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Women on Mission - September

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Mission Prayer Request
Prayer Focus - Northern African and Middle Eastern Peoples: Many Israeli Jews have died from COVID-19, and those left are now questioning their faith, pondering the Law of Moses, and wondering what God wants from them. Many believers have been actively sharing the gospel via the internet with them. Pray for Israeli Jews to finally see the truth of Jesus and be saved.

Prayer Focus - East Asian Peoples: During a monthly outreach, the North Japan Team gave two 90-year-old women Bibles and read them aloud together. One teared up when she read about God strengthening the fainthearted. The women planned to read their new Bibles out loud daily to exercise their voices and minds. Pray they would not fear their community’s judgement but completely trust in Jesus.

Prayer Request - Ohio: Allen Lawless planted Abundant Life Church in West Chester, Ohio. “I’m a bivocational church planter in West Chester, Ohio. In the past five years, I have had both knees, both hips, and both shoulders replaced. I am recovering from my reverse total shoulder replacement currently and will be filing for disability. Please pray that I will be able to draw short-term disability until the permanent disability is finalized and that there wouldn’t be any trouble having the final disability approved. I’m looking forward to having the extra time to spend doing ministry.”

Prayer Focus - All Missionaries: Some missionaries are sending their children off to college in the United States this month. Ask God to provide smooth adjustments for parents and children. Pray these young people would be firm in their faith and make good decisions. As God to gift them with friends.

Prayer Focus - Deaf Peoples: Four Southeast Asian believers finished their studies at the Deaf Theological Center in Tennessee. Praise God for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for them and their churches. Pray they would stay healthy as they travel back to their countries. Ask God to use them in mighty ways in Southeast Asia, leveraging what they learned effectively.


Prayer Focus - Southeast Asian Peoples: Pray for the Western Cham, a Muslim minority group in Cambodia. Since COVID-19 broke out among them, they’ve experience discrimination from other Cambodians. Pray Cambodian believers would love the Cham as God loves them by reaching out in friendship, especially when others ostracize them. Pray the Cham would hear the gospel of Jesus Christ and respond in faith.


Prayer Focus - Central Asian Peoples: In her household, Zoe* is responsible to care for her aging parents, a drug-addicted brother, an abusive brother, and a brother with Parkinson’s disease. She is burdened by the weight of her life but is open to dialoguing about Christ. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal the truth of Christ to her.     *Name Changed.

Prayer Focus - All Missionaries: Lift up missionary teachers, asking God to use their witness for Him in powerful ways. Many will be teaching English as a second language to people hearing the Word for the first time. Pray God’s Word would fall on fertile soil.

Prayer Focus - Deaf Peoples: At first, Diego*, a 28-year-old Deaf man in Mexico who lived a homosexual lifestyle and came from a Jehovah’s Witness background, was reluctant to attend a local church’s Deaf group. After attending for three years, he placed his faith in Jesus, became baptized, and walked away from homosexuality. Pray for Diego as he grows in his faith and is discipled.     *Name Changed.

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Women on Mission will not meet in September.  Our Hunger Offering receipts to date are $866.00.

Posted by Women On Mission with
in Kids, Newsletter, Missions

Spare Change - September

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“I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength!” is a common motto of people competing in athletic competitions.  This slogan is plastered on encouraging memes on social media and on basketball sneakers; however, it is not just a slogan it is an important verse that is meant to be a great encouragement to believers that are facing all kinds of obstacles in their lives.

This verse is Philippians 4:13 and Paul wrote it to the church in Philippi.  Here is Philippians 4:10-13 to help us better understand the context of the verse.

“10 I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity. 11 Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. 12 I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the  secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. 13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.”

Paul was writing to encourage the believers from his own experiences.  They were greatly concerned about Paul’s wellbeing and with good cause.  We read a summary of Paul's sufferings in 2 Corinthians 11.  He tells the church he has been beaten, stoned, shipwrecked, gone without food, etc.  Paul understands he has suffered greatly for the cause of Christ, but he encourages the church not to worry because he has learned to be content in every situation.  Whether he has much, or little, he trusts the Lord.  It is in that vein that he says he can do all things through Christ.  Basically, he is relying on the strength of Christ to help him accomplish all that God has for him to do.  The challenges he faces are nothing more than obstacles that are to be conquered.  Paul is confident that God has a job for him to do and he is not going to stop no matter what comes his way because he relies on Christ through everything.

WHAT AN ATTITUDE!  Can you even imagine thinking about life in that way?  The sad reality is verse 13 is so much more than just a handy slogan; it is a banner that goes before us to remind us that we do everything for God’s glory.  First, we need to realize that God has a job for us!  God wants us to work, live, shop, eat, serve, parent, fill in the blank all for the glory of God.  He sets us on a course to accomplish His will in our lives.  It is carried out in how we raise our families, how we interact with co-workers, how we redeem our time and yes, even our possessions for the Lord.  That means you look for opportunities to share the gospel and actively disciple, serve, and love others in every facet of life.

Once we come to terms with our God-given mission, then we can understand that there will be challenges to that goal.  You will face internal and external influences that will try to get you to stop.  We fight against our flesh, the world, and the devil.  These three combine to challenge and defeat us and, often, they succeed.  However, if we take to heart what Paul says in Philippians 4 then we will not give up so easily.  We must understand that nothing can defeat us, not even death.  Paul makes that clear early in Philippians 1:21, “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”  If we have nothing to lose then we cannot be beat!

Do you get it?!  We will face obstacles, we will be challenged but we cannot let that stop us.  Whether it is a ball game, a hard day at work, a failure as a parent or whatever, you can overcome it.  Just like Paul, you need to rely on the strength that is found only in Jesus Christ.  If you do that you will be unstoppable and God will get the glory for all it.  See this verse is bigger than just a sporting event, it is for every aspect of your life.  So, keep following the Lord, keep working for Him, and do not give up!  He will give you the strength you need, just rely on Him every day!

Posted by Bryan Gotcher with

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