Friday, November 4, 2011
The Eucharisteo
Eucharisteo (Greek) yoo-khar-is-teh'o. Verb.
Definition: 1. To be grateful, to feel thankful. 2. Give thanks
Take a few moments to quiet your heart and mind. Bow before the Lord and surrender to Him. In a spirit of gratitude and open hands, say Thank you to the Lord.
Write down praises, and ways that the Lord has given good gifts to you this fall within your ministry or even personally. Share those with us. Be sure to include your name(s) in your post.
We will all gather here Monday, November 14th, noon central time and all worship, pray and give thanks together. Please continue to use this space during the month of November with a heart of thankfulness...to break the power of darkness in our lives and ministry.
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This season as I raise support, I am thankful for God's word which stands forever. (Isaiah 40:8) More and more, He helps me trust in his word and not in "flesh" which will wither and fade like the grass and the flowers. What a gracious God He is, not to condemn me but to help me fight my crippling fear of man.
ReplyDeleteThis autumn, Helen and i have felt the ever tightening pressure of circumstances: health worries w family, finances, too much to do...all the normal stuff for our "group". And, the ministry has been "start and stop"...But God has been present and powerful. Once again, I think he is more interested in forming and reforming us than in all our schemes and "must-do" mentality. I am glad for this season.
ReplyDeleteMinistry Praise:
ReplyDelete--good cooperation and more CFM staff exploring EFM contexts in Northeast.
--super job by Boston's Fenway Hub team in incorporating Bridges fully into their mission and vision.
--Praise for the return of the East Coast Conference for Epic (Winter Conference).
--Praise for CFM staff attending to help with EFM Winter Conferences.
I love the call and vision for the EFM world...but, it has totally helped this year that the Lord has sustained our support. He has been so kind to allow us to minister relatively free from financial burdens. i know this is not the case for many folks and i do think of them. Yet i am grateful that for this season in our lives we battle different issues than finances.
ReplyDeleteThankful for this fall....
ReplyDelete...HE IS JEALOUS FOR ME (God's Love and presence)
...our EFM Director's team....John and Faye, and adding Scott and Lori. Their lives and faithfulness minister to us daily.
...Our EFM directors, staff, ambassadors. The vision of every tongue tribe and nation around the throne compels us. The Gospel shared daily...running swiftly. your hearts and faithfulness move the heart of God.
...prayer partners
...Sam....my wonderful partner and love. He is faithful and true. His heart of love for Jesus keeps Him centered.
our USCM exec. team. Godly friends and leaders.
...daily OIL. for the past 4 years. to keep my heart alive with light.
our support bottomed out in October. I am thankful that God has provided for us for 35 years. He will provide for us now
health and strength.
our daughters (and son in law). beautiful family.
I am thankful for the Lord calling me, and all of us to this awesome opportunity to help in bringing the Gospel to every tribe, tongue and ethnos! Yesterday our pastor spoke from Acts chapter 10, a chapter I have spoken on often. I love that the Gospel breaks into new cultures, and I love Peter's willingness to partner with God in following the Spirit. Peter breaks through Jewish law and cultural boundaries and crosses the threshold of Cornelius's house, I'm sure his first time ever to enter the house of a Gentile. He arrives to find family and friends eager to hear about Jesus. O Lord, that your Spirit would call countless others to cross the threshold, and that they would be as willing as Peter, to partner in seeing the Gospel break-through!
ReplyDeleteI am thankful for the gospel that gives me strength for today and hope for a better tomorrow. I am grateful that God cares about what He has called us to even more than we do and that He will fulfill what He has promised. I thank God for the women and men of our EFM team that labor so faithfully every day as pioneers and courageous souls on the frontlines of ministry.
ReplyDeleteI am thankful for our Ethnic Staff who have persevered in cru and remained faithful to take the Gospel to their ethnic communities.
ReplyDeleteI am thankful for our EFM Staff who serve cross-culturally to serve our National Ministries.
-I am thankful for the transforming power of the gospel that has freed me and others from many of life's masters.
ReplyDelete-I'm also grateful for my family, friends, and church who remind me everyday to keep the gospel central in my life. I'm experiencing deeper community this fall.
-I'm thankful for the privilege to come along side non-believing college students in NYC and process how they answer life's hard questions.
-As Regina and I face some decisions to make for the future, that I'm thankful that God is a constant and I can give me anxieties to Him.
praises for:
ReplyDelete* growing relationships at city college (epic)
* volunteers stepping up to lead the epic east coast conf.
