Hold The Ropes For Us
Hold the ropes is an expression used for people back home who pray for missionaries. In 1792, William Carey (the father of modern missions) was talking to his mission board about heading to India, they told him since he was going to the dark places where the unreached are (on their behalf, the senders…) they would pray for him faithfully until they die. They said it is like he is going into a dark cave, and they are holding his rope as he goes deep into the darkness, they said they will never let go (i.e. never stop praying for him) until they die. We are by no means William Carey, but those people at home: you, our support team, our senders, our friends and family are the ones we had in mind as we wrote this blog. You have all partnered with us in prayer for our support and for various other requests over this past year. Now we are asking that you “hold the ropes” for us. You are A VITAL role in our ministry. WE NEED your constant prayer and intercession.
When Abraham pleaded with the Lord, Lot and his daughters were spared from total annihilation (Gen. 18-19). When Moses prayed the nation of Israel was spared (Ex. 32). When Hezekiah prayed his life was prolonged for 15 years (II Kings 20). The Lord incarnate taught His disciples “how to pray”, Paul always talks about prayer, the last thing Christ did before He went to the cross was pray… and now HE ever lives to make intercession for us! (Heb. 7). Prayer is a HUGE thing! When the disciples asked about the laborers for the field, Christ told them to pray! Please, do not forget us and continue to pray for us. We NEED your intercession MORE now then ever. We will be going into a place that is foreign to us in every way. The physical, emotional and spiritual warfare will be real and testing. Please choose today to partner with us in a significant way, to PRAY FOR US. Finances get us to the field… but YOUR prayer will keep us and sustain us on the field. We are your sent-ones and are your responsibility, please claim us 🙂 do not let us be like some unclaimed baggage at an airport.
One faithful prayer warrior told us that he does not want to miss a day of prayer for us, he is a veteran and understands war. He said that prayer is his ministry to us, he knows that Satan is real and is seeking to devour us, he knows what it is like to be on the front lines on the battlefield. This was super encouraging to us to know we have such a faithful prayer warrior who knows how crucial HIS ROLE (and all our pray warriors) is in our ministry. Thank you John! (You know who you are).
We believe in prayer so much we are going to start a prayer letter specifically for those WHO ask to be on it… YOU have to contact us. That means you would have had to read this post and then contact us. WE want this to be something YOU want to do… We desire to be transparent and so it will be something we ask you not to share with others… It will not be something that comes out consistently but it will come out regularly. Please contact us and ask to sign up for this specific email by writing us at stokingthefires@gmail.com. Tell us you want to be on that update personal email list. Thank you for your faithfulness. We know we would not be able to do this job WITHOUT YOU!
Your sent ones who are off to go spelunking in the caves of PNG, Seth and Nicole Stokes. Would you please consider holding our rope as we go into the deep and dark caverns of Papua New Guinea?
Stoking The Fires 
Sure thing! please add me. this email is the one. Thanks! Praying now
Seth and Nicole, I definitely want to be on your prayer letter with specifics @ xxxxxxx. I appreciate your faithful communications and rejoice with you how God has provided so quickly for you to go. May He continue His blessings upon you. I’m the principal at Bethel Christian School in Princeton. Thanks. Marty Alden
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@XXXXXXX please add my name to your email. I’m praying and will continue to hold the ropes for you!
Sent from my Verizon Wireless 4G LTE Smartphone
Hey Guys! Please add me to the prayer list! I spend a great deal of time each day/night in prayer and you are always on my list. I would love to know what to specifically pray for! Jalrogers@hotmail.com Thanks!! Jess Rogers
Sent from my Kyocera Rise
Please send me your prayer letters so I can be specific in my praying for you @ linnurse1@yahoo.com
Seth & Nicole- I want to hold the ropes for you please add me Laura Clark to the personal Prayer email @ lauraclark0601@gmail.com I do not Take this lightly and will pray!!!
Sent from my iPhone- L.K. Clark
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Seth and Nicole…… Would love to be on that email list o pray. Great seeing you last night. Thanks Seth for your time spent with Alex. God has put you and a couple others in his life that have been very consistent. Love you guys. Praying always .
Sent from my iPhone
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I would love to Hold the ropes for you. I do that for my sweet kids daily. So add me too your e mail list by God’s grace I will purpose to hold you before the throne of God because prayer is along with the word of God our LIFE LINE !! Love you all Mel
Definitely keep me updated on What you specifically need prayer for while you are over there daily doing the Lord’s work. I will be praying for you both everyday. Thanks,
Rachele Wright
Please put me on your prayer letter. I want to be able to pray for whatever your current needs may be. You are loved, wish I could come to your commissioning ceremony! Love you,Joyce Lundeen
Seth and Nicole, The Lord has impressed on me the importance of praying for missionaries more consistently. I have not done well in this area, and I want to start the New Year by getting more serious in my prayer life. I would like to join in “holding the ropes” for you in PNG. Please sign me up for your email sent to this address. Thanks to you (and God) for prompting me in this way! Tom
Date: Mon, 5 Jan 2015 06:17:44 +0000 To: tomhuber67@hotmail.com
Hello Brother Seth and Nicole! Our family would like to be placed on your special email group to pray specifically for you. We have been praying and will continue to lift you up. We agree…prayer is so very vital. We would like to be part of “holding the ropes” back home here. We are a homeschooling family and specifically focus on missions on Mondays. We read missionary letters sent to our church and emails like yours that we have been able to sign up for and pray for the specific requests of our missionaries. We count it a privilege to do so.
Thank you for your service to the Lord and we are excited as our church recently partnered with you to take the Gospel to PNG!
Blessings, Dennis, Melissa, Quentin, and Lillian Neff from Community Baptist Church in Curwensville, PA
John 3:16
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Dear Seth & Nicole,
Like so many, I will will be “HOLDING THE ROPE” along with them while you are our feet in PNG!! Also, I would like to recieve the prayer letter mentioned in the post. Thank you for being our representatives on the ground in PGN!!
With His Love and Continuous Blessings,
Louis Hall
Will you add me to your list please? Thanks! Hope you guys are doing well – miss you! Sandi
Sign me up!!! 🙂 I can think of no greater honor than to be one of the warriors in your corps! Love you guys! -Shari
I would like to receive your specific prayer letter!
Sent from my iPhone
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Sign me up bro
Date: Mon, 5 Jan 2015 06:17:46 +0000 To: alex-erinwilliams@hotmail.com
Put the Buhr’s on the personal update email list….. and see you next week.
Phil & Tammy buhr@zoominternet.net
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Dear Seth & Nicole,
I saw the video Wednesday of Pastor Bradley and he Medical Team ‘s work and sous accepting Christ as their Savior. God through you is having a tremendous impact is Vanuatu!!
God’s continuous blessings my brother and sister.
With much thoughts, prayers and love,
Louis
Thank you for the prayers! Man, we sure can feel your prayers.