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Caring prayers, tangible kindness and well-timed words

Posted by Stephanie Tucker on November 9, 2011 at 14:30

It is easier than you may think to nudge others toward Jesus. Try serving your way into the hearts of nonbelievers by demonstrating the kindness of God by offering to do some act of humble service with no strings attached. This simple act of expressing God’s love in a tangle way can open the door into a spiritual conversation. As you look around your sphere of influence, you will be surprised by all the open doors you will find.

Seek God for the City 2012 has a complete section in the 40-day prayer guide on how life-giving prayer can lead to engaging ways to share. Download these pages by clicking here.

Possible Meaning of the Word Humble from examination of the Hebrew Letters in the Word

Posted by Lewis Turner on November 6, 2011 at 17:29

Defining the Word Humble found in II Chronicles 7 vs 14

Hebrew Strong's Number: 3665

Hebrew Word: ‏כָּנַע‎

Transliteration: kānaʿ

Phonetic Pronunciation:kaw-nah'

Root: a primitive root

Cross Reference: TWOT - 1001

Part of Speech: v

Vine's Words: Humble (Self) (To)

Usage Notes:

English Words used in KJV:

humble 18
subdue 11
bring low 2
bring down 3
subjection 1
miscellaneous translations 1
[Total Count: 36]

a primitive root; properly to bend the knee; hence to humiliate, vanquish :- bring down (low), into subjection, under, humble (self), subdue.

Source: Strong's Talking Greek & Hebrew Dictionary.

ע

Ayin

The word (ayin 1612) means eye in all regular senses, but also as means of expression (knowledge, character, etc). The word (ayin 1613) means spring or fountain. The eye is one of four bodily "fountains," the other three being mouth, skin and urethra (and only the mouth is not supposed to produce water outwardly). Transpiration releases the body of excessive heat; urine evaluates toxins, and the eye produces water commonly when grief or pain is prosessed. All have to do with cleansing or purification.

Also: eye-to see, understand, obey—spiritual light of God

נַ

Nun

The verb means propagate, increase. Derivative means offspring, posterity. The letter is often said to mean and resemble a fish, but the word nun is not used as such in the Bible. In stead, the word for fish comes from another verb which means multiply, increase: (daga 401)

Also: fish, continue, offspring, heir

כָּ

Kaph

One of two regular words for hand (the other being the 10th letter). (kap 1022a) denotes the hand as outstretched, asking and weak. The word basically encompasses anything that is hollow or outstretched in order to receive something: dish, plate, etc.

Also: bend, allow, open tame

A possible meaning of humble from the lexicon is:

כָּנַע‎ Vine's words: Humble (Self) (To)

Possible meaning from the meaning of the Hebrew letters: To be open to continually reaching out, increasing in understanding, and obeying the spiritual light of God through cleansing or purification.

Some of the meanings of the Hebrew letters of the word humble are listed below:

כָּ

The letter could mean outstretched in order to receive something. The letter could also mean 'to allow'.

נ

The letter could mean 'to continue'

ע

The letter could mean 'to see', 'to understand', 'to obey', in relationship to the spiritual light of God. The letter could also mean 'purification' or 'cleansing'.

Each letter in Hebrew has a meaning, and sometimes a variety of meanings. It is possible that several meanings or definitions of the word being examined could possibly be obtained looking at the letters of the word. It takes reviewing the context of scripture like II Chronicles 7:14 to develop a possible meaning of a word in Hebrew using the letters.

We must also remember that in Hebrew, letters are red from Right to Left in putting together the meaning of the letters in obtaining a possible meaning of the word.

As you study the word Humble, you will find the meaning of that word does have a significant meaning, and adds much depth to our understanding of II Chronicles 7:14.

International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted-Millions Rally for Persecuted Christians

Posted by Reimagine Curator on October 31, 2011 at 18:23

International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted-Millions Rally for Persecuted Christians

Soon, Christians around the world are preparing for the 2011 International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church (IDOP).

MEDIA ADVISORY, Oct. 31, 2011 /Christian Newswire/ -- The IDOP, which was first organized in 1996 by the World Evangelical Fellowship, has evolved into one of the largest worldwide prayer events in existence today. For the past 15 years, thousands of churches and organizations, as well as individuals and families, have participated in the tradition of setting aside one Sunday each November to spend time in intercessory prayer for the millions of Christians around the world who are persecuted, oppressed, and even martyred for their faith each year -- and who, whenever asked, unfailingly place intercessory prayer at the top of their list of needs.

On a general scale, Christian persecution has become a humanitarian crisis of unprecedented proportions. According to the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, persecution has become especially prevalent in countries like India and Iraq, while countries of particular concern that have been known for consistent religious and human rights violations include North Korea, China, and Sudan.

But the United States government is not alone in its monitoring of the crisis. Many Christian ministries and nonprofit organizations have made it their mission to advocate and provide humanitarian support for those in the persecuted church, most of whom suffer a range of abuses from societal or even family ostracism, physical abuse, kidnapping, or false imprisonment on an almost daily basis.

One such organization is Christian Freedom International (CFI), a Michigan-based organization that works extensively in countries like Burma, Pakistan, and Egypt -- all regions where Christian persecution is steadily on the rise. In addition to its humanitarian support of food, clothing, medical assistance and educational opportunities, CFI has been an outspoken advocate for the persecuted church, providing compelling testimony before Capitol Hill and promoting general awareness of persecution through online petition campaigns. Each year, CFI also actively encourages churches and individuals throughout the U.S. to remember the persecuted and participate in the IDOP.

Although Sunday, November 13 is the designated 2011 International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church, it will be held one week earlier, Sunday, November 6, in the UK and Ireland.

To learn more about the IDOP and for free, downloadable resources, visit www.dayofprayer.org.

Christian Newswire

Don't Base Your Prayers on Feelings

Posted by Lillian Penner on October 31, 2011 at 15:51

In our culture today, we have become me-centered, even in our prayer lives. It seems like we are encouraged to listen to our feelings, allowing our feelings to dictate our relationship with Jesus Christ. Our relationship with God cannot be based on our feelings. The foundation of our relationship must be our trust and faith in God.

The purpose of prayer is not for God to give us what we want, but to open our hearts, focusing our minds on Him, yielding ourselves to His higher purpose. As we open our hearts to God, his thoughts will become our hearts.

Eugene Peterson writes in Answering God, “To pray by feelings is to be at the mercy of glands and weather and digestion. And there is no mercy in any of them . . . we need more than our wants and whims to grow in our relationship with God. We need revealed truth.” ₁

A godly woman once told me, “Don’t pray when you feel like it, make an appointment with God, and keep it each day.”

When praying for your grandchildren ask God to shape their character according to His Word even if it requires some struggle. Ask God to give them a soft, teachable heart and a love for God’s Word so they will grow to be men and women of God who share the gospel with the world.

₁ Pray! Magazine, Nov/Dec/ 2008 issue, page 32, published by The Navigators.

A War in Heaven

Posted by Francis Frangipane on October 28, 2011 at 16:22

A War in Heaven

Lucifer's terrible crime was not simply that he rebelled against God, as evil as that was. Worse, through slander and deception, he stole away a third of the angels with him. Though banished to hell, Lucifer's war against the Almighty continues: every time he divides another church over incidental issues, he strikes again against the heart of God.

If you have ever been through a church split, you are all too familiar with the terrible churning of emotions and the inconsolable distress that accompanies this descent into hell. If you are unfamiliar with the experience, expect that large factions of otherwise nice Christians will be pitted against one another. They will participate in slander, anger, deception, fear, bitterness, hatred, gossip, unforgiveness, strife, rebellion and pride.

Any of these attitudes isolated in a single individual would be recognized and exposed as sin. However, when they occur en masse in a church split, they somehow are considered righteous. Anger is redefined as “fighting for a principle.” Slander and gossip now enlist as allies “in search of the truth.”

The epicenter of the split may have been localized in a single church, but the shockwaves are felt across the area-wide body of Christ. News of the conflict is communicated in whispered tones, as when hearing of a family member who has a serious cancer. And a split is a cancer – a malignant life system, a false growth that is empowered by anger, pride and ambition instead of the meekness and patience of Christ.

Citywide church leaders shake their heads and sigh. Even if they barely knew the troubled church, they suffer sympathy pains. They are concerned. Those who have experienced the heartache of their own split also shudder, as they remember the still unresolved conflict they carry regarding those who divided their church. Still other pastors become restless and more guarded over their flocks, wary lest the spirit of strife infiltrate their churches as well.

Additionally, the evangelists of the city know that, at least for a season, it will be harder to win the lost. Indeed, as rumors of the split spread, the pettiness and politics of those embittered in the conflict reach the ears of the unsaved, reminding them of why they keep their distance from church.

I have traveled throughout much of the Christian world speaking to pastors and church leaders. It is my experience that, while divisions are found everywhere, splits are more frequent and often more mean-spirited in America. Is it our fierce love of independence and freedom? Or is it because of our more aggressive cultural nature? Regardless, American splits tend to have the least civility.

The reasons for church splits are many. Divisions may originate from confusion concerning church governments. To whom has God really given final authority in any given congregation? Sometimes, the root of conflict is simply misguided ambition in one or more associate leaders. And of course, there is always the issue of spiritual warfare. Often, just as a church begins an upward swing in attendance or spiritual growth, demonically manipulated strife emerges. So when we see a serious division in a church, we must ask ourselves: Is this the work of the same kind of spirit that manipulated Absalom, Korah or Jezebel?

Some splits involve some combination of all of the above. But regardless of the unique source of each division, Jesus warned that when our house is divided, it “will not stand” (Matt. 12:25). Clearly, when a division strikes a church, its impact is felt throughout the community. It is a war in which the devil is the only one who wins.

Heartache in Heaven
We may think the Lord is personally unfamiliar with the pain of a church split. He is not. In fact, pastors can take some comfort that God Himself, even in all His perfections, suffered a type of split. You may recall that, before the creation of man, Heaven itself endured a time of great rebellion – a “split,” if you will. Heaven itself could not fulfill the desires of Satan.

In those days Satan was known as Lucifer or Hillel Ben Shahar in the Hebrew language. The name Hillel came from the root word, Hallel, which means “to praise, worship, adore.” Ben Shahar meant “son of the dawn.” The implication is that Lucifer was the chief worship leader at the dawn of creation. Endowed with the gifts of leadership and creativity in music, his position was not enough for him. Fueled by jealousy and ambition, Lucifer led a third of the angels to rebel against the authority of God (see Revelation 12). We cannot verify it, but we can imagine that the angels who fell were those who, in the authority structure of Heaven, were under the influence of Lucifer.

