Week of Prayer for North American Missions

WEEK OF PRAYER STARTS THIS SUNDAY! (MARCH 1-8) PROMOTIONAL RESOURCES ANNIE TOTAL FOR 2008 FEATURED MISSIONARIES' STORIES NOW ONLINE

"Bob is a young man who came to know Christ because of a church plant. My son, Tommy, is the lead pastor of Iron City Church. Bob saw a sign that we put up advertising the new church plant. And he was intrigued by that sign. He told his wife, "I might go to that church." Bob hadn't been to church in 20 years. He comes from a Catholic background; he had absolutely no relationship with Jesus Christ at all. So his wife connected with Tommy, and she and her husband came to one our vision meetings before we planted Iron City Church, and signed up to be a part of the launch team. The first time Bob came to a worship service, he checked on the connection box that said, "I'd like to talk to somebody about a relationship with Jesus," My son led him to Christ that week. We baptized him a few weeks later, and now Bob is on the worship team." —Lamar Duke, Missionary, Pennsylvania North America is full of Bobs. Pray for the Bobs and Barbaras.They're out there. Bob was agnostic. But God got a hold of him. Because somebody made the effort to do something to reach into that community, Bob has a relationship with Christ and will spend eternity in heaven.This story represents thousands of others, made possible in part because of your generous gifts to the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering®.

Resources for the 2009 North American Missions Emphasis

It's not too late to order resources for a North American Missions Emphasis in your church! Your church can promote the emphasis at any time. NAMB partners with Woman's Missionary Union (WMU) to distribute promotion items for the North American Missions (NAM) Emphasis. On Mission Magazine - Sign up for free subscription at www.onmission.com. North American Missions Emphasis Planning Guide - Contains NAM Emphasis DVD with video segments appropriate for worship and for the mission study. Call 1 866 407-6262, or email aaeo@namb.net . Posters, prayer guides, offering envelopes - Request needed quantities for your church's promotion from your state WMU or state convention office. Additional resources at www.AnnieArmstrong.com/resources include: North American Mission Study for Adults, Youth, and Children 2009 NAM Emphasis PowerPoint Presentation Sermon Outline Biographical/historical information on Annie Locate NAMB missionaries by name, state or birthday at www.namb.net/missionaries

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2008 Offering Tops $58 Million

Despite last year’s economic downturn, Southern Baptists still contributed more than $58.1 million to the annual Annie Armstrong Easter Offering in 2008 – 98 percent of the amount raised in the previous year’s campaign. Read more >

Week of Prayer Missionary Stories Available Now!

Gary Smith: Fighting vast "lostness" in vast eastern Canada By Mickey Noah WINNIPEG, Manitoba – Gary Smith and his 11-year-old son, Caleb, tooled down the Trans-Canada Highway in their rented Toyota on a winter’s day. They were in the middle of a 12-hour, 600-mile road trip from Quebec to Prince Edward Island when reality hit the 41-year-old missionary and he suddenly started to cry. “What’s going on, Daddy?” asked an alarmed Caleb, the oldest of Gary and Sue Smith’s four children. “What’s happening?” Through his tears, Smith asked his son, “Caleb, do you realize that in all of these towns, cities and villages we’re passing by, there are no Christian churches to tell the people about the Gospel? There are no Sunday school classes for kids. There’s nothing like you’ve known all your life.” The Smiths are national missionaries for the North American Mission Board and the Canadian National Baptist Convention, responsible for planting churches all across Canada. They are two of the some 5,600 missionaries in the United States, Canada and their territories supported by the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering® for North American Missions, and are among the NAMB missionaries featured as part of the annual Week of Prayer, March 1-8, 2009. This year’s theme is “Live with Urgency: Sowing Together for Harvest.” The 2009 Annie Armstrong Easter Offering’s goal is $65 million, 100 percent of which benefits missionaries like the Smiths. Read more of the Smiths' story—and those of the 7 other featured missionaries—at www.AnnieArmstrong.com/missionaries.

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Change or die.

Simple Church: Returning to God's Process for Making Disciples

Thom S. Rainer and Eric Geiger

Broadman & Holman Publishers, Nashville, TN 2008

Clarity ~> Movement ~> Alignment ~> Focus

There is a scene in Super-Size Me that is disturbing. We are not talking about the one where Morgan Spurlock, the producer, vomits on the ground. OK, that is disturbing as well. But we are referring to a different scene.

In this scene Morgan Spurlock is seeking to prove how effectively McDonalds impacts upcoming generations. So he meets with schoolchildren and shows them pictures of famous people. Most of the children recognize a depiction of George Washington. All recognize a depiction of Ronald McDonald. None of them recognize a common depiction of Jesus Christ.

None. Not one.

Yes, we know the depiction is probably inaccurate, but you get the point. Most children in America are growing up without any knowledge of Jesus. We are living in a post-Christian culture. For upcoming generations Christ is no longer the starting point. Children and teenagers no longer rebel against the standard. Today there is no standard.

Nearly ten years ago Thom predicted this would be the case. In his book The Bridger Generation, he presented research that indicated only 4 percent of upcoming generations would become Christians. Sadly we are living in the reality of that prediction. (1)

McDonalds is influencing future generation. Churches are not.

