Things To Pray For In May
In a recent ‘Prayer Requests’ email Mark Prater sent out to Sovereign Grace Churches, he wrote the following,
'In 1859, Austin Phelps published a book on prayer entitled, “The Still Hour.” In his book, Phelps writes, “Any unperverted mind will conceive of the scriptural idea of prayer, as that of one of the most downright, sturdy realities in the universe. Right in the heart of God's plan of government it is lodged as a power. Amidst the conflicts which are going on in the evolution of that plan, it stands as a power. Into all the intricacies of Divine working and the mysteries of Divine decree, it reaches out silently as a power. In the mind of God, we may be assured, the conception of prayer is no fiction, whatever man may think of it.” (Page 21)
Prayer is one of the most downright, sturdy realities in the universe, and in God’s wisdom, He includes prayer as a power that is part of His good, sovereign government of the universe. These truths are not only amazing, they also remind us why we need to pray for one another in Sovereign Grace. As God continues His good plan for our family of churches, we don’t sit passively by, rather we pray knowing that God will use our prayers for one another in the best way He sees fit.'
What wonderful truth that is, and so to aid you, here’s some ways you can be praying for us in the month ahead...
Please pray for the churches in Bolivia, India, and Pakistan who have recently started the adoption process into Sovereign Grace asking God to strengthen them, and to equip their elders as they pursue ordination.
Please pray for Bart Lipscomb (Lead Pastor of Christchurch, Texas, and SGC Area Leader for Africa) and Leo Parris (Pastor at Covenant Fellowship, PA) as they head to Freetown, Sierra Leone, to help teach at a Young Adults Conference at one of our EN Candidate Churches, and invest into our leaders that are leading our EN Candidate Churches in Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea. Please pray for safety and stamina in travel, for the Holy Spirit to guide them and for their teaching to be clear, Christ-centred and affective.
Please pray for Bob Kauflin, Joselo Mercado & Fabrizio as they head to Barranquilla, Colombia, May 16-18th for two events sponsored by Sovereign Grace Churches. The first is an event for pastors and music leaders associated with Sovereign Grace. The second is for a broader audience, focussing in on wider topics relating to music and worship in the church. Please pray for safe travel, deep and lasting fruit, and the strengthening of Sovereign Grace Churches in Barranquilla, Santa Marta and Cali.
Please pray for Rich Richardson (Lead Pastor of Centre Church, AZ and SGC Area Leader for Latin America) as he heads to Guadalajara, Mexico, to lead a Pastors Retreat, May 14th-20th. The focus of this year's retreat, for all the SG Mexico Pastors and those in the ordination process, is the integrity needed for pastoral ministry. Please pray that this would be a rich time of fellowship and teaching for the 50+ brothers who will be in attendance.
Please pray for Ed O’Mara (SGC Area Leader for Europe) as he travels to Antalya, Turkey, May 24th-27th, to meet with Sovereign Grace missionaries (names withheld for security reasons) and their local partners. The goal of this trip will be to strengthen our missionaries and help them think through their future steps and ways to serve in Turkey for the glory of Christ.
Please pray that God would continue to stir the members and pastors of Sovereign Grace Churches all over the world, towards local mission and a renewed desire to share the glorious gospel with the unbelievers in their communities and workplaces.
...Let us pray for one another knowing that it is one of the most downright, sturdy realities in the universe.