Weeks 1 and 2...Let’s pray for Ohio Conference:
1) Ministry Development Team (MDT) will meet Monday, June 13
- Pray that the Team will be aligned with Kingdom building.
2) Norma Duerksen, chair of MDT, and Sherah-Leigh Gerber, Coordinator of Volunteers, share these prayer requests:
- Pray that we will have discerning spirits to choose the right regional pastors for Ohio Conference to replace Andy Stoner.
- Pray that the Listening Project will hear the concerns and strengths of church and onference relations. May it inform and direct our work.
- Pray that all congregations will make the arrangements for the Listening Project to come to their church. May there be an openness to be connected to Conference.
- Pray as many dream for a Conference-wide youth event.
- Pray for Tamara Gill as she leads a resource team working with young adult initiatives.
3) Couples in Ministry Retreat Day, May 9, Camp Luz, Orrville
Couples in ministry face unique challenges and pressures. Pray that this retreat will be a time of blessing.
4) The 21 pastors with new pastoral assignments
- At the March Annual Conference Assembly, 21 pastors lined up on the platform with new pastoral positions. Let’s thank God for them. Let’s pray for them and their congregations as they learn to walk together.
5) Worship Conference with Michael Zehr at Walnut Creek Mennonite, May 7
- Pray that congregational leaders may focus on worship as God-centered activity.
- Pray that skills among congregational leaders for worship planning and leading are promoted.
- Pray that through this time together relationship building would take place as local persons who give leadership to worship become better acquainted.
1) Charles Gautsche, Fairlawn Retirement Center, Archbold
- Pray for me in my ministry to persons near the end of life. I plan a chapel ministry with three services per week involving many community persons. I do the preaching each Friday. We have many funerals in our chapel as a service to families.
2) Robert Halfhill, Majora Lane and Holmes County Home, Millersburg
3) John Miller, Walnut Hills Retirement Community, Walnut Creek
4) Brazo en Brazo, Hispanic ministry: Paul and Ann Conrad, New Carlisle
- Thank God for the ministry of the Conrads and delight in this vignette of a life changed: “Three and half years ago, Elvira left Lima and a few weeks after that returned to Mexico to join her husband. We had not been able to have any contact with her in all that time, until Monday. Rosa, a mutual friend, called to say she had heard from Elvira, who wanted to talk to us, and gave us the telephone number! Elvira says life is difficult in Mexico. She is actively participating with Iglesia Peniel in Santa Lucia, Nuevo Leon (near Monterrey). Elvira sends her greetings to the Brazo en Brazo fellowship with fond memories because, she says, ‘I was baptized there.’”
5) Open Arms, Hispanic ministry, Raúl and Vanita Tadeo and Haroldo and Esmirna Nunes, Kidron
- The Eighth Latin Family Encounter was held at Camp Luz, April 29-May 1. Thank God for the record attendance of 154. The theme was the Kingdom of God and the home. Thank God for the many Hispanic families who were able to attend.
7) Central Christian School, Kidron
Weeks 5 and 6: Pray for these six Ohio Conference Congregations:1) Bethel Mennonite, Rittman, Pastor Patrick (Amy Glick) Helmuth
- Pray that God will give the congregation unity as it moves forward with seven new families.
2) Bethel Mennonite, West Liberty, Pastor Dave (Beth) Maurer
- Pray that God would guide us in our discernment process about using our gifts and learning to know our community more deeply so that we may faithfully share the gospel and grow in our faith.
3) Central Mennonite, Archbold, Pastor Jeff (Kathy) Smith
- Pray that we would be courageous in becoming more fully committed disciples. Pray that we would have more compassionate hearts for those in our community who are suffering physically, emotionally, spiritually, and economically.
4) Chestnut Ridge Mennonite, Orrville, Pastor Marvin (Glenda) Zuercher
5) Cincinnati Mennonite Fellowship, Cincinnati, Pastor Joel (Abbie) Miller
6) Community Christian Fellowship, Río Grande, Pastor Dale (Kristine) Geiser
Weeks 7 and 8: Pray for our links with Mennonite Church USA (MC USA):1) Elizabeth Soto Albrecht, nominee for moderator-elect of MC USA:
- “I know that what I am called to is very specific in this time of growth and change. We [MC USA] are struggling with and learning what it means to be a diverse church…God who has called me will stand beside me. God will lead us in this process.” Pray for Elizabeth as she becomes our servant leader.
2) Mennonite Mission Network (MMN), MC USA
- May 18 is designated by MMN as a Day of Prayer. Pray for the mission of our Church and for workers needed in Argentina and Mongolia. (Check out the prayer page at www.MennoniteMission.net/DayofPrayer)
- Pray for Japan and the ongoing restoration and healing. (Check out MMN’s Japan blog at www.mennonitemission.net/Stories/News/JapanEarthquake/Pages/Home.aspx.)
- MMN Associates
3) Mennonite Church USA Convention, Pittsburgh, July 4-9
- Let’s continue to pray for this upcoming convention. Pray for congregations as they choose delegates and do fundraisers. Pray for the worship leaders, musicians, and speakers who are being open to God in these days and months in their preparation.
4) Susan Mark Landis is moving on as Denominational Minister of Peace and Justice, MC USA
- Thank God for Susan’s creative service in this role for the past 16 years. “My work in various Mennonite church positions has been an astonishing journey. I’ve had the privilege to know, serve, worship with, and work beside congregations and people around the world committed to living and loving as Jesus has called us.” Let us pray for Susan as she discerns her future ministry.
