Perspectives Prayer (December)

Dear Prayer Team,

I want to thank you for continuing to lift up our Perspectives class in prayer. I have had several of you tell me that you're praying and it always encourages me because its a lot of work.

NEXT MEETING
December 16th (a thursday night) at 7:30PM
This time lets meet at Chad's house.
Address: 5383 E 700N Ossian, IN 46777

As we draw closer to the class please think about what it means to our community and it's churches. Pray that God's name would be honored and glorified, and that he would use our community to spread his kingdom. That's what this is about! Not just a successful class but about the unified body of Jesus living out his beautiful will. I know you guys know this but I just wanted to remind you of it because I am always encouraged in pray when I remember the big picture of God's glory.

Thanks
Joe Leman

Perspectives Prayer Meeting (November)

Hey guys,

The prayer meeting last month was really great!

Attendants: Debby Lehman, Eric and Marsha Steffen, and Allen Soller
Thanks for coming guys!

The next meeting will be on Thursday November 18th, same place, same time. We'll just hangout, get to know each other a little better and pray for each other and for the Perspectives course.

Until then here's some prayer requests:

With in the next couple of weeks our coordinating team will be visiting churches in the area and promoting the class to different congregations and pastors. Please pray that people will be lead to take the course and that pastors would be open to what Perspectives can do in their congregation. Last weekend Chad and I went to Hope Missionary and had a great day of worship. Several of their members are taking the course. God is doing cool things at Hope right now.

Please pray that Allen and Susan can find some graders for the course. These will be volunteer alumni grading all the homework and papers done by our students.

We are sending brochures and letters to all alumni in the area. Pray that the alumni could promote Perspectives to their friends and family.

Finally pray for this world. Thats the main thing! We are in a battle of conquest. The message of Christ and His ultimate authority over this world must be spread to all nations so that people will fear him and turn in repentance. Pray that the name of Jesus Christ would be hollowed, that His Kingdom would come, and that His will would be done on this earth as it is in Heaven.

Perspectives Prayer Meeting (October)

Hey everyone!

I am so thankful to have all of you guys on our prayer team! It strengthens my faith to have so much support. Over the next three months we will have three prayer meetings.

First Meeting:
Life Church - 428 S Oak St Bluffton, IN 46714-2418
Thursday October 28 at 7:00PM
We will pray for Gods glory in:

• Upcoming Perspectives Class
• Our Community
• Among the Nations

If you don’t think you can make it to a prayer meeting, thats ok, just let me know so I know how many will be there. The meeting shouldn’t last more than an hour and it will be really great to get such a divers group together to pray. Below is my contact info incase. Thanks again!

Joe Leman
260-273-2715
lemajd01@gmail.com

Perspectives

Here is a little update on how Perspectives class is coming. I’m so thankful to have your prayers and support as we get closer and closer to the first night of class. Let me assure you that your prayers are being answered. Our team has met with very little resistance as we gathered our “Big 6” and call our instructors.

Please pray for our team as we prepare these last few months:

Chad Fiechter:
Chad is in the middle of harvest and is solidifying our last few instructors.
Kristi and Doug Gerber:
Kristi in charge of the budget and will be helping with our street fair booth.
Joe Leman:
Joe is also working the street fair booth.
Amber Steffen:
Amber is leaving for Haiti for two weeks for LSM.
Allen and Susan Stoller:
They are looking for graders for the class and promoting the class everywhere they go.

Street Fair Booth
Please pray for our booth at the Bluffton Street Fair. We are hoping to build awareness for the class and get a chance to visit with a lot of Christians in our community. Please pray that everything works well with the booth setup and that we have enough staff to man the booth. Also pray for all those who will attend or are thinking about attending the class this spring. God is moving and working in our community and he wants to involve us in this work.

Inward Groanings

Consider this passage with me:

Romans 8:18-27 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God.
We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.

