When the Saints Pray

“If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer." Matthew 21:22, NIV.

Winnie Mae* came to faith late in life. She grew up and spent eight decades of her life hearing about Buddhism, but when Jesus healed her body and soul she latched onto the truth that when the saints pray, God responds.

Like countless other days, Winnie boiled water for several household chores. But on this day as she moved the boiling water, she stumbled and fell. The water burned her body severely. A small church that met in her village came to Winnie as soon as they heard about her accident. They gathered around to pray for her healing.

The next day Winnie found that her burns were completely healed! She immediately went to the member of the church to ask how she could accept this Jesus who healed her burns. With joy the believers shared the Gospel, and Winnie Mae became a born again believer.

Winnie came to church faithfully. She loved that God answered prayers, and she knew from personal experience that God was powerful. Winnie asked the church to pray that she could move into a new house. She and the church prayed, and through a set of amazing circumstances, Winnie moved into a new house!

The village where Winnie lives is very poor. Many of the young people were not able to attend school because of the expense. Winnie Mae challenged the church to pray. She said, “Let’s ask God to provide a hostel for our children to go and study.”

Again God responded. Currently there are thirty children and youth from the village who live at the hostel and attend school in a nearby township. These children are too poor to afford their daily bread, but as Aunt Winnie has taught them, they pray. And day-by-day God has met every need.

Winnie Mae often witnesses to her friends and relatives about the Jesus who healed her body. She tells them to pray to Jesus and believe because He is powerful and He answers prayer.

*Names changed for security reasons.

Pray that:

God will confirm His Gospel by responding to the prayers of His children through healings and miraculous provisions among Winnie’s people group.

Winnie will continue to expect great things from God in response to prayer, and that she will teach many other Christians to have the same attitude.

The 30 children and youth currently getting an education by faith will become men and women of great faith who will spread the Gospel throughout the area.

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