Some people have never been in a church but indicate they might go if they received a personal invitation.

FREE!

@ExploreGodChi -cago!  @BackToChurch  @Outreach @40daysoflove @MakeLoveYourAim @blesseveryhome @AlBuchweitz

Nine Practices That Heal Our Broken Humanity

This book shows what it means to be the church, the new humanity in Jesus Christ, as Paul writes about in Ephesians 2:15. This is the biblical basis for our understanding of what it means to become new in Christ. The church shows the world God’s perfect design for humanity, which is a reconciled, unified, whole, multiethnic, peaceful, loving life together. As a beacon to the world, the church shows the world what God calls it to be. The church shows the world its destiny and future. In an era where Christian identities seem so enmeshed with race, politics, nationalism, and material goods, we need to imagine a different reality.

This book unpacks what it means to be the new humanity in Christ, as we embrace nine transforming practices that we hope you can adopt into your life. The practices aren’t necessarily sequential. You don’t need to practice the fourth before you can go to the fifth, for example. These practices may be taking place concurrently, and different people might have different entry points.

1. Reimagine church as the new humanity in Jesus Christ.
2. Renew lament through corporate expressions of deep regret and sorrow.
3. Repent together of white cultural captivity, and racial and gender injustice, and of our complicity.
4. Relinquish power by giving up our own righteousness, status, privilege, selfish ambition, self-interests, vain conceit, and personal gain.
5. Restore justice to those who have been denied justice.
6. Reactivate hospitality by rejecting division and exclusion, and welcoming all kinds of people the household of God.
7. Reinforce agency by supporting people’s ability to make free, independent, and unfettered actions and choices.
8. Reconcile relationships through repentance, forgiveness, justice, and partnership.
9. Recover life together as a transformed community that lives out the vision of the Sermon on the Mount.

Grab this book here>>>

Listening prayer: Conversing with the "Threeness" of God

40 Reasons to Lead Your Members in 40 Days of Love

1. You’re their leader; lead on! (and out...)
2. What Jesus said on the mountain in Galilee after his resurrection
3. 40 Days of Love is:
4. simple,
5. practical,
6. biblical,
7. motivational
8. People are hungry for love; the respond to authentic compassion
9. *40 Days of Love is catalytic; no additional programming needed

10. Lost people are lost; really lost

11.      Children are not growing-up with the gospel

12.      Youth are barraged with godless messages hundreds of times every day

13.      Adults need a challenge to review their religious beliefs

14. John 3:16

15. Families need an evangelistic outreach they can do together

16.      Pray at the dinner table

17.      Care for neighbors as a family

18.      Share the goods news, family-to-family

19. *40 Days of Love is free

20. The culture is convinced you and your members are

21.      ... judgmental,

22.      ... hypocrites,

23.      ... who hate them

24. *40 Days of Love is simply an invitation to

25.      Fulfill the Great Commission

26.      By living out the Great Commandment

27. *40 Days of Love is for everyone, everyday, everywhere (work, play, school)

28. Churches have become

29.      ...insulated from culture, thereby unable to communicate compellingly

30.      ...isolated from neighbors, thereby unable to relate the gospel authentically

31. Neighbors seem unreachable:

32.      They have names we cannot pronounce

33.      They do not speak our language, wear our clothes, cook our foods

34.      They worship other gods

35.      These difference intimidate us and silence our witness

36. *40 Days of Love is habit-forming as everyone is:

37.      -Praying for someone by name and need for 40 days

38.      -Watching for care opportunities every day

39.      -Preparing to share good news in each encounter

40. If you need a 40^th reason, there is no hope for you (or your people) (:>)

40daysoflove.net/

...in response to his frustration in asking for prayer to be more active in the ministries and activities of congregational life.

Most leaders/pastors do not value highly either the critical need to invite the congregation to the place of prayer (a prayer meeting or meetings throughout the week where prayer is the primary purpose; praying for the holy huddle but also for the culture and community) ... and to take prayer to the places the members are already gathered (small groups, studies/classes, planning team/committees, families, etc).

