Welcome to the April 2026 Prayer Vigil!
Remarkably the time of this prayer vigil coincides with the time of Easter. May the Lord prepare our hearts for this time of worship and prayer – let us remember Jesus’ suffering and death on the cross for the cleansing of our sins and his resurrection on the third day, his triumphant victory over death, sin and our enemy Satan. Let us rejoice because of this victory, that our sins can truly be eradicated and that we know, love and worship a saviour who is real and unique.
Dr.
Wan Chee Wan who preached at IBC on March 16 this year, told how he finally
decided to follow Jesus when he read Acts 4:12 where the Apostle Peter
said “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under
heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” Dr. Wan reminded us
that Jesus is unique because all the ones who are venerated or worshiped in
religions other than Christianity had died but Jesus was resurrected. We know
too from the Bible that Jesus, the Son of God, is now with God the Father after
his ascension to heaven which he predicted (Matt. 26: 64; Jn 20: 17) and
which was witnessed by his disciples (Acts 1: 9 – 11). These same
verses, together with others in the Bible, also predicts our Savior’s return in
the future (Matt. 24: 30; Jn 14: 3; 1 Th. 4: 16 – 17).
Meanwhile, Jesus
is interceding for us as our permanent High Priest in heaven as we pray to the
Father (Heb. 7: 23 – 28).
Jesus Christ is unique in other ways. Luke 24 describes how two of Jesus’ disciples were on their way to the village of Emmaus, after Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection, and Jesus appeared and accompanied them along the way when “he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself” (Jn. 24: 13 – 35). Jesus was telling the disciples how the Old Testament Scriptures talked about him. In his book “Evidence that Demands a Verdict”, first published in 1974, Josh McDowell talks about 333 prophecies in the Old Testament which have been fulfilled in the person of Jesus Christ. It seems that in His great wisdom (Is. 48: 3 – 5; 46: 9 – 10), God revealed the identity of His son Jesus Christ, the Messiah, through prophecies well beforehand so that when the time comes for the Messiah to be on earth, there would not be any doubt about his authenticity and no one else could make any claims to be messiah. Josh McDowell described the prophecies as the “address” or credentials which God created for His son Jesus, just as a person can be identified uniquely by the address where he lives. There is no denying that Jesus is the Son of God and the Messiah, because even for just eight of the prophecies to be fulfilled in any other person, the probability is so small that it is practically impossible, not to mention over 300 prophecies!
Pray –
Holy Father, Almighty God, I thank you for your mercy, steadfast love and grace which I have experienced in my life through the transforming power of your Holy Spirit which I have received by faith in Jesus Christ your son. Thank you for Easter when I am reminded of your plan of salvation for all people on this planet through the crucifixion and resurrection of your one and only son, and the hope that I have in him not just through his promised presence with me but also the promise of his physical return in the future. I am grateful also for all your servants who through their tireless efforts have been witnesses of your love and the authenticity of the Scriptures. I pray that my actions and my life will also speak your gospel to others – of your love and Jesus’ sacrifice (Phil. 2: 6 – 8) for their salvation.
Let us continue in prayer for –
-
All
believers in IBC and churches in Hong Kong that people will see the gospel in
each believer’s life (Col. 4: 6); for us to keep
Christ’s commands and
remain in his love (Jn. 14: 21; 15: 10).
- The visiting pastors and speakers whom the Lord has graciously called to minister to IBC and teach us God’s word.
- The Lord’s continual care, protection and guidance for our church that we may work together as one Body in Christ at IBC.
-
The Lord to raise up more leaders and discipleship
makers in IBC so that we will be a community of disciple makers and prayer
warriors
to fulfill the vision and mission of IBC.
- The Pastor Search Team to be guided by the Spirit as they follow up on candidates to identify the one God has called to shepherd IBC.
-
The deacons, ministry leaders and teams, the church
staff, Life Group leaders and Small Community Group hosts, that the Spirit will
work through them to help the whole Body of IBC to grow together in Christ.
- The participants in the ongoing Alpha Course and the Lord to call more participants.
-
The Women’s Retreat on 18 April where children can
attend with mothers to discover their God-given gifts; and for the speaker Amy
Leung.
- God to reveal to Carlos and Analie their future call to ministry after they leave Hong Kong.
- The missionaries among us and our mission partners as they work with IBC to reach out to the communities in Hong Kong and beyond.
- More volunteers to join the Christian Kun Sun Association to make regular visits to prisoners with the gospel.
-
The inmates of the Ling Oi Drug Rehab Centre, Lai Chi
Kok prison and other prisons; the street sleepers in Sham Shui Po and Happy
Valley; the elderly in Wah Fu Estate and Silver Mine Bay; that they may
experience God’s love and receive salvation through Jesus.
- The Father to provide love and care through His servants at IBC to our children, youths and young adults.
- Our young people who are studying or working abroad; for their protection and strengthening of their faith.
-
Those we know who need physical, emotional or
spiritual healing and care: Dave Kwok’s colleague Demi (recovery after stroke);
Tony Mo (for improved mobility after stroke); Mike Ainslie (Alzheimer’s); Brian
and Yun Xiang’s baby Hudson; Alice's brother in law,
Edward (treatment for rare
illness); Thomas Lam (eyesight); Iris’ two sisters, Winnie and Teresa, and
Jackson’s sister-in-law Alice
(God’s grace in their fight with cancer);
Stephanie’s father (eyesight and hearing); Frank’s brother Jan (glaucoma)
and
brother John (cancer); Ailin Iwan’s father Susanto Iwan in the
U.S.(metastasized prostate cancer);
Vera Tong in Canada (chemotherapy for
cancer); for God’s grace, care and strength for Beatrice, Y.M. Chen, Kaushic’s
mother
and Alex’s father; continue to pray for Steve Metz and his family
members.
- The Lord’s strength, wisdom and peace for caregivers for the elderly or those with health or special needs.
-
Non-believing friends and loved ones to be drawn to
Jesus – Frank’s brother Jan; Kenneth’s mother and siblings; Terry’s son Joseph;
Michelle Niem’s family members; Angela’s sister and brother-in-law; Pansy’s
husband; Stephanie’s parents and sister; Frederick’s
mother; Ivy’s son and
family; Maria Tanielu’s mother and family in Samoa; Charles’ brother William in
Canada; Iris’ sister Winnie in
Australia; and Ailin Iwan’s parents in the U.S.
All this we pray in the name of Jesus who is “the way, the truth and the life” (Jn. 14: 6). Amen!
[This prayer guide was prepared by Charles Ip]