Free Download: The Shape of Faith To Come

"I am sure of this, that He who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." Philippians 1:6 (Holman CSB) FREE DOWNLOAD: The Shape of Faith to Come Some studies suggest Christians in North America are not qualitatively different in their character and practices than nonbelievers. Could that be true? In The Shape of Faith to Come, research expert Brad J. Waggoner and his team measure the beliefs and actions of twenty-five hundred active Protestant churchgoers from across the country against seven key standards of biblical spiritual formation. The unpredictable findings reveal the current state and potential forecast of discipleship in the United States. LIMITED TIME OFFER: download the first 175 pages of The Shape of Faith to Come at no cost here. The first two thousand entries will also gain access to a FREE Online Spiritual Formation Assessment!

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SBC @ Prayer ~ Impact Your World

Pray

Israeli and Gaza Christians pray for quick resolution
Christians normally permitted to leave Gaza for Bethlehem during Christmas found themselves unable to return home and divided from their families this past December when fighting erupted between Israel and Hamas-controlled Gaza. One Israeli soldier asked a Christian worker to pray for him while he was at war. To the worker’s surprise, the soldier didn’t ask him to pray for his safety but rather that he wouldn’t have to use his gun. “Pray that those who want peace will have the victory,” the worker said.

KOMpray: A Kids On Mission prayer resource
KOMpray is a Web page as well as weekly electronic newsletter. Distributed each Friday, the e-letter offers prayer requests written for children. Families are encouraged to go to the Web site to view additional requests written by missionary kids (MKs) about children, for children. (You can subscribe to the e-letter on the Web.)


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SBC @ Prayer ~ Praying for Missions Impact Across the Globe

The North American Missions Emphasis includes praying for missions (Week of Prayer, March 1-8, 2009), learning about missions (North American Mission Study), and giving to missions (Annie Armstrong Easter Offering®, national goal: $65 million). As you participate and lead people to pray, learn and give during this emphasis, consider ways you can personally join our North American Mission Board (NAMB) missionaries in sowing together for harvest.

Message from NAMB President Geoff Hammond

Very few would debate that North America is a mission field. Open today's newspaper or your Web browser to a news page, and you'll see evidence of lives in sin and sorrow. People need Jesus Christ! Jesus died on the cross for each person living in this land, but so many have never heard or responded to the good news of Jesus Christ. Many are putting their trust in money and in man, and are learning the disappointment of doing so. Christians know our trust and hope is in Jesus alone. We must sow down the gospel together to ensure that there is a harvest of souls won for Christ. The task before us requires urgency. No procastination. No excuses. Just bold and determined dedication in word and deed. This is a spiritual battle that we cannot lose! Joining with churches in the harvest field are a mighty force of fellow sowers--more than 5,600 North American Mission Board missionaries. God is stirring in the hearts of an increased number of people who are responding to the call to career missions in North America. But they need our help to reach the 250 million lost souls living in the United States, Canada, and their territories. As you participate in this North American Missions Emphasis, I urge you to do more than just watch and listen. Please pray fervently for North American missionaries. Please give generously to North American missions through the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering. Please join us this urgent mission of sowing together for harvest! --Dr. Geoffrey Hammond

Week of Prayer Missionaries

Day 1: Gary and Sue Smith, Canada Day 2: Al and Noemi Fernandez, Florida Day 3: Daniel and Kimberly Goombi, Kansas Day 4: Brenda Crim, Alaska Day 5: Song and Fanny Kim, California Day 6: Lamar and Dolly Duke, Pennsylvania Day 7: Paul and Elizabeth Biswas, Massachusetts Day 8: Willie and Ozzie Jacobs, Tennessee Learn More >

Promotional Materials Available NOW!