While the impact of McDonalds is spreading, the impact of the church is shrinking. In fact, most churches are spiritually stagnant and declining numerically. And this decline is in the midst of an increasing population.

The church, as a whole, is doing more and more. And the church, as a whole, is making less and less of a difference.

Church complexity is costly. The cost is beyond time and money. The kingdom is not expanding. Lives are not being changed. Transformation is not happening. Churches are not growing.

Moving to simple needs to happen. For the sake of the kingdom, the church, and the people you serve, it is time for action. In many churches, there has been too much talk. New statements mask the same behavior and the same paradigms. New strategies cover up the complexity. In most churches, nothing really changes.

The kingdom is not about chatter. It is about action. Nike has some great theology. It is time to just do it. It is time to refuse to be a programmer. It is time to design and implement a simple process that moves people toward spiritual transformation.

It is time for change. The alternative is to continue leading dying churches filled with spiritually anemic people.

Change or die. Those are the choices.

From pp 227 - 229

1. Thom S. Rainer, The Bridger Generation (Nashville, Tenn.: Broadman & Homan Publishers, 1997).

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SBC @ Prayer ~ Partnering with the City

New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and City Partner to Fight Crime

NEW ORLEANS (BP)--Leon Cannizzaro Jr., district attorney for Orleans Parish, noted the power of prayer during his first community outreach prayer breakfast, held at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary.

Leon Cannizzaro Jr., district attorney for Orleans Parish, addresses New Orleans’ crime problem during a community outreach prayer breakfast hosted at New Orleans Seminary. Photo by Michael McCormack

The newly elected official called together clergy members from across the parish to seek prayer and partnership in his efforts to combat the growing crime problem in New Orleans.

About 125 religious leaders convened to hear from Cannizaro Feb. 12 at the event sponsored by Baptist Community Ministries, a foundation launched in 1995 with proceeds from the sale of Southern Baptist Hospital in the city.

"I want to thank you for your thoughts, for your prayers and your support," Cannizaro told the ministers. "People have asked me, 'What can I do to help you?' My most basic and standard answer has been, 'Please pray for me.' I know we are not going to solve our problems in Orleans Parish unless we go to that higher authority."

Cannizzaro was elected at a low point in public trust in the city's criminal justice system. He follows an unpopular district attorney who resigned in October 2007 after a tumultuous five-year stint in office. Portions of the city have experienced a dramatic spike in violent crime, especially since Hurricane Katrina.

In January, Cannizzaro's office received its first high-profile murder case: the armed robbery and shooting death of a French Quarter resident. The crime garnered much attention because the suspects in the case are in their early teens.

"Let's be very honest. We have a city in crisis," Cannizzaro said.

Cannizzaro mentioned the deep distrust of the entire criminal justice system among many of the city's residents, noting that the prosecution of violent crimes often is short-circuited by the reluctance of witnesses to testify. Victims and witnesses often fear retribution, and some even fear the police.

Religious leaders could help encourage witnesses to participate in the justice process, he said.

"I'm going to ask you to go into your congregations and go into your communities, and I'm going to ask you to encourage people that see things to get involved," he said. "We want to make a difference with regards to the violent criminal conduct that is going on."

Cannizzaro also pledged his support for the many mentoring and crime prevention programs sponsored by area houses of worship. One of his goals is to keep low-level offenders from becoming career criminals. He closed the two-hour meeting with a question-and-answer session.

Chuck Kelley, president of New Orleans Seminary, voicing appreciation for Cannizzaro's initiative, told Baptist Press, "Problems as complex as crime in New Orleans will not be resolved without the deployment of both public and private resources at the neighborhood level."

Kelley said New Orleans churches "have been the backbone of neighborhood physical recovery [following Katrina]. They must also play an active role in the moral recovery we so desperately need," he said.

NOBTS PRAYS FOR PRESIDENT OBAMA -- As President Barack Obama took the oath of office, students, faculty and staff at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary gathered around the altar during the first chapel service of the new semester and prayed for the nation and its 44th president.

Chuck Kelley, the seminary's president, asked the campus community to pray that God's wisdom would be made known to the nation's new leaders.

"We celebrate the fact, Father, that an African American man was able to be elected president of this nation, a nation that has stood in the world proclaiming its openness to people of all races and all backgrounds and all creeds," Kelley prayed. "And we thank You, Father, that that has been demonstrated for the first time in the life of this nation with the election of an African American to the office of president of the United States."

Kelley also acknowledged the need for repentance for the nation's many sins and pleaded for God's mercy.

"The list of our sins is great and far too long," Kelley said. "The list of our iniquity is shameful as we look at ... our moral behavior as a nation, the lack of justice for people within in this nation, and the problems that we have accepted and tolerated and simply looked at as just part of the landscape.

"There are so many ways that we as a nation have disappointed You ... and have not been emblematic ... of You as a God of righteousness and a God of holiness, a God of justice and a God of love," Kelley added.

"We pray for the leadership of Barack Obama, and we ask, Father, that You would give him supernatural wisdom and direction and that You would turn his heart and his head in the right direction, that he might be the kind of leader who would embody the things that You hold dear and precious."

Kelley prayed for the president's safety and decision-making and that his family would be nurtured. He also prayed for the national character.