We pray "up" (asking for all our needs) but fail to pray "out" by asking the Lord to empower us to live prayer-care-share lifestyles that deliver the tangible love of God through Christ to neighbors, neighborhood and nations.

Comments anyone?

Frustrated?

Blessed by your experience?

What I learned from the worst prison in Mexico:

My dear Mexican pastor friend Emilio Beltran (who has lived in the most notorious prison in Mexico for the past 6 years) handed me two Mustard Seed Foundation grant applications while we were meeting together in Reclusorio Oriente prison last month. I work for this Foundation, seeking out projects that we can fund to help new evangelism, discipleship, and economic development projects in the world’s megacities.

One application is from the church planted outside the prison walls last December, and another is from the collective of 11 congregations (one in each of the massive cell blocks in the prison) Emilio has planted inside the prison since last February.

Since my visit into the prison with Emilio I have had a month of back and forth with the lead pastor of the new church on the outside, who has taken my questions back to Emilio inside the prison for answers, and sent the answers back to me by email.

The MSF Board will decide on these two grant applications: Adulam Reclusorio (prison) and Adulam Contreras (outside the prison) at the next Board Meeting in April. The grant application from inside Reclusorio Oriente is the first grant application MSF has ever received which were written from inside a prison by inmates.

You would love the listing of the Adulam Reclusorio’s elder board called “ Men of the Table”:

• Oscar has served 8 months of a 6 year sentence for aggravated domestic violence with injury 
• Juan has served 8 years of a 40 year sentence for kidnapping
• David has served 1.5 years of a 9 year sentence for attempted murder
• Moises has served 6 years of a 37 year sentence for murder 
• Juan Carlos Fortin Moreno has served 2 years of a 9 year sentence for sexual assault of children and trafficking
• Carlos has served 5 years of a 7.5 sentence for kidnapping and extortion
• Jorge has served 2 years of an 8 year sentence for grand theft
• Luis has served 5 years of a 20 year sentence for attempted murder

And my dear brother Emilio. He has served 5 years of a 137 year sentence (reduced to 23 years) on three charges: Corruption of minors (sexually assaulting children); Child slavery (using children as workers for personal profit); and Organized crime (conspiracy by all the Adulam Casa de Refugio orphanage staff). Emilio is in prison because of a conspiracy between corrupt pastors, Congressmen, Judges, and the Attorney General (now the Mayor of Mexico City).

The first grant application is asking for a one-time grant to help establish the new church in the Contreras District of Mexico City. This church was started last December. The congregation is made up of recovering addicts, homeless, orphans and ex-convicts that found Christ and were mentored by Emilio while incarcerated. It meets under a tarp in the outdoor ‘garden area' of a rented social/nightclub on Sunday mornings.

The second application is from the prison church and asks for a one-time award to help establish a creative workshop in the prison so that the men with a natural gift in art can begin making crafts for sale inside and outside the prison. This workshop will fully employ more than 25 men by the end of this calendar year, provide for the ‘taxes’ required by the church to hold services in the prison, and buy more materials to expand the workshop.

The Mustard Seed Foundation requires a match of money given by a local congregation in the neighborhood of ministry in order to receive our funding.

These two grant applications do not ask the MSF to match the giving of wealthy donors or megachurches from the USA.

Instead the Foundation will be asked to match the giving from the tithes and offerings of the congregation itself: the men trapped inside one of the worst prisons in Latin America for the craft project; and ex-convicts, mentally ill, addicts, and their families on the outside for the first new church outside the prison.

At first glance one might think this to be impossible or even stupid.

But the truth is the men inside this prison tithe and give offerings each day for the work of the Gospel in the prison. They have come to live with the understanding that nothing they own belongs to them.

Whatever they do have is freely shared with the rest of the brothers so that those that do not have anything to give can survive for that very day. As in other prison churches I have visited in Latin America, the members of this church tithe above 50% of all they have. If this sounds familiar in some remote way it is because it mirrors the way the first church tithed as recorded in the New Testament record in Acts Chapter 2, verses 42 - 47.