NAMB partners with Woman's Missionary Union (WMU) to distribute promotion items for the North American Missions (NAM) Emphasis. North American Missions Emphasis Planning Guide - Contains NAM Emphasis DVD with video segments appropriate for worship and for the mission study. If your church office has not received a copy, call 1 866 407-6262, or email aaeo@namb.net . Posters, prayer guides, offering envelopes - Distributed by state WMU offices. Request needed quantities for your church's promotion from your state WMU or state convention office. Missionary Prayer Cards - Features the eight Week of Prayer missionaries. Cost is $1.99 plus shipping for seven identical sheets of eight cards - 56 total cards. Call 1 866 407-6262 to order. Information on additional resources at www.AnnieArmstrong.com/resources include: "Your Church on Mission with God" Bulletin inserts, Prayer Map, PowerPoint, and more! North American Mission Study - Mission study lesson plans for adults, youth, and children can be found on the NAM Emphasis DVD-ROM or at www.AnnieArmstrong.com/study. If you do not have access to the internet or need paper copies, please email aaeo@namb.net or call 1 800 749-7479. Are you a Friend of Annie's on Facebook?

2009 Annie Armstrong Easter Offering® Allocations

Missionary Support—$45,500,000—70% The largest expenditure of funds is for salaries (the majority of missionaries are jointly funded by state conventions and NAMB), health benefits, orientation, and ongoing training expenses of mission personnel. Church Planting Support—$11,050,000—17% Each year, Southern Baptists start 1,000+ churches. NAMB supports many church planters who are starting English-speaking and language churches in both rural and urban settings. Offering funds provide overhead costs for starting a church such as rental of a facility, material, and promotional expenses. Evangelism Support—$8,450,000—13% Avenues for evangelism are varied. They include church and community ministries, resort ministries, and literacy missions, to name a few. Projects that undergird missionaries’ work, such as sports evangelism, Scripture distribution, special evangelism events, Internet evangelism, and media use are ways missionaries use funds to impact North America for Christ.

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SBC @ Prayer ~ Florida Baptists Issue a Call to Prayer

A CALL TO PRAYER FOR OUR NATION There is no better time for us as individual Christians and congregations of believers to pray for our nation, our president and one another. “Even beyond the week of inaugural activity, the need for constant, fervent prayer — for our nation, for our president, for one another — will go on,” said David Burton, director of the Convention's Evangelism Division. “And this timeless video can help pastors and church leaders throughout the year to call their church members to prayer.” View and download at no cost here. http://www.flbaptist.org/onmissiontogether/2009.1.14.PRAY.htm To download a video, simply right click the mouse and “save target file as” to a designated place of your choosing on your computer. Request a FREE copy on DVD by calling 800-226-8584 extension 3157. Click here to DOWNLOAD. Click here to VIEW. Web sites with additional resources: ilivevalues.com/prayer www.presidentialprayerteam.org/ www.maxlucado.com/president/

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SBC @ Prayer ~ Putting Feet to Their Prayers

Featured Article: Putting Feet to Their Prayers

The activity of this church got members out into the community and the community into the church when they became “doers of the Word and not hearers only.” Action brought the answer to their prayers – a passion for souls.

Read more at www.namb.net/Godatwork

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SBC @ Prayer ~ 90-second video calls Baptists to pray

With thanks to Diana Davis @
www.keeponshining.com

Posted on Jan 15, 2009 | by Barbara Denman JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (BP)--Noting that there is no better time for individual Christians and congregations to pray for the nation, the president and its defenders of freedom, a 90-second video is calling Baptist churches to prayer during this inaugural season.

The free video, "A Call to Prayer for Our Nation," was designed to be used in worship services and can be downloaded free of charge from the Florida Baptist Convention's website: www.flbaptist.org.

"Even beyond the week of inaugural activity, the need for constant, fervent prayer -- for our nation, for our president, for one another -- will go on," said David Burton, director of the Florida convention's evangelism division. "This timeless video can help pastors and church leaders throughout the year call their church members to prayer."

Burton contacted 2,800 Florida Baptist pastors through a mass e-mail, urging them to use the video to highlight the need for prayer among their members during the historic occasion of the Jan. 20 inauguration of Barack Obama.

