2011 m2c texas prayer initiative 2.08

2011 Prayer Support for Mission V. 2; N. 08

MISSION HIGHLIGHT

Buda, The Well

The Well lives for Jesus - working hard to love those around us, and defying the notion that anyone is beyond the life-changing love of Jesus.

Started by bi-vocational pastors, The Well is reaching many communities in the south Austin area. Missionaries: Rev. Paul Goeke and Rev. Ryan Neuhaus

To read more click, here.

Would you like to make a difference in the Mission? Become an m2c Missioanal Prayer Partner. Click here!

Invocation

God our Father, when Your Son entered this world, He was pointed out to many by a simple man who was certain of Your call in his life, namely John the Baptizer. Would that same clarity, humility, and single-mindedness be evident to all Your children, that they point their family, friends, and neighbors to the Messiah. Amen.

Reading Luke 3:1-38; Psalm 2

Reflection

This week's section of Scripture is so full of incredible insights, I found it just about impossible to write a clear and concise devotion. After looking and praying through the text a number of times, one specific section did jump out to me a bit more than any other. As John the Baptist comes on the scene and begins to zealously proclaim a message of repentance, people immediately wonder, "might this be the long awaited Messiah?" They had been waiting hundreds of years for a deliverer, and now with the appearance of this fire and brimstone prophet, some speculated that He might indeed be the promised one. Here's what I find interesting: Nowhere in this section of Scripture does it say that John did anything miraculous. No healings. No multiplying of food. No turning water into wine, or coolaid, or anything else. John did absolutely NO miracles, not even a 'small' one, but the people were still led to ask, "is this the Messiah?"

There might be a lot of big theological answers for why the people thought John might be the Messiah, but today I'd like to offer a simple suggestion. Perhaps the people were so accustom to the same ole casual talk about life, current issues, and the Law, they were forced to pause and take notice when a guy started talking about things with uncommon clarity and unshakable conviction. I really believe the same reality rings true today. When we, sinners rescued by a Savior, unapologetically talk about what the Savior means to us, and we do so with unwaving conviction and poignant precision, the world DOES pause and take notice. They may not agree with what we say, or latch on immediately to what we believe, but they will certainly take note of the fact that something is very different about us, and that the Spirit with which we speak is stranglely attractive. Make no mistake, the same Holy Spirit that made John's words of witness powerful and intriguing is the same Spirit that works just as powerfully in the Law/Gospel words we are led to share in our everyday conversations. So, never be ashamed to testify about the Savior's grace and truth, and as you do so, watch the Holy Spirit make your simple words of witness more transforming than you ever imagined possible. All glory to Jesus, our risen, reigning Savior. Amen.

Pastor Patrick Miller

Pray (As you pray include . . . people who don't know Christ; people who will plant & witness; people who pray. )

Benediction

Go in peace, certain in the knowledge of your calling in God's kingdom. Amen.

Note: Those items that are bold italic are newly added items to the prayer page

Pray that the members of the Texas District embrace the mission.

Pray for Missionaries and their Families -----

For the Preparation of new Church Planters who are ready to enter into this challenging and difficult ministry in Texas and throughout the nation

For the Center for Us Mission CPAC. Pray that men and their families are raised up for vital church planting in our church body.

For the unseen missional workers in neighborhoods and communities in Texas and around the world whose hearts would reveal Christ to the world.

For Mr. Nelson Hernandez, House Fellowship, Houston.

For Mr. Ino Malespin, LINC Houston Hispanic Ministry, Spring

For your own pastoral leadership

For church planter coaches and those being coached

For those preparing for the ministry, that they recognize the heart and desire of Christ in every ministry to which they are called.

Pray for New Missions -----

For the Holy Spirit to guide the formation of Abiding Word Lutheran Church in Gonzales, Texas

For Hope Lutheran, Marble Falls, planted in connection with Genesis, Buchanan Dam

For Grace Community Church (Pakistani / Indian)

Rev. Ed Benarsi and Pakistani worship at Our Savior, Austin on Sunday evenings. Pray for effective outreach and God's blessings on this new beginning.

For Mission Marble Falls as it launches worship.

For Redeemer, Austin to strategize and implement childcare outreach.

For St. Paul, McAllen as they investigate a new start with SMP Vicar Mr. Andrew Perry

For St. Peter, Roanoke as it becomes a Texas Dist Church Planting Training Partner

For Mission Liberty Hill

For the development of mission in the northeast corner of Area A and Candelaria

For St. John Cypress as they look for their next mission start.

For Epiphany, Pearland as they continue to develop their multi-site ministry.

Thanksgiving for God's movement in and through the Ethiopian Evangelical Church Makane Yesus.

(EECMY has 319,955 volunteer evangelists and has grown from 20k to 5.5mil in 50 years.)

Pray for Continuing and Key Events -----

For congregations to make bringing Christ to communities their top priority

For strong fellowship development among like minded witnesses

For Missional Worker Training in Area C

For Hope, Lubbock as they discern their next mission step

For the Circuit Four Convocation in March, focusing on college ministries at the many campus' in West Texas.

For the Ten new church starts in Area B

For POBLO and a new Ethnic Mission Plant in partnership with Our Savior, Rockwall.

St Paul, Ft Worth / The Summit at Aledo as they search for direction concerning their next Multi-Site Mission location.

For continued support for LINC

For workers as they gather together that the Mission of God be foremost in their discussions and that such resides in the hearts and mind's of each participant.

For 10% of the Baptized members of TxDistLCMS to pray for mission

For the search for Director for LINC San Antonio

Pray for Congregations to grow in their discipleship response to the Gospel including their financial support for kingdom work. For Stewardship Resources click here.

Message to Partners -----

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Special Message to m2c Prayer Partners

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Please invite others in your congregation to become an m2c prayer partner. There is a long way to go to register 10% of the baptized membership of the Texas District, LCMS in the m2c Missional Prayer Initiative. New prayer supporters can subscribe to this page by clicking here.

A link you may be interested in is the 2010 author reflection blog. Click here.

Again, thanks for your prayers. They are vital to the health and movement of the God's people. Of course God's kingdom comes on its own but in these petitions we pray that they come also to the heart of every man, woman, and child with whom we have contact.

To read more about the Texas District Prayer Initiative click here.

Blessings,

Rev. Steven Misch
Texas District LCMS
806-433-4536