Dear Watchman Prayer Warriors:

“Prayer is the most important activity of disciples of Jesus Christ. Yet today’s church is bereft of prayer. Why? Do we feel we don’t know a formula that will get us success with God? Do we fear we lack a vocabulary to get God’s attention? Do we despair of prayer because it is hard work? Do we have insufficient values that make our prayers so few? Are we afraid mere words will fail our hearts and not reach the Father’s ears? Do we fear that God is such a judge that our expressions cannot move His heart?

Romans 8:26-27 (ESV) gives us the reason why what we say and what words we use in talking to the Father may not be so important. “Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.”

The Holy Spirit is our ally in prayer. He takes our words, our groanings, even our tears, and makes their meanings known to the Father. And, our Father desires to hear and understand us.

We do have a good, good Father in heaven. He loves us. He desires our stammering and our babbling. He wants to know us and hear us. So He listens to the Spirit interpret the desires of our hearts. He hears the explanations of our pains and our joys. No matter how our prayers fall short because we pray, the Father knows. The Father hears. The Father listens. The Father takes joy in every word, every groan, every tear we share with him.

So, why do we fear and fail in prayer when the Father loves our stumbling prayers? Let us approach the throne with bold faith, convinced that the Holy Spirit will give our prayers their fullest meaning. Our loving Father will hear and respond.”

Walter Norvell teaches in the Christian Ministries Department at Williams Baptist College. He is a member of FBC Walnut Ridge.

Hopefully, you are inspired by Walter Norvell’s words on prayer. Thank you for your faithfulness to pray!

Your praying friends,Mike and Clara CromerPrayer Ministry 

MAY BIRTHDAYSGary Williams 11th

Watchman Prayer Guide Volume 139, May 2016

"I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone."

1Timothy 2:1 

Patience Holt 12th

Mark Carter 12th

Brian Spigner 17th Eric Jones 25th

Upcoming Church Events for May

May 16-30ABSC College Mission Trip to Israel

Please pray for Brandon Watson as he leads several college students from the State of Arkansas to do ministry in Israel. This is a project coordinated through the Arkansas Baptist State Convention and in partnership with Jews for Jesus. Please pray for God to open the hearts of Jews to accept Jesus Christ as Messiah. Pray for the Lord’s blessing on their travel, protection and Kingdom impact.

May 17-25Amazon GO Trip

Please pray for the Lord to use our team serving in the Amazon jungles of Brazil as they engage an unreached people group. Pray that this team will continue to harbor friendly relations with this UPG along the Amazon Basin in Northeast Brazil. Pray for our team as they work alongside our Mocajuba Baptist friends and IMB partners to serve this people. Pray for the Gospel of Jesus to be received! Please lift up the team and ask for unity, protection, travel mercies and for a powerful experience with Jesus.

May 20-27Toronto GO Trip

Please pray for God to use our team traveling to Toronto, Canada. Pray for the Lord to give our team great favor in supporting the work of Fellowship Pickering and our NAMB Church Planting Team Leader Matt Hess. Pray for a fruitful effort, for grace in travel, health and for significant impact on the Kingdom of God because of this investment into this city.

May 24Planning For The Future

Please pray Dr. David Moore, Dr. Sarah Beth Harrington and ABSC attorney Dillon McClain as they host a luncheon to share perspective on why it is so important to be prepared for the future. Please pray that God will use this luncheon to encourage participants to take necessary steps to complete estate planning. Please continue to pray for Dr. Moore as he assists the people of Immanuel in this vital need weekly.

May 25Children’s Zone End-of-Year Celebration

Please pray that this night exalts our Savior’s heart for the nations as our children share all that they have learned through our different GO education ministries. Pray that the Lord will use this past year to continue to impress upon our children His passion for the nations to know and worship Him.

CHURCH REQUESTS  

Please pray for Dr. Terry Carter as our Interim Pastor. Please pray for our church as we continue the search for a new Senior Pastor. Pray that we will remember God’s

sovereignty, His love for His church, His mission that He has assigned our congregation, and for unity as we do this together!

Pray that our people will be open, responsive and obedient to all that the LORD shows us to do to expand His Gospel of the Kingdom in this world in 2016. Pray for unity and oneness around the cause of Christ. Pray that we will all be prepared to submit, sacrifice and die daily to self so that Christ can lead us individually and together for His glory. 

Pray that our people will not “forsaking our own assembling together,” but will be compelled to worship God with the corporate body consistently through the summer.

Pray for a true desire in the hearts of our people to be conformed to the image of Christ. Pray for God to empower the people of Immanuel to overcome any entanglement with this world so that we are completely free and sanctified for God’s use. 

Pray for our GO teams that will be serving across the world this summer. For an updated list of teams, visit www.ibcgo.org.