Some of the men in this church have family members close by who come to visit and give gifts for the men to sell inside the prison. These fortunate enough for such gifts been able to start a small business inside the prison selling socks, pencils, gum, or other trinkets, so they can afford food, clothing, and the 'street taxes' (bribes) required just to exist in this hell hole.

Now imagine a church that meets in this hell that has 12 worship services each day, while surrounded by drug dealing, prostitution, and violent assault happening just a few feet from the tarp under which the Adulam Reclusorio congregation gathers.

• Imagine an entire congregation in Bible study, discipleship, and worship every day.
• Imagine prayer vigils that last the night in bug and rat infested cells where 26 men are pushed into a space designed for 6.
  
• Imagine convicted murders and rapists sharing their food with each other as they eat together as a new family. 
• Try to imagine a baptism service, where the men being baptized hop into a repurposed oil drum and are dunked straight down into really cold brackish water.
• Imagine the men accepting their prison sentence as an opportunity to focus on the important things of life, how to honor God.
• Imagine men who from the margins of society entering into a 5, 10, 15 year discipleship training course under the leadership of one of this world’s greatest pastors who just happens to be an inmate suffering right along with the other church members.
• Imagine the leaders being formed in this prison that have the attitude of “If I can be reborn and thrive in a hell hole like this, watch what happens when I am released from prison!”
• Imagine each released inmate being sent to Adulam Contreras Church as a church planting intern. He will submit to the leaders of Contreras (90% of whom are former inmates themselves) as he serves the homeless, mentally ill and addicted people in the congregation.
• Imagine when these ex-cons are deemed ready to set out and plant another new church, not being sent out alone as often happens in the US, but with a team of likewise broken and crushed men who have been rebuilt into fearless and bold new leaders.
• Imagine an imprisoned pastor being held illegally by corrupt government officials tell you with a straight face, “This is how we will plant 50 new churches by the end of 2017. And by the end of 2020 we will have planted 200 new churches all over Mexico City. And our churches will welcome the mentally ill, homeless, orphan, widow, addicted, and ex-felons….And our churches will be filled with people that know how to tithe!” The plan is that all of these new churches will have the DNA of the Contreras Church.
• Imagine visiting these men in prison and receiving bone crushing hugs and tearful kisses that are so intense that the non-church member inmates watching this shameless display of affection start shouting “Hey get a room!”
• Imagine each Adulam church filled with poor broken people who tithe, not out of their excess like we do (if we even bother to tithe) here in the US, but out of deep poverty, like the early Churches did as recorded in 2 Corinthians 8:1-4

Tragically I cannot imagine a Bible believing church in the US that comes anywhere near the tithing like these convicts who freely tithe more than half of all they own with great joy.

I cannot imagine a church planting movement that is not asking for millions of USD as church planting movements in the US are asking for. These two grant applications are asking for one-time donations totaling less than $15,000 

I cannot imagine more than a handful of churches in the US that have an open heart for those on the margins of society.

If God can do wonders through a group of broken men like this, imagine what God could do through a broken mess like you and me.

Happy Easter 

Brian Bakke 

The prayer of St. Francis.

The peace prayer.

Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.

O, Divine Master,
grant that I may not so much seek 
to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love;
for it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

(Claim made in Sports Illustrated, 3/14/16)

A Prayer Guide For Churches Hungry for Revival and Ready for Renewal 

Sundays

• Ask the Lord to bring a fresh wind of his Spirit that revives our devotion to Christ and our dedication to his calling on our Church – no matter what cost or changes we must face

Mondays

• Ask the Spirit to reveal your sins and spiritual weaknesses, then confess them, receiving his cleansing and renewing your commitment to ongoing discipleship

Tuesdays

• Ask the Spirit to reveal the sins and spiritual weaknesses of our congregation, then confess them, welcoming his cleansing and restoration and leading

Wednesdays

• Seek the Lord, declaring our desperation for renewal that purifies our worship and enlivens our fellowship

Thursdays

• Seek the Lord, declaring our desperation for renewal that focuses our leadership and increases the generosity of our stewardship

Fridays

• Seek the Lord, declaring our desperation for renewal that empowers each of us to love our neighbors and impact our neighborhoods

Saturdays

• Pray the “Prayer Adventure” will be attended by many with a heart for revival and a mind open to Spirit led renewal ...will equip prayer champions in every family and ministry ... will result in children and youth incorporated into the Holy Spirit’s ministry of prayer in our church

“Pray for me.” Driving home from preaching at a Sunday worship service, thinking about the next sermon I would present to the congregation a few weeks later, these words shot across my mind. “Pray for me.” None other than the apostle Paul, asking Christians in Ephesus (6:19) to pray for him. Those three words immediately became the text of my next sermon.