"We pray that in this day of celebration, in this day of the transition of power, that it will also be a day when Your people look deeply [into] our own souls and search our hearts before You, that where there be sin in our hearts, You might bring about correction; where there be a lack of faith in our souls, You might teach us faith. Where there be hesitation about picking up the mantel that You are assigning to us, You would give us the courage and the boldness to pick it up."

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SBC @ Prayer ~ Prayerwalking New Orleans: Can't I Stay Home and Pray for Other Communities?

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Tearing Down Walls
from Joe McKeever



In recent years, the City of New Orleans has been blessed by church
groups traveling here to walk the streets and pray for our people.
In most cases, they will divide into teams and accompanied by a
pastor of one of our churches, walk the neighborhood around his
place of worship and intercede for the residents.

It's a faith venture from start to finish. The prayer-walkers do not
know the people inside the homes and may never know what effect
their intercessions had. Yet they come, they walk, and they pray.

We're so grateful for these spiritual warriors.

Prayer-walking is not a new phenomenon. It may go back to the time
of Moses when God's people were tramping around the wilderness
marking time until the older generation died off and the youngsters
could inherit the Promised Land. Since the Lord was with them, it
only makes sense that many of the people talked with Him as they
walked.

As they crossed the Jordan River under Joshua, this younger
generation of believers found themselves facing the "city of palms,"
Jericho. Its massive walls sent a clear signal that taking this
fortress would be no piece of manna. Clearly, some kind of divine
intervention would be required. So, God stepped in with the
strangest command.

The people of God were to walk around the city -- that is, on the
outside of its walls, of course -- once a day for six days in
complete silence. Then, on the seventh day, they were to repeat the
process seven times, for a total of 13 laps. At the completion of
the last lap, the people were to shout and the priests were to blow
the trumpets.

At no point did the Lord tell the people what to expect at that last
moment. The only thing Joshua said was, "Shout, for the Lord has
given you the city!" They shouted, the horns blasted, and to
everyone's amazement, the walls of the city crumbled before them.

Is that the precedent for prayer-walking, circling a city in order
that walls might crumble before the Lord?

Continued at: http://www.joemckeever.com/mt/archives/001098.html


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Prayer & Spiritual Warfare

Prayer & Spiritual Warfare

Dr. Chuck Lawless is a professor at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and the acting Dean of the Billy Graham School of Missions, Evangelism and Church Growth. He is the Director of Professional Doctoral Studies and Professor of Evangelism and Church Growth. He served as pastor in Ohio before going to Southern Seminary. Dr. Lawless is the author of several works, including Membership Matters, Spiritual Warfare: Biblical Truth for Victory, Discipled Warriors: Growing Healthy Churches That Are Equipped for Spiritual Warfare, Making Disciples through Mentoring and Putting on the Armor: Equipped and Deployed for Spiritual Warfare.

===>Click headline to access this video . . .


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"Shortcut my search on prayerwalking..."

Phil,

As part of our prayer ministry this year, we want to organize and conduct some prayerwalk forays preceded by some training. Can you shortcut my search for teaching resources to help equip my folks to be as effective as possible when we go out to pray? Thanks for your help!

In His Love, Pastor ___ @ ____ Baptist Church


Good to hear from you Pastor!

Check out the resources from WayMakers. Steve Hawthorne has written (literally!) the book on prayerwalking:
http://www.waymakers.org
http://waymakers.org/index.php?p=prayerwalking
http://waymakers.org/index.php?p=prayerwalking&pp=howto <<

I would:
1. Purchase Open My City for everyone
http://waymakers.org/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=SFNT&Store_Code=WPTAM
2. Hold a training session using the first few pages of the booklet
3. Hit the streets!
4. Then debrief ("What did you experience? learn? on this prayerwalk...)
5. Next time, use How to Prayerwalk (above) for a brief training before you hit the streets again. Always conclude with a debrief, praying for those you just prayed for!

Check this out and tell me what you think - We can look for different material if this is not helpful, Phil


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Prayer that Changes Churches

Dear Brother Miglioratti,

Greetings in the matchless, merciful, and marvelous name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

I want to personally thank you for sharing with us as we came together in corporate prayer. As you know prayer is an essential component of a healthy church. Your ministry meant so much that the dividends are still coming in.

By the following Sunday, after you ministered, I had received phone calls from people fired up, excited, and requesting more.

I know that in the future we will be asking you to help us pray through several projects.

I will keep you up to date with our prayer efforts and will call again from time to time for your advice.

Again, I thank you, the people thank you, and we wish you the best.

God bless, Pastor ____

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SBC @ Prayer ~ San Diego: Strategic Focus CIity

Did you know that if students aren’t achieving grade level standards by the third grade, they’re far more likely to get involved in crime, drugs, or gang activity?*

Did you know that nationwide, 85% of young adults in the juvenile justice system are functionally illiterate?*

Did you know that here in San Diego, the statistics show more than 150 public elementary schools have a majority of students who aren’t achieving grade level?

Maybe you were already aware of these statistics, but beyond knowing these facts the important question is “How do we respond?”

First, we ask you to respond through prayer.

Pray that…
...God will continue to open doors to partner with local literacy organizations and tutoring programs
...Churches will respond to the needs facing the schools in their surrounding community
...God will stir in the hearts of many people to volunteer as a tutor once a week

Second, we ask you to consider how God may be calling you to make a difference. Click here for a detailed look at the five areas of impact and more importantly, to learn to how you can get involved.

