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Donna and I are in Cotonou to follow up with the shortwave license, NGO status and then travel to South Africa. Upon arriving a man who has been helping TWR called requesting that TWR submit a letter to a government office in Cotonou concerning TWR’s shortwave application. Praise God with us for the divine timing of this call with our arrival in Cotonou.

Today (March 2, 2012) I will be contacting and seeing various people about the shortwave license and NGO status. Please pray for God’s guidance and continued providence.

Tonight Donna and I start our trip to South Africa with a 12-hour layover in Kenya with our kids. Please pray for the travel logistics (on-time flights, fast processing at immigration and customs and minimum Nairobi traffic) so we can have more time with our kids. Pray for our time with our kids.

After our 12 hours in Kenya Donna and I travel on to Johannesburg for various meetings. Praise God that Donna is able to join me on this trip. Both Donna and I will be involved with various meetings on a number of important topics. Please pray for these meetings.

Last week the “The War on Christians” was on the cover of Newsweek. The article inside “The Global War on Christians in the Muslim World” by Ayaan Hirsi Ali tells of how Christians are persecuted throughout the Muslim world and the mainstream media remains mostly silent. Let me strongly encourage you to read this article to better understand what many of our brothers and sisters in Christ face daily. May the Spirit move your hearts to compassion for fellow believers so that you will cry out to the Lord on their behalf and may some of you be moved to action.

Please pray for TWR as we are trying to address these issues both in Nigeria and the new South Sudan. There are no easy fixes and the Muslim / Christian lines are also tribal lines so in addition to the Christian / Muslim conflict there is also tribal conflict. Pray that the Lord will provide the needed resources (spiritual, personnel and financial).

On a personal note, please pray for my health. I have had another bout with Malaria this weekend and a hand injury that shows signs of infection.

Why are we so weary when Jesus’ yoke is easy and His burden light? Personally I find myself taking on burdens, yokes and worries that the Lord never intended me to carry and wearing myself out. Oh Lord, help us leave behind all the stuff you do not want us to carry. Help us to take up your easy yoke and light burden.

There is a tremendous amount going on with the shortwave license at this moment. There has been some very good contact with various officials (some that we have dealt with in the past and some new contacts). Dr Mbennah was unable to visit Benin in December but is hoping to come this month. Timing is becoming critical. Pray that God would move and lead TWR in the right directions to reach West Africa.

Later this month I have a meeting scheduled with some other officials to follow up with TWR’s NGO status. The Lord has provided an additional contact in this process who may be able to help. Pray for wisdom as we move forward.

Thank you for your prayers concerning our kids and instilling God’s ways in them. There were a number of fantastic discussions about God’s ways and how to walk in them over the Christmas break. Your continued prayers for our children are appreciated.

With my kids returning from Kenya for five and a half weeks I reviewed Deuteronomy 6:4-9. In this passage is the command to talk about God’s laws with your children when you sit at home, when you walk along the road, etc…. Although I have read the passage often the first part of verse seven struck me: “Impress them (God’s laws) on your children” (NIV) parenthesis mine. Other English translations say, “teach them diligently,” “get them inside” and “repeat them again and again.” When I looked the Hebrew word up in some lexicons they suggested the sense of teach incisively or inculcate. No matter which one of these senses or phrases you choose, they all imply more than just teaching. They imply instilling something in our kids that goes beyond the passing of information. Pray that all of us as parents (and especially Donna and I in the next five and a half weeks) can inculcate God’s ways in our kids.

Please continue to diligently pray for the short wave license and NGO status. Dr Mbennah (TWR’s International Director for Africa) is hoping to visit Benin in early December to move these two items forward. Pray that all the details would fall into place.

Praise God with us that the Benin Transmitting Station (BTS) has had very little lost airtime resulting in the gospel and biblical teaching being broadcast consistently during 2011.

Pray for BTS’ finances as we end the year. Pray for God’s continued provision and wisdom as we finish the year.

Do you ever get overwhelmed with your inbox or to do list? After three weeks of conferences and meetings my inbox and to do list runneth over. Pray that we all will worship the Living God rather than the to do list and inbox gods. Pray that we remember that God’s love is based on what His Son did on the cross rather than the number of emails answered or how many checks are on the to do list.

Many thanks to all of you who prayed for the Africa International Partners Conference. God’s grace abounded, the Word pierced my heart and I believe it pierced the hearts of some others.

I also attended regional management team meetings and a spiritual life conference, both of which went well. Praise God for the good meetings and spiritual life conference. Pray that the Lord will work miraculously and that the leadership of TWR Africa will continue to hear His voice and obey, as there is always more to do than time or funds.

While I was away the Lord blessed Donna’s time “home alone.” Many thanks for praying for her while I was away. We continue to work on NGO status and the short wave license your continued prayers would be appreciated.

