Prayer event via Zoom encourages partners

Long-time CMF missionary Timothy Aho, who serves with wife Tammy in Birmingham, England, was looking for a way to encourage his partners — and himself — during these difficult days.

“The phrase ‘do not be afraid’ is found about 365 times in Scripture,” said Tim. “Usually it is in the form of an encouraging command like Luke 12:32: ‘Do not be afraid, little flock, for the Father is pleased to give you the Kingdom.’ These words are timely in a season of opportunity to show our trust in Jesus and not be overwhelmed by the circumstances around us.”

So, Tim put out a call to his partners to meet virtually on Zoom to pray for their neighborhoods, cities, countries, the world, the church and missions.

Participants included long-time U.S. prayer partners and supporters from Washington, D.C., Oregon, Minneapolis, Virginia and Arizona, as well as British friends in Birmingham and Manchester and a friend in Spain. Even an old college friend who helped Tim replace a water pump in his 1972 Olds Cutlass joined in!

In all, total of 20 people spread across nine time zones responded and participated in Tim’s PrayerFlash event.

“As we started our time of prayer, I was moved to tears by those represented in the zoom gathering,” he said. “It wasn’t so much the numbers or the span of time zones as it was the decades of friendships, prayer partners, and generous supporters showing their love for us.

“And their prayers were not just for us,” he added, “but for our neighbors and neighborhood, and for those we are discipling. And they got to meet each other virtually for the first time! Surely this taste of community signals something eternal under the loving leadership of Jesus.”

Top photo: Members of the Britain team in Birmingham, England, meet for a video conference.