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Embrace the ends of the earth

Calling for “boots on the ground”, newly appointed IMB President Tom Elliff has joined other Southern Baptist leaders in challenging churches to “embrace” every one of the 3,800 people groups who are still unengaged. Speaking at the Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting in June, he said, “To the best of our knowledge, nobody has them on the radar screen.”

To reach them, Elliff added, “It’s going to take nothing short of being willing to lay down your life.” Elliff envisions that the commitment to “embrace” a people group will be a long-term commitment on behalf of a church to do whatever it takes to get the Gospel to the people. Read more at call2embrace.org.

Unengaged East Asian People groups account for 296 of the 3,800 total. Please start praying now about embracing one of these groups. More details will be available in the near future. Read below the stories of others who made similar commitments to cities in recent years through Prayer Travels 2008-2009 and Extreme Emphasis 2010. Some are now living among the very peoples that they prayed for.

Prayer advocates impacting three cities

Louise Winston* willingly committed to prayer advocacy for “B City” in China last December, at the invitation of her daughter-in-law who serves elsewhere among the East Asian Peoples. Four months later Winston actually had opportunity to walk the streets of B city!

Bruce Prince started interceding for “E City” in November of 2008. Less than three years later, he and his wife now live in an East Asian city, reaching out to the people and studying language full time to equip them for future years of service.

In the fall of 2008, Celeste and Herb Hamilton were part of a Baptist congregation in Colorado when they began interceding for “T”, an East Asian mega-city. Hamilton and her husband have now lived in close proximity to T city since March, and travel in several times a month to build relationships and share the Good News.

Go to http://eastasianpeoples.imb.org to read the full story.

*All names changed.

EA1Day

Choose from four exciting EA1Day gatherings in October and learn how to impact China’s western cities, Japan’s unreached millions, Tibetans, Hui and Mongolians for Christ. Registration deadline is October 10. Go to http://eastasianpeoples.imb.org/news/ea1day/ for more details.

Leaving her voice behind

A five-year journey of emotional ups and downs comes to an end for a Christian worker in China. Diana Huang* watched as those she grew to care for were shunned or beaten for their faith. When Huang tells her friends she’s returning to America, they ask her to do one thing … leave them her voice. Join Huang on AsiaStories as she sings for her friends and introduces you to some people who have become “spiritual giants” in her eyes. Go to AsiaStories to hear and download this story from East Asia.

*Name changed.

What’s new on the web

John the Baptist and me
“I wish I had thought to tell them ahead of time that I didn’t eat locusts, but I didn’t.” Read “Pieces of my journey at http://eastasianpeoples.imb.org/field-blog/john-the-baptist-and-me/
An answered prayer
“Before our trip, my husband and I had prayed that God would bring into our lives ‘people of peace’ who might help us locate just the right place for our gathering.” Read “Prayers of Joy” at http://eastasianpeoples.imb.org/prayersofjoy/
Baptist “ground presence” makes impact in Japan’s disaster clean-up
“The Japanese woman clutches the gift tightly and softly thanks the Southern Baptist volunteer from Tennessee.” Read the story at http://eastasianpeoples.imb.org

Prayer reports from frontline workers

Rich and unhappy Recently the newest casino hotel/resort opened in Macau, making it the 34th casino operating in the city. Casino revenue generated in the first half of 2011 is U.S. $15.5 billion. But still the people are unhappy. Pray that the people of Macau will seek out the One who can provide true abundant life.

Backpacking for Jesus Praise God for a dedicated volunteer team that followed God’s call to backpack for a week. Through the Father’s strength, they were able to share with over 200 ethnic minority people in five days. Initial reports show 35 new believers!

Hidden groups In any large city there are many hidden people groups: young women working in the back rooms of massage parlors because they feel they have no other way to make a living … families with special-needs children who require understanding and support … construction workers laboring long and hard behind high walls and scaffolding. Even as Jesus went out to the poor, the sick, the outcasts, pray that His followers will do the same.

Didn’t take long! While in Shibuya, Tokyo, a business consultant talked with summer intern Keri who was doing 5-Minute English presentations. She and another missionary shared the Good News of Christ. The Japanese man trusted in Jesus and was baptized the following Sunday. Pray for his faith to grow.

Read many more prayer reports and requests at http://www.imb.org/