Prayer Can Move the Elephants
By Jan Cabungcal
“Prayer, faithful, earnest prayer will move the arm that moves the world.” (Signs of the Times, January 15, 1880)
A colleague and I were on our way to an Adventist World Radio (AWR) youth evangelistic series held nearby India. Not long after we set out, we received word that elephants were within sight. I asked what this meant. Three nights earlier, I’d been told that approximately 175 elephants were roaming, earnestly in search of food. However, in their search, they damaged 25 houses, rice fields, and other crops! The following night, a herd of about 60-70 elephants returned again, causing great trouble to the people living in the area where we were holding the event.
I was not sure if we would make it to the site or if the meeting would continue that evening. I immediately whispered a prayer and messaged my wife and our network of people around the globe to offer prayers on our behalf. My wife responded to my message informing me of their prayers, and she noted that “only angels could move these elephants.”
As we drove to the site, a motorcycle came to meet us along the dusty, rough road. The rider was the mission president who came to lead our AWR rented van to the remote site. He welcomed me with a hug of gratefulness and thanksgiving that we still came.
We arrived at the end of the road and several pastors on motorbikes came to meet us. I was extremely humbled by this warm reception and eagerness to bring us to the site, even if it endangered their own lives. We continued the short journey on the backs of motorbikes in the foothills. We then quickly hiked in darkness into what appeared to be a hilly jungle!
As we neared a flat clearing, I began to hear people singing. I saw lights and a building. It was our remote site still filled with people waiting for the message. What a sight to behold! People were hungering and thirsting for the Word of God! I was told, “These people waited hours for us, and by the way, the elephants are nowhere in sight. They must have turned away.”
We proceeded to share the Good News with these hungering souls, and they responded to our appeal to be ready for Jesus’ coming.
Jesus loves these villagers, and no number of elephants could stop them from hearing the words of heaven when God’s people prayed! Effective fervent prayer doesn’t only move hearts . . . a prayer offered in faith also moves herds of elephants!
Please continue to keep the AWR evangelism efforts nearby India in prayer. People are responding to Jesus, but much prayer is still needed so that Satan’s plan for them fails and only the plan of heaven triumphs.
Jan Harry Cabungcal is a neuroscientist by profession, but soul-winning is his life passion. As the founder and the evangelism coordinator for Europe 4 Jesus, Dr. Cabungcal works to inspire and equip young people for the work of his Lord, Jesus Christ.
World Church Prayer Requests
April 21 - 27, 2023
- Pray for the growing ministry of Adventist World Radio. Pray that many more will be able to hear the message of God’s love over the radio waves and be brought to Him.
- Pray for the cell phone evangelism. Thousands of doors are opening to share the truth as we’ve never experienced before. To get involved, click here: https://awr.org
- Pray for opportunities to study the Bible with your neighbors, friends, and those who may not yet know Jesus.
- Pray that we would have a heart to study Daniel and Revelation and grasp the relevancy of the Three Angels’ Messages to our lives today.
- Pray for those who are suffering for their faith. Pray that we will be strong and stand firm when we are called to suffer for our faith. Jesus is coming soon!
“ ‘You are my witnesses,’ says the Lord.” Isa. 43:10