"It's hard to remember a time when there is so much happening that affects so many people -- war in many parts of the world, economic turmoil, a new president of our nation facing unprecedented challenges and opportunities," Burton said.

"And there's no better time for us as individual Christians and as congregations of believers to pray," he added. "This video will touch the hearts of our people and inspire them to pray as never before."

The video features images of the nation's founding fathers, government officials, military personnel and a cross section of the state's population.

The video, produced in cooperation with the Florida convention's evangelism and public relations divisions, can be viewed and downloaded at www.flbaptist.org. A free copy on DVD is available by calling 800-226-8584, ext. 3157.

Barbara Denman is director of communications for the Florida Baptist Convention.

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SBC @ Prayer ~ "Ther is no way is can be done"

As we start a new year, we look forward to the beginning of Faith in Action Xtreme. Starting in April, churches in San Diego will come alongside some of the greatest needs facing the county, hoping to make a difference in Jesus’ name.

We believe that, more important than any strategy we create, our foundation must be in prayer. With an initiative of this magnitude, many would say there is no way it can be done. Fortunately for us, our God is capable of the impossible.

With an initiative of this magnitude, many would say there is no way it can be done. Fortunately for us, our God is capable of the impossible.

“Jesus replied, ‘What is impossible with men is possible with God.’" Luke 18:27

So in 2009, we ask you to pray for the impossible to happen in San Diego.

Pray that…
... every school child will achieve grade level
... every juvenile offender will be mentored by a caring Christian
... every deployed military family will be “adopted” by a Christian family
... there will be a home waiting for every foster child
... all 22,000 senior citizens in the social services system will be assisted by a volunteer or church

We truly hope that you grasp the significance of the role that you play in transforming San Diego. Don’t get us wrong, we do need thousands of volunteers, but we also need people of faith that are willing to intercede on behalf of the 84% unchurched people in San Diego County. Please pray that as we meet the tangible needs of people, a door will be opened to meet their spiritual needs.

Please click here for a list of more specific needs related to Faith in Action Xtreme. Currently, we’re in the process of meeting with city officials, creating the underlying framework, and communicating with local churches and outside partners. It’s an exciting time as we anticipate how God will answer our prayers, which we trust will result in countless changed lives and the transformation of San Diego County.

Grateful to be partnering with you,
Thomas Bush, Director of Prayer Ministry, Vision San Diego


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SBC @ Prayer ~ This Prayer Impacts Our Country & Our Culture

.
Your prayers can change our country
Richard Land for Baptist Press

ORIGINALLY POSTED on Friday, Jan. 9, 2008.

"First of all, then, I urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for everyone, for kings and all those who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. This is good, and it pleases God our Savior, who wants everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth." (1 Timothy 2:1-4).

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)--Shortly after Election Day, I released an open letter to President-elect Barack Obama in which I told the new president that I would pray for him, his family and his administration, noting that I would pray that God would bless him with "safety, health and all spiritual blessings."

What prompted my promise to pray for the president-elect? The Scriptures are clear: While as a Christian I am a citizen of both the earthly and spiritual realms, I am under the authority of the civil magistrate (Luke 20:25). I am compelled to be a good citizen of the state "for conscience's sake" (Romans 13:1-7).

In the Apostle Paul's first letter to Timothy, Paul wrote that the first priority in our fulfillment of our civic duties ("first of all," 1 Timothy 2:1) is to pray. We are to remember everyone, including all those in authority over us, with "petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings." Paul sought to underscore the fact that proper conduct within the body of Christ includes praying for and respecting those in power as a primary spiritual civic duty.

Those in the first-century church, including the original recipients of this letter, were no doubt chafing under the yoke of a thoroughly pagan (and antagonistic) state that harbored no thought of affording the masses religious freedom.

Remember, the New Testament churches existed in occupied lands, under the watchful eyes of Jewish religious leaders in some areas, and everywhere under the steady and hostile glare of the Roman government leaders and their local lackeys, who were decidedly negative about any worship that didn't involve their gods. ===>Click headline for complete article . . .