This passage indicates that the creation is groaning because of the current age of corruption. It longs to be the habitation of beauty and worship instead of a theater of violence and sorrow. I can just imagine earthquakes and storms as terrible groans that the elements express in an anxious protest against the depravity of these times.

This personification takes on a new dimension when Paul compares our redeemed souls with the creation. We who are saved join the creation in groaning for the resurrection. I effect we are interceding for the world because we are tied to it and its sorrow. The earth was cursed when man fell and it will be renewed when the “children of God” are revealed.

Ask yourself this: Do I groan for the nations? Do I want Christ’s Kingdom to come so bad that it is like labor pains inside me? This age of twilight is causing our hearts to hope for light and to groan because of the grey. Maybe you’ve been groaning but you don’t know why? May you find hope in the promise of the coming of our Lord, and may we be filled with longing Jesus like a bride longs for her groom.

Intercession

I just watched an impacting video on the power of intercession. May this spur our hearts to a greater passion for prayer as we’re reminded of the One who intercedes for us. Lets raise our hearts and voices to the Father on behalf of the nations and our community with a renewed zeal today.

Perspectives Update

Preparation for our Perspectives class this spring is well under way. Our loop is complete!

Sunday Night - Berne (Berne Missionary)

Monday Night - Bluffton (Life Community)

Tuesday Night - Columbia City

Please pray for these classes and for the students that God will give us. Also pray for God's hand to be on our instructors. We are contacting possible instructor now and we desire that God would prepare a beautiful message through the filling of these positions.

Also pray for our 3 Class Coordinators and their teams.

Luke Johnson - Berne

Chad Fiechter - Bluffton

Heather Ward - Columbia City

God bless you for all that you do as a support team.

Come on! Let's change the world!

Hi-ho everyone! I read a really neat article on 24-7's prayer room blog. Maybe you'll enjoy it too!

In Jesus,
Grace

Link: http://24-7prayer.com/features/1275

Perspective Big 6

Hey team! I just wanted to post an update on the progress of our Perspectives class. Thank you so much for being willing to pray for this effort. Thursday, June 24 (tomorrow) our coordination team is meeting to begin working on what is called "The Big 6". These are the six main things that we need to have completed before they let us have a class. All six are due before mid September. Please pray for us as we meet and please pray for these six things:

Coordination Team - We have a solid start on this but are still in need of some volunteers.

Budget - This is a difficult one. Kristie Gerber will be doing a lot of work in this area. She is a vital member of our team. Please pray for her.

Course Plan - A weekly plan that includes worship, prayer, announcements, review, activities, and the instructor.

Prayer Strategy - We always need prayer! You guys are awesome!

Recruitment & Promotion Strategy - Please continue to pray that God would fill our class.

Syllabus - Pray that God would send us the right instructors and that our class would build the body of Christ. May we all become "World Christians"

Churches of Bluffton IN

I Timothy 2:1-8

I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone—for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all men—the testimony given in its proper time. And for this purpose I was appointed a herald and an apostle—I am telling the truth, I am not lying—and a teacher of the true faith to the Gentiles. I want men everywhere to lift up holy hands in prayer, without anger or disputing.

I've been thinking about this scripture since I listened to Jim Cymbala's message on prayer. What would happen in Bluffton Indiana if our churches were enflamed with prayer. We know that God is preparing laborers and we know that his eye is on our community. Let us together pray that the Christian's in our community would be united in prayer for God's glory. May our churches both individually and collectively driven to prayer.

Here's a helpful link to get a list of the churches in Bluffton:

http://yellowpages.superpages.com

A House of Prayer for All Nations

Greeting Perspective Prayer Partners,

We came across a very moving sermon by Jim Cymbala on the importance of Prayer. Hopefully you can open the website by double clicking the above attachment. If that doesn't work, try right clicking the below link and clicking on 'opening the hyperlink'. It's approximately 50 minutes, but well worth your time. Praise God and Pray always!

