Call for Fervent Prayer – Lausanne Younger Leaders Gathering
As some of you know I’ll be in Malaysia soon for the Lausanne Younger Leaders Gathering which runs from Sun Sept 24th through Sun Oct 1st. It’s an historic gathering of 500 younger leaders (aged 25-35) from over 100 nations. This is an extremely exciting group of current young leaders from around the world who represent the future leadership of the global church. The main goals will be to inform, develop, inspire, and connect the young leaders so that the WHOLE church will bring the WHOLE Gospel to the WHOLE world. My experience at the 2004 Lausanne Forum in Pattaya, Thailand which was the third major Lausanne meeting (after 1974 Lausanne, Switzerland and 1989 Manila, Philippines) was one of the most encouraging and inspiring of my life. You can learn more at lausanne.org.
I leave Philadelphia on Sept 19th first for Nagoya, Japan where I’ll spend the night. Then I leave the next morning for Malaysia to meet with the program planning team. For the past year and a half we’ve worked to put this conference together. I ask especially for your prayer for the evening of the 24th when I’ll be giving the keynote address. The Lausanne leadership asked me to give this talk because of their desire to have a younger leader open the gathering.
This is an intimidating and exhilarating opportunity. I just got off the phone with Doug Birdsall the executive chair of the Lausanne committee. He was so encouraging and mentioned that there are many who are praying for me. I wanted to ask specifically for your daily prayers from now until Oct 5th when I’ll return from Asia (after being at CBS for a modular course for my students).
Last week I was talking with some friends and about the work and limitations of the Evil One. I mentioned about how Satan is a finite being limited to one location at one time. (And that he’s probably off trying to harass a Billy Graham or some other significant figure in the church around the world). But for the first time in my life I can say with regards to this YLG (Younger Leaders Gathering) that Satan might be there. There is potential for a tremendous work of God that could spark movements literally all around the world. This is significant enough of an event that even Satan could make himself known. It is that much of a threat to his kingdom I believe.
In 1987 the first Lausanne gathering of young leaders took place in Singapore. Many of today’s Christian leaders were there as young leaders. The ministry of Ajith Fernando was launched because of that gathering. More than 250 gathered from 50 nations.
At our gathering we’ll have double the people from double the nations. We were hoping for 100 more, but because of insufficient funding for scholarships many will not be able to attend.
The other speakers, unlike myself, are all familiar and famous names – Peter Kuzmic, Becky Pipert, Ajith Fernando, etc. I’m very aware that I am the youngest, least experienced, and most spiritually vulnerable of all the speakers.
Logically I would think that I would be Satan’s easiest target.
So I ask for your prayers. Your daily, fervent prayers for me.
Please pray for:
1) my family while I’m away. Pearl and the girls were under heavy spiritual attack while I was away in Thailand for the 2004 Forum. Each night at 3:15 am something woke up Pearl and the girls – mysterious phone calls, inexplicably the alarm clock ringing, etc. Mikaela also broke out with blisters and boils over her whole body.
2) for my spiritual walk – that I would be spiritual ready for my talk and the whole gathering. I’ve felt sharp over the past months but less so in this past week. I want to be prayerful, spiritually alert, and filled with the power of the spirit. I want to take advantage of every providential meeting, conversation and new friendship with those at the gathering. I want to have a listening heart to know the Lord’s leading in wisdom.
3) for spiritual protection from the Evil One – both personally and for all those gathering. Malaysia is a Muslim nation and in recent years and even months have started to restrict religious freedom. There is always a concern of security breaches as well especially jeopardizing those attending from closed and persecuted nations. Pray for God’s protection and that we would be wiser than the Evil One.
4) for my physical strength and endurance – I’m flying about 35,000 miles this month total which I dread. I’m concerned especially for my keynote that I have enough strength and endurance in my voice as there are many powerful challenges that I want to have enough voice to express.
5) for POWERFUL movements of God to be born through the gathering throughout the WHOLE earth that would IMPACT eternity and bring GREAT glory to Christ. Only God knows what His plans are – but we pray for God to work POWERFULLY for His kingdom – that this event would help usher in the second coming of Christ.
Thank you for your prayers – of support and encouragement and of battle.
Psa. 123:2 As the eyes of slaves look to the hand of their master, as the eyes of a maid look to the hand of her mistress, so our eyes look to the LORD our God, till he shows us his mercy.
Michael, good to hear from you. I will pray for you daily for the next 25 days. Best of luck in Malaysia.
Comment by Jon Hiebert — September 8, 2006 @ 6:28 am
I’ll be praying for you, too! We look forward to seeing you in October!