My friends and I have been having discussions (some in person and some via email) on joy in the Lord, contentment in the Savior and rest in God. We have all commented on how elusive these can be, both for Christians in general and for us personally. Most unfortunately, of recent my life has been marked with a lack of joy rather than the fruit of the Spirit. Our discussions have revolved around ideas of faith, trust, letting go, letting God, dying to self and living to the Spirit. Must of these concepts I like and embrace both intellectually and emotionally. However, the dying to self is the one I most resist. When I read the biblical text the violent language used goes against my sensibilities: crucify the sinful nature, die to self, mortify the deeds of the body, I am crucified with Christ, the sinful nature and Spirit are in conflict, lose your life for My sake, etc…. Although if I understand the biblical text correctly, the road to joy requires crucifixion.  Please pray that I would be crucified for joy.

I know that my last blog asking people to pray and fast did not give many of you sufficient warning. Although I am thankful some of you were able to quickly adjust and once again join TWR in concentrated prayer for these issues. As of yet, there have not been any breakthroughs. Your continued prayers would be appreciated.

Next week (Oct 24-27, 2011) is the Africa International Partners Conference (AIPC) for TWR in Johannesburg. Pray that God would direct and use AIPC for His glory and the advancement of His kingdom. I have been requested to lead the devotions for this conference. Please pray that God’s word would pierce me as I prepare and lead the devotions. Please pray that God’s word would do the same for the participants.

The following week the Regional Management Team for TWR Africa will be meeting in Johannesburg. Please pray that as a team we would clearly discern the Lord’s leadings and act in obedience.

Donna will be “home alone” (see her blog www.cox-net.com/family_blog/?p=188) for the next two weeks with me in Johannesburg and the kids at RVA in Kenya. Please pray for her.

Thanks for your prayers.

Many of you will remember, we fasted and prayed in February for some critical issues in Benin. As of yet, the Lord has not answered many of our prayers so we believe that a second time has come for intense prayer thanking and praising God for the fantastic things He has done and impassioned prayer against the spiritual forces of darkness. “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses” 2 Corinthians 10:3-4. If the balance on some key issues in Benin is to be tipped it will be tipped by spiritual means like prayer and fasting. To this end we are asking for God’s people to join us in fasting and prayer the week of 19 – 23 September. Below are the items for which to pray and to praise God:

Prayers and Praises (Grey smaller print represents additional information)

Shortwave License: Pray that the final office in the Benin government that has to approve the short wave license would do so in a way that is favorable. Also pray that the details of the license will grant TWR the flexibility needed. Praise God with us that the other office in the Benin government responsible for granting the license has responded favorably to TWR. Additional Information: The broadcast schedule of the AM transmitter in Benin is full. Right now if we want to add another ministry it would require dropping current programming. As you can see from the Progress of the Gospel Map  (Red – Unreached People Groups, Yellow – Formative and Green – Established) Benin is strategically located.  Increasing our ministry capacity is critical. Map from: Joshua Project, Progress of the Gospel by People Group Map [map on-line] (accessed 16 Jan 2011); available from http://www.joshuaproject.net/great-commission-maps.php

Benin Staffing Needs: Pray that God would provide the right people at the right time. There is an immediate and urgent need for a Broadcast Engineer and a Mechanic & Maintenance Person. In addition we are looking for an administrative assistant. Praise God that there is a small, but effective team in Benin. Pray for protection, spiritual growth, skill development and ongoing discipleship. Additional Information: The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. There is a tremendous potential for harvest here in Benin and more harvesters are essential.

Broadcasting on AM since 2008: Praise God that since February 2008 TWR has been broadcasting from Benin using AM. Additional Information: There are a potential of 190 million people who can hear the gospel and biblical teaching on this transmitter.

Non-Government Organization (NGO) Status: Pray for God’s wisdom as we move forward with this complicated process. Dr. Mbennah is planning on being in Benin during this week of fasting and prayer. Pray that the Lord will grant success. Additional Information: NGO Status is equivalent to a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization in the USA. This status will give TWR important tax benefits.

Title Deed for Parakou compound: Praise God that the mayor’s office has completed and announced a survey that allows us to proceed to the next steps. Pray for God‘s favor and wisdom as we proceed. Additional Information: TWR has purchased 1.3 acres in Parakou for  housing and an office.

Title Deed for Broadcasting site:
Praise God that this important document is complete. Additional Information: The broadcasting site is located 26 kilometers (as a crow flies) from Parakou.

Two failures at Broadcasting site: The FTP computer crashed and the UPS failed. Praise be to God that temporary solutions were quickly implemented and that no airtime was lost due to these two failures. Please pray for these to items to be repaired and returned to service.

