As I look back over the past four months, I am struck by how uncharted these times are and how there are challenges in this season and continue to be around the world.
At the same time, I’m thrilled with how many of you stepped up with your generosity and service and continue to advance the work of PRMI.
Ecclesiastes wrote: “For everything, there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven… a time to heal… a time to love… a time to mourn… a time for war and a time for peace.”
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 (NIV)
The US has the most deaths from COVID-19 to date, followed by the UK and Brazil.
Economies were shut down when “stay at home” orders were issued in March and April.
Fear and uncertainty trouble many people as these orders are being lifted through “phased openings.”
Challenges in a Season of Pandemic
“Social distancing” is a phrase in common conversation – and that is if you can understand what a person is saying behind their mask.
We are living in a difficult season. I pray that you and your loved ones are healthy and that you experience the love and sustaining presence of Jesus every day.
Our mission hasn’t stopped. People still need to be equipped to cooperate with the Holy Spirit.
We stepped out online in faith, like many of you, to keep advancing the Kingdom of God.
A Challenging Season of Protests
In the United States, daily protests are happening around the country in the wake of the brutal killing of George Floyd by a police officer in Minneapolis, Minnesota May 25, 2020.
These protests have often been followed by nights of looting and violence.
As Christians we are called to be peacemakers.
I am grateful for brothers and sisters around the world who are joining us in prayer for peace and justice, healing and restoration. We have the message of peace and hope in Jesus the world needs to hear.
Our mission to mobilize prayer has not stopped.
You can join weekly online prayer meetings (Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays). Groups of 40-50 people from around the globe gather to pray for peace and restoration. People have described this time as an anchor and place of healing and encouragement.
I know that many of you are joining special prayer meetings and gathering to work for peace and justice. May the Holy Spirit anoint you for this critical prayer work.
A Challenging Season for Provision
In April, I shared that PRMI applied for the Payroll Protection Loan/Grant designed by the US Federal Government to help cover the costs of personnel during the COVID-19 pandemic.
We struggled with whether or not to apply for a loan/grant.
After a careful and prayerful discernment process with the Board of Directors, we filled out the extensive paperwork and waited, trusting that the Lord would work through the process.
While we waited, your overwhelming generosity became the provision of the Lord. You sent an abundance of unexpected gifts through the mail and online.
You were God’s provision that provided amply for payroll and benefits through March, April and May.
One gift came in saying specifically that it was to be used for payroll costs!
Thank you!!!! Thank you!!!!.
We were shocked to hear a few weeks ago that our Payroll Protection application was denied, though all our paperwork was in order and there was no apparent reason we should not have received this loan/grant.
But there was a reason: the Lord did not want to provide for PRMI this way.
The Lord supplied His provision, His way: through generous donors instead of a loan/grant from the government.
The fourth question in PRMI’s four guidelines for discernment says,
Is there confirmation in objectively verifiable events or facts?
The rejection of PRMI’s loan application tells us,
No, not by way of a loan.
Without that potential provision, we now need to trust God for provision during June, July, and August, when donations are traditionally lower than Spring, Fall, and end of year.
Events May through mid-July have been cancelled (where offerings are received).
Our mission hasn’t stopped.
The Lord provided.
We praise the Lord for his sovereign wisdom, protection, and care.
We thank you who have given sacrificially to advance the work of PRMI over the past three months.
In This Season, Our Mission Has Not Stopped
1. Training Leaders for Dunamis Expansion
Ministry leaders in the Pacific Northwest of the United States gathered online for three days of PRMI’s Exousia leadership training.
The Dunamis Fellowship Northwest US is preparing for missionary expansion to four Dunamis Projects in the area over the next 12 months.
2. Online Classes and Video Course Work
Volunteer prayer ministers took virtual training on healing and deliverance through a multi-week course.
Young Life leaders in Latin America received three sessions of our Gateways to Empowered Ministry teaching.
Many of you have signed up for free online Dunamis Video Courses.
Several of you took PRMI’s class on How to Lead Online Interactive Prayer and have stepped up in leading online prayer in your local contexts.
3. Our Core Teaching reaches more than we imagined.
Over 3500 people have downloaded our key teaching on the Baptism With the Holy Spirit, that was recently put into a free downloadable ebook.
Get your own copy sent by email:
4. People receive fresh empowerment for ministry.
Over 400 people have attended a Virtual Upper Room experience, where a team of PRMI trained leaders prayed with guests to receive a fresh empowerment of the Holy Spirit.
That is almost as many who attended Dunamis Projects in the United States in a normal season in the last year!
In the first week of June, the first Spanish Language Virtual Upper Room was held for Young Life leaders of 7 countries in Central America. To receive a fresh infilling of the Holy Spirit so they could do the work of the ministry.
We continue to offer Virtual Upper Room’s on Wednesdays 7pm Eastern, through the month of June:
5. Youth from around the world will go deeper in prayer.
Teenagers will get to do Upward Challenge Global Edition on July 20-24, 2020!
This will be online instead of in person at the Community of the Cross, enabling young people from Canada, Eastern Europe, England, Korea, and other countries to gather.
They will experience worship, teaching and fellowship.
They grow in their life of prayer and learn how to cooperate with the Holy Spirit by receiving God’s guidance and stepping out in obedient faith.
Please keep the leadership team in prayer as they pull all the details together and pray for the students who will join!
Consider sponsoring a gift box for $25 USD that each teenager will receive as part of their participation.
How Can We Pray for You Through These Challenges
For everything, there is a season and we rejoice in the knowledge that our God is always faithful and truly we are blessed to see Him at work in our midst.
I pray you all are experiencing his presence and faithfulness as well. And I pray you are staying healthy and safe during this season.
How can we pray for you?
You can reply to the email that brought you here, or email the office at prmi@prmi.org.
Our ministry intercessors are ready to take up praying for you.
With Love In Jesus Christ,
Cindy Strickler
PRMI and DFI Director
