A PRAYER and PRAISE MEDITATION

for the

2006-2008 DISTRICT MISSION GRANTS

READER:  Give thanks to the Lord, call on his name;

                   make known among the nations what he has done. (I Chronicles 16:8)

ALL:  We praise God for His love, protection and help for all the people who are making known the Good News of salvation in Jesus Christ, under much difficulty, sacrifice and danger. What a privilege we have as Women in Mission to help to make the Gospel heard, both near and around the world, through our prayers and Mission Mites. Thanks be to God!  

READER: Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord...

                  be attentive to my cry for mercy (Psalm 130:1,2)

ALL:  Father, You heard the cries for mercy from the abject poor women in Guatemala. Thank You for The Servant's Heart, providing for many of their needs, reaching out to these women, sharing the love of Christ, moving them from the garbage dump into the grace of our Lord.     

READER:  I wait for the Lord, my soul waits,

                  and in his word I put my hope. (Psalm 130:5)

ALL:  Thanks be to God for the love and concern being shown by the Ukraine Mission Team from Rock of Ages, Colorado Springs as they share the message of hope to the Ukraine people;

especially, the Good News of the free gift of salvation through Jesus Christ.  We praise You, O Lord, for the growth of the Lutheran Church of Ukraine.

READER: She opens her arms to the poor

                 and extends her hands to the needy  (Proverbs 31:20)

ALL:  Father in heaven, thank You that we can extend arms of mercy and help to the poor and needy children at the Orphanage of the Holy Trinity Institute in Brazil, and also to the children at Trinity/HOPE, Haiti. Feeding Hungry Children in Lutheran Schools in Haiti.  It gives us joy to provide these children with a safe place to sleep, enough food to eat and also food for their souls - the Word of God, which they also bring to their parents, giving them all the blessed HOPE of life eternal with their Savior. A prayer for the children and dedicated workers: May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope in the power of the Holy Spirit.  (Romans 15:13)  

READER: As the rain and the snow come down from the heavens, and do not return to it

                  without watering the earth... so is my Word that goes out from my mouth: It will

                  not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose 

                  for which I sent it.  (Isaiah 55:10-11)

ALL:  God said it.  We believe it. Where His Word - the Water of Life - is given, saving faith

grows in the hearts of believers by the power of the Holy Spirit. 

    Reaching people with the Gospel in some cultures requires great patience, new or different methods, and a huge amount of time and effort.  Such is the nature of ministry to Persons Living in the LDS Culture  and also in reaching the Muslims and other Arabic-speaking people through the Biblical Orthodox Lutheran Ministry (BOLM)

    Praise God!  Many are coming to Christ in both these unique ministries.  We especially pray that the Christians living among the Mormons are able to give voice to the very real differences between them and to speak the truth in love. Thousands are confessing Christ as Savior in Bible study groups, in newly formed congregations, and around the globe via the internet, all through the efforts of the BOLM ministry. What a blessed instrument for reaching so many people with the Gospel which

cannot be taught publicly in many parts of the world. For many Muslims, their commitment to Jesus

must remain secret or they could face persecution, loss of job, or death.

    We thank and praise You, Lord, for sending diligent, self-sacrificing workers into these difficult fields of ministry to plant the Seeds of Salvation. We pray, O God of mercy and love, grant rich growth from these "waterings" of the Word of God in the hearts of people everywhere.

READER:  Show mercy and compassion to one another.  (Zechariah 7:9)

                   Let us not grow weary in doing good. (Galatians 6:9)

ALL:  Thank you, Heavenly Father, for the many faithful volunteers and all involved who keep these "wheels of mercy" running for the Orphan Grain Train  and  Roadrunner for Christ.  Our Mission Mites help them bring food, clothing, Bibles, medical and healthcare items and other needed goods, showing compassion to the poor in Mexico, other parts of North America, as well as overseas.  Lord, we ask You to continue to bless these organizations with workers, safety, and generous donors. Bless also the recipients with an inquiring spirit to want to learn of their Savior.

READER:  Jesus said "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never                                          walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." (John 8:12)

ALL:  Thanks be to God, for the Lutheran Blind Mission Society's plans and successful efforts,

thus far, to establish Outreach Centers in congregations throughout the LCMS.  We thank You for all the willing volunteers in these centers who reach out to isolated blind and visually impaired people in their communities, in order to assist them and especially to share God's love for them in Christ, the Light of the world who can truly pierce their darkness.

    The Light of the Gospel is also shining through  The Great Commission Spanish TV Program in El Paso, Texas. Originating at the Ysleta Lutheran Mission, this twice-weekly TV program shares God's love in Christ Jesus, takes prayer and Bible requests (about 20 Bibles are mailed out per month), and includes the much loved and popular Mariachi San Pablo playing beautiful Christian music. We thank and praise You, Lord, for the many people who watch and listen to this Good News program, and we pray the Holy Spirit to work saving faith in the hearts of those who hear this message of salvation.                

READER:  I John 1:3 - We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard,

                  so that you also may have fellowship with us.  And our fellowship

                  is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.

ALL:  This Scripture from John describes the basic mission of two Gospel outreach endeavors in the Denver area that our Mission Mites are helping.

    As a mission society of the LCMS, the Center for Asian Missions and Evangelism (CAME) sends missionaries on "Pauline Missionary Journeys" to Asian population centers. The Rocky Mountain District-LCMS is working with CAME to develop the Denver Chinese and Indian Gospel Outreach in area congregations. Lord, we pray for Your blessing on all the work to bring the unchurched to Christ.

    The other outreach group, the Sudanese Community Evangelical Lutheran Church has as its

primary mission, to reach out with God's Word to the Sudanese refugees in the Denver area. Having left their country because of horrific religious and political strife, one of their most critical needs is to have a place to worship together. We praise and thank You O Lord, for the hand of fellowship given to these Christian friends by these churches, providing a place of worship, and more: Bethlehem, Lakewood, and Immanuel, Englewood.

    Lord, help us to be faithful in our support all of these missions with prayer and our Mission Mites.  May Your hand of blessing and favor be upon all those for whom we pray. Amen and Amen!