Day for William Wilberforce, Olaudah Equiano, and Thomas Clarkson, July 30, 2020

Dear friend in Christ,

You are participating in the grandest story on earth—featuring a cast of billions:

After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” 
Revelation 7:9-10 ESV

The Apostle John’s vision of the finale of the story reflects the ultimate goal of missions and, in truth, the church—the worship of our Lord God by all nations.

By walking in the way of Jesus, your Society desires to witness His Kingdom come throughout our communities. These communities are far flung throughout the world, wherever your missionaries go with the good news of Jesus. These communities are also our neighborhoods where your missionaries are being sent from, where you and I live. We long for a family across the globe, united in Christ.

Your missionaries are serving, as I write, in communities throughout Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe and the Pacific. They are doing ministry in these challenging days with creativity and flexibility. Many missionaries are responding to physical needs of the vulnerable, the beloved of God, who continue to struggle to get food, medical care, and educational opportunities for their children. Many missionaries are facing burdens and afflictions themselves. Yet, through it all, they are committed to the Lamb and sharing His message of salvation. Your missionaries see this need of salvation as they engage in spiritual warfare against both individual and structural sin. I, too, share in this burden as I come humbled before our Lord Jesus Christ through prayer in personal and corporate confession.

All may participate in confronting the hard issues that may appear intractable in our world, our nation, and our communities, through prayer. Oswald Chambers, in My Utmost for His Highest, shares: “Prayer does not fit us for the greater work; prayer is the greater work.” Will you join your Society in this labor of love for our communities, near and far?

Would you pray for:

• God’s Kingdom to come
• the Bride of Christ to be one
• reconciliation, especially racial
• restoration of the broken
• mercy for the most vulnerable
• healing of the nations
• the full armor of God to counter the cosmic powers over this present darkness
• justice to flow like a stream
• a perfect peace–God’s shalom–to cover our communities
• and salvation through Christ alone.   

Your Society also offers you a regular opportunity to pray with other senders and missionaries. You are invited to join us on Thursdays for a quarter of an hour for Noonday Prayer (including open intercession) by requesting a videoconference link from Kate. 

Be encouraged, my brothers and sisters, as we face challenges, sickness, need of provision, injustices, unrest, strife, and all manner of afflictions:

Since we have the same spirit of faith according to what has been written, “I believed, and so I spoke,” we also believe, and so we also speak, knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence. For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God. So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:13-18 ESV

With you in prayer,

Stewart Wicker
Mission Director and President

“I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.” 2 Cor 6:2 NIV

God our deliverer, 
who sent your Son Jesus Christ 
to set your people free from the slavery of sin: 
grant that, as your servants 
William Wilberforce, Olaudah Equiano, and Thomas Clarkson 
toiled against the sin of slavery, 
so we may bring compassion to all 
and work for the freedom of all the children of God; 
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, 
who is alive and reigns with you, 
in the unity of the Holy Spirit, 
one God, now and forever. 
Amen.

Common Worship Daily Prayer (Church of England)