Simple but Powerful Prayer for Children in Extreme Poverty

For many years, I've been involved with various missions helping children in extreme poverty. I've come to appreciate that one of the most powerful ways to help these children, their families, and their communities is through prayer. God is working in their midst, and He already has an amazing plan to bring individual children, families, …

Praying around the World

As a missionary of prayer, I believe it's important to pray locally, for my nation, and also for the world. There are many ways to pray for the world and the Holy Spirit should lead our prayers. Praying for the world can also open up many educational family prayer opportunities - learning together about different …

Why Aren’t We Desperate?

I was talking yesterday with a friend who just returned from Uganda. She spent several weeks with a neighborhood ministry that had requested inner healing prayer. As she shared about the desperate situation and the hunger in the people's hearts, she also lamented that she seldom finds that kind of hunger here at home. We …

Congolese Cell Phone Prayers

I'm reading a book called The Poor Will Be Glad by Peter Greer and Phil Smith. I highly recommend this book. In the final chapter, the authors introduce us to a Congolese village known for minerals such as coltanite, used to make cell phones. The authors note the irony that, at the time of this book's publication, …

Prayer Lessons from God’s Heart

A week ago I returned from a surprise mission trip to Guatemala. What a blessing, in countless ways, many of which I am probably still not aware of. God used that time in Guatemala - away from familiar surroundings and language - to teach me a lot about His heart for prayer. I am so …

Surprise Trip to Guatemala!

I'm heading to Guatemala today on a mission trip. What? You didn't know I was going? Neither did I! Many of you don't know the story so I'll share, because it's always good to be reminded God can do the impossible. Hearts for the Children ministry has been part of my heart since my first …

More Faces of Nepal … Thank You for Praying

A beautiful daughter of God in the Trishuli, Nepal marketplace ... please pray for her and her family ... A little one dancing with Jesus at a Nepali church service ... At home in the beautiful foothills of the Himalayas ... the pollution is real and painful to breathe ... but God is real too, …

Faces of Nepal … and Prayers

Remembering friends in Nepal today ... and praying for them. So many beautiful faces ... adults trying to get through the day, as we all do ... trying to keep their families safe ... food on the table ... finding joy and laughter ... Nepal is not an easy place to live, but the people …

No Longer Distant

A message arrived in my inbox tonight from Samaritan's Purse. The message talked about an outbreak of Ebola in West Africa. The virus has been raging for six weeks, and has moved into neighboring countries. I don't have television and while I try at least to notice headlines online, I've been out of the loop …

Imagine Not Having a Voice

The past month has been interesting. My flesh would choose other words to describe it: "difficult," "frustrating," "heartbreaking." I'm beginning to realize I don't have that luxury. I am (in the words of Paul) a bondservant of Christ. Jesus owns me - He bought me with His own life. I can't complain about ... well, …