STAFF PRAYER REQUESTS

Dr. Terry and Kathy Carter, Interim Pastor Mark and Laura Carter Ministry Request:  Wisdom in daily decision making & leadership Leadership of the Holy Spirit as I work with staff & lay leaders in developing disciples at

IBC. Pray for a disciple-making movement to happen and through Immanuel. Please pray for a “pilot” small group model we are testing called a “Connect Group.” Pray

for God to give vision, wisdom and clarity as we develop this small group model.Personal Request: To be consistently filled with the Spirit. Please pray for Michael to finish his sophomore year at OBU strong and his preparation to

be a GO Intern this summer, serving in Ghana and San Diego. Please pray for Katherine as she seeks God’s will in a call to missions or ministry. Pray

that the Lord will give clarity in what equipping she needs now for future ministry opportunities. Pray for the Lord to bring a disciple-maker into her life. Pray for her summer plans to come together.

Please pray for Leslie as she seeks clarity on God’s plans for her. Pray that she will continue to thrive as a student and relationally. Pray for her summer plans to come together.

Please pray for Ashley as she transitions to pursue a Music Business degree at Middle Tennessee State. Praise God for the opportunity to sing with the Praise Band at IBC’s Highpoint Service and that the Lord gave great favor to her first experience. Pray that God will continue to give her clarity on how he wants to use her gifting.

The Lord to provide for Laura a new job opportunity. Pray that the Lord will lead her to a place where she can thrive, be a blessing and use her incredible gifts and personality.

Phil and Wanda SpignerPersonal Request: Pray for Luke to continue to mature. For Red blood cell to multiply so oxygen is delivered

throughout body. Pray for Ross and Caroline for strength, wisdom, and peace. Pray for Brian and Kristen as they raise two boys and their new daughter.

Ministry Request: Our families- Marriages and Parenting. Staff as we are writing a Marriage version of Home 22:6. Pray for those in church family who may not have been with us for some time, and

opportunities to minister to them. Pray for our Pastor as he Shepherds our church.

Eric and Missy Jones Pray for some additional orchestra players to be out there in our church membership

somewhere.  Specifically, I need a trombone player and also some additional violin, viola, or cello players.  I’m in good shape on the other instruments.  I would like them to be folks who are willing to play in our wonderful IBC orchestra.

Mark and Kristie Aderholt Kristie.  She is once again this year serving in a full-time role in Special Needs Education

with the LRSD at Roberts Elementary.  She has really been able to use this as a great platform for ministry and witness among many of the teachers and staff at the school.  Ask the Lord to give her confidence in her role, excellent chemistry with other staff, and contentment in her role.  Ask the Lord to continue to provide her health, energy, and spiritual vitality to mother three very active children, teach school, teach missions in The Zone on Wednesday nights, and teach 11th graders on Sunday morning.

Hannah.  She is fully vested into teen life and in the 7th grade.  Ask the Lord to provide Hannah with friends that share her convictions, a strong desire for His Word, a burden for her classmates, a spiritual hunger that results in an ever-deepening relationship with the Father, and wisdom to choose wisely as the Lord brings more and more friends, activities, and opportunities into her life.  We really see Hannah developing into a Godly young woman – and proud of her for the choices she is making.

Cody.  He is now a 5th grader at Roberts Elementary and really thriving in so many areas.  He is doing well in memorizing Scripture, reading the Word, and fully developing his “quiet time” with the Lord.  We continue to ask the Lord to bring friends into Cody’s life that would be good for him (and him for them) spiritually.  I see a unique calling on Cody’s life.  Ask the Lord to guard His heart and mind, to protect Him with purity, passion, and spiritual fruit.

Ryan.  He is now a 3rd grader at Roberts Elementary and will soon turn 9.  He is a mess, but lots of fun!  Of all of our children, he is the most energetic and clearly the most evangelistic.  Ask the Lord to give us wisdom and patience in parenting Ryan.  Ask the Lord to give Ryan a continued brokenness for his friends at school that have families that don’t follow (nor are even interested in) Jesus.  Ask the Lord to guard His heart and mind, to protect Him with purity, passion, and spiritual fruit.  We also ask that the Lord would instill within Ryan a sense of maturity and discipline as he better and more fully understands God’s plan for his life.

IBC GO Partnerships.  Ask the Lord to pour His blessing into each of our partner relationships across our city, nation, and world.  Specifically: City of Refuge Church (Neal Scoggins) a church plant and partner we support in Little Rock; Seattle (Tim Corbin), NYC (Daniel McGhee), Toronto (Matt Hess), and Mountville (Ron Wilson) – all GO partners in North America; and finally Brazil (Rob Patterson), Peru (Jim Neal), Paraguay (Nelson Ortiz), Ghana (Fred Deegbe), Macau (Cindy M), Vietnam (S.P.), and Malaysia (JT and JW).  Rome, along with renewed possibilities in Dubai, India, Haiti, and San Diego are all blossoming partnerships that are in the making.