Certainly the scriptures contain these words because yet two thousand years later, the Church needs to hear and heed his appeal. It is the appeal of the Holy Spirit to remind us to “pray for one another so that you may be healed” (James 5:16) and “too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ” (Colossian 4:3).

As daily life becomes more stressful and as families struggle to survive or even merely to function, members of the Body of Christ need to be schooled and skilled in responding to this sometime agonizing plea; “pray for me.” In increasing measure, even the most veteran Christ-followers are in need of prayer that results in physical healing, an emotional strengthening of hope, or a practical blessing of help. We must hear this appeal when listening to the “how are you?” responses from the newest believer to the most revered servant leader. No one is immune from the trials and troubles of life. As the apostle said, “always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people” (Ephesians 6:18).

“Pray for me” praying, is the ability to enter into the pressures and problems of the simplest personal story with “powerful and effective” prayers (James 5:16). For our peers. Youth or a child in distress. Fracturing families. Weary leaders . Praying for them like Epaphras, “always wrestling in prayer for you, that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured. (Colosians 4:12).

“Pray for me” is a call, sometimes a cry, for help that we must respond to by praying beyond temporal circumstances toward a deepening discipleship in the life of the person we pray for. So that. So that they stand strong, unmovable in their faith in God’s good will no matter what swirls around them, mature in their response to even an evil enemy, and fully assured “that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28).

“Pray for me” is also a trumpet blast for the Gospel; a call to advance the message of Christ into the lives of neighbors and neighborhoods, near and far.

The apostle issued his request for intercession so “that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel” (Ephesians 6:19. In other words, pray for me so that I have opportunities to witness to the salvation God presents in Jesus our Lord.

“Pray for me” is both reactive and proactive. Reactive, when we petition the Lord on behalf of another as a response to the defeats and dis-eases that have inflicted them. Proactive, when we pray toward a future of new opportunities to advance the life-transforming message of our Savior.

Sadly, the standard “pray for me” prayer so many of us offer is inadequate. The enemy we battle calls for a strategy that is more scriptural and more spiritual. Merely praying louder or longer will not bring victory. This three-word plea needs a three-letter strategy: A-s-k.

            For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds;                       

            and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. Matthew 7:8

The Lord has instructed us to ask. Paul told us “in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, (to) present your requests to God” (Philippians 4:6).

Our problem is not that we refuse or fail to ask. Our weakness is that in asking, we begin with conclusions rather than starting with questions. We mostly tell God information he already knows (he is omniscient, remember?) and conclude with solutions we have determined are best in each case. And, sometimes God’s grace gives us what we want, when we want it, in the way we want it. Sometimes.

Asking that begins with questions takes longer. Requires listening. Even learning. Sounds like, well, the teaching of our Lord in Matthew 7:8. He told us to ask and to seek. Asking-by-telling has no need of seeking, other than to wait for the response we have outlined in our prayer instructions to the Almighty. But asking-by-questioning is a radically different approach. After all, when you ask a question, the sensible thing to do is to be still, even silent, so you can hear the answer and discern next steps.

            For everyone who keeps on asking receives; and he who keeps on seeking finds;

            and to him who keeps on knocking, [the door] will be opened. Matthew 7:8 Amplified

So, when someone asks you to “pray for me,” don’t. Not until you have asked a few questions. Not until the asking of questions shifts your prayers from your best thoughts and wishes to discerning what is in the Father’s heart (2 Thessalonians 3:5), the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16), and the ministry of the Spirit (2 Corinthians 3:8).

