The Prayer Room: An Interview
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People of all ages have been visiting the prayer room this week. I wanted you to hear from one 17-year-old member of our church, Kristin Hoover, about what motivated her to come to pray and how the prayer room affected her.
1. Why did you come to prayer room?
I went to the prayer room to pray for my own soul, the soul of my friends and the rest of the youth group. I went to have an undistracted and focused time of praying Scripture and seeking the Lord for one of the biggest burdens on my heart—to see God’s spirit and power captivate the lives of the youth in our church.
2. What were you affected by as you prayed through the prayer points?
Many of the prayer points made me even more grateful for the friends I have that are modeling their lives after Scripture. And as I was praying through the prayer points, Ephesians 2:19-20 affected me as I considered that we are together “the household of God,” a family. What a precious way to care for the members of God’s family by praying for them. I am so glad that the entire church is praying for the next generation this week. We do need to be cared for by the other members of the body, and there is such a sense of unity, love and family care when the church gives itself to seeking God on behalf of its youth.
3. Did you come away from the prayer room with any new burdens on your heart?
I think I came away with a renewed burden for revival among the youth; to see God revealed to the youth in a powerful way so that there is a quickening of our hearts after the things of God. I also came away with a fresh burden to seek, seek, seek God’s word to better know God’s will for how I am to live. I have such a burden to see myself, my friends and the whole youth group live in the joyful safety of God’s word and to live in the fear of the Lord; taking his word and commandments seriously as the only right standard by which to live your life.
4. Anything you’d want to say to adults about this week of prayer for the next generation?
I am so grateful for all the people that have visited the prayer room and have sought God for all of us! We need it! I want to encourage the entire church to be seeking God on behalf of the youth, regardless of your age or whether or not you have any teenagers yourself. This is part of expressing care for one another in the body of Christ. This is a big part of your family that needs to meet the Lord in a unique way right now. Please don’t take your opportunity to invest in our lives lightly.
July 23 2008 at 12:09 pm
Pablo’s Testimony
1 CommentsLast Sunday we had five baptisms. One young man baptized was Pablo Zalduondo. I wanted to share the testimony he shared before being baptized because it’s particularly relevant to our Week of Prayer as we pray for the youth of our church—especially prodigals like Pablo.
I was raised for most of my life in Covenant Life Church. From kindergarten to eighth grade I attended Covenant Life School and church every Sunday. Yet I was rebellious and prideful in my ways even as a child. I left Covenant Life School in eighth grade. Once in public school I had before me everything I believed I wanted. I quickly grabbed everything I could; friends, alcohol and drugs. These things completely enveloped me and consumed me for years. After years I realized I had everything I wanted, yet my hatred for life became out of control. My anger led me to join the Marine Corps after high school. My intention was to be able to legally kill and take my hatred out on others. Anger led constantly to violence, more drugs and a completely self-destructive lifestyle. I began to blame the Marine Corps for my problems. My desperation became out of control. I needed a savior.
About six months after I was released from active duty, my father gave me some messages to listen to. Only by God’s grace did I listen to the messages. Only by the grace and mercy of God could the selfish, sinful, prideful, arrogant person I was, listen to messages defending and affirming the work of Jesus Christ on the cross. The Holy Spirit began to move and transform my heart slowly yet surely. I turned from my sin and trusted in Christ. The first thing that God ripped from my life was my anger, how thankful I am for being freed from this sin that consumed me. He continues to work in me through the Holy Spirit to make me more like His Son, Jesus Christ. I wish to be baptized today to obey Christ’s command. I am honored to be baptized here at Covenant Life Church.
After he shared his testimony, I asked Pablo to lead the congregation in praying for the prodigal sons and daughters of our church. In this week devoted to praying for the next generation, please pray for the young men and women of our church who are not walking with the Lord. Ask God to draw them back to Himself as he mercifully did with Pablo.
July 21 2008 at 2:30 pm
Beginning Our Week of Prayer
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Today we launch our Week of Prayer, focusing on the next generation.
We have set aside the room above the bookstore as our prayer room, open 5 a.m. to midnight today through Thursday, and 5 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Friday. Also please join us Friday night at 7 p.m. in the Auditorium for our ministry night, a time of worship and prayer for our youth.
Even if you can’t make it to the prayer room, please check out the prayer points from the room, which we’ve posted here. I will be posting some of the prayer points from the room throughout the week to help us in lifting up the next generation together.
