We invite you to praise God with us for what He is doing at IICS and to pray for some ongoing needs. Please view our monthly Prayer and Praise Letter.

"For those who don't realize we're in a war, prayer makes no sense."

Intercessory prayer is quite different from regular daily prayer, except that daily prayer qualifies you for intercessory prayer. Intercessory prayer is far more difficult. Interceeding is like fighting--in fact interceeding is often referred to as a part of spiritual warfare.

The case for "warfare prayer" is simple. The world is in a state of war--a war between God and Satan. At stake is the destiny of individuals and institutions and nations. As Christians we are fighting on the side of the Mighty God (El-Shaddai) to defeat Satan and his evil hordes--to rescue the millions he is holding hostage.

God has designated prayer as the strategic weapon in this war and Satan is determined that Christians NOT fulfill the last Great Command of Christ to take the Good News of Life to all the peoples of the world. He vehemently sabotages, assaults, opposes, obstructs, undermines, impedes and thwarts with all of his diabolic power, every effort to expand God's Kingdom.

Spiritual warfare is not a "charismatic" issue. Calvin, Luther, Wesley, and other great leaders throughout history have urged believers to recognize our state of war.

The work of IICS has certainly not been immune to the assaults of spiritual warfare. Our professors have experienced a plethora of attacks, many of which I would be hard pressed to simply explain away as natural events. We cannot blame either God or the devil for everything. But it is clear that some of our godly professors have experienced repeated satanic attacks.

These attacks have come in deceptive forms including physical injury, debilitating depression, inexplicable undiagnosed illness, criminal attacks, baffling fatigue, including attacks on extended family members as well.

Certainly we cannot claim that every one of these troubles were Satan's fault, but certainly some were. Why are we Christians so hesitant to charge the Evil One with evil actions?

The Bible makes it clear that even in the context of God's sovereignty, some battles are lost through lack of prayer. God desires that every believer pray. He calls certain believers to a deeper level of intercessory prayer. He calls some to provide what my seminary professor, Dr. Peter Wagner called in a recent book, a "PRAYER SHIELD."

Spiritual leaders in this cosmic war are under special attack. God desires that praying Christians provide a shield of protection through prayer around these leaders--a prayer shield. He also has designed that the spread of the Kingdom is accomplished by prayer. Intercessory prayer is both defensive (protection) and offensive (conquest).

I praise God for the bountiful way in which He has blessed IICS, growing this work far beyond normal expectations.

• We have been blessed with an outstanding team of articulate godly professors who are willing to put their lives on the line in this war.

• We are blessed with a growing family of partners who give funds for this ministry.

• We are blessed with a competent, dedicated administrative team in Kansas City.

• And yes, we are blessed with many people who pray for IICS every day of the year. I personally am blessed with individuals who pray for me every single day! Those prayers have sustained me through some difficult times.

Hundreds of students and professors have become Christians through the work of IICS--thrilling results. IICS has invitations from scores of universities in countries around the world--unprecedented opportunities. And now open doors are beckoning in some of the world's most restricted areas.

We are convinced that major victories for IICS will be won only with a renewed and steady barrage of intercessory prayer by God's people. There are campuses which will not open to us, or ones that will close to us, unless a fresh assault of prayer is pressed. There are students and professors who are seeking, who are almost persuaded to follow Christ, but who will require someone travailing in prayer for their rebirth.

Here's what I am asking you to do:

• Pray about making a serious commitment of daily intercessory prayer for a member of the IICS team. This commitment will entail fasting, wrestling in prayer, agonizing in the battle. It will not be a glamorous assignment if you decide to join our team of Personal Intercessors. We will not advertise the names of the Personal Intercessors. You and I and the IICS professor are the primary ones who will know of your role.

• If you join our team of Intercessors, I will inform the professor and his family. They will then establish personal contact with you so you will have a clearer direction as you begin focusing your intercession.

We will regularly pass along special requests to you because we are in touch more often with the professor and family. In addition, we will send out general appeals for prayer to you if you are interested in simply committing to regular prayer for IICS.

You may feel directed to focus on interceding for the opening of new campuses. Please remember, you assume this role only as long as God directs you. When He instructs you to focus your special intercession elsewhere, just let us or the professor know. We simply thank God for the time He has permitted you to focus here.

If you do not feel directed to become a Personal Intercessor, you may indicate your willingness to provide prayer support at a different level. Not everyone is called to be a Personal Intercessor. IICS will be satisfied if we recruit a small cadre of 2-6 highly committed Personal Intercessors for each IICS professor family.

We encourage you to order a copy of Peter Wagner's book on prayer from your local Christian bookstore, Prayer Shield, published by Regal in 1992.

Please respond once you are sure God has directed you to become a Personal Intercessor. Thank you for your interest in IICS and your support.