2023 Dec Prayer Challenge, Week 2: Growing and Holy Things

2023 DECEMBER PRAYER CHALLENGE | Week 2

Missed a Prayer Bulletin?

Week 1: Introduction & Dean Video

Thank you for joining us for Week 2 of the December Prayer Challenge. We truly believe that God is working among us through our prayers.

Today Tara Fox from our OC Stewardship Ministries Team shares a special perspective on the Christmas story.

Growing and Holy Things

“And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son and shall call His name Jesus.”

“…Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her old age; and this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren. For with God nothing will be impossible.”

(Luke 1:31, Luke 1:36 NKJV)

As Mary and Elizabeth’s bellies began to grow, those around them were sure to see the outside manifestation of the inside reality. God had performed a miracle! He was birthing a new thing in the earth through Mary and Elizabeth. They certainly experienced all the things that go along with pregnancy: the stretching, the discomfort, and the unknown. Along with the joys, the hopes, and the dreams. How precious it must have been for these women to experience this season together!

The Seed Fund

At OC, God has recently conceived the “seed fund”. This is a place for his people to "plant" their "seeds" of offering so that God can designate funds for his holy projects, his way, starting with the elimination of the Internal Obligation (I.O.).

If December special giving (from OC workers, teams and partners) for the Seed Fund reaches $110k, we’ll be strongly positioned this fiscal year and be enabled to push the I.O. lower.

Growing Our Global Mission Team

God has also conceived new plans for recruiting and sending more mission workers to more places, to go after the "One Challenge" - the Great Commission. We are praying for a net growth of 35 global mission workers in five years to “go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.” And “teach these new disciples to obey all the commands." Matthew (28:19-20 NLT)

Please pray for divine contacts and opportunities to share One Challenge with prospective global mission workers. May God use us to plant seeds of missionary service in the minds and hearts of many.

Planting Seeds Together

We are watching pain and discomfort become more apparent in the world, and times that are becoming ever more uncertain. We are seeing what Mark 24:8 describes as the birth pains or the beginning of sorrows, but we know God is in control and he is still conceiving and birthing new and holy things! “When Elizabeth’s pregnancy was full term, she gave birth to a son.” (Luke 1:57 TPT)

Like Mary and Elizabeth, we can say that we are expecting! Because what God conceives, he delivers! We are praying for God to take the things that were once called barren and make them pregnant with new life.

Tara

OC Stewardship Team

PRAYER FOCUS: Sowing Generously This Month

This month as you pray for the needs of the Seed Fund (formerly known as the General Fund), new workers, and under supported mission workers, we invite you to listen and see what part the Lord would have you be in these opportunities to join what God is doing at OC! We are so thankful that we are in this together!

Let’s pray for our partners and supporters.

May they experience shalom in life and fruitfulness in service as they align with God’s purposes in our world.

Let’s pray for new workers.

Pray for God’s calling to germinate in people’s hearts – those you know and those only God knows.

Let’s ask God to grow the Seed Fund.

This December, pray with us toward the goal of $110,000 in special year-end giving to the Seed Fund.

Let’s sow hope into under-supported OC workers.

We are looking to the Lord to provide $20,000 from within the OC community to assist our under-supported brothers and sisters.

Thank you for joining us for the December Prayer Challenge. Together – as OCers around the world - let's plant seeds of hope toward God’s intended harvest.

During this weekly journey this month, I’d love to hear from you. Feel free to send me a quick note!

Dean

One Challenge USA President

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