Vision and Direction.  Ask the Lord to pour his blessings into my time with Him each day, to have his heart, his brokenness, and his mindset, and to provide me with continued direction regarding the external, mission focus of the Immanuel family.  He has blessed us with so many resources (human and fiscal) and I believe has a clear plan for us to utilize these resources to give people groups access to the Gospel across many continents. 

Note to Watchman Prayer friends: I can’t tell you how much it means to know that you are faithfully praying for my walk with the Lord, my family’s needs, and our collective GO Focus at Immanuel.  We are so grateful for you – and have seen the Lord answer your prayers on our behalf in amazing ways throughout the years you have prayed for us.  We love each of you and are grateful and humbled to serve alongside you in the Immanuel family.

Brandon and Claire Watson Wisdom/discernment for Young Adult Leadership New launch of Young Adult Connect Group Upcoming College Israel Mission/GO Trip HUGE need for new leadership for Young Adult Classes Discipleship emphasis at Immanuel

Warren and Jill GormanMinistry Request: That our Sunday school class will continue to grow together in God’s Word and in sharing

their lives together For the men that I am discipling (Matt and Weston), that they would catch the vision for

going and teaching othersPersonal Request: Baker- that he would grow in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and men, for our

relationship with his birth parents For wisdom as God grows our family

Brian and Kristen SpignerPersonal Request: Praise - arrival of healthy baby, Harper Elisabeth  Request - Weston and Harper's salvation, Kristen and she recovers from c-section, the

sell of our House.  enough sleep!!!! having 2 under 15 months is exhausting.  Ministry Request: Basketball camp coming in June, we will present the Gospel and pray for the speaker and

kids involved as well as coaches 

Melissa SponerPersonal Request: Prayer for this time while I’m single. Prayer for patience to wait for the person God has for

me. Prayer that I spend my single time wisely. Prayer to be more consistent and intentional in my quiet time with God. Prayer for my family members who have no relationship with the Lord.

Ministry Request: Prayer for Amy Stone (Girls Ministry Intern for the year). Prayer for

relationships to be built between her and students. Pray for me as I disciple Amy over the next year. Pray for her time at Immanuel to help her grow in her relationship with Christ

and to learn more about ministry during her time interning here. Prayer for Acteens over the 2015-2016 year. Prayer that the girls develop a heart

for missions and will be intentional about praying for missionaries. Prayer for wisdom when discipling the 10th grade girls small group.

Traci and Michael HogueMinistry Request: Pray that God will impress on parents the importance of focusing their family on Him.  Pray that families will look for opportunities to point to Christ.Personal Request: Pray for next steps for Katelyn, Caroline & Kennedy.

Ross and Caroline SpignerPersonal requests Thank you so much for praying for my family! God continues to be gracious towards us.

Caroline’s transition to work has gone smoothly and Luke is showing steady progress. Thank you so much for praying for my seminary.  I really do sense that your prayers are

sustaining my mind and energies for this.  I have been able to finish my all my reading for my June Seminar called “Theology of Counseling and Critical Stages.”

Ministry requests Through May and early June we continue our current series called, “Do Different.” Out of

the letter of James, the series we will challenge students do be doers of the word, not just hearers.  This month students are learning about (1) seek wisdom from above, not of earth, (2) do humility, not pride, (3) Do today, not tomorrow.

Thank you for praying specifically for our 7th grade boys. We have seen an increased attendance on Wednesday, nearly doubling. Please continue to pray for their friendship building and leadership to develop out of this group. 

We also have one volunteer spot that we are needing to fill and expecting that we will need to have many more filled by the Fall. 

This month our students will be signing up for our Summer Trips.  Our two middle school trips are a Go Trip to Arlington, TX and a Summer Camp.  Please pray that our students will sign up and sense God’s call.  

Thank you again!!!!

Rick and Bonnie JaggarsPersonal Request: Pray for travel mercies for Rick and Bonnie as they travel out of state this month. Keep me through this day from all that would grieve your Holy Spirit. Help me to look, not

on the dark cloud, but on your rainbow; not on the stormy waters, but on the face of Jesus; not on what you have taken or withheld, but on what you have left; not on my own fickle and changing heart, but on your love, which is steadfast as the great mountains.

I ask you, Lord, to give me your Holy Spirit in greater measure, that his saving presence may cleanse my conscience and his holy inspiration enlighten my heart.

Give me grace, Heavenly Father, to administer well for the benefit of others those gifts which you have entrusted to me, that I may be a good steward of your many mercies and not be ashamed before you at your coming.

