Crosslinks prayer news April 2008 |
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1 Chris Pocock, a NEXT volunteer, returns today after developing the Mekelle youth centre facilities in Ethiopia. Praise God for relationships formed by these volunteers with the young people and the opportunities to share the Lord Jesus with them.
The Arctic, Canada
2 Following 80 years of Crosslinks involvement in the Diocese of the Arctic, Jean Turner and Carol Charles, who are researching that history, will speak at an informal lunchtime event today at the Crosslinks London office. Pray that many will attend and be challenged in their own lives.
3 Pray for Bishop Andrew Atagotaaluk of the Diocese of the Arctic and for the Regional Bishops Larry Robertson and Ben Arreak. Pray for the people, lay leaders and clergy of the diocese. Please remember the work of the Synod office staff in Yellowknife and the translation team.
4 Pray for the Arthur Turner Training School in Pangnirtung, which trains locally raised up people for ordained ministry in the diocese. Pray for the parish in Iqaluit as it continues to work toward rebuilding St. Jude's cathedral following a devastating fire.
5 Andrew Lines is preparing this week to speak at the New Word Alive conference 7-11 April. Pray that those who attend are challenged by God's Word especially with regard to mission and outreach.
S6 Alan Purser is visiting Nigeria and preaching today at the Chapel of Redemption Church, Abuja. He will be speaking at the annual conference of the Association of Nigerian University Chaplains from 7-11 April.7 Praise God that within the recent budget help was given to charities to continue claiming Gift Aid at last year’s level even though the personal income tax rate has gone down, and praise Him for all those who make use of this way of increasing their giving.
8 Please pray for efforts to serve current Crosslinks supporters and interest new people in mission. Pray that the information leaflets available at Spring Harvest are all taken and used well.
South America / Australia
9 Greg Venables is the Presiding Bishop of the Province of the Southern Cone of America. His leadership of the Province is key as this includes regions linked theologically rather than geographically. Pray for him and the bishops he represents as they seek godly solutions to many difficult situations. Pray too for Greg's role in the Global Anglican Future Conference in June, to which Crosslinks' General Secretary Andy Lines has also been invited.
10 Gonzalo Alvarez is a Chilean based in the UK. As a short term project partner, he is co-ordinating Moore College correspondence courses for Cuban church leaders through Cuba para Cristo (Cuba for Christ). It aims to support Cuban churches by funding pastors, arranging Bible teaching conferences, providing books and other resources and translating and publishing Christian literature.
11 Please pray for Paulina Cox, a short term project partner who is a Chilean married to Andrew, an Australian. She works for Moore College in Latin America as a translator and helps administer the course. One aim of the project is to produce an increased amount of good biblical resource material in the form of External Studies courses from Moore College, as well as good books and resource materials that are enormously lacking in Latin America.
12 Please remember David and Rachel Williams and their family who have now moved from Kenya to Australia. Though still a Crosslinks Associate, David is the CMS Australia's Development and Training Secretary with a role in helping to develop strategy for the organisation. Adjustment for all the family will take time.
S13 Remember all those who are preaching God's Word around the world today, especially Tim Houghton and Rob Mullock from the Crosslinks staff. Pray for similar opportunities for them in the coming months.
14 There are five candidates attending a selection conference which starts today. Pray that through the interviews and presentations the interviewers have wisdom in assessing the candidates’ future involvement with Crosslinks.
15 At the end of March Zimbabwe held presidential, parliamentary and local elections on the same day. As the losing party struggles to accept the result, pray that the country can brake the crippling inflation figures and start to rebuild the economy.
16 Each week the Lewisham College Christian Fellowship meet in the Crosslinks staff room for fellowship. Pray they may be encouraged in a challenging environment.
17 Thank God for those who pray regularly for Crosslinks at their local meeting. Please remember the special event at the Chelmsford prayer meeting to be held on 19 April.
18 The United Nations special envoy to Myanmar, Ibrahim Gambari, has held further meetings with officials from the military government in Yangon, despite their rejection of his reform proposals. Pray for protection for the vulnerable people of that country.
England
19 The Plant, with Phil and Louise Keymer, and John and Flick Hindley, is a network of three churches in the university areas of Manchester and Salford, open to all who want to work out who Jesus Christ is and why he matters. Pray for them on Sunday and Monday as they resume their normal services.
S20 Simon and Rachel Dowdy give thanks for the team at Grace Church Dulwich. Judy Lawrence, from Sydney, is the new women's worker and Mark Jackson is assistant minister. Pray that those who attend would not only hear the Word of God, but also accept it.
21 David and Jane Gibbs at Grace Church Wanstead ask prayer for the right person to fill their apprentice position. Pray too for the 35 children of the church, that they would be nurtured in a godly way at home, in the services and at Sunday School.
22 Hugo and Jenny Charteris, Crosslinks Associates, are leading a church plant, Christ Church Heaton, which has moved from their home to meet in a local art gallery. Another associate, Tony Jones, leads Christ Church Durham. Pray that God's Word would be clearly heard in those communities and the Gospel spread.
23 Over the past few months the Crosslinks Standing Committee (meeting today) has been acting as a steering group of a full review which began last November. Having listened to supporters, staff and consultants, they are in the process of making important changes. Pray that the society can work more effectively in mission as a result.
24 "Church on a Bus" is for those who find the Sunday meetings at Christ Church Sheffield (led by Tim Davies) hard to access. Pray that they would come to understand and trust the Gospel, finding forgiveness in the cross of Jesus Christ and have their lives re-created through the work of the Holy Spirit.
25 Andy Lines is attending and leading four Bible Studies at the International Church Days Conference, Vaasa, Finland from 25-27 April; over 150 are expected to attend. Praise God that Mandy is able to accompany him on this visit.
26 Kola and Ada Ajomale praise God for blessing the work in the Bluecoats School, Walsall where more pupils are taking an active part in the Christian Union. While the Discipleship Class is growing, pray for the CYFA group to show a similar increase in numbers.
S27 Please pray for Karen and Andrew Jefferys speaking at St Simon and St Jude with All Souls at Southport. Pray that they would clearly share about the work of mission partner, Bridget Hathaway, and have safe travels.
28 Dawn and Chris Styles work with the many overseas visitors to Hastings, teaching English and following up individual contacts. Pray that, in a country which has greater freedom to explore the truth, each of those they are in touch with will be challenged by the love of God and want to learn more.
29 Sam Hopwood has been working with Sena and Jane Ounate Lare in Togo for the past four months. Pray for him as he returns to England today and makes his past experience part of his UK life.
30 Henry and Dinah Shaheen are working amongst the Assyrian people in West London. Many have families who are exposed to threats, terror and violence in other countries. Pray that God will give them the comfort and help they need as they give support over the miles.