Season of Joy! (not necessarily happiness...)
Let me get right to it. Fresh in my mind today are a number of people in our lives going through some major hardships and because it's this time of year, all the mention of being merry and happy can make it even more difficult. I'll mention some of those prayer requests in a moment, but it's at times like this where we need to know that Jesus has come. We still look forward to a 2nd coming but He has come.
"Joy" to the world is not a fleeting thought or a baseless hope, it is in fact, the reality that we hold to because Jesus has entered this world and through those who follow Him, He, by the Spirit in us, continues to make His presence known "far as the curse is found". It can be tough living here where the "curse is found", but His presence and Kingdom has come. There isn't always happiness or merriment as that Kingdom continues to emerge, but where Jesus is, there can be 'joy'.
Would you pray for....
- Mark and his family, a close friend in need of employment
- a marriage/health situation
- Kelly, a friend with health concerns
- a Pastor friend's (and his wife's) marriage
- the loved ones of Harry (a 50 some year old inner-city pastor, and host of mission teams, in Winnipeg, MB) and Lisa (a 17 year old Gateway Team member from Bismarck, ND)
Also, please pray for me over the next month and a half especially as I'll be traveling most of January to Cameroon and leading a Gateway Team. The team consists of a very special group of youth pastors who will be connecting with youth workers in Cameroon as we meet together, pray for each other and discover together some principles from Christ's life for discipleship.
Prayer requests for the Cameroon Gateway Team (January 7-25) -
- First off, pray for Godwill Ncham (our main host receiver)
o for his responsibilities over this huge area of ministry
o for new leaders that he is investing in
o for his family
- That we take time to invest in Godwill's life and the lives of some new up and coming leaders.
- That we encourage application in local churches and would equip leaders
- That we encourage these leaders to take what they learn and apply it in their ministry
- That we would build upon the foundation of partnership that has already been established - Our Gateway Team’s air and ground travel safety and health
- Our training time in Chicago
- Our families back home during the month of January
Also, please pray for other travel I (and we) have over the next 90 days to the Bahamas, Mississippi, Arizona, Kentucky, Tennessee, northern and central Wisconsin, Washington, Oregon and Pennsylvania.
It's a busy time ahead and we have much to be thankful about. Please join us in prayer for all of these items and folks. And, have a very blessed and joyous Christmas. The Lord has come!
Randy
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