2011 m2c texas prayer initiative 2.37

2011 Prayer Support for Mission V. 2; N. 37

MISSION HIGHLIGHT

Monte Sinai, Port Arthur

2010 LINC Houston in Port Arthur.

Website

Click here for additional Texas District Mission sites

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

Invocation

O God, in You alone there is light, in You alone there is joy, in You alone there is peace. Use the children You have called to bring the same message of light, joy, and peace to the world, to the glory of your only Son, Jesus. Amen.

Reading Luke 11:29-36; Psalm 116

Reflection

How can the church be a true light in our culture?

I got up from the operating table and my eyesight was perfect, 20/20. I was amazed that this five-minute procedure called Radio Keratotomy could cure my near sightedness. That was almost 20 years ago and I still see well enough to not need contacts or glasses. Technology has come a long way since then.

In this passage Jesus speaks of the body being in darkness if the eye can't see. This can be applied for the unchristian to his unbelief; only by grace does God give us the ability to even have faith. That faith brings light to the whole man, forgiveness of sins and eternal life.

But most of you who are reading this are believers, what does this mean to us? How can we as believers live in His light? Are we shining in our communities or just in our pews?

I like to think of this as our mental "filter", that perspective by which we interpret things around us. If that perspective is slanted one direction, all information will be skewed. Being born in sin, our perspectives were perverted, damaged and unbalanced. Through the work of the Holy Spirit, His Word and the teaching of godly people, our filters are partially restored and cleansed. Barna's study declares that only 7% of American's have a biblical worldview. In addition, our upbringing, family influence, race, social class all skew our filters. What would be different if we begin looking at issues from the other perspective? How can we bring light to our communities?

A good "eye" is having good biblical exposition with a balanced cultural understanding. We need to bring true light to our churches as we deal with large social issues. For some years now we have been cornered into speaking only on two social issues, the sanctity of life and sanctity of marriage. Nothing wrong with those two but we pastors must speak to our congregation about the broader issues in our communities that bring light to dark places. Unfortunately, most churches ignore the darkest places, here are some:

How can we be part of eradicating extreme poverty? Malaria? HIV?

How can we bring Jesus to undocumented workers? Unemployed?

How can the church help fight the sex slave trade? How can we protect children?

How can the church help fight against the predatory lenders like pay day loans/title loans?

These societal issues are killing families and the helpless. Should we not worry about the oppressed, the poor?

Isaiah 58:10 speaks on how our light can really shine.

"and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday."

May we pray for the oppressed, the poor and the orphan. May we have the heart of Jesus and may His light shine upon you this day. Shine church!

Rev. Oscar Benavides

Executive Director, LINC North Texas

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 you have been sent to be a light to the world. Amen.

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

Please add the drought and the fires to your prayers, remembering that there are many who do not know Christ suffering especially at these times.

Lord, use Your Body to bring peace to the world and to communities as they recognize the losses that they have had in these wildfires. We ask that You bring rain to our parched land. But more than this, we ask that You bring all people to a saving knowledge of Yourself, and were You to use us, we would be honored. Amen.

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 Mr. Douglas Ayala, LINC Houston Hispanic Ministry Santuario de Poder, Houston.

For Rev. Mario & Marisela Casillas, LINC Houston Monte Sinai at Our Redeemer, Baytown

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

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

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

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

Pray for Continuing and Key Events -----

Pray for the students and AVID teachers.

For congregations to make bringing Christ to communities their top priority

For strong fellowship development among like minded witnesses

For Mission Liberty Hill

For Redeemer, Austin to implement childcare outreach.

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

Pray for the new partnerships between LINC NT and congregations in the metroplex.

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 the Ten new church starts in Area B.

Pray for the LINC NT staff

Pray for a great start with the new SALI teachers in the Metroplex

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

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

The FiveTwo network across the world

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