Allen & Susan

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U79YOKje2zU

Mission Network News

I'd like to share a link with you:

http://www.mnnonline.org/

Maybe some of you already follow MNN but I've began to use it to help me to continue to think, and pray globally. I think they have a balance of good and bad news.

Might God, may your name be hollowed by our actions and efforts. I thank you so much for my prayer team and for a Christian community. Come and be glorified by our group. Answer our prayers for our community and its churches. We dare to believe that you will work in Adams and Wells county to pour out laborers for your kingdom. Unify us with awe for you. Amen.

Praying as Warriors

There’s something exhilarating about joining together in prayer. I get the sense that as we lift our voices up, we join a chorus of countless warriors praying for the Nations. I can’t help but feel very small in the midst of a great battlefield.

I’d encourage you to pray as a warrior today… because I know how easily I loose sight of that sometimes. When we intentionally seek the Master in this fervent intercession - for the mobilization of our community, for Perspectives, and for the Nations, there is a battle that rages in the spiritual realm. When we pray, we are making an active, bold stand on the side of Christ. When we bow in prayer, we’re effectively picking up a sword.

I’ve been reading through the book of Daniel, and was spurred to this thought of war when I read chapter 10. Daniel was three weeks into intense prayer (close to where we stand with this prayer blog today, I think) when Gabriel comes before him.

Gabriel said: “Do not be afraid Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them. But the prince of the Persian kingdom resisted me twenty-one days. Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, because I was detained there with the king of Persia…

These prayers that we join in are not without great purpose. I know we know that… but sometimes remembering the intensity of it that we can’t see really helps me focus in praying. So may we march forward this week, as an army on our knees.

PERSPECTIVES Coordination Team

On Thursday night a couple of us met to work on next year's classes. Please pray for us as we gather more team members to help facilitate the class. That is our greatest need right now. On June 24th we will meet again. By that time we hope to have two full teams ready begin. Pray that God would call more people to volunteer for staffing these next classes. Please pray for our current team members.

Mo Hodge - leadership at The Bridge, perspective promotion

Luke Johnson - up coming wedding, leader of Berne class next spring

Doug and Kristy Gerber - doing finances for both classes next spring

Allen and Susan Stoller - helping with grading and other responsibilities

Chad Fiechter - leader of Bluffton class next spring

Joe Leman - taking perspectives coordinator training this month

Continue to pray that God would fill our classes next spring and that our efforts would glorify His name. May the name of Jesus be hollowed in our community. May all the earth be told of His judgment and mercy.

Missionary Hymn

A few weeks ago, I ran into an amazing hymn in our Gospel Hymns book. Maybe you're all acquainted with it already, but it's called Missionary Hymn by R. Heber and Lowell Mason. I pray that one day, our church and community could sing this song...not just because it's in our hymn book but because we're living it, devoted to it and passionate about it for the glory, worship and honor of God. Below are the lyrics.

From Greenland’s icy mountains, from India’s coral strand; Where Africa’s sunny fountains roll down their golden sand: From many an ancient river, from many a palmy plain, They call us to deliver their land from error’s chain.

What though the spicy breezes blow soft o’er Ceylon’s isle; Though every prospect pleases, and only man is vile? In vain with lavish kindness the gifts of God are strown; The heathen in his blindness bows down to wood and stone.

Shall we, whose souls are lighted with wisdom from on high, Shall we to those benighted the lamp of life deny? Salvation! O salvation! The joyful sound proclaim,Till earth’s remotest nation has learned Messiah’s Name.

Waft, waft, ye winds, His story, and you, ye waters, roll,Till, like a sea of glory, it spreads from pole to pole:Till for His ransomed people the Lamb for sinners slain, Redeemer, King, Creator, in bliss returns again.

