Sunday, January 3, 2010

Welcome to the Mapuche prayer blog!

Welcome to the Mapuche prayer blog! Before I get you to start praying, let me explain to you who and what this blog is for. There is an indigenous people group in Chile, the Mapuche people, and only about 3.2% of these people are considered evangelical Christians. There are three families of missionaries working to build churches among them right now: the Tomlinsons, the Hinds, and the Snyders. Right now, the missionaries are working in Temuco, Chile and are looking to plant churches in other villages as well. Pictured below are: Adults (left to right) - Linda Hinds, David Hinds, Anders Snyder, Jessica Snyder, Trent Tomlinson, Angel Tomlinson; Kids - Caitlyn Tomlinson (left, holding Boden Snyder), Ashlyn Tomlinson (right, next to Angel), Aaron Tomlinson (center, orange shirt), Nathan Tomlinson (center, grey shirt), Adrielle Snyder (center/middle, with Jessica)



Also, there are several Baptist churches(mainly in Arkansas) who have partnered with these missionaries: FBC Hampton, Second Baptist Russellville, Third Baptist Malvern, Angel’s Way Baptist (Marion), Bradley Baptist Church, Lake Ouachita Baptist (Mt. Ida), Cross Community Church (Fort Smith), and a Maine Baptist church. This network of churches is committed to join the missionary work among the Mapuche through continually sending different teams over for short term trips—in their own ‘adopted’ region(s). My name is Hannah and I am the “Prayer Coordinator,” meaning that I relay prayer requests from the missionaries to all of the people praying (through this blog). As a reader of this blog, we are enlisting you to join God’s work among the Mapuche in Chile by interceding for the Mapuche, the missionaries among them, the churches involved, etc.

Now that you have been introduced to the Mapuche mission, you can start praying!

• There is a new church in Buta Mallin. Please pray for the church to grow, strengthen, and be a light to the community.
• Pray for Linda and David. Linda’s mother passed away on New Year’s Eve. Pray for their travels (they return to Chile Jan 12) and more so for the Lord’s peace to minister to their hearts and their family at this time.
• The Snyders will be sharing with a local youth group one night during a week of preparation for a big summer missions endeavor (January 4-8). Pray that they impact and inspire the local youths to share the gospel and glorify God.
• Pray for an outreach in Coyahue January 11-17. The missionaries will be inviting neighbors door to door the 11th through 14th, there will be kids’ activities during the day and Jesus film at night on the 14th & 15th, then a service on the 17th. Pray that this event draws people in, that they will be touched and saved by the gospel, and that lasting relationships will be built through this outreach.
• Also, there will be a missions team from Arkansas coming to Chile in March. Pray that the missionaries find some unreached areas that are open enough for the AR team to work in and that the team’s work will open the door for a new church plant in two or maybe up to four communities!

In Psalm 2:7-8 (NLT), God speaks through David about Christ: “The king proclaims the LORD’s decree: “The LORD said to me, ‘You are my son. Today I have become your Father. Only ask, and I will give you the nations as your inheritance, the whole earth as your possession…’”” God wants to give the nations to Christ as his inheritance. God wants all the nations to know Him. We only have to ask God, and He will enact His plan. God has given us no greater privilege because the earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results. Will you exercise your privilege on the Mapuche’s behalf?