Eric and Martha Cherry: Eric and Martha are missionaries in northern Benin amongst an unreached people group. On August 25 Christopher, their 10-year-old son died of malaria. Please pray that God would be gloried through this tragedy and that He would use Christopher’s death to further His kingdom in northern Benin. (See our prayer blog for more reflections on the Cherry family and Christopher’s death www.cox-net.com/prayer_blog/?p=293) Additional Information: The entire Cherry family had been struggling with the flu so when Christopher got sick they presumed he also had the flu. When he did not improve but got worse they took him to the hospital. The hospital discovered Christopher had Malaria and started treating him. The next morning on August 25, despite the hospital’s best efforts, Christopher died. Later that day Christopher’s body was transported to where the family lives in Northern Benin and the next morning he was buried on the Cherry family’s new property.

We realize that not everyone will be able to fast for an entire week, although we would ask you to seek God as to how much and what type of fasting you would do as we pray against the spiritual forces of darkness and thank God for what He has done.

If you have never fasted before, we highly recommend that you try this important spiritual discipline, whether with us the week of 19 – 23 September or another time. Campus Crusade for Christ has produced a simple guide to fasting that can be found at: http://www.ccci.org/training-and-growth/devotional-life/personal-guide-to-fasting/index.htm

The other day I drove up to visit Eric and Martha Cherry, my dear friends who lost their son, Christopher, to Malaria. As it turns out, the whole family had been struggling with the flu so when Christopher got sick they presumed he also had the flu. When he did not improve but got worse they took him to the hospital. The hospital discovered Christopher had Malaria and started treating him. The next morning on August 25, despite the hospital’s best efforts, Christopher died. Later that day Christopher’s body was transported to where the family lives in Northern Benin and the next morning he was buried on the Cherry family’s new property.

As I interacted with Eric and Martha I saw a beautiful grace in the midst of their terrible loss and profound mourning. The characteristic graciousness, concern and care to, and for others that mark the Cherry family beautifully poured out of their lives in midst of their own intense pain. They were in no way trying to gloss over their pain but were fully leaning into the pain of their loss and at the same time letting God’s grace bestow joy, kindness and graciousness. I truly do not have the words to describe the loveliness I saw in the midst of heartache.

I have talked to others who interacted and helped the Cherry family and all have commented on this beauty and strength of character in the Cherry family. Hospital staff completely blown away that Martha went out of her way after the death of Christopher to say thank you for their efforts. Eric’s deep concern for Christopher’s Beninese friends and his assurance to them that Christopher is in heaven. On and on the stories could go.

The beauty of grace in the lives of the Cherries has deeply impacted me. I hope and pray that my visit to them brought some measure of encouragement. However, the wonderfully beautiful grace of God that poured out of their lives during their own affliction has tremendously encouraged and challenged me. Oh Lord, may I surrender to you so that your grace can pour out rather than my own efforts.

We are friends with a very dear family (parents and four children) who are missionaries in the Northern part of Benin, this morning (August 25, 2011) we learned that their 10-year-old son just died of Malaria. At this point in time, we have limited details about what happened. Please for this family as they mourn the loss of their son and deal with details of an American dying aboard. We are a close missionary community and we are all very, very sad.

We are in Cotonou, the capital, as Donna and the kids fly out for Kenya later tonight. As you remember from the last prayer blog, the kids start school in Kenya next week and from Kenya Donna leaves for the states to spend concentrated time with her father whose is in poor health. Please pray for Donna and the kids as they are leaving Benin when their hearts are with their dear friends.

In addition, on Tuesday there were two critical failures at the Benin Transmitting Site (BTS). We praise God that these failures have yet to cause an off air situation. However, if the temporary solutions are not implemented quickly it could lead to BTS being off air. Pray for timely execution of temporary measures and reparation of the failures.

Three out of five in the Cox household have had malaria in the last few weeks and four out of five have had some type of viral infection. Miriam had the worst of it as she had malaria and the viral infection at the same time. While it has been no fun being sick, we are thankful that the malaria cases and viral infections have been relatively mild. Praise God with us that no one has been really sick and ask God for complete healing of those with lingering maladies.

In general, I perceive myself to have above average intelligence. However, in the past few weeks there was a noteworthy problem due to my very own management stupidity; no one else to blame but myself for inadequate procedures for an important process. God was very gracious to the work of TWR to keep this problem from being too damaging: Praise be to His name. Pray with us for wisdom in ensuring all our processes have simple but adequate procedures that are followed.

Nehemiah and Micah Joy have been home from boarding school so it has been great to have the whole family together and we praise God for the good times and memories. On Wednesday the Cox family leaves for Cotonou and onto various destinations. All the kids will be headed to Kenya and boarding school at Rift Valley Academy (RVA). This will be Miriam’s first semester at RVA so please keep her in your prayers as she adjusts to life in boarding school. Nehemiah will be starting high school and Micah Joy will be starting middle school so pray for them as they adjust to these changes. Donna will be traveling with the kids to RVA for the mandatory new parent/student orientation with Miriam. After which, she will head to the USA to be with her father, whose health is frail, for a few weeks where her time will be focused on her parents.