I pray to you, gracious Lord, that I may not miss any of those lessons which you desire to teach me by your Spirit, your Word, and your providence.Keep me, Heavenly Father, as the apple of your eye; defend me by your mighty power; hide me secretly in your pavilion from the fiery darts of the wicked one; and may the Holy Spirit so fill me with Christ my Lord that there may be no room for anything inconsistent with love.

Lord! I pray you'll teach me to follow where you go, to sit at your feet, and to be as true to you in times when I cannot see your face as in the glorious noon when I can see you more clearly.

Help me, O Lord, daily to die to all worldly and corrupt affections and desires, that out of my death to sin there may come life to righteousness, by the grace of your quickening Spirit.

Teach me to be content to do your will, not looking this way or that, to compare myself with others, to seek their commendation or escape their censure. May your voice be my only law, your smile my only reward.Father, who loves to the end, come and cleanse my feet, my hands, and lips from all corruption in my flesh and spirit. Teach me how to have perfect holiness in the fear of the Lord.

You are light, and in you is no darkness at all. I thank you for eyes to see, a heart to love, and a nature to enjoy your good and perfect gifts. I worship you, O Father of lights, in whom there is no variableness nor shadow of turning. Enlighten my darkness, I pray!

Ministry Request: AARP Driver safety Class on May 2.  Frank Gardner leading. Senior Adult Garden Party at the Coulson’s on May 5th. XYZ Super Club on May 17.  Wayne Elkins leading. Pray for Rick as he leads the Bush Men’s small group study on May 4 in a study of John

chapter 1. Pray for Rick as he leads Prayer Works on May 25th. Pray for Rick as he preaches in Chinese Church on May 29th.  Pray for God’s spirit to fill

the chapel on that morning.

Matt and Cassie HubbardPersonal Requests: Pray that my son, Jackson, has a great new school year. He is at Arkansas Baptist in Pre-

K. Pray that the Lord will continue to stir in him a desire to know the Lord. Pray that my wife, Cassie, has a great transition into her new position as the

Administrative Assistant for Downline Ministries here in Little Rock (with Danny Hinton). Pray that Cassie and I will continue to make a spiritual impact on some of our family

members in the area who don’t know Jesus…particularly Cassie’s stepmom (Debra) and half-brother (Ryan) who is in the Air Force Reserve.

Praise that my mom loves teaching the oldest ladies of my home church (Central Baptist Church in Magnolia, AR) in Sunday School. It has been awesome to see her desire for the Lord and His Word grow far beyond what it was when I lived there and even in spite of my dad’s death last Spring.

Ministry Request:

Our students are under a tremendous amount of spiritual warfare. Please pray that God would protect them and lead them to be a light in the midst of Satan’s ploys.

Pray for our students in over 40 schools around the LR Metro. Pray that God would be enough for them and that they would strive to be His light.

Pray for the parents of our students to continue to be the primary disciplers of their teens. They still have the most influence on their teen than any other person or thing.

Thanks for lifting up these prayer needs!

Marylee and Gayle NoblePersonal Request: Pray for our 15-year-old granddaughter, Adelyn Noble, as she continues to learn how to

live her life with type 1 diabetes. Also prayer that she will be sensitive and open to the opportunities that God will give her to witness to friends and acquaintances about her dependence on and faith in God as she learns to live with her "new normal."

Pat and Dean AshworthPersonal Request: Please pray for us, as we have many changes in our life at present. Pray for wisdom and discernment. Pray for our Granddaughter and family in the adoption of a son.Ministry Request: Pray for those who receive a DVD of the Sunday Worship service each week. Pray that they will be encouraged and blessed, as they are unable to attend the services. Pray for James Boren, he is our trucker who has been with us from the beginning of this ministry. (2003) Pray for him as he distributes the gospel along his route.  Pray for the people who receive CDs of our Sunday Worship every other week.  Most of these people live out of the city. Pray for Marylee Noble, my assistant and volunteers, Lynn Haney, Mary Elizabeth Johnson, Melanie Taylor and Betty Wilfong.  They are so faithful to serve. Pray for wisdom as I research for books to add to our collection.Sharon and Robert HallmarkPersonal Requests: Thank you so much to all the people who prayed for me this past month.  Many of you

know I had a visit to the hospital on April 2, and was diagnosed eventually with Transient Global Amnesia.  My family and I appreciated every prayer that was prayed for us and we praise God that there was nothing seriously wrong with me, after about 24 hours.  I am still having a few follow up tests; please pray that those are totally good reports.

We are thankful to God that he is blessing us with our first grandchild, a girl due on Labor Day to Wes and Ashley!  Please pray for her to be completely healthy, for a safe delivery, and that Ashley will have an easier time for the rest of this pregnancy.  She has not felt well so far. 

Robert and I are taking a much needed vacation May 14-22.  Please pray for our safe travel, for wonderful rest, and good weather at the beach!  Also, pray that all goes well back at the office while I am away. 

