In the course of my work at Apologetics Press over the past 26 years, numerous people have mentioned to me that they actively pray for our work. When we look into the New Testament, we discover just how valuable and effective this can be. In 2 Corinthians 1, Paul wrote to the church about how he and his other missionaries were “burdened beyond measure” (1:8). He noted how God had delivered them, and then said to the Christians in Corinth, “you also helping together in prayer for us” (1:11). To the Christians in Rome Paul wrote, “Now I beg you, brethren, through the Lord Jesus Christ, and through the love of the Spirit, that you may strive together with me in your prayers to God for me” (15:30). He pleaded with the church at Ephesus, asking them to, pray “for me…that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the Gospel” (6:19). He asked the church in Colossae to earnestly pray for him and those working with him “that God would open to us a door for the word to speak the mystery of Christ” (4:2-3). In his first letter to the Thessalonians, he simple stated: “Brethren, pray for us” (5:25). In his second letter to them, he said: “Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course and be glorified, just as it is with you” (3:1). These inspired verses clearly show how valuable Paul considered prayers for his work to be.
Those of us at Apologetics Press would like to express our deepest appreciation for all of you who have prayed for our work over the last 46 years. Only eternity will tell how many times God has financially blessed our work, protected us from evil forces that would work against the spread of the Gospel, and opened new doors for ministry opportunities because of your prayers. I truly believe that “those who stay with the supplies” (1 Samuel 30:24) are just as valuable and effective as those who go into the battle. While many of you cannot travel the world, write books, take eight years to complete a Study Bible project, or record videos, you can visit your favorite prayer spot and “do the work” of spreading the Gospel by praying for your preacher, the elders, Apologetics Press, other brotherhood works, missionaries, and any number of valuable spiritual works. “The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much” (James 5:17). Thank you so very much for all the prayers you have prayed for us.
In addition, if we are not on your prayer list, we implore you to put us on it. It is no mere cliché for us when we plead with you to pray for our work. God hears those prayers. He acts on our behalf, and He opens doors for our work. If Christians, couples, families, and children all over the world would pray for Apologetics Press, how much spiritual good might our loving Father facilitate in response to your prayers? Would you please pray that we have wisdom to know what materials to produce and how to produce them? Would you ask God to give us whatever resources we need to make those materials available to millions all over the world? Will you plead with God to protect our work from evil forces that try to stop the spread of God’s Truth? And would you petition our gracious Father to get our materials into the hands of all those who need them and could benefit from them? Based on the inspired words of Paul and his desire for the prayers of the church, we at AP simply echo his words when we say: “Brethren, pray for us.”
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