2011 Prayer Support for Mission V. 2; N. 08
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MISSION HIGHLIGHT
Aledo, The Summit A satellite site of St. Paul, Fort Worth, The Summit is reaching the Aledo community. To read more click, here. If you would like to help contact Vicar Pete Couser |
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Would you like to make a difference in the Mission? Become an m2c Missioanal Prayer Partner. Click here!
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Invocation
God our Father, when Your Son was tempted by the Tempter, He did not compromise His integrity, He did not take short-cuts to accomplish that which He was sent to accomplish. Give us the wisdom to move out in the integrity of Jesus as we have been called to build His kingdom, to Your glory. Amen.
Reading Luke 4:1-13; Psalm 2
Reflection
Jesus had not yet begun his public ministry when he was led by the Spirit to the desert to be tested. He ate and drank nothing and was hungry and weak. At His point of weakness, Satan began to test him. If he succeeded, he would have nullified Jesus' whole public ministry even before it began and subverted His mission to save the world.
Church planters and missionaries often face temptations, even as they are building God's Kingdom. The desire to look good in front of peers, partnering churches and the community all work to tempt church planters to take shortcuts and/or be less than truthful about their "success." Those individuals and congregations who support missions are also tempted to put their money only where they can claim immediate success.
Satan's tactic of placing doubt in the minds of the faithful continues even to this day. "If you are the Son of God" was stated to create a sense of anxiety and doubt in Jesus' mind about His true identity and mission. Missionaries and church planters face the same question, especially when the numbers don't look as good as they expect. "If you truly are called to this ministry" is a question that heightens fear and may cause some to use unbiblical means to accomplish their goals.
Because Jesus was tempted in his ministry, He knows how to strengthen us in ours. The writer of Hebrews says "because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted" - (Heb 2:18) and "For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are-yet was without sin." (Heb. 4:15.)
Like Jesus, we use the divine power of the spoken Word to ward off temptation when it comes to us. We shouldn't expect to be able to avoid it, because even Jesus was tempted. We do, however, have Jesus to fight for us in our battle against Satan and his temptations. We should pray for victory over temptation, in any form, for those who are on the front lines of mission work. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Eph. 6:12
Mark Junkans, Executive Director | LINC Houston
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.
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| Note: Those items that are in bold italic are newly added to or timely emphasis items for the prayer page |
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Pray that the members of the Texas District embrace the mission.
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Pray for Missionaries and their Families -----
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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. |
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For Rev. Larry Lieder, Holy Three-In-One Lutheran Church, Houston.
For Rev. Pedro and Erica Jofre, LINC Houston Centro de Alabanza, 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.
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Pray for New Missions -----
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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. |
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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
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For the development of mission in the northeast corner of Area A and Candelaria in the Southwest.
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.
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Pray for Continuing and Key Events -----
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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
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For Hope, Lubbock as they discern their next mission step
For the Circuit Four Convocation on March 5th, focusing on college ministries at the many campus' in West Texas.
For the Ten new church starts in Area B
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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 |
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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
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Pray for Congregations to grow in their discipleship response to the Gospel including their financial support for kingdom work. For Stewardship Resources click here.
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Message to Partners -----
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Even though these lists do not change with great frequency, do not be discouraged and do not conclude that things are not happening. There is active mission movement in the Texas District. Perseverance in prayer is one of the characteristics of this ministry, as I am sure you know.
I assure you that your prayers are being heard and that there is movement in the body of Christ. Thank you for your persistent prayer support.
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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 | Jon Braunersreuther
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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Blessings,
Rev. Steven Misch
Texas District LCMS
806-433-4536 |
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