Comment by Dory — September 8, 2006 @ 7:34 am
Michael, I will join you and others in daily prayer for the next 25 days. May God keep and carry you and your family.
Comment by Bobby Ryu — September 8, 2006 @ 7:42 am
Sajeev and I will be praying for you and the family for the next 25 days.
Comment by Gina Cherian — September 8, 2006 @ 7:45 am
Michael, My husband, Mike, and I commit to pray for you daily for the next 25 days. May our dear Lord be very close to you, protect, guide, and hold you up and your family, as well.
Comment by Kathy Doreau — September 8, 2006 @ 8:21 am
I am so touched by ur openness Michael, i really love your honesty! I believe this is where many of us fail, to share even our fears and worries. I believe it takes a mature n sincere child of God to do that.
I embrace you n your family in my prayers and no weapon formed against you will prosper, in Jesus’ mighty and powerful name!
Hope to meet you personally in Malaysia!
Blessings,
Jimbo (Botswana, Southern-Africa)
Comment by Jimbo — September 8, 2006 @ 9:18 am
Michael, I really appreciated your word to our congregation Sept.3. I will commit to pray for you for the next 25 days and your family. God bless you and the conference GREATLY! “Greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world.” Linda
Comment by Linda Harrison — September 8, 2006 @ 10:02 am
Thanks for the update, Brother. I will certainly pray for these items every day for the next 25 days.
Comment by Gerry Wheaton — September 8, 2006 @ 3:51 pm
We’ll be in prayer for you.
Comment by Alex — September 8, 2006 @ 7:01 pm
Michael,
Thank you for your sharing. I will be praying for you, the travels, the message, the conference, and the family.
Comment by Michael Liu — September 8, 2006 @ 9:22 pm
I will be praying for you every morning as well.
Love in Christ, Paul Hogan Kang.
Comment by Paul Kang — September 8, 2006 @ 10:50 pm
Hey Michael –
My wife and I were greatly encouraged by your sermon at Shady Grove last week. You, your family, and the whole body of believers will be in our thoughts and prayers and on our hearts-especially during these upcoming weeks.
Blessings,
Jeremy & Hannah
Comment by Jeremy & Hannah Hackenberg — September 8, 2006 @ 11:15 pm
We’ve just had a missionary couple from a Muslim nation with us for the past two weeks and are now too aware of what you’ll be up against!
Praying,
Jeff and Ann
Comment by Jeff/Ann Klein — September 9, 2006 @ 12:51 am
Michael,
We always appreciate your visits to Shady Grove. We will be committed to praying for you over the next 25 days.
In Christ,
David & Susann Pinkerton
Germantown, MD
Comment by David & Susann Pinkerton — September 9, 2006 @ 8:49 am
We’ll be praying for you Michael!
Comment by Joe — September 9, 2006 @ 2:48 pm
My prayers are with you, as well. 25 days.
Comment by Becky — September 9, 2006 @ 8:23 pm
Michael,
Encouraged as always by your vision and passion – and by the exciting opportunities the Lord has been giving.. I commit to praying
Comment by Alister — September 10, 2006 @ 8:57 pm
Hannah and myself will be praying. Soli Deo Gloria!
Comment by c.j. lee — September 12, 2006 @ 1:20 am
I looked on the internet to see what time 3:30am in Japan is in my local time. It’s 2:30pm. So that is the time I am committing to praying for you and your family. This is when my kids start arriving home. East to remember. I will be praying for your strength, courage, healing, and that God may use your suffering. Your sermon on suffering , has led to much time spent turning it over in your mind. I am wondering how you specifically see the Japanese suffering. May God you us mightily, thanks for your example.
Comment by Carol Abbott — September 14, 2006 @ 8:08 pm
Count on me for prayer. Bev Conrad, 10th Pres
Comment by Bev Conrad — September 16, 2006 @ 11:24 pm
We will be praying for you and your family, and His glory in everything that happens at the conference.
Jaclynnette Broadhurst (Jace, Kadin, Rhyston, and Davin)
4-6 yr.old Sunday School teacher at Shady Grove Pres
Comment by Jaclynnette Broadhurst — September 20, 2006 @ 2:42 am
Michael,
I join in with the prayers of so many others for you, for your family, and especially for your keynote address on Sunday night. I will commit to intercede for you while you are speaking. Oh, may the presence and power of the Holy Spirit rest upon you, fill you, empower you and touch others through you at the conference. I look forward to meeting you.
Mary Olson
Comment by Mary Olson — September 20, 2006 @ 5:21 am
Michael,
I really enjoyed your visit with us at Shady Grove PC. Great sermon. I will be praying for you.
Dick Comerford
Comment by dick comerford — September 21, 2006 @ 8:42 pm