MAY Prayers for OCC

As we are quickly approaching May, praise God for the families, all around the world who pack shoebox gifts and make this ministry possible. Praise God for the churches that have been planted and the people that have been saved by God’s work through Operation Christmas Child. Praise God for all of the international, national, regional, and local teams who work with Operation Christmas Child.  Pray that the millions of children participating in The Greatest Journey discipleship program would have a clear understanding of what a relationship with Christ means. Pray likewise that they discover how to share what they have learned and experienced with others. Praise God for our new country for Shoebox distribution--in November, OCC received the final signature needed to begin shoebox distributions in Recife, Brazil. Our teams have been working hard since February for the sea containers to be released but prayer is needed for the customs clearance process to be finalized. During May we will be praying for East Asia, specifically this week pray for China & Fiji.  Also lift up everyone in Nepal dealing with the aftermath of the earthquake. 

Let's unite in prayer that we open our ears and listen to the Holy Spirt and God's direction for our NEA team, for the U.S.A., , for our other sending nations and our receiving nations, so we can we rooted, do abundantly more boxes in 2015,  and follow His guidance for His Honor and Glory. 

"If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” (Luke 11:13 ESV)

Peru & Operation Christmas Child

The week of praying for Paraguay and Peru is coming to an end so I want to thank you for your prayers and end with some specific requests and information about Peru. Shoebox gifts were first delivered to children in Peru in 1996. The National Leadership Team (NLT) consists of Teresa Choquehuanca as National Coordinator, Silvia Titto as Prayer Coordinator, Loida Herrera as Logistics Coordinator, Ana Delgado as Discipleship Coordinator, Dina Gamboa as Training Coordinator and Margoth Aguirre as Resources Coordinator. The NLT has developed 12 Regional Leadership Teams that are instrumental in leading efforts in the different regions of the country. Pray for these leaders.   Pray for the people living in the Puno region as they deal with extremely cold weather. Pray for the native communities. Pray for the new Regional Leadership Teams.  Praise God for all He has done in 2014 – for allowing the team to take the Gospel to 15 regions and to share it with 166,977 children. Praise Him for the children who accepted Christ and participated in The Greatest Journey (TGJ).  Praise God for the children’s prayer program in Peru, Children in the Gap, which saw hundreds of children join in prayer for the ministry of OCC this year. Praise God for allowing the team to reach children who live in remote places with great spiritual needs.  Praise God for the volunteer regional leadership teams, Teacher Trainers, and volunteers, whose hearts are ready to serve with OCC and who make this ministry possible.  Pray for the volunteer regional leadership team who live in areas where the rainy season makes it difficult to travel in order to distribute boxes and for the children to attend TGJ classes.  Pray for the provision of the resources for the volunteer regional leadership team working in the jungles of Peru.  Thank you for praying and have a blessed weekend! 

Paraguay OCC

I hope you are having a blessed Tuesday evening!  Paraguay's specific requests to pray for are the recruitment of the first volunteer regional leadership team for the country.  Also, please pray God provides the right people to serve as Prayer Coordinator, Discipleship Coordinator, and Church Mobilization Coordinator on the National Leadership Team (NLT). Pray for The Greatest Journey program for 2015 in Paraguay. Pray for the provision of the resources needed to carry out the project in Paraguay and for the NLT to have enough time to complete their work. Pray the churches will see each shoebox as an evangelistic opportunity instead of a form of social service for families. Thank you for your faithfulness to pray for these specific requests and Operation Christmas Child each day. 

"The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective." (James 5:16b)

Paraguay & Peru

This week we are asking our OCC Prayer Warriors to pray for Paraguay and Peru in South America. Paraguay is west of Brazil and only 6% Evangelical. Peru is 11% Evangelical and on the west coast of South America. Also be praying for our goal of 10,200 for NEA - that we will be able to do abundantly more this year!  Also pray that our team will be rooted and strengthened. 