Consider the cunning of Lucifer, our ancient foe. He was actually able to convince angels, who were gazing upon the resplendent glory of God, that they could win a war against their Creator! In privileged awe they had seen galaxies emerge from the mouth of God. Yet somehow they came to believe that under Lucifer's leadership they could defeat the Almighty.

They knew the Most High was fully cognizant of their every thought, yet they believed they could outsmart Him. Through stealth, slander and seduction, Lucifer spun intoxicating lies to engender discontentment among the angels until the very pleasures of Heaven could not satisfy them. He then lured them from the unimaginable splendor of God's presence, convincing them the unfathomable outer darkness was more suited for their cause. Yes, consider the deceptive powers of our ancient foe and wonder not that he could separate good friends in a church split here on earth.

How long the rebellion in Heaven lasted we do not know. Nor is it written what deception Lucifer spun. The Bible only grants fleeting reflections into that horrible, cataclysmic divide. Still one wonders: Did the Lord remain unaffected by the strife? Was the Heavenly Father perfectly aloof from the pain of separation, or did He suffer heartache when those to whom He gave the gift of life rebelled against Him? Remember: the omniscience of God watched the great lie spread, infecting one angel after another, until a full third joined in the insurrection. Was this division the first great pain in the heart of God?

Beloved, consider also with trembling fear: Until this ancient split, to our knowledge hell did not exist. Hell became a reality as a consequence to division born of ambition, jealousy and pride.

It is time for the church to put off the garments of strife and clothe ourselves in the oneness of Christ. Let us therefore repent for the sin of division. Let us position ourselves in intercession until we see divisions among born-again Christians removed from the house of the Lord.

Lord, forgive us for tolerating this terrible sin. Master, we know that our division is a blight upon Your people. Cleanse us of the effects of division, and empower each of us with grace to bring unity to Your church. In Jesus' name. Amen.

News Alert ~ Pray for Turkey Earthquake Disaster

Posted by Reimagine Curator on October 25, 2011 at 0:28

ASSIST News Service (ANS) - PO Box 609, Lake Forest, CA 92609-0609 USA
Visit our web site at: www.assistnews.net -- E-mail: assistnews@aol.com

Monday, October 24, 2011

Ministry Seeks Prayer for Turkey Earthquake Survivors

By Michael Ireland
Senior Correspondent, ASSIST News Service

turkey%20earthquake1%20102311_300x200.jpg

Rescuers pull survivors from damaged buildings.
(Photo courtesy ASLAN)

VA,N, TURKEY (ANS) -- An horrific 7.2 earthquake rocked the city of Van in eastern Turkey near the border with Iran on Sunday (October 23), at 1:00 p.m. in the afternoon.

According to Ian and Mary Jane Heringa of ASLAN International (www.aslaninternational.org ) there are 217 confirmed dead and 1,090 people injured.

The ministry says the tremors were not felt in Istanbul where the ASLAN ministry/fellowship is based.

In an e-ail update to ANS, The Heringas say: " Let our cries reach heaven as we ask God for mercy on Turkey. The hearts of the whole nation are shaken. Let us grieve with those who have lost everything."

Rescuers comb damaged buildings for survivors.
(Photo courtesy ASLAN)

They add: "Right now, we ask you to plead with God for mercy on the nation of Turkey. After we had an earthquake of this magnitude in 1999, thousands of Turks called into our Alo Dua Prayer Hotlines requesting prayer.

"Please join us in praying for the government's rescue efforts, for more rescue vehicles and paramedics, doctors to get to Van quickly, for the weather -- meteorologists are predicting snow, for those still trapped in the rubble, that they may be found quickly, for the families of those who are missing. In their despair, may they turn to Jesus."

Bewildered survivors in front of damaged buildings.
(Photo courtesy ASLAN)

The Heringas say "This province is one of Turkey's poorest. People have lost everything."
They add: "Pray for us, our ASLAN team -- to know how to minister and reach out effectively during this crisis time of Turkey's shaking."

Please also donate Online -- one-time gift or monthly -- all gifts are tax-deductible at:www.aslaninternational.org/partner.

If donating by check, please send to either:
Aslan International CANADA, PO Box 76056 Southgate RPO, Edmonton, AB T6H 5Y7 or
ASLAN International USA, 5 Warwick Pl., Cincinnati, OH 45246-4600

** Michael Ireland is Senior Correspondent for ANS. He is an international British freelance journalist who was formerly a reporter with a London (United Kingdom) newspaper and has been a frequent contributor to UCB UK, a British Christian radio station. While in the UK, Michael traveled to Canada and the United States, Albania,Yugoslavia, Holland, Germany,and Czechoslovakia. He has reported for ANS from Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Israel, Jordan, China,and Russia. Michael's volunteer involvement with ASSIST News Service is a sponsored ministry department -- 'Michael Ireland Media Missionary' (MIMM) -- of A.C.T. International of P.O.Box 1649, Brentwood, TN 37024-1649, at: Artists in Christian Testimony (A.C.T.) International where you can make a donation online under 'Donate' tab, then look for 'Michael Ireland Media Missionary' under 'Donation Category' to support his stated mission of 'Truth Through Christian Journalism.' Michael is a member in good standing of th e National Writers Union, Society of Professional Journalists, Religion Newswriters Association, Evangelical Press Association and International Press Association. If you have a news or feature story idea for Michael, please contact him at: ANS Senior Reporter

** You may republish this story with proper attribution.
Send this story to a friend.

Notice for Writers

Posted by Reimagine Curator on October 24, 2011 at 17:18

Hello Writer,

I wanted to make you aware of a new manuscript call for a daily devotional book. This time I'm not the compiler, but my husband, Mark Littleton, is compiling and editing the book for Jebaire Publishing: God Still Meets Needs.

For your convenience, I've pasted the guidelines below. If you have questions or submissions, please direct them to Mark at GodMeetsNeeds@earthlink.net.

I also wanted to let you know about a resource that could be invaluable not only for your writing skills, but also for making those contacts all writers need to make to sell their work. On Nov. 10-12, Heart of America Christian Writers Network is sponsoring an outstanding writers conference.

It will be an excellent venue with 40 faculty members—including editors from Thomas Nelson, Group, Charisma Media, DaySpring, Nazarene Publishing House, and more, as well as 5 agents (including a NYC agent for those interested in taking their message to the secular audience) and a professional screenplay writer.

We are blessed with writers from around the US coming as conferees, and we do have discounts to help you get to the conference. If you've submitted before to one of the books I've worked on (Cup of Comfort Devotional for Mothers, Forever His, LifeSavors, Living the Serenity Prayer, Love is a Verb, Love is a Flame, Love is a Verb Devotional, Supernatural Stories, Extraordinary Answers to Prayer series), you may subtract 10% from the basic registration fee. If you're 65 or older, you may have a 10% seniors discount. If you're in vocational ministry, you may have a 10% vocational ministry discount. We allow percentage discounts up to 30%, and as many friend discounts as qualify for (see brochure). Plus, if you're a HACWN member (we have them all over the US) or register before Nov. 1, you'll save even more. The discounts are valid on the basic conference registration (not on membership, services, critiques, or meals). We accept cash, checks, Visa, Mastercard, and Paypal.

And...the first 50 people who register get a free 2012 Writers Digest Writers Market Guide. (We have a dozen of those left, but hurry!).

Check out the details at www.HACWN.org. We also have an events page on Facebook, and we have a Heart of America Christian Writers Network (HACWN) fan page on FB, where I list lots of writing and editing tips.

If you have any questions about the conference, feel free to contact me at HACWN@earthlink.net or our information person, Sally, at SRDsonshine@juno.com or 816-313-1892. Again, if you have questions or submisions for God Meets Needs, contact Mark at GodMeetsNeeds@earthlink.net

Jeanette Gardner Littleton

co-director,

Heart of America Christian Writers Network

www.HACWN.org

GOD STILL MEETS NEEDS:

How God Helps His People and Provides in Tough Times

PROJECT: A devotional book of 365 readings, which will be written by various authors. The book is contracted with Jebaire, a royalty publisher, and may expand into a series. The stories in the book will show how God met a need in your life or in the life of someone you know, whether it’s a physical, financial, emotional, or spiritual need, or any other kind.

FORMAT: Each devotion will be a maximum of 275-325 words (total of all parts).

TITLE: See Sample.

SCRIPTURE: You choose: NIV, NKJV, NASB, NLT, The Message, KJV, etc. Please double-check text instead of writing scripture from memory, and note version used.

BODY: Story devotional that touches the readers, makes them laugh, or just offers a new insight they can use in their lives.

PRAYER: Brief one-sentence prayer to finish.

PAYMENT: For each devotional that is selected for the book, the writer will be paid $5.00 for one-time rights at the time of publication. You may submit as many devotionals as you’d like. Reprints OK.

PURCHASE OF COPIES:

You can get the books in a pre-printing order for 40% off the retail price. If you purchase 25-49 books, you get a 45% discount, and if 50 or more, a 50% discount. Perfect for those who want to sell books when they speak, want giveaways for donations to a ministry, want to do their own marketing, or want gifts. It’s a good way to get your name out there and also to make a little extra money for yourself.

THE STORIES IN THE DEVOS:

These stories will be somewhat dramatic, fun to read, and end with a principle, application, or some twist that the reader can use in his or her life. If they are touching or funny, or offering a new insight, all the better. The most important factor is that they reveal a time in your life when God met a need.

HOW TO GET INVOLVED:

If you would like to be involved in this project or have questions, please contact me, Mark Littleton, by e-mail at GodMeetsNeeds@earthlink.net. Please provide the following information:

The devotionals themselves.

Name and contact, phone number, e-mail, etc.

My contact is: GodMeetsNeeds@earthlink.net.

DEADLINE: January 10, 2012

SAMPLE DEVO:

Who Really Meets Our Needs?

My God will supply all your needs according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19, NASB.

The day looked gloomy to me. The financial pressure to pay my bills at school had mounted. I couldn’t really take a job that would strip away my time for studying and completing assignments. I went to our little dorm prayer meeting with a heavy heart. We prayed.

I forgot about it the next morning until I opened my mail box. There were several letters, and a rather stuffed envelope with just my name on it. I opened it, thinking it might be a paper I’d written. In it, I found eighty-some dollars. All it said, “To help with expenses.”

Next was a letter from my grandparents. Grandpa informed me he would be sending me fifty-dollars a month for as long as I was in school and I found the first check inside.

Walking on air, I hurried home to tell my friends. In the hallway, Mike M. asked me, “Want a study job? Just sit there, watch, and do whatever else you need to do.”

