Community/World » Prayer Requests

Craig and Mary-Anne continue to face danger as

lwalker — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 18:56:31 +0000

Craig and Mary-Anne continue to face danger as they endeavor to spread the Good News to those who are lost and hurting. They had been praying and hoped that the shooting was over, but as they were preparing to receive Brother Michael tomorrow and introduce him to their ministries, a firefight erupted on the road they use yesterday. There was another shoot out today on the road much closer to their home and those areas they had believed to be largely safe. They are asking for your urgent prayers. Shooting and ambushes are becoming more prevalent and closer to their home. If they are going to make a difference for Jesus they need prayers at this difficult hour. Please pray for their effectiveness and safety. Ask everyone you know to pray about this, only God knows what will happen. As we pray, ask that our Lord ”Spread His protection over them, that those who love Your name may rejoice in You. For surely, O Lord, You bless the righteous; You surround them with Your favor as with a shield.” (Psalm 5)

Love in Jesus,

Craig, Mary-Anne, Patrick and Cili

servants

Dave and Mia have been in their present country for about 3 months and it has been a struggle

lwalker — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 00:17:36 +0000

Here is an update and a prayer request from Dave and Mia. Please take this to heart and lift up this young couple and all those involved in their ministry teams. They have come to our heavenly Father and asked that He be their “safe leader” as is set forth in Psalm 31. This Psalm also describes God as a “Rock of Refuge”, and a “Strong Fortress” (verse 2). May they fully know that this is true and even now may “His face shine on them” and may He show them His “unfailing love” (verse 16). Dave and Mia have been back in their present country for about 3 months and it has been quite a struggle. Spiritually, emotionally, and organizationally. Team dynamics are very vulnerable and team leadership is up in the air. Dave and Mia are fasting this week to get guidance from God to see if this is the place He wants them right now. They feel really vulnerable with no leader to protect them, but still trust and know that God is their safe leader as it says in Ps 31. They remain so grateful to God that they had such a refreshing during the last two years in America and now after their first day of fasting they believe they need this time to gain the trust of others. The spiritual, emotional, physical and organizational dynamics of the country are far harder than what they had grown used to and, thus, their request for prayer support. So let us join them in asking God to really speak to all of their team at this time.

On Sunday, February 14, Jim Overton drove eight hours from Chisinau

lwalker — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 20:02:04 +0000

On Sunday, February 14, Jim Overton drove eight hours from Chisinau to Kiev Ukraine. For the next 5 days, he and three other co-workers will be teaching an intensive seminar on missions. May they “proclaim the Gospel boldly, being wise in the way they act toward outsiders and making the most of every opportunity” (Col.4:4).

Please remember these prayer requests, as well, for him, his family and their ministry:

· Teachers’ effectiveness

· Students’ receptivity

· That the material will be taken and used in other parts of Ukraine and Russia

· Stamina and wisdom to care for the kids while Jim’s away.

Please pray for Salim as he travels to the United States as the Director of Musalaha

lwalker — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 19:44:58 +0000

This is a ministry of Reconciliation and works with Israelis and Palestinians, helping them to engage one another, develop personal relationships with each other and, thus reduce prejudice and ultimately conflict and violence. With the help of the Lord they are seeking to change hearts. There can be a lot of discouragement as this is a long and difficult process. So, as you pray for them, thank Him that “He has given them a heart to know Him, that He is the Lord” (Jeremiah 24: 7) and may that heart be given by the Living Lord to all those who will hear Salim and the others speak. Thank you and God Bless you… In Him, Lisa

Prayer Requests:

Please pray for Salim as he travels to the United States and to Canada, speaking at Mt. Vernon Nazarene University and in Canada at Prairie Bible Institute. He will also share with a number of churches in North Carolina and at Duke University. He will be traveling, February 13-22, and with such severe weather there is a threat that many airports may be closed. With his schedule so tightly organized, delays would be very problematic. Also pray that God will speak through him into the hearts of the people that attend.

