Church Blog

December 31 2008 at 12:24 pm

Let’s Pray for the Uganda E-team

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Last Sunday we prayed for the team of 22 young men and women who leave this Friday for the village of Kiburara in western-most Uganda. The team will serve our friend, Pastor Moses, and his church through Jan. 14, preaching the gospel at outreach gatherings and leading a youth conference for about 700 youth and singles.

When a similar team from Covenant Life visited Kibuara last year, many heard and received the gospel, and two small village churches were planted in the days following the trip. The team returned to Gaithersburg with news of the dire need for clean drinking water, and the singles of our church proceeded to raise over $40,000 to build three wells (in partnership with Covenant Mercies). These wells now provide clean water to over 3000 people. The money also helped with a building project and the purchase of a portable sound system.

The team has asked us to pray that:

• Many people will hear of and believe in Christ
• the team will proclaim and demonstrate the gospel with boldness, humility and wisdom
• the team will be sensitive to, and obedient to, the Holy Spirit
• God will give them many divine appointments
• the church members and Pastor Moses would be encouraged and strengthened by the team
• the team will have a significant impact on the youth attending the conference
• the team will be characterized by joy, humility, prayer and service
• the team will be protected from any harm, whether spiritual or physical

Let’s regularly lift up our brothers and sisters over the next two weeks as they serve our sister church in Uganda.

 

 






September 25 2008 at 12:12 pm

Praying for Iran

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A couple weeks ago, we prayed as a congregation for the nation of Iran. Among the things we prayed about was the bill before Iranian parliament to mandate the death penalty for Muslims convicted of apostasy. I wanted to follow up and let you know what has taken place. The bill passed by overwhelming majority in favor of the death penalty. In fact, just two days before the vote two Iranian Christians were charged with apostasy.

However, although apostasy is now a capital offense, judges are free to decide what penalty will be given, and the two men await their penalty. Please pray for these men, for other believers in Iran and for the leaders of this nation.

Here is some additional information that can help us pray for Iran:

Formerly known as Persia, Iran is the seat of one of the world’s oldest major civilizations, and Persian history figures prominently in the pages of the Old Testament.  Today, this nation rich with history and culture faces grave circumstances.  Human trafficking has been internationally recognized as a significant problem, religious persecution causes thousands of people to emigrate each year, and poverty and unemployment continue to rise.

Despite these circumstances, God’s unstoppable plan is unfolding in Iran.  It is believed that people are responding to the gospel in great number.  These converts face great cost as pressure from family, friends, and Islam looms ominously in their lives.  By God’s grace and in spite of the isolation from the outside world of believers, the young church in Iran thrives.

Still, most of Iran’s 65 million people adhere to Shi’a Islam.  This month, they will join Muslims around the world in celebrating Ramadan, a time of fasting, prayer and purifying themselves through self-restraint and good deeds.

Pray…

• for the Iranians and Muslims here in our community as they celebrate Ramadan, that they would see that only Jesus can purify them and reconcile them to God.
• for Muslims in Iran who convert to Christianity as they potentially face significant penalties. Ask that God would protect Muslim-background believers in Iran and that they will stand strong against tremendous pressure to return to Islam.
• for the rapidly growing church in Iran, that God would raise up godly pastors and leaders and that they would be firmly grounded in biblical truth.

 

 






August 13 2008 at 1:35 pm

Clean Water!

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In May and June, our singles ministry raised over $40,000 to provide clean water to Kibuara, Uganda, where our friend Moses pastors a church.  This gift was able to finance two wells in the town and one in a village where Moses just planted a new church. The remaining money will help with the church’s building project and buy them a small, portable sound system.

Construction on the wells began right away in partnership with Covenant Mercies, and we just received news that they are operational and the 3000 residents of Kibuara (almost 1/2 of whom are children) now have clean, sustainable drinking water. I’m grateful to God for the generosity of our singles! 

 






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