Amazed, he gave me the address where I needed to fill out an application.

I kept that job for four years through my schooling. Grandpa kept the checks coming, and every once in a while someone added to the pile with a check or money-order seemingly out of nowhere.

I ate a lot of Kraft macaroni and cheese and hamburger without the trimmings those years, but God kept me afloat. He showed me that promise (above) from Philippians was as sure as my name on my paycheck.

Prayer: God, I want to trust you about these problems I have with money, but I’m a little scared. Can you encourage me a bit today with something, some jolt that will renew my faith? Amen.

315 Words

The Six Best Things You Can Do For Your Pastor

Posted by Daniel Henderson on October 24, 2011 at 15:12

As we approach the final days of Pastor Appreciation Month please partner with us in supporting pastors. You can give your pastor a membership to The 6:4 Fellowship by clicking here. You can pay his way to our powerful national conference in May 2012. For more information, click here. We also hope you will make a generous contribution to help us in our ongoing efforts. You can do so HERE .

"As one pastor said, 'You can sit on the shore and watch us row. You can get in the boat and help us row. But, please don’t just sit in the boat shooting holes in the bottom.' Few things are more demoralizing to leaders than coping with non-contributors who function as high-maintenance Monday morning quarterbacks."

"The Six Best Things You Can Do For Your Pastor"

Every church has a strong presence of involved, grateful members who bring joy to their leaders. During this month of emphasizing “Pastor Appreciation” many have already expressed their gratitude in a practical and meaningful fashion. As I reflect on the things I have learned after almost 30 years of pastoral ministry, I want to recommend specific ways to express your support – not just this month, but all year long.

Six Recommendations

Pray – As I’ve written in recent weeks, the Apostle Paul was aggressive and unapologetic about requesting prayer for his life and ministry. He understood the mysterious and glorious link between the prayers of God’s people in the blessing of God on his ministry.

When we intercede for our leaders, God uses our prayers to change situations and hearts. When we express gratitude for our leaders, God uses prayer to change us. It is hard to be a critic and a prayer supporter at the same time.

When we pray for pastors, it is a win-win arrangement. They need the prayer; we need the practice.

Communicate – We don’t want to be like the husband who failed to communicate his appreciation to his wife. She expressed to him one day, “You never tell me you love me.” He responded, “I told you the day we got married and if I change my mind I will let you know.”

Love and appreciation fail to bless another if they are not communicated. It is possible that all ten lepers healed by Jesus were grateful, but only one returned to give thanks (Luke 17:11-19). Too often, that one-in-ten expression is the experience of pastors. Many in the church are grateful for a pastor’s faithfulness, example, sermons, family, and leadership. Few take time to specifically and practically communicate their feelings.

Believe me, the critics don’t hold back in their e-mails, notes, and negative words. The grateful majority needs to rise up and say so. I have been astonished in past years when I was called away from a church at the specific and kind expressions that came in during my final days of service. I often thought, “I never knew they felt that way.” Make sure you let your pastoral leaders know how you feel this month. Be specific and encouraging. It will go a long way to strengthen their hearts. And, don’t forget similar expressions to the spouse and family members. They can also be overlooked.

Give – In a national study, clergy ranked in the top 10% of the population in terms of education but were only 325th of 432 occupations in terms of salary. Most pastors serve and sacrifice far beyond what people realize, yet most lack the resources to get away and recharge as they should. Tangible expressions of gratitude go a long way. Gift certificates to restaurants, tickets to sporting events, an overnight get-away, and cash gifts all provide a special blessing for the often-strapped pastoral budget. In one church, a family gave us the key to their mountain cabin. Schedule permitting, our family was able to enjoy much-needed time away that made memories and refreshed our lives in ways we could not have otherwise afforded.

Protect – My wise friend Leith Anderson has noted, “Change agents need protectors.” Pastors are targets of change-resistant antagonists. These people seldom play by the biblical rules of relational authenticity. In an effort to control the agenda of the church they back-bite, circulate rumors, and subtly seek to undermine the leadership.

Critics usually lose momentum when they cannot find a listening ear. I often say, “You may be lord of your tongue but I am also master of my ears.” Protect your pastoral leaders by refusing to give an ear to these destructive voices. Insist that they go directly to the leadership or cease and desist.

Beyond this, gossips and controllers need to be confronted about their divisive behavior according to the principles of Matthew 18:15-17. When the entire body works biblically to deal with spiritual disease and maintain godly health, the church prospers, pastors are protected, and Christ is praised.

Serve – Overloaded and weary pastors are often surrounded by members who are not doing their share to steward their own spiritual gifts and serve the mission of the church. Those who serve with passion and perseverance help lift the load and build up the church. Servants usually have gracious and godly attitudes since those who are pulling on the oars seldom have the time or desire to rock the boat. As one pastor said, “You can sit on the shore and watch us row. You can get in the boat and help us row. But, please don’t just sit in the boat shooting holes in the bottom.” Few things are more demoralizing to leaders than coping with non-contributors who function as high-maintenance Monday morning quarterbacks.

Discern – Churches are not perfect and pastors are 100% human. There will always be things we do not like about the ministry. We will always have preferences that are disappointed by the pastor’s leadership or approach. It is important that we discern which issues are really worth our concern. There are usually few hills worth dying on.

When leaders have to spend energy resolving concerns over non-essential issues, it distracts and dissipates their effectiveness. Focus that should be given to meeting real needs and leading in the vital mission of the church gets squandered by needless squabbles.

Good Returns

Hebrews 13:17 tells us that our spiritual leaders watch out for our souls as those who must give an account to God. This is a serious and sacrificial obligation. This verse exhorts us to support them wholeheartedly so they can lead “with joy and not with grief for that would be unprofitable for you.” Joyful leaders are profitable leaders. When they feel that their leadership is a grievous task, no one benefits. The Amplified Bible says, “Do your part to let them do this with gladness and not with sighing and groaning.”

Let’s all reap the profit that comes when we encourage and appreciate our spiritual leaders. The positive advancement of the work of the Gospel depends on it.

Pray for D.C. >10/28/2011

Posted by Reimagine Curator on October 24, 2011 at 13:27

National Day of Prayer for Our Elected Officials in Washington, DC Oct. 28, 2011

ST. LOUIS, Oct. 24, 2011 /Christian Newswire/ -- There will be a National Day of Prayer for our elected officials in Washington DC on Friday Oct. 28, 2011 at 5:00 pm, doors will open at 4:00 pm, taking place at Hylton Memorial Chapel, Woodbridge, VA a suburb of Washington DC. A dinner banquet will follow after the prayer meeting. To register, please call Lara Publications at 800-599-7313, and secure a seat, or register online at www.closerwalk.net

Over 5,000 churches in the Washington DC area and 1000 churches from the St. Louis, MO area have been invited including the entire Congress and President Obama.

"If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves, pray and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven, forgive their sins and heal their land" - II Chronicles 7:14.

We're a nation in crisis! A church so divided! A people so disenchanted! The prayer meeting is being organized by the St. Louis County, MO - chapter of CRYOUT America - Awakening of which organization is dedicated to fasting and praying for America for spiritual revival. Billy Wilson is the CEO of the national organization. The objective of the prayer is that God will prick the hearts of our elected officials to stop party bickering, quest on personal agendas and ideologies, put aside individual differences, and work together for the good of the nation.

I strongly apologize to those who got upset because the prayer meeting was initially intended for the White House and it was moved to Hylton Memorial Chapel, Woodbridge, VA because of the scheduling conflicts incurred according to the White House scheduling office. To those who got angry because the prayer meeting was moved out of the White House, I strongly believe if Jonah can pray in the belly of a fish, and God heard and answered that prayer, God can hear our prayers from anywhere. What is more important is the urgency of a call to prayer for the nation. The continuous Wall Street demonstration spreading across the nation and the world is a reminder of the urgency of a call to prayer. May God's light shine on us from above.

Contact: Victor Vidal - Prayer Meeting Coordinator, St. Louis County, MO. CRYOUT America, Awakening. 800-599-7313 Email:VictorVidal500@Yahoo.com 314-653-0467, Fax: 314-653-6543, Cellphone: 314-276-5702. Website: www.closerwalk.net

Christian Newswire

Be Real-Don't Wear a Mask

Posted by Lillian Penner on October 24, 2011 at 9:21

As I was thinking about Halloween coming up at the end of this month, I started thinking of jack-o-lanterns, costumes, masks, etc. Children have a good time deciding who they are going to be and what they will wear as they go trick or treating and of course eating their treats.

It reminded me of how many of us try to cover up our feelings or who God designed us to be. We too, as grandparents tend to hide, conceal or disguise how we really feel about ourselves or who God says we are to be. Paul writes in Ephesians 2:10, “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” God created us to be genuine, authentic, sincere, and truthful, pleasing Him with doing good works for Him. Wearing a mask to cover up who God designed us to be will not bring us fulfillment.

Let’s ask ourselves:

Do I really believe God is who He says He is?

Do I really believe I am who God says I am?

Do my grandchildren see that Jesus Christ is the focal point of my life or do they think I am wearing a spiritual mask?

During this Halloween season, let us encourage our grandchildren to be real and honest and not wear masks in their relationship with Jesus Christ, their families and at school.

“A truthful witness saves lives, but a false witness is deceitful”

(Proverbs 14:25 NIV).

By Lillian Penner

Improtant Update on TheCall Detroit

Posted by Francis Frangipane on October 21, 2011 at 13:53

Greetings to the Faithful in Christ:

Over the weekend an important development has taken place for TheCall Detroit, coming on 11/11/11.

Ford Field is secured for TheCall on 11.11.11 for our Historic National 24 hour Prayer Gathering with Lou Engle. Doors will open at 4:30 p.m. and the prayer gathering will begin at 6:00PM on Friday, November 11 and last until 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 12.

Field of Dreams: Video Update from Lou Engle

Watch this exciting new video from Lou Engle at Ford Field as we head to TheCall solemn assembly in Detroit, Michigan on November 11-12, 2011.

Visit TheCall.com/Detroit for more information or to register for TheCall Detroit 11.11.11.

Hollywood Prayer Network October 2011

Posted by Hollywood Prayer Network on October 19, 2011 at 15:06

October 2011 Newsletter

Dear HPN Pray-ers,

We had a great month in September and look forward to another wonderful month coming up. God is so faithful and He has been doing exciting things in our industry and especially in our community. We want to focus on praising Him this month. Let’s pray!