The new Woman’s Group has a follow up meeting this weekend, where they will discuss the topic of identity. Please pray for Louise, the head of the Women’s Department, as she is preparing for it, and that the women will continue to grow closer to God and closer to each other, and come to see each other as sisters in the Messiah.

Shadia, the Galilee Youth Co-coordinator, is busy preparing for the first Youth Leadership Training in the Galilee which will take place at the end of February. Please keep her in your prayers as she handles the whole project, from recruiting and planning to the logistics.

The Publications Department has also been busy working on a number of writing projects. They are making real progress with the second edition of The Bible and the Land, and are also nearly finished with a book of different narratives about past Musalaha participants by Jonathan McRay. This is a very exciting project that they hope to publish soon. Please pray for both of these projects, that they will have the strength to finish them and that they will be able to find a publisher for both of them.

Major Shootout while Craig McCord was preaching – Please Pray!

lwalker — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 23:44:17 +0000

Major Shootout while Craig McCord was preaching – Please Pray!

Prayer is needed. Even as this request was sent Helicopters were flying over!

The McCord Family made their journey into the interior of the Phillipines and arrived on Friday evening. On Saturday Jan.30, 2010 they were horrified to see soldiers, dropped from helicopters near their location. In addition to the other soldiers there were 28 heavily armed Filipino Army soldiers walking literally, right through their front yard (Brother Tolino’s house). There were young soldiers with M-16 A2’s, CAR-15’s, and M-14’s as well as grenade launchers, etc. Craig was very nervous because he had heard that there had been two big gunfights recently. Although the NPA is the theoretical enemy, stories were circulating of soldiers randomly taking hikers into custody on exactly the roads where they share the Gospel.

Sunday Jan. 31^st 2010- Craig met with the elders before their church service, when a very large volume of shooting began., which was very close, less than a mile away and it continued for 40 minutes. Few people arrived at the service because of the very loud report of the weapons. Craig was prepared to preach on a particular topic but changed it to discuss “Prayer, the God of Peace and the Peace of God,” as revealed in Phil.4:4-10. The elders urged him to leave, but he went on with the service preaching on God’s peace, even as the rattle of gunfire and explosions continued. By the end of the service they could see soldiers carrying another soldier either dead or wounded across from the church.

Please pray for them in their new church and the people who live there who cannot simply leave the area when the shooting starts. Pray for the light of Jesus to pierce the darkness here and that His peace will reign there. There are so many barriers resulting from the demonic past. The land, and rice fields, the children the houses, have all been dedicated to demons in the past. All the rituals and sacrifices so faithfully observed for centuries has placed a satanic lock on this area and it will require significant prayer to break these strongholds. With bullets flying all over the trails they hike to minister to the villages, they have another very serious consideration to pray about. They are praying that God will give them a spirit of boldness (not recklessness) to preach the Gospel and encourage the churches. Please pray with the McCords and share this. They have NOT changed any of our plans to go to the remote places at this time. Ask that they “wait in hope upon the Lord; that He be their help and shield; that their hearts rejoice in Him, for they trust in His holy name. (Psalm 33: 20 & 21)!

Updates from the mission field in Austria from the Carters.

lwalker — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 23:45:47 +0000

The Carters in Austria send us greetings, in the name of our Lord & Savior! They are heading to Mittersill & then Zell am for 9 days.

Warren shares that the 1^st semester of the NT Survey course was wrapped up with the final projects due by the end of February. The students were very attentive, and it is hoped that the material will bless them in the years ahead

Leanne’s European leadership team meeting for Hope for Wounded took her to Salzburg for 2 days and was very productive. They even heard 2 great testimonies in church – 1 woman was completely freed up to witness for the Lord in her work place!!!

There was a discipleship group in Bratislava last week.

And Warren spoke and led prayer for a local church in Vienna that was in the midst of a 10-day prayer and fasting period for the ministry in the coming year. Here he asks us to continue to pray that they will follow the Lord’s leading in evangelism, street work with prostitutes, and overseas ministry to the needy.