Please click here for a list of more specific prayer requests related to Faith in Action Xtreme.

*Information from www.begintoread.com

Grateful to be partnering with you,Thomas Bush,

Director of Prayer Ministry, Vision San Diego

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10 VBS Tips for Smaller Churches

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May I add this comment to the ten helpful tips presented in the February 13, 2009 Illinois Baptist?

Tip #11 - Pray.

It is possible to pray small prayers.

But a church that prays big is never just a small church!

Phil Miglioratti
IBSA Prayer Ministries

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"Help!" - How to Lead a 90 Minute Prayer Session

.

Phil,
I am to co-lead a 90 minute prayer session for our Pastors Prayer Gathering. The focus is giving praise for the God of the City. Can you help me with some guidelines, thoughts, pointers, suggestions. Thanks in advance.

A few thoughts - Always seek the moment-by-moment leadership of the Holy Spirit - Hope they help!

• Recruit someone who can begin a song when needed. They must participate in the circle, not play piano from outside the circle (2 concentric rows of chairs).
• Ask them to prepare sets (2-3) of songs that focus on God's character, songs of praise, repentance, seeking, celebration ... You will ask them for a song when needed; they will probably not use all the songs they prepare. Lyrics are unnecessary if the songs (hymns and contemporary songs) are well known - the goal is to sing the song as a corporate prayer, not as a filler or just to sing a song.
• Sit with your co-facilitator at the "12 o'clock" part of the circle (determine that by the feel of the room, lighting/windows, or (especially) the door participants would walk in and out of - Sit where movement would cause the least distraction.
• The worship leader does not need to sit next to you two.
• Eliminate the 2nd row seating directly behind you.
• Design a format, something like:
• Welcome ... Housekeeping ... Introductions
• Cast vision for the purpose of this session (why are we praying along this particular theme? What might the impact be?)
• Explain how this kind of praying is different than around-the-circle, down-the-list praying:
• Give instructions:
• Praying can be spoken, sung (lead out in a song and we will join you), scripture (read a verse of paragraph of scripture as your prayer or as a prologue, or silence (do not interrupt a time of obvious meditation led by the Spirit) ...
  
• Listen to the prayer of the person you follow so that your prayer is an extension of their thought, much like in a conversation. Before you begin a new subject, allow someone else to add on to the previous prayer.
• If you believe the Lord has given you an insight for the entire group, please come and share that with the facilitators before saying anything to the group
• Some songs will be used as a transition to a new focus but whenever we sing, sing it as a corporate prayer.
• Start prayer with triads: Find 2 other people, each praying a brief prayer:
• First person - address the Holy Spirit, asking him to lead and guide all of our praying...
• Second person - ask the Lord Jesus to reveal the mind of Christ to us so that our prayers are in agreement with his heart...
• Third person - express to our heavenly Father that our goal is for his kingdom to come and his will to be done more effectively through the Church as a result of our praying today ...
• Praise to the God of the City
• Draw triads back to their seats with a song of praise
• Read a scripture on that theme that can be used to focus and launch prayers
• Prayers of the people...
• Inject another song of praise ... more prayers ... allow silence (for some this is adjustment to see if you will really follow all the instructions you gave!) ...
• Repentance to the God of the City
• Transition to this focus with a song of conviction
• Explain corporate repentance is, like Nehemiah and Daniel, leadership repenting for sins that they may not have personally committed
• Talk about the way the Church has failed to obey, to live up to this reality, to trust ... launch praying from a scripture passage that calls for prayers of corporate repenting: "Father, forgive us for ___."
• Inject 1-2 additional songs that are prayers of corporate repentance...
• Agreeing with the God of the City
• Transition song with a focus on corporate obedience
• Read a passage of scripture that ca prompt many prayers of how the Church is meant to reveal and reflect the character of God into the city; person-by-person, community-by-community
• Inject 1-2 additional songs that are prayers of corporate obedience...
• Yielding to the God of the City
• Transition song with a focus on the power of the Spirit to bring victory
• Passage of scripture ... Prayers ... Concluding song of anticipated victory in Christ
• Debrief
• Ask for feedback: What was your experience like as we prayed? Anything surprise you?
• What did God say to us as we heard the prayers he placed in our hearts?
• How can we implement this style of corporate praying into our congregation?

What do you think? Questions?? Feedback???
phil@nppn.org

P.S. Cone back to IBSAPrayer.blogspot.com to see the latest resources posted for your ministry of prayer


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Every Believer ... Every Person ... by 2020

GPS: God's Plan for Sharing

When many people today hear “GPS,” they think of that wonderful gadget that helps us get to a specific destination. Southern Baptists’ national evangelism initiative, “God's Plan for Sharing,” works much the same way. Our final destination is Every Believer Sharing and Every Person Hearing by 2020. And, much like a trip taken with the assistance of a global positioning device, the journey to the fulfillment of the Great Commission has mileposts along the way. Those mileposts are Praying, Engaging, Sowing, and Harvesting.

“We Are Southern Baptists” is a media campaign that includes a 30-second television spot, Web site (www.WeAreSouthernBaptists.org), and a full-page print ad. The ads introduce people to the ministry and work of Southern Baptists throughout the world. Produced by NAMB, the video and ad are free to download at www.WeAreSouthernBaptists.org (click on “share”).

