PrayerConnect (January - April 2016)

PRAYERconnect January 2017 to April 2017

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

He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart.

Luke 18:1 (NKJV)

dear prayer partners

pray and not give up Whenever I read in the newspapers of churches being burned and believers attacked, I immediately think of our missionaries and workers. I am concern for their safety and well-being even though they work in places that are relatively safe. And so I pause and pray for God to protect them and keep them safe.

While our missionaries and workers may not be in any physical danger, they do encounter challenges of a different kind. They have shared with me that their greatest pain is when people are slow to respond to the Gospel, even after countless times of sharing and persuading them. Another challenge is when there is a sense of mistrust towards our missionaries and workers, so they have to put in genuine efforts to win the people’s trust and confidence. There are many more obstacles they have to overcome.

As they work steadily towards God’s mission, our missionaries and workers draw inspiration from Paul’s word in Romans 12:12 (NIV): Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.

As you thumb through this issue of the PrayerConnect, let us not give up praying for our missionaries and workers. May they remain joyful in service and patient in the face of setback.

Rev Philip Lim Executive Director Methodist Missions Society

2. Pray for good adjustments as JACOB (Country Director) and his family move back to Singapore.

3. Pray for wisdom as the SCHOOL BOARD & MISSIONARIES explore the extension of Methodist School of Cambodia (MSC). Pray for God’s favour, wisdom and providence as they negotiate with the landlords.

ONDAY

4. Pray as the MSC students attend the Christian Education class every week that they will know and believe in Jesus.

Pray for the teachers, who are attending the Bible Study with Benjamin and Li Diang, to grow in their faith.

CAMBODIA

1. Thank God for the past year and the new year ahead of us! Pray for the MISSIONARIES & NATIONAL WORKERS to be filled with God’s strength and wisdom to follow Him and do His will.

5. Pray for safety on the road as the POST-COSI YOUTHS travel on motorbike every day to school. Pray that they will walk faithfully with God and bear bold witness for Christ.

6. Pray for the COSY YOUTHS to be wise in the choice of friends, and be renewed in mind to seek after the things of God. Pray for a good time of spiritual intake and growth during a retreat with a mission team from 11 to 13 March.

7. Pray for wisdom as Veasna and Chanthin oversee the daily operations in COSI. Pray also for Veasna and his wife, Dina, as they prepare themselves for Veasna to study in Trinity Theological College.

8. Pray for the four local church KINDERGARTENS that they become a means of outreach to the people, and in time to come, become an income-generating project for the churches.

2. Thank God for the continued growth of the DISCIPLESHIP CLASSES in HS. Thank God for the setting up of bible study classes and children ministry at GC Ch. 3. Pray for Mo involvement in the YOUTH CLUB. The demand of family commitment is heavy as his wife is in the final stage of pregnancy, expecting their fourth child.

Pray that he will be able to focus and continue to conduct English corner at the Youth Club, co-lead a small group, and attend a Ch.

UESDAY

EAST ASIA

1. Thank God that the SUMMER CONFERENCE held at SM was well attended. 11 out of the 40 participants were local teenagers. They witnessed God’s powerful work in the small group discussion and presentation. They were grateful of QCMC’s visit in September and hope that they will consider conducting a summer camp for the children.

4. Pray for MC as he attends SEMINARY TRAINING in HN. Thank God that he is doing well despite his low-education background.

5. Pray for TKL as he assume the responsibilities of COUNTRY DIRECTOR in early January 2017. Pray that God’s Spirit of truth will guide him to declare the things that are to come (John 16:13).

EDNESDAY

2. Thank God for the completion of Semester 1 of School Year 7, 2016-17, and pray for a smooth transition of school operations in Jan and Feb back to the main school location from our temporary premises for Semester 2.

3. Thank God for the partnership between SMS & MMS in this work in Laos and for the formation of the School Board. May He bless the work of these staff and members for their faithful service and continue to guide them.

4. Thank God for our teachers & staff. Pray for God to continue to send us the right people for His growing work at SMS and INSPIRE (Centre for English & Chinese).

5. Pray for the dedication and opening of the new building on 23 February, for the Lord’s help in our preparation, and that the authorities, school, parents and all in attendance will see the good hand of the Lord these past seven years and give glory to Him. 6. Pray for the SMS children in their faith and for the outreach to the parents, that many more may also hear the word, ask questions and come to His saving knowledge.

