NRB Strategic Partnerships Prayer Newsletter

Spiritual Wisdom...Solemn Words

I call him “today’s Oswald Chambers.” His books on spiritual leadership and personal spiritual growth are among some of the most insightful on my bookshelf. And his book, workbooks, and video seminars on “Experiencing God” have impacted millions around the world. Dr. Henry Blackaby is a current day hero of the faith. His daily devotional book called Experiencing God Day-by-Day, written with his son Richard, is a powerful guide for living our lives in a way that follows the biblical plan that God intends for His children.

When I was at KCBI 90.9 in Dallas, we persuaded Dr. Blackaby to record a series of daily devotions to air each morning. They were powerful. I remember one morning, having previewed the day’s devotion, saying, “Dr. Blackaby’s thought today is challenging.” A listener quickly called in and said, “They are all challenging.”

So while in Atlanta a couple of weeks ago I took the opportunity to connect with Dr. Blackaby to see if we could meet. He agreed, with two stipulations. One, his wife Marilyn would come along. And, two, we would eat at one of their favorite restaurants near their home…Chick-fil-A. I gladly agreed on both of these requests.

My connection with the Blackabys goes back about 35 years to a youth choir trip I led to Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, to sing at some of their church’s  mission locations. Through the years we have crossed paths at various times. His teachings and spiritual understandings have helped guide me and shape my ministry and life. There have been occasions, when facing big challenges, that Dr. Blackaby was gracious to listen and suggest things for me to consider…always with a gentle, Christ-like spirit.

On this recent occasion I did not want to miss an opportunity to glean a little from his observations of our current spiritual climate. I posed the question, “As you look across the spiritual landscape of our world today, what is your greatest concern?”

The response from Henry Blackaby was without hesitation. “My greatest concern? Pastors who don’t fear God.” He went on to explain that he sees so many that are so busy with good religious activity that they don’t have time to listen to God. They don’t have time to seek His direction for their lives and the lives of the flock they are to shepherd.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge.... (Proverbs 1:7)

The impact of that observation is profound for our churches, certainly. But I couldn’t help but expand the thought to all of us in various areas of ministry.

• Do we fear God?
• Are we in such awe of our Creator/Redeemer that we listen carefully for His voice?
• Do we live with the Cross on our mind, so that we want to do the will of the One who died for us more than do what others expect of us?
• Are we consumed by the Lord Jesus, or are we consumed by being successful in ministry.

I must add that my time with the Blackabys was not one of gloom and doom. While we all need a spiritual reality check, Dr. Blackaby affirms our hope is ultimately in Christ, and the victory He promises to those who call on His name. May my life…your life…be marked today by a fear of the Lord that compels us to listen for His voice and follow the plan of our victorious Leader.

Prayer and Praise Reports

India
This year NRB will be involved in media training for Christian broadcasters in India. The series of meetings, workshops, and seminars will be this fall in New Delhi.

In the meantime, God is working through the use of media to introduce many thousands to Christ. Pray for Mega City Campaigns underway in Hyderabad, India this month. These campaigns use every type of media to introduce people to Christ who gives them the “Power to Change.” That is the name of a book produced for each campaign that shares testimonies, scripture, and steps to come to Christ. Thousands are already responding in just the opening days of the campaign.

France
Paul Harrigan of France For Christ has worked for several years to establish a Christian radio station, Radio Gospel, in Paris. He recently wrote:

France is a wonderful country for many reasons, but the spiritual condition here is incredibly challenging and it has a reputation of being a "missionary graveyard.” Progress is being made though by those who persist in the Lord, and we would appreciate everyone's continued prayers & encouragement as we keep working to get Radio Gospel ready for FM.

Please also praise God for the much appreciated help & encouragement of Radio Gospel's Advisory Board, including such companies as K-Love, Way-FM, River Educational Media, Radio Cactus LTD, Premier Christian Radio.

This is a long battle, but we pray for God’s favor with Radio Gospel as they continue their quest for a station in Paris. Twenty percent of the people in France live in or around the capital city. What a field for harvest.

