EHC’s global ministry has always relied on the faithful support of prayer partners. Countless Christian workers and volunteers around the world have been helped, protected, and preserved in answer to the prayers of many.
The same needs to be said about the advance of the gospel in nation after nation, including Canada. Doors of opportunities have swung open in answer to prayer, even in the most unlikely places. Glory be to God!
The apostle Paul had a deeply personal knowledge of the importance of faithful prayer partners, and he wrote about this to the Corinthian church.
“We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about the troubles we experienced in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt we had received the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us again. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many.” (2 Corinthians 1:8-11)
Do you hear how Paul is explicit and fervent? His choice of words is arresting. Perhaps what strikes me the most is how true they are for so many EHC servants today — great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure… we despaired of life itself… On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, as you help us by your prayers.
EHC was established on a strong prayer foundation. From the very beginning in 1946, founder Jack McAlister made enlisting the prayer support of Christians a high priority. He was only 23 years of age at the time but understood that the gospel advances against dark spiritual head winds, and we need to pray.
In his first ministry report, Jack sent out a call to prayer in support of evangelism. On page one, beneath the photos of himself and his wife, he quoted 2 Thessalonians 3:1, “Brethren, pray for us.” Page three of the report, and much of the subsequent pages, presents a clear and compelling prayer vision for the ministry which still undergirds the work today. He formed what he called a Circle of Intercession and referred to it as the lifeline of the ministry.
Since those early days, prayer has been the sustaining and enabling grace of our brothers and sisters all over the world, including for us here in the Canadian office.
Every month we publish Prayer Partner to mobilize prayer for the harvest and for the world. It’s a small leaflet, but it is rich in potential.
Opposition to Christian faith and to the gospel itself is mounting all over the world. In some regions adversity is so intense that many Christians suffer in ways we can barely imagine.
For them, for us, and as it was for Paul and his companions, the daily support of prayer partners is vital, and we say with confidence that God will continue to bring deliverance as you help us by your prayers.
In many nations where EHC is at work, God’s miraculous intervention and outpouring of grace is desperately needed. The same can be said of the work here in Canada. We need the Lord’s guidance, leading, protection and enablement every step of the way.
Your role as a prayer partner is vital to every aspect of EHC’s ministry and Finding the Hope.
I want to express my deepest appreciation for your prayers. We have so often experienced the strength and guidance that God gives as you pray. We have seen his mighty loving hand work in our toughest days.
Please continue to remember us in prayer. If you are able, would you use Prayer Partner regularly? I am convinced that there is a quality and a depth of help that comes only in answer to prayer.