The Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study is a daily devotional with 365 inspiring mission stories that come from next door and all across the globe. It inspires thousands of Presbyterians daily as they uphold the mission of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) in intercessory prayer. The stories for the 2011 Mission Yearbook were collected around General Assembly Mission theme “Grow Christ’s Church Deep and Wide” based on Matthew 28:18-20 and Mark 9:35. Each yearbook page bears witness to the abundant possibilities of the church because of the leadership of Christ.
Today in the Mission Yearbook: October 12, 2011
EL SALVADOR - Since 2002, Highland Presbyterian in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, has been working with the Reformed Calvinist Church of El Salvador (IRCES). On one trip, a group from Highland spent five days in the village of Masacua. One afternoon, we met with six women of the church. They presented the Ruth Project — a cottage industry that makes school uniforms. CLICK HERE to read more.
The Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study is a daily devotional with 365 inspiring mission stories that come from next door and all across the globe. It inspires thousands of Presbyterians daily as they uphold the mission of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) in intercessory prayer. The stories for the 2011 Mission Yearbook were collected around General Assembly Mission theme “Grow Christ’s Church Deep and Wide” based on Matthew 28:18-20 and Mark 9:35. Each yearbook page bears witness to the abundant possibilities of the church because of the leadership of Christ.
Today in the Mission Yearbook: October 11, 2011
GUATEMALA (continued) - How far would you be willing to travel to get to church? Thirty minutes? Forty-five? What about three hours at least – riding three buses and walking part of the way? That's what Pastor Juan Lopez does twice a month to reach Iglesia Presbiteriana Elim, a small congregation in a very poor village in the lowlands area of southwest Guatemala. CLICK HERE to read more.
The Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study is a daily devotional with 365 inspiring mission stories that come from next door and all across the globe. It inspires thousands of Presbyterians daily as they uphold the mission of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) in intercessory prayer. The stories for the 2011 Mission Yearbook were collected around General Assembly Mission theme “Grow Christ’s Church Deep and Wide” based on Matthew 28:18-20 and Mark 9:35. Each yearbook page bears witness to the abundant possibilities of the church because of the leadership of Christ.
Today in the Mission Yearbook: October 10, 2011
GUATEMALA - The National Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Guatemala is reaching out to the Q'eqchi' ethnic group, whose members are among the most neglected in our country. Our church has six Q'eqchi' presbyteries. The territories where the Q'eqchi' people live are difficult to reach, especially during the rainy season, because the roads are not paved. CLICK HERE to read more.
The Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study is a daily devotional with 365 inspiring mission stories that come from next door and all across the globe. It inspires thousands of Presbyterians daily as they uphold the mission of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) in intercessory prayer. The stories for the 2011 Mission Yearbook were collected around General Assembly Mission theme “Grow Christ’s Church Deep and Wide” based on Matthew 28:18-20 and Mark 9:35. Each yearbook page bears witness to the abundant possibilities of the church because of the leadership of Christ.
Today in the Mission Yearbook: October 9, 2011
MINUTE FOR MISSION: DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS - "Physical aggression occurs in one in three teen dating relationships" (Sarah Avery-Leaf and Michele Cascardi, Dating Violence Education, quoted on the Domestic Violence Statistics page of the American Bar Association). This is a shocking figure. It is important that the church understand and address teen and dating violence, and find creative ways to help teens deal with these issues. CLICK HERE to read more.
The Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study is a daily devotional with 365 inspiring mission stories that come from next door and all across the globe. It inspires thousands of Presbyterians daily as they uphold the mission of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) in intercessory prayer. The stories for the 2011 Mission Yearbook were collected around General Assembly Mission theme “Grow Christ’s Church Deep and Wide” based on Matthew 28:18-20 and Mark 9:35. Each yearbook page bears witness to the abundant possibilities of the church because of the leadership of Christ.
Today in the Mission Yearbook: October 8, 2011
MEXICO - Pasos de Fe, a mission of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and the National Presbyterian Church of Mexico, helps Christians on both sides of the border better understand each other. One example is the lives of Kevin and Marisela. CLICK HERE to read more.
WEST TEXAS - Jimmy Patterson, author of the forthcoming book, 50 Years: The Story of the Diocese of San Angelo, will sign copies of the book and give presentations on the diocese’s history in a series of three appearances around the diocese the week before the Church's 50th anniversary. CLICK HERE to read the rest of the OA story
The Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study is a daily devotional with 365 inspiring mission stories that come from next door and all across the globe. It inspires thousands of Presbyterians daily as they uphold the mission of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) in intercessory prayer. The stories for the 2011 Mission Yearbook were collected around General Assembly Mission theme “Grow Christ’s Church Deep and Wide” based on Matthew 28:18-20 and Mark 9:35. Each yearbook page bears witness to the abundant possibilities of the church because of the leadership of Christ.
Today in the Mission Yearbook: October 7, 2011
MEXICO - The church was already deep - in both its physical length and spiritually. Now it needed to be wider, the side walls expanded to allow more room for growing numbers of people. This was the case in the indigenous Mexican village of Matzam, Chiapas. So friends from Hot Metal Bridge Faith Community in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, visited their Tzeltal friends for a third time. CLICK HERE to read more.
Faces of Children is an ecumenical prayer ministry under the auspices of First Presbyterian Church of Midland, Texas. Our mission is to initiate ministries of prayer for children in churches, communities, and neighborhoods. In doing so, we seek to provide an opportunity for people of God to join together, learn about children and their needs throughout the world, and celebrate Christ's love (especially as it relates to children).
Prayer Concerns for the week of 10/03/11
AFRICA - Pray for pregnant women in Africa who lack access to decent medical care because of a shortage of funding, doctors, midwives, health workers, essential medicines, and basic supplies. Pray for the families and children of those who have died during childbirth. An estimated 170,000 African women die each year from pregnancy-related causes. A report from the New York Times • Give thanks to God that many African countries are abolishing patient fees for public health care. Pray for government leaders who have authority over these health systems. Pray they manage them with integrity and transparency, and make care for the vulnerable a priority. • Pray for viable solutions to the complicated issues surrounding the impact of foreign aid on Africa's struggling public health systems. The United States and other donors have given African nations billions of dollars to fight infectious diseases like HIV/AIDS, yet most of those African governments have reduced their spending on domestic health care.
THAILAND - Give God thanks and praise for the Garden of Hope's children's ministry project TawSaeng (Thai for "to shine") in a bar/massage parlor district near Chiang Mai's night bazaar. TawSaeng web page • Pray for the 38 hill tribe children with whom TawSaeng staff and volunteers minister on a daily basis. Many of these displaced children were ripe for exploitation or sexual abuse as they sold flowers or trinkets in the bar district near their slum homes. Praise God they're at the drop-in center now and not on the streets late at night. • Thanks be to God for the dedication of TawSaeng's staff and volunteers who reach out to these hill tribe children and provide them with healthy meals, educational assistance, school supplies and uniforms, social survival skills training, and an opportunity to play and study in a safe environment at the children's drop-in center. Give God thanks for providing the resources needed to pay rent and cover the cost of several projects. • Pray that God will provide the documentation, resources, and training needed for the parents of these ethnic hill tribe children to obtain jobs that pay living wages. Pray for God's encouragement and peace for parents who took their children out of poverty in the village only to find it again in the city.
UNITED STATES - Continue to keep 11-year-old Dallas held close in prayer as he experiences the hard consequences of his mother Betty's * questionable decisions. Betty was recently arrested for driving without insurance and ended up in jail over a holiday weekend. Dallas was placed in foster care when his sitter called police to report Betty for neglect. Please pray that God will bring stability and consistency into Dallas' life. Please pray for his emotional and psychological health. Pray that Betty will maintain her hard won sobriety throughout this difficult experience. Please pray that Betty will make better choices for herself and Dallas in the future. *Name changed for confidentiality and/or protection • Pray for the children and families of Minot, North Dakota who, because of heavy flooding last August, were forced from their homes and into temporary housing. Pray for those living in hotels who will now have to move to Red Cross shelters because the hotels are already booked for Norsk Høstfest, North America's largest Scandinavian festival.(http://www.hostfest.com/concerts/index.asp) Pray for those living in tents and campers in their backyards who will also have to move to shelters because the weather is getting colder. Please pray that all of the FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) trailers needed to house these families will be put into place quickly. • Please continue to pray for Ben who suffers from psychological problems as a result of severe physical and emotional abuse in his childhood. Last year Ben had to be placed in a mental hospital because of these issues. Pray for Ben's adoptive parents as they face even more challenges. Four of the children they adopted from a sibling group of five are showing signs of mental illness. Pray for these children as they go through this tough time. Pray for healing and for the peace of God that surpasses all understanding for Ben, his brothers and sisters, and his adoptive parents.
FACES OF CHILDREN - Please continue to pray that more churches and individuals will join with the ministry of Faces of Children in spreading awareness about children in crisis and inviting more people to pray for children at risk. • Please pray for Brittney, the 26-year-old friend of a Faces of Children prayer partner, as she begins treatment for a very rare form of cancer in a tumor on her neck. Pray that God will comfort and provide for this young woman who must have very radical surgery to treat this type of cancer. • If you have prayer requests about children, those who care for them, those who have authority over them, or those who harm them (the really hard prayers to say sometimes), please send them to Chris Laufer, FOC Coordinator, at claufer@facesofchildren.net
ODESSA, TEXAS - Darrell Eastman has sure had a busy summer. After beginning his new position as Director of Christian Life and Youth Ministries at Westminster Presbyterian Church, with the church’s youth going to workshops, mission trips and Rock the Desert.
But as the year heads into the fall season, Eastman has finally slowed down a little – if you call reestablishing the church’s education program, starting a men’s ministry and hosting a slew of upcoming events slowing down. CLICK HERE to read the rest of the OA story
The Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study is a daily devotional with 365 inspiring mission stories that come from next door and all across the globe. It inspires thousands of Presbyterians daily as they uphold the mission of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) in intercessory prayer. The stories for the 2011 Mission Yearbook were collected around General Assembly Mission theme “Grow Christ’s Church Deep and Wide” based on Matthew 28:18-20 and Mark 9:35. Each yearbook page bears witness to the abundant possibilities of the church because of the leadership of Christ.
Today in the Mission Yearbook: October 6, 2011
LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN - A turning point for growing the church deep and wide in Latin America and the Caribbean came in 1929. Who could have imagined that the Protestant community of a couple of million members would grow to about sixty million members today? That year, church leaders of the Americas organized a mission congress without help from the foreign mission boards. With the theme, "Christ Calls at the Doors of Fourteen Nations,'' the event marked the opening of a new chapter of mission and evangelism planned and organized by Latin American people. CLICK HERE to read more.
ODESSA, TEXAS - Compared to sky high buildings and other wonders of modern architecture, the sight of a makeshift tent in an enclosed sandy courtyard isn’t exactly what you would call impressive.
But once you step inside the tent, representing the Tabernacle of Moses, your first impressions could change into a profound experience. CLICK HERE to read the rest of the OA story
The Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study is a daily devotional with 365 inspiring mission stories that come from next door and all across the globe. It inspires thousands of Presbyterians daily as they uphold the mission of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) in intercessory prayer. The stories for the 2011 Mission Yearbook were collected around General Assembly Mission theme “Grow Christ’s Church Deep and Wide” based on Matthew 28:18-20 and Mark 9:35. Each yearbook page bears witness to the abundant possibilities of the church because of the leadership of Christ.
Today in the Mission Yearbook: October 5, 2011
STOCKTON PRESBYTERY - Delhi Community Presbyterian Church, in the San Joaquin Valley, is a small church of sixty members with a big vision that they call "Impacting Our Community for Jesus Christ." One way this is lived out is through a food ministry. Delhi is a relatively poor community and it seems that hunger has always been present there, so the Delhi church opened a food closet. CLICK HERE to read more.
Missionary teacher Natalie Rolfe writes, "'When He calls me, I will answer ... I'll be somewhere working for my Lord.' My call was Mbale, Uganda and that is where I have returned to serve for another year. Specifically, I am teaching phonics at Lulwanda Children's Home, an orphanage and school for 90 kids." Natalie also keeps an online journal of her service at the weblog, When He calls me, I will answer ...
Wish List
If you, your church or your organization is planning a trip to Mbale, Uganada this year - or sending a 'care package' - please consider the items from the following 'Wish List,' posted in on Natalie's blog.
Lulwanda Children's Home ideas: • Ink Cartridges o HP 920 (for officejet 6500) o HP 21 and 22 (for deskjet D1360) o HP 45 and 78 (for officejet G85) o Toner Canon C-EXV18-TONER (for copier Canon iR1018J) • thumb (flash) drives • games (Trouble, Scrabble, Chutes & Ladders, etc.) and cards • colorful magazine advertisements and old calendars (magazine papers need to be a bit thick like "real simple" and "martha stewart" • toy cars • crayons and markers • flashlights • penss • coloring books • beads (bigger seed beads, tube beads, or other fun ones) • clasps for necklace making • balls (soccer, volley, basket ball, tennis) • sports bras • tee-shirts • underwear/panties • socks • plastic shoe boxes with lids • kids DVDs • magazines - "Martha Stewart" and "Real Simple" • "uniformed"/ matching sets of clothing-- I know sometimes private schools have surplus of matching uniforms (whether misprinted or being replaced by new design)- nice or sportswear
Care package ideas for me :) • Face moisturizer with SPF • curly hair moose (TresAme) • curl sculpting cream (Fructis curl sculpting cream) • Clean and Clear face wash • Dove deodorant • Toothpaste (Crest ProHealth) • Maybelline Purestay Powder foundation (Buff) • Maskera, Loreal Telescopic (black brown) • Bonine motion sickness medicine • TV series on DVD (one's you have finished are great) • iTunes giftcards • Amazon giftcards • Games: Flinch, Sequence, Commotion, cards, anything else • Pam cooking spray • chocolate chips • cereal - Quaker Oatmeal Squares, Multi-Grain Cheerios • Luna bars- chocolate peppermint or chocolate and peanut butter • candy - M&Ms (peanut and peanut butter), Hot Tamales, Laffy Taffy, York Pepperment Patties, party bag (KitKat, Milky Way, Snickers, Twix), Skittles, Baby Ruth
If you are interested in supporting LCH by sponsoring one of the 90 children, go to www.ugandaorphans.org If you are interested in financially supporting Natalie in her mission, you can send checks (with "Natalie Rolfe" in memo) to: Midland Bible Church, 2800 North A Street, Midland, TX 79705
Faces of Children is an ecumenical prayer ministry under the auspices of First Presbyterian Church of Midland, Texas. Our mission is to initiate ministries of prayer for children in churches, communities, and neighborhoods. In doing so, we seek to provide an opportunity for people of God to join together, learn about children and their needs throughout the world, and celebrate Christ's love (especially as it relates to children).
Prayer for Those in Distress ... The Liturgy of St. Mark
"Almighty and everlasting God, the comfort of the sad, the strength of those who suffer, let the prayers of your children who cry out of any tribulation come to you.
To every soul that is distressed, grant mercy, grant relief, grant refreshment; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen." The Book of Common Worship, Daily Prayer, by Westminster/John Knox Press
A message from Chris Laufer, Coordinator, Faces of Children
Greetings, Faces of Children Intercessor,
Thank you for praying so faithfully for the children of our local and global communities. Even though we may not get to see all of the answers to our prayers, please know yours are valued messages of hope and love for the children of our world!
This coming Wednesday, October 5, 2011, the Midland Faces of Children prayer group will meet at 11:30 a.m. in the Bride's room at First Presbyterian Church-Midland. Please join us for this time of prayer, and afterward for lunch ($5) and a time of fellowship.
If you have requests about children, those who care for them, those who have authority over them, or those who harm them (the really hard prayers to say sometimes), please send them to me at at claufer@facesofchildren.net, or give me a call.
I give God grateful thanks for you every time I pray through the Faces of Children list!
MIDLAND, TEXAS - It's a disease that comes with stigmas and prejudice, but HIV and AIDS have no boundaries. It can strike a husband, a wife, a partner or even your child.
But there is help for those who turn to Midland/Odessa Area AIDS Support. The group began with one family who had no place to turn. CLICK HERE to read the rest of the KOSA report
The Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study is a daily devotional with 365 inspiring mission stories that come from next door and all across the globe. It inspires thousands of Presbyterians daily as they uphold the mission of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) in intercessory prayer. The stories for the 2011 Mission Yearbook were collected around General Assembly Mission theme “Grow Christ’s Church Deep and Wide” based on Matthew 28:18-20 and Mark 9:35. Each yearbook page bears witness to the abundant possibilities of the church because of the leadership of Christ.
Today in the Mission Yearbook: October 4, 2011
THE PRESBYTERY OF SAN JOSE - "We don't really have any poor people living here, do we?" asked a church member as others rapidly loaded barrels with canned food for a local food bank. Sadly, many people are unaware that a quarter of the residents in Silicon Valley live below the poverty line. Two programs recently launched here are changing that misconception about who our neighbors are. CLICK HERE to read more.
The China Aid Association is a non-profit Christian organization - based in Midland, Texas - with a mission to uncover and reveal the truth about religious persecution in China, focusing especially on the unofficial church. They do this, they explain in their website, by exposing the abuses, encouraging the abused and equipping the saints to advance the kingdom of God throughout China.
Midland Group Shares Review of Liao Yiwu's "God Is Red"
Released by ChinaAid, September, 2011 ...
"ELLEN BORK, for the Wall Street Journal – There is the authorized version of life in China propagated by the Communist Party, and then there is the unauthorized version. Liao Yiwu is one of the foremost authors of the latter, for which he has paid a steep price." Read the Rest of the Report from ChinaAid
ODESSA, TEXAS - Odessans opened up their hearts and wallets Friday during the 13th annual "Empty Bowls" fundraiser at St. John’s Episcopal Church, to help raise money for the West Texas Food. CLICK HERE to read the rest of the OA story
The Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study is a daily devotional with 365 inspiring mission stories that come from next door and all across the globe. It inspires thousands of Presbyterians daily as they uphold the mission of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) in intercessory prayer. The stories for the 2011 Mission Yearbook were collected around General Assembly Mission theme “Grow Christ’s Church Deep and Wide” based on Matthew 28:18-20 and Mark 9:35. Each yearbook page bears witness to the abundant possibilities of the church because of the leadership of Christ.
Today in the Mission Yearbook: October 3, 2011
THE PRESBYTERY OF SAN JOAQUIN - By 2004, the bar adjacent to First Presbyterian Church of Visalia was well-known to the local police department, which made hundreds of service calls on the establishment. When the church discovered the opportunity to purchase the building in 2005, it bought it with the mission of bringing unchurched people to faith in Jesus Christ through a multichurch, city-wide partnership via conversation, art, and music. CLICK HERE to read more.
Today is World Communion Sunday, and I thought the following video, a scene from the movie, Places in the Heart, was especially appropriate. Those of you who have scene the film will know the special significance of this scene.
The Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study is a daily devotional with 365 inspiring mission stories that come from next door and all across the globe. It inspires thousands of Presbyterians daily as they uphold the mission of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) in intercessory prayer. The stories for the 2011 Mission Yearbook were collected around General Assembly Mission theme “Grow Christ’s Church Deep and Wide” based on Matthew 28:18-20 and Mark 9:35. Each yearbook page bears witness to the abundant possibilities of the church because of the leadership of Christ.
