Setting out for India in 1892, one could have wondered how John Hyde would fare as a missionary. His slowness of speech, slightly defective hearing, and his apparent lack of enthusiasm and zeal appeared to be a hindrance to his effectiveness. But Hyde discovered the power of intercessory prayer, and the results were staggering. He proved that prayer was an evangelical force in India: by faith he claimed one soul a day, then two, then four. Through his intercessory prayer, God was able to work in remarkable ways in conventions, churches, and personal lives. It is no surprise that he was often called "The Apostle of Prayer."
So deep was John Hyde's (a missionary to India) call to prayer that by 1899 he began spending entire nights face down before God. In a letter to his college he wrote:
"Have felt led to pray for others this winter as never before. I never before knew what it was to work all day and then pray all night before God for another… In college or at parties at home, I used to keep such hours for myself, or pleasure, and can I not do as much for God and souls?”
In April 1904, Hyde and several other missionaries laid the foundation for the Punjab Prayer Union. Its purpose was to pray for revival and harvest in Punjab and other parts of India. Each member of the Prayer Union was asked to answer these questions:
1. Are you praying for quickening in your own life, in the life of your fellow-workers, and in the church?
2. Are you longing for greater power of the Holy Spirit in your own life and work, and are you convinced that you cannot go on without this power?
3. Will you pray that you may not be ashamed of Jesus?
4. Do you believe that prayer is the great means for securing this spiritual awakening?
5. Will you set apart one-half hour each day as soon after noon as possible to pray for this awakening, and are you willing to pray until the awakening comes?
Hyde's life of sacrifice, humility, love for souls and deep spirituality, as well as his example in the ministry of intercession, inspired many others to effect these graces in their own lives and ministries. He died February 17, 1912. His last words were, "Shout the victory of Jesus Christ!"
You can buy the book about his life from Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/John-Hyde-Apostle-Prayer-Faith/dp/0871239094/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1331562066&sr=1-1
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