SUMMARY:

• We praise God for an amazing collaborative Friend/Fund Raising evening

• Praise God for Robert Downey Jr. asking his peers to forgive Mel Gibson

• Keep praying for Justin Bieber and his mom Pattie as they tour South America

• Pray for Laurene Powell Jobs and her four children, after the loss of Steve Jobs

• Pray for Gerard Butler as Sam Childers in "MACHINE GUN PREACHER"

• Pray for Oprah Winfrey and Rosie O’Donnell as they start their new TV ventures

• Pray for the people at the film studios who don’t have an ethical or moral compass

• Pray for the growing interest in Hollywood for "inspirational” films

• Let’s pray for our kids who mass consume all forms of entertainment

• Pray for the growth and eternal effectiveness of the new 24/7 Prayer Room

• Pray for Seth, who is starting a church for people in Adult entertainment

• "The Lord has really put Britney Spears on my heart lately. Please pray for her.”

PRAISES:

• On Thurs., Oct. 6th we had the most miraculous gathering of Christian media professionals and entertainment ministry supporters. This was a collaborative Friend and Fund Raising effort to unify and grow the entertainment ministries, build vision for what God is doing in Hollywood, and raise funds for our non-profit efforts. We PRAISE GOD for that evening. It was full of miracles, amazing stories, tears, new friendships, renewed vision and great hope for the future. Our fabulous emcee, Phil Cooke, wrote an article about the evening and the next day it was picked up by Charisma News. Click HERE to hear his thoughts on the wonderful event.

• Praise God for forgiveness. A beautiful thing happened last night at the American Cinematheque Awards that we have to praise God for. Robert Downey Jr. was honored last night at the 25^th annual awards and he asked Mel Gibson to present the award. He said, “When I couldn’t get sober, Mel told me not to give up hope and encouraged me to find my faith…” Then he ended with: “…I would ask that you join me, unless you are completely without sin…, in forgiving my friend his trespasses and offering him the same clean slate you have me..” Let’s start by forgiving both Mel and Robert for any poor choices they’ve made through the years and then pray that the forgiveness Robert asked for Mel from his peers, would make an eternal difference in both of their lives, in the lives of the industry professionals, and with the public. This is an exciting public moment in our mission field! Forgiveness is a powerful thing! For the full story click HERE.

UPDATES:

• Keep praying for Justin Bieber and his mom Pattie as they tour South America this month. And a new book by award-winning author David Buckna explores Justin’s faith as he tours as the world’s most popular teenager. It’s called “Belieber! Fame, Faith and the Heart of Justin Bieber” For more information click HERE.

REQUESTS:

• Pray for Laurene Powell Jobs and her four children, after the loss of her husband, the world's media iCon, Steve Jobs, at the age of 56. It’s such a reminder that a man can have everything the world has to offer and that still doesn’t guarantee any kind of shield or protection from disease or death. Please pray that the rest of his family moves away from Steve’s practice of Zen Buddhism to find the truth of Jesus for their lives. For more information on his religious beliefs click HERE.

• Pray for Gerard Butler whose character, Sam Childers, experienced a conversion experience in "MACHINE GUN PREACHER" - The film is the true story of Childers, an ex-con, drug addict who was in & out of jail until he got saved. Film shows him receiving Jesus in church & getting baptized. Then portrays the ripple of effect of other lives being transformed. The film is rated ‘R’ for violence but it captures a powerful story of redemption and hope. For more info. click HERE.

• Pray for Oprah Winfrey and Rosie O’Donnell as they start their new TV ventures. Oprah just launched her new OWN network and her two new talk shows are Rosie O’Donnell’s daily show, The Rosie Show and Oprah’s weekly 8pm show, Oprah’s Lifeclass. Both of these women have tremendous influence on our culture. May the Lord touch their hearts so that they will exude His truths, His love and His world view. For more info on OWN, click HERE.

• Please pray for the hearts of the people at the film studios who don’t have an ethical or moral compass. Most people have no idea how they’re hurting others with their immoral practices. As you pray, don’t settle for being angry over the injustices, but seek to understand that our mission field is full of spiritually and emotional broken people who don’t know the Lord and therefore have no moral foundation. Many are desperate, scared and insecure which results in lies, illicit behavior and unethical decisions. An article just came out claiming that the Warner Bros. accounting office announced that through “Insane Studio Accounting: Warner Bros Claims $167 Million Loss Over Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix".

• Pray for the growing interest in Hollywood for "inspirational” or “faith-based" films. An Oct. 2nd LA Times article entitled "Hollywood shines a light on the spiritual" discusses the growing number of films that are coming out with themes of faith in them. Maybe this is just a phase or maybe it's a trend, but regardless, let's pray for the Studio Executives to see the benefit of producing films that are "excellent in their craft, and have depth of spirit." Some films mentioned in the article are: "Soul Surfer," "Seven Days in Utopia," "Higher Ground," "Machine Gun Preacher," The Blind Side," and "The Way." May the professionals' hearts be touched as they work on these films and may watching them inspire the audience.

• Let’s pray for the kids in our country, who mass consume films, TV shows, music, video games and YouTube. They don’t understand how it all impacts their world view. Let’s encourage young people to pray for the people they love to watch or listen to in entertainment. You can even encourage them to pray for the top performers in their world each month through our HPN KIDS and TEEN Prayer Calendars. To download a new calendar each month, click HERE.

• Pray with us for the growth and eternal effectiveness of the new 24/7 Prayer Room called Radiance International, set right in the heart of Hollywood, just down the street from HPN! Right on the corner of Sunset and Gower, Radiance offers round the clock prayer and worship for the people, the property, the projects and the profound impact of Hollywood. Let’s also pray for it’s leader, Jonathan Ngai, as he works with other Hollywood leaders to offer his place as a place of refuge, healing, encouragement and prayer. For more information click HERE.

REQUESTS FROM HPN MEMBERS:

• Please pray for Seth, who is starting a church for people who work in the adult entertainment industry. May the Lord give him wisdom, favor and impact on the porn industry and all the people in it, through his love for Jesus and his church in the midst of the darkness. May they find freedom from their bondage, because hearing the truth will set them free!

• "The Lord has really put Britney Spears on my heart lately, and I would like to request that we pray for her this month. Her life seems to be pretty stable right now compared to the last few years, but things are not always the same on the inside as they appear to be on the outside. My heart has really been breaking for her these past few days, so I took some time to look at some of her interviews from 2001 through 2011. I was struck by the contrast between what a beautiful, sweet, innocent and promising young girl she was when she was starting out compared to the brokenhearted, hurting young woman with a prematurely aged spirit she has become. When her career began, she was an open hearted girl with a big dream who wanted to succeed on the outside, but who, deep down, really only wanted to be loved: deeply, unconditionally, and eternally.” Mary

UPCOMING EVENTS:

• "Line In The Sand" - Rose Bowl Gathering on 11-11-11. For more info. or to register click HERE.

• To find out about all other events in our community, click HERE.

Thanks so much for praying with us this month. Be sure to tell your friends to join us at www.hollywoodprayernetwork.org. And if you want to be a prayer partner, we would love to have you join us at: http://www.hollywoodprayernetwork.org/new/I-to-I

Warmly,

Karen and Caren

--------------------------------------------

TIP OF THE MONTH:

How can we pray the way Jesus prayed? http://christianity.about.com/od/topicaldevotions/a/turningpointpra.htm?nl=1

QUOTE OF THE MONTH:

“I will have nothing to do with a God who cares only occasionally. I need a God who is with us always, everywhere, in the deepest depths as well as the highest heights. It is when things go wrong, when good things do not happen, when our prayers seem to have been lost, that God is most present. We do not need the sheltering wings when things go smoothly. We are closest to God in the darkness, stumbling along blindly.” ~Madeleine L'Engle

VERSE OF THE MONTH:

“This, then, is how you should pray: “‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation,but deliver us from the evil one.’” Matthew 6:9-13

HPN Facebook : HPN Twitter

Pastor Appreciation

Posted by Dan Crawford on October 17, 2011 at 7:53

This is Pastor Appreciation Month. In the past twenty-six years, while serving as a Seminary professor, I have also served eighteen churches (two of them twice) as Interim Pastor; some for a few months, others for a few years. Interim Pastors are sometimes appreciated, sometimes not so much. While they fill a crucial role in the life of a church, allowing for transition, sometimes for periods of healing, giving the church time to find the right Pastor, they are occasionally seen as merely fill-ins, pulpit fillers, or as I was once introduced to a congregation, “our new temporary Pastor.” I can easily identify the churches where I was most successful in providing them the pastoral leadership needed. They are the ones who intentionally and consistently, prayed for me – in public and in private. One church actually requested that I stop by their Prayer Room on the way to both morning worship services where a small group of people waited to pray for me. A recent Internet article entitled, “Top Ten Gifts to Give Your Pastor” listed prayer as #1. J.C. Ryle, prolific writer and British Pastor in the late 1800s, wrote, “If we would have good ministers, we must remember our Lord’s example, and pray for them. Their work is heavy. Their responsibility is enormous. Their strength is small. Let us see that we support them, and hold up their hands by our prayers.” The Apostle Paul wrote, “We urge you, brethren, to recognize those who labor among you, and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake” (1 Thess. 5:12-13). Pray for your Pastor this month, and then make it routine for every month thereafter.Subscribe to Dr. Dan's Monday Morning Memo at www.discipleallnations.org. It's a free, spiritual jump-start for the week, posted and sent each Monday morning.

Thankfulness, A Critical Aspect of Our Intercession

Posted by Dave Kubal on October 13, 2011 at 15:46

Thankfulness is such a critical aspect of our intercession and an expression of our reliance on our Almighty God. A thankful heart releases us from the constant barrage of negative news and the depressing reality that life brings.

Psalm 100:4 says, “Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and praise His name.” This is to be our beginning posture. We must begin our intercession by thanking God for all that He does for us, and then moving into praising Him for the character trait that propels Him to act this way.

As you go about this season of Thanksgiving, I encourage you to challenge all those around you to move beyond the negativity of the day, enter into thanksgiving for God’s provision, and move into praise for His character.

—David Kubal, President and CEO of Intercessors for America

Psalm 95:1-6 – O Come, let us sing for joy to the LORD; Let us shout joyfully to the rock of our salvation. Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving; Let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms. For the LORD is a great God, And a great King above all gods, In whose hand are the depths of the earth; The peaks of the mountains are His also. The sea is His, for it was He who made it; And His hands formed the dry land. Come, let us worship and bow down; Let us kneel before the LORD our Maker.