* healthy growth processes in team relationships (epic nyc)
* the challenges of the city
* other ministry leaders who see, understand, and embrace the strategic value of reaching the city - that we are more like the exiles in Babylon (Jer. 29) than the unified nation under David
* time to study and learn
* a gracious husband
* steady paychecks so far this year
* dogs
Good staff account balance
ReplyDeleteFaithful supporters
Growing marriage, with better communication
Growing understanding of the gospel
Handful of freshmen coming to our meetings
I enjoy my job and feel honored to partner with God in reaching the lost
Seeing God move students to step out of their comfort zones in faith
Being appreciated by students for what I do :)
one more praise:
ReplyDeletefor the majority culture staff who have championed the ethnic minority staff - speaking on our behalf when others won't listen to or can't understand our words; creating and distributing the EMAF; giving ethnic minority field staff the freedom to do evangelism + discipleship in contextually relevant ways; being willing to acknowledge and confront the darkness that still stains many relationships between majority + minority cultures
This is Paul Litwin with Destino LA.
ReplyDeleteThis year I am incredibly grateful for a hard working staff team that has made ministry fun and memorable. I am grateful for their flexibility and understanding as we figure out how to do the things we're asked to do. I'm also grateful for:
-My wife, Trina, and the fact she is ministering out of more of her gifting this year.
-God's protection and provision for us (full paychecks all year).
-A good community and church around us that believes in what we do and is excited to hear what God is doing in and through us.
-Success in ministry and seeing movements growing and being established.
-Student leaders that are stepping up and owning their movements.
-The trials in ministry and cultural faux pas that allow me to remain humble and reliant on the Lord to grow and learn.
-That this is God's work to complete and not mine.
-Cookies.
-My family and heritage, God has blessed our generations.
-So many other things.
Thank you Father for surprising us with a new baby. Angel is a symbol of your grace through adoption. You brought her from darkness to light and gave her a name.
ReplyDeleteThank you for appearing to my friend from the Middle East, for transforming his heart. Thank you for bringing the nations to our home so that we may be a blessing to them.
Thank you for meeting us in the midst of fear and uncertainty about the future.
Amen.
It is good to spend a quiet moment remembering Who is in charge of my life, ministry, the universe. Why do I always think everything depends on me? It is good to turn away from my human pride and be reminded of my dependance and frailty.
ReplyDeletePersonally I have support concerns, health concerns, and family concerns. I'm taking off on a long trip to Africa in a few days, so pray for safety and smooth travel.
Ministry wise...there is a lot going on. Pray for a team of international students in Edmond, OK. They are hosting a Hollywood actor who will come and speak on his Christian faith in the midst of the allure of fame. Pray for these students to grow, be stretched and stay unified in the process of putting on this event.
Pray also that many students would come to the Vision 2011 conference in Washington, D.C.
Thank you for your prayers.
A team to be challenged and grow in
ReplyDeleteTime to spend with God
A Family
A growing relationship with significant other
Steady Finances
Opportunity to minister on Campus
Opportunities for future career option
Friends :)
I'm so grateful for all God did over the weekend on a medical mission trip to Acuna, Mexico, bringing both physical and spiritual help and healing.
ReplyDeleteI'm in awe of God and all the students (over 700) who have already signed up for the Vision 2011 conference in Washington D.C.
Trusting God to bring in adequate funding and grateful for 41 years of God's faithfulness in providing for me.
So grateful for what God is doing around the nation to reach international students.
I'm grateful for a fully-funded staff team. The launching of Epic at the University of Texas at Dallas and Destino at the University of Texas at Arlington. I'm BLESSED by my wife and I celebrating our first year of marriage and ministry together tomorrow. Thankful that God uses me in spite of me. As well, the numerous teaching opportunities the Lord has provided this year. Lastly, the growth in depth we've seen across our movements by God's grace!
ReplyDeleteI'm thankful for being married to a man that is striving after the Lord and leading me to do the same. Thankful for already being on campus and fully-funded, The Epic movement that has started at UTD and the Lord growing our Destino ministry at UNT deeper. Being on a team that I can learn a lot from because of their experience. The Lord providing some girls to meet with for Epic. God growing my faith in Him through our ministry and time spent with Him.
ReplyDeleteI am grateful for a fresh application of the gospel in my life. I am grateful for a chance to be involved in what God is doing in and through international students. I am grateful for our Bridges staff. I am grateful for ethnic minority staff who labor graciously and faithfully in our national ministries. I am grateful for those in CRU who are believing God for the ethnic minority students in their campuses and cities. I am grateful for Stephanie and her faith in living out the calling God has given her. I am grateful for our kids and the gift they are to us.
