PrayerConnect (September - December 2018)

PRAYERconnect September 2018 to December 2018

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

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.

Romans 12:12 (NIV)

dear prayer partners

partnership in prayer MMS partners with the local churches in sending Missionaries to the field.

We also have partnership with national workers in the work of Church Planting and Community Development. And MMS has partnership with other mission organisations because our common goal is to make Christ known.

These relationships are important to us as it is a living example of the Body of Christ at work in fulfilling God’s mandate for missions.

In this entire work of mission, we value most your partnership in prayer! It is your prayer that brings joy to the workers and sustains their service. So as you thumb through the pages of this issue of PrayerConnect, please “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, (and) faithful in prayer.” (Romans 12:12, NIV) Rev Philip Lim Executive Director Methodist Missions Society

Above photo showing Wesley Methodist Church’s 40 Days of Prayer.

Cover photo showing students praying in St Paul Methodist School (Timor-Leste).

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

2. Pray for more Khmer-speaking lecturers in Cambodia Methodist Bible School. Thank God for many foreign lecturers. Pray for efficiency in the translation in lectures and marking of assignments.

ONDAY

3. Pray for our new outreach effort to the factory workers. Pray for joy, strength, protection, and favour for the Missionaries and co-workers as they make connections and build rapport with them. Pray for a man of peace that will receive them, their ministry, and the Gospel.

CAMBODIA

1. Pray for Methodist Church of Cambodia as it becomes a Provisional Annual Conference in Sep. May the clergy and laity be unitied in service. May their equipping and training advance the Gospel.

4. Thank God that many parents attended a meeting with the principal in Methodist School of Cambodia.

They are supportive of the Christian values of the school.

Pray that the students and their family will know God. Pray for Christians to be good witnesses and shine for Him. 5. Pray for those who have graduated from COSI, COSY, and PCOSIIP to remain faithful in discipleship and service in church. Pray for total dependence on God in their adjustment to new endeavors and environment. Pray that the COS Alumni will connect and support one another.

Pray for our Missionaries to have wisdom and strength to counsel and encourage them.

6. Thank God for the privilege to care for the children and youth in COSI and our Hostels. Many have opened their hearts to Jesus, and some are serving and sharing the Gospel. Pray for protection and growth. Pray for the Missionaries and staff to be good models in faith and love.

7. Thank God for the new rental location of Joy Hostel.

May the students grow in discipleship and leadership. Pray for guidance for future outreach and church planting.

2. Pray for passion of the believers @KM as the works in the city and mountain are fruitful but challenging. Pray for wisdom for a young shepherd to tend the flocks.

3. Pray for focus to make disciples for Christ with an indigenous group @DL. Pray for wisdom to reach them despite obstacles.

4. Pray for a fruitful and meaningful retreat @DL as the workers meet to chart the direction with tangible goals. Pray for God’s presence to lead and guild us.

5. Pray for the visit @XA to reconnect with the disciples for encouragement.

UESDAY

EAST ASIA

1. Pray for faith of the staff to preach the truth without fear. Every person and movement is closely monitored.

6. Pray for the community development work @FZ. Thank God for the gift of a new born boy to our staff.

7. Pray for unity as the leadership team @CZ minister to six groups of congregation. Pray for wisdom as the staff manage the work and remain focus on God’s purpose.

8. Pray for the staff @ZJJ to focus back on the ground work.

Pray for the city assembly to take shape and grow.

9. Pray for the work @HS to focus on intentional disciple making of the core leaders. Pray for the national staff and leaders to catch the vision and put into practice.

10. Thank God for a fruitful meeting @SH where many were ministered. Pray for strength for the staff to manage the work singlehandedly. Pray for clarity of ICF’s work.

11. Pray for the long-term plan of staff @SD, especially for the son’s education.

12. Pray for the staff who is currently studying fulltime @CS. Pray for his family as they prepare for their future ministry.

13. Thank God for AC as he has recovered fully from his previous physical setback. Pray for him as we slowly pace him into the ministry.

EDNESDAY

2. Praise Him for the encouraging number of children who were enrolled for the summer term in July and August and for His blessings in the completion of the summer programme.

3. Pray for the school as it begins its ninth year in September that the Lord may keep it true to its vision and bring in the students to be blessed.

4. Pray for our teachers that they may be examples to the children and may be empowered and affirmed to grow in their careers.

5. Pray for the establishment of a ministry to parents as well as to children and school staff members.

6. Pray for the new phase come September for INSPIRE Centre for English and Chinese that the Lord will guide and sustain this work.

7. Pray for His grace upon the leaders and people of Laos as they recover from floods in many parts of the country and from the dam-bursting disaster in Attapeu Province.

8. Pray for the church in Laos and for His plans for SMS and INSPIRE in the growth of the body here.

LAOS

1. Thank God for all the expertise that has been given so selflessly and lovingly towards the growth of the Singapore Mission School in Laos. We are ever grateful to Him for our Board and honorary education and finance consultants.

HURSDAY

NEPAL

1. Pray for the 10TH ANNUAL MEETING which will be held on 2 October 2018 at Wesley Bardan MC. Pray for God’s guidance as He leads His church into a new year with all the challenges ahead. Pray for the Elders, Pastors, and Evangelists as they continue to minister to their congregations as well as move to plant disciple-making and multiplying churches. Pray for all the participants from Singapore and all parts of Nepal to celebrate this event.

2. Pray for the 10 graduands of the 1ST GENERATION T-NET training. They have faithfully stayed through the course and finally completed it. They will be graduating in October 2018. May God continue to use them mightily in their churches as they in turn disciple the 2nd Generation and 3rd Generation participants in the T-NET courses.