Fresh-thought & Best Practices on Sharing Christ

Posted by Reimagine Curator on October 12, 2011 at 15:37

	Evangelism Connection	OCTOBER 2011
	Evangelism news from the Mission America Coalition (U.S. Lausanne Committee)

The whole Church taking the whole gospel to the whole nation - and to the world.

Table of Contents
Chairman's Letter | Collaborative Calendar | Evangelism News |News & Trends | Tools to Use

News in This Issue
Make A Commitment to Prayer, Care, Share | Record Response For National Back-To-Church Sunday | Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church | National Conference Call for Prayer for Evangelism | 'The Grandfathers' Traces Martyred Missionaries' Legacy and more...

Make A Commitment to Prayer, Care, Share

The Mission America Coalition (MAC) is encouraging Christians to become more active in sharing the love of Christ with those around them. MAC invites you to sign an online commitment that includes three parts:

To pray on a regular basis for specific neighbors, friends, work associates, classmates, and others by name.
To care for them by loving them as Jesus would.
To share the Gospel either personally or by inviting them to church or an evangelistic event.
Christians who sign this commitment are joining a growing movement of tens of thousands who are committed to follow Jesus in this prayer-care-share lifestyle based on His Great Commandment (Mark 12:30-31) and Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20).

More info

Record Response For National Back-To-Church Sunday
Loving Our Communities to Christ

Fifteen churches in the Coachella Valley were among the 7,600 participating nationally in Back to Church Sunday in September. Last year, 3,400 churches participated, resulting in 1.4 million invitations, according to campaign spokesman Philip Nation. Getting people to show up at a church raises the chances they'll attend regularly, Nation said.

"When a person visits a church for the first time, there's a 10 percent chance they'll return," he said. "On the second visit, there's a 15 percent chance they'll return, and so on."

For the past six decades, a steady 42 percent of Americans attend church weekly, according to Gallup poll archives. This year, participating churches represented 34 denominations opening their doors to an estimated 250,000 visitors Sept. 18. Churches responding to a post-event survey welcomed an average of 34 new visitors, an increase of 25.4 percent in weekly attendance. Some churches reported that they doubled in attendance that day. One church plant, "Overflow Church" reporting on Facebook, said its attendance was up 500%.

Nearly 95 percent of pastors surveyed said they would participate again in National Back To Church Sunday, which will be held next on Sept. 16, 2012. A study by LifeWay Research and the North American Mission Board of more than 15,000 Americans found 67 percent say a personal invitation from a family member would be effective in getting them to visit a church; 63 percent say an invitation from a friend or neighbor would likely move them to respond. Next year, National Back To Church Sunday will be held Sept. 16.

More info

Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church

November 13, Worldwide

The International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church (IDOP), Nov. 13, is a global day of intercession for persecuted Christians worldwide. Its primary focus is to encourage intercessory prayer on behalf of persecuted communities of the Christian faith. Open Doors USA has prepared a number of valuable resources for pastors, church leaders, and individuals for this year's day of prayer. Resources to share the story of the persecuted church with congregations, small groups, classes, or friends and family are available online. Downloads include church leader materials, bulletin inserts and lessons, and videos. In addition, Open Doors USA has an initiative to spread the story of the persecuted church to the American church and beyond. "One With Them" serves as a call to action to unite with persecuted believers, not just for IDOP, but always. One way Christians in the United States can show their support is through One With Them wristbands. The black, rubber wristband looks like barbed wire. It provides an opportunity to explain to others the plight of persecuted believers. One With Them seeks to bridge the gap between American Christians and those around the world who suffer for their faith.

More info

National Conference Call for Prayer for Evangelism

National Conference Call for Prayer for Evangelism

Mission America Coalition hosts a weekly evangelism prayer conference call every Wednesday. As Christians pray for others and care for them with the love of Christ, our Lord opens wonderful opportunities to share with them. These are not contrived or legalistic attempts to do something nice for others. To the contrary, these are natural opportunities that God gives us to help others and to express His love in action. This is a season in which God is on the move in bringing people to Himself, and we want to come into agreement with Him to see every person in America touched by the gospel of Jesus Christ. Dial in to: 1-641-715-3300, passcode 416432# at 12 noon CDT.

Evangelism Leaders Conference Call

October 27, 10 a.m. Central Time, Nationwide

Join other evangelism leaders around the country for Mission America's monthly evangelism leaders conference call. The call is held the fourth Thursday of every month, 10 a.m. Central Time, on a different issue of interest. To join the call, dial 712-451-6000 and enter passcode 268855# when prompted.

Cities and Communities Cityreaching Call
City/Community

October 20, 10 a.m., Central Time, Nationwide

Glenn Smith will be the Mission America Coalition Cityreaching resource conference call guest this month. Addressing "Key Indicators of a Transformed City," Glenn will highlight significant global activity. He is senior associate for urban mission for the Lausanne Committee for World Evangelization. The one-hour call will be held October 20. The third Thursday of each month, the Mission America Coalition's City and Communities Ministries hosts a conference call with a seasoned city-reacher. Watch the cityreaching.com website for more information. Contact info@cityreaching.com to receive the phone number and access code to join the call. Information on upcoming calls and transcripts of previous calls are available.

More info

La Red Trains for Next Generation in Proverbs Principles
Loving Our Communities to Christ

The 20th Greater Thomasville Marketplace Leader Prayer & Action Summit was held in September with 69 leaders assembled. Keynote speaker, Dr. Jerry Anderson, CEO of La Red Business Network (ministry) and CEO of Digital Dish & Light Speed Wireless Internet (employer of 900) offered La Red materials (free on the internet) and the services of La Red to train facilitators who will train the next generation to live according to godly principles drawn from the Book of Proverbs. Many local leaders from education, government, law enforcement, the marketplace and the church attended. In addition, in October, two key trainers from La Red are offering four hours of training for facilitators.

"We have been praying for years for God to transform our community and society and now it seems He is offering us a "tool" at no cost except time to begin to train young people and others the character traits and principles that lead to God's favor and blessing," reports Doug Silva, one of the Thomaville city leaders.

More info

Cedar Rapids Christian Business Lunch All About "Prayer - Care - Share
Loving Our Communities to Christ

In September, nearly 70 Cedar Rapids-area businesspeople listened to retired Quaker Oats executive Steve Jenkins share how the strategy of Prayer - Care - Share was used to communicate the love of Christ to the many construction workers who labored for 15 months in the building of the new facility for New Covenant Bible Church.

"The exciting thing is that many of those workers who helped build our building have been visiting our church because they felt loved during the time they worked on the project," Jenkins reported. Cedar Rapids is a Loving Our Communities to Christ collaborating city through the local partner Serve the City. Over 35 churches in the Cedar Rapids area have been challenged to make "Prayer, Care, Share" a part of their culture.

More info

Website Offers Hope, Surpasses 5 Million Visitors

Five million visitors have now stopped bywww.Iamsecond.com, the website of the I Am Second movement featuring video stories of personal struggle, transformation, and hope of celebrities and everyday people. The Movement's newest initiative is the I Am Second book. Slated to release from Thomas Nelson January 2012, the book chronicles 22 video testimonies, from the website, including 2010 American League MVP Josh Hamilton; former Korn muscian Brian "Head" Welch; surfer Bethany Hamilton; "The Biggest Loser" winner Michelle Aguilar; Ultimate Fighting Championship star Vitor Belfort; Grammy-winning artist Michael W. Smith; and football stars Colt McCoy and Sam Bradford. The website has seen visitors from 217 countries/regions who have viewed over 20 million pages on the site.

More info

Pastors from Juarez, Las Cruces and El Paso Unite for Prayer and Evangelism
Loving Our Communities to Christ

El Paso city leader Barney Field reports that 24/7 prayer continues for the El Paso region - 168 volunteers pray for one hour each from the convenience of their homes; 28 churches each provide a prayer captain and 6 intercessors and a prayer guide is provided. In addition, groups of pastors from Juarez, Las Cruces and El Paso have united for prayer and evangelism. Local pastors, called Pastors for Jesus, continue to gather monthly as it has for 18 years. In addition, Old Testament Nuggets are printed on the Editorial Page of the newspaper each day for free. They cover the entire Old Testament. Last year New Testament Nuggets were featured. El Paso is a Loving Our Communities to Christ partner region.

More info

Churches, Families Work Together to Address Africa Food Crisis

Global Aid Network anticipates that more than 4,000 people from around the United States will volunteer to help process and pack as many as 12 tractor-trailer loads of goods including vegetable seeds, rice and beans, clothing, school supplies, oatmeal, and more. From October 10-15, Global Aid Network, the humanitarian aid arm of Campus Crusade for Christ International, will open the doors of its Pennsylvania Distribution Center to hundreds of families, schools, and church groups who want to help needy communities around the world. One focus this year will be sending food and other vital aid to the Horn of Africa, where 10 million people face starvation.

More info

'The Grandfathers' Traces Martyred Missionaries' Legacy

A documentary film that has been more than 50 years in the making now completes the trilogy of movies telling the story of Nate Saint and four other missionaries martyred for their faith in the jungles of Ecuador in 1956. "The Grandfathers" completes a trilogy of movies that includes "End of the Spear" and "Beyond the Gates of Splendor." These first two films, also from award-winning director Jim Hanon and producer Mart Green. tell the unforgettable story of the killing of five missionaries by a native tribe deep in the Amazon jungle.

More info

Portland Churches Hold Community Event to Minister to Inner City

Revolution Foursquare began performing park outreaches with its youth ministry over seven years ago. Through collaboration with other ministries including Luis Palau Association's Next Generation Alliance, the event has grown into an annual full-day festival featuring a growing repertoire of well-known Christian artists and new attractions such as BMX and skate demonstrations. On Labor Day in Portland, Oregon, Next Generation Alliance, Save the City Records and several area churches hosted Day in the Park. The event featured inflatable jump houses, plywood skate ramps and tents of food and activities. Music acts from freestyle hip hop to gospel played as local and visiting Christian artists joined the free event for Portland's inner-city community. Volunteer counselors were available throughout the day to pray and talk with anyone in need. The collaborators expressed a hope that this community-based outreach model would become the norm among churches.

More info

Georgia Church Follows in Jesus' Footsteps, 'Feeds the 5,000'

Following in Christ's footsteps, Trinity United Methodist Church in Rome, Ga. provided a week's worth of food to nearly 5,000 people in one day. Organizers of Jesus in the Park, an annual event, saw 1,600 families each take home 50 pounds of shelf-stable free food. In addition, members of the community could also spend a free afternoon at Rome's Ridge Ferry Park listening to concerts, eating hot dogs and cotton candy, and playing games. By 2:30 p.m. about 50,000 pounds of food had already been given away. Organizers estimate that somewhere between 75,000 and 100,000 pounds had been distributed by the end of the event. Any leftover food items were returned to a food pantry to be given away on another day.