ReplyDeleteI'm thankful for God providing me to come to Dallas and being on the EFM team here.
ReplyDeleteI'm thankful for a student at UT-Arlington to help launch a movement.
I'm thankful for God at work here :)
This is Brian Kolling with Nations in the Upper Midwest. I am grateful to God for:
ReplyDelete*my family
*His continuing to place me in an arena where I have to grapple with how big He is, and how wide and deep is His grace
*launching a Nations movement at South Dakota State this year
-favor in the eyes of key administrative leaders at SDSU
-Eight SDSU Native students who traveled with us to the Nations Summit in Denver last month
-faithful SDSU Native student leader, Jackie
*ongoing partnership with Sioux Falls Seminary and NAIITS on the Rosebud Reservation Immersion Project here in South Dakota
*the "Nations family" - staff and student leaders from around the country with whom I get to serve and trust the Lord
John Mackin is thankful that.."God is working in the hearts of many as a result of the scandal that is rocking Penn State. Please pray for the ongoing events happening at Penn State, for the children that were affected and the community that is dealing with the consequences of sin. Pray that the staff here would have wisdom as we respond to students and seek to continually present a Christian response to these tragic events.
ReplyDeleteThis is a link of a message given last week at the CRU meeting: pennstatecru.org/love
John Mackin- Epic at Penn State"
Comments from Tommy & Fatimah Forester:
ReplyDeleteo safe birth/delivery of our daughter Mikayla
o 2+ years of marriage
o almost finished with our support – at about 92% and a healthy staff account during our time raising since Fatimah joined staff
o the amount of new partnership/support we have received from Philadelphia (being we are both not from here)
o great neighbors – good relational currency that allows us to share our lives and the Gospel
o diversity on our neighborhood block – opportunity to learn different cultures from our neighbors
o neighbor Calvin accepting Christ as his savior and exploring what the means as a young Vietnamese boys (9 yrs old)
o good church family in light of us being many miles away from our biological families
o opportunity to utilize campus ministry resources and training to mobilize students in a multi-ethnic urban church
o healthy ministry partnership with a predominantly African American church
o 2 Indonesian students realizing their hearts desire to develop a Bible study with their friends/family to draw more Indonesian students to Christ
o faithful indigenous male volunteer that desires to join our team to potentially help give lift to Impact
o 2 students praying about starting Impact
Andrew Dealy
ReplyDeleteI am so thankful for what God is doing at UT at Arlington among the Epic students. All of the second year students have stepped up and are teaching/modeling how to share the Gospel with the new freshman Epic students. I am thankful for their courage, boldness, and faithfulness. I am also thankful that the movement has continued to function well while I have often had to be absent. God is moving and it sure is fun to watch!
I'm grateful for the way God has stepped in to our Destino NYC team, showed us grace as we sought to learn a minority culture. God has raised up an amazing group of Latino students in this city who have a heart for their campuses, their city, their culture, the world. I praise that (especially) in my weaknesses and failures, He reigns, He is in control.
ReplyDeleteI am thankful for this month's provision of above and beyond special gifts. Our personal staff account is probably at the highest it has been in maybe a year! Thankful for our team and the loving leadership we have amidst a lot of spiritual attack from outside.
ReplyDeleteI am thankful I am not in this ministry alone. I am thankful for a great team: Sam and Chery Osterloh; Scott and Lori Crocker and my partner-in-ministry-for life- John.:-)
ReplyDeleteI am thankful for our support team who have stayed with us, who have loved us and given sacrificially over the years.
I am thankful for the growth we have seen happen with Epic and Destino's Retreats.
I am forever grateful for the love of God! To think that He loves me so much..and that His love is continual.nothing can separate me from the love of Christ. dirty old me..
ReplyDeleteThis is Kelly Woodman with Destino NYC.
ReplyDeleteToday I am thankful for:
The cross and the grace therein
His faithfulness
The way that He is working amongst a few key women here in the city
My husband and kids
The sounds of the city that are an ever, constant remainder of how many details God has held together in His hands
I'm thankful for the gentle and timely ways that the Lord is meeting me in this time in my life - from new areas of growth, to challenges in leadership, to connections with dear friends around the country.
ReplyDeletePraise the Lord for new believers involved in Destino.