Ministry Requests: The ministry staff will be meeting on Tuesday, May 10 for our semi-yearly calendar

meeting.  We will be discussing and contemplating events for the rest of 2016 and 2017.  Pray for harmony, a united spirit, and mostly for God’s will to be evident as we look at the coming months.

Susan and Bill McClanahan Preschool Ministry: Pray for VBS volunteers to serve the week of July 11-15. Pray for people to come forward to teach in our new SS year beginning August 14. Pray for God to call people to serve in our Mother’s Day Out, and our Wednesday Night

programs. Pray for our families who face daily challenges in their marriages and in parenting. Pray for God to place opportunities in our lives to be a witness for Him.Personal: Pray for my son Michael, who is struggling with issues in his life.  Pray for strength and

wisdom, which only come from our Lord. Pray for my son Steven and his wife Laura in their marriage. Pray for my daughter, Tracy, as she faces battles daily within her marriage, and raising

her 5 children. Pray for my grandchildren, Zachary, Caleb, J.V., Anna Grace, Maddox, Rex, Hayes, and

Carter.  Pray that I will be a Godly example in their lives.  Pray for their salvation, and for protection in their lives.

Pray that I will exemplify Christ daily through my actions and words. Pray that I will stay focused on our Lord, and hide His words in my heart. Pray for people to come into my life that I can witness to.

Deana & Bob Loyd

Gary Williams Please pray that his Parkinson’s will stay at what the doctors are calling “mild” and that his

symptoms will stay at a minimum.

Susan Williams Update on my brother, James Summerville: The 4 tumors on his liver are still there, but

are growing at a very slow rate.  For now, the doctors are just watching for any significant changes. Some on his blood work came back a little high, but his overall report was “still stable.”  A few weeks ago, they discovered, what was thought to be a tumor, on his thyroid.   Recent test results indicate that it’s a cyst (and not cancerous.) James will see the specialist in New Orleans, sometime in June or July.

Pray for me, I was diagnosed with diabetes last year.  Please pray that I will get back to being as disciplined & motivated, as I was when I first got the news.

I thank God, for faithful, faithful Prayers Warriors, like you!

Patience Holt My mother, Naomi Hart has stage 4 Lung cancer (Adenocarcinoma-non small cell).  She

has had chemotherapy every 3 weeks beginning September 2nd.  Sunday, December 6th she had a heart attack.  She is recovering very well and has gone back to her part time job one day a week.  My prayer is for peace about her situation.  She is not a candidate for the needed heart surgery because of the cancer and her cancer treatments are taking a toll on her heart.

Prayers continue to pray for me and kids. Thank you so much for the prayers.

Kitchen and Janitorial Staff Continue to pray for each of the kitchen staff (Ardis, Michael, Anthony, Raymond, Diane &

Paula) as they prepare meals for all of our church events. Continue to pray for each of the janitorial staff (Carla, Sandra, Vandana, Wayne &

Wanda) as they clean the church.

PRAYER REQUESTS FOR IMMANUEL MINISTRIES

Pastor On Call Pray for our staff as they discern benevolence needs each week for the many that come

looking for assistance. Pray for Brian, Pastor Gary, Mark A, Mark C, Eric, Phil, Rick, Warren, Brandon, and Matt as they serve as “Pastor’s On Call” each month.

ESL (English as a Second Language) Continue to pray for the teachers as they prepare and teach English to internationals each

week. Ask God to fill them with His Holy Spirit and help them to recognize divine opportunities to share the Good News.

Continue to pray for the internationals that come. Ask God to remove the scales from their eyes so that they might recognize in the teachers "the love of Christ compels us."

Continue to pray that the program is effective in meeting the linguistic needs of the internationals so they will continue to come, increasing their chances of coming to know Jesus as their personal savior.

Pray for the teachers by name: Stacie Breshears, Lynn Haney, Delores Wennerstrom, Shep Campbell, Tracy Harris

We give praise and thanks to God as the program grows, and we pray for continued expansion according to God's will.

Recreation Ministry

Music Ministry Pray for the sanctuary choir growth. Pray for the orchestra string players and for God to draw the unsaved musicians to HIM.

Women’s Ministry Pray for God’s direction regarding the leadership of the Women’s Ministry.

Men’s Ministry/Senior Adult Ministry Pray for the men’s small group Bible studies

Prayer Ministry Pray for six more volunteers to be recruited for the Impact Prayer Ministry during the High

Point Service (praying during each worship service) Pray for the volunteers to be faithful in praying during their assigned IBC worship service. Praise for four new volunteers for the Impact Prayer Ministry during the traditional service.Library and Media Center Pray for the library to be a special ministry to our church family and community and stay

current with the best resources.

