Welcome
Southeast Asia is not only a region of enchantment, beauty and great diversity, but also of vast lostness. Over 665 million Southeast Asian peoples make up 2,632 distinctly different people groups. 615 of these groups are unreached with the Gospel, meaning that Christ is largely unknown, and the church is relatively insufficient to make Him known without outside help. Out of these 615, 251 of them are unreached AND unengaged because there is no evangelical church-planting movement among them.
Extending from southern China to the northern border of Australia, the major countries that make up Southeast Asia are Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Indonesia, Brunei and Timor-Leste. Within these countries, the vast majority of Southeast Asian people adhere to Buddhism, Islam, Hinduism, Catholicism and Animism. Even though they are friendly, gentle, fun-loving and easy to approach with the Gospel, their cultures and religions are staunchly protected ang give meaning to everything within their social structures. This is perhaps the greatest obstacle to the movement of the Gospel among them.
We ask for you to join with us in prayer and partnership. We are reminded that praying brings us “together” in ways that geography separates. It unites us. Among other things, we…
- …take the same position in prayer…one of humility, desperation, and dependence (2 Chron. 7:14).
- …come to God through prayer the same way…through the atoning death of Christ alone (Rom. 5:10; 2 Cor. 5:18).
- …pray the same things…namely, that God will glorify himself through the spread of the gospel (Luke 10:2; Acts 4:27-29; Col. 4:3).
- …conclude our prayers the same way…in the name above all names, the name of Jesus (John 14:13-14).
As we pray towards local ownership of the missionary task among all peoples and all places in Southeast Asia, prayer is the great equalizer. As frail, needy and sinful people, the playing field is leveled where ALL can take part. Together, we ALL desperately need to be energized by His power to accomplish anything! Roles don’t give any of us special privilege. Age or health do not provide exemptions from participating. Status and wealth will not expedite the answers to your requests. We ALL possess what Thomas Manton called “the empty hand of the soul…which looketh for ALL from God.” If we are to see our peoples, cities and countries come to know the one true and living God, we must go forward on our knees…”together!”
Thank you for partnering in many different with us, the folks with “boots on the ground”. We couldn’t do it without you. We are in this together.
May “our God…fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by His power, so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.” (2 Thess. 1:11-12)
Praying together,
Greg
Affinity Group Leader
Todd and Katie
Affinity Prayer Advocates