FIEC Prayer News - September 2010
Week One - 1st to 7th September
Growing Workers
Wednesday 1st ‘FIEC For a New Day’ is formally launched today. Please pray for the new team of Directors - John Stevens, Richard Underwood, Roy Saint and Trevor Archer - as they meet for prayer and planning today. Thank God for the good working relationships that are developing and for the shared vision as they lead the Fellowship forward. Please pray that the Lord will strengthen and encourage the heart and ability of local church leaders to fulfill the role of 'preparing God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up' (Ephesians 4 v 12)
Thursday 2nd A great way to serve the nation is to grow gospel workers. The Lord Jesus said the harvest was plentiful; it was the labourers who were few. Today let’s plead with the Lord of the harvest to raise up and thrust out gospel workers into the harvest field - and then be ready to respond as he answers. Pray for a developing vision among FIEC churches to seek to equip present and future generation of Christians to meet the challenges and opportunities we face in a 'post Christian' culture
Friday 3rd The purpose of FIEC training is to embed a vibrant culture of ministry in all our churches which is owned at every level through training. Pray that the Lord will work among us to make our churches seedbeds for growing men, women and young people who are devoted to the Lord Jesus and committed to sharing the gospel. Pray too for those many church-based weeknight or Saturday training schemes around the country that seek to help and equip Christians grow in their love and service for the Lord
Saturday 4th The new college term begins shortly; please pray for the many men and women commencing or continuing training for church ministry at colleges like Cornhill, London Theological Seminary, Oak Hill, Moorlands and WEST, that they will grow in love for Christ and his people as well as in knowledge of the glorious gospel. Today sees the induction service for Michael Luehrman as pastor of City Evangelical Church in Leeds.
Sunday 5th As we meet today for worship, may we be enabled to declare with confidence and joy the unchanging truth of Jesus, the one who came to rescue us and redeem a fallen cosmos. John Stevens is speaking at Bethel Church in Otley (morning) and Ilkley, West Yorkshire (evening).
Monday 6th PfS Module 1 begins at Carey BC in Reading today; thank God for the new entrants to the course and pray for the 30 folk who will gather each month to be taught by experienced pastors as preparation for ministry in the coming years. The new Trust Board meets today with Colin Tamplin as chair. Please pray for the trustees as they undergo training today and tomorrow and begin to develop ways of fulfilling their responsibilities
Tuesday 7th Thank God for the ministry of Rupert Bentley-Taylor, the former FIEC President and the FIEC Council as trustees of the Fellowship over many years. Today there is a formal reception to recognise their faithful service and to formally hand over responsibility to the new Trust Board.
Week Two - 8th to 14th September
Reaching People
Wednesday 8th Church planting is a great way of reaching a new community with the good news about Jesus and keeping a congregation fresh and vibrant. Thank God for those involved in church planting ministries. Today a joint meeting takes place between representatives of FIEC and FIEC Ltd to explore how to serve the churches more effectively together.
Thursday 9th Please pray for those church planters who have been supported by FIEC churches - the Asghers in Cranford, W London, the Reberas in Brighton, the Hutchinsons in Blackpool, the Swales in Newcastle and the Birmingham team. Praise God for the way he has blessed their ministries through the salvation of many people. Today John, Trevor and Richard meet representatives of the Evangelical Fellowship of Congregational Churches.
Friday 10th Evangelists are God-given gifts to the church. Thank him for those he has gifted to serve our churches in this way and pray that God will both bless their ministries with a harvest of souls and raise up a new generation of Christians who are gifted at engaging winsomely with today’s non-Christians.
Saturday 11th The gospel must be preached to the ends of the earth. People from our churches are faithfully serving the Lord in many parts of the world. Please pray that the Lord will use them and raise up a new generation of young people who will serve him as missionaries taking the gospel to the whole world.John is speaking at a North-East FIEC Churches’ Convention
Sunday 12th The church is the hope of the world. Please pray that as we meet today, the Lord will instil in us more deeply the needs of our nation and his heart for the lost. Pray too that we will always be welcoming to newcomers, both Christian and non-Christian, as they visit our churches.John is speaking at a North-East FIEC Churches’ Convention and Richard is preaching at Clyne Free Church Mission near Neath.
Monday 13th Today there are directors’ and staff meetings at Market Harborough and the Cranford Support Group meets tonight.
Tuesday 14th The Pastoral Link Team meets in Reading today under the chairmanship of Johnny Prime. The PLT manages the Pastors’ Association which supports and cares for pastors, encourages young men entering pastoral ministry and acts as a link for pastors seeking a church and vice versa.
