6 Ways to Pray for Creation Care Ministries [April Prayer Focus]

TEAM – The Evangelical Alliance Mission • Apr 04, 2017

Whether it’s ruined soil, contaminated water or disease caused by piled up garbage, there’s no doubt that environmental destruction hurts people deeply. In the midst of that hurt, many people doubt God’s power, His love or that He even exists.

That’s why missionaries around the world are shining a light on God’s handiwork through creation care ministries. By teaching sustainable farming methods, cleaning beaches and more, missionaries get to show how faithfully God has provided for our physical needs — and that opens doors to share about the eternal life He offers all of us.

This April, will you pray with us for creation care ministries?

Click here to get a printable version of these requests , and sign up here to get the new prayer focus in your inbox each month.

Pray for people to understand the importance of creation care.


“We do not get any agricultural change or change in any communities unless you’ve first dealt with the heart issues.” –Craig Deall, CEO Foundations for Farming in Zimbabwe

In Zimbabwe, many farmers were taught to plow deeply into their fields, not knowing it would cause soil erosion and hurt their ability to grow healthy crops in the future. That’s why TEAM missionaries partner with local workers to show the long-term impact such practices have — and teach sustainable methods.

When farmers understand how their methods hurt their land, they’re more than ready to try solutions like no-till farming and aquaponics.

Ask God to give missionaries around the world insight into how local, natural resources can be nourished. Ask that they will be able to communicate this clearly. And pray for the people they serve to see clear benefits in using these new methods.

Pray for trusting relationships with local people.


Scott Downing drills wells in a mostly Muslim area of Chad. Village leadership knows he teaches God’s Word, but they allow him to remain because of the love he demonstrates. Photo by TEAM


Chadian villages are eager for water wells drilled by TEAM missionary Scott Downing. But the gift of clean water isn’t what opens them up to the Gospel. It’s seeing the servant’s heart Scott’s team has for the people.

“We know you are teaching God’s Word when you go to villages to drill wells,” one village chief said, “but that’s OK because we can see that you love the people.”

Pray for missionaries to demonstrate trustworthiness and love to those they serve. Pray that they won’t be seen as trying to take advantage of others but as humble servants of God.

Pray for wisdom and favor in navigating legal systems.


“God gave us this world and said, ‘Care for it.’ … It’s like He’s saying “Pick up your room,” so we need to take care of our room and pick it up.” –Kurt ZurBurg, TEAM worker in Ukraine

Whether it’s a village counsel or miles of bureaucracy, governments have the power to create strong partnerships or stop programs in their tracks.

After years of running a recycling program in Ukraine, TEAM missionary Kurt zurBurg still struggles to navigate his city’s corrupt legal system. As he seeks registration for a new phase of the project, he says, “It’s not easy getting clear answers and knowing the best path forward.”

Please pray for wisdom and favor as missionaries build relationships with government officials. Ask for discernment as they take legal steps to grow their ministries.

Pray for resources to build effective programs.


In Zimbabwe, an agricultural training program is planting a new future for aged-out orphans. Photo by TEAM


Steve and Anthea Love helped launch a simple agricultural training program in Zimbabwe , but the possibilities for growth are endless. One day, the Loves hope to see their students living on campus and balancing out their farm skills with business skills, computer knowledge and more. But first, they need the resources to make that possible.

Whether missionaries need teachers, land, money or something else, ask God to provide resources to build effective programs. Also, pray that they will know how to make the most of what they have now.

Pray for lasting stability among the people served.


Dave and Cheryl Jereb started an aquaponics garden to generate a sustainable food source for Karanda Hospital. Now they are trying to make every aspect of their garden sustainable by using local labor and materials. Photo by TEAM


A program will only provide long-term relief if people can replicate it after the missionary leaves. That’s why Dave and Cheryl Jereb make their aquaponics systems with as many local materials as possible. Recently, they stopped using plastic nets from the U.S. and taught Zimbabweans how to make them out of wire.

Pray for missionaries to create programs that are easy to replicate without their help or foreign resources. Pray for long-term economic success in the communities they help.

Pray for opportunities to share the Gospel.


In La Paz, TEAM worker Steve Dresselhaus says his involvement in beach cleanups has opened doors to share the Gospel. Photo by TEAM


People in La Paz, Mexico, are often surprised to see Christians involved in beach cleanups — or showing any concern for the environment. This surprise gives TEAM missionary Steve Dresselhaus the perfect opportunity to talk about the Creator who told us to care for the earth in the first place (Gen. 2:15).

As missionaries care for creation, ask God to open doors to share the Gospel. Pray that they can share how sin has brought about great destruction but God Almighty has brought us great hope.

To get a printable reminder of these requests, click the image below.



