2014 Week 23

I speak the truth in Christ—I am not lying, my conscience confirms it through the Holy Spirit— (2) I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart.  (3) For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my people, those of my own race, (4) the people of Israel.  Theirs is the adoption to sonship; theirs the divine glory, the covenants, the receiving of the law, the temple worship and the promises.  (5) Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them is traced the human ancestry of the Messiah, who is God over all, forever praised!  Amen.  Romans 9:1-5 (NIV)

(2) Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.  (3) And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains.  (4) Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should.  (5) Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity.  (6) Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.  Colossians 4:2-6 (NIV)

1. May the Lord through His Spirit, give us that sense of urgency and burden (as He did to the apostle Paul) to see those dear to us, family members, friends, co-workers come to know Christ as personal saviour and follow Him as Lord of our lives.  Pray for opportunities to share the Gospel to others as well as follow the Spirit`s leading in our interaction with others.

2. Praise the Lord for our 44th anniversary celebration and His faithfulness and goodness to us for all these years.  May the Lord continue to use NYCBC for the furtherance of His kingdom.  We thank the Lord for the many of His servants who have laboured tirelessly and given of themselves sacrificially over the years.  Their labor in the Lord will not be in vain.  Our church theme for this year is "Live out Christ`s way. Lift high Christ`s name."  Pray that we will indeed be salt and light to those around us.

3. Continue to pray for the Building project.  We still need to fulfill the expanded ministry that God has given us as represented by the building, and we still need to pay for the loan on the project.  Pray for the ministry of the gospel, and for the good stewardship of the premises/resources with which God has blessed us.  Pray for the remaining spaces still to be leased.  Pray for the New Building Dedication Service to be held on June 14th.  May it be a time of both celebration and recommitment of our lives to God (2 Chronicles 6 and 7).

4. Pray for the Pastoral staff, Board of Deacons, ESC core leaders, ministry group members as well as other leaders.  Pray as they continue to serve and seek the Lord`s guidance for the future of our church they will indeed  be good shepherds of God`s flock that has been entrusted to them.  Pray for God`s grace to make them strong, firm and steadfast in the midst of daily pressures.  To Him be the power for ever and ever.

5. Pray for our youth and upcoming generation of new leaders in our church.  May the Lord continue to equip and strengthen them as they seek to reach out to their peers and minister to them in creative ways relevant to a new generation that has yet to be impacted and transformed by the Gospel of Christ.  Pray for all the summer activities taking place with opportunities to connect with  non believers and build redemptive relationships.  Pray for the reorganization of fellowship groups as they seek to best minister to the newcomers coming to the meetings or various activities each week.  Continue to pray for the Youth Pastoral Search committee as they seek to discern the appropriate candidate for the vacant Youth Pastor position.

6. Pray for the Adult Sunday School class "Myers-Briggs personality descriptions and life in Christ" taught by Paul Zung.  As we appreciate the particular strengths, needs and vulnerabilities of biblical  characters and then ourselves, may we indeed get a better understanding of how we should function and serve according the type of person that God has called us to be.

7. Continue to pray for the ESC to being able to be more fruitful and produce more disciple-making Christians amongst us.  Pray for those already mentoring others as well those who are being mentored.  Pray for the Lord to give us patience and perseverance to build a good foundation in those believers who will be able in return to reproduce and pass on what they have learnt to others.

8. Pray for those amongst us going on short term mission this summer or for the upcoming year.  Pray for God's Spirit to be at work to the people that they will be ministering to.  Pray for their fundraising and prayer support.  Pray for God to protect and sustain them as well as enlarge their vision.  Continue to pray for our missionaries serving in various other parts of the world.  May the Lord continue to use them to minister to people who have yet to hear the salvation message through Christ as well as equip the local believers to carry on the task of making disciples of all nations.

9. Continue to pray for the teaching  received from the pulpit and various other venues.  As we are challenged by God's word and being reminded of His grace to us, may we become not just listeners but also doers of the Word and become faithful disciples of His, willing to count the cost and follow Him.  May the Lord give us discipline, power and perseverance to do all this.