Prayer Letter - 6 June 2005

To: Prayer Partners
From: Pastor Lucenay

Jesus said, blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted (Matthew 5:4). Grief is no stranger to any of us. Grief occurs not only in the passing of someone we know but in many times of loss or change. A change of circumstance of any kind (a change from one state to another) produces a loss of some kind (the stage changed from) which will produce a grief reaction. Perhaps that is why Eugene Peterson translated this verse, you’re blessed when you feel you’ve lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you.

Our journey through loss awakens many reactions within us. Elisabeth Kubler-Ross, in her book On Death and Dying, saw five common factors occurring in people who were going through loss: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. When we have lost, are losing, or expect to lose something (or someone) very special, we pass through these stages. Our journey is not always a linear passage. We often jump from one stage to another and back to an earlier stage as we work through our pain.

This week in our prayer time, let us explore the effects of the sense of loss or change on our journey with Christ. No one likes to feel something significant slipping from his/her hands. Most of us have the tendency to renew our grip in our efforts to regain control of what we have known. However, life is always carrying us into unknown challenges where we have to trust God. As we trust God we grow.

Where has your life taken a turn that was unexpected, perhaps unwanted? Where are you uncomfortable with the adjustments required of you? In my prayer life, I find the answers to these questions at the exact places where I find myself telling God how to “fix” situations or people in my life. Isn’t it amazing how easily we can quote the scripture that says, Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding (Proverbs 3:5), and how difficult it is to “let go” when we trust in the Lord? Inner peace is ever elusive as long as we seek to be “little gods” telling the Father how to run our little worlds. Isaiah wrote, You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You (Isaiah 26:3, NKJV).

Take a few moments to ask God to show you where you need to let go and trust God. Ask God to help you trust Him enough to do things in a manner other that what is your Plan A. Ask God to show you any way he wants you to change the way you are holding onto something significant. As time changes, our grip changes, for that is a process of life. We may know in our minds that we cannot keep doing things in the same way and expect different results, but we surely like to live within our comfort zones.

This week I have had contact from several of the mainland students who have returned to China after giving their hearts to Christ. They are finding new friends in Christ who are encouraging their faith. Paul wrote to ask that we pray as he shares his faith. Pray for these new believers.

Kristen Seay arrived Sunday night and she will be helping us with our youth ministry this summer. Pray for her as she overcomes the jet-lag, adapts to Hong Kong, meets our youth, and develops a plan for youth ministry for this summer. Pray that people will welcome her into their lives and work with her in this vital ministry.

We are in search of a kindergarten principal and a teacher. We need to find God’s people for these positions soon, so that we can properly prepare for the new school year.

We are grateful that the refugee house of the UN has again allowed some of the fellows who are exploring faith in Christ to return to our services. We continue to pray for God’s work in their lives.

Several of our Filipina ladies are moving to Canada for work. Pray for these ladies as they seek to adjust to the new environment of their work and as they seek a church home. Also pray for the ladies in our church and chapels who remain in Hong Kong. We are also praying for a larger meeting place for the chapel in Tuen Mun. Pray for the movement of God’s Spirit in this ministry.

Every week I pray for God to bring people to faith in Christ. We have many people listed on our prayer lists. I invite you to join with me in praying for them. As we are prone to be more fervent in prayer for people we know I ask you to pray for the people in your life who need faith in Christ. Please pray for the people who sit near you in worship as well.

Recent reports of persecution of Christians remind us that not all people live in freedom. Pray for the people who are facing persecution for their faith, and pray for their families. Pray for the growth of the body of Christ in these difficult times in troubled places.

God’s people are not immune to illness. Pray for physical and spiritual healing of those among us who are sick. Violy continues her journey of recovery in the hospital and Shing’s grandmother is in critical condition. Alice, a new mother, is battling flu while caring for her little two-week-old baby. Ken C’s uncle is also recovering from surgery.

Pray for God to guide our giving to the Home Mission Offering and our support of the ministries designed to reach people for Christ.

Pray for the church staff as we handle the challenges before us. As you pray for the church, pray that we will see in every member/attendee an openness to get involved in one ministry.

Thank you for your prayer support and encouragement. May God bless and guide you with a wonderful week in the Lord.