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Lifting up the Movement of God's Mission
| Vol. 1; Num. 19
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Scripture for the Week
Click on the citation for the Scripture On Line.
Each Day Read
Psalm 130
Acts 10:23-48
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for missionaries and families,
thanksgivings,
for new missions,
for continuing missions,
for key events.
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Invocation
Father of all mercy, God of all grace, You have ordered this world and brought hope in life and in death because of Your Son, Jesus; strengthen us in all that we do that in the light of day and darkness of night we would call upon You that the Gospel would be proclaimed in everyday words and and routine deeds. Amen.
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Reflections
I know all about playing favorites. I have my favorite football team (the Dallas Cowboys of course), my favorite restaurant (Pappasitos Tex-Mex), and my favorite TV show (Pawn Stars.) I even have a favorite room in the house (the kitchen!) Playing favorites seems a natural thing to do...but not for God.
In Acts 10:34-35 we hear Peter exclaim, "I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism, but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right."
Without exception, God loves the beings He created, and finds it impossible to play favorites.
John 3:16 is one of the most quoted Bible verses of all time, but since we hear it so much, we can easily miss the fullness of its first few words. When we examine the first six words of John 3:16, "For God so loved the WORLD", we learn something huge. The Ruler of the heavens and the earth has a deep, unwavering love for the entire world - for every single human being ever created. It's not just "good" people that God fancies, or citizens of one specific, earthly nation that He dotes upon; it's every single human being that God is madly in love with...no exceptions...ever. It is exactly that deep, thirsting love for all people that led God to send His Son as Savior, and to boldly proclaim, "I desire NONE to perish, but rather all to come to a knowledge of the truth."
Did you notice what happens to Peter the very moment the immensity of God's love strikes him (verse 35)? He is immediately consumed with making sure that all people - Jews, Gentiles, and anyone in between - know the truth about the Savior Jesus. Peter breaks into an impromptu evangelistic sermon, pinpointing how ALL sinners find their needed forgiveness in the person and work of Jesus Christ. What a great model for all of us! Since we, like Peter, understand God's great love for ALL people, we too are led by God's Spirit to share the Good News of Jesus with the entire world. Don't be surprised if the Spirit gets you breaking into impromptu Gospel sermons of your own, especially among the friends and acquaintances you have built caring relationships with in your sphere of life.
As you and I go about our life this week, I bet we catch ourselves playing favorites. In those moments, may we immediately be reminded that our perfect God does not play favorites, but rather, yearns for every single sinner to know the love and forgiveness that has been poured out generously in the Savior Jesus. May God's zealous love set us ablaze to share Jesus with the entire world, one precious soul at a time.
Pastor Patrick Miller
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Missionaries and Families
Chase Jacobs and Anthony as they work through Water's Edge at TheStationDenton (UNT Denton).
Vicar E.B. Holschuh, Holy Cross,
Arlington as he works to plant a Russian speaking congregation, Crossroads
Russian Speaking Outreach
Vicar Travis Hartjen and the launch
team of Water's Edge, Allen as they have begun regular Boot Camp training
for launch team members.
Mr. Gian Din, Dallas, POBLO All Nations Lutheran Church
Rev. Michael Meissner and the people of
LifeBridgeChurch (LifeBridge is a daughter church of St. John, Cypress.)
Dr. Lou Jander, Bastrop, Prince of Peace Lutheran Church.
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Thanksgiving
Vicar Kevin Rose, assigned to Faith, Sweetwater
Thanksgiving for more than a dozen new missional workers in the Rio Grande Valley and for God's blessing on our first Missional Worker Training class!
Praise the Lord for an excellent Board of Mission Administration meeting and ministry event in Brownsville.
Thanksgiving for Rev. Jonathan Brandenburg's acceptance of the call from University Lutheran Church, Austin
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Intercession
New Missions
St. Paul, Plano as they seek Mission Planter Candidates for their new church plan planned for summer, 2010
New mission groups investigating formation in Marble Falls and in the Spring Branch areas.
Redeemer, Austin as they strategize a new childcare outreach ministry.
St. Paul, McAllen as they look at the possibility of a new start in Mission, Texas under the leadership of Mr. Andrew Perry (preparing to apply for the SMP program).
The ongoing search for a Director for LINC San Antonio and for LINC's first ministry initiative on May 15.
St. John, Cypress is seeking God's guidance in beginning their next mission, perhaps in the Fairfield area or ethnic ministry with LINC.
Area D and the Texas District as the new Area D MMF is being pursued.
Epiphany Lutheran Church, Pearland as they have begun worshiping at their new multi-site campus. Epiphany - West at Hightower High School, Missouri City
Zion, Walburg as they nurture a launch team/core group Liberty Hill for a potential church plant there.
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Continuing Efforts
Area A m2c development and the Mission Summit planning.
Area B m2c development and the possibility of five new church starts in 2010. There is a need for visionary workers for these starts.
For the bold living in lifestyle stewardship for members and congregations across the district so mission can be funded.
That God would lift up workers throughout Texas
Hope Lutheran, as they continue to build upon current mission efforts and explore new mission opportunities in Lubbock.
Coleman, Texas youth ministry as they reach teenagers in their community for Christ.
POBLO (People of the Book Lutheran Outreach) Texas as they pray, ponder and plan for expanded ministry in the Arlington area.
St. Paul, Ft. Worth/The Summit at Aledo, as a prayer team is currently involved in weekly prayer over their next Multi-Site Mission Location
Crown of Life Lutheran Church, Colleyville, as they await word on their application for a deferred vicar to lead their new church planting effort.
St. Peter in the Roanoke/Alliance area of North Fort Worth
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Key Events
God's blessing upon the planning and participants for the Area A Mission Summit to be held in August, 2010.
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Benediction
May God's grace in Jesus be yours this day and forever more. Amen. |
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m2c Prayer Partner Resource
This publication is made available for your encouragement in prayer ministry and prayer support for Mission 200 of the Texas District, LCMS. Reflections are authored by missionaries and leaders in the Texas District whose heart is to bring the Gospel to people who do not know Jesus Christ. 
If you have questions, comments, prayer requests for planting, or if you are looking for information concerning church planting in your community, you may email your Area Mission and Ministry Facilitator:
Steven Misch | Paul Krentz | Mike Newman | Area D
Mission 200 (M2C) is the
effort of Texas District Congregations to start 200 new Word and Sacrament
Ministries by 2017, the 500th anniversary of the Reformation.
The Texas District prays that a mission movement can grow in Texas.
For more information and resources for mission planting in Texas go the m2c website by clicking here.
For information about Missional Work Training in the Texas District, click here.
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Mission 200 Texas District LCMS
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