LAOS

1. Thank God for the smooth completion of Singapore Mission School (SMS Laos) extension in December, including the accompanying work of returfing, repainting and repaving, and again for providing the good contractor and site manager.

7. Pray to uphold the Lao Government as they strive to improve the welfare of the nation and maintain relations with its neighbours. May the Lord guide the growth of the church in Laos and the role of SMS in His grand scheme.

HURSDAY

NEPAL

1. Pray as MCN focuses on REACHING OUT TO YOUTH within Nepal. Pray for BRMC Youth Team coming to Nepal for a Youth outreach in Central Nepal from 9 to 14 January. Pray for the TRACkers teams as they serve in East Region as well as Central Region from 11 to 26 February.

2. Pray for the team as they prepare for a MEDICAL CAMP mission trip in East Nepal in March 2017. Pray also for our national leaders as they prepare the ground.

3. Pray for the 3-day EASTERN REGION YOUTH CONFERENCE which will be conducted in January 2017 in East Nepal. Pray for the planning team and the participants that God will indeed use this event to touch their lives.

4. Pray for Rev Sabashtain Lepcha and his team as they embark on the REBUILDING PROGRAMME to provide safe homes for those who were affected and suffered losses to lives and properties during the Nepal earthquake in 2015.

5. Pray for Rev Khanal and his team as they finalise the preparations of the revised CURRICULUM REVIEW. Pray for God’s wisdom and perseverance as the team prepares to conduct the 1st course in May 2017.

6. Thank God for providing two MISSIONARY CANDIDATES who have volunteered to serve long term in Nepal. Pray for these candidates as they prepare themselves for ministry in Nepal.

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: [ ] WHERE IT IS NEEDED MOST [ ] CHURCH PLANTING

[ ] COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

[ ] Rev Dr Clarence Lim Missionary Development Fund [ ] Country __________________________________________ [Choose from 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$ ________________.

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: ______________________________________________________ Address: ________________________________________________________________ Postal Code: ________________________ Church: ______________________________ Tel: ___________________ [h] ____________________ [o] _____________________ [h/p] Email: ___________________________________________________________________ I am making my gift through [tick one]: [ ] Payment by Credit Card [ ] VISA [ ] MasterCard Name on Card: ________________________________________________ Card No: _____________________________________________________ Signature: _______________________ Expiry Date: _________________ [ ] Payment by Cheque Bank & Cheque No: ____________________________________________

[ ] I wish to receive

Harvest Force and PrayerConnect regularly.

[ ] I wish to receive

Pray for MMS in 60 seconds prayer email regularly.

[ ] My comments, feedback and suggestions:

Date: ________________ If you need more details, please call 6478 4818. For more information on Student Sponsorship Schemes, logon to http://www.mms.org.sg/sss.html



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

Source Code: PRT_PRAYER_C

my gift for his great commission through mms

STEP 3 Fill in your payment instructions:

2. Pray for the recipients of Student Sponsorship Scheme (SSS) who are not Christians to come to know God. Pray that they will do well in their study, and also attend church’s activities regularly.

RIDAY DAY

3. Pray for the VINEYARD METHODIST SCHOOL principal, teachers and staff members. Pray for the students to do well in their studies and also to grow in Christ-like character. Pray for the students who are not yet Christians to come to know the Lord through the school. Pray for the 35 Pri 6 students who will be taking their O-Net (primary school leaving examination). Pray for all the teachers who are not yet Christians. Pray for the two Christian ministry staff to be able to minister to all the teachers, students and also reach out to the parents.

THAILAND

1. Pray for all our PASTORS in our 23 churches and preaching points.

Pray for their spiritual, physical and mental health. Pray for God’s grace and anointing. Pray for their families. Pray that God will continue to bless the CHURCHES and that they will continue to grow and prosper. Pray for all the CHURCH MEMBERS to have the desire to be made disciples who will make disciples on their own. Pray for more members to commit themselves as CELL LEADERS to lead groups.

4. Pray for the house parents and hostelites of METTAKIJ HOSTEL and TERM FUN HOME to have good relationship.

Pray for wisdom, patience and courage to nurture the hostelites, especially in challenging situations and when students have education or characters problems.