In addition, at their monthly meeting for ChristNet, they decided to send $700 to an orphanage & girls school in Haiti that were all but destroyed

Their greetings are concluded with Psalm 143 8 & 10 – “Remind me each morning of your love, for I put my trust in You. My prayers go up to you; show me the way I should go. You are my God; teach me to do Your will. Be good to me and guide me on a safe path.”

Let us pray for this couple today as they serve our Lord in Austria and… take a moment to pray for all our missionaries, even as is set forth in Psalm 143. The reminder of God’s love; a trust in Him that is steadfast; and prayers for Him to truly reveal the way to go, to do His will, pour out His goodness and to guide upon a safe path.

Dave and Mia report from the mission

lwalker — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 19:01:28 +0000

Dave and Mia report from the mission field and share some of what they have recently encountered as they settle into their new home.

“I want to be free… “I feel like I am in a prison! I want out! I know you can help me.” said a man they met with this last week. He has been reading the Bible and came to them weeping asking how God can save him. God is changing lives all around the world, even in the farthest corners of the earth. Indeed, we read in Acts 1 how basically the last words of our Lord to His apostles were those that said He would be sending them to the ends of the earth to be His witnesses. Truly… we are seeing this now in ways that those early apostles could never have imagined. So now thank you for your prayers and here are some specific needs over which you can pray:

Prayer

New friends
Wisely communicate Truth
Mia starts art classes in a few weeks
Mia’s studies
Dave’s work with our NGO

Dave and Mia will soon be in their new home

lwalker — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 16:10:49 +0000

Dave and Mia are so amazed with God’s faithfulness in our lives. Over the past few months they have been so blessed by YOU! Your prayers have carried them through and your encouragement has given them hope to keep on going! They recently arrived in Kabul, Afghanistan. They are amazed at how God allows them, as well as all of you who are praying, to be part of His Dreams and they are believing for a new season! They are connecting with some local believers and doing 2 days of teaching/training before dunking the new believers in water. Your prayers are changing people’s lives! They are having strategy meetings with their Non-Profit this week and on Dec 15, will travel to their new home. They continue to truly need our prayers. So, here is a Scripture from Psalm 73: 28 - “But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge and put my trust in Him; I will declare all Your deeds” Pray that as these two fellow servants proclaim and declare His deeds by their words and their own deeds, may the Sovereign Lord be their strong and steadfast refuge. God Bless….. Thank you.

McCord family faces heartbreak as they serve in the Philippines

lwalker — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 16:05:10 +0000

This is from the McCords. It clearly shows the burden that this family has begun to carry as they begin their time in the Philippines. They are in a spiritual battle there and need our prayers. With that in mind, I am setting forth Nehemiah 1: 6 “O Lord, let Your ear be attentive and Your eyes open to her the prayer of Your servant”. Indeed, I am most certain that these missionaries and all the other believers that are going through this, are seeking the Lord, as are we. May He hear and answer their heartfelt prayers and petitions.