===>Cluck headline for more GPS info . . .

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Pray. Then put your faith into action . . .

Changed lives.
Changed churches.
Changed city.

How do you go about changing the lives of 3 million people? For us the answer is simple: putting our faith in action.

Beginning this April, churches in San Diego will tackle the top needs facing the county. Recent meetings with city leaders have identified these key issues as places where the desires of the city meet the mission of the church: foster care, tutoring, military, mentoring and elder care. As we move forward, we know the task goes beyond meeting the tangible needs of people; we want to meet their spiritual needs.

It’s an exciting time to be here as we anticipate how God is going to work, which will result in lives impacted by the love of Jesus Christ, churches reawakened to their communities, and ultimately the transformation of San Diego County.

Click here for more information about each area of impact, and most importantly, to find out how you can be involved in how God is working in San Diego.

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Minsitry Wives - Retreat .. Relax ... Revive!

“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free!” Galatians 5:1

March 27-28, 2009

Dear Ministry Wife,

Since you are the wife of a pastor, a vocational church ministry staff person, a state or associational staff member, a missionary or a retired or widowed counterpart this retreat is planned especially for you. Come join other ministry wives who share your cares and concerns. We will have a great time as we look at the Freedom we have in Christ; and as we work, and play together. The minister’s wives retreat is always a meaningful experience for all those who attend. The retreat is uniquely geared for your needs and interests

We will enjoy music, testimonies, crafts, workshops, fellowship and Bible Study. The optional Early Bird sessions begin at 1:30pm for all who arrive in the afternoon. The retreat begins with dinner at 5:45 pm on Friday and will conclude at 3 pm on Saturday. Please register early so adequate plans may be made for all who attend. See you in March!

This year’s retreat is March 27-28, 2009 at Chatham Baptist Church. The cost is $45.00. This contribution is for the conference fee, the hotel, and all meals. A breakdown of expenses will be available upon request. We appreciate all of our sponsors who help keep this fee as low as possible.

Please register early by sending the following information along with your check to Alice Davis. Instructions are below.

---

IBSA Pastor’s & Staff Wives’ Retreat

2009 Registration Form

Name ____________________________________

Husband’s Name ______________________ Husband’s Position ________________

Church Name Association__________________________

Home Address ___ City Zip_______

Phone ___________ e-mail___________________

I will attend these sessions: Early Bird ____ Friday Evening ____ Saturday ____

My friend, ______________who is also a ministry wife, will also attend the retreat and I prefer to room with her.

____I cannot attend, but I am you sending the above information for the Ministers' Wives' support network and database.

Please send:
>$45.00 check (made payable to IBSA Minister's Wives)
>completed registration form,

After we receive all the registrations you will receive a map and further information.

Choose the method you wish for receiving the information – via

___ email (must be listed above

___ US Mail – please send a stamped long self-addressed envelope with registration

Send to:
Alice Davis, 1210 Rolling Hills Drive, Mahomet, IL 61853

Check #__________

We will make the motel registrations for you. Sorry no refunds after March 13th please.

Send any questions to alidavis@mchsi.com or call Alice at 217/649-1699.


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Wisdom from an SBC Seminary Prof

Note >>> Dr, Dan Crawford is one of maybe two graduate level professors seated in the Chair position of Prayer. This is an amazing story but make sure you read question #5 . . .

Dr. Dan's
Monday Morning Memo

1. Tell me about your early history in Houston

a. Where you born here? NO, I WAS BORN IN TEMPLE, TEXAS AND MOVED TO HOUSTON WHEN I WAS NINE YEARS OLD.

b. Your dad was a pastor here - when and where MY DAD, EDWIN CRAWFORD, WAS ASSOCIATE PASTOR AT SOUTH MAIN BAPTIST CHURCH UNDER DR. HERMAN WESTMORELAND IN THE EARLY 1950s AND PASTOR OF THE WEST END BAPTIST CHURCH IN THE LATE 1950s WHEN IT WAS A RAPIDLY GROWING SUBURBAN CHURCH.

c. Your mother served with UBA here - in what role(s) and when MY MOTHER SERVED AS THE PRESIDENT OF THE UBA PASTOR’S WIVES FELLOWSHIP.

d. You mentioned the connection with HBU in the founding I BELIEVE MY DAD WAS ON THE ORIGINAL BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF HBU AND BECAUSE OF THAT I REPRESENTED ALL HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS ON THE PROGRAM THAT LAUNCHED THE SCHOOL. WE MET ON A SUNDAY AFTERNOON IN THE OLD HOUSTON CITY AUDITORIUM. I SHARED A BRIEF TESTIMONY OF WHY HOUSTON AREA HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WERE HAPPY WITH THE CREATION OF HBU. UNFORTUNATELY, I WAS ON TO COLLEGE, BEFORE HBU OPENED ITS DOORS TO STUDENTS, SO NEVER ATTENDED HBU.