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What is "GPS"?

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Let Our Light Shine in 2009!

This year is the launching of a new evangelism emphasis; a state-by-state perspective resourcing association-by-association projects and congregation-by-congregation plans and programs.

===>Click here to view the National Evangelism Initiative introductory video
===>Click here for an overview by IBSA's Randy Mullinax

Known as "GPS" (God's Plan for Sharing), this new initiative fits perfectly into our IBSA Prayer Ministries perspective:

• Prayer permeated lives and families
• Challenging every man & woman, girl & boy to pray by name and need for neighbors and neighborhoods
• Prayer saturated ministries
• Asking each committee & class, group & team to design their unique "GPS" strategy
• Prayer penetrated communities
• Praying for opportunities to increase the Kingdom of God through our influence in heaven (prayer) and earth (caring for people in our path) and through the impact of our congregation upon our community

So...

Who - is in charge of "GPS"?

We believe the Holy Spirit has a plan for each individual and every congregation and all state associations.

What - is that plan?

It is discovered as leaders call their people to ongoing asking-seeking-knocking prayer

Where - are resources?

Watch for updates in monthly editions of CS Happenings ... and, make certain you are receiving the IBSA Prayer~Gram (email phil@nppn.org - Subject: IBSA Prayer-Gram)

When - does this begin?

Planning and training opportunities will be announced throughout the year by various CS leadership, BUT, asking-seeking-knocking prayer, prayer that prays for and in and with the community, praying for neighbors and friends ... that begins the next time your class or committee, group or gathering, meeting or ministry gets together!

Why - bother?

Because people without Christ are dead already.

How - can one person have an impact?

Begin to pray for the strategic leaders in your sphere of fellowship and ministry: class teachers, committee chairpersons, ministry directors, group leaders, staff members, senior pastors, associational missionaries ... ask the Lord to give them a passion to pursue God's plan for sharing!

Prayer Training

Prayer training will be one of the many practical learning options available at each of the "Churches of Strength" conferences. Led by Phil Miglioratti, it is designed to empower leaders to integrate prayer into their personal lives and their corporate ministries.

• Identical workshops will be offered at 11 regional training events
• Email phil@nppn.org and provide the email addresses of associational and congregational prayer coordinators, plus prayer contacts for evangelism and discipleship - This insures they will receive an invitation
• Click here to find the nearest location . . .

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Former IBSA Pastor's Sermon on Prayer Featured @ LifeWay

Getting Right with Your Prayers

Written by Rick Ezell

Sermon Title: Getting Right with Your Prayers (Acts 4:23-31)

Free Download: Getting Right Sermon PowerPoint Template

Series Title: Getting Right (This is sermon #2 in this series)

1. Getting Right with God, 2 Chronicles 7
2. Getting Right with Your Prayers, Acts 4
3. Getting Right with Sin, Isaiah 59
4. Getting Right with Your Relationships, Genesis 33

Bible Studies for Life Curriculum Series Pastors’ EXTRA! (WEEK OF 02/08/09)

The Bible Study Connection for February 08, 2009: Praying persistently was a fundamental trait of early believers. This message will show the impact of a powerful, persistent prayer life.

Growing Disciples Series: Pray In Faith

Introduction: It has been said, “When we work, we work; when we pray, God works.” Prayer is the means God has ordained by which he will work on earth and meet the needs of his people. If you and I don’t pray, we will not see the hand or the movement of God.

It has been said, “Prayer is the indispensable and vital function of a believer.” No aspect of our Christian life is more essential and crucial to our personal growth and health than spending time with God. We are never taller than when we are on our knees. We are never stronger than when we are confessing our weaknesses. We are never bolder in public than when we are quiet before God in private.

The apostles listed preaching the Word and prayer to God as their two most important ministries (Acts 6:1-4). They became people of power as a result of their study of the Bible and the practice of prayer. It is their practice of prayer that I want to examine in detail.

Prayer was one of the most distinguishing features of their lives===>Click headline to access complete text . . .



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