Praise the Lord for 2 new movements in Dallas-Fort Worth for Epic in Dallas and Destino in Arlington.
Praise the Lord for laborers who love each other and are on mission together because of our love for the Lord.
Oh Lord, I am thankful for a relationship with you based on grace. Thank you for a new day, this day and for the work you've given me today. For Kelley and the blessing of our marriage, for all my children and their unique personalities and gifts. Thank you that Maddy was born 17 years ago today in Bangkok and that you led her to our family.
ReplyDeleteI am thankful for how God has matured both our staff team and our student ministry. I am thankful that the Lord has provided us with an amazing volunteer (Miyuki) that is giving us 20 hours a week. I am also thankful that God blew our mind at fall retreat as we were expecting 80 students and 170 came out. Lastly I am thankful for relationships with local churches that could become partnerships in the future. God is doing some amazing things. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteI am thankful for Jesus,
ReplyDeleteTHE BRIGHT MORNING STAR
In ancient times, the morning star was a herald of the new day, signaling the dawn of hope and joy. Jesus ushers in a new day for the entire world, and for us today. When we call on Jesus, THE BRIGHT AND MORNING STAR, we are calling on the ONE from whom all darkness flees.
Revelation 22:16 "I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star."
I am grateful for...
ReplyDeleteHis overwhelming love and promises for now and the hope of eternity.
My husband and His continued love and pursuit of the Lord, me and our son.
For the great gift of our son and the great responsibility of being a parent.
My co-laborers and friends in the SALT Movement
God's faithfulness to continue to work in-spite of me and my failures.
And for His never ending pursuit of my heart.
This is Ashen Shcumpelt with NATIONS in New Mexico.
ReplyDeleteI am so thankful for the way the Lord has been making the gospel even bigger in my heart and mind, and continually showing me my need for Him.
I am thankful for the amazing way He is drawing students to himself. Thankful for the three girls this last semester who all individually made the decisions to follow after Jesus alone(hard with in the native context).
I am thankful for my wife Julie's faithfulness in leading a weekly Bible study with the Nations women here at MSU. It is such a sacrifice for her with so much going on with our kid's, church, and ministry yet she joyfully makes it happen. Most of these women are not believers but are so open to the gospel, which is the topic of every discussion every week!
ReplyDeleteRelated to this, I am thankful for the overall ministry of Nations which is attracting nonbelievers/seekers. This seems to be a trend in the majority of our current Nations ministries. It's cool because they are being attracted to a community where where the Bible and gospel are at the center. (Mike Kelly)
Patrice Holmes:
ReplyDeleteI'm thankful for...
-God teaching me about myself during this season of full-time MPD: the past few months have been faith stretching (esp. w/short paychecks), healing, and a time for growth and (re)discovery. At times MPD has even been FUN! God is faithful to finish His work in me (Philppians 1:6)!
-Thankful for the growth that has come from different challenges our Impact Midwest Regional Team has faced and the students we've been able to reach!
-more of the willingness from CRU to change and be more culturally sensitive to ethnic ministries as well as Impact Ambassadors and volunteers who serve and minister to students well!
-the EFM teams all over the world! Thankful for the vision to reach each people group with the Gospel in culturally relevant ways
I am thankful to the Lord:
ReplyDelete-that one year ago today my (now) husband asked me out on a date
-for the opportunity to live in Chicago and minister here with full support
-that someone has seen a need for 2nd generation South Asian students to have a place to seek Christ among their own ethnic community
-that I get to learn weekly/daily about new cultures and how I'm not perfect at everything
-for a fabulous staff team who are friends, co-laborers, family, and really cool people
-for great leadership on our teams
-that as white people, we might not correctly identify students as South Asian, but then God points us to the right Palestinian or Latino student who want to pursue the Lord! haha I love His sense of humor and commitment to students outside our "scope" of South Asian but within the scope of "every student."
-that I get to talk to students about Jesus, family, conflict resolution, growing up, spirituality, and life issues every day I'm willing to put myself out there and engage!
I am thankful for God's provision for the SALT Movement. He has provided a wonderful staff team to serve alongside. He has provided great student leaders who are actively reaching out to their campuses. He has provided for me in my personal journey, enabling me to serve this semester.
ReplyDeleteDina Martinez
ReplyDeleteI praise the Lord God Almighty for what he is done in and through me. Although we have had many set backs the Lord has proven himself to always be with me no matter what. This fall I have seen students come to know the lord, Have men in our Destino movement all which are 1st years,and seen an evangelism workshop take place; for this and for so many more things I praise you lord for you have been there everything and have made it all possible. Thank you for transforming student's hearts and my heart in the process. Thank you for providing the means to make this ministry possible. I thank you Lord because you are working in the hearts of latino students all over the nation.
