A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another. (John 13:34)
Attendees: Karis, Melissa and Ruth
The cross-cultural community can begin to feel small. Many teams are comprised of various nationalities, backgrounds, giftedness, with a variety of ministry focuses. This can give rise to comparison, competition and perceived differing values; how fast one learns the language, sees conversions, how one’s kids adapt to national schools/churches, the furnishing of one’s home (or size of it), having limited funds, singles and married couples, with and without kids, adventurous or needing to be “hand held” during an orientation period, little visible fruit for the sacrifice and effort of living overseas. All these things equate to ample opportunity for Satan to cause disunity, discontent, and hurt. Many times this feels like an emotional quagmire. We pray for confession of wrongs, healing of hurts and rebuilding of trust to unify teams and clearly reflect Jesus.
In Senegal, mainland Africa’s most westerly state, there are few believers, and the rate of growth is slow. Believers are scattered, often poorly taught and under constant pressures from Muslim or animistic relatives to conform. Lord, we pray for a strong church with a backbone of Christian families to be planted in each ethnic group. Father, you know that every ethnic group is represented in Dakar, the capital. We pray that this city will become a source of gospel light for the whole world. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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