"So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness." (Colossians 2:6-7 NIV)

#OCC #OCCPrayer 

OCC Panama

The week of praying for Ecuador and Panama is coming to a close so here is the last few requests from Panama. Pray for integration of the new teams in Panama. Shoebox gifts were first delivered to children in Panama in 1996. The National Leadership Team (NLT) consists of Elizabeth Medina as National Coordinator and Aidabeth de Gonzalez as Logistics Coordinator. The NLT has developed 13 Regional Leadership Teams that are instrumental in leading efforts in the different regions of the country. Praise God for His support and guidance. Pray for the development of new strategies for the projects and evangelism of Samaritan’s Purse in Panama.  Pray for the health and healing of the Logistics Coordinator. Pray for those who were involved in a special distribution event last month. Pray it will have a lasting impact on the distribution team members and the children who participated in it. Pray for the training events that will be held in Panama this year.

Pray for The Greatest Journey (TGJ) teachers; pray they will teach with love and that through their classes many children will place their trust in Jesus.  Thank your for praying for Panama and Ecuador this week. 

 

“We have to pray with our eyes on God, not on the difficulties.” ~ Oswald Chambers 

"This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. Save us, we pray, O Lord! O Lord, we pray, give us success!" (Psalm 118:24-25 ESV)

#OCCPrayer #OCC

#OCC Ecuador Prayer

Today we are asking you to keep praying for Ecuador and Panama. Shoebox gifts were first delivered to children in Ecuador in 1997! The National Leadership Team (NLT) consists of Ramiro Baez as National Coordinator, Ivonne Almeida as Prayer Coordinator, Hernan Taco as Logistics Coordinator, Pablo del Salto as Church Mobilization Coordinator, Maribel Pumisacho as Discipleship Coordinator and Rafael Sanchez as Resources Coordinator. Pray for these leaders. The NLT has developed 8 Regional Leadership Teams that are instrumental in leading efforts in the different regions of the country.  Pray for the upcoming nConnect. Pray for the safety, spiritual renewal, and reaffirmation of the attendees. Pray for the selection of the Regional Leadership Teams.  Pray for the development of the evangelism and discipleship plans for the next season. Praise God for giving the team the privilege of hosting and serving those who have come to Ecuador to participate in special distributions.  Pray for the customs process in Ecuador. Pray God gives grace and wisdom to the Logistics Coordinator.  Pray there are no delays or setbacks in the clearance process. Lastly, Pray for the local churches and other partners who will serve with OCC this year.

#OCCEcuador #OCCPrayer 

"Don’t pray when you feel like it. Have an appointment with the Lord and keep it. A man is powerful on his knees." ~ Corrie Ten Boom

(Every Tuesday is NEA OCC's Weekly Day of Prayer)

OCC Ecuador & Panama

This week will you join me in focusing your OCC prayers on Ecuador and Panama? Ecuador is between Colombia and Peru. It has many small jungle tribes and slums that need to be reached, but Praise God progress is happening. Ecuador once had the smallest percentage of Evangelical Christians in Latin America but the number has grown steadily.  Panama is just north of Colombia. 40% of Panamanians live in poverty.  Remember these two countries in your prayers this week. Also some Regional Prayer Requests from OCC Mid-South are: Pray for God to call Area Coordinators and leader volunteers in our region.  Pray for Mid-South staff as they have been & still are doing a lot of traveling in our region during the month of April.  Pray for all of the children who will be participating in The Greatest Journey in the months ahead.  Pray for God to bring new churches to partner with us in 2015 as drop-off locations.  Thank you for your faithfulness. Have a blessed evening.

Jennifer Barnett
NEA OCC Prayer Coordinator
#OCC #OCCPrayer

Colombia #OCC

Today will you join me in in continuing to lift up Brazil and Colombia in prayer?  Praise God for the opportunity to begin the ministry of OCC in new regions this year, OCC is expanding in Colombia. It 1st started in 2002.  Pray for the customs process in Colombia. Pray God will allow the team to find favor with the authorities and that there will be no delays with the customs clearance or the transportation of the boxes.  Pray for the NLT and volunteer regional leadership teams.  Pray God will protect them as they serve.  Praise God for the children who are finishing their classes and graduating from The Greatest Journey!!  Pray God will provide volunteers, who are called to serve Him, to join the Regional Leadership Teams.

Pray for the upcoming trainings. Pray for the families, health, ministries, and finances of all those involved with OCC in Colombia.  Thank You for your faithfulness! 