Denise,
ReplyDeleteI am thankful for the call of Christ.
I amazed that he would chose to use me!
The opportunity to serve him through the ministry of Impact Movement.
Pray for student registration Impact11 conference
Pray for covering as we prepare to go to New Orleans!
Pray for the souls God is already preparing to hear about HIM
Church partnerships in New Orleans
The completion of my initial support so that I can GO and DO!!
Thank You for what You can do. You can do more in a moment that anyone can do in a lifetime. Thank You for the Destino Vision dinner on Friday night, that people came out and new scholarship money was raised for students. Thank You that you have people in Your church that really do care to reach Hispanic students with the gospel.
ReplyDeleteThank You that you found a deaf church for our son and for a new friendship with Daniel.
Hsiang-En Tsui - Epic
ReplyDeleteI'm thankful for:
God's grace, passionate pursuit of, and redemptive work in all people and me in particular in the midst of my brokenness, weaknesses, and failures.
The ways that God is growing and using the Epic Movement to impact the greater Kingdom.
The doors that are being opened for a new Epic field team in the San Francisco Bay Area starting on the ground Fall 2012. I anticipate seeing how God will provide team members, raising the needed financial/prayer support that all of us will need, and for the volunteers and churches that are already excited to work with us, as well as those that have yet to be discovered.
God, I am grateful that you never give up on us. Even when it seems like there is nothing going right, that you still show up.
ReplyDeleteThankful for a new huge supporter. God that you give when our need is biggest. In the times that we lack faith and worry, you show up.
Thank you for this past familia time which saw the number of Latino students double since our last one. You continue to use our current students to find new ones, giving them faith and courage to be more bold.
Thank You for Your provision for the upcoming SALT conference. You've provided a location and a great speaker.
ReplyDeleteI am grateful that my Step-Dad is no longer in any pain and that because of his relationship with Jesus here he is whole and complete and new for eternity with our Heavenly Father.
ReplyDeletePsalm 27:4
One thing I ask from the LORD,
this only do I seek:
that I may dwell in the house of the LORD
all the days of my life,
to gaze on the beauty of the LORD
and to seek him in his temple.
I'm very thankful for the Lord's provision of a home here in Austin, great team of people to work with, and a job to do. I'm desperate for God's grace and am so thankful for it. I'm humbled that the Lord allowed me to be a dad to 3 beautiful girls. I'm grateful to be a husband to my wonderful wife, Di.
ReplyDeleteThank you also for the churches you are giving us. For their interest in Destino and how you already are using them in NYC.
ReplyDelete*I am thankful for this time to teach me to focus on being thankful.
ReplyDelete*I am thankful for the Holy Spirit, who enables me because I am weak.
*I am thankful for my Portland Metro Staff team, all Campus Staff, who welcome me as Bridges staff. Together we minister to both majority and minority students.
*I am thankful for a girl from Colombia who is involved with "CRU" in Bogota who walks with God shares her faith. We will miss her when she leaves Portland.
*I am thankful for CRU students who have a love and vision for reaching students from other cultural backgrounds.
*I am thankful for unity, through the work of the Holy Spirit, and strategic work among my co-laborers from other college ministries, student volunteers from Christian universities, and volunteers from numerous local churches.
"Praise the Lord! Praise the name of the Lord, give praise, O servants of the Lord...Praise the Lord, for the Lord is good; sing to his name for it is pleasant! For the Lord has chosen Jacob for himself, Israel as his own possession. For I know that the Lord is great and that our Lord is above all gods."
ReplyDeletePsalm 135:1-4
Thank you Lord that you see me and know me. You are an Almighty God, powerful and sovereign, yet tender and kind...and you show me your "hesed"in so many ways.
Thankful Lord for the voices of our Staff who have chosen to stand in the gap and be a bridge to the marginalized and hurting around them.
Father, thank you for your loving kindness and patience with me. Thank you for your wonderful provision. I can see it all around me, in my living situation, in my relationships, in my financial support, in the movement of your Spirit in the lives of our students. Lord, I'm so grateful for what you are doing in my mother's life. Thank you for drawing her closer to your heart and giving her hope and joy. I love you Lord. There is no no one like you.
