Baptist workers call for prayer as Mideast fighting escalates.

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International Mission Board personnel in the Middle East urged Southern Baptists to pray for peace in Lebanon, Israel and the entire region as it plunges closer to full-scale warfare.

"We're not here to take sides," said John Brady, who leads Southern Baptist work in Northern Africa and the Middle East. "Our tasks are to pray and minister in the name of Jesus Christ, so one day the people of these troubled lands will know the Prince of Peace."

Currently, all Southern Baptist workers in the region are accounted for and safe, he said.

Cross-border attacks continue to escalate between Israel and Hezbollah militants in Lebanon. Israeli warplanes have launched numerous attacks on Lebanon's eastern and southern areas. Hezbollah has fired more than 1,000 rockets into northern Israel. Meanwhile, Israeli forces continue to battle Hamas-led Palestinian fighters in Gaza on Israel’s southwestern coast.

"The news gets worse each day as this conflict deepens," Brady said. "We're asking Southern Baptists to please take a moment to pray after any news update. Please pray for the peoples of this region.... Each bit of news should be a nudge to a personal call to prayer.”

Southern Baptists have a longstanding relationship with Baptists in Lebanon and elsewhere in the Middle East. Workers in the region asked for prayer for the safety and ongoing ministry of Lebanese Baptists and other believers affected by the fighting in the region.

"We've had personnel in this part of the world for a long time," Brady said. "No one ever gets used to the violence here, but we have learned to act wisely and be careful about where we go and what we do each day.

"Our folks are praying and staying in close contact with regional leadership,” Brady said of Southern Baptist workers in the region. “These are difficult days. Yet our work here, to quote the Apostle Paul, is to be a fragrance of life. In this part of the world where death is such a rampant thing, the fragrance of life from Christ is essential to bringing hope to these nations. Please pray that this fragrance will be real in all our lives and many will be drawn to the Prince of Peace."

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<T H I S  W E E K><

<>< We leave tomorrow for a few days with Shirin's family and will once again be away from Internet access. Upon departure we'll travel south to visit with a new group of intercessors and visit friends. Our third part will then be to re-unite with a group of ever so faithful intercessors and then head back to Scott's hometown.

* During each phase of this trip, ask God to use us to share His Good News with those in need of hearing it.

* Continue praying for travel safety and overall good health.

Your intercession is vital, and we appreciate it!

<* Pray for the Koli of India.><

CALENDAR UPDATES

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12, Ask God to move at Mount Vernon Baptist’s summer mission program.

* We'll soon hear about that when we visit later this month!

13-15, Pray over Dr. Brown, one of Scott’s spiritual fathers.

* Your prayers are being heard as Dr. Brown recovers from surgery. There's still that gleam in his eye that says "God isn't through with me yet!"

16, Mount Vernon

* Our schedule rearranged to where Scott spoke with our host church, challenging them tot he next level of overseas awareness.

17-18, Pray for Scott’s dad on his 65th birthday.

* What a day to celebrate :-)