As Michele and I have gone out talking with people about supporting our ministry, one consistent theme has been on our mind: building a team of people who desire to invest in Senegal and our mission there.

Since the day we were appointed, we have talked about how we will build our team, keep it together, and how it will look. A few days ago as I read the following verses, I saw how they exemplified the concept of a team and revealed the value of putting a strong team into action. Much like ours today, this team consisted of people who had different, but equally important roles.

Setting the stage in Exodus 17, the Amalekites had ambushed the Israelites. In response, Moses, Joshua, and other Israelite leaders were preparing to go to battle.

Moses commanded Joshua, “Choose some men to go out and fight the army of Amalek for us. Tomorrow, I will stand at the top of the hill, holding the staff of God in my hand.”

So Joshua did what Moses had commanded and fought the army of Amalek. Meanwhile, Moses, Aaron, and Hur climbed to the top of a nearby hill. As long as Moses held up the staff in his hand, the Israelites had the advantage. But whenever he dropped his hand, the Amalekites gained the advantage. Moses’ arms soon became so tired he could no longer hold them up. So Aaron and Hur found a stone for him to sit on. Then they stood on each side of Moses, holding up his hands. So his hands held steady until sunset. As a result, Joshua overwhelmed the army of Amalek in battle. Exodus 17:9-13 (emphasis mine)

Moses divides the team into their separate roles with Joshua and his warriors going out to fight the battle and Moses and his assistants going up to pray (note that the hands up posture Moses has is a prayer posture similar to us bowing our heads). Similarly, our team will also be divided with God calling our family to Senegal and God calling many people to pray for us from on top of the hill. Each of us is working according to our given roles, but focused on the same goal.

Scriptures also emphasize where the battle was actually won. I am sure that Joshua and his hand-selected army had abilities and skills that made them valuable warriors. Despite that, there is no mention of the victory coming from Joshua’s strength, valor, or skill with a sword. Rather, we see that “as a result” of Moses’ continued intercessory prayer, Joshua overwhelmed the Amalekite army. The key to the battle was prayer.

Michele and I understand that the only way we are going to successfully serve in Senegal is through a team effort. We look forward to continuing to discover what our Senegal team is going to look like when it is fully assembled. We are also grateful for those people who have already joined our team so early in the process! We acknowledge and appreciate the fact that so many of you are like Moses and Epaphras who are “always struggling on [our] behalf in [your] prayers” (Colossians 4:12). Thank you for your encouragement, your financial support, and most importantly, for your prayers.

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This awesome image is by Håkan Dahlström and can be found on Flickr.