2. As a teenager, you had a serious accident out near the Humble area of Houston. Tell me about that.

a. Your age at the time WHEN I WAS 15 YEARS OLD, I AND FOUR OTHER TEENAGERS FROM OUR CHURCH WERE ON OUR WAY TO A CHURCH-SPONSORED HAYRIDE AT THE H&H DUDE RANCH ON GREENS ROAD, WHICH WAS NORTH OF HOUSTON AT THAT TIME (LATE 1950s).

b. Hospital BEING GOOD BAPTIST KIDS WE TOLD THE EMERGENCY PERSONNEL THAT WE WANTED TO GO TO THE MEMORIAL BAPTIST HOSPITAL – AT THAT TIME THERE WAS ONLY ONE AND IT WAS IN DOWNTOWN HOUSTON – SO WE HAD A RATHER LONG AMBULANCE RIDE IN ONE AMBULANCE. I SAT ON THE FLOOR WHILE A FRIEND WITH A BROKEN LEG GOT THE STRETCHER.

c. Diagnosis / Prognosis INITIALLY, ON THAT SATURDAY NIGHT, I WAS DIAGNOSED WITH MUSCLE SPASMS IN MY NECK. ON MONDAY, I WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A BROKEN SECOND VERTEBRAE OF MY NECK. SINCE THERE WERE NO RECORDS (THIS WAS PRIOR TO THE INTERNET) OF ANY SIMILAR FRACTURES WHERE THE PERSON HAD LIVED THROUGH THE ACCIDENT AND WAS NOT PARALYZED, I BECAME A MEDICAL GUINNIE PIG.

d. Prayer mobilization MANY PEOPLE IN OUR CHURCH AND FRIENDS IN OTHER CHURCHES PRAYED FOR ME IMMEDIATELY, BUT AS THE MONTHS PASSED AND AS I WAS REPEATEDLY SCHEDULED FOR SURGERY TO WIRE THE NON-HEALING BONES OF MY NECK TOGETHER, MY MOTHER ORGANIZED A PRAYER CHAIN THROUGH THE PASTORS WIVES ORGANIZATION. SO LITERALLY I WAS BEING PRAYED FOR BY NEARLY EVERY SOUTHERN BAPTIST CHURCH IN HOUSTON.

e. Medical intervention AS THE BONES FAILED TO HEAL; I CONTINUED TO LIVE IN AND OUT OF A HOSPITAL BED FOR NINE MONTHS, WITH AN OCCASIONAL SURGERY SCHEDULED AND CANCELED. ON ONE OCCASION I ACTUALLY HAD A BODY CAST MADE ON ME AND CUT OFF TO BE RETURNED TO MY BODY FOLLOWING SURGERY. THAT SURGERY WAS ALSO CANCELED. I STILL HAVE THE PLASTER BODY CAST – IN MY GARAGE. NO ONE KNEW WHAT TO DO WITH ME – EXCEPT GOD AND A GROUP OF PRAYING LADIES. ONE DAY IN LATE AUGUST, ALMOST NINE MONTHS AFTER THE DECEMBER ACCIDENT, I WENT IN FOR MY REGULAR VISIT WITH THE SURGEON, FULLY EXPECTING ANOTHER VISIT LIKE ALL THE PREVIOUS ONES HAD BEEN. THIS TIME, HE SAID MY BONES HAD HEALED AND I NO LONGER HAD TO WEAR A BRACE ON MY NECK. I WENT BACK TO SCHOOL THE NEXT WEEK AND IN TWO WEEKS WAS ON THE COURT WITH THE BASKETBALL TEAM.

f. God's intervention - as you understand it I CLEARLY REMEMBER THAT LAST VISIT WITH THE PROFESSING ATHEIST SURGEON. MY DAD BEGAN TO THANK HIM AND HE RESPONDED, “DON’T THANK ME. THIS WAS THE WORK OF SOMEONE OTHER THAN ME.” HE DIDN'T KNOW WHO HE WAS REFERRING TO, BUT I DID.

3. You talked about having a sense of indebtedness to Houston as a result of prayer across the city. Help me to understand what this is all about.

a. What was happening in your life in the months following the accident? BY THE TIME I WAS HEALED, I WAS A JUNIOR AT REAGAN HIGH SCHOOL AND RATHER WELL KNOWN, AT LEAST BY NAME, THROUGHOUT BAPTIST CHURCHES IN HOUSTON. IT ALSO HAD BECOME WELL KNOWN THAT DURING THE NINE MONTHS OF HEALING, I HAD RESPONDED TO GOD’S CALL ON MY LIFE TO VOCATIONAL MINISTRY. SO I BEGAN TO GET INVITATIONS TO SPEAK IN CHURCHES, YOUTH RALLIES, YOUTH MEETINGS, ETC. EVERY WHERE I SPOKE, SOMEONE WOULD COME UP AFTERWARD AND REMIND ME THAT THEY HAD PRAYED FOR ME.

b. Please give us a brief history of your life following your recovery I WAS RATHER WIDELY USED AS A YOUTH SPEAKER IN THE HOUSTON AREA – YOUTH RALLIES, YOUTH BANQUETS, YOUTH REVIVALS, ETC. UPON HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION, MY DAD ACCEPTED THE PASTORATE OF THE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH IN NACOGDOCHES, TEXAS AND WE ACTUALLY MOVED FROM HOUSTON ON THE MORNING FOLLOWING MY GRADUATION FROM REAGAN HIGH SCHOOL IN JUNE OF 1960.

c. Please include any connections back to Houston OVER THE YEARS I HAVE OFTEN BEEN INVITED TO SPEAK IN HOUSTON AREA CHURCHES. I HAVE SERVED AS INTERIM PASTOR AT WEST UNIVERSITY BAPTIST CHURCH AND KINGWOOD FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH.

