Weeks 1 and 2: Let’s pray for Ohio Conference (OC):
1) Tom Kauffman, Conference minister, asks that we pray:
- For the Annual Conference Assembly (ACA) Planning Committee as they put the finishing touches on preparations for the March ACA.
- For the cluster meetings that will take place in February.
- For the Stewardship Ministry Team as they prepare a new narrative spending plan approach to the Conference budget. They are meeting on Jan. 10.
2) Norma Duerksen, chair of Ministry Development Team and Resource Advocate,
There has been a request for Bible school training workshops. Pray for Norma and several teacher-volunteers as they schedule three regional Saturday morning workshops in January.
3) Pastor-Elder Retreat, Widewater Retreat Center, Liberty Center, Feb. 17-18
4) Pastor-Elder Retreat, Comfort Inn, Millersburg, Feb. 19-20
- OC staff will resource the Pastor-Elder Retreats with the theme “Working Together as Ministry Teams.” Let us pray for the staff as they prepare and serve the pastor-elder teams.
- May these retreats be space where the teams connect in new ways with each other and God’s passion and vision.
5) Requests from among us:
- May we be faithful in responding with generosity of heart and means to those who are hungry, are looking for a job, and are lonely among us and in our communities.
- Pam Matsos requests that we pray for her as she begins another round of chemotherapy Jan. 4.
Weeks 3 and 4: Pray for Mennonite Mission Network (MMN) of MC USA:
1) Will LaVeist, one of the editors at MMN, in Beyond Ourselves, Oct. 2011, p. 14:
“Inclusion is God’s intended consequence of mission work.” We are the sent ones to carry God’s mission. Let’s pray to God so we can hear who to invite and to include into our lives and faith communities. Pray that we may be the faithful embodiment of God’s Great Commission.
2) Dean Heisey, MMN Church Relations representative in his Ohio visits asks us to pray:
- Dean led listening sessions for MC USA Executive Board and MMN with Ohio pastor clusters, Jan. 10, 11 and 12. Dean says that this time together is an important step as churchwide staff members attend to what is changing as congregations engage the missional agenda. Pray that the content of these conversations will continue to lead for greater clarity of vision and well being.
- Who will claim Christ’s call to serve in Mongolia? The “harvest is ripe.” There is a call. Let’s designate Wed. Jan. 25 to pray for workers to hear the call to go to Mongolia. The website www.jcsintl.org lists all the kinds of service opportunities in Mongolia.
- Continue to pray for the Northwest Ohio Partners in Mission group as they discern its calling for the future.
1) Gail Blum, Hospice of Lenawee, Hillsdale, Mich.
2) Keith Matthews, Dorothy Love Retirement Community, Sidney, Bellefontaine
3) Tom Michaels, Hospice Chaplain, Millersburg
4) Enid Schloneger, Hospice Chaplain, Smithville
5) Dave Eshleman and John Powell, as they resource congregations in renewal, revitalization, and rebirth.
6) Camp Luz, Andrew Michaels, Director
Pray as they seek a program manager for this important ministry.
7) Brazo en Brazo, Hispanic ministry, Paul and Ann Conrad, New Carlisle
Immigration continues to be a “front burner” issue. We are acquainted with more than 250 individuals/families in the Dayton-Springfield area. Most are recent immigrants. Pray as we discern ways to address their needs and respond to the opportunities of sharing Christ.
8) Open Arms, Hispanic ministry, Raúl and Vanita Tadeo and Haroldo and Esmirna Nunes, Kidron
This month we will pray for Jacinto, a young Hispanic man who was deported last year back to his home country of Guatemala. While he was here, Raúl and Vanita Tadeo and Haroldo and Esmirna Nunes ministered to him, and he became an active member at Salem Mennonite of Wooster. Now Jacinto is “our disciple and a servant of God there in his home country.” Let’s thank God for the ongoing ministry of Open Arms.
9) The East Ohio Church Plant Resource Team, Jason and Heather Rissler, church planters in Strasburg and Chet Miller-Eshleman pastor of LifeBridge Community, Dover
Ways to pray for the Risslers: For protection for our family, for God to give us a greater heart of love for those around us, for the group meeting on Thursday evenings, for God’s leading of others to join this group, for encouragement, for Jesus to draw people to Himself.
Weeks 7 and 8: Pray for these six Ohio Conference Congregations:
1) Lafayette Christian Fellowship, West Lafayette, Lay Leader Margaret Yoder
2) Lee Heights Community, Cleveland, Pastors Robin (Cynthia) Miller and Vikki (Mark) Pruitte-Sorrells
3) Leetonia Mennonite, Leetonia, Pastor Phil (Brenda) Slabaugh
4) LifeBridge Community, Pastor Chet (Holly) Miller-Eshleman
- Praise God for increased commitment this new year! Pray for the small group meeting weekly with Chet, focusing on strategy, growth and development to more effectively reach and disciple our neighbors for Christ.
- Pray that God provides eager, motivated adult mentors for each of our teens.
- Pray that we can strengthen and increase our number of weekly LifeGroups.
- Pray that we have more baptisms with follow-up discipleship than ever before.
- Pray that our sister church plant in Strasburg would grow out of Risslers’ living room and into a new space with new people that God sends.
- Pray for our sister church in Colombia, South America, Fuente de Vida, and for each person who will be traveling there.
5) Lima Mennonite, Lima, Pastor David (Becky) Elkins
- Pray concerning the establishment of a new international mission partnership.
- Pray for direction in reaching out to the people in our community.
6) Lockport Mennonite, Stryker, Pastor Steve (Bonnie) Heatwole
Compiled by Mattie Marie Mast, mmmast@zoominternet.net
Prayer Prompter can be found on the Ohio Conference website: www.ohiomennoniteconference.org.
Go to “Resource Teams” and select “Prayer Ministry.”
