PrayerConnect (January to April 2021)

PRAYERconnect January 2021 to April 2021

A prayer letter of the Methodist Missions Society ď Ž Not for circulation ď Ž For Mission Partners and Volunteers only

Be gracious to me and hear my prayer!

Psalm 4:1 (ESV)

dear prayer partners

As soon as I heard…

Prayer links us to the very heart of God. Our spirit of prayer should be that of a total dependence upon the Holy Spirit to serve the will of God. We cry to the Lord to meet the immense needs and challenges in the mission fields.

The life of Nehemiah illustrated his faith and utter dependence upon God. In Nehemiah 1:4, “As soon as I heard these words I sat down and wept and mourned for days, and I continued fasting and praying before the God of heaven.” Nehemiah’s heart was deeply moved when he saw the condition of the wall. It needed massive restoration. Nehemiah prayed.

PrayerConnect highlights the specific needs of our mission fields.

During the prolonged pandemic, the Lord has led us to serve the people who have lost their employment due to lockdowns, stopped their children from attending schools, are suffering from physical and psychological traumas, etc. In addition, there are severe floods in Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam that displaced families, crops, and properties. I pray that as soon as you read the highlights of our missionaries and national leaders, your spirit will be stirred to pray for the Lord’s mercy and intervention.

“Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness! You have given me relief when I was in distress. Be gracious to me and hear my prayer!” Psalm 4:1 Rev Derrick Lau Executive Director Methodist Missions Society Cover photo showing National Pastor and Leader praying in Thailand.

All Scripture quoted is based on the English Standard Version (ESV), unless otherwise stated.

3. Pray for the METHODIST SCHOOL OF CAMBODIA students to be enthusiastic in their learning. May the staff be filled with passion to prepare the students to be future country leaders.

4. Pray for the pastors and leaders of the METHODIST CHURCH IN CAMBODIA (MCC) to be united to shepherd the people with Christ’s love, and be intentional to make disciples. Pray for the MCC President, Rev Lun Sophy.

5. Pray for the lecturers at the CAMBODIAN METHODIST BIBLE SCHOOL to teach and encourage the students who will hear their calling from God. Pray for the Principal, Rev Prak Vuthy, to have a clear vision for the school.

ONDAY

2. Pray for the HOPE HOUSE children to experience the love of God as they attend the daily programme. Pray for opportunity for the manager and staff to share God’s love.

CAMBODIA

1. Pray for the children and youth in COSI to encounter God and learn to apply biblical truths in their lives. Pray that God will preserve the health of the manager Tong Hav and give him wisdom and creativity to lead the team. Pray that the COSY youth will hunger for the word of God and desire to study God’s word for themselves. May God raise up people to manage the youth. Pray for God’s direction and wisdom to relaunch the medical clinic, Flourish, and other new livelihood outreach projects to the villagers around COSI and COSY area. Pray for favour from the authorities and opportunities for ministry.

6. Pray for the hostelites at JOY HOSTEL and METHODIST HOSTEL to develop deep relationship with God. Pray for the managers to be intentional in making disciples. Pray for God to open doors for the renovation committee to visit, finalise, and complete the much-delayed renovations for Joy Hostel as soon as possible.

2. Pray that the in-country DISCIPLES will make good and extensive use of internet and technology with their existing facilities to enhance their church and community development post COVID-19.

UESDAY

EAST ASIA

1. Pray that the RELATIONSHIPS between East Asia and other nations will improve and be more cohesive; and the “OBOR” vision will continue to be implemented especially to help countries with weaker and poorer economies and communities.

3. Pray for the CHRISTIAN COMMUNITIES AND LEADERS in East Asia and South-east Asia that they will review and strategise their plans for “Business as Missions” post COVID-19. Pray that community leaders will develop relationships and networking opportunities with others.

4. Thank God for blessing the AU MINISTRY in BKK with the formation of the team of five volunteer English teachers, and their commitment and willingness to serve.

Pray for wisdom, strength, and compassion as they coach the university students through Zoom meetings on different days of the week. Pray for the newly elected chairperson of the Philippi Fellowship that he will have the peace of God and a sense of unity with other Christian and non-Christian students as he leads the fellowship activities.

5. Pray for the EA TEAM including DL, AC, and HM as they support the different ministries of East Asia. Pray for clear vision and effective strategies. May God give them wisdom and strength.

EDNESDAY

2. Pray for the empowering of EDUCATORS in Laos of various levels especially to deepen content and skills in the areas of new pedagogy, classroom management, embedding righteous values, IT literacy, creative thinking, etc. Pray for specialists in these areas who are able to contextualise to cultural needs in Laos to offer their services to empower teachers.

