March-April 2011 Prayer Prompter

Weeks 1 and 2...Let’s pray for Ohio Conference:

1) Ministry Development Team (MDT) will meet Saturday, April 2

• Thank God for MDT’s chair Ginny Cress and her excellent servant leadership during the past two years.
• Pray for Norma Duerksen as she assumes the chair of MDT, pending the approval of delegates at Annual Conference Assembly.
• Pray for the new MDT members. They will be featured in the next issue of Ohio Mennonite Evangel.

2) Sherah-Leigh Gerber, Coordinator of Volunteers, shares these prayer requests:

• Pray for the ongoing Listening Project in which staff and members of MDT of Conference sit with congregational leaders to hear concerns and activities and explore ways Conference might help meet needs. The goal for Conference is to visit every congregation by June 2012.
• Pray for a variety of resourcing events coming up this spring and summer.

3) Annual Conference Assembly, March 11-12 at Central Christian School, Kidron

• Pray for our Conference Minister Tom Kauffman and Regional Pastors Andy Stoner and Matt Hamsher as they bring the messages on the theme, “Abide, Love, Grow,” based on John 15.
• Participate in praying while at ACA. Post your praises, confessions, and or requests on the Prayer Wall.

Weeks 3 and 4: Pray for Ohio Conference Chaplains and Ministries among us:

1) Kent Morgan, County Adult Detention Facilities, Painesville

2) Jacqui Rozier, Hospice of the Western Reserve, Cleveland

3) Vickie Yoder, Doctors’ West Hospital, Columbus

4) Brazo en Brazo, Hispanic ministry: Paul and Ann Conrad, New Carlisle

• After being part of the Bible study, Marcos said, “I wish I could tell my father in Mexico the things I am learning here.” Since September when they first visited Brazo en Brazo, Marcos and his three young sons have been regular participants at both Bible class and worship. Thank God for how God’s Word takes root in the lives of immigrant students and their passion to share it with others!

5) Open Arms, Hispanic ministry: Raúl and Vanita Tadeo and Haroldo and Esmirna Nunes, Kidron

• Our Hispanic brothers and sisters are still not treated fairly in some work places and communities. Pray for them and for Raúl and Haroldo (now full time), who are Christian advocates for them through the ministry of Open Arms.

6) Shalom Ministries, Allen Rutter, Executive Director, Stryker

• Pray for families dealing with suicide and sexual and physical abuse issues. Also pray for Shalom’s funding issues related to helping the huge increase in the number of clients who have no health insurance and are experiencing extremely difficult financial problems and mental health issues.

7) Project Hope, Hispanic ministry, Zion Mennonite, Archbold with Sister Ellen Lamberjack

• Pray for a South American family that the mother will be able to become a legal permanent resident soon and be allowed to remain in the United States with her husband and one-year old daughter who are U.S. citizens.

8) Worship Conference, with Michael Zehr at Central Mennonite, Archbold, March 26 and 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.

Weeks 5 and 6: Pray for these five Ohio Conference Congregations:

1) Agora Christian Fellowship, Columbus, Pastor Richard (Rebecca) Bartholomew

2) Aurora Mennonite, Aurora, Pastor Tim Schultz

3) Beaverdam Mennonite, Corry, Pa., Pastor Jay (Vicki) Conn

• Pray that we can continue to be a beacon of hope for our community as it continues to struggle spiritually and economically.
• Pray for discernment as we partner with other churches to start a homeless shelter and various other ministries to help provide spiritual wholeness and relieve the financial brokenness of our community.

4) Beech Mennonite, Louisville, Pastor Dan (Jeanette) King

• Pray that Beech would be open to new ways the Holy Spirit wants to move among them: in healing relationships, bringing unity, and empowering them for witness to the unchurched with the "Come and See" theme for 2011.

5) Berean Fellowship, Youngstown, Pastor Sam (Funmi) Olarewaju

• We started the year with a new leadership team that needs prayer for wisdom, discernment, unflinching commitment and cooperation as we work with God to impact our community for His glory. The enthusiasm so far this year has been low in our small congregation, sometimes affecting Sunday morning attendance. Pray that the Lord will strengthen our hearts with the joy of His salvation regardless of the problems we may be going through collectively or individually.

