Author: admin

Many times when we start to fast and pray multiple things go wrong. Even when we decide to set aside a time for this purpose, things start to happen. Because of this we thought twice about asking our whole support team to fast and pray. If there are problems when we fast and pray, will there be more problems if more people fast and pray? But when difficulties come, there is also a peace and confidence in God during these times. Often, God does work in miraculous and unexpected ways.

Since requesting the support team to fast and pray, the NGO status has hit a major problem. Please pray that God would intervene in a powerful way. Praise God that in the midst of hitting this problem He has provided His peace.

Continue to pray that God would raise up more people to fast and pray for Benin together the week of February 27 through March 6.

Also pray for Donna and Miriam as they are in Kenya for Miriam’s evaluation visit with RVA. Pray that God would give RVA, Miriam, Donna and I wisdom and direction about Miriam’s education and whether starting RVA in August is the right choice for Miriam.

Lastly, let me apologize to those of you who get the prayer blog emailed to you.  You received the fasting information twice, once via the prayer blog and once via the February newsletter. I will work in the future to not send emails that duplicate information. We all have enough in our inboxes without duplication.

After careful observation and consideration of the situation with TWR in Benin, we believe that the 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 February 27 – March 6 culminating with concentrated prayer during the weekend of March 5 – 6. 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. (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: Praise God that the long road of completing the paperwork for step one is complete. Pray that this would be accepted and that God’s favor would abound to step two in this process. 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 16 miles (as a crow flies) from Parakou.

Ivory Coast: Pray for peace as there is a disputed election that could bring the country to civil war.  Pray for protection, peace and God’s abounding grace to the TWR office in the Ivory Coast. Additional Information: On November 28, 2010 Ivory Coast had a presidential election. Both sides are claiming victory and a right to run the country.

Benin Presidential Election in March: Praise God that Benin has a history of peaceful democratic elections. Pray that God’s hand would continue this trend. Additional Information: Continued peace in Benin allows TWR to accomplish sharing the gospel.

More Information on Fasting

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 February 27 – March 6 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

Over the past year and a half there have been a number of repeated prayer requests: the shortwave license to be granted, Non-Government Organization (NGO) status to be given, a title deed for the land in Parakou and more harvesters for Benin. We are grateful for all who have prayed for these. Thanks!

In thinking and praying about these situations it has been decided to ask our entire support team for concentrated fasting and prayer on these issues, and others, during the week of February 27 – March 6 culminating with concentrated prayer during the weekend of March 5 – 6. This will be the focus of our February prayer letter, both the email version and print version that goes to the entire mailing list. (Please note that these prayer updates only go to a small subset of the email list and via the prayer blog.)

I would entreat your prayers that the February prayer letter would move the hearts of many to fast and pray. Pray that there would not be problems with delivery, people would read the information and then take the time to fast and pray during the week of February 26 – March 6.

It is possible that some of you would consider helping to communicate and motivate fasting and prayer amongst your friends and at your church. Perhaps some would consider organizing a prayer meeting the weekend of March 5 – 6. Please seek if the Lord would lead you to help.

In addition, please pray for RVA that had a flu outbreak (our kids have not been sick), an RVA student with a serious medical condition, the TWR staff in Ivory Coast and the TWR contingency plans for the Ivory Coast should civil war breakout.

Thank you for your continued prayers and support.

Monday was National Voodoo Day here in Benin. My wife had the great idea to move one of our meetings to this day so that in addition to meeting, the team here in Benin could spend extra time praying on National Voodoo Day. One of the things we praised God for was that three years ago on National Voodoo Day TWR made its first test transmission from Benin.

We also praised God that in the past couple of weeks there was very significant process on the title deed for the land in Parakou for houses and offices. The mayor’s office has completed and announced a survey. The completion of this survey will allow us to move forward with the next steps in the process.

