Dear Friends
Thank you for your prayerful support of the work of Langham Preaching around the world. There is so much to stir and provoke us, as God does his work among us and through us. Here is one example from Dionisio Orjuela, the interim Director for Langham Preaching in Latin America.
The protest marches that we have seen in recent days in different parts of the world raise the same question that the psalmist asked hundreds of years ago:
Why do the nations conspire and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth rise up and the rulers band together against the Lord and against his anointed, saying, ‘Let us break their chains and throw off their shackles ‘ (Ps 2:1-3).
The psalmist's question reveals his amazement that his enemies do not realize that rioting against King David is conspiring against God himself—and intending to break all relations with God and free themselves from His dominion, as if this were possible.
Today nations and powerful leaders rise up against the foundations established by God in His Word. Ultimately, what they seek is to distance themselves from God. This explains the deplorable moral and spiritual condition of our world. In the midst of the turmoil we are living—particularly in Latin America where elections are marred with candidate assassinations, corruption and drug money—the Lord reminds us that His throne is immovable and that He will ultimately fulfill His perfect plan. This is why He invites us to find safe refuge in Him.
In the face of these realities, God gives us the privilege and responsibility of preaching His Word and forming preachers who proclaim Christ as the only hope for our nations. He also encourages us to pray that ‘God's Word will spread and be glorified’, bringing healing to our wounded nations.
Please pray for the work in various places around the world…
Latin America: You will see that Dionisio is now the ‘interim’ Director. This is because Igor and Charo Améstegui are on sabbatical. This was first talked about more than five years ago, but the pandemic obstructed our plans—as well as taking Charo (and the family) through ‘the valley of the shadow of death’ as she suffered with COVID-19. Please rejoice with them that this opportunity for refreshment and rest has finally arrived—and give thanks to Dionisio and the team for carrying extra responsibility during this time.
Myanmar: (a) Running right through this week is a Level Two seminar in Yangon, with 25 participants expected from nearby churches—and with Sein Kyi, Slai Yaw Han and Run Nuam Thang as the facilitators. And then (b) from Friday until Tuesday the focus shifts to Keng Tung, in East Shan state. Once again it is a Level Two seminar; once again the facilitators will be Sein Kyi, Slai Yaw Han and Run Nuam Thang; and once again 25 participants are expected! Sein Kyi asks us to pray that being in the middle of the rainy season won’t impact the seminar and that all participants will remain healthy.
Zimbabwe: The final seminar for this round of training takes place on Saturday in Harare. Praise God that over four (monthly) Saturdays, all three Levels have been covered and that participants have been faithful in their attendance. As Gary Cross writes, ‘It is our prayer that God’s Word will be taught and preached more faithfully, clearly and relevantly, by men and women who are confident in conviction and Christ-like in character as a result of our seminars this year.’
Thank-you for your faithfulness in this ministry of prayer.
The Langham Preaching Team