4. You mentioned that people come up to you and tell you they had prayed for you back in the day TO THIS DAY, WHEN I SPEAK IN A HOUSTON AREA CHURCH, INVARIABLY SOMEONE WILL COME UP TO ME AFTERWARD AND ASK ME IF I AM THE ONE THAT BROKE MY NECK AND THEN THEY WILL TELL ME THEY REMEMBER PRAYING FOR ME. THIS HAPPENED MOST RECENTLY AT A SENIOR ADULT CHRISTMAS BANQUET AT FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH, HUMBLE, TX.

a. Do you have a sense that their prayers had an impact on your calling beyond your recovery? ABSOLUTELY! FROM THAT DAY UNTIL THIS VERY DAY. I STILL HAVE A FORMER SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHER FROM SOUTH MAIN BAPTIST CHURCH SERVING ON THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF MY CORPORATION, DISCIPLE ALL NATIONS, INC.

b. Did that season impact your own understanding of the role of prayer? MORE THAN ANYTHING IN MY LIFE SINCE THAT EXPERIENCE. I HAVE WRITTEN AND COMPILED SEVENTEEN BOOKS, SIX OF WHICH ARE ON THE SUBJECT OF PRAYER, AND I AM NOW RETIRED AFTER TWENTY-TWO YEARS ON THE FACULTY OF SOUTHWESTERN BAPTIST SEMINARY HAVING OCCUPIED THE CHAIR OF PRAYER, BUT NOTHING SINCE AGE FIFTEEN HAS IMPACTED ME MORE IN THE AREA OF PRAYER THAN THAT GROUP OF PRAYING PASTOR’S WIVES AND THEIR FELLOW CHURCH MEMBERS.

5. You are part of the National Prayer Committee and are the Professor Emeritus for the Fred and Edith Hale Chair of Prayer at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. What are your dreams and goals regarding prayer in our churches, cities and nation - and beyond? WE MUST BECOME BETTER STEWARDS OF THE PRIVILEGE OF PRAYER. WE TAKE PRAYER FOR GRANTED AND AS A RESULT TAKE GOD FOR GRANTED. WE WERE CREATED TO BE RESPONSIBLE AND NO WHERE IS THIS MORE NEEDED THAN IN THE AREA OF PRAYER. FOR INSTANCE, WE OFTEN PRAY FOR REVIVAL BUT MANY OF US WOULDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH IT IF GOD SENT IT AND GOD DOESN'T WASTE SOMETHING AS PRECIOUS AS REVIVAL ON FOLKS WHO ARE POOR STEWARDS OF HIS GIFTS.

a. Where else are you connected to prayer networks or leaders? ON AMERICA’S NATIONAL PRAYER COMMITTEE, I SERVE AS LEADER OF THE TASK FORCE FOR THE TEACHING OF PRAYER IN THEOLOGICAL EDUCATION. FOR SEVERAL YEARS I SERVED AS THE PRAYER ADVOCACY COORDINATOR FOR MISSIONARIES IN THE CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPEAN REGION OF THE SBC INTERNATIONAL MISSION BOARD, DEVELOPING AND COORDINATING P.L.E.A. (Prayer Links of European Advocates). I AM PRESENTLY A MEMBER OF SEVERAL PRAYER NETWORKS SUCH AS A GROUP PRAYING CHURCHES INTO EXISTENCE IN THE METRO VANCOUVER, CANADA, AREA.

b. Where do you feel God has asked you to invest to disciple others in prayer? THROUGH TEACHING PRAYER IN THE CLASSROOM (I AM CURRENTLY SENIOR (RETIRED) PROFESSOR AT SOUTHWESTERN BAPTIST SEMINARY AND VISITING PROFESSOR AT THE CANADIAN SOUTHERN BAPTIST SEMINARY), AS WELL AS IN CHURCHES. I STAY BUSY LEADING PRAYER CONFERENCES AND PRAYER REVIVALS IN CHURCHES AND WITH UNIVERSITY CAMPUS GROUPS. I ALSO CONTINUE TO WRITE ON THE SUBJECT OF PRAYER, MOST RECENTLY COMPILING THE EIGHTY-AUTHOR BOOK, GIVING OURSELVES TO PRAYER, FOR THE NATIONAL PRAYER COMMITTEE. I’VE JUST COMPLETED A BOOK TO BE RELEASED IN THE FALL OF 2009 ENTITLED, AMBASSADORS ON MISSION: THE PRIORITY OF PRAYER AND PROCLAMATION.

c. Do you see a role for you to play with Houston Prays? POSSIBLY! I OWE A TREMENDOUS DEBT OF GRATITUDE TO HOUSTON CHURCHES FOR THEIR INTERCESSORY PRAYER ON MY BEHALF, FIFTY YEARS AGO. IF I CAN PAY BACK IN SOME WAY, I WOULD COUNT IT A PRIVILEGE.