Pray for our volunteers: Bert Haley, Lynn Haney, Annette Hester, Mary Elizabeth Johnson, Melanie Taylor, Evelyn Thompson, Betty Wilfong and Pat’s assistant, Marylee Noble.  We are blessed with their support and faithfulness.

There is always the need in both services for volunteers and training will be provided. Continue praying for the truck drivers: James Boren, Michael Knopp, and Vince Perkins. 

Pray for God’s protection as they travel. Pray for us to meet the requests and keep sharing God’s message.

Food PantryPraises: Faithful & hardworking Volunteers Partnerships being developed with Morningside Bagels/Panera/Little Ceasar’s/Sub-way Prayer Requests: The South Campus and what the pantry’s part may look like Better food options from the Food Bank Better meats New volunteers

Hospitality Committee Pray for more volunteers to be recruited for the Hospitality Team Ministry (greeters,

escorts, and parking lot). Pray for the volunteers to be faithful in working their assigned posts as well as reflect the

love of Jesus to all that come to IBC to worship

Mission Friends Pray for our teachers and children.

Women’s Missionary Union (WMU)

Chinese Mission (Paul & Vivian Spann) Please continue to pray for a new Seeker's Sunday School class. Pray for the group

leader Ding and those who will be in the class to have good discussions as they learn our basic Christian beliefs.

PRAYER REQUESTS FOR IMMANUEL MISSIONS

Iglesia Bautista Emanuel – Immanuel’s Hispanic Ministry (Ruben & Korina Isturiz)

GO EMPHASIS - PARTNERSHIPSSeattle

• For those wanting to make Seattle a consistent part of your prayer / quiet times each day, below is a brief list of specific points (compiled by Mark Guinee via Tim Corbin):• Weekly Bible Study in the home of Tim and Amy.  Pray for authentic community!• Worship Gatherings at the Montlake Community Center.  Pray for providence financially and

thank the Lord for this venue.• Spiritual Conversations in the City.  Ask the Lord for open hearts, fertile spiritual soil, and men

and women of peace (who are receptive) as the Commons Church engages in "street fishing" this coming year in Capitol Hill and beyond.

• Mike, Heidi, Emerich and Ian.  These are friends who attend the Bible Study, but are still seeking to truly understand grace and truth apart from Catholicism.

• Sabrina and James.  Sabrina is from a Muslim background, James from Tacoma, WA.  They met in London.  They are seeking and a relationship has been established.

• Seattle Interns. Ask the Lord for boldness, wisdom, and direction as they work with Tim & Amy.• Amy's health.  Pray that the Lord will bring healing to her eye and help them find solutions for

any long-term issues.• Financial Provision.  As NAMB assistance decreases a bit more this year, ask the Lord to raise

up financial partners to assist in this work.  Seattle is expensive!• Jaron and Monica Kellar.  They are true gatekeepers on Capitol Hill that operate a coffee drive-

through.  Had a son in August named Atticus Orion Kellar.  Pray for their salvation!• Spiritual Awakening in Seattle.  Ask the Lord to shatter the façade of humanism, atheism, and

universalism that the people there would move from apathy to curiosity to openness to the Truth of the Gospel.

Ghana• Partnership details:

• Fred and Joana Deegbe have shared the Gospel with the people of Ghana for more than 25 years. Fred is the senior Pastor of Calvary Baptist Church.

• Prayer Points:• Pray for more workers to join the harvest in Ghana so that many more unreached people groups

can hear and receive the Good News. • Christians in Ghana deal with a growing Muslim presence coming from the surrounding

countries, pray for boldness among the Christians to speak the Gospel and for the Muslims to believe Jesus Christ as Savior.

• Pray for the churches that have just started in Ghana. Pray these would be churches that make disciples who make more disciples.

India• Partnership details:

• David and Debbie B have been serving for 4 years in Greater Mumbai, which is made up of people from different traditions, beliefs, caste systems, and level of wealth and education. More than 20 million people call this city home. David and Debbie B serve as church planters, personnel supervisors, and language coaches to other missionaries, and volunteer team coordinators.

• Prayer Points:• Pray for David and Debbie as they take on more leadership roles. Pray the Holy Spirit would

lead them as they connect all people to the Gospel. • Pray for the workers in South Asia. This is such a difficult place to live and serve, the enemy is

constantly on the prowl to attack and destroy these servants. Pray for their families and children, physical and mental energy and strength.

• Pray for the small percentage of believers in South Asia to be bold and to share their faith in Jesus with everyone they meet.

Toronto• Partnership details:

• Matthew and Arrica Hess have been living in Toronto for 2 years, serving with the North American Mission Board (NAMB). They reach their community through evangelism and service and seek God’s guidance on where to plant. They have planted Fellowship Pickering and are planting Fellowship Rogue Park.

• Prayer Points: • The Lord to bring three new church planting residents to join our

Residency program to plant in Whitby, Ajax, and another plant in Scarborough.

