An Invitation to the Worldwide Day of Prayer

Image courtesy of Amy Humphries.

“Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” - Hebrews 4:16

The IET would like to invite you to participate in our Worldwide Day of Prayer on Saturday, March 16, 2024.

Navigators from all corners of the world will gather virtually and in-person on the third Saturday of March for a time of corporate prayer. All Navigators–laborers, donors, and friends–are invited to participate. In anticipation of this significant event, International President Mutua Mahiaini extends a personal invitation:

"As the annual Navigators Worldwide Day of Prayer approaches once again, we are excited about the opportunity as a Navigator family to come together before God’s throne. Although we are very familiar with Hebrews 4:16, which urges us to draw near to the throne of God with confidence, I hope it will inspire you to reflect on the fact that this is the ultimate throne, and that God is seated on it. He is the One Who is inviting us to this experience on 16 March 2024. I pray we all take His invitation as seriously as He does.”

Last year during the Worldwide Day of Prayer, Regional Director David Rice experienced the profound impact of gathering with his local community in Istanbul to pray. Here are some of his reflections on the importance of in-person prayer gatherings:

“Every year, our teams across Eurasia pray for the requests in the Prayer Guide in their own way. In one country, the leaders and others gather together to pray as a community, seeking God's intervention in far-off places. This is combined with praying for their local efforts to reach their friends and family members. This helps them feel a part of a bigger movement and creates a sense of belonging. Even though they cannot visit these places, they ‘visit’ them by joining with them in prayer. This broadens their hearts for the world and the lost, which is a crucial part of disciple-making. Some people join the Zoom calls, but most focus on local opportunities for prayer. Personally, I try to make one of the online Zoom prayer sessions for encouragement and to pray with like-minded brothers and sisters around the world. Perhaps I’ll see you on one of the Worldwide Day of Prayer Zoom calls—this time from Poland!”

Here is the Worldwide Day of Prayer 2024 Schedule:

Friday, March 15, 2024, 7:00 – 8:30 p.m. Mountain Time

Saturday, March 16, 2024, 8:00 – 9:30 a.m. Mountain Time

Saturday, March 16, 2024, 12:00 – 1:30 p.m. Mountain Time

The consistent format for the Zoom calls includes a short devotional by Mutua Mahiaini and breakout sessions for Navigators from different countries to pray together in groups of 6-8 people. There are two different breakout sessions so you can enjoy praying with more people from around the world. In addition to these Zoom meetings planned by the International Executive Team, each region and country is encouraged to have their own observances of the Worldwide Day of Prayer. For more information, please contact Stephanie Plaisted at Stephanie.Plaisted@Navigators.org.

As this annual event approaches once again, we are excited about the opportunity as a Navigator family to come together before God’s throne.

European Missions: Opportunities in Austria and Hungary

Linz, Austria. Photo courtesy of Matthias Mitterlehner.

Navigator leaders in Europe are excited to see God sending new laborers to Austria to work with young people in this post-Christian culture. In the past month, Mark and Megan Smith have accepted the invitation to serve in the city of Linz, which is one of the primary missions sending priorities for Navigators in Europe.

Austria, as Regional Director Bill Sparks says, “is one of the toughest places to reach” for Christ. As with people in many parts of post-Christian Europe, Austrians are often hesitant to consider the Christian faith. But this reality has inspired Mark and Megan all the more to serve in Austria. Details are still being finalized, but they hope to move to Linz from the U.S., with their three young children, by early fall 2021.

The Smiths, along with European Navigator leaders, are eager to find at least one more young married couple or two single people join them. The need is for people about age 30 of any nationality and who have some Navigator ministry experience in discipleship among nonbelievers. New team members should be willing to learn German and stay in Austria for at least five years. Mark said they would also be open to an “empty-nester” couple in their mid-50s who could support and encourage younger team members.

Mark calls the work in Austria a “dream situation” because there is a strong support network of mature Austrian Navigators who have been laboring among secular people for many years. The new team will also be collaborating with Navigators in nearby Hungary.

Linz is a strategic location, says Bill. The city of about 250,000 people, which is situated on the shores of the Danube River, is home to eight universities. It is also only two hours by car from Vienna, where an even larger student population lives and studies. Equally important, the team in Linz will be able to collaborate with Navigators in Hungary, and possibly in Germany. Bill believes that these regional partnerships could transform this part of Europe into a sending hub for all of Europe and beyond.

European Navigators are also praying that God would send at least one couple to Budapest, Hungary to work primarily with college students and young professionals. The couple (or couples) would join a mature Navigator couple who has been serving fruitfully in Hungary for many years. The cultural and spiritual context in Hungary is similar to Austria’s.

If you are interested in learning more about these opportunities, please write to Grace at grace.pike@navigators.org.