By Suzanne Pearson 19 Mar, 2024
Previously on the TEAM blog, we sat down with Justin Burkholder (pictured above at left, with TEAM's Executive Director of Communications, Aaron Catlin). Justin will become TEAM’s next International Director on July 1, 2024. Justin shared about his background, family, and the journey that led him to TEAM. Check out that interview here . Today, we pick up the conversation as Justin shares how God called him to the role of International Director, and what he sees for the next chapter in TEAM’s work in the global Church. Q: How and when did you first consider applying for the position of International Director? How did the Lord reveal Himself to you as this opportunity presented itself? A: For some time, I have been evaluating how God wants me to use the gifts He has given me. Jenny and I have had a fruitful ministry in church planting in Guatemala and would happily continue doing so as God leads. However, as God blessed my efforts in TEAM leadership, there were friends and family who expressed that I should consider using my gifts in the International Director role. I don’t believe that everything necessarily rises and falls on leadership, but I do believe that it is a core component in the body of Christ. Using the gifts God has given me is a way that I want to bless the body of Christ in TEAM, making my contribution to the global purposes of God’s mission. Jenny and I spent a lot of time praying about this and decided that I should put my name in for consideration, trusting God’s guidance. We had a tremendous amount of peace throughout the entire process and were blessed by the prayer-filled process that the board undertook. Q: This is a key role in a large and complex organization, and I’m sure this was a big decision for you and your family. What were your fears or concerns? Why did you ultimately decide to accept the position? A: You say “were” like the fears have passed! I still am quite aware of my youth and inexperience - of the responsibility and weight of this role. Mostly, I’m afraid of leading an organization like TEAM in the flesh. Many of the fears that I have faced have been fears rooted in fleshly desires and concerns. I have no desire to succeed in the world’s eyes and fail in the Kingdom of Jesus. Why did I ultimately decide to accept the position? I’m convinced that the Good News about Jesus is true. The tomb is empty, Jesus is King, and the world needs to know, because Jesus is coming back. He will put things in order. He will establish righteousness, peace, and justice for all mankind, and He has commissioned His Church to proclaim and demonstrate His rule and reign. I want to use my gifts to do whatever I can to amplify the proclamation of this message and the multiplication of His Church around the world. Q: What are your goals and vision for the future of TEAM? A: This is something that I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about. I’m certainly not ready to present a fully-shaped vision and goals for TEAM’s future without the input of other people in different contexts in TEAM. But, I will share a few things that I think are important: First, we need to model God-Dependence . I am hopeful that as leaders in TEAM, we can continue to model God-Dependence. As Hudson Taylor said years ago “…God’s work, done in God’s way, will never lack God’s supplies.” I am hopeful that we can increase our sense of faith in God, prayer, and seeking direction from the Spirit. Secondly, we must strengthen our relational fabric . Due to the changes that we have experienced by decentralizing our home office functions, and the challenges from the pandemic, we have experienced a loss of relationships. It is imperative that we intentionally prioritize the building of relationships with one another. I plan to visit our workers and staff, and I am expectant that other key leaders and staff will be doing the same. Third, we must pursue the greater presence of the global Church. The Kingdom of Jesus Christ doesn’t look like any single geopolitical, ethnic, or racial culture. If we want to truly see the Kingdom of Jesus come on earth as it is in heaven, then we as citizens of this Kingdom must learn from one another, submit to one another, and grow with one another. The missional potential of the global Church has been unleashed by God’s Spirit since Acts 1, and we have an opportunity to learn from many brothers and sisters in Christ who can help us to better model and proclaim the Kingdom of Jesus to those who have yet to believe. Lastly, we must increase our Gospel boldness . There are still many places of great spiritual blindness and spiritual brokenness around the world. The apostolic impulse of cross-cultural organizations should call us to the to the edges of where the Kingdom of Jesus is not penetrating. Whether spiritual blindness and brokenness exists because of lack of access, idolatry, injustice, or any other myriad of reasons, I prayerfully hope to see more and more TEAM workers continue to move into spaces of great Gospel need.
By Suzanne Pearson 08 Mar, 2024
Through God-ordained partnerships and creative connections, TEAM worker Keith Moore sees the global Church advancing in amazing ways. In the global missions landscape, a phrase that comes up often is “from everywhere, to everywhere.” God is calling His global Church in literal new directions, as He raises up cross-cultural workers to be sent from places that were once on the receiving end of missions work. We call this movement “polycentric sending.” TEAM workers Dawn and Keith Moore have seen first-hand this transition taking place. Their story involves the unlikely but beautiful intersection of Charlotte, North Carolina; Tegucigalpa, Honduras; and Memphis, Tennessee...and beyond. The Path to Honduras Keith and Dawn joined TEAM in 1991 and served as church planters for nine years in Bogota, Colombia. After safety concerns precipitated their return to the States in 1999, they knew they wanted to continue serving in Latin America. The Moores felt called to Honduras but wanted to connect with a strong missional church to help send them. The Lord orchestrated a collaboration with Bellevue Baptist Church in Memphis, Tennessee. “Some people asked, ‘Why Honduras? Missionaries have been there for 100 years. It’s already reached,’” Keith says. “But there’s a whole section of Latin America that had not been reached - the upper crust.” Keith goes on to explain that he and Dawn felt called to reach college-educated professionals in Honduras – a ministry vision that resonated with the missional goals of Bellevue Baptist. Impact and Growth With the support of this new church partnership as well as another sending church in Birmingham, Alabama, the Moores embarked on their next adventure. Keith and Dawn started Impacto Honduras Church from scratch, and in less than 20 years, the church grew into four locations with 1600 total members. The Moores and other TEAM workers also created a “Bible school” type training program to help professionals who feel a call to ministry to make that transition. Throughout this period of explosive growth, church partnerships played an integral role. “It’s such a different vision when you have a church that says, ‘OK, this is our deal, we want to make this happen,’” Keith explains. “They helped us with everything. They took away every single obstacle to growth. Every time we needed something, they were there.” In 2017, the Moores once again found themselves on the verge of another decision. Was it time to leave Honduras? “I had no desire to leave,” Keith recalls. “People were coming to Christ every week! It was just so amazing.” However, back in the U.S., Keith and Dawn’s parents were in their 80s and would soon be in need of more care. “We realized that either we would leave in a crisis, or we would leave strategically,” says Keith. The couple began to implement a careful succession plan. By the time they left, the four churches were established with strong, Honduran leadership ready to carry on the work of the Gospel.
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