They have had a heartbreaking evening recently, as little Roselyn’s mom has passed away. You can learn more about Roselyn at http://www.PhilippineChildren.org/sponsor-a-child.html. They received an urgent request to come and help Roselyn’s mother who was feeling fine Monday, but fell into a coma with a high fever on Tuesday. They drove over an hour to a remote barangay. When they arrived all the family members were gathered apparently waiting for Felicidad the mother of our own little Roselyn, to die. Since no one would take responsibility and do anything for Roselyn’s mom, they asked her family to carry her in a blanket to the van while Craig said a prayer.   Pastor Gene drove brilliantly as we all prayed, but by the time we got to the hospital she had already passed away right there in the van. Little Roselyn has had a hard life before she got to the Orphans Home. The level of poverty that her family lives in is incomprehensible to westerners.   Even the bamboo shack they live in is not their own. When their food would run out, they often have to go house to house to beg for scraps. No person created in the image of God should have to live like that. Anyway, her little heart is broken and she has wept long and hard tonight for her mother, please be in prayer for her. Roselyn is only eleven and her deceased mother was only 31. I am sorry to say that Felicidad was not a believer and her relatives had just brought over a demonic albulario (spiritist healer) before we arrived. Sadly, last week, Felicidad’s family took her to the emergency room, but because they had no money they were turned away. This dear woman could probably have been saved if there was a way for the desperately poor to get medical help. Now these incredibly poor people are being asked to pay P17,000. pesos (about $350.) for a memorial service. I was already surprised to receive a bill from the hospital even though she was already dead when we arrived (almost $40. USD). Apparently there is a fee to be pronounced dead.
It just tears Craig up to see these precious little girls that they all have worked so hard to build a home for, heartbroken and in tears. It is a reminder that poverty, sickness, hard heartedness and death are still here and serious about destroying what God has given us to protect. Felicidad is not the first person Craig has watched dying. May he never lose the ache of death, may he never just accept it, may he never forget the sting and may he never sit quietly when someone needs to hear the Gospel, because the Gospel of Jesus is the only way past that heartbreak of physical death that ends in victory. In closing, please keep little Roselyn and her family in prayerat http://www.PhilippineChildren.org/sponsor-a-child.html. They received an urgent request to come and help Roselyn’s mother who was feeling fine Monday, but fell into a coma with a high fever on Tuesday. They drove over an hour to a remote barangay. When they arrived all the family members were gathered apparently waiting for Felicidad the mother of our own little Roselyn, to die. Since no one would take responsibility and do anything for Roselyn’s mom, they asked her family to carry her in a blanket to the van while Craig said a prayer.   Pastor Gene drove brilliantly as we all prayed, but by the time we got to the hospital she had already passed away right there in the van. Little Roselyn has had a hard life before she got to the Orphans Home. The level of poverty that her family lives in is incomprehensible to westerners.   Even the bamboo shack they live in is not their own. When their food would run out, they often have to go house to house to beg for scraps. No person created in the image of God should have to live like that. Anyway, her little heart is broken and she has wept long and hard tonight for her mother, please be in prayer for her. Roselyn is only eleven and her deceased mother was only 31. I am sorry to say that Felicidad was not a believer and her relatives had just brought over a demonic albulario (spiritist healer) before we arrived. Sadly, last week, Felicidad’s family took her to the emergency room, but because they had no money they were turned away. This dear woman could probably have been saved if there was a way for the desperately poor to get medical help. Now these incredibly poor people are being asked to pay P17,000. pesos (about $350.) for a memorial service. I was already surprised to receive a bill from the hospital even though she was already dead when we arrived (almost $40. USD). Apparently there is a fee to be pronounced dead.
It just tears Craig up to see these precious little girls that they all have worked so hard to build a home for, heartbroken and in tears. It is a reminder that poverty, sickness, hard heartedness and death are still here and serious about destroying what God has given us to protect. Felicidad is not the first person Craig has watched dying. May he never lose the ache of death, may he never just accept it, may he never forget the sting and may he never sit quietly when someone needs to hear the Gospel, because the Gospel of Jesus is the only way past that heartbreak of physical death that ends in victory. In closing, please keep little Roselyn and her family in prayer

Calvary members headed to Grace Children’s Home and Bella Vista in Ensenada

lwalker — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 19:17:55 +0000

We have a group from Calvary headed down to Mexico. The group is going to Grace Children’s Home and Bella Vista Ensenada and are departing Friday morning at 9am and should return Sunday at 9pm, December 11-13. There is a Christmas Party at Grace at 5 pm on Friday, another Shoebox Christmas party for the kids in Ensenada on Saturday at 1:30, a women’s gathering at 5pm on Saturday, and the church service at 11 on Sunday. They seek our prayer intercession for their trip. If you could take some time to do so, please know that the Lord is delighted with those who are serving Him and using their own gifts and talents for His kingdom. As you pray, you might want to use the following scripture: Romans 12 “May they not be lacking in their zeal, but may they faithfully serve the Lord with hearts full of devotion. And may their hope truly keep them joyful”. Ask for travel safety, health, protection and a true blessing upon each one, as the Holy Spirit works to reveal Jesus. So.. thanks and may your hope keep you joyful, as well.