2011 m2c texas prayer initiative 2.35

2011 Prayer Support for Mission V. 2; N. 35

MISSION HIGHLIGHT

East African Fellowship

2004 LINC Houston. This ministry is merged with Memorial Lutheran Church, Houston and continues to reach African Immigrants in the Houston Area.

Website

Click here for additional Texas District Mission sites

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

Father, You who would listen to me more than I would talk to You, forgive me. Focus my heart to speak to You of those things that cause You joy and delight and for whom Your Son was sent to live and to die and be raised again. My desire is to make true prayer a priority in my life to Your glory, and to the benefit of Your kingdom. In Jesus name. Amen.

Reading Luke 11:1-13; Psalm 96

Reflection

"Lord, teach us to pray!"

That statement opened the door for a prayer that has been around since Jesus' walked on the earth. It is a prayer that often follows the words, "These and all other petitions we offer to You in the prayer which You taught us."

Most of us know the experience of prayer. We may remember prayers taught to us in childhood. Prayers offered in our church communities may have meaning for us. Many of us can recall a time of pain, agony or despair when a prayer was pulled out of us with surprising strength: "Oh God, help me, help me!" or "Why, God, why?"

Often we remember times of great wonder during which we felt God's presence. A sunset, a piece of music, or a baby's smile helps us remember that God speaks to us in many ways if we are open and willing to see and to listen. When our hearts are touched by the wonder of God we often respond with words of gratitude or praise or simply an inner smile of joy.

How were you introduced to prayer? I was taught "Now I lay me down to sleep..." and the "Lord's Prayer." I do not remember learning them; I just remember always knowing them. I would say my prayers regularly at bed time and our family started and ended each meal with prayer. We went to church as a family and I remember long and boring prayers from the pastor. I don't remember being taught about silent prayer until maybe confirmation. Since I went to a Lutheran school, each day was started with a devotion and prayer and we closed each day with prayer. But I just don't remember being led into an understanding of individual, personal prayer. And yet, it happened...it's amazing how we learn some things simply by our experiences in life...watching others, hearing others, and developing relationships with other people.

Sometimes, I think of prayer as "bugging God" (in a good way). Spend some time with a four or five year old and you will discover how they love to "bug" you with question after question. They are persistent. We ask people close to us questions...we "bug" them. Father Abraham was a close friend of God and walked with God daily, and out of that closeness, felt free to bug God at certain times. You remember the story when Abraham says to God: "If You find fifty righteous people in that wicked and immoral city, Sodom and Gomorrah, You won't destroy it, will You, God?" God said, "No, if I find fifty righteous people in the city, I will not destroy it." "How about forty righteous people?" "No, I will not destroy it." "How about thirty righteous people? Twenty? Ten?" This story reveals Abraham's closeness to God and in that closeness, how Abraham felt the freedom to bug God.

So why don't Americans or even some Christians "bug God"/pray? Here are just a few thought to ponder...

People are very busy and prayer takes time.
They just don't believe prayer does much good.
American Christians often believe that a good God should protect them from the disasters of life, from cancer, car accidents and coronaries.
People just don't walk closely with God.

Jesus was a person of devout prayer; Jesus wanted His disciples to be people of devout prayer; we are to pray with perseverance and persistence, with bugging and bothersome qualities; and prayer is effective and changes not only us but the heart and mind of God.

I found these three principles that I wrote down some years ago...these three principles work together. We can not have the power of prayer without the priorities of prayer and the priorities of prayer lead very naturally to the persistence of prayer. Working together, these principles will empower our prayers to move "past the ceiling!"

1. Pray the Lord's Prayer and think specifically about the priorities of your life and how they line up.

2. Persistence in prayer, regularity of prayer and discipline in prayer all work together. How would you rate yourself in "persistence" in prayer?

3. When you feel that sense of having to "really" pray, you are talking about power in prayer. Jesus' words make it clear that God's gift to us is the gift of His Spirit within us helping us to pray.

Thanks Lord for teaching us to pray.

Dr. Lou Jander

MMF Emeritus

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

Go now, in confidence, knowing that He who leads you also sustains you. 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 leads them and their families for work in God's Kingdom.

For Rev. Rodrigo Fernandez, LINC Houston Manantiales de Vida, Houston.

For Rev. Steve Morfitt, RioMAC Direstor Missional Worker Training Center & El Calvario Lutheran, Brownsville, TX

For your Pastor.

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.

Pray for New Missions -----

For Campus Missions and those serving in those locations across Texas as students return to school.

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.

The development of the "Uvalde Great Commission Outreach," in Uvalde through Rev. Gary Martin.

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

For St. Peter, Roanoke as they prepare for hosting "Church Planting Essentials" in September

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

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

For the community celebration in Candelaria at the end of September. This celebration will include Area A mission presence.

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

For vicar and church planter John David Mull out of St Peter, Roanoke

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 community.

Thank God for the approval of the I-360 visa application for Beto.

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

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.

For the Ten new church starts in Area B.

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

For Mission Liberty Hill

For Redeemer, Austin to implement childcare outreach.

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

For High Plains Mission Network development.

For 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