Prayer Calendar: May 31 - June 6, 2015

As we enter June we have a new missions prayer point from the keys to missions issue:

PRAY that Jesus will be glorified through Community Health Empowerment initiatives in Uganda, and pray that Ugandan CHE workers will be equipped to reach out to their communities and spread the gospel.

This prayer point was inspired by Recognizing the Image of God article written by Matt Burke.

Hanging Out

An excerpt from...

Hanging Out—Connection

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Community is a key to effective ministry
By WGM Missionaries serving in Mexico
April-June 2015

MARK AND SERENA DUNBAR, serving in Saltillo, Coahuila, Mexico

Our Google Hangouts this last year have made us a family. We served in Honduras for over 20 years in established areas where we were constantly with other missionaries. We now live six hours north of our closest WGM missionary. In Honduras, we felt as though the field was family because missionaries were always there to help us celebrate our kids’ birthdays, discuss a ministry issue, or just visit. Now in Mexico, we also feel as though the missionaries are our family because of Hangout. When we meet together, we always find time to visit.

BILL AND LYDIA ALLSHOUSE, serving in Irapuato, Guanajuato, Mexico

When we wake up on Tuesday mornings, no matter where we are, we know we’ll be in touch with our missionaries at 9:00 a.m. It’s a time we look forward to as we get to see each other face to face and share in one another’s victories and burdens. Phone calls are nice, but it’s even better when we can see the other missionaries as they share their joys and concerns. We used to connect through emails and phone calls, but communicating through visual and audio makes a world of difference. I (Bill) enjoy the laughter, and it gives me the chance to hear the heart of each missionary, which encourages a spirit of unity. Hangout has helped us to be of one accord when we’ve had to tackle difficult challenges here on the Mexico Field.

CHRISSY GREENWELL, serving in Villa Hidalgo, Jalisco, Mexico

I’m thankful for the time we can Hangout. Moving from Saltillo to start a new work in Central Mexico has presented several challenges. As I work “alone” to grow this ministry, knowing the other missionaries are praying for me and supporting the ministry here is a great encouragement. Being able to share what God is doing and celebrate together gives that little push we all need at times in order to keep on.

PRAY: Form your own Hangout. Set up a time once a month or once a week when you hang out with others to pray for missions.

Prayer Calendar: May 24-30, 2015

Happy Memorial Day readers! As you gather with family and friends during the holiday remember this prayer point:

Ask God to show you who you can "Hangout" with and pray for missions.

Our missionary staff serving in Mexico don't work in close proximity from each other. They use Google Hangouts to stay connected and pray for one another. Read more about this at www.wgm.org/hanging-out.  

Keep Praying

An excerpt from...

Keep Praying

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The Church is the key to spiritual growth
By Twana Johnson, Missionary, Mexico
April-June 2015

She was only 14, but she found our church and started coming regularly. We loved her big smile and willingness to stand and give God the glory during praise and worship time.

She started to bring her grandmother who lived just down the street from the church. At first, Grandma wasn’t too sure about coming. She was from an established religion and felt it was being a traitor to that faith. Unfortunately, the granddaughter quit coming, but to our surprise, Grandma kept coming! She loved the worship music and even had one of our young people put praise music on her phone so she could listen during the week. Her favorite is “The Power of His Love” by Hillsong (in Spanish, of course).

One of the ladies from the congregation went to her home and led her to the Lord. She joined the new converts’ class and grew spiritually. She moved in with her daughter and granddaughter to save money, but suffered persecution from them. As she sought advice, she learned to “be quiet and pray” and to respond in love. The church body prayed as well.

Recently, just before Grandma was to be baptized, the daughter talked to the lady who led her mother to the Lord. She confessed that she had seen such a change in her mother and wanted what her mother had! Praise the Lord, she confessed Him as her Savior. How exciting it was to hear Grandma, the daughter, and the granddaughter give their testimonies and watch them be baptized! I heard someone comment: “Grandma looks so much younger than when she first started coming!” That’s what happens when Jesus shines!

We were tempted to be discouraged because the granddaughter had quit coming, but we kept praying for her. God was working, not through us, but her grandma. What a lesson in faith.

Are you discouraged because you are not seeing a change in the situation or the person you are praying for? Don’t give up. God is working.

PRAY: Father, I pray for those who have been praying for years for a loved one to find Christ. Remind them that You are working and You have a plan. Encourage them to keep praying and assure them that You are listening. Amen.

Prayer Calendar: May 17-23, 2015

Your missions prayer point for this week reminds you to keep praying. Sometimes the answers or results don't come as quickly as we would like.

Have you been praying for the salvation of a loved one for years and seen no results? Keep praying: God is listening!

Don't give up. Trust in God's plan.