6) Berlin Mennonite, Berlin, Pastor Ernest (Janice) Hershberger

Weeks 7 and 8: Pray for our links with Mennonite Church USA (MC USA):

1) Stanley W. Green, Executive Director of Mennonite Mission Network, MC USA

“The true advance of the gospel is to be found in the stories of ordinary women and men seeking to bear faithful and creative witness through incarnating the good news of Jesus in word and deed.” (Feb. 2011, Beyond Ourselves) Pray that we may all have boldness to tell our stories of how Jesus makes a difference in our every day lives.

2) 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 so that each person who desires to attend would be able to attend this celebration of who we are as MC USA.

3) Norma Duerksen, Resource Advocate for MC USA to Ohio Conference

• Thank God for creative, thoughtful authors that write important books for our spiritual growth.
• Thank God for Mennonite Publishing Network who publishes books and curriculum for our churches.
• Pray that I will have the time and know-how to spread the word about resources available to us from all the Mennonite agencies so that needs of our churches can be met.

4) Susan Mark Landis, Denominational Minister for Peace and Justice, MC USA

• Pray for people who speak truth about God’s justice, that God gives them strength to be loving and prophetic.
• Pray for people who hunger for justice in their lives.
• Pray for peace workers who miss their families and friends, who are learning new languages and cultures, who live in close quarters.

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Compiled by Mattie Marie Mast, mmmast@zoominternet.net

Prayer Prompter can be found on the Ohio Conference Web site: www.ohiomennoniteconference.org.

Go to “Resource Teams” and select “Prayer Ministry.”

January-February 2011 Prayer Prompter

Weeks 1 and 2...Let’s pray for Ohio Conference:

1) Ministry Development Team (MDT) will meet Saturday, Jan. 22.

• Pray for openness to God’s Spirit to new dreams and risk in building God’s Kingdom.

2) Sherah-Leigh Gerber, Resource Team Coordinator, shares these prayer requests:

• Pray for the planning of two one-day worship seminars in May and June led by Mike Zehr.

• Pray for the ongoing Listening Project where staff and members of MDT of Conference sit with congregational leaders to hear concerns and activities and explore ways Conference might help meet needs. The goal for Conference is to visit every congregation by June 2012.

• Pray for the newly forming theological resource team.

3) Annual Conference Assembly, March 11-12 at Central Christian School, Kidron

• Pray for Conference Minister Tom Kauffman and our regional pastors, Andy Stoner and Matt Hamsher, as they bring the messages on the theme, “Abide, Love, Grow,” based on John 15.

4) Young Adult Meetings, to be held in January and February at North Clinton, Bethel (West Liberty) and Kidron Mennonite churches

• Pray for these important meetings as participants will share about the vision, roles and responsibilities of Ohio Conference for area churches and the denomination. Pray for Tamara Gill as she organizes these meetings.

5) The Ohio Evangel will be changing after the beginning of 2011 from 10 issues to six issues per year with bulletin inserts on the alternate months.

• Pray that this change will allow more persons in the pew to access the important news of Conference.

Weeks 3 and 4: Pray for Ohio Conference Chaplains and Ministries among us:

1) Gail Blum, Hospice of Lenawee, Hillsdale, Mich.

2) Keith Matthews, Dorothy Love Retirement Community, Sidney, Bellefontaine

3) Enid Schloneger, Hospice Chaplain, Smithville

4) Hector Velez, Disciples of Jesus Motorcycle Club, Archbold

5) Brazo en Brazo, Hispanic ministry: Paul and Ann Conrad, New Carlisle

• Marti Meza is now employed by Brazo en Brazo. Pray for Marti as she gives support with Hispanic families and individuals through friendship evangelism and social networking. Pray for Marti and her husband Manuel as they give significant leadership to Sunday afternoon worship services and Spanish literacy classes.

6) Open Arms, Hispanic ministry: Raúl and Vanita Tadeo and Haroldo and Esmirna Nunes, Kidron

• Pray for Open Arms as they put the final touches on funding for their newly approved budget which will include full-time support for Haroldo. Pray for non- Hispanics to become more aware of their Hispanic brothers and sisters living in their communities. May they reach out and be a friend.

