Did you know that there is no expiration date on your prayers?
In the words of E. M. Bounds:
“God shapes the world by prayer.
Prayers are deathless.
The lips that uttered them may be closed in death,
the heart that felt them may have ceased to beat,
but the prayers live before God, and God’s heart is set on them and prayers outlive the lives of those who uttered them; outlive a generation, outlive an age, outlive a world.”
Desperate times call for desperate praying.
Frankly, the greatest weakness I find in our church and in most churches I have visited in America is not a lack of sound doctrine, but a lack of sound, perseverant and desperate praying. We are so drawn to Bible study, to testimony time, to singing, but when it comes time to prayer, few stick around.
My mentor, a veteran missionary that I affectionately call Uncle Eric, once asked me: “Do you want to be a part of the problem or part of the solution?”
I want to be a part of the solution.
And I am convinced that if you are reading this, you do too.
The world needs your prayers.
America needs your prayers.
Italy needs your prayers.
We need your prayers.
This week we desperately need your prayers.
- Any day now my sister Elizabeth could give birth to their daughter. Her husband Daniel is the only other pastor here with me at the moment, and he is also in charge of Radio Luce.
- Tomorrow morning I take Noah to Assisi to have his adenoids removed.
- Two days ago Luigi, a member in our church, was hit by a car. He has multiple fractures in his spine, a head trauma and a broken pelvis. On top of that he is usually caring for his elderly wife, who is blind. Pray for us as we lead the body in ministering to each other, even in times when our own families have pressing needs.
On top of these three urgent prayer requests there are a few more that are on our hearts.
- Please pray for our training of leaders. All we have invested in 40 years of ministry as a family would be for naught if we are not able to equip Italians to replace us.
- Please pray for our witnessing, especially in the neighborhood and at Noah’s school.
- Pray for the management of our time and resources, especially now that I have taken on the bulk of the preaching.
- Pray for our Vacation Bible School outreach this summer.
- Pray for my health too. I have a cancer checkup soon and my oncologist is a little concerned over the health of my lymph nodes. I also have a potential re-do on my hernia surgery.
Desperate moments call for desperate praying.
America is facing a critical moment in its history.
The world is facing a critical moment in its history.
Our ministry is facing a critical moment in its history.
Together we can be a part of the solution instead of part of the problem.
Your prayers will forever be a pleasant sacrifice of praise to our God.
Will you join me on your knees?
Love in Christ,
Jon, Melodee, Noah and Eva,
and your brothers and sisters of the Centro Evangelico Battista
Three more things:
1. Thank you to the many people who contributed to our reader survey! Your time helps us make better use of your time!
2. We are trying a new format that should be a little easier to print. Let us know what you think!
3. Once a month hardly enough? How about joining our Twitter Prayer Hotline or our Facebook Page!