• Deeper commitment and consistency in Fellowship Pickering attenders.

(Specifically in terms of committing to church membership and giving of tithes and offerings and their spiritual gifts.)

• Discernment and wisdom on when a resident is ready to plant and where to plant.

NYC• Partnership details:

• Daniel and Kari McGhee have been church planting in Queens, New York City since 2011. Daniel is the lead pastor at Connections Church

• Prayer Points: • Our church family would bathe in prayer. Pray for the pastors, leaders, staff and members to

make prayer the priority in every aspect of the church. It's easy to focus on our part in this ministry and miss the power of God working through the prayers of his people. 

• Indigenous pastor for our Woodside church plant. We are new to the area and desire to see growth from within NYC, not just from people moving to NYC. Pray God gives us a pastor to train for this new church plant.

• Salvations and baptisms! We are connected with so many unbelievers in Astoria. It's frustrating to share the gospel and see so many people reject Jesus. The Holy Spirit brings people to repentance, so pray he would do that through us. We, like our Savior, desire all people to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth ~1 Timothy 2:4 

• We know the importance of prayer. I write this with deep sincerity... THANK YOU for praying for us. We need it and cherish it. This is a spiritually dark and confused city. The clarity of Jesus is desperately needed. Pray for the power of God to be evident in my life, Larry's life, and all the churches of NYC!

Paraguay• Partnership details:

• Nelson and Elena Ortiz have lived in Paraguay for the past 6 years. They serve at First Baptist Church Asuncion as Sunday School teachers in the youth and children’s departments. Every week, the Ortiz’s host a young adult Bible study.

• Prayer Points:• Pray for spiritual growth among the members of the First Baptist Church Asuncion, especially

among the youth and children.• Pray for the evangelical believers in Paraguay to keep sharing the Good News and be a living

example of Jesus.

Peru• Partnership details:

• IBC – Ezekiel 37:1-10 - That there will be a revival of our member’s in spiritual growth (Christ first) and increased faith.

• GO Mission Trips – Matthew 28:19 – Open hearts through prayer for God’s leadership/will in our individual GO plan.Lima, Peru – Acts 16:5

• Oasis De Christo (Church), Pastor Richard, Marilyn (Children’s Minister), church members.Community of Group I of Oasis – Lost – John 3:16

• Leader for 2 days of Children’s Ministry from IBC• Team members for 2 days of medical clinic

Jim and Sherry Neal, IMB Missionaries, Leader for IBC GO Partnership• Prayer Points:

• New Church Building• Leadership for potential new church plant• Our church plant is requesting prayer about the possibility of losing their land and church

building (along with the first row of houses) due to extension of the road through the community.• New piece of land for the church building (if the road extension goes through).

• They would like to start a new ladies ministry in the church.• Pray for opportunities to reach the men of the community.• Complete healing for Sherry's leg (leg fracture) • Safety in traveling in Peru and U.S.

Macau• Partnership details:

• Keith and Cindy M. have been living in Macau for 26 years. Keith has been a medical director of Hope Medical Group in China. Together they coordinate medical mission teams, organize volunteers for Bible distribution, and witness to the many in their area.

• Prayer Points:• Mainland Chinese were allowed to visit Macau more freely beginning in 2004, God directed us to

begin the Southern Cross Project, Macau. In the last few years Macau received over 1 million Mainland Chinese visitors per month. Through SCPM 3,200 volunteers have distributed over 516,000 Chinese Bibles or New Testaments since 2004. 418 recipients who also heard a good news presentation made an initial decision to follow Christ. Of these visitors, most visitors had never seen a Bible.

• Pray for resources needed- volunteers and funding- to continue sharing the good news through personal witness and Bible distribution until the Father directs us to discontinue.

• Pray the Holy Spirit will prepare the hearts of tourists to receive His word, seek Him. and become disciples.

• Pray for more Chinese partners to join in verbal witness to these masses of tourists.

City of Refuge, Little Rock• Partnership details:

• Neal and Erin Scoggins and their 2 children live here in Little Rock, pastoring the City of Refuge Community Church.

• Prayer Points:• For God to provide mature leaders (in multiple areas) to City of Refuge that are sold out to the

vision of the church.• For City of Refuge Community Church to experience greater influence in the community and

growth (spiritual, numeric, and financial).• For Neal & Erin to be able to have more time with each other as husband and wife as well as

individual worship time and family time.

San Diego, California• Partnership details:

• Jim Britts, church planter of Parkside Community Church•  Prayer Points:

Parkside launches in September at our new school. Prayer for lots of new people from surrounding communities.

We have a goal of 100 people getting baptized and 100 going on some sort of mission trip in year two as a church

Please pray for David, leading our Spanish congregation. That we could launch by Easter. Please pray for a leader this year to lead Parkside's first church plant.