3. Pray for God’s mercy, strength, shalom, comfort, perseverance, and grace for thousands affected both economically and socially by the COVID-19 PANDEMIC and the recent SEVERE FLOODS that have destroyed homes, crops, livelihoods, and schools in the south of Laos. Pray for God’s empowering for these persons to arise with inner strength and resolve to face and overcome related challenges with hope and promise.

LAOS

1. Thank God for His continuing grace as the SINGAPORE MISSION SCHOOL begins a new term with a few more new students joining the school and after completion of minor renovations of the premises! Pray for students to catch and imbibe both the academic content of lessons as well as the sound life values being taught so that they may be able to think outside the box even as they experience positive character transformation. Pray for God’s anointing of His continued wisdom, creativity, innovativeness, love, and grace for teaching staff.

HURSDAY

NEPAL

1. Pray for the empowering of the leadership of the METHODIST CHURCH IN NEPAL (MCN) as we enter into a new year 2021. Pray for the outpouring of wisdom upon the leaders. Pray for them to remain faithful and committed to work in unity, uphold one another in prayer, and lead MCN into another season of adapting to the new normal.

2. Pray for Nepal as the people cope with the large numbers of COVID-19 positive cases. Pray that the government will continue to provide care and support for those infected with the coronavirus. Pray for families that are going through difficult times financially and are experiencing family and social problems as a consequence of the pandemic.

3. Pray for our PASTORS AND EVANGELISTS as they continue to provide pastoral care and support to their members and believers. Pray for God’s protection and covering over them and their families.

4. Pray for the BUILDING PROJECTS for Phulbari Methodist Church, Emmanuel Methodist Fellowship, and Samdan Methodist Fellowship. Pray that the construction works will be done smoothly and completed on schedule. Pray for Samdan Methodist Fellowship as they are still raising funds for their new building.

my gift for his great commission through mms 

my gift for his great commission through mms STEP 1 Either select a Specific Area and a Country, or allow us to direct your gift where it is needed most: [ ] GENERAL FUND

[ ] WHERE IT IS NEEDED MOST

[ ] CHURCH PLANTING

[ ] COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

[ ] Rev Dr Clarence Lim Missionary Development Fund [ ] Country __________________________________________ [Cambodia, East Asia, Laos, Nepal, Thailand, Timor-Leste, or Vietnam]

STEP 2 Decide how much you would like to give either on a monthly basis or as a one-time gift:  

[ ] Pledge a monthly gift of S$ ________________ commencing ___________________________ [date] until further notice. [ ] Make a one-time gift of S$ ________________.

NOTE: If you need more details, please call 6478 4818. For more information on Student Sponsorship Schemes, please visit https://www.mms.org.sg/sss PDPA: MMS is committed to ensuring the security of all personal data she collects. MMS shall use and disclose such data only for her necessary purposes and if so, shall adhere to the guidelines of the Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA). All personal data shall be kept strictly confidential at all times. If ever MMS has to disclose any personal data to any third party, she shall do so only with the prior consent of the owner of the personal data.

Rev/Dr/Mr/Mrs/Ms: _____________________________________ Date: ___________ Address: ________________________________________________________________ Postal Code: _________________ Church: ___________________________________ Phone: _______________________ Email: _____________________________________ [ ] I would like to make my gift through [tick one]: [ ] Credit Card [ ] VISA [ ] MasterCard

Expiry Date: ___________ Name on Card: ___________________________ Signature: ______________ Card No: ________________________________________________________ [ ] Cheque Bank & Cheque No: _______________________________________________

Please cross your cheque and make it payable to “The Methodist Church in Singapore [MMS]” and mail it together with this form to Methodist Missions Society, 70 Barker Road #06-01, The Methodist Centre, Singapore 309936.

[ ] Internet Bank [IB] Transfer  Name of Bank Account: The Methodist Church in Singapore [MMS]  Bank Name: DBS Bank Ltd  Bank Account Number: 033-016829-2  Bank Code: 7171  Branch Code: 033  Swift Code: DBSSSGSG

[ ] PayNow

Scan the MMS PayNow QR code with your Bank App. Or enter UEN No ‘S88CC0564JMMS’.

Please state your name <space> phone number <space> gift purpose [e.g. Helen 98765432 General Fund] in the Reference field. Or mail/scan to mms@methodist.org.sg this form with your details.

[ ] I would like to regularly receive: [ ] PrayerConnect [ ] Harvest Force [ ] Pray for MMS in 60 seconds prayer email. [ ] I would like to be an MMS Intercessor.

