Prayer for our Church Family Day Camps & Adventure Camps: This summer there will over 200 children and students involved in our day camps and adventure camps, with around 100 volunteers and staff leading them in teachings and activities. Cranked (Riptide, Grades 8-10) - July 6-10 Get Outside (High Voltage, Grades 6-8) - July 13-17 and July 20-24 Please pray that the students would come away from these camps with a deeper love for Jesus, whether they are hearing the Gospel for the first time, recommitting their lives to Him, or simply encountering Him in new ways. Please also pray for endurance for the camp leaders and volunteers, and for safety, good connections, and relationship-building with the students Everest Expedition (Gr. K-5) - July 13-17, July 20-24, July 27-31 Please pray that kids would hear and receive the gospel message, and that those who are unchurched would find comfort and feel welcome here. Please also pray for all the volunteers and staff, that God would provide them with LOTS of energy and wisdom as they teach their campers. Ask God to touch the hearts of the unchurched parents and guardians who come to the closing session, watch the slide show, and hear about their kids time here. Continue to pray for the children and students throughout the summer, that the lessons they learned would penetrate their hearts, for a deeper desire to learn more about Jesus, and for protection on their spiritual journeys. Discovery Classes - Discovery classes continue through the summer. Give thanks to God that these classes are being filled with people seeking Jesus. Pray for a hunger for Jesus among congregation. Thank God for our volunteer Discovery leaders and pray for protection for them. Summer vacation - Pray for our children and youth during the summer months. Pray for safety and good choices. Pray for our teachers to be refreshed and renewed during their hiatus. Also pray for family dynamics and safe travels during the holiday travels. Love Languages Conference - October 27 - Pray now for the upcoming 5 Love Languages conference and those who will attend in October. Pray that Christ- 2 Continued on Page 3
Continued from Page 2 centered marriages and relationships will be strengthened as they learn how to express and receive love; that people will be sensitive to the Holy Spirit s calling to attend; and that the conference will a bridge to introduce nonbelievers to our church community, and that they will ultimately discover Jesus. Pray for Dr. Gary Chapman, the staff, and volunteers who will be working at this conference. Pray for biblical marriages to be strengthened. Please pray for the other ongoing ministries and needs outlined each week in our church publications. Answered Prayer Praise God for hearing our prayers! We are rejoicing for these blessings from the June Welcome & Prayer Cards: We are rejoicing for birthdays, anniversaries, and milestones. We are rejoicing for passed exams, graduations, and educational opportunities. Rejoice with me. I ve been blessed with work and the house is sold. I am moving in the right direction. We are thanking God for improved health, healing, and medical treatments. We rejoice for new jobs, promotions, and career opportunities. Rejoice with me. Our family will be able to stay together. Rejoice with me. My son has been praying. Praise Report: I came back from the Women s Retreat with a conviction that I should know His word better. Rejoice with me. I start my new job soon. The job search process has strengthened my relationship with Jesus. Praise God for a woman of God who has come into my path. I am praising God for the peace and joy I have that only comes from our Lord. - Recently diagnosed with cancer Rejoice with me. God is always faithful. He gives me strength to face each day with its beauty and challenges. Rejoice with me that God gave me the strength to resist temptation. Rejoice with me. My son s visa was approved and my family will be reunited. 3
Pray for our Missionaries Please pray for the following short-term mission teams that are currently at various points in the formation and preparation process. Harrison - August 1-9 Twenty-three Grade 8-9 students from Riptide, along with six fearless leaders, will serve the Harrison/Agassiz area by running a kids club camp for children in grades 1-5 at Harrison Gospel Chapel, August 1-9. These students create all the lessons, crafts, games, team lunches, and raise all the funds for their team costs as well as all the kids club costs. Please pray for safety and for team unity and for 4 Harrison 2014 lives to be changed as they share the Gospel of Jesus with the children who come. ASIA (restricted access) Summer 2015 This summer, two short-term teams will serve in restricted access contexts in Asia. Please pray for them in the following ways: For abundant wisdom as they enter into contexts where Christian missionary activity is restricted That the Lord will use them to encourage believers that they come in contact with That God will use these teams to further his work in these contexts GERMANY August 18-28, 2015 Berlin-Johannisthal MB Church is a church plant initiative in the heart of a former communist East Berlin neighborhood. The team will be involved in English Day Camp programs, a seniors café, community outreach, and a summer festival. This church is seeing people coming to faith, celebrating their new life through baptism, and growing as disciples of Jesus. Team Germany 2015 Their vision is to see more church-planting teams emerge in Berlin. Please pray: For the Berlin Church as they share the love of Christ in a formerly communist neighborhood For fruitful ministry for the team as they serve For the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on Berlin MEXICO August 29-September 5, 2015 The Matthew Training Center, located in Guadalajara, Mexico, provides cross- Continued on Page 5
Continued from Page 4 cultural training for missionary candidates. Its vision is to see hundreds of trained and fruitful workers serving among the nations. The Center is located on the campus of a former Drug Rehabilitation Center and is currently undergoing significant renovations. The Willingdon team will be involved in the finishing the student dorms. Pray: For the students that will attend the Matthew Training Center in Fall 2015 For team unity and a productive time of ministry on-site For the health and safety of the team INDIA October 2-23, 2015 Willingdon Church will be sending a team to assist in upgrading the facilities at the Shanti Niketan Children s Home as part of the Child of Mine Ministries in Northern India. The team will be working with four other MB churches involved in the project. The vision of Child of Mine is to raise the Future Leaders of India s Church. The team will be involved in a water improvement project, installing a new chapel roof, building a warden s room, painting, paving, and overall maintenance. Please