praying people

I've written this post three times and keep thinking I'm saying too much...it's complicated and deeply cultural, and reality is, it doesn't really matter.

What we DO need are your prayers.  We live in an incredibly spiritually dark community.  One of the reasons the seminary was built here in Saccanville was because there are fifty-some male and female witchdoctors and temples in within a 3 mile radius, EBS right in the middle.

So we should expect darkness to be pressing in.  We should expect darkness of mind, darkness of heart, darkness of dealings.

We lead and shepherd and serve amazing and godly men and women.  We should expect spiritual warfare.  Matt puts himself daily between darkness and our students, we put ourselves daily between darkness and our men and women, between darkness and our children.  So it is to be expected!

This is one of those expected times, when His perfect love continues to cast out fear, His perfect light continues to illuminate the darkness, His perfect plan and perspective trump ours.  

Pray with us, that the powers of darkness that have such a stronghold in people's hearts and lives might be broken.  Pray with us, that the schemes of evil men might be completely destroyed and thwarted.  Pray with us, for spiritual and physical protection of Emmaus, of our staff and students, our God-fearing neighbors and friends, for our family, for our children.

People often ask if we are afraid of Voodoo, and all the threats within.

We dwell square in His hands, pursing Him continually, He is near, we are not afraid, we have no fear.

Our God?  All this darkness isn't even darkness to Him.  All these spiritual battles?  Our God has already emerged unshakingly victorious, forevermore so.

And we are His!  And we are calling upon His name, that He might overcome miraculously, to His great glory, and use us in the process, if He will.

One alongside after much discussion and prayer today said, "you know what this really comes down to is a sin problem and a refusal to follow God?"

You know what?  That is exactly what IT ALL REALLY COMES DOWN TO.  That is ALWAYS the problem.  It is the very problem He has died for, the very problem we are pouring out for, the very problem we live right here and right now for.  And He is not finished.

And He will use this.

Pray with us and for us, as you are led.  Thank you!


Even the darkness is not dark to You, And the night is as bright as the day. Darkness and light are alike to You.  Psalm 139:12

We are more than conquerors through Him who loves us.  Romans 8:37