More info

The Meeting of the Waters

Fritz Kling is a foundation executive who spent the past decade traveling through villages and cities across the world interviewing grassroots workers and high-level leaders. In his new book, Kling identifies seven big trends impacting today's global church and tells compelling stories from his travels that illustrate the themes of mercy, mutuality, migration, monoculture, machines, mediation, and memory. Equal parts travelogue, character study, and global documentary, The Meeting of the Waters interlaces stories and instruction to help Christians understand a rapidly changing world.

More info

Jersey Church Hands Out $30,000 in 'Reverse Offering'

Instead of passing the plate for parishioners to fill with greenbacks, Liquid Church in New Jersey handed out over $30,000 to members in a "reverse offering." Each person received an envelope with the words "God Trusts You!" Inside the envelope were $10, $20 and $50 bills. The initiative took place during a four-part sermon series teaching biblical principles of finance regarding debt and living on budget. The 2,000 member Liquid Church is also investing $60,000 of church offerings into three local recovery projects. Specifically, the funds will be used to bring relief to a Manville, N.J., neighborhood devastated by Hurricane Irene, restoring the Market Street Mission for the homeless in Morristown, and boarding the New York City Relief Bus to feed the hungry in Paterson.

More info

Most Bible Readers Want Accurate Word-for-Word Translation

Most American Bible readers prefer word-for-word translations of the original Greek and Hebrew over thought-for-thought translations and value accuracy over readability. That is the finding of a new study by LifeWay Research. A total of 2,000 Bible readers participated in the study through a demographically representative online panel. To qualify, participants had to read the Bible in a typical month either by themselves or as part of a family activity and not merely in a corporate setting. When asked whether they prefer "word-for-word translations, where the original words are translated as exactly as possible" or "thought-for-thought translations, where the translators attempt to reproduce the intent of the original thought rather than translating the exact words," 61 percent chose word-for-word.

More info

TOOLS TO USE
Resources for Accelerating Evangelism

'A Heart for the Community' Examines Cityreaching Trends
A new book helps you minister in both urban and suburban contexts. A few years ago realities like Islam, gentrification, AIDS and multiculturalism were limited to the cities. Today, this affects both the urban and suburban landscape. Editors John Fuder and Noel Castellanos have gathered together a team of experts to develop the book A Heart for the Community, a rich resource designed to help you reach your community.
More info

Great Tool for Challenging Students in Their Faith
Research suggests that about 45% of students from high school youth ministries toss their faith aside when they go to college. The Fuller Youth Institute describes this kind of faith like a jacket: easy to take on or off given the situation, as opposed to a faith that becomes integrated into every part of a student's life. Far too often for college students, once faith is tossed on the floor, it is quickly shoved aside amid the competing priorities of college. The websitewww.stickyfaith.org offers a video and discussion questions to foster conversation about faith and the transition to college.
More info

VisionSynergy Announces New Website
VisionSynergy has updated its community website dedicated to empowering the leaders of missional networks and partnerships. VisionSynergy is committed to advancing collaboration in Christian ministry around the world.
More info

FROM THE CHAIRMAN

Dear MAC Partner,

Just a year ago, I had the privilege of joining with some 4,200 Christian leaders from 198 nations of the world for the Cape Town 2010 Congress on World Evangelization which took place in South Africa. It was an outstanding gathering that has so much potential for the mission of Jesus Christ around the world.

The purpose of the congress was to bring a fresh challenge to the global Church to bear witness to Jesus Christ and all His teaching - in every nation, in every sphere of society and in the realm of ideas. I believe that purpose has been fulfilled in many ways in many places in the world including ministries, churches, denominations and individuals.

The Mission America Coalition is a part of the International Lausanne Movement which sponsored Cape Town 2011. We serve as the U.S. Lausanne Committee. As we gathered for our annual gathering in April of this year, we continued the flow of the Cape Town congress as we focused on evangelization in the United States and beyond.

We continue to build on the contributions of Cape Town 2011. As I reflect on those contributions, I believe that one of the most significant is the document entitled The Cape Town Commitment. It is a call to action that all of us should prayerfully consider. You can download the document for your prayerful review by going to our website atwww.missionamerica.org. I pray that you will do it today.

Paul
Paul Cedar
Chairman

LET'S CONNECT

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NEWS AND TRENDS
for Ministry Decision Makers

Doubt Builds Faith
According to a 3-year longitudinal study of college kids and their faith by Fuller Seminary, the more students felt they had the opportunity to express their faith doubt while in high school, the higher levels of faith maturity and spiritual maturity they had in college. (Citizen Link 9/12/11)

One-Person One-Religion
Americans have drifted from clearly defined religious denominations to faiths fitting their personal preferences. America is a designer society. We want everything customized to our personal needs â€”clothing, food, education, and now religion, claims researcher George Barna. Barna laments, "People say, 'I believe in God. I believe the Bible is a good book. And then I believe whatever I want.'" A LifeWay Research study of Protestant pastors finds 62% predict the importance of being identified with a denomination will diminish over the next 10 years. Univ. of California Berkeley Sociologist Robert Bellah says, "You lose the capacity to make connections. Everyone is pretty much on their own." (USA Today 9/14/11)

Declining Denominational Brand Loyalty
LifeWay Research finds that, of more than 900 U.S. Protestant pastors polled, 76% personally consider it vitally important to be part of a denomination; however, 62% believe this will decline over the next decade. For example, in recent years church planters have avoided including a denominational affiliation in the church name in an effort to attract new believers. The higher the level of education attained by a pastor, the more they value denominational identification. Overall, the older a pastor, the higher they value denominational identification. (OneNewsNow 9/16/11)

Religious Decline
The percentages of Americans who know God exists (64%), say they've had a born-again experience (36%), and who pray several times a week (69%) have remained steady since the '80s. The percentages who read the Bible at least weekly (31%), watch religious TV (28%), feel extremely close to God (31%), consider themselves very or extremely religious (26%), or believe in heaven (86%) or hell (73%) have remained fairly static during the 17-year period measured, says Dr. Mark Chaves of Duke Univ. But, in 1957, 3% of Americans had no religious affiliation vs. 17% in '08. Weekly church attendance is closer to 25% than the 35%- 40% often reported. The percentages who never attend services rose from 13% in '90 to 22% in '08. The percentage who grew up with religiously active fathers fell from 70% for those born before 1900 to 45% for those born after '70. Since'80 the percentage who believe the Bible should be taken literally fell from 40% to 30%. The percentage who have a great deal of confidence in leaders of religious institutions has slipped from 35% in the '70s to 25% today.(American Religion: Contemporary Trends, Mark Chaves, Princeton Univ. Press 2011)

Pastors Concerned
82% of American Protestant pastors agree (55% strongly) with the statement, "I am concerned that the emerging generation of children, teens, and young adults is not embracing the Christian faith to the same degree as their parents." (Facts and Trends, Spring 2011)

Commitment
On the one hand, 81% of self-identified Christian adults say they've made a personal commitment to Christ that is still important in their life today. 78% strongly agree spirituality is very important to them. 22% of self-identified Christians claim to be "completely dependent upon God." These figures help explain why a 52% of self-identified Christian adults believe there is much more to the Christian life than what they have experienced. Without a full determination to live like Christ and for Him, the path to complete transformation is blocked.(Maximum Faith by George Barna, Metaformation/SGG/WHCP, 2011)

Free Speech in the Pulpit
A new survey by the Alliance Defense Fund and LifeWay Research has found 86% of U.S. Protestant pastors believe the government should not regulate their sermons. "Pastors and churches shouldn't live in fear of being punished or penalized by the government," said ADF Senior Legal Counsel Erik Stanley. "Keeping the gospel central to what is preached is not in conflict with addressing the subject of political candidates when warranted. These results show that the desire to keep the gospel central does not mean that pastors want the IRS to regulate their sermons under the threat of revoking their church's tax-exempt status. No government-recognized status can be conditioned upon the surrender of a constitutionally protected right." (Church Report 9/12/11)

Collegiate Faith Crises
Millions of college freshmen are overwhelmed trying to make new friends, adjusting to more rigorous schoolwork, and learning to live away from home. Whether they also find time for church during their first two weeks on campus will set the mold for the rest of their college years, writes George Barna in his latest book, Sticky Faith: Everyday Ideas to Build Lasting Faith in Your Kids. 61% of 20-somethings who regularly attended church as teenagers later left the pews. 40% of freshman had difficulty finding a church in college. Only 1 in 7 students surveyed said they were well-equipped for college, and less than 50% of seniors with doubts talked about them with others.(Pastor's Weekly Briefing 9/16/11)

Men & Faith
Church attendance among U.S. men declined from 42% to 36% between '91 and '11 claims George Barna in his book, Futurecast. At the same time, Sunday school attendance declined from 21% to 13% and volunteering at a church slipped from 24% to 18%. In addition, the proportion of men who believe the Bible is totally accurate in all of the principles it teaches fell from 43% to 33% and having personal responsibility to share their religious views with others dropped from 28% to 23%. Yet, regular Bible reading remained unchanged, (41% in '01 and 40% in '91). (Barna Update 8/1/11)

Focus on the Family
laid off 49 people on 9/16 due to revenues failing to meet budget expectations. The family ministry's staff is now 650, down from 1,400 just a few years ago. (Foster Network 9/11)

Combined Attendance
of 2011Outreach 100 Fastest-Growing Churches is 638,693. These churches added 97,168 people over their combined previous year's attendance, an average of more than 970 per church These 100 churches include 246 worship sites. (Outreach 100, 2011)

Educated More Religious
A new Univ. of Nebraska study challenges the notion that the more educated a person becomes, the less religious they become. Although education does influence Americans' religious beliefs and activities, the effects are more complex than conventional wisdom suggests. The study found higher levels of education eroded Americans' viewpoints that their specific religion is the "one true faith" and that the Bible is the literal Word of God. Education was also positively associated with belief in the afterlife. And while more highly educated Americans were somewhat less likely to definitely believe in God, it's because some of them believed in a higher power, not because they were particularly likely to not believe at all. Also disaffiliating, or dropping religion altogether, was not a popular option for highly educated Americans, in fact, having a greater level of education was associated most often with converting to mainline, non-evangelical Protestant denominations. (Church Report 8/11/11)