6. You currently serve as the President of Disciple All Nations. THIS IS AN ORGANIZATION DEVELOPED YEARS AGO THAT ALLOWS ME TO SERVE IN RETIREMENT. THROUGHOUT MY MINISTRY I RECEIVED WONDERFUL INVITATIONS TO SPEAK IN EXCITING AND NEEDY PLACES, BUT THEN TOWARD THE END OF THE INVITATION, THEY WOULD EXPLAIN THAT THEY HAD NO MONEY TO PAY FOR MY COMING TO SPEAK. I DECIDED MANY YEARS AGO TO CREATE A MEANS BY WHICH, IN RETIREMENT, I COULD ACCEPT THOSE KIND OF INVITATIONS. DISCIPLE ALL NATIONS IS THE RESULT AND I HAVE NOW MINISTERSD IN ALL FIFTY STATES AND FIFTY-SIX FOREIGN COUNTRIES. OUR PURPOSE STATEMENT IS: “ENHANCING ON-GOING MINSITRY THROUGH EQUIPPING, ENCOURAGING, AND INTERCEDING.”

a. From your perspective, what is the role of prayer in the fulfillment of the Great Commission? WHILE PRAYER IS NOT SPECIFICALLY MENTIONED IN THE GREAT COMMISSION ACCORDING TO MATTHEW 28:19-20, MARK 16:15, LUKE 24:47-49, JOHN 20:21, ACTS 1:7-8, THE MOST USED VERB IN THE MINISTRY OF JESUS WAS THE VERB “TO PRAY” SO I CONCLUDE JESUS INTENDED THERE TO BE NO FULFILLMENT OF THE GREAT COMMISSION APART FROM PRAYER.

b. Where are you connected to the global prayer movement? JUST IN PRAYING, LEADING PRAYER CONFERENCES AND COORDINATING PRAYER STRATEGIES FOR THE NATIONS. I HAVE SEVERAL HUNDRED FORMER SEMINARY STUDENTS SERVING IN CROSS-CULTURAL SETTINGS AND INTERNATIONALLY. MANY OF THEM LET ME BE ON THEIR E-MAIL LIST AND SO I PRAY IN FRONT OF MY COMPUTER FOR A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF TIME EACH DAY.

7. Is there anything you want to say to the Houston Prays Leadership Team? “PRAY WITHOUT CEASING.”

That's it for now.

Tom Victor

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IMB: Small Church; Big Story

Pray

Wednesday Window on the World
What happens when a small church in Tijuana, Mexico, offers free haircuts, a movie and pet vaccinations in a neighborhood park? Visit Wednesday Window on the World for more on the story and how you can encourage this church through your prayers. Prayer requests and praises from around the world are updated every Wednesday and can be freely printed and distributed for midweek prayer gatherings.


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* Coaching? Teaching? Preaching? on prayer ... Contact Phil@nppn.org

Prayer Conference * Saturday, February 7th@ FBC Machesney Park

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Prayer Conference

February 7th@ FBC, Machesney Park

9:00 - Noon

IBSA Prayer Coordinator Phil Miglioratti will lead us on a journey that will:

• open believer's eyes to what God is doing when we pray (a biblical look at the role of each member of the Trinity)
• identify the significance of praying from our position in the heavenlies (Ephesians 2:6)
• explain how to pray every prayer request from problem to promise to purpose!
• motivate the congregation to pray for their community, then in their community and then with their community as God gives opportunities to witness to Christ

Thanks for reading and praying,

Dr. J.E. Hail, Jr., Director of Missions/Church Planting Strategist

North Central Baptist Association

515 N. Court Street, Rockford, IL 61103

(815) 633-6323 - Voice / (815) 961-0626 - Fax

ncbadom@att.net

www.myncba.org

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* Visit http://www.IBSA.org/prayer.php for more articles and resources
* To receive monthly updates on new postings, email phil@nppn.org
* Coaching? Teaching? Preaching? on prayer ... Contact Phil@nppn.org

SBC @ Prayer ~ Pray for 1 of the 56,500

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Tampa newspaper delivers 56,500 Bibles



Posted on Feb 3, 2009 | by Joni B. Hannigan TAMPA, Fla. (BP)--

A 200-plus-page New Testament featuring Tony Dungy was distributed the Saturday before the Super Bowl to 56,500 subscribers of the Tampa Tribune.

In addition to the involvement of Dungy, who retired last year as head coach of the Indianapolis Colts, the Tampa Bay Baptist Association participated in the effort along with other donors.

The International Bible Society, through a local organizer, CityReachers Bible distribution, raised about $2.25 per copy to produce and distribute the New Testaments in just four months.

Dungy, who was shown with the Tampa skyline in the background, was head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 1996-2002 and is a member of Central Tampa Baptist Church.

The Tampa Bay Baptist Association's director of missions, Tom Biles, said participants in the Scripture distribution have been "praying God will minister to our whole community through the Word of God."

The association also sponsored "Super Evangelism Rallies" during Super Bowl week featuring Fred Luter Jr., senior pastor of Franklin Avenue Baptist Church in New Orleans. Bile said he hopes the outreach will have a "powerful impact" toward revitalizing the community and will have lasting implications all year long.

Joni B. Hannigan is managing editor of Florida Baptist Witness (www.floridabaptistwitness.com) who was part of Baptist Press' coverage of the Super Bowl in Tampa, Fla.


* Type keywords in "Search This Blog box" above
* Visit http://www.IBSA.org/prayer.php for more articles and resources
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* Coaching? Teaching? Preaching? on prayer ... Contact Phil@nppn.org