Monday, May 2, 2005

STRATEGIC WORLD IMPACT CO-WORKER JAILED IN SOUTHEAST ASIA

By Michael Ireland
Chief Correspondent, ASSIST News Service

BARTLESVILLE, OKLAHOMA (ANS) -- The Bartlesville, Oklahoma-based Strategic World Impact (SWI) organization, which is dedicated to caring for the most oppressed people in their most distressed times, has learned that one of its workers is being held in a prison in South East Asia.

In an e-mail to ministry supporters, Steve Dawson, DART (Disaster Assistance Response Teams) Team Leader for SWI in South East Asia, writes: "A few hours ago, I received news that a friend of mine, Rick R., is being held in a South East Asian prison for his faith in Christ. He and I have spent a lot of time together working both in the secular world as well as in ministry."

Dawson continues: "I remember when we first met and how we shared the same interests in adventure and in our faith. I remember his wedding, and the birth of their first child. I remember him interpreting for me when we distributed aid to a village that had 93 percent of their population die in a natural disaster. I remember how he stood with me as I spoke of the love of Christ and of our love for these pagans. How proud he was of us, when interpreting, because he didn't have to improve a word of what we said as we boldly proclaimed Jesus to the village."

Dawson says after hearing the news just a few hours ago of Rick's imprisonment, he spoke to Rick's wife, telling her SWI would stand by her and their child.

"I remember thinking I will go home to my family tonight but he won't. I will continue to remember him, I pray others will too," Dawson said.

Pat Madden, SWI Field Liaison Officer, says Rick was imprisoned in a South Eastern Asian nation for witnessing to Muslims.

"His name is Rick R. and he was a tremendous help to us during our recent outreach mission to Sumatra in the aftermath of the tsunami," Madden says.

According to SWI, Rick is an American missionary and has a wife and child who desperately need your prayers and support. He is currently being interrogated by the police and could be sentenced up to 5 years in prison for this offense.

Madden added: "Rick raises his own support and is not on salary with any mission organization at this time. Please join us in prayer for this man of God who has sacrificed everything to bring Christ to the Muslim nations, despite the threat of death and imprisonment."

Please pray for these specific requests:

• Pray for God to give him wisdom and strength as he faces his interrogators.
• Pray that the name of Christ will be glorified throughout this ordeal.
• Pray for SWI and the other Christian organizations that are working around the clock for Rick's release.
• Pray for his wife and their child; that God's peace and comfort will be upon them.
• Pray for Rick's release and that God's love would shine through and be a witness to the police.
• Pray that many would join us on their knees and would be prayer warriors for Rick.

SWI says that in addition to these vital prayer needs, Rick also needs our support.

"As the Lord so leads, please prayerfully consider supporting Rick and his family as they face future costs associated with his imprisonment. This will make a major impact in securing his release as well as providing for his family."

Please consider a generous contribution toward the costs of SWI's defense and support of believers in these situations.

You may log-on to www.swi.org/donations.

The SWI e-mail states: "In closing, we urgently request your support for this great man of God who not only sacrificially supported SWI but has a broken heart for the Muslims of Asia. We cherish your prayers and support and we thank you in advance for your kindness and response."