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2011 Prayer Support for Mission V. 2; N. 31
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MISSION HIGHLIGHT
Water of Life Lutheran Begun in 2002, Forney Lutheran Outreach was supported by area Lutheran Churches. In 2005 regular worship and Sunday School began. On Oct. 29, 2006, Water of Life chartered in the Texas District. Website |
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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!
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Invocation
O Lord God Almighty, in the heavenly counsel, You determined to seek the lost, and to do so first by sending Your Son to die and to be raised again, to live the life that we cannot live and to offer that to You as though it is ours. Give to us the courage to follow as You lead, where ever that would take us, for You live and reign, now and forever. Amen.
Reading Luke 9:51-62; Psalm 121
Reflection
I want to follow Jesus but...This story from Luke's Gospel is filled with 4 reasons why those whom Jesus loved and called did not follow Him. Jesus sent messengers into a Samaritan village to do some staging for Jesus' arrival, BUT they didn't want Him there because He was going to Jerusalem for Passover and His own crucifixion. Jesus flat out worshiped in the wrong place. Any Samaritan could tell you that the "right" place to worship was on Mt. Gerizim - not Jerusalem so they declined to follow.
Another man easily said "I'll follow you Jesus." His "but" was an implied one. Jesus knew that the man had not counted the cost and reminded him that those who follow Him will likely not even have a place to lay down their head at night. It's the last we hear of the man. Face-to-face Jesus invited another man but the man did not want to follow until he had buried his father (who was not actually dead yet and in fact might live for a long time to come). In other words, "I would like to follow you Jesus but I've got family business including a will to probate out to take care of." One more man offers to follow Jesus but just not now because he wants to go back and be with family. It seems an innocent request but Jesus' reply reveals a deeper issue - his heart is focused backwards on the past. His heart and is loyalties are divided.
Some of the people Jesus met in this story likely actually believed in Jesus. They claimed that they wanted to follow Jesus - but just now - or just not yet - or just not with that level of sacrifice.
The truth is that none of us can follow Jesus of our own volition. Verse 51 sets the stage for the kind of followers and disciples who will carry the Gospel. I love the way the KJV expresses it.
Luke 9:51 "And it came to pass, when the time was come that he should be received up, he steadfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem"
Because Jesus set His face and was not deterred from His mission of suffering and dying on our behalf, we are forgiven sinners who by the power of the Holy Spirit can follow Jesus. No "ifs, ands or buts" about it! We daily receive the same clarion call of Jesus: "Follow Me" into His mission field, loving those far from God and inviting them to be part of the Christ life!
By Paul Krentz
MMF Area B, Texas District, LCMS
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
"Peace be unto you . . . again, Peace be unto you; as the Father has sent me, even so send I you." AMEN.
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| Note: Those items that are in bold italic are newly added to or timely emphasis items |
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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.
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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.
For Vicars and Call Candidates as the Lord prepares them and their families for work in God's Kingdom. |
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For Rev. Merkru Bekele, Emmanuel Ethiopian Church, Dallas, TX.
For Mr. Emeka Agwu, LINC Houston Voice of Evangelism International, Houston, TX.
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.
For New Workers in the District
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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
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 St. John Cypress as they look for their next mission start. |
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The development of the "Uvalde Great Commission Outreach," in Uvalde.
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 WOBLO TX as they begin the adventure of bringing God's kingdom into darkness.
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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 Mission Liberty Hill
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Pray for Continuing and Key Events -----
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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
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For Ramiro Guierrez and his family in the New Hope ministry. That leaders would be raised up for the surrounding community.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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
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For LINC NT work in Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD and for protection of the children during summer vacation, especially from drugs and pregnancy.
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Thanksgiving for a very successful Gala. Thanksgiving for the development at New Hope.
For the Ten new church starts in Area B
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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
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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.
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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. 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.
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Message to Partners -----
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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.
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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 Worker 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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