Pray for New Hope

The Bertolinis sent out an email to all of us in the New Hope online directory, and I thought it would be great to share here on the Connection, too. Let's ask God to really bless us for His glory!

Hello everyone!

One of the privileges we have as a body of believers is to pray for each other and to pray for our church. Since we know that we are not smart enough, cool enough, or cutting-edge enough to grow any church by ourselves, we must totally depend upon the grace of God to enable us to ever touch a heart, reach a soul, or change a lifestyle.

We desperately need the prayers of our people pleading with God on behalf of our church to make a difference in our community – and frankly, to keep ourselves from hurting, sinning against, and destroying one another – because that’s what our enemy has in mind for us. Therefore, we implore you to pray for our church every day – and here is a plan to help you do just that. Seven requests for seven days of the week. Will you covenant to pray for one each day?

1. Please pray for our facility. As you may know, after August we have a month to month lease. Pray that we will be able to use this building for as long as we need it. Pray that we can find a better place if God wills. Pray that everything will continue to work as it should – the air conditioning, heat, the plumbing. Pray that we will know how to configure things in the Fall when inevitably we run out of space once again.

2. Pray diligently for our children and youth. Pray for our teachers and helpers as they work with our kids, that God will give them passion and skill. Pray that we will be able to raise up a generation of students that love God and are committed to serving him. Pray that they will truly enjoy coming to church and that they will be protected from injury.

3. Lift up our leadership in prayer that they will be able to make wise decisions for our church. Pray that each one would be becoming more like Christ every day, and that they would be kept strong in the faith and holy. Pray that they might truly be able to lead others in righteous living through personal example. Pray that God would be raising up others from our congregation to take places of leadership.

4. Don’t forget to pray for every time our church has an opportunity to impact our community and the world. Pray for our Awana program and the many students that come from un-churched homes. Pray we will show Christ-like attitudes on the softball field. Pray for our upcoming Christmas Dessert Theater and all who are invited that they will come to know God. Pray for our annual foray into the Alien Parade. Pray for our church family around the world, representing our Lord in foreign countries.

5. Pray for our Bible Studies in action throughout the week. Pray that our people will be taught the truth of the Word of God and that it will help them to grow strong in Him. Pray for our teachers to be empowered by God, for the conversations that come from the study be helpful, and for many to participate in these opportunities for real body life. Pray for direction for the Women’s Studies in the Fall.

6. Please pray for our financial needs as a church. Pray that we will be wise in the way we spend money for ministry. Pray that we will be able to meet our obligations. Pray that our membership’s giving will be faithful and sacrificial and a cause of great joy as they participate in God’s work. Pray we will know what to cut if we are not able to make ends meet.

7. Pray for the needs of our individual members to be met – spiritually, relationally, physically. Pray for the service on Sunday morning, that the teaching and the worship will touch hearts right where they are at and prompt us all to a closer walk with God. Pray for those of us that have bodies that are not working as they should to be able to cope and even thrive. Pray that we will all be looking after the interests of others and we will encourage, uplift, and bear each others burdens.