Canadian Harvest

I made my first visit to Vancouver in the late 70s. It was love at first sight, as well as an instant addition to my prayer list. If memory serves me correct, there were eight Southern Baptist churches in metro Vancouver in the late 70s. In recent years I have visited Vancouver at least once a year, usually more than once. By 2004 there were 34 Southern Baptist churches in metro Vancouver. I was in Vancouver last week. There are now 64 Southern Baptist churches – doubling in three years. The associational goal is 100 churches by 2010. They will make it and go beyond. How can I be so confident? Because thirty years ago I met a few faithful servants of the Lord and a handful of prayer warriors who were faithfully calling out to “the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest” (Mt. 9:38). Some of these saints have gone on to their heavenly reward. I hope the Lord communicates to them that the harvest is underway. It is so refreshing and encouraging to be in a place where the fervent prayers of the faithful are finally being answered. In my teaching on prayer I always say there is no such thing as unanswered prayer. Sometimes the answer is not a clear-cut “yes” or “no” but “wait.” For Vancouver, the long “wait” is over. Harvest is underway. For the rest of the world, pray on! God’s responses sometimes appear to be delayed, but they are always right on time.

If you know someone who is patiently (or not so patiently) enduring a “wait” answer to prayer, you might forward this to them as an encouragement.