ReplyDeleteThis is Nancy Wallace
ReplyDeletePraise God for a "yes" to a prayer that Chuck and I have been praying for at least a year and a half. God miraculously provided a good job in Austin for our son-in-law who has been diligently looking for a job here for a long time. Kevin and Ashley will move from Tallahassee to Austin in January. I still can't get my mind around this. The Lord has definitely done exceedingly and abundantly beyond what we could ever ask or imagine. All praise and glory be to Him.
Thank you God for your love and grace and for choosing me to be yours.
ReplyDeleteThings I am thankful for:
ReplyDelete* God has been reminding about the awesome value of every single person I come in contact with.
* God chose me to be a part of His family. And that He wants me to come to Him frequently.
* For a wife who is pursuing God and wants to share the truths in Scripture whenever possible with the students from other countries.
* Our ministry partners - many of whom have been on our team for 37 years.
* My dad, recently diagnosed with malignant cancer is looking forward to being a testimony to our Heavenly Father for the rest of his earthly life.
* Allowing me to go through additional Bridges training to reach out to those from resistant cultures.
* Scripture - allows me to see how saints in the past went through various joys and disappointments.
* Being able to live in the same time zone as our adult kids and able to have frequent phone conversations with them.
New International Version (NIV)
ReplyDeleteRevelation 4
The Throne in Heaven
1 After this I looked, and there before me was a door standing open in heaven. And the voice I had first heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.” 2 At once I was in the Spirit, and there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it. 3 And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper and ruby. A rainbow that shone like an emerald encircled the throne. 4 Surrounding the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and seated on them were twenty-four elders. They were dressed in white and had crowns of gold on their heads. 5 From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder. In front of the throne, seven lamps were blazing. These are the seven spirits[a] of God. 6 Also in front of the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass, clear as crystal.
In the center, around the throne, were four living creatures, and they were covered with eyes, in front and in back. 7 The first living creature was like a lion, the second was like an ox, the third had a face like a man, the fourth was like a flying eagle. 8 Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under its wings. Day and night they never stop saying:
“‘Holy, holy, holy
is the Lord God Almighty,’[b]
who was, and is, and is to come.”
9 Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever, 10 the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say:
11 “You are worthy, our Lord and God,
to receive glory and honor and power,
for you created all things,
and by your will they were created
and have their being.”
I am grateful for...
ReplyDelete-God's overwhelming love
-That Christ longs to be with me and has gone to prepare a place that I and all of us might be where he is!
-That God has invited me into his Kingdom work
-For a new role to serve in his harvest
-for the opportunity to be part of raising up new movements that will reach the nations
-For the arrival of our sweet new baby girl Claudia and that Jenn is recovering well
-For Stacy Sample as a co-laborer in the MidSouth this year to help get the ball rolling
-That we are seeing pioneering and launching on HBCU's in our region
-That God is raising up new friends and ambassadors who are taking steps of faith
-That God graciously moves on our behalf for his Glory when we take our steps of faith
-For a faith filled team to work with, who trusts that God is bigger than any obstacles in ourpath!
Father, I look forward to seeing how You will work in the hearts and minds of people from all tongue, tribes, and people groups, calling them into a restored relationship with You as well as active partnership in Your ministry until all have heard Your name. Help each of us in our own limitations and lack of vision of what that can look like in our own lives and our ministry (individual and corporate) as a whole. Help us to seek You with all of who we are as you continue to redeem our wounds, brokenness, and fallenness. Amen.
ReplyDeleteHsiang-En
Clyde Comer
ReplyDeleteI am grateful for...
-God's overwhelming love
-That Christ longs to be with me and has gone to prepare a place that I and all of us might be where he is!
-That God has invited me into his Kingdom work
-For a new role to serve in his harvest
-for the opportunity to be part of raising up new movements that will reach the nations
-For the arrival of our sweet new baby girl Claudia and that Jenn is recovering well
-For Stacy Sample as a co-laborer in the MidSouth this year to help get the ball rolling
-That we are seeing pioneering and launching on HBCU's in our region
-That God is raising up new friends and ambassadors who are taking steps of faith
-That God graciously moves on our behalf for his Glory when we take our steps of faith
-For a faith filled team to work with, who trusts that God is bigger than any obstacles in ourpath!
this is Mike Alverts
ReplyDelete[] Father, thank you for the posture, strength, and vision of our EFM leaders giving organizational and field leadership. Thank you for their humility, wisdom, eyes that see, and influence in the Kingdom.
[] I am thankful for my wife, who says "Yes" to Jesus over and over and over.
