World Unites In Prayer

The World Day of Prayer is a worldwide

movement of Christians of many traditions

who come together to observe a common day

of prayer the first Friday of March and who

have a continuing relationship in service.

The day is initiated and carried out by people

in more than 170 countries and regions.

It brings together people of various races,

cultures and traditions in closer fellowship,

understanding and action throughout the year.

I will share a story from my past that

shows the power of prayer. I lived on the mercy

ship Anastasis for a year (http://www.mercyships.

org), the world’s largest nongovernmental

organization hospital ship. Dr. Gary Parker was

a surgeon on the ship who did free surgeries.

In 1992, when Parker saw 4-year-old

Bienvenu at the screening in Cote D’Ivoire

in west Africa, the firm rubbery tumor on the

left side of his face had grown to the size of

a small fist. Bienvenu came to the ship and.

Parker prayed for him, well aware the tumor

might be incurable. A small biopsy was taken

for identification by a local pathologist and

the tiny cut given two stitches.

When Bienvenu returned for a checkup,

Parker did not recognize him. The tumor was

gone. His only indication that it was Bienvenu

was that his mother excitedly pointed to her

son. In amazement, as he examined Bienvenu,

Parker found only a slight swelling where the

tumor had been. Two more visits during the

next five weeks showed no reappearance

of the tumor. Parker concluded that Bienvenu’s

recovery was no less than miraculous.

What makes this story real to me is I know

Parker and I saw Bienvenu, so I know that God

still heals today. Isaiah 53:5 states “But he was

pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed

for our iniquities; the punishment that brought

us peace was upon Him, and by His wounds

we are healed.” Mark 16:18 says “they will lay

hands on the sick, and they will recover.”

I encourage people to use the CATS

acronym. We need to:

C onfess our sins to God.

A dore the Lord for who he is.

T hank God for what he’s done for us, and

S upplicate (old English word for ask) the

Lord to help us.

I have also heard that faith is spelled

“r-i-s-k.” We, as believers, need to step

out in faith and take some chances. When

I meet with people and hear about sickness

or other concerns in their life, I offer to

pray for them. I encourage you to take some

risks as well this World Day of Prayer —

for Christ and country.