From August 5-9, 22 newly-elected sports ministry leaders gathered for Malawi’s fourth Basic Training.
The week was sweet, but full to the brim. By the third day we were all extremely exhausted. Each person came into the meeting room looking like they hadn’t slept in a month. Our eyes were heavy, but I was about to discover something about the hearts of the participants in our group.
All throughout the week, we were in prayer seeking the face of Christ on behalf of Malawi, but on this morning our spiritual eyes were shifted to the Middle East. During the third day of the Basic Training, we received the devastating news that multitudes of our brothers and sisters in Christ living in Iraq were suffering deeply.
To be honest, I thought the group would not be able to focus because it was so early in the morning. As I read the latest BBC news report, God shook my heart to the core. After I’d read only 2 paragraphs of the breaking news, a few of the lady sports ministers began to weep.
I paused and looked up to see the downcast faces of all of our sports ministers, many already in prayer with tears rolling down their cheeks.
The first thought that entered my head was, “Wow. I have never seen anyone react this way to news about someone they don’t know personally.”
Then, my heart was convicted as I realized the thought I’d just had was true of me too. But these new sports ministers have a heart for people and they care for the global Church.
The news of our family in Christ being tortured and slaughtered in Iraq led us into a time of passionate prayer for the Iraqi believers and for their persecutors. For a long period of time, we held hands, sang songs, and interceded for the situation. It was a powerful time of unity within the Body of Christ where we bombarded the throne of God on behalf of His suffering people.
I was reminded of Isaiah 62:6-7 where God talks of the ‘watchmen on the walls’ of Jerusalem and how ‘they will never be silent day or night.’ Then Isaiah says, “You who call on the Lord, give yourselves no rest. And give Him no rest ’til He establishes Jerusalem and makes her the praise of the earth.”
We are confident that this group of 22 participants is going to shake this nation for the glory of Christ. Although their eyes were heavy, they continued in persistent prayer to the God who cares. It’s these kind of people who God uses to make His name famous in the nations.
He reigns in Jerusalem. He reigns in Iraq. He reigns in Malawi.
Even when our eyes are heavy and bodies are tired, pray that our hearts stay ablaze for the glory of Christ. Pray that the spiritually blind might see the Light of the World in this land and across the world.