia, and Austria. Its largest and capital city, Budapest, is actually two cities. Buda and Pest sit on opposite sides of the Danube River and are joined by a bridge that united them in 1872.

The culture of Hungary is rich and warm with a long heritage of the arts, especially music, and an appreciation for beauty, good food, and deep conversation. Its central location has attracted foreign domination for most of its thousand-year history. “In 1989, Hungary became a democracy after over forty years of communist domination. This sparked a period of spiritual interest and greater responsiveness to the gospel. Hungary’s integration with the West was completed in May, 2004 with its acceptance into the European Union.” (Word of Life International Ministries)

Pray for Hungary’s Heart

“For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.” 1 Timothy 6:10

As the Hungarians grow in economic prosperity and embrace the post-modern culture of Western society, their interest in faith withers. Pray for revival among the Church, and for a recommitment to spiritual maturity.

Pray for a Harvest of Disciples

“And he said to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” Luke 10:2

According to Operation World, interest in working overseas is waning though the need for strong leaders making disciples is still strong. Pray for encouragement for the church leaders, resources, including art and media that will glorify God.

“Despite an impressive history of Christianity, the spiritual atmosphere in Hungary can be described as cold and inactive. In fact, 27% of its people declare no religious affiliation. It is estimated that only three percent are evangelical believers. Church and religion are increasingly considered irrelevant or unimportant, creating a challenge to missionaries to develop appealing, vibrant ministry outlets and authentic, engaging relationships among the Hungarian people.” (ABWE)

“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 5:14-16 Pray for the light to shine in Hungary.

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