Did you know today is the last day of our 40 Days of Prayer for the cities of Mesoamerica? In Genesis, we start every year by dedicating ourselves in intercession for the urban populations in our region. We have prayed that God would give us his vision for the city. We have prayed that God would raise up missionaries for the city. We have prayed that God would use us to transform our cities! It is happening, too. He is changing our cities in Mexico and Martinique, Honduras and Haiti, Grenada and Guatemala. And as we have prayed for others, God has begun a transformation in us as well!
I hope you have joined us in this journey. If you have not, or did not even know about it, why not challenge yourself or your church to dedicate 40 days to prayer? We even have resources to help you!
Two years ago, Gary and Naomi Faucett, our Genesis Member Care Facilitators (that big title basically means they love our missionaries bigtime!), provided a much-needed retreat for our missionaries ministering in San Pedro Sula, Honduras. Eunice Zaragoza, Freivy López, and Merit Córdova gazed out from the fifth story of their hotel on the sprawling city below them. Freivy began to introduce Gary to all of the neighborhoods of San Pedro Sula:
“Gary, that section of the city is so dangerous. We’re not supposed to go there at night. But we still do anyway because we have started a cell group there.”
“Over there is known as the center of gang activity. But there are kids there, too. We play in the park with them every Saturday.”
“Hey, most of the drugs that pass through Honduras come through that barrio over there. But see that apartment? That’s where we have started to see a lot of youth come to know the Lord. God’s really up to something in that place.”
Gary elbowed Freivy and half-joked, “Sounds like San Pedro Sula is pretty unsafe, brother. Are you gonna be alright?!”
Freivy nodded. “Definitely. But I love this city.”
Do you love your city? Do you love the high-risk places, or just the comfortable ones? When was the last time you truly prayed for your city?
Now it’s a tradition. In every retreat, we find a room where we can look out on the city. And we pray. The photo up top is of the Global Mission Coordinators in New York this last October praying for that great metropolis, but also for all of our cities. The photo you see below is of the Guadalajara team praying over their city with over 6 million inhabitants.
Are you committed? Will you join us in praying for the city? It’s not over after 40 days. Find a rooftop somewhere or a fifth-story window and take a picture of your family or church praying.
The city has gotten into us; it’s now under our skin. It is hectic and noisy and oftentimes dangerous.
And like Freivy, we love it.
“Work to see that the city where I sent you as exiles enjoys peace and prosperity. Pray to the Lord for it. For as it prospers you will prosper.” (Jer. 29:7 NET)
Transform the Globe 