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Oct 11, 2001
Praying for the power to love in a world of hate
By Erich
Bridges
RICHMOND, Va. (BP) -- In the
aftermath of Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the United States -- and the U.S.
military strikes that began Oct. 7 -- missionaries are calling Southern Baptists
to pray with renewed urgency.
-- A Baptist representative teaching English to
children of Arab families asks for prayer that she will have opportunities to
share the gospel. After the Sept. 11 attacks, she found members of one family
crying. One of the children asked, "If there's a war, will you still be our
friends?" The worker reassured them all she would still be their friend.
She now has permission to bring a Bible with her to class and show them some of
God's Word. She asks Christians to pray that out of this tragedy, God will bring
many more such opportunities for sharing His love.
-- A worker in a Last Frontier nation writes:
"In light of the current events in the United States, some of our prayer
partners may be concerned for our safety living among a people group that is
more than 50 percent Muslim. We want to stress that we sense no danger. Many of
our Muslim friends are saddened by what was committed by the terrorists and have
expressed their sincere condolences. One friend even broke down in tears when he
inquired if anyone we know was harmed or killed. Rather than causing a rift
between us, this incident has brought us closer together. Please pray that God
would glorify Himself as He strengthens our friendships with those that need to
place their faith in the Prince of Peace."
-- From southern Asia, a worker writes: "In
light of the recent attack on America, pray that (people considering missionary
service) will still be able to respond to God and the call He has for them with
a 'yes,' whatever that call may be. Also ask that even more people would see the
desperate need of laborers to go forth and share the hope of Christ ... going
where He sends them."
-- Another missionary writes: "With the recent
tragic events that have devastated the United States, remember that what man
intends for evil, God intends for good. All citizens are deeply hurt by such
loss, but let us also remember that as Christians, we are more importantly
Kingdom citizens. Our focus, our hope and our strength need to be correctly
placed on and in the One who sustains us and who works in ways that we can't
understand this side of heaven. At such a time as this, how much more do we need
to intercede on behalf of those ... who are Muslim, in asking that they may come
into a relationship with our King."
Charles Beaty
As Southern Baptist
missionary Charles Beaty entered the last days of his life, he witnessed a world
seemingly going mad.
He responded with love -- and prayer.
Beaty, 34, died of lung cancer Oct. 2. Before his death, he mobilized thousands
of Christians for missions by using every day to share his passion for reaching
the world with God's love.
In the last week of daily devotions he offered to visitors to his website (www.ObeyTheRightThirst.org),
Beaty reflected on how to respond to the horrors of the Sept. 11 attacks on New
York and Washington:
"The events of the past few weeks have us all thinking, 'What is happening?
How will this change our world?'" he wrote. "When faced with violence,
it is very human to react out of fear, particularly with acts that have no
'face.' ...
"[But] let's look to God in our fears. He will come through! Find peace and
comfort in God. Live in peace, as you should, with Him at your side."
Beaty initially experienced the same shock many Americans felt, followed by the
same anger and desire for retribution. Then the Lord reminded him that we are
all made in the image of God and that stereotyping Arabs and Muslims as
terrorists and blaming them for the Sept. 11 attacks is sinful.
"Terrorists take many forms," he wrote. "Let us, especially those
of us who claim to belong to Jesus, repent of such thoughts. Let us commit to
the renewal of our minds to be like that of God's."
He closed one of the final devotions with this prayer:
"My heart is prone to evil, Lord. I need your direction through the Guide
you have sent me. Help me to love my neighbor as myself. Help me ... to find and
fight Evil where it exists in this world. May your love overcome evil in my
heart."
Beaty never stopped praying, because he knew that's where the power to love
comes from.
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