Homeschooling
A new Concordia Univ. and Mount Allison Univ. study finds structured homeschooling may offer opportunities for academic performance beyond those typically experienced in public schools. Though numerous studies have shown the benefits of homeschooling, this was one of the first "nonpartisan" studies to investigate home education vs. public schooling. Structured homeschoolers outperformed public school students from a half-grade advantage in math to 2.2 grade levels in reading. (LifeSite News 9/13/11)

Fathers Needed
Research at Montreal's Concordia Univ. shows fathers who actively engage in raising their children make important contributions to their children's cognitive abilities and behavioral functioning. Compared with other children with absentee dads, kids whose fathers were active parents in early and middle childhood had fewer behavior problems and higher intellectual abilities as they grew older, even among socio-economically at-risk families. Girls whose fathers were absent during their middle childhood had significantly higher levels of emotional problems at school than girls whose fathers were present. (LifeSite News 9/9/11)

Generation X Married Couples prefer monogamy to divorce, finds Univ. of Virginia's National Marriage Project. The number of divorces in the U.S. has been in decline since it peaked in '80. The decline is particularly true among highly educated couples, only 11% of whom divorce during their first 10 years of marriage vs. 37% of the rest of the population. Religious practice is an even better predictor than a college degree of happiness in marriage and low risk of divorce.(Baltimore Sun 8/1/11)

Marriage Marginalized
Brookings Institute scholars are concerned about the marked decline of marriage among those who have graduated from high school, but have no college degree. This cohort comprises 58% of the adult U.S. population. Although marriage is still highly regarded across U.S. social classes, in recent years, moderately educated Americans have become less likely to form stable, high-quality marriages, while college-educated Americans (30% of the adult population) have become more likely to do so. High school-only grads are markedly more likely than college grads to have 3 or more sex partners in a lifetime. Although many college grads cohabit before marriage (however, fewer than non-college grads) 94% marry before having their first child. Among high school-only grads, just 56% marry before their first child's birth. Divorce rates among college grads have fallen to 1970 levels in recent years, while rising slightly for high-school grads. (Pastor's Weekly Briefing 8/25/11)

Divorce Costs
On average a divorce costs a couple $2,500 on the front end. But the costs of government support for single-parent families, can cost taxpayers anywhere from $20-30,000/year. America has had 1 divorce for every 2 marriages for 36 years, says Michael McManus. Our divorce rate is triple that of Britain or France. After 5 years, 23% of Americans have divorced vs. 8% in Britain or France, and 10% in Canada. (LifeSite News 8/22/11)

Background Checks Work
More than 25,000 background checks conducted by churches or organizations on prospective workers in the past three years have turned up more than 1,600 felony offenses, with the number of organizations conducting background checks having risen 27% in the past year, according to LifeWay Christian Resources. (Baptist Press 9/12/11)

Prime of Life
During a recent study 350,000 Americans of all ages were asked what season of their lives produced the greatest amount of happiness. It was discovered that after age 50, not all but most people are happier, less anxious, less stressed, and have less hostile emotions. (My Next Book-Year7-Chapter 15, Bob Buford)

Want a Job, Get an Education
In March '11; the national unemployment rate was 12% for people with only a high-school diploma, 4.5% for college grads, and 2% for those with a professional degree. (Atlantic Magazine 9/11)

Downward Mobility
Nearly 1 in 3 Americans who grew up middle-class has slipped down the income ladder as an adult, finds a new Pew Charitable Trusts report. Downward mobility is most common among middle-class people who are divorced or separated from their spouses, did not attend college, scored poorly on standardized tests, or used hard drugs. Being married helps people avoid the worst economic outcomes. Education, particularly going to college, is another crucial factor in economic stability. African American men have a particularly hard time clinging to middle-class status.(Washington Post 9/6/11)

Don't Leave Home Without It
Based on a recent LSU Agricultural Center study. Nutritionist Dr. Beth Reames stated, "With breakfast, students think faster and clearer and have better recall. Breakfast eaters also score higher on tests and have better concentration and muscle coordination." Most studies show children who eat breakfast are more alert and perform better on school tests than children who do not eat breakfast. They are also more creative and energetic. (Christian Post 6/24/11)

Builder & Senior Generations
Among Builders (1927-1945) and Seniors (born prior to 1927), Sunday school attendance dropped by 8 points, from 28% in '91 to 20% in '11. Weekly Bible reading also declined by 8 points, from 54% to 46%. Unexpectedly, this group has had a 12-point increase in attending a church of 600 or more people. Their proportion of unchurched has climbed 8 points to 29% since '91. There has been a 10% increase in the number of Elders who have made a personal commitment to Jesus that is still important in their life today to 76%. Their percentage of Born Agains has risen by 11 points to 49%. 71%today vs. 80% in '91 believe God is the all-knowing, all-powerful creator of the universe who continues to rule today. (Futurecast by George Barna, Barna Books, 2011)

Web Surfing Helps Work
According to a new study, surfing the Web actually refreshes tired workers and increases their productivity, compared to other distractions like personal calls, texts or emails. "Browsing the Internet serves an important restorative function," a Nat'l Univ. of Singapore study. However, personal emailing was particularly distracting. When browsing the Internet, people usually choose to visit only the sites they like. "It's like going for a coffee break. It is pleasurable and rejuvenating," wrote Don J.Q. Chen and Vivien K.G Lim, study authors. (WSJ 8/22/11)

Multi-site Mergers
A recent Leadership Network survey of churches who had participated in a merger revealed that multi-site churches rated their experiences higher than churches that consolidated into one location. Multi-site churches also reported greater growth after a merger. (Advance 8/23/11)

Fast Facts:

25 million copies of the Bible are sold in the U.S. annually.
9 out of 10 homes in America have a Bible.
Only 16% of churchgoers read the Bible daily and 25% don't read it at all reports LifeWay Research.
Only 37% of regular church attenders say reading and studying the Bible has made a significant difference how they live their lives, finds a recent LifeWay Research study.
U.S. white adult weekly church attendance declined from 48% in '91 to 39% in '11.
U.S. white adult Sunday school attendance fell from 23% in '91to 14% in '11.
U.S. white adult Bible reading slid from 42% in '91 to 37% in '11.
Volunteering at a church dropped from 26% in '91 to 18% in '11.
The proportion of white adults who qualify as "unchurched" rose from 25% in '91 to 40% today.
U.S. white adults likely to have an orthodox view of God slipped from 72% in '91 to 66% inn '11.
U.S. white adults who believe the Bible is totally accurate in all of the principles it teaches fell from 43% in '91 to 36% today.
71% of all high school dropouts come from fatherless homes.
75% of all adolescent patients in chemical abuse centers come from fatherless homes.
59% of parents of children 17 or younger living at home say their child has a TV in their bedroom.
52% of parents of children 17 or younger living at home say their child has their own personal computer.
63% of teen suicides come from fatherless homes. That's 5 times the national average.
Europe's population was 6% Muslim in '10 and projects that Muslims will represent 8% of the population by '30.
It is estimated U.S. publishers sold 2.6 billion books in '10, including 114 million e-books.
Fatherless children are twice as likely to drop out of school.

News and Trends information compiled and edited by Gary Foster, President of Gary D Foster Consulting, a firm that assists Christian ministries and product companies in solving management, marketing, donor/customer service and product development problems. Contact Gary at: 419.238.4082, GFosterCns@rmi.net or go towww.GaryDFoster.com.

COLLABORATIVE CALENDAR

Cityreaching Conference Call - Nationwide
October 20, 10 a.m. CDT

National Prayer Conference Call for Evangelism - Nationwide
October 5, 12, 19, 26, Noon CDT
(641) 715-3300, passcode 416432#

National Prayer Conference Call for Evangelism Leaders - Nationwide October 28, 10 a.m. CDT
(712) 451-6000, passcode 268855#

CCDA National Conference-Innovate at Indianapolis 2011 - Indianapolis
October 12-16

CCDA National Student Leadership Intensive-Indianapolis
October 13-15

NACSW 2011 Convention - Pittsburg
October 20-23

International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church-Worldwide
November 13

National Youth Leaders Conference - Atlanta
November 18-20

Pacific Northwest City Impact Roundtable - Vancouver, Wash.
December 6-7

MAC National Leadership Consultation on Evangelism - Colorado Springs
October 15-17, 2012

Newsletter Archive | Free MAC membership | Lausanne Movement | Subscribe

If you would like to support the Mission America Coalition,
including initiatives like Loving Our Communities to Christ, donate online.

www.missionamerica.org | info@missionamerica.org
Mission America Coalition | P.O. Box 13930 | Palm Desert, CA 92255

Three Strategic Prayers for Our Spiritual Leaders (Part Two)

Posted by Daniel Henderson on October 11, 2011 at 15:30

Three Strategic Prayers for Our Spiritual Leaders (Part Two)

Daniel Henderson

Charles Spurgeon noted, “I know of no greater kindness than for my people to pray for me.” Every wise church leader seeks and cherishes the prayer support of his people. Yet, why do we pray? How should we pray? What should we pray about?

In Part One we began to unpack Paul’s appeal for the prayer support of the believers in Rome as we looked at Romans 15:30-33. Paul wrote,

Now I beg you, brethren, through the Lord Jesus Christ, and through the love of the Spirit, that you strive together with me in prayers to God for me, that I may be delivered from those in Judea who do not believe, and that my service for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints, that I may come to you with joy by the will of God, and may be refreshed together with you. Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen.

Why and How

We saw last week that we should pray for our spiritual leaders because they need it and ask for it. More significantly, we pray because we regard the name and honor of Christ and because we love the person and work of the Holy Spirit. The nature of our prayers is described by Paul as “agonizing” prayer. We strive with all of our energies, feeling the great weight of the spiritual burden of the Gospel’s cause and spiritual battle.

Three Specific Prayer Targets

Paul describes three specific needs that are pressing on him as he serves the Lord and travels in obedience to the call.

First he seeks prayer for protection from spiritual enemies. He asked the Romans to pray that he might be “delivered from those in Judea who do not believe.” In this context, Paul was journeying back to Jerusalem where his most violent opponents would come against him.

He was not concerned with survival but with the satisfaction of his mission. On one hand Paul said, “Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:20-21). On the other hand, when faced with inevitable threats on his life, he states, “Chains and tribulations await me. But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God” (Acts 20:23-24). Paul’s prayer request was rooted in a longing to effectively finish his task, not a fear of dying.

Today, Western believers do not feel so compelled to pray this way since our leaders are seldom threatened. Yet, I am reminded of a story told to me by a church member named Ted. While on a plane in California Ted sat next to a man who appeared to be praying and fasting during the flight. Ted eventually asked the gentleman about his evident devotion. Indeed, the man was praying and fasting – to Satan. Ted learned that this man had joined other Satanists in a commitment to fast and pray once a week for the downfall of the marriages of Christian leaders. Indeed, the battle is real, the attacks are subtle, and our prayers are vital.

