By Alice Smith
This past Wednesday our small prayer group prayed for people both here at home and abroad who are experiencing death, despair, destruction and discouragement. One of our prayer focus was on China, where millions of lives have been impacted from the earthquake several weeks ago. Our prayer was for salvation to result in the middle of their trauma.
George Otis, Jr. says it well, “In trauma we solicit many saviors.” What George meant is that when a crisis comes in our lives, men and women worldwide seek a savior to help. In some cases that savior is the rain god, or Buddhist god, or Shiva, the Hindu god, or Allah, the Muslim god.
We asked the Lord to reveal Himself to the Chinese people during their trauma. Read a firsthand report from one our longtime friends who lives in Hong Kong and has served as a missionary in the Asian region for over 20 years. After you read his report, why don’t you take a few minutes and pray his three simple prayer requests, and broaden it to the thousands of other missionaries and volunteers who are going to China to help.
Ron’s report:
“Nearly 1000 people filled the seats and the empty floor space up to the edge of the stage. On stage as part of the worship team, I felt the full power of people’s voices, as they prayed and worshipped together. This special meeting gathered people from various churches and
organizations to respond to the recent earthquake in Sichuan, China.
Throughout the three hour meeting, different leaders led the group in passionate prayer for the overwhelming needs. At one point, a believer from Sichuan, who recently came from the earthquake zone, shared with the group what he observed. When he visited local churches in the affected areas, he discovered that although the believers’ property may have been damaged or destroyed, they still had hope in their hearts. Those without Jesus had no hope …
Later on, a pastor in the audience suddenly walked onto the stage and asked to speak. Holding his cell phone, he said he just received a text message from the quake zone. It described a man who received Jesus while in the hospital for treatment of his injuries. Why did this man believe? He said he saw all the destruction and death in his village, but he noticed that very little happened to the Christians who
lived there! Then, he understood that Jesus was indeed the living and true God, who had protected them.
At an appropriate time, the leader of the meeting challenged people to ask Jesus how they should respond to the needs created by the earthquake. My heart naturally said, “Go!” Then I looked at my body – Crohn’s disease, digestion difficulties, low blood sugar etc. – and concluded “I can’t help.” I left the meeting feeling excited about all God was doing, but also feeling disappointed that I could not directly
jump into the situation and start serving those in need. (Note from Alice: Ron is an actively serving many pastors in China by teaching them principles of leadership and also teaching them the Bible. He had just returned from a three week trip in April).
The next day, God reminded me that if I decide, “I can’t help,” I effectively remove myself from the playing field. Then I’m in no position to be used by God or people. But, “… all things are possible to him who believes.” (Mk. 9:23) If I decide, “I believe I can influence someone in China for Jesus’ sake,” then I position myself to be used by God – according to His plan and timing …
Two of my friends here believe they can influence quake victims for Jesus’ sake. As a result, God has opened a door for them.
Ah Lam – In recent years, Ah Lam has been regularly visiting southern China – counseling church leaders, holding training classes and assisting with outreach in village areas. In June, he hopes to join a team of people to help with post-trauma counseling of the quake victims. Some people estimate 500,000 people will need some form of counseling as a result of the quake. (That is probably a low figure.)
Ruth – Ruth is a operating room nurse from Singapore, who moved here several years ago as a “tentmaker” missionary. She leaves May 26 with a medical team to help as a surgical nurse in a field hospital in the quake zone. Her team will bring most of their own supplies, so as not to strain local resources. They will be sleeping in tents (or out in the open).
We cannot physically join their teams, but we can spiritually co-labor with Ah Lam and Ruth through our prayers. I invite you to join me in praying for them – and for many others like them:
1. Protection – may God protect them physically (from disease, exhaustion, road accidents etc.) and emotionally (from the stress of encountering so many people in need).
2. Unity – may God give their teams an unusual oneness of heart, so that together they can clearly sense God’s leading each day and can joyfully support one another, even as they serve others.
3. Anointing – may God’s hand rest upon all they do, whether listening to broken hearts or fixing broken bodies – so that people want to receive Jesus as a result. Pray for boldness to speak the gospel message clearly to them.
Gratefully,
Ron Ornsby