"And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus. Now to our God and Father be the glory forever and ever. Amen." (Philippians 4:19-20)

#OCCPrayer 

Praising God for #OCC in Brazil

Praise God that after many years of prayer, HE has moved the hearts of the government and they granted permission to receive shoeboxes into Brazil.  Only 26% of the population is Evangelical Christians. Pray for our OCC teams working in Brazil.  Pray God will allow the customs clearing process to be completed quickly with no delays.  Pray for wisdom as the NLT starts the project this year.  Pray a great harvest of children will come to know Christ in this first season of OCC in Brazil!  Also don't forget to draw a name out of your NEA OCC Prayer Box for this week (if you are a year around volunteer).  Let's pray for one another daily and let them know you are praying for them.  If you don't have a prayer box then choose someone to lift up in prayer today!  Thanks for your faithfulness. 

"Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened." (Matthew 7:7-8)

#OCC #OCCPrayer 

I Am Not Ashamed

2 Timothy 1:12 “I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that Day what has been entrusted to me.” (ESV) APPLICATION: No matter what happens to you, will you keep your faith in Jesus or are you ashamed of your belief when around unsaved people?  Paul was in prison and had lost all his material possessions, but he would not lose his faith.  He would not stop believing in God.  He trusted and believed that God would use him wherever he was at.  When we ask, God will guard our faith and help us to be the Light until the day we die or Jesus returns.  Even in prison, Paul knew God was in control.  Do you have that kind of faith when bad things happen to or around you?  You can count on God to guard your soul regardless of what may happen to your body if you truly believe in Him.  Don’t be ashamed of what God is doing in your life; share it with the world!

God's Not Dead...He is Risen & Alive!

HE IS RISEN! May God richly bless you this Easter morning. This week we are asking you to pray for Brazil and Colombia. This is Brazil's 1st year to receive shoeboxes! This is a HUGE accomplishment. Thank You, Jesus!  Brazil is very large-it makes up 1/2 of the land surface & population of South America. Brazil is the world’s 5th largest country in both area & population. Let's pray for God to work in an absolutely amazing way there for His Honor & Glory through OCC. Our other country of focus this week is Colombia, which first received shoebox gifts in 2002. Since then, 630,219 Colombian children have received a gift! Thanks be to God for Him continuing to move in their lives!! We covet your Pray for Brazil and Colombia all week.

"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:6-7) 

#OCC #OCCPrayer #NEAOCC #PackAShoebox 

"Choose this day whom you will serve...But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” Joshua 24:15

"Choose this day whom you will serve...But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” Joshua 24:15

A life of service sums up my family.  My name is Jennifer Barnett.  I am a child of the One True King!  I have been married since August 6, 1994, to my best friend, Kevin.  He serves as a full-time pastor at First Free Will Baptist Church in Jonesboro, Arkansas.  We have two wonderful sons, Matthew and Michael, who attend Bay High School.  We also have several of their friends that hang out at our home frequently, so they are our "bonus sons".  We have lived a life of full-time ministry since July 12, 2009.  Prior to serving as a family in full-time ministry, we helped with Southridge General Baptist Church, a mission, where Kevin served as a deacon and later became the Associate Pastor.  I taught Sunday School and Children's Church there.  Before Southridge, we done volunteer youth ministry for many years at FFWBC, the church we now serve in!  God has brought us full circle back home.  I first joined FFWBC in January 1995 and then again in July 2009 when we came home.  I was raised at Corners Chapel Baptist Church in Payneway, AR.  My parents and some family still attend there.  From a young age I was taught to help and teach in the church and that we all have gifts and talents to use for God.  Today I am still serving, and I hope you are also.  God has blessed me by allowing me to teach 10th-12th grade Sunday School, run our PowerPoint Projection Ministry during Morning Worship, teach 7th-9th grade on Wednesday Night B.L.A.S.T. (Bible Learning & Sharing Together), and I serve on the Decorating Committee.  In January 2015, I began a new adventure, one I have a great passion about.  I became the NEA Operation Christmas Child Prayer Coordinator!  Prayer...now that is something we all can do!  We all have something we can do for the Lord, the question is: ARE WE WILLING TO SERVE? 

I will be posting frequently about Operation Christmas Child Prayer Requests, devotions for the teenagers that I teach, and what God lays on my heart each day.  My prayer is that "As For Me And My House" will challenge you to examine you and your house so that you may live BOLDLY for HIM daily!

My life verse is Ephesians 4:1-3: "Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God. ² Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. ³ Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace."

Until Next Time,
~Jennifer