3. Pray for the MEDICAL MISSION TEAMS. It is that time of the year that our churches in Singapore will be sending their mission teams to Nepal. Pray for all the teams, including the leaders and team members. Pray also that the National Churches will prepare the ground so that they will have a plentiful harvest from these mission trips.

4. Pray for the MISSIONARIES serving in Nepal. Pray that they will be one in spirit. May they, together as one, fulfil their missionary calling to their mission 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$ ________________.

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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

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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. Thank God for the growing partnership between Klong 8 MC and Christ MC. 3. Pray for God’s blessing on the 26 Churches and Preaching Points, that they will continue to grow and prosper. Pray against every principality and power of darkness which is out to hinder or destroy the ministries.

4. Pray for the spiritual, physical, and mental health of the 26 pastors and their families.

THAILAND

1. Thank God for our new Missionary Pastor, Rev Clarence Lee, and his family.

5. Pray for all church members to desire to become disciples who will make disciples. Pray for their willingness and generosity to support the church ministries and pastors.

RIDAY

6. Pray for the Student Sponsorship Scheme recipients and their parents to know Christ. Pray that they will attend church activities regularly.

7. Pray for unity among the teaching and administrative staff of Vineyard Methodist School. Pray for the 500 kindergarten and primary students to do well in their study and to grow in Christ-like characters. Pray for the pre-believing students and their parents to come to know the Lord through the school.

8. Pray for strong bond of the hostelites and house parents in both Mettakij Hostel and Term Fun Home. Pray for wisdom, patience, and determination to nurture the hostelites, especially in challenging situations (education and characters).

9. Pray for more children to join the English class & Sunday School at Payakaphum MC. Pray for opportunity to start a preaching point in a village nearby.

ATURDAY

TIMOR-LESTE

1. Thank God that the fund-raising target for the building of St Paul Methodist School (Phase 1) has been reached. Pray for continued blessing from God to provide the funds required for Phase 2 and the smooth conclusion of the land acquisition for the school. Pray for wisdom for the building team as they finalise the design for the school and prepare the tender specifications for the construction.

Pray that qualified contractors will come forth with quotes that meet the requirements within budget.

2. Thank God for the recruitment of four local school teachers, bringing the total to eight. Pray for their adjustment and integration into the school’s teaching team. Pray for all the teachers to have the love and compassion of God to reach out to the students and their families, and to be good testimonies of Christ.

3. Pray for God to raise sufficient sponsors to meet the needs of all 38 hostelites in SundeRmeier Home. Pray that God will grant the graduating class of 19 students opportunities for continuing studies or to secure employment. Pray that God will watch over them and their relationship with God will be nurtured.

4. Pray for God’s direction for the churches in terms of support and ministry opportunities as they embark on mission trips in Sep and Oct. Pray for God to minister to the youth in Sundermeier Home during the Inner Healing training and ministry trip in Oct. Pray for God to touch hearts during the youth programme in Nov and Dec.

5. Pray for our Missionaries David, Jessie, Joseph, Grace, Rudy, Rency. Pray for good health, wisdom, and a close walk with God.

3. Thank God the international community enjoys the freedom to worship God every Sunday. We have firsttime visitors almost every week. Pray that they will make ICF their spiritual home and join this international family in making disciples.

4. Pray for wisdom for the ICF leaders to work out some basic agreements to serve one another in a sensitive manner due to cultural differences.

5. Pray like-minded leaders to join ICF to serve God.

NDAY

2. Thank God for new leaders who are stepping up to serve the church as we bid farewell to those who are leaving.

6. Pray for more churches to partner ICF in providing financial support to our social projects.

ICF is supporting about 20 needy students; up to eight students a year for the YAMAHA Apprenticeship Program me; and four shelters and orphanages in 2018-2019.

7. Pray for a suitable assistant pastor or a theologically trained person to assist the Pastor. This person will ease the Pastor’s preaching schedule and enable him to return to Singapore to visit his aging mother and mother-in-law when needed.

VIETNAM

1. Thank God that the International Christian Fellowship (ICF) worshippers are growing stronger in the Word of God. There are more participation in the weekly Cell Groups. There are more commitment to serve in the various areas of ministry of the Sunday Service.

Testimony

repent and believe About 36 Thai pastors and church leaders gathered for a training on effective sharing the Gospel. Everyone came with enthusiasm except a shabby-looking middle-aged man with a pair of very thick glasses. It was his first time in church; and he seemed lost throughout the training.

Amazingly, he sat through the full training. A pastor was assigned to assist and partner him during the practicum.

After two days of practicum, the group was sent out in pairs to share the Gospel with strangers in six locations near the church. Everyone returned with joy and great reports. Although they encountered fierce dogs, a poisonous snake, and some cold shoulders, the group shared the Gospel fearlessly. Incredibly, they spoke with 45 people, and shared the Gospel with 21 people. Eight people repented of their sins and believed in Jesus Christ as they prayed the sinner’s prayer.

But the greatest surprise was at the end of the sharing of testimonies. The shabby-looking man calmly went up and shared how the Lord had touched his heart. Although he felt out-of-place during the training, he was confronted by the cross of Christ; the message of the Gospel kept drumming on him. Deep down in his heart, he was convinced that Jesus is the Son of the living God. And he repented of his sins and believed in Jesus as his Lord and Saviour! That evening, he returned home with a sense of relief. His vision also became clearer without the thick glasses. And his burden became lighter with the presence of Christ. He was overjoyed with the life-changing encounter with Jesus. The smile on his face testified to the goodness of God. Praise God for His power and faithfulness to save.

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