Week Three - 15th to 22nd September
Serving Churches
Wednesday 15th Please pray for pastors and church leaders suffering from ill-health, worry or discouragement. May the Lord strengthen them in his love and enable them to return to their ministries, full of the Holy Spirit. Today the Media Team meets in London under the chairmanship of Ian Cooper and John is at a New Word Alive planning meeting also in London.
Thursday 16th Please pray for the work of FIEC Ltd. Gemma Adam has recently joined the staff to work alongside Jayne Oldridge and Alan Manzie, with Derek Alcock and Mike Smith who serve on a voluntary basis. Pray for them all in the invaluable work they do for so many churches both inside and outside the Fellowship. The Women’s Ministry Team meets today with Julia Jones as chair. Richard is speaking at Little Hill Church, Leicester.
Friday 17th Pray for all ministries amongst children and young people as they get underway again this month. They are not just the church of tomorrow; they are a vital part of the church today, so please pray for Sunday School teachers and all children’s and youth workers. Tonight, Richard is meeting with the leaders of Boundary Road EC Walthamstow.
Saturday 18th The Pastoral Introductions service helps many churches to find pastors. Thank God for new ministries which are commencing this month and pray for churches who long to find the right man to lead, love and teach them. Today Richard is speaking at the 10th anniversary celebration of the Praise! hymnbook and at the Harvest Thanksgiving at Boundary Road Walthamstow
Sunday 19th Please pray for all the churches of the Fellowship as we meet today to declare the truth about the Lord Jesus Christ with confidence and joy. Paul Donovan has been appointed as the Assistant Pastor at Hurstpierpoint EC; his recognition service takes place today. Richard is speaking at the Harvest Thanksgiving at Boundary Road.
Monday 20th Please pray for the ministry of all the FIEC Visitors around the country in their vital work of supporting churches and pastors. Thank God for new Visitors and ask him to help us identify more men who could fulfil this vital role. John is attending the East Midlands Ministers’ Fraternal
Tuesday 21st Please pray for Terry Martin and the Church Restoration Team. The work they do to help struggling churches throughout the country is greatly needed. May the Lord give them wisdom, discernment, inner strength and safety in their travels and hope to the churches.
Wednesday 22nd Please pray that God will raise up key churches around the nation that will be willing to release their pastors and leadership teams to serve the wider network of churches in the service of the gospel.
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Week Four - 23rd to 30th September
Casting Vision
Thursday 23rd Plans are well underway for next month’s Leaders’ Conference; please pray that God will knit us together as a family of churches with a clear sense of gospel purpose. John is taking part in a national training consultation today and tomorrow. Richard is speaking at Little Hill Church, Leicester tonight.
Friday 24th Please pray for Affinity. Seeking to be conservative in doctrine and contemporary in culture, Affinity exists to promote biblical church unity for the furtherance of the gospel; please pray for Peter Milsom (the newly appointed Affinity Director) and Richard (chairman) as they steer the Affinity Council through a period of change.
Saturday 25th Please pray for the Regional Gospel Partnerships and the Ministry Training Courses which are held around the country, and particularly for Paul Mallard as he takes on the role of Director of the Midlands Gospel Partnership and Director of the MMTC.Today sees the induction services for John and Lucille Lowrie at Holmgate EC, and Andy and Allison Hutchinson at Cornerstone EC, Abergavenney.
Sunday 26th Thank God that we are able to worship without fear today. Let’s remember to pray for those believers throughout the world who do not enjoy religious freedom that the Lord will strengthen them in the face of opposition and possibly strong persecution. John is speaking at Britten Grove BC, Milton Keynes this morning. Richard is speaking at the Anniversary services at Market Overton FC near Oakham.
Monday 27th The first meeting of the Theological Issues Team takes place at Market Harborough under the chairmanship of Paul Mallard. There is a staff meeting in Market Harborough
Tuesday 28th Please pray for the Care and Recognition Team which meets today under the chairman of Michael Teutsch. The CART addresses the needs that arise within and between churches and it is also responsible for administering the Visitor Scheme.
Wednesday 29th Please pray for the Overseas Relationships Team which meets today under the chairmanship of Colin Jones. It works to promote contact with, and assistance of, churches in need overseas and also enables folk from the UK to make overseas visits to encourage missionaries linked with their churches.
Thursday 30th Thank God for the first month of ‘FIEC For a New Day’. The point of these changes is to enable us to function more effectively as a Fellowship of churches called to serve our nation at a critical time. John is lecturing at Oak Hill College today.
As the information contained in this prayer bulletin can at times be sensitive, please note that none of the content should be reprinted in another publication without the permission of the FIEC office – 39 The Point, Market Harborough, LE16 7QU (01858 434540).