So, when someone asks you to pray for them, first ask . . .

• Ask the Holy Spirit to pray through you (Romans 8:26) ... Ask the Holy Spirit to fill you (Ephesians 5:18) (“let the Spirit stimulate your soul” Phillips) then seek (yield) to his leading
• Ask the person for a brief description of the who-what-where-when-why of their presenting-problem ... then ask (and listen) to them answer “how” they see/sense/discern God’s presence/ purposes in the midst of the circumstances they are asking you to pray about
• ... this may be an opportunity to ask them to pray from the insights they have just shared with you because it may be the first time they have allowed the Lord to reveal his presence and promises in the midst of their problem
• ... as they pray, ask the Spirit to give you insight into how to respond; pray from something they said? Share a scripture? Ask them what they heard from the Lord as they were praying?
• Ask others to join you in prayer. It may be appropriate to invite one or a few other persons to join you in a prayer circle for the person who asked for prayer. Ask first for that person’s permission, explaining this is like hearing in stereo when several listen and discern at the same time.
• Ask both trusted veteran intercessors as well as someone who needs deeper discipling in prayer (this will become a learning lab for them).
• Ask for feedback. After prayer (yours, the persons you have invited to pray with you for this friend, or after the person requesting prayer has said a prayer), ask a simple, wide-open question: “Have you (has anyone) received a scripture verse or a thought we might consider for further praying?” If someone shares, simply go back to asking the Holy Spirit for leading, guiding, focusing.
• Ask the person receiving prayer to update you about the issue but make the commitment to reach out if they do not give you a timely reply.

            And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.                                                 Matthew 21:22

Ask. Questions, that is.

Seek. Stop, be silent, search scripture.

Knock . When you know you’ve heard the will of God, then knock the door down!a

The attached article Pray for Me.docx was written in response to a request from an international member of our Pray.Network community.

Simple description: How to shift from praying for someone by asking for things to praying for them by asking questions that enable us to hear from the Spirit, scripture and even others who pray in the name of Jesus.

Comments welcome,

Phil

Pray%20for%20Me.docx

Click here to begin reading >>>

http://www.instantflipbook.com/flipbook/AGRMRescue14-0910/

Phil Miglioratti likely would not want me to put his name and that of E.M. Bounds in the same sentence, but, there, I did it. Both are “prayer warriors” as the term is often used: Miglioratti as host of PrayNetwork.org today and Bounds as the author of published works on prayer, the most notable one that was gathered into one volume of 600 pages, E.M. Bounds on Prayer. I read all 600 pages and the author and the book still fascinates me; what Bounds focused on was the why of prayer, not the how. He died in 1913 at the age of 78.

Miglioratti toils onward with his website which is a clearinghouse on all things prayer, reaching what he calls “many different segments/styles/strata of prayer-driven people, prayer authors, congregational prayer leaders, pastors, little old ladies who pray the hell out of their neighborhoods, and former magazine editors,” meaning me who needs prayer the most.

Some of the site, he says, is “simple faith, much is serious thinking, some strategic-tactical-resources. Certainly all is biblical, Christ-centered, Spirit-guided, to the glory of God our Father.”

His background in prayer ministry, he says, started with a praying grandmother before he was born, and in opportunities to lead prayer before he knew what he was doing, being young and idealistic. He facilitated prayer at Willow Creek Community Church’s New Community on Wednesday nights in the late 70s that “gave me valuable experience in leading the church by following the Spirit.”

Phil pastored a church for 19 years—“the last half was a head-long plunge into building a prayer culture.” Opportunities to serve on the National Prayer Committee and coordinate the National Pastors’ Prayer Network came after that. He responded to several of my questions:

How can Christians participate with you on the site?

“They can look over the site to see what a learning community looks like; take the couple minutes to become a member (that requires a quick profile); join a group that you have an affinity with, and post a simple blog commentary or upload an article you have written.”

Any examples of people reached or helped or saved?

“As administrator I often see ‘thank yous’ going back and forth from persons who have been blessed by the prayer support they have received to a personal need or family crisis. Some of our groups result in persons exclaiming how much they have learned. And I know of several persons who have taken time to contribute articles or blog postings and have indicated how it has benefitted them by seeing others helped.”

