During May we’re focusing on seeking God’s wisdom. Please see the Prayer page to read our strategic prayer request for this month.

By Eunice Herchenroeder

“Pray that God will show us how to partner with the churches in Madang to accomplish the work of Bible translation. Pray that churches in Madang will provide financial and prayer support for at least one mother-tongue translator and one employee in our office.”

Our team here in Papua New Guinea has been offering this prayer to God for several years. From time to time we’ve seen little indications of interest but nothing has ever developed.

Last Sunday our minister asked my husband if he and I could meet with some of their leaders Tuesday evening. Thinking about our full calendars and our lack of time to adequately prepare a presentation on such short notice, we gulped. But remembering this prayer, we smiled, asked for details (of which there were none except that maybe we could talk for about 30 minutes), and agreed to come.

As we prayed about what to say, we felt strongly that we should be prepared to answer the question that we hoped they would ask: “How can our church be involved?”

Money? Yes! That’s always useful.

But what else? Fresh garden produce for our national co-workers to help make up for what they weren’t getting from their own village gardens while they are working in town?

How about a meal from time to time? And how about having it prepared and served at our co-worker housing on Bible study night? So that those who brought the meal could stay and break a different kind of bread together before gathering their cooking pots and returning to their own homes?

Only a few hours before the scheduled meeting time we were notified that it needed to be postponed for a week. Would that be all right? Why, yes, it would. It gives us more time to pray, more time to seek ideas, more time to get others praying, too.

So that’s what I’m inviting you to do. Will you pray that this church will become a visible part of God’s answer to our long-term prayer? And will you pray that God will give us whatever ideas this committee needs to hear and that we will present them well?

Eunice provides administrative support services and assists in the development of mother-tongue literacy materials for children.