In addition we praise God that all the paper work needed for the first step in TWR’s application for Non Government Organization (NGO) status has been completed and submitted. Pray that the government of Benin will respond favorably and quickly. This status grants TWR tax benefits (much like a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization in the US).

Please continue to pray for the shortwave license application. In December we were able to deliver a packet of information to a government office concerning technical details of the licensing process. Please pray for a timely and positive response from this office.

It appears to me that now is the time to intercede and pray for Benin. There is significant movement on three major fronts for TWR here in Benin: One, a TWR shortwave license for Benin; Two, NGO status for TWR in Benin and three, the title deed for the new property in Parakou for an office and housing.

We have been gathering documents and information for the Benin government concerning our shortwave license and we are hoping to deliver a packet of information to them on Thursday (Dec 16, 2010). Please pray for the final preparations of this packet. Also, we have had a hard time securing some desired meetings; please pray we are able to schedule the needed meetings or accomplish the desired outcomes via another means (letters, phone, email, miracle, etc…)

The documents from the US for the NGO status arrived, have been translated and were submitted to the Benin government. However, the Benin government is requiring certain documents that do not exist in the American system. Pray for wisdom as we seek a solution.

The process of getting a title deed (which can take a couple of years here in Benin) for the new property in Parakou has been waiting on the city of Parakou to complete and publically announce a survey, which the city finally finished. Pray for us as we move forward with the next steps in this process. Most unfortunately this process is full of people who are looking for a quick buck, pray also for God’s protection from these people.

Pray for the team here in Benin. All of the Benin staff have been and will continue to be working hard on the issues, some directly involved and others covering the normal functions of those directly involved. Those who have been following the prayer blog will recall that Benin desperately needs a broadcast engineer, without this key person onboard and with many team members focused on administrative tasks there is the danger of lacking technical margin for broadcast emergencies. Pray for God’s grace to abound.

To add to all of the above I came down with Malaria and spent a couple of days in bed when I really felt I needed to be working on these things and I am still not back to 100%. Perhaps this is God’s way of bringing me to a deeper dependence on Him rather than relying on my over esteemed ability. Pray that I would continue to learn dependence on and obedience to Him.

In my last prayer update, I ask you to pray for our efforts to secure a high-level government meeting for TWR leadership concerning our shortwave license. While we were trying to secure this meeting in a government office, providentially, the legal counsel for the department came in. One of the secretaries said this is the man to whom you should talk, this lead to a wonderful meeting concerning our shortwave license. Praise God with us for this providential encounter. Pray with us as the legal counsel requested some information about shortwave licenses that we need to gather from vast sources and places in a timely way.

Also in the last update, I asked for prayer on completing some needed documents from the US. Thank the Lord that these have been completed. Pray that the Fed Ex delivery arrives in Benin quickly (and no Fed Ex does not deliver overnight to Benin; more like over a week).

This week, I am in Johannesburg for leadership meetings. In the next few days the Regional Management Team will be reviewing the strategic plan and setting goals for 2011. Pray for the Spirit’s leading and wisdom.

Recently I watched the movie Invictus, which is about Nelson Mandela, the South African Rugby team and the 1995 Rugby World Cup. There is a scene between Nelson Mandela and Fancois Pienaar (the captain of the South African Rugby) that has caught my attention:

Nelson Mandela: How do you inspire your team to do their best?

Francois Pienaar: By example. I’ve always thought to lead by example, sir.

Nelson Mandela: Well, that is right. That is exactly right. But how do we get them to be better than they think they CAN be? …. How do we inspire ourselves to greatness when nothing less will do? How do we inspire everyone around us?

This scene, along with some other events, has lead me to ask: How do I inspire myself to prayer greatness, to pray more: more deeply, more fervently, more intentionally? How do I inspire others to prayer greatness?

Oh Lord, may you motivate your people to pray more deeply, more fervently and more intentionally and may you start with me.