Amazon• Partnership details:

• Rob and Jenny Patterson have served in Brazil for 4 years. Together, they work to develop ways to bring attention to one of the largest remaining Unreached People Group (UPG) in Brazil and for involving other like-minded believers in engaging the 2,600 Quilombolas of Brazil.

• Prayer Points:• The Mocajuba team: (Paulo and Elizete expressed much gratefulness for these prayer

warriors!)  God has been answering our prayers to send more workers into the harvest field to reach the Quilombola people. The team from Moca began to make boat trips across the river in

early 2012 in order to share Bible narratives with the people of St. Ben, Manga and Uxi.  God has sent partnering volunteer teams and they have joined in efforts to the Good News by climbing steep riverbanks, walking sandy trails, and riding motorcycles through the jungle to reach the communities.  There have been a number of people from each community who have come to Christ and who are being discipled.  The teams desire to plant a church in Manga in the near future but ask prayer that God would open the doors for the land to be acquired.  Currently, three couples are committed to each of the communities where they lead young people and families on mission every Saturday.  Pray for Paul and Ellie who are responsible for the Moca team and are working with their team in Manga: for Zeke and Vana working in St. Ben and for Raymond and Neia working in Uxi. Also, intercede for Quilombola work going on in two communities closer to Mocajuba: Tamba and Ica.  Pray that many Quilombolas will turn to Christ and the church multiplied. (Moca=Mocajuba; St. Ben=São Benedito; Manga=Mangabeira; Uxi=Uxizal; Paul & Ellie=Paulo & Elizete; Zeke & Vana=Zeca & Vanda; Raymond & Neia=Raimundo & Dioneia; Tamba and Ica=Tambaí-açu and Icatú)

• Please intercede for us as we seek to discern God's will and that we may trust God for all our needs in the midst of many changes and uncertainties due to changes announced in the IMB. 

• Pray that God will give us good health and stamina as we serve as Cluster Leaders for the Eastern Unreached People Group Cluster, which includes 15 missionary units spread out across Brazil and Suriname reaching indigenous and Quilombolas. Pray that we will have wisdom as we relate to our colleagues especially during a time of uncertainty/major changes within the IMB. 

• Pray that God would continue to open doors to new communities and peoples that still need to hear the Good News.

• Please pray for our four adult children:  Christina - a nurse in TN; Carl and his future wife, Mariana who live in TN (wedding is on Oct 24, 2015); Catherine - an ESL teacher in Colorado; and Curtis and his future wife, Morgan - (wedding is January 9, 2016) - both nurses in TN.

• Special prayer is requested for their spiritual lives and walks with the Lord.  There is uncertainty of Carl and Catherine's salvation, though they professed faith and were baptized at earlier ages, they no longer attend church.  As parents, we pray for their salvation and becoming true disciples.  Pray that the newlyweds will have strong marriages with Christ as the center of their marriages and lives.  

• We'd appreciate prayer for Carol's stepmother, Kay, the only living parent who suffers from dementia.  Carol's stepsisters take turns caring for her in FL.

Vietnam• Partnership details:

• Stuart and Donna P. have lived in Vietnam for the past 3 years. Previously they served in China for over 9 years. Stuart and Donna focus on students, young professions, factory workers, and minority peoples in rural areas sharing the Gospel with them and training them to start churches.

• Prayer Points:• Please pray for our family and especially, for our two children Caleb and Hannah.  Please pray

for our daughter Hannah who is 16 (17 on Nov 1, 2015) and in her Junior year of High School (homeschool).  Pray for her walk with God, diligent studies, successful test taking and God’s guidance as she is beginning the process of looking at universities.  Please pray for our son Caleb who is 20 and in his second year at Texas A&M.  Pray that he would renew and grow his walk with God, for good time management and diligent studies that keeps his grades up sufficient to keep his scholarships, and for Caleb’s continued adjustment to life away from home and in the U.S.

• Pray specifically that we would make significant improvements to our language level allowing for deeper and broader ministry conversations.  Pray specifically for Donna to assess at the ‘Advanced’ level of language learning and Stuart would assess at the ‘Superior’ level of language learning.  Pray for greater cultural understanding that would increase our abilities in truly communicating or ministering to locals.  Pray for good time management that allows us to keep appropriate focus on language and culture learning.  Pray for consistent and quality tutors that can help us in this.

• Pray for the building of Kingdom Teams in partnership with us. • Please pray that God will raise up and call out at least 6 local Brothers and Sisters to work in

close partnership with a common focus and strategy.  • Pray that God will likewise raise up and call out consistent mid-length workers from the U.S. to

come alongside of us on semester teams and summer teams.  • Pray that God will also call out 3 couples/families (or pairs of singles) from the U.S. to come and

partner with us in terms of 3-5 years.