2010 week 10

Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. Hebrews 4:16 (NIV).

1. Please remember one another in prayer. It is a privilege to intercede for those in need. Our pattern is the saints of the Bible who prayed for God's people, and our Lord Jesus who prayed for us before we came along, and who continues to intercede on our behalf before the Father. Ask God to make us a community of prayer, with prayer the foundational commitment of our life together.

2. A number of our brothers and sisters have close family members who are seriously ill. Please lift each sufferer and their families up to God in prayer. Ask the Lord to help them deal with the illness and experience the love of Christ in their midst:
- Pray for CS's father, who is suffering from lung cancer. He has been responding well to chemotherapy. Ask for the treatment to bring physical healing. Pray also for his heart to be opened to the good news of Jesus Christ. Ask God to bless CS's family with his salvation.
- Pray for Trang's father, Chinh Nguyen, who is suffering end-stage lung cancer which has spread through his body. Ask God to fulfill Trang's prayer for her parents to turn to Jesus, and to know the love and grace of God. Pray for Mr. Nguyen's physical and mental health as he goes through chemotherapy.
- Pray for Maria's dad, Jose DeSousa, who is of advanced age, and who is adjusting to new medication for a heart valve that does not work properly. Please pray for adequate care, and the need for a care-giver who can speak Portuguese.

3. Please pray for Nelson's family whose father went to be with the Lord on February 25, 2010. Ask the Lord to comfort Mr. Lau's family members - wife, children and grandchildren. Ask the Lord to give strength and presence of mind for the funeral on March 6 to celebrate his life and draw assurance from the knowledge that he is in the Lord's presence.

4. Please pray for the ESC Adult Sunday School class in March. The subject is "Masculinity - Femininity: Identity at a Cross Road." Pray for the preparation of VL, the teacher, and for students to learn and apply the truths taught.

5. Please continue to pray for our missionaries:
- Please pray for CY who has now been busy in South Asia with literacy workshops and language learning. Pray for her health, especially to get over a cough. Give thanks that she is currently staying with a loving and helpful host family. Pray for God's provision for suitable accommodations with a room-mate next month - CY's preference is for company, while her room-mate prefers quiet. Pray also for safety getting to and from classes, and also for upcoming out of country travel.
- E&B who continue with work in South Asia, and will soon be moving house again.
- R&E on home assignment from East Asia will need to visit many supporting churches in the USA before returning to the field in late summer.
- Others in East Asia: E, R&M, C.
- Pray for the Wall's in France.
- Remember the Ng's and the Chim's doing short-term work in Panama.
- JM in Mexico needs a visa which is being held up due to the wait for paperwork needed to make the application.

6. Please pray for short term missionaries, Olivia and Pia, who are in Malawi until March 5(communities of Mgona, Njewa and Mngwangwa). They will be with the agency, WOW (Women for Orphans and Widows), working with the local organization, Somebody Cares, which shares Jesus Christ with orphans and widows affected by HIV/AIDS. Work Olivia and Pia will be involved in:
- Join home-based care workers and visit the sick and dying in their homes
- Create memory books for HIV/AIDS affected families
- Provide encouragement and spiritual care to those in need
- Provide bible teaching and basic health care to widows, home-based care workers, community leaders and pastors
- Help with rehabilitating widow's homes (new roof and doors)
- Help with gardening and tree planting
- Participate in rural church services on Sundays
- Visit other WOW supported communities surrounding Lilongwe.

7. Please pray for Josh Lau, who is on a missions trip to Dakar, Senegal on the western coast of Africa from February 26 to March 13 with teachers and students of Peoples Christian Academy. Their outreach efforts to students there will include leading a VBS type program, chapel presentations and serving local street kids through organized activities and sports events. Pray that the work of the Holy Spirit will be clearly felt among the people there and among the members of their team. Pray for spiritual growth, good health and safety.

8. There are brothers and sisters among us who are looking for work and/or are otherwise dealing with the challenges of today's economic situation. Pray for endurance and hopefulness for those who are dealing with change, and looking for new work. Ask for God to provide suitable work. May the Spirit help them to make decisions concerning their jobs, and perhaps their careers. Ask the Lord to grant guidance and peace as they depend on him.

9. Please continue to pray for the church building project:
- Praise the Lord! The bank loan has been approved! This is a major milestone which shows that God is at work among us. Glory be to his name!
- This means that the Building Committee will now turn their attention to getting the building permit, confirming the contractor, working with the MiniSkool on the timeline to vacate, working on getting ready to build, etc. Please pray for the next steps in the building project.
- Please pray positive and effective member participation for the ongoing "Piggy Bank" coin-saving project which will be run through the year, and for other fund-raising efforts.