2011 m2c texas prayer initiative 2.27

2011 Prayer Support for Mission V. 2; N. 27

MISSION HIGHLIGHT

Fishers of Men

Hispanic Mission

2005 Port Isabel: Fishers of Men Hispanic Mission continues to grow and develop in reaching the Port Isabel area. New ministry locations are being explored under the leadership of Rev. Ed Weber.

Do you know people who would like to make a difference in the world?

Invite them to become an m2c Missional Prayer Partner. Forward them this link. click here!

Invocation

O Father, settle my heart and mind this day as I prepare once more to sit at Your feet in the Word and in prayer. Grant to me ears to listen to You, eyes to see You, hands to serve people in the name of Him who is, was, and is to come; Jesus. Amen.

Reading Luke 9:12-22; Psalm 138

Reflection

All Sinners are Welcome to eat from Jesus Hands"

Did you know that the feeding of the 5,000 is the only story-besides the Resurrection-that is reported in all four Gospels? So there must be something more to this miracle that just earthly food.

Where I came from (Morocco/ North Africa) and as it is still the tradition in the Middle East where Jesus came from, hospitality is a way of Life. People there may still not understand the full meaning of hospitality, but Jesus did and still does and that's what matter the most in this story. It's his own food given by his own hands to hungry sinners of whom we are the worst. He is the Lord of the Harvest indeed. This story of the feeding of the five Thousand reminds me of what is happening in our communities today. For example, there are 10 thousand hungry refugees from the middle who live right across from our Redeemer Lutheran Church here in Dallas. The only thing that separates us from them is a highway-75. So what are they doing here? They are spiritually hungry and starving to eat Jesus food. But Jesus is not here today so as the Father has sent him to feed us, he is sending us to them to feed them. "For the Bread of life is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world" John 6:33

"The God who made the world and everything in it ... He made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth, and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live." Acts 17:24-26

Again, why did God do this? " God did this so that (not only the 5 thousand in the middle east or the 10 thousand in Dallas, but that ALL men would seek him and perhaps reach out for and find him, though he is not too far from each one of us. For in him we live and move and have our being" Acts 17; 27-28.

Jesus always has sufficient supply for us to help those he sends us to in the first place. When we don't have enough to feed the hungry, Jesus becomes the supernatural manna from heaven for all to eat and have their fill in him. The multitudes were all welcomed at Jesus table and ate out of his own hands. He welcomed them because he loved them so much that he died on the Cross to give them his own body and blood for the forgiveness of their sins. Oh what a blessed and eternal receipt from heaven Jesus gives to all sinners "I am the bread of life, he who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty"

Jesus is the true receipt of life,

Rev. Karim Baidaoui, POBLOTX

Pray (As you pray include . . . people who don't know Christ; people who will plant & witness; include people who pray. In addition, pray that the land be quenched with rain and that opportunities to bring God's love to individuals and communities impacted by the wildfires not be missed by God's servants.)

Benediction

By His grace and mercy, you have been in His resting presence today. AMEN .

Note: Those items that are in bold italic are newly added to or timely emphasis items

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

Lord, As fears grow concerning local, state, and world events, make Your presence known, through Your church and through Your people in such a way that Your hand of grace would be seen calming hearts and minds ultimately drawing all people to Yourself. Amen.

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 Vicars and Call Candidates as the Lord prepares them and their families for work in God's Kingdom.

For Rev. Lucian Vega-Ayala, LINC Houston Director de Instituto Biblico & Centro de Fe y Espeanza.

For Ms. Colleen Hidebrandt, LINC North Texas SALI Director.

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

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.

For WOBLO TX as they begin the adventure of bringing God's kingdom into darkness.

For Mission Marble Falls.

For Redeemer, Austin to 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 St. John Cypress as they look for their next mission start.

For Steve Sandfort, Mission Planting Vicar at Crown of Life, Colleyville and the launch team for Edge Community Lutheran, NW Tarrant County.

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

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

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

Pray for Continuing and Key Events -----

The FiveTwo network across the world

For congregations to make bringing Christ to communities their top priority

For strong fellowship development among like minded witnesses

For Ramiro Guierrez and his family in the New Hope ministry. That leaders would be raised up for the surrounding community.

For Beto and a Church Plant that God would guide to the start of prayer groups and Bible Studies in the communtiy and for the I-360 visa application. Beto's current visa expires on July 27th.

For congregations in Area A as they look to develop missional hearts.

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

For Parent Ministry in the Spanish-Speaking Church Plant in Carrollton, Farmers Branch, to break through the apathy to grow, and that parents and children grow in their relationship.

For ongoing connections with AVID teachers: Becky, Teal, Liz, Lindsey, Christina, Camille, Richard, and Cindy.

For a new intern to help run SALI in the 2011-2012 school year.

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

For the search for Director for LINC San Antonio

For Missional Worker Training in Area C

For LINC NT work in Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD and for protection of the children during summer vacation, especially from drugs and pregnancy.

Thanksgiving for a very successful Gala. Thanksgiving for the development at New Hope.

For the Ten new church starts in Area B

Circuit Seven and Wichita Fall Mission Initiatives. That mission culture be developed.

For High Plains Mission Network development.

For preparation and planning of the 2011 Professional Church Workers Conference to be held in Klein, TX October 16-18. that the Mission of God be foremost in the heart and mind of presenter and participant alike.

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

For SALI as they move out into other school districts as well as for the new Early College High School Parent Nights at Brookhaven College.

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

Pray for the U.S. Budget Process for 2012 and for the strengthening of our economy in the US and around the world for the continued resourcing of the Mission.

Message to Partners -----

Even though changes on these lists may be subtle and infrequent, do not be discouraged in your prayers 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 are greatly needed. There is movement in the body of Christ in Texas and around the world. Thank you for your persistent prayer support.

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 Worker Training in the Texas District, click here.

Blessings,

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