Source Code: PRT_PRAYER_C



my gift for his great commission through mms

STEP 3 Fill in your payment instructions:

2. Pray for all our CHURCHES to continue to work towards financial self-sustainability by 2024; they should at least be able to take care of the internal programmes and operating costs.

3. Pray for our GOAL of planting at least 2 new churches a year so that we can reach 40 churches by 2025.

THAILAND

1. Pray for our CHURCH MEMBERS to continue to strive in making disciples who will make disciples.

5. Pray that we may obtain the operating licence for CHRIST CHILDCARE CENTRE (Khon Kaen Mission Centre).

RIDAY

4. Pray for LITTLE CANDLES METHODIST SCHOOL to start its primary school in 2022. Pray that we can start the construction of the primary school buildings by March 2021.

ATURDAY

TIMOR-LESTE

1. Thank God for His PROTECTION over Rev See, Jin Hoe, and Grace who have returned safely to Timor-Leste at the end of September and Isaac in November after completing his National Service. They had served their 14 days of quarantine at a hotel and were given the medical certification for negative COVID-19.

2. Pray for love, joy, peace, and good health as the MISSIONARIES continue to minister to the hostelites, students, staff, and teachers to make disciples and shepherd them.

3. Thank God for Rasanya who was the first MMS MISSIONARY to be affirmed virtually during the MMS Missionaries Virtual Retreat 2020. We rejoice with ETAC for sending the first millennial missionary with MMS. 4. Pray for the 12 new hostelites for SUNDERMEIER HOME in 2021. May they transit and adjust smoothly to the new environment and abide to the hostel rules too.

5. Pray for the students at ST PAUL METHODIST SCHOOL as they begin a new academic year in January 2021.

UNDAY

2. Pray for more EXPATRIATES to join ICF as we grow. May God draw more godly leaders to ICF to help the pastor to train and equip more members to be strong and biblical disciples during their time with ICF. May God send more workers to ICF as more expatriates are leaving during COVID-19 crisis. May we come before God with humility and be willing to obey.

VIETNAM

1. Pray that INTERNATIONAL CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP (ICF) member will arise to intercede and serve one another in the new year.

May we seek God first and put aside our own desires. May we walk in a manner worthy of our calling. May we interact with one another with humble and gentle hearts. May we pray more and criticise less.

May we encourage and uplift others. Grant us peace and unity for Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s glory.

3. Pray for MMS in Vietnam, as a FOREIGN NONGOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION (FNGO), to contribute meaningfully and pave the way to better the lives of the marginalised, abused, disadvantaged, and the least. May God raise up a Singaporean to represent MMS FNGO and work alongside the Country Director, Ps Leslie. May MMS FNGO thrives as it is intertwined with ICF presence in some way.

4. Pray for REV LESLIE and his wife, LINDA Lim, that they will take some time to do a personal audit of their faith journey and development. May God lead them in areas where they need to grow. Pray that they will be open to the work of the Holy Spirit to guide and enable them, and free them from the snares of the world. May God encourage them in areas where they have done well as disciples and shepherds. May they give thanks to God and continue to grow towards Christian maturity. Pray that God will attend to their areas of needs.

Testimony

Hedge of Protection Two disciples were raised over the last three years of our ministry. One of them, Sister X, has taken over the role of a pastor while the other, Sister W, is the assistant pastor. Thank God for raising them up to willingly take over the role of overseers for His church. Meanwhile, we continue to mentor them and assist them once a month at the mid-week worship service and Bible study class.

In December 2019, Sister Xâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s house caught fire. And that was the second time it had happened to her house! Fortunately, she only suffered burns to her hands and her fingers were injured. Her daughter, who was in the house during the fire, had to actually wrap up her baby in a blanket and tossed her to safety from the second floor. We gave thanks to God that the baby was not hurt at all! Her daughter also had to jump from the second floor and thankfully, she sustained only minor head injury.

Both Sister X and her daughter are recovering from the incident. Let us pray that the curse of fire will be broken in the name of Jesus. We pray for a hedge of protection be upon Sister X and her family even as she carries out Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s work as a pastor. May the precious blood of Jesus cover them all. Sister X gives praise and glory to the Lord whenever we visit her.

She is thankful that she and her daughter sustained only minor injuries.

METHODIST MISSIONS SOCIETY 70 Barker Road #06-01 The Methodist Centre Singapore 309936 6478 4818 mms@methodist.org.sg www.mms.org.sg mms.org.sg mms.org.sg mmsorgsg