Dereham missionary prayer meeting is growing

Numbers attending the monthly prayer meeting at a Dereham care home have been growing, as those who come along seek to provide prayer support and encouragement for those on the front line of overseas mission.

The meetings are organised by the local branch of OMF International UK, formerly the China Inland Mission, and take place at Eckling Grange, a Christian residential care home and sheltered accommodation complex on the edge of Dereham in the heart of rural Norfolk. It was founded in 1960 as a residential home for retired missionaries and those who had ministered in a full time capacity, but is now open to all.
 
Retired OMF missionary Janet Barrow organises the regular meetings, which have grown in size from 5 to around 12 regular attendees, and up to 18 on occasions. She explains that she is keen to provide encouragement and challenge for small prayer groups, both elderly and young, stressing the purpose and significant value of prayer, particularly with regard to missionaries.
 
Janet takes up the story:
“It’s 3 pm on the second Friday of the month!  Time for the regular Dereham prayer meeting of the OMF. Following in the footsteps of the founder James Hudson Taylor and the other early members of the mission, OMF missionaries of the 21st century depend on the prayer support of the Christian family back in their home countries. Before I came to live in a bungalow at Eckling Grange myself, I too had experienced the prayer support of the group, as a “Third Age Missionary” in the Philippines for 6 years.
 
“I have been familiar with the Dereham group meeting at Eckling Grange for some 40 years, as I used to enjoy coming with OMF missionaries who were visiting the North Norfolk prayer groups (Heacham, Norwich, Cromer, Dereham) on consecutive days.  Then we were all delighted when the Lord called a young couple with a toddler, actually from Dereham, to go to North Thailand.  We were pleased to take on the responsibility, and privilege, of praying for them, now senior missionaries, with 4 grown up children. So for 30 years we have shared their lives and ministry.
 
“Now in 2024, besides the family in North Thailand, we support a family with parents living nearby.  This family, having been working with marginalised people in East Asia, have recently had to relocate to the UK, so we are supporting them as they adjust and seek the Lord’s guidance in this big change in their life and ministry.
 
“Last August it was a joy to welcome to our meeting a new young missionary preparing to go to Japan.  It was a thrill for us to share her excitement, her confidence in the Lord’s calling, and also her trepidation at the hurdles to be overcome.  We were re-energised by her faith and enthusiasm.
 
“In November we were reminded of the bigger picture when Tim Jenkins (OMF East Region UK) came to share highlights of his recent visit to South-East Asia, in particular the border between Thailand and Myanmar.  On that occasion 18 Eckling Grange residents came to hear from him, pray together and enjoy fellowship over a cup of tea and a piece of home-made cake!
 
“Usually there are 10 or 12 of us to share updates and pray accordingly.  Receiving regular new updates from our link missionaries gives us insights into their ministry; we are privileged to share the joys and sorrows of their daily lives in situations very different from ours here in the UK.  Although our travelling days may be over, our praying days are definitely not over.  We know we are part of the Lord’s plan for sharing the message of his love for the peoples of South-East Asia as we pray for them, and for the ministry of our missionary friends.”
 
If you'd like to find out more about OMF prayer groups in your area please email Tim on tim.jenkins@omfmail.com
 
Visit: https://omf.org/uk/
 
The photo of some of the attendees at last week’s prayer meeting is courtesy of Pat Simons.

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