Watching God from the Front Row
December 2014 Newsletter

Prayer Ministries 
North American Division of Seventh-day Adventists

This is a busy, happy, wonderful time of the year. Christmas will soon be here, and with it, the incredible truth that God actually came to earth to be with us and to save us...indescribable love.

 

Prayer Events:
I know some are planning a major emphasis for the NAD Day of Prayer, January 3. This year we'd like to suggest that the theme Pray One Million be center - it takes many reminders before something new becomes a habit. This is a perfect time to pass out the commitment cards during the church service. You could enlarge one, and use it for a poster, or get a large vertical banner if you have access to one. (See www.PrayOneMillion.org) Just visit PrayOneMillion.org for lots of good resources, handouts, videos, etc. There's even a video message from Pastor Ron Halvorsen. You'll want to view that as well, and your church will be glad to see him.
 
Pray One Million Banner
Derek Morris
NAD Day of Prayer
January 3, 2015
"Praying in Jesus' Name"
Derek Morris

Another special feature provided for the NAD Day of Prayer, January 3 - through the Hope Church Channel, is a powerful sermon prayer by Derek Morris, titled, "Praying In Jesus' Name." We heard him give it in person and I promise you that you will be blessed. You can plan to use it for the church service, or record it, and use it later, but you won't want to miss it.

Here's another thought for the NAD Day of Prayer: During the year we often focus more on prayer for our leaders, pastors, teachers, evangelists, and our communities, and that's as it should be, but this time I want to encourage you to pray in earnest for those among us who are ill. God has given us the amazing privilege of holding up friends and loved ones to Him, to ask for healing, for comfort, for divine help through times of special need. We pray for our friends, and it makes a difference. Let's plead that God will see fit to confer on many the gift of healing. Below are some we are especially praying for - you will add your own list to this one.

 

Prayer Requests: 

 

Ron Halvorsen, Sr
Pastor Ron Halvorsen
Pastor Ron Halvorsen - has survived three previous serious attacks of cancer, and has come through with surgery and treatment with good health. But recently he has been diagnosed with multiple myeloma and would covet our joining him as he asks the Lord to heal him so he can continue his lifetime of preaching the Word. Ron told us recently, "I still have so much work to do."  He has baptized thousands and wants to be strong enough to continue. Please keep him in prayer


 

Maryann Burns
Maryann Burns
Andrews University
Office of Development
Warren Judd
Warren Judd
PUC
Gerry Chudliegh
Gerry Chudleigh
PUC  Communications
Ted Benson
Theodore Benson
PUC Treasurer

Maryann Burns has survived serious chemo-therapy and was told that she was told that her cancer was in remission, but it has come back with a vengeance. Her husband, Gary Burns, is the Director of Communications for the Lake Union, and the Prayer Coordinator for that union. Please pray. Warren Judd, Gerry Chudleigh, and Theodore R. Benson, all well-known, and loved, long-time workers in the Pacific Union, are also undergoing treatment for cancer. Please join their many friends and family who are interceding daily for them.

These are just a few, but they illustrate that one of the ministries we are privileged to engage in is earnest intercession for those who are ill and/or have special needs. What a gift from God - He allows us, through prayer, to be by the bedside of those who have special needs for His healing presence. We can put our loved ones into His arms, knowing that the great Physician cares tenderly for each one.

As this year comes to a close I am reminded again of how blessed I am to be on the same team with you. I praise God every day for what He is doing through your ministry. 2014 has been a wonderful year in His service; 2015 will be even better.
Have a wonderful Christmas with family and friends,

Ruthie


Ruthie Jacobsen
Ruthie Jacobsen
NAD Prayer Coordinator
TopContents
PrayerLineAll Night Call to Prayer
Phone: 404-891-6338  
ID 772 937#

Our next all-night call will be January 1. 
10:00 p.m. - 5:00 a.m. (EST)
Mark that date on your calendar.