[] I am thankful for my kids who willingly follow our crazy path the last few years and join us in living by faith.
[] I am thankful for God's provision over a long period of time.
[] I am thankful for the emerging contextual leaders Nationally and Internationally. Thank you for their courage and their voice...shape your Church Jesus!
[] I am thankful for this season in the Church. The table is set to live authentically Christian lives in such a way that restores the destruction of the evil one and of sin. May we be defined by who we are and the beautiful works of Christ in us, not simply a tepid list of sins we avoid.
[] I am thankful for a God who speaks!!! He is alive!!!
[] I am thankful for the opportunity to live in this culture and to live out "to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God." God help me do these things! :)
Kai & Lauren Pottenger
ReplyDeleteWe are thankful for so many of God's provisions...
- places to stay during our season of MPD
- our team of supporters that the Lord is faithfully putting together
- the opportunity to serve in Los Angeles with Destino
- joy & perseverance as we raise support
- seeing churches throughout LA cross cultural lines
- opportunity to minister to our supporters and encourage them to think about contextualized ministry
- our partnership and friendship in marriage
Right now I had flash in my minds eye of several redemption stories. Situations that seemed all but dead. People whose lives were in such pain, or so separated that it seemed beyond repair. But GOD. John 16:33 Jesus said "In this world you WILL HAVE TROUBLE...BUT TAKE HEART! I HAVE OVERCOME THE WORLD".
ReplyDeleteI am humbled with thanks that HE has overcome in these situations. HE IS THE LION OD THE TRIBE OF JUDAH. He can banish fear in this world of trouble, and HE FIGHTS FOR ME WITH FIERCE PROTECTING LOVE.
Father, thank you for the contextual leaders: men and women who endure mistreatment, being labeled, minimized, misunderstood, and sometimes even exiled. Guard their hearts and their minds, help them be excellent and forgiving, fortify their courage, clarify their message, and give them grace to finish.
ReplyDeleteHumbled by the privilege of being able to serve alongside of all of you!
ReplyDeleteTiffany Lewis-
ReplyDeleteMinistry & Personal:
~God opening my eyes to recognizing, embracing and honing the spiritual gifts I've been given and opportunities to use them.
~understanding more about how God has created me going through a study called LeaderShift. I seem to be more of a server vs. an equipper realizing I'm serving in an enormous equipper role which brings understanding to various areas & work relationships.
~Over the past 40+ days my youngest brother has been given an opportunity to receive help w/ making better life decisions which is an answer to years of prayer by many!
~finding compatable sm. groups which has taken at least 3-4 yrs.
~finally getting more connected in my church in Orlando (I've never worked so hard to get connected in a church!)
~my roommate moving in from being on a long road of support raising and our land lord coming down on our rent!
~The Lord giving me some close friends in my life that He uses to encourage me & help hold me accountable.
~The Lord's conviction of my sins.
~Being able to cultivate long-distance relationships with friends, family, & a gentleman friend.
~being added to the New Orleans site visit at the last hour and how God used a team of 4 women to do His work there. So thankful to be a part of that!
~a comment from one of our volunteers and how he has noticed a change for the better with how I handle our meetings!
~understanding more about what needs to happen in the newly created role I'm in currently as far as infrastructure and processes go with the help of my director and the Holy Spirit.
~experiencing the peace that only You give, O Lord.
~being able to pray to the One who hears and is able to answer anytime, anywhere, any day and the freedom to pray with anyone!
~ for a faithful ministry partner team!, and being able to invite some of them to be involved in our upcoming national conf.
~for encouragement from another staff person while at CSU to take my vacation....I did in August! Thank You Abba Father.
~for benefits and a successful surgery getting my wisdom teeth pulled out (surgeon said these are the longest roots he's seen in awhile), & being able to take care of other medical needs
~thankful for our many volunteers and the roles they are filling and for our volunteer strategy plans
~Amazing grace
~our board members, their ideas & implementation, the fundraiser dinners that have been happening this month and the small fruits we are seeing.
STeve Hong here of Epic Movement:
ReplyDelete- i praise God for my wife, God’s call on her life, & how she so willingly stepped away from an awesome “stay-at-home” high-paying job to raise support with me in Epic, embracing the ministry, ministering through it, and being ministered to
-I thank God for how He is using our team to mold us, just by the faithful choices they’re making. I thank God that perhaps half our team can empathize with the reality of having a wonderful kid who qualifies for special needs, and all the challenges that come with that, cause they’re in similar “boats.” What are the chances of that?