How do you explain your ministry to others?

“I believe the Lord wants our praying transformed. How? As he renews our mind about prayer—prayer starts with God, not our needs; prayer is a lifestyle, not a list (Ro 12:2)—so much of our prayers are telling things God already knows, then instructing him on what to do about it. We need to pray by asking the Spirit to give and guide us in our prayers, so that we discern the mind of Christ (the will and the word of God), so that when the Father responds to our praise or petition, God is glorified.”

The quotable E.M. Bounds has said: “Talking to men for God is a great thing, but talking to God for men is greater still. He will never talk well and with real success to men for God who has not learned well how to talk to God for men.” So many of us are poor pray-ers, but Phil Miglioratti is helping men and women be better at it. He has 4,900 members; the site is accessible/viewable to the public, but members can reply/comment/post. He speaks on invitation and helps churches strengthen their prayer ministries.

PrayNetwork.org is a learning community: You can join free to read what others are saying, review resources from a wide spectrum of perspectives, research through the hundreds of blog and discussion postings, but also be a contributing member of the community by posting commentary, writing brief reviews, identifying resources that have aided your ministry. “So,” he says, “join a group, jump into a discussion, and upload video clips that prompt or train us to pray.”

Ronald Keener / Ronald E. Keener was editor of the national business and leadership magazine, "Church Executive," for eight years, and writes from Chambersburg, Pa.

Recently, Jonathan Friz (a featured member of our network and a prayer leader colleague) asked an important question ...

Click here for everything you need to mobilize prayer

A transformed perspective

who you are praying to

...produces a transformed pattern

asking for Holy Spirit leading through questions,

rather than asking for things

...which leads to transformed petitions

that each person you pray for

"may stand firm in all the will of God,

mature and fully assured" - see Colossians 4:12)

An Opportunity for Spiritual Development

Experiencing Prayer Days and Short Retreats will be in September, 2014 at the White Oak Conference Center in Winnsboro, SC. (an hour’s drive from Charlotte, NC).

The Full Session is September 17–26, and the Short Session September 17–22. Participants will experience prayer topics, retreat topics, and one leadership topic using Jesus’ example. It will be a time of deepening intimacy with God and experiencing a fresh anointing of the Holy Spirit through a time of retreat, rest, and renewal.

In addition, participants will work with a staff member in presenting one of the topics, and will be prepared to facilitate the topics with others. Leaders will be Andy Ring, Ph.D. and Kate Ring, M.A., (serving with The Seed Company), and author/coordinator will be Evelyn Davis, Ed. D. (SIL International Training Consultant).

The full session is $795.00. and the short session $585.00. This covers accommodations, the meals, all the materials, the books, and other basic resources. Donors have given funds so that partial scholarships will be available. Participants from churches and missions are welcome. If you need additional information, have questions, and to get a copy of the Overview and Application, contact evelyn_davis@sil.org. And when you apply, return only page three.

Monthly or Daily Enewsletters

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Daily Devotionals

The Navigators offers daily devotionals from two of its most popular authors: Holiness Day by Day from Jerry Bridges and Daily Discipleship by LeRoy Eims.

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Discipleship Connection

Do you share The Navigators passion to make disciples? Would you like to connect with others in your area for mutual support and encouragement? www.NavConnect.com is a Navigator site that will connect you with other Navigators, resources and events that all revolve around the passion to make disciples

Other Discipleship & Prayer Resources

NavPress

Check out all our resources, from The Message Bible to prayer guides and Bible studies all about discipleship. Visit us anytime at www.Navpress.com

The Navigators Tools

During its 80 years of ministry, The Navigators has developed a number of helpful tools to help Christ followers grow as disciples and disciplemakers. The Wheel ®, The Bridge ®, and The Topical Memory System are just a few of these helpful resources. Visit us at: http://www.navigators.org/Tools.

Pray Every Day Facebook page.