5. Pray for RANGSIT CREMATORIUM to be a good source of comfort to the grieving families, and for those who are not yet Christians to come to know the Lord through our services.

6. Pray for more workers to reach out to the MIGRANTS in southern Thailand.

2. Pray for God to grant Rudy wisdom as he continues to explore ways to REACH OUT TO THE COMMUNITIES and disciple them. One potential opportunity is partnering alongside New Community Church as they reach out to the homeless people in Dili.

ATURDAY

TIMOR-LESTE

1. Pray for good health and strength for Joseph and Grace in managing the new intake of hostelites for SUNDERMEIER HOME in January 2017. Pray that the new hostelites will embrace the culture of the Home and will work well with the current cohort of hostelites.

3. Thank God for a wonderful year of teaching the inaugural class of Grade 7 (Secondary 1) in METHODIST SCHOOL Timor-Leste. God has helped them to grow mentally, socially, physically and spiritually.

4. Pray for strength and wisdom for David and his family as they prepare to start a class of Grade 1 (Primary 1), another class of Grade 7 and a class of Grade 8 (Secondary 2) in 2017. Pray that God will bring to them two local teachers in 2017 who have a passion for teaching and support them in training all the students that God is bringing to the school.

5. Pray for the Methodist School building Project in Dili.

Pray for the leadership team in MMS as they finalise all the necessary processes to start fundraising for the project.

We trust that God’s work done God’s way will never lack God’s resources. Pray that the Methodist Churches in Singapore will be united as one in supporting the school project in Timor-Leste.

2. Pray for God’s wisdom as we search for a new MMS NGO PROJECT for the betterment of the society.

4. Pray for God’s provision of a STAFF to help us in the administrative work in ICF.

NDAY

3. Pray for an increase in foreigners to join us and be our regular worshippers in the INTERNATIONAL CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP (ICF). May they be committed to discipleship and God’s work through ICF.

VIETNAM

1. Thank God for His favour with Rev Leslie Lim as he has renewed his PREACHING LICENCE and VISA.

5. Pray for good preparations for visiting teams in the upcoming new year.

Testimony

Power of prayer Tom returned home as he got news of his father’s terminal illness. He had asked his church in the US to pray for his father’s salvation. He is the eldest son and the first of the family to become a follower of Jesus Christ. Hence, he wanted so much to share God’s love with his parents, especially his ailing father.

On the first Sunday upon his return, Tom found an International Christian Fellowship in District 10. So he turned up for the Sunday Service and was not slow to share with the Pastor concerning his father’s illness which was stage 4 cancer. As they talked, the Pastor asked if Tom could arrange for him a visit to his father to show his concern. He prayed for Tom before he left the church.

Suddenly, Tom called to say that his father was receptive and would be happy with the visitation. Without delay, the Pastor, his wife and another church leader made their visit. Mr Wong was moved by the visit and prayers. In fact, Tom was surprised that his father was not his usual low-energy self but he seemed quite enthusiastic about the visit.

The Pastor shared in his broken Chinese dialects about how the Gospel has brought blessings to Tom and now his family, and how God loves them and desires to bring His blessings and peace to the family. Then the church leader shared with him about Christ.

They were taken aback, but pleasantly surprised, as Mr Wong indicated his willingness to accept Christ as his Lord and Saviour. The Pastor was able to pray with him the Prayer of Salvation and they witnessed how Mr Wong was so elated at his decision. It was a marvellous three-hour visit. They managed another visit to Mr Wong after he was saved.

Although Mr Wong had now been promoted to glory not too long ago, we knew he had gone to a far better place to be with His Maker. The Shepherd has found His sheep which was once lost but is now at His bosom - being cared for and loved forever.

Tom has returned to the US to complete his studies. Yet he is assured that when he returns next year, his mother will be receptive to the Gospel of Christ. And what’s more, there is a spiritual home here for him to be nurtured and equipped as a follower of Jesus.

METHODIST MISSIONS SOCIETY 70 Barker Road #06-01 The Methodist Centre Singapore 309936 T 6478 4818 F 6478 4817 E mms@methodist.org.sg W www.mms.org.sg Fb www.facebook.com/mms.org.sg Ig www.instagram.com/mms.gram