Please continue to pray that the required documents from the USA are completed quickly and arrive in Benin in a timely manner. Pray for our continued efforts to secure a high-level government meeting for TWR leadership concerning our shortwave license. Pray that God would send us a broadcast engineer. Pray for Paul’s continued recovery from Malaria. Praise God with us for spiritual refreshment from the SIM Spiritual Life Conference that we attended.

For those who want more prayer requests and more praises, please download our top 10 things for which we are thankful and 10 prayer requests: http://cox-net.com/pdf/2010.11_Cox.pdf

For those of you who follow the world news closely, you are aware that there has been significant flooding in Benin. We are very appreciative of all who have called or emailed to check on us. By God’s grace we are fine and dry. My wife has blogged about this and you can read more on the Family Blog: http://www.cox-net.com/family_blog/?p=146

Thank you so much for praying for my trip to Cotonou. You will remember I was hoping to meet with various people to follow up with TWR’s NGO status and short wave license application. Both meetings ended up being more than just follow up.

While following up on the NGO status I discovered some missing paper work. This paper work requires documents from the US government. It will probably take four to six weeks to gather all of this documentation. Pray that this process goes quickly.

My meeting about the short wave license concluded with a recommendation that TWR have a high level meeting with a government official. Currently we are trying to secure this meeting and coordinate calendars between this official and the TWR leadership who will need to be present. Pray that all of these details can be worked out.

Next week we will be involved with SIM’s Spiritual Life Conference. We are really looking forward to hearing God’s word and worshipping in English. It is also encouraging to visit with other missionaries we do not see often. There should be about 20 children of all ages so you can imagine Miriam’s excitement. Joy, Donna’s sister, will be here to lead the worship time.  Please pray for spiritual refreshment for the Togo and Benin missionaries that are attending.

Sunday at church as I listened to the African rhythms and the joy in the Bariba voices (which I do not understand) my heart was encouraged to be with fellow believers worshiping God. But then I started thinking about the problems facing the Benin church (curse of a theologian): lack of biblical teaching, some pastors more interested in position than service, and lack of spiritual depth. I was reminded of the problems facing the American church: materialism, business and declining interest in missions. At some point, the cries of joy in Bariba brought my thoughts back to the present worship of God. My heart was warmed: despite the problems the King of kings, the sovereign Lord almighty was being worshipped and my heart rejoined the worship. May we be quick to praise the all powerful creator of the universe and slow to critique His creation.

A huge thank you to those who prayed for my training and then the leadership meetings in South Africa. Both went well and God was gracious to my wife and I while we were apart.

After being home for two weeks, today I leave for a short (three day) trip to Cotonou. I will be meeting with various people about TWR’s shortwave application and NGO status. While these meetings are mainly follow up and I do not anticipate any watershed discussions, I would appreciate your prayers for divine providence.

In my last blog I mentioned a providential encounter with a key leader of an organization who was enthusiastic about helping TWR. Last week I was able to communicate with her via phone and email. Her enthusiasm remains, for which I am thankful. Although the process has to go through other people within her organization. Pray that God would grant TWR favor in the eyes of all those involved.

After much prayer, effort, time and energy, TWR has the title deed to the transmitting site. While all the legalities of the title deed still needs to be double checked, it looked correct to me with my very limited understanding of legal French. Please note that this is the first of two title deeds TWR needs. The second property for houses and offices is still in the beginning stages of the title deed process.

Currently I am writing from South Africa where I am receiving management training this week and attending regional management meetings next week. Your prayers for the training and meetings would be appreciated.

Donna was in Kenya for 11 days to get Micah Joy settled at Rift Valley Academy and returned on September 4.  A week later (September 11) I left for South Africa, where I will be for two weeks. Please pray for our time apart.

Another significant praise is that during a meeting on the day I left for South Africa it was suggested that I meet with a particular organization to solicit their help with our application for NGO status with the Benin government. As I was flying out of Cotonou I providentially ran into one of the key leaders of this organization. She was enthusiastic about the possibility of helping TWR.  Praise God with me for this providential encounter.