The purpose of Pray Every Day is to inspire, encourage, and equip God's people to make prayer a part of daily life. The page is managed by the author of “The Pray! Prayer Journal” and representative of The Navigators, Dean Ridings at www.facebook.com/PrayerJournal

I regret to inform you that our prayer-driven community is coming to an end (June 30th).

The directors of NavPress, as you can read below, have decided to discontinue supporting Pray! Network.

I am personally grateful to NavPress for birthing Pray! Network and providing the financial resources the past four and one half years that have helped us build a distinctive all-things-prayer community. Thank you!, NavPress, and Bravo! members ...

... Over 4700 of you contributed 1700+ blog posts, over 1,000 photos, hundreds of events, plus countless group and discussion conversations. As network coordinator, I am aware of many who have been greatly helped through the prayers, the wisdom and counsel, and the resource recommendations of fellow members. Many found encouragement. Leaders now have a more biblical perspective on praying that produce more purposeful patterns resulting in more Christ-like petitions.  

The Navigators, now with both the articles from Pray! Magazine (which preceded the network) and Pray! Network, have an unparalleled treasure of biblical wisdom and teaching on prayer. They have given the Body of Christ a gift, for which I am very grateful - -

But also saddened they will no longer be available. May I ask you to pray for the Lord to show the way to bring theses gifts back to life?

Two action steps:

1. Would you like to stay in contact regarding the issues surrounding prayer and the ideas that transform our praying? Email phil@nppn.org from the eddress you'd like me to connect to, and I will add you to a periodic eBlast with resources and events and insights regarding prayer.
2. To leave a thank you note for NavPress, please share your good words (comment below) with them (before June 30th).

Appreciating all you have done to make me proud to represent Pray! Network,

Phil

Phil Miglioratti

PhilsBlog.net

IMPORTANT UPDATE FROM NAVPRESS:

NavPress has decided to discontinue Pray! Network in order to direct more focus on our primary endeavor of publishing books, Bibles, and Bible studies that encourage disciplemaking. However, we do value your friendship with us through Pray! Network and would like to continue encouraging you on your discipleship and prayer journey.

Please consider staying connected with www.Navigators.org through these quality discipleship and prayer resources:

Monthly or Daily Enewsletters

Disciple! Monthly ENewsletter

A enewsletter that is all about discipleship! This enewsletter is packed full of practical and inspirational ways on how you can grow in your relationship with God; and provides you the tips and tools to help you along your discipleship journey.

Daily Devotionals

The Navigators offers daily devotionals from two of its most popular authors: Holiness Day by Day from Jerry Bridges and Daily Discipleship by LeRoy Eims.

Sign up for any of these emails at: http://my.navigators.org/email-center/subscriptions/update.html

Discipleship Connection

Do you share The Navigators passion to make disciples? Would you like to connect with others in your area for mutual support and encouragement? www.NavConnect.com is a Navigator site that will connect you with other Navigators, resources and events that all revolve around the passion to make disciples

Other Discipleship & Prayer Resources

NavPress

Check out all our resources, from The Message Bible to prayer guides and Bible studies all about discipleship. Visit us anytime at www.Navpress.com

The Navigators Tools

During its 80 years of ministry, The Navigators has developed a number of helpful tools to help Christ followers grow as disciples and disciplemakers. The Wheel ®, The Bridge ®, and The Topical Memory System are just a few of these helpful resources. Visit us at: http://www.navigators.org/Tools.

Pray Every Day Facebook page.

The purpose of Pray Every Day is to inspire, encourage, and equip God's people to make prayer a part of daily life. The page is managed by the author of “The Pray! Prayer Journal” and representative of The Navigators, Dean Ridings at www.facebook.com/PrayerJournal

Powerful Prayer Helps for $2.50 Each

Every issue of Prayer Connectcovers a specific aspect of prayer, and has inspirational and practical help on understanding that principle of prayer. Each issue has a Bible study that helps you teach others using the content. Normally $6.00 each, from now until July 31st, every back issue of Prayer Connect is on special for 58% off retail, or $2.50 each. Buy the issues you don't have; use an issue in a small group summer study, Take your church staff or leaders through a study on prayer. Here are the topics available: