The Mission Yearbook for Prayer and 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 in the 2012 Mission Yearbook were gathered around the prayer of Paul for the Colossians, that these faithful brothers and sisters would bear fruit and grow in the knowledge of God (1:10).
Today in the Mission Yearbook: April 22, 2012
MINUTE FOR MISSION: EARTH DAY - Throughout Scripture we are reminded that God created the earth, declared all its contents good, and entrusted the care of creation to humans. Psalm 24:1b proclaims, ``The earth is the Lord's and all that is in it.'' We are reminded of our role as caretakers of the earth many times throughout the Bible, including in Genesis 2:15, where humans are assigned to till and keep the garden.
The Mission Yearbook for Prayer and 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 in the 2012 Mission Yearbook were gathered around the prayer of Paul for the Colossians, that these faithful brothers and sisters would bear fruit and grow in the knowledge of God (1:10).
Today in the Mission Yearbook: April 21, 2012
SYNOD OF THE COVENANT - The Synod of the Covenant lives out its calling "to be a living, active, and inclusive witness to the love of Christ" through creating intentional community in partnership with 11 presbyteries and 767 congregations.
Bearing fruit is the outgrowth of abiding in God and serving society in unity with the church. Growing in the knowledge of God is the result of experiencing God's abundant grace and unconditional love through practical community outreach. Hence, the mission of the church through this synod is focused on building trusting relationships and meaningful partnerships with presbyteries and other specific missions.
The Mission Yearbook for Prayer and 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 in the 2012 Mission Yearbook were gathered around the prayer of Paul for the Colossians, that these faithful brothers and sisters would bear fruit and grow in the knowledge of God (1:10).
Today in the Mission Yearbook: April 20, 2012
SOUTH AFRICA - Last weekend, the third Footprints Training of Trainers series workshops for the Evangelical Presbyterian Church in South Africa began. Each series comprises 70 hours of training spread over a period of several months. The purpose of Footprints is to impart knowledge and skills on the topic of HIV and AIDS so participants can return to their congregation and share what they have learned.
The Mission Yearbook for Prayer and 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 in the 2012 Mission Yearbook were gathered around the prayer of Paul for the Colossians, that these faithful brothers and sisters would bear fruit and grow in the knowledge of God (1:10).
Today in the Mission Yearbook: April 19, 2012
LESOTHO - Bearing fruit and growing in the knowledge of God'' tells well the story of the powerful Lesotho women farmers of Kopano Ke Matla (KKM), the Joining Hands network of Lesotho, with whom I have had a chance to journey throughout this year. KKM is a network of over 200 farmers throughout Lesotho who together fight against hunger injustices.
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 4/8/12
AFGHANISTAN - Pray for the protection and safety of the “dancing boys,” bacha bazi, of Afghanistan—boys who are often dressed up as women to dance at gatherings and who are sexually abused by Afghan men. Pray for boys who are coerced into a life of sexual abuse because of their vulnerability due to poverty and/or a lack of a father in the home. • Pray for bacha bazi who are treated as property. Pray for those who are sold for tens of thousands of dollars because they are perceived as very beautiful. Pray for boys who are rented out as dancers at male-only parties. And pray for those who are prostituted by their adult male “owners.” • Pray for boys who are tossed aside because they have outgrown their “desirability” as their bodies have matured. Many become pimps or prostitutes while some turn to drugs or alcohol. • Pray that this form of sexual exploitation, which seems to be on the rise throughout Afghanistan, will cease. Pray the country’s laws will be used to protect all children from sexual abuse. If bacha bazi report sexual abuse to police, they are arrested and imprisoned instead of protected…they become outcasts of society. • Please pray that the issue of bacha bazi, which is unspoken and very sensitive in Afghanistan, will be recognized as child abuse and not tolerated. Pray for a change of heart in those who commit this abuse—that they will understand the harm they inflict. A report from the Washington Post
BURMA/MYANMAR - Give thanks to God for the work of Free Burma Rangers’ multi-ethnic relief teams in northwestern Karen State in Burma. Last month, relief teams led programs for more than 1,200 children and treated 922 medical patients at six IDP (internally displaced people) sites for people from 29 villages. Pray for the children and people from these villages who have been forced to relocate to these sites by the Burma Army. • Pray for children in the relocation sites who have limited educational opportunities because they are working to help their families. Pray for those who have finished the highest level of school their village has to offer but cannot afford to attend boarding school in the larger cities or refugee camps. Please pray for the teachers in these schools who have few supplies available to help them teach students. • Please keep in prayer the children and people who live in areas of Karen State that are under the control of the Burma Army. Pray for those who are subjected to forced labor, arbitrary taxation, and are frequently imprisoned, tortured, and killed by Burma Army soldiers. A report from the Free Burma Rangers
THAILAND - KContinue to keep the leaders, staff, and volunteers of the Garden of Hope’s children’s ministry project Taw Saeng held close in prayer as they work with at-risk hill tribe children and their parents in a bar/massage parlor district near Chiang Mai’s night bazaar. • Pray for children who come to Taw Saeng (Thai for “to shine”) and give thanks that they receive a nutritious meal each day, help with homework, English language instruction, music and art therapy, and get to go on special outings periodically. Pray for those who have suffered abuse and give thanks to God that they are able to receive help and support through Taw Saeng. A report from tawsaeng.org
UNITED STATES - Pray for the safety and wellbeing of children who are neglected or abused. Pray for volunteers and social workers who advocate for and work with abused children. • Give thanks to God for this month’s statewide campaign designed to raise awareness about preventing child abuse in Texas. Pray for a heightened awareness of this issue throughout the country in order to stop child abuse and neglect before it happens. Child Abuse Prevention Month - Activities Calendat
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. • Pray for God’s healing touch to be upon James, the husband of Faces of Children founder Margaret Purvis. Please pray for an accurate diagnosis and effective treatment for this gentle man who is experiencing serious health issues. Pray that God will comfort Margaret and their family as they help care for James during this stressful time. • Please pray for Cliff, the husband of another Faces of Children intercessor, as he goes through testing to determine the cause of his health problem. Pray for a clear diagnosis and successful treatment. Please keep Joyce held close in prayer, too, as she takes care of her husband.
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
The Mission Yearbook for Prayer and 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 in the 2012 Mission Yearbook were gathered around the prayer of Paul for the Colossians, that these faithful brothers and sisters would bear fruit and grow in the knowledge of God (1:10).
Today in the Mission Yearbook: April 18, 2012
MADAGASCAR - Most Malagasy people live on less than a dollar a day. Most families live by subsistence farming and face frequent hunger, with associated low school attendance and inadequate health care.
The Mission Yearbook for Prayer and 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 in the 2012 Mission Yearbook were gathered around the prayer of Paul for the Colossians, that these faithful brothers and sisters would bear fruit and grow in the knowledge of God (1:10).
Today in the Mission Yearbook: April 17, 2012
MOZAMBIQUE - Before Mozambique became independent in 1975, the Presbyterian Church of Mozambique (IPM) was prohibited from operating outside the country's southern tip. Recently, however, IPM members who have migrated to the north have formed new congregations there. Today, these pioneers are reaching out to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with neighboring communities.
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).
Praying With Hope
“Sing to the Lord; praise the Lord for God has delivered the life of the
needy from the hands of evildoers."Jeremiah 20:13
"The children of God need to support, protect, and hold one another to God’s heart. You belong to a minority in a large, hostile world. As you become more aware of your true identity as a child of God, you will also see more clearly the many forces that try to convince you that all things spiritual are false substitutes for the real things of life.
When you are temporarily pulled out of your true self, you can have the sudden feeling that God is just a word, prayer is a fantasy, sanctity is a dream, and eternal life is an escape from true living. Jesus was tempted in this way, and so are we.
Do not trust your thoughts and feelings when you are pulled out of yourself. Return quickly to your true place, and pay no attention to what tricked you. Gradually you will come to be more prepared for these temptations, and they will have less and less power over you. Protect your innocence by holding on to the truth: you are a child of God and deeply loved
." Renewed for Life, Daily Lenten Meditations from the works of Henri J.M. Nouwen, edited by Mark Neilsen
A message from Chris Laufer, Coordinator, Faces of Children
Greetings, Faces of Children Intercessor,
Thank you for praying for the children of our local and global communities! We will come together to pray for children at our regular Wednesday meeting on April 18, 2012, at 11:30 a.m. in the Bride's room at First Presbyterian Church-Midland. I hope you are able to join us for prayer time and fellowship and lunch ($5) afterwards.
Thank you for praying for the children of our local and global communities. If you have prayer concerns or celebrations 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.
The Mission Yearbook for Prayer and 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 in the 2012 Mission Yearbook were gathered around the prayer of Paul for the Colossians, that these faithful brothers and sisters would bear fruit and grow in the knowledge of God (1:10).
Today in the Mission Yearbook: April 16, 2012
MALAWI - Ever since Scottish missionaries came to northern Malawi over 130 years ago, growing in the knowledge of God - including how to serve God's people - has been central to the work of the churches that have been established. They have grown into the Synod of Livingstonia, which now runs 300 preschools, 465 primary schools, five secondary schools, and a university that includes colleges of education, theology, and health sciences. The college of health sciences now trains nurses and plans to expand to train mid-level clinicians next year. Graduates of these schools serve the people of Malawi.
The Mission Yearbook for Prayer and 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 in the 2012 Mission Yearbook were gathered around the prayer of Paul for the Colossians, that these faithful brothers and sisters would bear fruit and grow in the knowledge of God (1:10).
Today in the Mission Yearbook: April 15, 2012
MINUTE FOR MISSION: LOUISVILLE PRESBYTERIAN THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY - Louisville Seminary seeks to provide theological education for what's next: an increasingly pluralistic and diverse society. This awareness is at the heart of our Doors to Dialogue (D2D) program, an approach to religious dialogue that suffuses the entire learning environment of the seminary and encourages conversation with persons who do not share our theological or faith perspectives. Students learn to listen attentively to the beliefs of others and to articulate their own faith clearly. With D2D, their study is not complete without the interpersonal dimensions of learning to live with "the other."
From a post and link on Jimmy Patterson's Facebook page, I have just now learned of the passing of one of the more remarkable individuals I have ever met ... one who was once without hope, but went on to find hope and share it with countless others ... one who described himself as a 'nobody,' yet was anything but.
Denver Moore, a most remarkable 'nobody,' has entered the church triumphant. According to this report from worldmag.com's Mickey McLean, "on Saturday, March 31, after several years of ill health, Moore, 75, died, or, as Rpon Hall shared in an email, 'The gates of heaven swung open … and Denver Moore went walkin’ in!' A memorial service for Moore was held [Thursday] at McKinney Memorial Bible Church in Fort Worth."
So many of us came to know Moore and Hall - and a third remarkable individual, Hall's wife, Deborah - through their book "Same Kind of Different as Me," and it's follow-up, "What Difference Do it Make?" It's hard to imagine two such men ever meeting each other, let alone becoming such friends ... so maybe it should be no surprise that the meeting and the friendshiop led to such a wonderful and inspiring story, and mission.
That mission included many, MANY appearances on radio and television, in the newspapers and magazines, and on the road, speaking to crowds of every shape and size. It was during one such appearance that I got to meet them. It was four years ago, and Moore and Hall were in Midland, speaking at an evening praise service organized by First Presbyterian Church and True-Lite Christian Fellowship.
To say that the main sanctuary at First Prez was packed, would be putting it mildly ... every seat was filled, people were standing along the walls, seated on the floor in front of the first row of pews, some had even hopped up onto the sills at the foot of our stained-glass windows ... the house WAS packed, and it ROCKED ... due in no small part to True-Lite's music ministry, which set the perfect tone for the evening.
Hall was the first of the two to speak, and then it was Moore's turn. His testimony was delivered in a manner unfamiliar to some ... at times, he spoke, and told a story .... then he'd quote Scripture ... other times he'd break into song. Our friends from True-Lite were in the groove from the start ... but it was incredible to watch how Moore brought some of my fellow Presbyterians (I've heard us called the 'Frozen Chosen') to their feet, then their hands went up, and then they started shouting in response to the testimony.
WHAT A GREAT EVENING!
I've already spoken to a couple of others who were there at First Prez that night, and they had the same response as mine ... a mix of sadness and happiness ... "Well," said one, "he's with Miss Debbie now."
“Tell ’em I’m a nobody that is tryin’ to tell everybody about somebody that can save anybody,” Moore once told Ron Hall.
“That ‘Somebody’ was Jesus,” Hall wrote shortly after Moore’s passing, “and Denver woke up in His arms on Saturday. His famous quote and the final words in his book are ‘We are all homeless workin’ our way home.’ Welcome home friend; you were a good and faithful servant.”
The Mission Yearbook for Prayer and 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 in the 2012 Mission Yearbook were gathered around the prayer of Paul for the Colossians, that these faithful brothers and sisters would bear fruit and grow in the knowledge of God (1:10).
Today in the Mission Yearbook: April 14, 2012
MALAWI - recently finished a book by Randy Alcorn titled It is the sharing in lives of Christians here in Malawi that teaches a fuller meaning of Psalm 62:8. When living at Embangweni, I worked closely with the daughter of our Malawian grandmother, Gogo C. After her daughter married, her husband, then she herself, tested HIV positive. In time her husband became very ill. We went with Gogo C. to visit them; he was dying and she was barely able to care for them and their young soN.
The Mission Yearbook for Prayer and 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 in the 2012 Mission Yearbook were gathered around the prayer of Paul for the Colossians, that these faithful brothers and sisters would bear fruit and grow in the knowledge of God (1:10).
Today in the Mission Yearbook: April 13, 2012
ZAMBIA - The Church of Central Africa Presbyterian (CCAP)/Synod of Zambia runs 22 community schools in poor Lusaka compounds and remote rural communities. The schools, ministries of CCAP congregations, serve orphans and other vulnerable children who cannot afford uniforms, books, and materials required by public schools. In 2010, the 10 Lusaka schools served 2,460 students.
There are many challenges. No funds are available for lunch programs. Teachers and caregivers work without pay. The teacher/student ratio is high. Curriculum materials are limited. Sanitary facilities are inadequate. Training for teachers and caregivers is sporadic.
MIDLAND, TEXAS -When Danny Anderson moved to Midland with his family last May, it was his welcoming and supportive congregation that helped make the transition to a new town an easy one.
The 34-year-old serves as the lead pastor of Holy Cross Lutheran Church, and says while it’s interesting most in his congregation are older than him, with the average age being about 60, he hasn’t found it difficult.
The Mission Yearbook for Prayer and 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 in the 2012 Mission Yearbook were gathered around the prayer of Paul for the Colossians, that these faithful brothers and sisters would bear fruit and grow in the knowledge of God (1:10).
Today in the Mission Yearbook: April 12, 2012
ZIMBABWE - In the colonial era, church-related schools educated many future African leaders. After Zimbabwe gained independence in 1980, the Church of Central Africa Presbyterian (CCAP), Harare Synod, turned most of its schools over to the new government - all except for Nyabira, 20 miles northwest of Harare. Initially, Zimbabwe built a formidable educational system, achieving the highest literacy rates in sub-Saharan Africa. Since the late 1990s, however, economic decline and mismanagement have brought many state schools to the brink of collapse.
Brett and Shelly Faucett are Mission Partners with Interserve that are living in Chiang Mai, Thailand. They are working in three main areas: HIV/AIDS, Special needs children and Human Trafficking. Brett is a nurse and amateur photographer. Shelly was a former literacy specialist and ESL teacher. They both love travelling and seeing the world, especially Africa and Asia. They have 2 high spirited daughters Acacia (9yrs old)and Annapurna (7yrs old). The Thailand Mission Team from FPC and TPC in Midland had a chance to meet with them during our mission to that country in 2008.
MIDLAND, TEXAS -Grammy Award-winning contemporary Christian group Casting Crowns is coming to the Permian Basin with the hope that at the end of the night, the journey of its audience members will continue to the well of Jesus.
The group will stop at the Ector County Coliseum in Odessa Friday on the 44-city spring leg of its "Come to the Well" tour. The album name reflects a story from the Bible's book of John, in which Jesus spoke with a Samaritan woman at Jacob's well in Samaria. Jesus told the woman he was a well of living water that would quench the thirst of anyone who drank from it for eternity.
The Mission Yearbook for Prayer and 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 in the 2012 Mission Yearbook were gathered around the prayer of Paul for the Colossians, that these faithful brothers and sisters would bear fruit and grow in the knowledge of God (1:10).
Today in the Mission Yearbook: April 11, 2012
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO (continued) - In 2007, Pastor Mboyamba, director of evangelism for the Presbyterian Community of Congo (CPC), recognized the need to change the mentality of lay leadership. Like many people who live in a country that had been ravaged by war, there is a tendency to look toward outside support to fund the programs of the church. Because this is neither sustainable nor healthy for the church, Pastor Mboyamba began conducting seminars, teaching the laity that it is their job to carry the load of the church. In ways like buying reams of paper for the print ministry or gas for the generator of the radio ministry, they can help the larger church advance the gospel. Empowered seminar attendees have promised to give themselves fully to strengthen the church.
MIDLAND, TEXAS -
A group of students are looking for a way to reach out to their fellow youths and will host a rally and prayer walk tonight for the community.
The Mission Yearbook for Prayer and 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 in the 2012 Mission Yearbook were gathered around the prayer of Paul for the Colossians, that these faithful brothers and sisters would bear fruit and grow in the knowledge of God (1:10).
Today in the Mission Yearbook: April 10, 2012
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO - See what love the father has given us that we should be called children of God; and that is what we are. The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. (1 John 3:1)
Only in pictures of concentration camp victims had I seen one so tall and yet so skeletally thin. ``Mbombo'' was 13 years old. Her father had died two years before, and neighbors, looking for a cause of the tragedy, decided that she was it. Accused of witchcraft, she was forced to leave home. Her bereaved mother and four younger siblings were helpless to defend her, as it would put them all on the street.
The Mission Yearbook for Prayer and 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 in the 2012 Mission Yearbook were gathered around the prayer of Paul for the Colossians, that these faithful brothers and sisters would bear fruit and grow in the knowledge of God (1:10).