Praying for the people we love who have quit coming to church
by Nancy Canwell

 

THESE LITTLE ONES


 

"See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that  their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven"  (Luke 18:10).

 


 

I sat outside the Academy in my car talking with God. The next day I would officially be a youth pastor of a large church. The job also included chaplain duties at the local Academy.

I like kids; in fact, I've worked with kids since I was a kid! But I knew that if God was going to use me in this setting, I had to do more than like them-I had to love them. I had to have a burden for the youth of our church.

And that's what I prayed for that evening in my car. "Lord, please give me a burden for these kids." Nothing happened. I drove home and opened my Bible. I was planning on searching for something from God, but my Bible opened to Luke 18 and the parable of the lost sheep. All my life I'd heard this story in relation to evangelism. But that night I realized that taken in context, the lost sheep are kids!

In the parable, Jesus tells about a man who owns 100 sheep, and only one wanders off. He's not satisfied that he still has 99 because he loves that one sheep that left his safe care. So He goes searching for it. He doesn't wait for the sheep to return. His love sends him out. When he finds the sheep, he is overjoyed! And then Jesus says these words: "In the same way, your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should perish" (vs. 14).

As I sat across the desk from my senior pastor the next morning, I asked him what my job description was. He looked at me and said, "Love the kids." And I knew what that meant. Love, to teens and young adults, means time. So I set up regular office hours just for the teens, and guaranteed them that I'd be there. I opened our home to them once a week for food and Bible study. I attended all their events-the choir and band concerts, the basketball and volleyball games, and the class trips. I ate lunch with them in the cafeteria.

Having worked with youth and young adults for years, I've discovered that they don't need adults in the church to be "cool"-they need us to care. They don't need to be preached to-they need to be listened to. They don't need to be entertained-they need to be involved.

Once I gave them my time and developed a friendship with them, those who were spiritually strong helped me reach out to those who weren't attending church. And that was another key: peer examples and invitations are powerful reconnecting tools.

I involved the youth and young adults in every thing I did. I didn't want to be a one-woman show, so as I got to know them, I discovered their unique gifts. And whether that gift was speaking, music, writing, acting, planning, encouraging, etc. I got them involved in ministry, and that gave them a reason to come to church. They were now a part of the body.

We need to be like the shepherd in Luke 18. If we have 12 kids attending our church and only one isn't, we need to go out and search for that one. Why? Because he or she is a child of God-a lost sheep that needs to be carried home.

Prayer Focus: Pray that we would empower the reconnecting ministries of youth and young adults. Pray that we would make ourselves available to advocate, equip, involve, and cooperate with them in this ministry.

Recommended Resource: The Center for Creative Ministry "Youth and Young Adult Reconnecting Resources" Click Here.

______________________


 

Nancy Canwell
Nancy Canwell


 


 










If you have missed any of the previous articles of the Reconnecting Ministries Series you may find them all here: Click Here

POMPRAY ONE MILLION

The vertical banners are available for purchase ($115 shipping included - contact 1donj@earthlink.net)
What some churches are doing to implement the Pray One Million Initiative:
  • Using the Pray One Million banner to highlight the event:
    • In the Sanctuary as a weekly reminder
    • During Prayer Weekends/Events
  • Including 1 minute of silent prayer during the worship hour as a reminder, to encourage participation and to have that one minute where we all join forces in prayer for the POM initiative.
  • Inviting the children to join with us (working with Sabbath School Classes)
  • Asking the members to submit the names they are praying for to the prayer ministry so the prayer ministry can join them in their prayers.
  • Encourage participants to pray prayers of blessing for the person they are praying for.
What ideas is God giving to you and your church or conference? Please share them with us.
 

YearOfPrayer2014 NAD YEAR OF PRAYER
CalendarCalendar
NAD Day of Prayer - January 3, 2015
Watch for more information 

10 Days of Prayer - January 7-17, 2015
For More Information 

 

North American Division Prayer Ministries Newsletter
Editor, Michael Roland

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