Serbia
ELION Media Ministry starts the month of May with two presentations of Mega City Campaigns, one in Macedonia on May 3rd and the other one in Montenegro on May 4th. Hannu Haukka of Great Commission Ministries presents the campaign strategy. Pray for the leaders and other believers in Montenegro and Macedonia, to see the potential and the significance of this campaign. Tens of thousands can be introduced to Christ through these Mega City Campaigns.

Sasko and Ira Bogeski are also hoping to finish writing the script for a documentary film about the Evangelical Christians in Serbia and start shooting it. Many in this largely Orthodox country have no understanding of who Evangelicals are, and what they believe.

Sasko and Ira conclude their prayer needs with these heart-felt words:

Still, our greatest desire and prayer is for God to lead us and keep us in the center of His will. There are so many things that we could be doing and are already doing, but we only want to participate in what God has for us and what He wants us to be doing for His kingdom and glory. That's why we pray for an even closer and more intimate relationship with the Lord that will keep us sensitive to His leading.

I believe we can not only join them in that prayer, but we can add our names to the list of folks praying for a more intimate relationship with Jesus.

Romania
We praise God that for several years  the Alfa Omega TV network continues in the top 25 Romanian TV networks, and is included in the “must-carry” list of Romanian TV. Many cable TV networks and IPTV systems in Romania and Republic of Moldova rebroadcast the Christian programming. In addition, the signal is received by a lot of individual satellite-dish viewers across Europe. Pray for the ability to extend the distribution in all cable networks, digital, and IPTV platforms in Romania and Moldova.

The opening of the Alfa Omega Communications Center in Timisoara in 2011 creates a platform for strategic media projects in broadcasting, new-media, production, training and Christian education for Romania and the Eastern European region. Pray for resources and partnership opportunities to finalize the last floor of the Communications Center and to supply it with the needed equipments for high quality video productions, broadcast, new-media projects, multilingual regional projects, and more.

Albania/Kosovo
These prayer requests come from Enkelejda Kumaraku in Tirana, Albania.

Please continue to pray for the new Christian station Radio 7 Kosovo:
a. To be an evangelizing tool for the nation and a help for the local church to reach    those persecuted in homes or far villages.
b. Pray for the process of choosing the right people to work in Radio 7 Kosovo…for people with a heart for the nation and media ministry.
c. Pray for new programs we would like to start, pray for wisdom and creative ideas how to be a light in Kosovo.
d. Pray for protection for our staff from Tirana that travels weekly to Kosovo for training and developing the ministry.

Please pray as we soon will start installing new transmitters and airing Christian programming in Northern Albania. And please continue to pray for our new listeners and television viewers who are continually getting materials from our staff, so that they may receive Christ and follow Him.

Bangladesh
God is opening the door for what may be the first Christian radio station in the country of Bangladesh. Dr. Abraham Sarker leads the ministry Gospel for Muslims. He was sent to the U.S. as a Muslim missionary, having been trained to be a leader of the Muslim faith in his region. God had already begun to work in Abraham’s heart, and he now follows Christ. Dr. Sarker is active in Bangladesh, taking the claims of Christ back to his homeland in creative and effective ways.

Now, the Lord may be leading Abraham to establish a station that would serve the community in a variety of ways, and present the Gospel to the listeners. Partnerships are being formed to bring this about. Pray for favor with the government agencies in Bangladesh, and for the resources to see this station become a reality in this next year.

Thank You
I am so encouraged by those who pray and support this amazing ministry. The Lord is doing marvelous things that exceed our expectations. Yet, the field remains white for the harvest. Your continued prayer for all these faithful servants means so much. And, any financial support you can give for the continuation of our Strategic Partnerships work around the world is greatly appreciated. You are making a difference!

In Christ,
 

Ronald L. Harris, DD
Senior Vice President for Strategic Partnerships

National Religious Broadcasters
 
817-446-1094 (Direct)
703-330-7000 (NRB HQ)
rharris@nrb.org
www.nrb.org/international

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