Prayer Calendar: September 8-14, 2013

The Call's mission prayer point this week is:

PRAISE God for men, women, and children who “work out their faith” by serving others.

Read this entire issue at www.wgm.org/call. 

Compassion from Dark Places

An excerpt from...

Compassion from Dark Places

By Debbie Cartwright, American Indian Field
July-September 2013

Daniel* wiped away a tear. “I know we can’t really afford to keep feeding them, but how can I watch the kids look for food in the garbage because they’re so hungry and not do something about it?”

Christi nodded. “We just feel like we show Jesus’ love to them when we feed them.”

“You guys have anything you want to add to a food box?” Matthew asked us. “I know I just took one to Mary, but the kids are hungry again and there’s nothing for them.”

Julie added, “It isn’t the kids’ fault their parents are addicts. They shouldn’t have to suffer.”

It’s a constant burden that our Native friends bear. Their compassion is deep because so many have been in those same dark places. Daniel and Christi have seen the destruction of addictions in their own family and among the people of the little church they pastor. Matthew and Julie—recovered meth addicts themselves, delivered by the grace of Jesus—vividly remember seeing the hurt of neglect in the eyes of their own children. They cannot undo the damage of their past, but they try to help now by ministering in a tangible way to the children of addicted parents.

Every week we see Native people being Jesus to children who need more than just a Bible story. Their compassion inspires us to be more like Jesus.

*The names in this story have been changed.

Hungry kids live in many neighborhoods in America. This week, ask Jesus to open your eyes to the hungry kids in your community. Then get your grocery bag ready, because it is time to pay them a visit with the gifts of Jesus’ love and food.

Prayer Calendar: September 1-7, 2013

Please feel free to use this missions prayer point from The Call for September 1-7:

Pray for David and Debbie Cartwright as they serve on the American Indian Field.

This request is inspired by Compassion from Dark Places: http://www.wgm.org/dark-places

And They Were Amazed

An excerpt from...

And They Were Amazed

By Beth Muehleisen, Uganda
July-September 2013

Have you ever planted a seed and watched eagerly, anticipating the day when little bits of green start thrusting up from the ground?

This is what we do through seed projects in Community Health Empowerment. A seed project is a small-scale ministry project carried out by a local church using local resources to bring great blessing to local community members with no strings attached, and it whets their appetite to see more of God’s love demonstrated in practical ways.

Scholastica and Fred made hand-washing stands and placed them at public latrines on Sigulu Island in Lake Victoria. Many of the diseases that people have in Africa are caused by contaminated food and water. We can reduce this problem greatly if people wash their hands after using the toilet.

The people in the community asked Scholastica and Fred, “Why are you doing this?” “What do you get out of it?”

They answered, “We don’t get anything. We’re doing it because of God’s love.” The people were amazed!

Every time a seed project is done by someone trained through CHE, the response in every community is the same—and they were amazed! Recently as I read through the book of Mark, I noticed that the people in the communities where Jesus visited had the same reaction to His ministry: “…and they were amazed!”

We have two requests for you. One, will you pray for those involved in the CHE ministry that God will use them to rebuild walls, repair broken gates, and be Light-bearers in their communities? The second request concerns you. How does God want to use you to do a seed project in your own community? God wants to use all of us to demonstrate His agape love no matter where we live, and when we do, everyone will be amazed.

How can your church address spiritual and physical needs in your community? WGM can help with training in this area. Consider a weekend Vision Conference for Wholistic Community Transformation. Contact us at wgm@wgm.org to schedule training.

Prayer Calendar: August 25-31

Use this missions prayer point this week in your time with the Lord:

PRAY that seeds of love planted through people like Scholastica and Fred will have an eternal impact in Uganda. 

Scholastica and Fred, united word and deed by making hand-washing stands and placing them at public latrines on Sigulu Island in Lake Victoria, Uganda. Many of the diseases that people have in Africa are caused by contaminated food and water. We can reduce this problem greatly if people wash their hands after using the toilet.

The people in the community began asking Scholastica and Fred, “Why are you doing this?” They answered, “We’re doing it because of God’s love.”