For today, please be praying for our youth, for their growing relationship with God.
• Pray for genuine conversions among the youth in our ministry.
• Ask God to give our youth an increasing love for God and his Word.
• Pray that God would grow the ministry’s passion for him and his glory.
• Pray that God would protect and guard the youth in the area of purity.
This week also leads up to the Rebelution conference for youth and parents, led by my brothers Alex and Brett, who have also written a book of the same theme entitled Do Hard Things. Please be praying that the Lord would powerfully use the conference this Saturday to draw many of our youth into a deeper relationship with their Savior, and encourage them to attempt great things for our great God.
July 21 2008 at 3:00 am
Applying “Don’t Waste Your Vote”
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The artwork for yesterday’s message, “Don’t Waste Your Vote,” was created by Seth Remsnyder. Don’t hesitate to post a comment encouraging Seth and the other artists who are using their gifts in support of the series.
Robin Boisvert preached from Romans 13:1-7, considering what are the privileges and responsibilities of being citizens. If you missed the message or want to listen again, you can get it here. For those who want to go deeper on this topic, here is a brief article (Windows: right click, and choose “Save Target As”; Mac: CTRL click, and choose “Download Linked File”) that Robin has written on the relationship between Church and State.
Finally, here are some questions prepared by pastor Don DeVries to help you apply the message in your personal devotions, family times or care groups:
1. Romans 13 teaches that civil government is established by God, is a servant of God and is a gift from God. Is that how you think about civil government? What about your thinking needs to change in order to align your thoughts with God’s word?
2. We can often take for granted the blessings and freedoms of our political process. If you’re a citizen of the United States, what reasons do you have to be grateful for that?
3. Robin encouraged us to be informed about the issues and a candidate’s convictions about the issues. What practical things can you do to think wisely and biblically about various issues, including the critical issue of abortion?
4. Robin reminded us that God is sovereign over all earthly powers—He raises up kings and He deposes kings (see Daniel 4). How should this eternal perspective direct your heart to trust in God even if the election outcome isn’t what you are hoping for?
July 19 2008 at 8:55 am
Note From a Guest
0 CommentsI was so grateful to receive this letter from a first-time guest. Covenant Life members, I hope in this report you see the difference your kindness and service makes every Sunday.
My husband and I visited your church Sunday and were tremendously blessed and challenged by the entire experience from the time we walked in the door to the time we left the parking lot. The organization of everything from parking to children’s ministry (and we don’t even have kids yet!), the way your members went out of their way to greet us, the music, and the message all worked together to open our hearts to what God revealed to us that day. Thank you.
The reason I write (beyond just wanting to thank you) is because several of the songs we heard Sunday were new to us but deeply impressed us with their rich words and melodies we’d not heard before. I would love to know the names of the songs so that I can attempt to find a recording of them. Can you give them to me?Thanks in advance for any help you can offer. We plan to be back this coming Sunday!
Blessings,
Kristi
Kristi, thank you so much for your encouragement. In answer to your question—and for anyone else wondering the same thing—pastor Mike Bradshaw led us in singing these songs:
• Holy is the Lord, by Chris Tomlin (Found on Passion’s Sacred Revolution CD.)
• It Was Your Grace, by Mark Altrogge (Found on the Valley of Vision CD)
• I Come by the Blood, by Steve and Vikki Cook (Found on the Songs for the Cross Centered Life CD)
• Grace Unmeasured, by Bob Kauflin (Found on the Worship God Live CD)
July 18 2008 at 9:27 am
Looking Ahead to Sunday
0 CommentsThis coming Sunday a young man who grew up in our church, Judah Groveman, will be leading our time of worship in song. Judah is in a band called Zelos and has used his musical gifts to serve the church for many years (the Groveman kids are the ones who form a wonderful string quartet that you’ve probably seen featured on a Sunday or at a wedding or two!)
I’m going to be doing baptisms this Sunday—three Covenant Life members in each service. Come ready to rejoice as they recount the power of the gospel in changing their lives.
Robin Boisvert is sharing a message titled “Don’t Waste Your Vote.” Please leave your Obama or McCain t-shirts at home—as a church we’re not interested in identifying with a political party or a particular candidate. Rather, preaching from Romans 13:1-7, Robin is going to help us all think biblically about our privileges and responsibilities as citizens. Please pray for Robin as he prepares this important message.
See you Sunday!