Watching God from the Front Row
December 2015 Newsletter

Prayer Ministries 
North American Division  of Seventh-day Adventists

Where have you been


Merry Christmas!

On a recent Sabbath Don & I worshiped at the Hospital Church in Orlando and heard a moving sermon by the senior pastor, Andy McDonald. During the early part of the service a beautiful little 4-year old girl, Mikala, sang a wonderful song with back-up by the children's choir. It was glorious. You probably know the song; the words go like this:

Happy birthday, Jesus. I'm so glad it's Christmas.
All the tinsel and lights and the presents are nice,
But it's all about You.

Happy birthday, Jesus. I'm so glad it's Christmas.
All the carols and bells make the holidays swell,
But it's all about You.

Happy birthday, Jesus.
Jesus, I love You.
Nativity

The kids sang their hearts out. I think the adults loved it, too, but when your eyes are full of tears it's sometimes hard to tell. They captured the heart of the season for all of us. Please find the link here to watch the entire 12-12-15 Worship Service.

There was other good news from that trip, too. We spent a couple of days visiting with pastors - just to listen. We explained the proposed 2016 HOPE Heals initiative (HOPE standing for Houses Of Prayer Everywhere) to them and then asked for their input. We asked them, Is it an idea your people can get excited about? Would it be helpful to you in moving toward the vision God has laid on your heart for your district? What kinds of resources would you like to have us provide? How can we get the word around? What do you think of the idea that we invite the retired pastors in your field to phone every active pastor, pray with them, listen to their concerns, and before hanging up make sure they are acquainted with HOPE Heals. They loved the idea. They welcomed that contact with the veterans in their field. They asked questions, made suggestions, and gave us a whole lot of great affirmation. We were honored to be able to pray for each of them before we left. Great team!

That reminds me, be sure to get the word out...HOPE-heals.org. Send it in every communication you send. Talk it every time you are with pastors and other church leaders. Make sure it's in bulletins, on bulletin boards, saturate your stuff with it. We believe that God has given this simple strategy that has the capacity to change virtually every church in our Division and help them catch a new vision of what it means to become a world-altering House of Prayer.

By the way, as God leads you to effective strategies, be sure to shoot a short video - even with your phone - and send it to us so we can put it on the website and inspire other churches and their leaders. 3- to 5-minutes is a good length. Here's a for instance: Pastor Tim Goff told us about announcing to his congregation that the left front section of the worship center, piano side, would be designated as a place of prayer following each service. He would come there and meet with any who wished to stay. If they wanted to praise the Lord, intercede for someone else, ask God for a victory or an answer, he would be available. (Look for a video on the website in early January.)
Tim Goff
Pastor Tim Goff
Roy Rugless
Pastor Roy Rugless

As we pray and plan for Christmas and the new year we want to remind you about the NAD Day of Prayer which is always the first Sabbath in January. If you're looking for a good sermon outline that you can use and make your own, you'll find one by Pastor Roy Rugless of South Central Conference.  His sermon will be available in two locations on the NAD Prayer Ministries website - on the home screen and under Prayer Sermons. You will find Pavel's sermon on the website, too.

HopeHealLogo-2


Pavel Goia
Pastor Pavel Goia
 
It does not take the prophetic gift to believe that 2016 will be an epochal year in the North American Division and the nations it includes. It does not take a piercing sense of history to know that we are in an unprecedented era of earth's journey. The issues are more than political, more than financial, more than political correctness and climate change. They are spiritual and they are eternal. But we go filled with hope and unafraid because we know who writes the final chapter and that He has called us to His side for such a time as this.

WarRoom

Prepare to kick off the new year with a special emphasis on prayer. The War Room DVD and the Movie Event Kit with a one-year church license both release this month in time for Christmas and the new year. Check this link.


Ruthie 


Ruthie Jacobsen
Ruthie Jacobsen
NAD Prayer Coordinator


This Month's Zinger

It doesn't matter what you call it or when you schedule it, God has never freed us from the assignment that He counts on the church coming together to pray.


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Phone: 404-891-6338  
ID 772 937#

Our next all-night call will be  January 7.
10:00 p.m. - 5:00 a.m. (EST)
Mark that date on your calendar.

Praying for the people we love who have quit coming to church
by Nancy Canwell
 
READY TO RECEIVE

 
"There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines" (1 Corinthians 12:4-6, 11, NIV).
  
 
When *Dalton made the decision to go back to church, his home church was ready to receive him. There were ministries in place that he could immediately plug into. That's because the members both knew, and used, their spiritual gifts.

It all started with a caring youth pastor. She knew that Dalton, who is 20 years old, was an inactive member. So whenever she saw him around town, she made it a point to be friendly and take the time to talk. Then one day, when Dalton stopped by the church office to drop-off something for his grandpa, the youth pastor invited him to sit down and chat. The chat led to him telling her why he'd quit coming to church. He'd quit soon after his academy graduation because someone in the church had hurt his family. The youth pastor listened, apologized for the hurt, and then invited him to church that week.

To her joy, she saw Dalton walk in and sit down in the last pew. But the beautiful thing about this story is how the church was ready to receive him. The greeters at the front door gave him a warm welcome-not a surprised or critical look. His church had a young adult Sabbath School class where he was welcomed, offered muffins and a warm drink, and friendship. There was a greeting time during the church service during which several members warmly welcomed him back. After church, someone invited him to stay for the weekly potluck, which he did. Then the youth pastor invited him to help with a project for the youth, which he gladly accepted. So, within his first week back, Dalton already felt that he belonged.

It's not surprising that he returned the next week. His church was well prepared to receive inactive members. From the greeters, to the Sabbath School class, to the warm greeting during the service, to the potluck, and finally to getting him involved, his church did everything right.

As we begin a new year, why not take a look at your church? Are you ready to receive inactive members? Are your active members using their gifts so that inactives can feel at home the moment they walk through the door? I can't think of a better New Year's resolution for a church than to resolve that they will be prepared to actively and loving receive those who want to come back into the family.

Prayer Focus: Designate the 15th of each month as a "Reconnecting Day of Prayer." Luke 15 tells the story of three things that were lost: a sheep, a coin, and a son. All were found then, and all can be found now!

Recommended Resource: An Indescribable Welcome Home, by Paul Richardson. Order from AdventSource.

* Names have been changed 

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Nancy Canwell
Nancy Canwell

If  you have missed any of the previous articles of the Reconnecting Ministries Series you may find them all here: Click Here

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I Go to the Rock
Monterey, California Prayer Conference - 2014
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Revolution on Our Knees
Innisbrook, Florida Prayer Conference - 2012
Watch Videos Here




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NAD Day of Prayer - January 3

All Night Call to Prayer - January 7