- being able to minister to our faithful staff is such a blessing.
- being able to create new material with our team, and to see it used and transferred to students is awesome
- God oversaw our move to San Francisco, from providing housing, and even guys to help me move tons of boxes (like Jon C. and Gary N. who just “happen” to be in SF). We thank God for all the Epic and Kingdom opportunities here, and REALLY need to hear His voice to know how to best use our presence here for the sake of the Kingdom. We praise God for overseeing the school placement for our son in a famously notoriously difficult school system to work with.
I'm thankful for the Lord's strength this fall as we've experienced the greatest emotional and spiritual resistance in our 4 yrs with Epic.
ReplyDeleteI'm thankful for fruit in seeing 800 in new monthly support come in this fall without having to lose much time working. Thankful for hope and vision to stay after the remaining we need to get back what we've lost over the last few years.
Thankful for the clear vision, identity, and passion of my team (Epic LD) and the ways we're championing people and helping equip people to follow Christ, launch movements, and lead in multi-ethnic contexts. Thankful for the way the 5 & 6 Posture articles are starting to be used around the country to equip and empower staff. And I'm thankful Epic finally has a resource site to equip students and staff and give voice to what God is doing in Epic and among Asian Americans.
Thankful for my wife Christine's encouragement and partnership in our mpd and leadership journeys this fall. I'm thankful for 3 wonderful kids and good times this past month celebrating the birhdays of our 4 and 1 year olds.
I want to say thank you to Jesus for His saving power over sin in my life. For redeeming me and for convicting me of sin.
ReplyDeleteThank you Jesus for the privilege of being Your servant and getting to do Your work.
I am thankful for the many opportunities to share Christ on university campuses this fall. For all the students who have wanted to learn more about justice and it connects to the Cross. For the IJM movements that have been launhced that will further Gospel conversations.
I am grateful for support that has come in and for people who are excited about the work of God right now. And for those who really do want to be a part of His work and are eager to serve.
I'm thankful for opportunities to represent God's heart for justice at the KCCC conference and all other Christmas conferences.
Thank You Jesus that You are the Great Physician for my sweet niece, Laura. Thank You that You are her Shepherd and make her to lie down in green pastures, even as she lays in the hospital bed. Speak to her in her coma and remind her of Your great love for her.
Thank You Jesus that You ARE at work in the world today. Thank YOU that greater are YOU that is in us than he that is in the world!!!!
Libby Swenson
Jesus...you are marvelous and so worth knowing and following. How I praise You for your faithfulness to do Your Father's will, for it is because of this that I know You and have new life!
ReplyDeleteThank You for the ways you continue to work patiently in the lives of women in Berlin to draw them to Yourself! And thank you for being my Rock in this crazy time of support-raising.
I am thankful for the privilege of:
ReplyDelete*reaching out to international students with
Bridges.
*serving alongside great EFM staff and students
ministering among the diverse peoples of our
nation and the world.
*seeing God at work in my family to grow, mature,
and use us for His purposes.
*seeing God provide for us so faithfully.
Sorry for the late post. I am thankful for:
ReplyDelete- The gift of life: that I was spared injury in a recent bad car accident, and for a recent new addition to the family
- The ways my wife and I have been able to collaborate creatively and lead together, and build our "blessed alliance"
- For many new MPD supporters in the past month
- For my team (Epic LD), and the way they love me relentlessly with grace and truth, and that we can live and lead out of our identity and passions with freedom
- For the steps of faith I see our Epic staff taking every day in difficult ministry locations and situations
- For the honor of working with Destino, Nations, Impact, and others within ethnic ministry on things like MTL training, and the 5 and 6 Postures articles. Getting to learn the stories of different people in other cultures!
- For Caucasian advocates working in ethnic ministry, who are not afraid to speak up and lead, even when it's not popular or it involves difficult conversations. For those who can see beyond "me" to "we"... and be courageous and selfless in fighting for the right things
UT Austin Bridges is thankful for:
ReplyDelete--things going on in NA--families safe, freedom for people, etc. He is preparing the way for the Gospel...
--significant others--Godly men...
--power of God’s Word to speak truth to our students
--that He hears our prayers
--easy access to students and easy connection with them
--financial support for team and individuals on the team
--friends who donate their time and resources to help us and our ministry--their generosity
--the community that the Lord is building with us and surrounding us with students
--strength He gives us
--our health
--the way He will provide for us in the future
--the Christian girls He has brought our way