Second, Paul asks the church to pray for the prosperity of his ministry efforts to the saints. He stated, “...that my service for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints.” In taking funds collected from the gentiles, he faced the possibility of rejection, suspicion, or division depending on the response of the Jewish believers in Jerusalem.

Still today, we need to pray for the soil of the hearts of God’s people to be receptive as the Word and work of the ministry is shared by our leaders. So many times the enemy fuels misunderstanding, confusion, and criticism, which undermine the fruit of Gospel ministry.

Third, Paul sought prayer for the provision of his personal needs by the believers in Rome. After a long, demanding journey Paul anticipated making it to Rome, by God’s will and with his joy intact, but needing personal refreshment from the saints there. Whether they speak openly about it or not, our leaders need the refreshment of encouraging words, thoughtful actions, and supportive expressions of kindness.

High-Impact Prayers

When we review Acts 21:17 – 28:31 we find the answers to these prayers. Paul’s gift to the believers in Jerusalem was accepted. In addition, the Jerusalem church rejoiced in the work of the Gospel and wanted to learn more about the spread of grace.

While in Jerusalem, the antagonistic Jews attacked Paul again, seeking to kill him. The Roman military, seeing their hatred and learning of their murderous plots, sent him to Caesarea (under the guard of 470 soldiers!) where Paul appeared before several Roman magistrates. Eventually, Paul sailed to Rome to appeal to Caesar. On the way, they experienced shipwreck and Paul was bitten by a viper – only to survive everything. Throughout it all, the Roman church was agonizing in prayer for Paul’s protection.

Paul was under house arrest in Rome so he did not make it to the 11:00 a.m. worship service to enjoy the refreshment of the believers there. However, it is apparent that believers were able to come to him and refresh his spirit. Most notable was a man named Onesiphorus, of whom Paul spoke in his final letter (2 Timothy 1:16-18).

As we see these amazing answers to prayer we must obey the call to pray for our leaders. God invites us to play a vital role in the advancement of His Gospel purposes as we intercede for pastors and missionaries.

The Peace that Comes Through Prayer

Paul’s appeal for prayer ends with this benediction: “Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen.” Prayer replaces worry. Prayer produces a Christ-alignment in our hearts that results in unity, trust, and spiritual health. For the sake of the Gospel, for the good of our leaders, and for the spiritual health of our own hearts – let’s resolve to pray for those whom God has appointed to shepherd our souls.

-----------------------------------------------

A full sermon on this subject is available at Strategic Renewal. Along with the DVD you will receive a group study guide and a special interview with Pastor Leith Anderson, President of the National Association of Evangelicals. Go to http://www.strategicrenewal.com/cddvd/your-most-strategic-investment-cd-dvd/

Three Strategic Prayers for Our Spiritual Leaders (Part One)

Posted by Daniel Henderson on October 11, 2011 at 15:28

Three Strategic Prayers for Our Spiritual Leaders (Part One)

Daniel Henderson

I am not much of a bowler but I know that it is virtually impossible to get a strike if the ball does not hit the head pin. Satan is a calculating and destructive enemy of God’s people. He knows how essential it is to eliminate pastoral leaders in order to decimate the church and thwart the work of the Gospel.

Yet, we can all make a powerful difference in opposing the attacks of the enemy. Samuel Chadwick wrote, “The one concern of the devil is to keep Christians from praying. He fears nothing from prayerless studies, prayerless work, and prayerless religion. He laughs at our toil, mocks at our wisdom, but trembles when we pray.” Oswald Chambers agreed: “The prayer of the feeblest saint who lives in the Spirit and keeps right with God is a terror to Satan.” When we pray for our leaders, we counteract Satan’s attacks and play a vital role in the advancement of Christ’s cause.

Paul’s Word on Why, How, and What

Paul understood this, which is why he often called on the churches to pray for him. In Romans 15:30-33, we find one of the less familiar but most powerful appeals for prayer. This passage offers vital guidance for us all as we intercede for our spiritual leaders.

As Paul wrote to the Romans (probably from Corinth), he reflected on his planned visit with them on his way to Spain. First, he was going to deliver a love gift to the persecuted believers in Jerusalem, which he had been collecting among the gentile churches. He knew his serious need for prayer support in these ministry endeavors so he appealed to the believers to pray for him.

Why We Pray for Spiritual Leaders

In Romans 15:30 Paul writes, “Now I beg you, brethren, through the Lord Jesus Christ, and through the love of the Spirit, that you strive together with me in prayers to God for me.” Most obvious, we see Paul’s basic encouragement to pray when he says, “I beg you.” The Greek, “parakaleo”, simply communicates Paul’s effort to come alongside these believers, urging them to pray. But there is something even deeper here.

Paul writes, “through the Lord Jesus Christ.” Certainly we pray, only because of the finished work and present intercession of Christ (Hebrews 7:25, 10:20-22). Most literally, Paul is urging us here to pray because of our regard for Christ. As the Amplified reads, “for the sake of our Lord Jesus.” Our prayer for pastors and missionaries must ultimately be motivated by our love and worship of Jesus Christ because it is His name, His cause, and His glory that are at stake. When we are Jesus-worshipers we will also be reliable, passionate intercessors for our leaders.

Third, Paul says that we should pray “through the love of the Spirit.” The most literal interpretation of this phrase speaks of our love FOR the person and work of the Holy Spirit. Prayer is a vital part of supernatural power and Gospel advancement. Because we love it when the Holy Spirit is working in extraordinary ways, we should commit our hearts to pray for our leaders. If we are dissatisfied with the level of spiritual power in the pulpit or ministries of the church, our love for the Holy Spirit compels us to pray for a greater manifestation of His presence and work.

How We Pray for Spiritual Leaders

Paul’s appeal for prayer intensifies as he continues with this urgent appeal: “Strive together with me in prayers to God for me” (v. 30). This is not a casual word about shallow, short, simple prayers. The Greek work here is sunagonidzomai, which communicates the idea of agonizing with another person in the midst of an intense struggle. Paul is asking them to join him in feeling the weight and warfare of all he is facing. This is a heart of real intercession. Yet, we are so often casual and complacent in our prayers for leaders.

The late David Wilkerson, a pastor and founder of Teen Challenge, spoke about our need for a greater sense of spiritual anguish in a powerful message (see “Anguish” by David Wilkerson on YouTube):

“Whatever happened to anguish in the house of God? Whatever happened to anguish in the ministry? It’s a word you don’t hear in this pampered age. Anguish means extreme pain and distress – the emotions so stirred that it becomes painful; acute, deeply-felt inner pain because of conditions about you, in you, or around you. Anguish...the sorrow and agony of God’s heart.”

He continues, “We’ve held on to our religious rhetoric and our revival talk, but we’ve become so passive. All true passion is birthed out of anguish. All true passion for Christ comes out of a baptism of anguish. You search the Scripture and you find that when God determined to recover a ruined situation He would share His own anguish for what God saw happening to His people. He would find a praying man and he would take that man and literally baptize him in anguish.”

This month, as we recommit to pray for and support our church leaders, let’s ask Christ for a fresh sense of intensity. He is worthy of our passionate intercession. Our love for His Spirit’s supernatural work compels us to pray. As we do so, we can feel the serious nature of the work of the Gospel and agonize in His presence as He shares His heart with us, for His glory.

(Part two will outline three specific prayer targets to pray for on behalf of every spiritual leader.)

-----------------------------------------------

A full sermon on this subject is available at Strategic Renewal. Along with the DVD, you will receive a group study guide and a special interview with Pastor Leith Anderson, President of the National Association of Evangelicals. Go to http://www.strategicrenewal.com/cddvd/your-most-strategic-investment-cd-dvd/

Prayer

Posted by Goah Samuel Gbadyu on October 10, 2011 at 20:30

We need your prayers than eve.r The nation of Liberia is going to elect her president tomorrow 11th October 2011, Please remember us in your prayers

Pastors Need Prayer EVERY Month ...

Posted by Reimagine Curator on October 9, 2011 at 17:22

Pastors Need Prayer On Clergy Appreciation Month

Ministry News

Focus on the Family named and began emphasizing Clergy Appreciation Month (CAM) in 1994, reminding congregations that it was biblical and proper to honor their pastoral staffs and pastoral families throughout the year, but suggesting that they set aside the month of October for a special tangible tribute.

Lee Grady has written an excellent column on Clergy Appreciation Month called "Your Pastor Is on the Firing Line—Please Pray!" which I urge you to read. Click here to read the column.

Click here to learn more about Clergy Appreciation Month or to download a free planning guide and resources for honoring pastors and their family in October.

Our Prayers are like Seeds

Posted by Lillian Penner on October 8, 2011 at 22:15

As we are in the autumn season, I was reminded of my childhood, growing up on a wheat farm in Oklahoma. In the summer after the wheat harvest, my father would prepare the soil for the next year’s harvest and in the autumn, he would sow the wheat seed. Throughout the winter months, we would wait for the rains to water the seed and wait for it to come up and watch it grow. In the spring, we would see the wheat heads form and ripen to a golden color for the harvest in early June.

We simply had faith that once the seed was in the ground, nature would take its course, and the golden heads of wheat would be ready to be harvested in the summer.

It reminds me of when we pray we are sowing seed, asking God in faith for what we desire. Once we have asked, things start happening behind the scenes, whether we are asleep or awake, God is at work, preparing an answer to our prayers. In God’s timing the answer will be evident and we will “reap” the results of our seed (prayer) sown.

However, we must have faith trusting God is at work even when it seems like nothing is happening while we are wait for the seed (prayers) to sprout, grow, and bring forth a harvest.

One little seed has a lot of potential, it seems so small, but under the right conditions, this one seed can grow into a plant that will yield a great harvest! Spiritual multiplication is the same. The seed (prayers) that we sow in the lives of our grandchildren will produce a harvest, even into the next generation, our great-grandchildren. The seeds of prayer that we plant today will yield a harvest of blessing in the future.

Questions: What are you asking God in faith for your grandchildren today?

Are you able to fully trust God with the prayers that you are sowing to bring forth a harvest in the lives of your grandchildren?

“And let us not grow weary while doing good,

for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart” (Galatians 6:9, NKJV).

“Prayer is one of the easiest subjects to talk upon, but one of the hardest to practice.”

−Henrietta Mears, What the Bible Is All About, p.598.

I would appreciate your comments about how you are sowing seeds in the lives of your grandchildren.

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