Mission Moment
April 2013:
Facebook, Twitter, E-mail, Instagram...how connected are we really on a personal level?
March 2013:
“What high school did you go to?” is one of the most popular St. Louis questions. “What did you give up for Lent?” is probably the most popular question this time of year. Rather than thinking in terms of giving up, let's take this time to look at what we have been given as believers in Jesus Christ and share that Good News with those we come in contact with.
February 2013:
Humility. Modesty. What a concept! If many of our problems are caused by a lack of humility (pride), then we will need to think differently to solve them. The thinking that got us into trouble cannot get us out. When you are in trouble, humble yourself before God and receive His grace to help in time of need. "Do not think of yourself more highly than you should. Instead, be modest in your thinking." (Romans 12:3) - David Jeremiah.
January 2013:
Don't set your goals and expectations for something not-here. You may miss realizing that here is precisely where we can meet and serve God in and through the people around us and with us. St. Louis is where we are for a reason. Let us find joy in every journey this New Year.
December 2012:
God has an amazing way of opening locked doors. He clears the way for His work to move forward – even when all the parties involved don’t necessarily acknowledge Him! Prison Fellowship is all about the exciting ways God works: He opens locked hearts through the ministry of churches and volunteers; He breaks the chains of sin that keep inmates [and their families] in bondage to a criminal lifestyle; He uses the transformation of prisoners to show the world the depth and efficacy of His grace. - Jim Liske, Prison Fellowship Ministries
November 2012:
Over 1 million children become orphans every year, and every year 7 million children grow to adulthood as orphans with no family and no place to call home. Adoption by a Christian family is the best way for these children to become adopted children of God. Not all are called to adopt, but anyone can love and minister to orphan children by supporting other families who have or are considering adoption or foster care.
October 2012:
When James Calvert went out as a missionary to the cannibals of the Fiji Islands, the ship captain tried to turn him back, saying, "You will lose your life and the lives of those with you if you go among such savages." To that, Calvert replied, "We died before we came here."
September 2012:
Mother Teresa said, ― Draw them [the poor] to God, but never, never to yourself. If you are not drawing them to God, then you are seeking yourself, and people love you for yourself and not because you remind them of Christ. Remember those who are non-Christian/un-churched in your prayers at all times. It may take years of prayer, but in the end, won't it be worth it?
August 2012:
July 20th - August 18th is the Islamic month of Ramadan (Arabic: رمضان). Over 1 billion Muslims spend their daylight hours in complete fast (dawn to sunset) and praying during these 30 days. The last 10 days are perhaps their most spiritual. They will spend a lot of time reading the Quran and teaching it to their children, as it says: “He who provides a fasting person something with which to break his fasting, or he who equips a ‘fighter’ with the means to motivate and maintain his fast, will earn the same reward as the one doing it.” Please include the Muslim people in your prayers. Most of us have close associations, either in our neighborhood or work environments, and opportunities for us to pray specifically. Just one person led to salvation could have a huge effect among their people.
July 2012:
Many of our Christian brothers and sisters suffer under brutal conditions in labor camps. In North Korea alone, 50,000 prisoners will work there until they die. Some are used for human experimentation. Felons, religious leaders, spies and their families are imprisoned together. Although the average sentence is 15 yrs, the average life expectancy in a labor camp is only 7 yrs and very few survive. Up to three generations of entire families have been detained in government efforts to “root out class enemies.” – Voice of the Martyrs
June 2012:
The Church of the Nazarene is now ministering in 159 world areas. Three new areas are: South Sudan (Africa Region); Turks and Caicos (Mesoamerica Region); Creative Access Area 10. We thank God for the expansion of the work of the Church and ask that you pray for nationals and missionaries working in all 159 world areas.