The Living Prayer

Today I want to post some lyrics to a song that I love. If you'd like to listen here's a link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kv3WSrZ-9bM Ask yourself if prayer is something that you do or something that you are. Is it possible that our words actions and desires could all melt together into an expression to God for his Kingdom. I'm praying that God would teach us to pray and that He would raise up more Kingdom Christians in this community.

In this world I walk alone
With no place to call my home,
But there's one who holds my hand
Through rugged roads, through barren lands.
The way is dark, the road is steep,
But He's become my eyes to see,
The strength to climb, my griefs to bear.
The Savior lives inside me there.

In Your love I find relief,
A haven from my unbelief.
Take my life and let me be
A living prayer, my God, to Thee.

In these trials of life I find
Another voice inside my mind.
He comforts me and bids me live
Inside the love the Father gives.

In Your love I find relief,
A haven from my unbelief.
Take my life and let me be
A living prayer, my God, to Thee.

The Workers are Few

Luke 10:2 "He told them, 'The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.'"

Please join me in praying for workers in God Kingdom. The current age is passing like the night before dawn, but for all its temporary nature it seems to capture our gaze away from God's Kingdom. There is a great need for more of us to be given over to the work of God, but we humans are unable to make ourselves see. Notice that Jesus does't say we should tell more people to enter the harvest but to ask him to send them into the harvest. The sending of workers is God's prerogative. We must as workers allow the magnitude of the harvest to motivate us to pray that He would send more workers. Remember that God wants you to ask Him to act. He wants you to desire his glory. He wants to do His will in response to your request. He wants you to be a part.

Pray in Faith

To day I'd like to encourage you guys in your faith. Often the limiting factor in my prayers is my faith in God's power. The prayer of a true disciple is a daring prayer. What is the most daring thing that you've ever prayed?

Ask yourself if you believe that God is able to do his will. Ask yourself if you believe in the coming of His Kingdom. I know you guys believe. Think about how crazy we are! We believe that some day the violent region of Israel will be the capital city of a globe kingdom of peace. We believe that though the nations rage the meek man Jesus will rule the planet. We believe in a coming age of no tears, no war, no fear, and no death. We are like Abraham; a strange in his own land. We are strange people of peace that don't belong to this current age.

Oh God, I pray that you would give us faith. Please pour your spirit onto our hearts that we might see more clearly the gravity of your Kingdom. Secondly give us courage to be daring with our lives. Help us to pray with confidence in you. Make us your children LORD! We are a week people. So long we have trusted in man. Turn us into your worshipers. Turn us into your sons and daughters. Amen.

God has shown us his will. Take courage and pray daring things for our community. Pray daring things for our globe.

Psalm 67 - A Prayer for the Nations

May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face shine upon us, Selah; that your ways may be known on earth, your salvation among all nations. May the peoples praise you, O God; may all the peoples praise you. May the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you rule the peoples justly and guide the nations of the earth. Selah! May the peoples praise you, O God; may all the peoples praise you. Then the land will yield its harvest, and God, our God, will bless us. God will bless us, and all the ends of the earth will fear him.

Have you ever prayed through a psalm? Psalm 67 is overflowing with God's purpose for the nations. Notice the "blessed to be a blessing" concept in the first verse. I've be praying through this psalm today and thought that I share it with you guys.

PERSPECTIVES On the World Christian Movement

Alright team!

Lets start this off by focusing prayer on the Perspectives class that will start next spring. Please pray for us as we begin to assemble a coordinating team. It's not too early to pray that the Holy Spirit would inspire people to take the class and that from this class God would send out His name to the ends of the earth. Also pray that pastors and churches would be open to us as we present this opportunity in the area.

I know these are big picture prayer requests but trust me, more specific requests will come as the work begins.

Also note that this blog is not limited to a specific church or even Perspectives. My hope is that this prayer blog will bare desire for a great movement in our community. A movement for the revelation of Gods purpose for us and a great sending of many workers into His harvest.

Matthew 9:37b-38 "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field."