Weeks 5 and 6: Pray for these five Ohio Conference congregations:

1) Walnut Creek Mennonite, Walnut Creek, Pastor Don (Brenda) Hamsher

• Pray for our church as we focus on congregational care.
• Pray for Pastor Don as he spends time in getting acquainted with the congregation.
• Pray for the upcoming “Marriage for Life” seminar.

2) Wayside Chapel, Pedro, Pastor John (Shanna) Kelly

3) West Clinton Mennonite, Wauseon, Pastors Jess and Naomi Engle

• Pray for growth in freedom and joy in our worship and service.
• Pray for continued openness to Holy Spirit leading — especially with having creative outreach ideas.
• Pray for guidance and unity as we restructure.
• Pray for deepening of relationships with God, each other, community, and world.

4) Wooster Mennonite, Wooster, Interim Pastor Jacob (Katie) Dodson

• Please pray for our congregation as we journey with God through a time of transition. Our former pastor of 14 years finished his tenure in September. We need prayer for wisdom and discernment for our search committee, guidance and help for our interim pastor, and insight and vision for the entire congregation as we uncover anew our calling as part of the larger body of Christ. We are grateful for you and for your prayers.

5) Zion Mennonite, Archbold, Pastor Jeff (Jan) Kauffman (beginning in January)

Prayer requests by Associate Pastor Mona Sauder

• Pray for Zion as we receive our new pastor, Jeff Kauffman, that we will support him and continue to work together as we have in the interim. Pray that together we will reach out in our community and that young families will feel welcome among us.

Weeks 7 and 8: Pray for our links with Mennonite Church USA (MC USA):

1) Ervin Stutzman, executive director of Mennonite Church USA

• Let’s continue to hold Ervin in prayer as a servant leader of our denomination. Recently he had this to say about prayer in the Nov. 2010 issue of Beyond Ourselves. Let it inspire each of us to prayer: “I have come to enjoy daily morning walks in a wooded park… I commune with God as I stroll…listening to what God has to say and sharing the things that are on my heart, including the needs of others. As I leave the park each day, I usually feel restored, guided and sent. I’m ready, most days, to start my work with a sense that I am embarking on God’s mission in God’s way.”

2) Mennonite Church USA Convention, Pittsburgh, July 4-9

• As the convention registration begins Jan. 25, pray that our church-wide gathering will be a time of celebration and relationship. That through this gathering we will become more connected to one another and strengthened in our Christian walk together.

3) Mennonite Mission Network (MMN), Eastern Mennonite Mission (EMM) and Ministry Support Teams (MST) and/or Mission Partnerships:

• From Matt Flinner, Martins Creek Mennonite, Millersburg, Chair of the Mongolia Mission Partnership:
• Pray for missionaries Petrus and Yuliana Handoyos. Their 2-year-old son, Yonas, is experiencing seizures. They will be traveling to Singapore to see an epilepsy specialist.
• Pray for Drew and Mary Ellen Robinson (and their children) as well as the Handoyos who will be ending their time in Mongolia this summer. Pray that God will continue to lead them into this new stage of life and that God will call new people into mission work in Mongolia.

• Pray for the MST from Martins Mennonite, Orrville, which is giving support to Joe and Jen Horst, serving in Bulgaria through Eastern Mennonite Missions. Craig and Jenny Strasbaugh are co-chairs of this MST.
• Pray for Sonnenberg Mennonite (Kidron), Kidron and Pike Mennonite (Elida), who are giving support to the Argentine Mennonite family José and Alfonsina Oyanguren, Felipe, Emilia and Juancito, serving in Northern Argentina among the First Nations.

4) Ohio Mennonite Women (OMW), Jean Emery, president

• Pray for the Lord to open the hearts of people to be willing to take a position on the OMW Executive Board and help with the great events that we have each year.

Compiled by Mattie Marie Mast, mmmast@zoominternet.net

Prayer Prompter also can be found on the Ohio Conference Web site: www.ohiomennoniteconference.org. Go to “Resource Teams” and select “Prayer Ministry” to download a printed copy.