Ask for the Nations

The Critical Role of Prayer in Missions

I have never been to India—and I honestly don’t anticipate traveling there anytime soon. But for nearly four years, I have prayed for India during some late-night prayer sessions with three friends.

We pray especially for this nation because one member of our group was born in India as an “untouchable”—a Dalit—considered the lowest in a degrading caste system. But God miraculously intervened in Madan Valvi’s life and redeemed him out of a future destined for humiliation and poverty.

When Madan was a young boy and very ill, his mother walked and carried him all night to seek medical treatment. A Swedish missionary named Svea Mellin welcomed them into her mission, provided treatment, and eventually cared for Madan in a boarding school. She taught him the Bible and prayed for him to become a man of God. Madan promised he would always serve the Lord.

Keeping a Promise

Eventually Madan, his wife, and family came to live in the United States, enabling them to continue their educations. But his desire has always been to return to India to preach the gospel among the Dalits. He wants them to know the love of Christ. He wants to “touch the untouchables,” pray over them, and invite them into a relationship with Jesus.

As Madan, Traci, Mike, and I pray together on those late weekend nights, my heart is more and more drawn to the spiritual needs of these precious people. I long for them to know Christ. My entire church also prays on a regular basis, as we have adopted India as one of our most intentional mission fields.

After years of fervent prayer, God has thrown the doors wide open for Madan to return to India. He now travels there many times a year, training leaders and preaching to tens of thousands of Dalits at a time in crusades hosted by the local pastors.

I have not heard Madan preach the gospel in his native language. But I have heard him pray. I have listened as he agonizes for his people, laboring in prayer for their souls. I have watched Madan on his knees before his heavenly Father, pleading for the salvation of those he dearly loves. In this glorious way, I have been allowed to join Madan in reaching a nation I may never visit myself.

Ask for the Nations

This issue emphasizes not only the critical role of prayer but also the power of prayer in missions. As Dave Butts writes in his article, we need to “get vertical” in seeking God before we can hope for a horizontal spread of the gospel through missions. Steve Hawthorne makes the important distinction of going beyond praying for missionaries. Truly effective prayer with “super-synergy” means we are a part of their mission by praying with them. Dan Crawford reminds us that prayer for missions is the “forgotten command” of Jesus. Every fresh burst of missions energy has always been fueled by prayer.

Remember Svea, the missionary who took Madan in and prayed so faithfully for him? Those two lost track of each other for some 30 years. Svea retired and returned to Sweden, not certain that her life on the mission field had been all that effective. But only weeks before Svea passed away at 93 years of age, God graciously reunited her with Madan when he found her and traveled to Sweden to personally thank her. God blessed Svea with the honor of learning how her humble prayers for Madan and India are right now touching that nation with the love of Christ.

CAROL MADISON is editor of Prayer Connect.