Praying for the Men

“Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. Then they can train the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God.” Titus 2:3-5, NIV.

For several years, the Batangas Bicol Team in the Batangas province of the Philippines has been training Keystone leaders in evangelism, discipleship, and church planting. Dyann has been involved in Keystone training for about five years.  As a single mom, she has prayed for years for a husband, but as a strong Christian, it was obvious that not just any man would do.  Last February, Ted came to Christ in a neighborhood worship group in which Dyann and her young adult children participated.  He and Dyann began “courting” and were married shortly thereafter.  Ted was soon baptized, and IMB missionary Terry Buford began mentoring him and teaching him to share God’s word with his worship group through Chronological Bible Storying.  In September of last year, Ted baptized his first new believer, and he preached his first sermon before a crowd of 180 people in early October. He also preached again a week or two later when he was asked on the spot to speak before 130 people in the absence of another man. Ted is always a little nervous standing before a large crowd, but he is a willing servant of the Lord.  His sermons are short and simple but always Biblical.

For many years, we have been praying for the men of Batangas to accept Christ and to become leaders in a house church movement. Many have come to us, but few have had the perseverance to grow spiritually to the point that they are ready for leadership. However, after listening to the “Following Jesus” series of messages, the team realized that the women of Batangas also needed stories that would encourage them to believe that God really cares about them and that He will answer their prayers. We realized that harnessing the prayers of believing women in Batangas and channeling them to pray for the salvation and spiritual growth of their husbands would be the most likely way that God would raise up the men necessary to become the leaders of a church planting movement. 

Of course, that is exactly what has been happening with ladies like Dyann and her friends, Mercy and Lourdes, who are already women of exceptional faith.  The stories they are sharing with the women they lead have already brought about positive results.  Women are listening to these stories and acting in faith as never before. God is at work, and Ted is just one example of what can happen when a godly wife comes before the throne of God and prays for a Christian leader for a husband.

By: Dave & Ivette Daggett, Batangas, Philippines

Pray that:

God will convict the people of Batangas of their need for a Savior.

God will call out the believing men of Batangas to assume positions of spiritual leadership.

The women of Batangas will also accept Christ, grow in faith, and become prayer warriors and spiritual mentors.

Pacific Rim is a region of the International Mission Board, SBC.