pray: For the children in the home and their spiritual growth For the full-time workers at the home; they work seven days per week For team unity For health and safety on the worksite and for the team to quickly adapt to the environment they will be working in BRAZIL November 13-23, 2015 Willingdon Church will be sending a team to assist in the construction of a church building in a remote community along the Amazon River Basin. The team will be involved in construction, conducting home visits, and community outreach events such as a dental clinic, children s ministry, and initiatives to teach local women micro business skills. The team will be working under the leadership of Willingdon Missionary Jerry Hranka and Project Amazon staff who are involved in a church planting movement in the Amazon River Basin. Please pray: Team India 2015 Team Brazil 2014 For the health and safety of the team as they work in a remote location For the hearts of the local villagers to be open to the gospel For our missionary, Jerry Hranka, as he supports the ministry in the accounting office 5
Join us on this committed effort to pray for the world. One week at a time, starting each Saturday, we are praying for the 50 countries on Open Doors World Watch List, where persecution of Christians for religious reasons is the worst. Come along with us on this prayer journey to make an eternal difference for persecuted Christians. For more information, go to: opendoorsusa.org/christian-persecution/world-watch-list June 27-July 3 pray for Myanmar: For children from Christian families, who face constant disadvantages in education That minority Christian groups such will be kept safe from violence and ravages of war July 4-10, pray for Palestinian Territories: For the many women in Israeli and Palestinian areas who suffer trauma because of war and persecution because of their gender For students at the Bethlehem Bible College preparing for Christian ministry and leadership July 11-17, pray for Brunei: For all workers who are risking their freedom in advancing the gospel and interacting with new believers That Bibles and biblical materials may reach Christians despite the ban on those materials July 18-24, pray for Laos: That the country s communist government will relent in its pressure on the small Christian community For protection over the members of the illegal church meetings which are often raided For Christians in small villages to stay loyal to their faith despite the threat of being forced from their homes July 25-31, pray for China: For Christians in provinces where local authorities have started campaigns against religious structures, especially churches That Christians will continue to grow in their faith and spread it to other countries For Muslim Background Believers as they cope with pressure from their families and friends as well as the government 6
August 1-7, pray for Jordan: For the halt of radical Islam, including the Islamic State That Christians who evangelize Muslims or support Muslim Background Believers will cope with the growing pressure and tensions August 8-14, pray for Bhutan: Although the gospel is spreading at an encouraging rate, religious freedoms such as preaching and erecting church buildings are still prohibited. Pray that will change Pray for Christians in remote areas who face the most intense persecution August 15-21, pray for Comoros: That the rise in radical Islam in Comoros will decrease and Christians will be able to worship without facing severe pressure That harassed Christians will be encouraged and not give up their faith August 22-28, pray for Tanzania: For Christians who are facing increasing persecution For Muslim Background Believers who are targeted for their conversion from Islam That the government will stop the destruction of churches and meeting places for believers August 29-September 4, pray for Algeria: Praise God for the continuing growth of the church in Algeria Pray that the new believers in Christ will grow in their walk with the Lord and receive training and teaching in the Word Pray that restrictions on Christians will be reversed and the government will allow more freedom to worship For more information about Open Doors World Watch List, go to: worldwatchlist.us. 7
Pray for the Persecuted Church When Islamic State captured the Mosul area about a year ago, Christians were given three choices: 1) convert to Islam, 2) abandon their property and leave the city, or 3) be killed. Christian villages and towns within the surrounding areas of the Nineveh Plain, the ancestral home of thousands of believers and other minority groups, were attacked. As a result, multitudes were forced to flee their communities, seeking refuge and safety in Kurdish-controlled areas and neighboring countries. Many displaced Christians still residing in refugee camps have no place to call home. Iraq, pending life-threatening danger is a constant concern. These displaced believers have lost their homes, property, belongings, and any hope for a future in Iraq. The majority are presently living under difficult conditions within temporary settlements and refugee camps. For the remnant of believers remaining in Despite the peril, many church leaders are doing whatever they can to improve the situation. With a desire to safeguard the Christian presence within their country, they are encouraging remaining congregation members to stay while urging Iraqi politicians to seek a solution. Numerous churches, monasteries and ancient holy places in the Mosul area have been confiscated, and are now being used by ISIS for other purposes. In addition, there was the widespread desecration and looting of furniture and paintings, as well as the demolition of church crosses and gravestones. Precious ancient manuscripts were also burned. Military action to recapture the Mosul area has not been prioritized. Plus, there is no consensus politically as to what should be done for the improvement of security or to help the remnant of Christians still remaining in Iraq. Please pray that all the areas captured by ISIS will be liberated, so that the multitudes of displaced Christian refugees will be able to safely return to their homes and communities. May those held in captivity be protected and soon released. Wherever it is that these Iraqi Christians are located, ask that an outflow of God's supernatural love and grace be with them as they trust Him to meet their daily needs. Intercede for the members of ISIS. Since the Lord doesn't want any member of His beloved creation to perish eternally, may His mercy and compassion be extended to these perpetrators of evil -- bringing many of them to repentance and salvation. (Source: VOMC/Middle East Concern) 8 Care & Prayer is a ministry of Willingdon Church 4812 Willingdon Avenue Burnaby, BC V5G 3H6 604-435-5544 willingdon.org Follow us! facebook.com/willingdonprayer Send comments or prayer requests to: prayer@willingdon.org