Captain's Log #4
October, 2000

PRAYER
Some weeks ago I asked you to specifically pray for our D.S. here in Fiji, Pastor Aseri. He wants to tell you thank you, but how? The response has been overwhelming all the way back to this island in the Pacific from across America and as far away as Southern Africa. Oh, I have had countless people drop me notes that they were praying but that's not what I mean.

THE BATTLE
I mean the response from beyond the embankment of Heaven to those prayers of yours! You see, the battle is very real. You do not gain ground, you don't move forward, you don't win victories without there being battles, I am becoming convinced of that. One recent afternoon I had spent a number of hours with the D.S. pouring over problems and very serious situations until the weight of them was almost too much - I felt crushed, overwhelmed! Now, I'm not sure about you but I usually do this backwards and this day was no different. Finally I knew that I needed to pray. After some minutes I realized that I couldn't just sit there with my head in my hands praying...    before I knew it I was down on my knees, so was the D.S. I don't know how long we prayed, but God flooded in and filled that room and wrapped His arms around us until finally I confessed to both God and the D.S. that if this is the size of the battles that it takes to keep us flat on our faces at the foot of the Thrown, crying out to Him, holding on to Him, staying close to Him, then I guess He needs to allow the battles to just keep waging around us and the problems to keep coming as His Kingdom moves forward and we'll do it on our knees!!

THE SOIL
We have Satan's attention, there's no doubt about that! Last Sunday Cindy and I and the kids were in seven hours of church services (These people do church different). In that time we were part of a wide range of worship, from what is called 'items' and intense drama skits to more traditional and everything in between. The loudspeakers outside were at full volume (the only volume known) hiding nothing of the service to the nearest ten thousand people. And inside there were enough people to make any self respecting fire marshal break out in hives, and eventually it was late into the night and there simply was no more room for anyone else to come and kneel at the front. These people are very, very hungry for what only God can give them!
 
I am continually reminded of my Grandmother's words during the recent political crises here; "Harmon, God is preparing the soil of Fiji with a very big shovel!"

THE MOUNTAIN
By Monday morning before dawn, twelve of the Pastors and workers had gone away together for three days of prayer. For some of them this would be the final three days of forty days of fasting. This island is not huge, but anything toward the direction of the setting sun is called, 'the West'. "We went to the West." I was told. "To get away and pray. We climbed to the top of the mountain each day to watch the sun come up - then we prayed together - then we prayed alone - then we prayed together. God began to work among us!" I listened to story after story of what happens when twelve people pray for three days.
 
You need to know something - they are praying for you too. They don't know you, but they are praying for you.  I have been telling them that one of our goals is to gather an army of prayer warriors around the world praying for them...  the Church of the Nazarene in Fiji... they know that's one of the main reasons that the fire of God will fall and so now when they pray I hear them pray for you as well.

PERSPECTIVE
I think perspective can only be maintained with this kind of ongoing prayer. What are the battles all about? Who brings the victories? Where does our strength come from? Who really is the enemy? What really is the only thing worth living and dieing for? What is it that unties the hands of God and opens the windows of heaven and ignites a consuming fire within us that no man can put out?

THE CALL
The work of the Church of the Nazarene across the South Pacific, the Fijiboat project and JESUS Film - the task is daunting - the harvest is ripe and the workers are few - but the workers are enough to set this part of the world on fire for the Gospel if just one thing keeps happening. The Scripture is clear. The army of God's children hold the key on their knees. We are calling for one thousand prayer partners by name. Preferably in groups of five or so. It will require a commitment that is not casual. If you believe that God might be directing you to be part of one of these prayer groups or even to lead one, then drop us a line and we'll send you some information on how you can specifically partner with us on the front lines here in Fiji and beyond.

THE RESULT
And this week? What came out of a dozen people praying for three days, this week? Well, one of the things is the launching of another new Church of the Nazarene in Fiji. In Nadi (pronounced Nandi) on the West side of this island! Seen by them as a direct result of those three days of prayer.  Hey...   we need to keep moving - the end of the age is on the horizon and the ends of the earth have not yet been reached  -  we need you, Pastor Aseri needs you, the lost people of the islands of the South Pacific need you, join us!!
 
Harmon and Cindy
Schmelzenbach

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