31 Days of Prayer for Operation Christmas Child - Day 16

Pray for safety of  the volunteers who will be working in over 4,000 Collection & Relay Centers around the country. Click the link to find a drop-off location near you!
http://www.samaritanspurse.org/operation-christmas-child/drop-off-locations/

A Special Delivery…Wrapped in Love...

God is in the delivery business––always has been and always will be. In the Bible, the word deliver has rich and varied significance. A primary meaning is “to rescue, save, or draw out” and “to snatch or drag out of danger.” We need to be delivered because we are powerless to save ourselves. Jesus is our Rescuer, our Savior. In extravagant love, the Father sent His Son to deliver us from the darkness and dead-end ways of sin and transfer us into the Kingdom of light and liberty. This eternal transaction is true for all who receive His gracious offer of life and salvation. Deliver also carries the idea of making an announcement or handing over a message. Amazingly, God has invited us to help share the Good News. Through Operation Christmas Child, we have the privilege of delivering this wonderful message to children and their families. The gift-filled boxes that volunteers handle in the Relay, Collection and Processing Centers will find their way around the world and provide an opportunity for children to hear and respond to the life-changing proclamation of God’s love. 

“He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the Kingdom of the Son of His love.” Colossians 1:13, NKJV 

31 Days of Prayer for Operation Christmas Child - Day 15

Pray for the children participating in The Greatest Journey discipleship program to have a clear understanding of what it means to have a relationship with Christ as well as how to share what they have learned and experienced with others.  Two children every minute accept Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior because of The Greatest Journey! 

The Greatest Journey - Haiti

The Greatest Journey - Panama

The Greatest Journey is an exciting discipleship program that teaches children to become faithful followers of Christ. The program is offered to children who have received an Operation Christmas Child shoebox.

Did you know that last year, over 209,000 children learned about Jesus Christ through the Bible study offered to children and their families after we distributed gift-filled shoeboxes in their communities?

This Bible study is called The Greatest Journey, and it is offered freely to children by local churches in the days following a shoebox distribution event, provided we have their parents’ or guardians’ approval, and permission from local authorities.

31 Days of Prayer for Operation Christmas Child - Day 14

Today pray for the 2015 Call to Prayer during National Collection Week to engage as many as possible to pray for Operation Christmas Child.  Sign up for the 2015 Call to Prayer!

With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints. (Ephesians 6:18, NASB)

Your prayers are essential to the work of Operation Christmas Child. Our goal this year is to collect 11 million shoebox gifts from the United States and nine other countries. During National Collection Week, Nov. 16-23, we will pray for the people packing the boxes, the volunteers who will be collecting, processing, and delivering the gifts, and for the children receiving them.

Please sign up at

http://www.samaritanspurse.org/operation-christmas-child/call-to-prayer/  

by selecting the dates and times you would like to pray, and your location will be added to the map where you can see where others around the world are joining you in prayer. You may choose as many dates and time slots as you like. Please make sure you see the specific prayer requests for each day, below: Please email occprayer@samaritan.org with questions. 

Please remember the following requests while you pray for Operation Christmas Child during your chosen time slot(s). 

Monday, November 16 - Ask God to bless the volunteers who serve to collect, process, transport, and deliver shoebox gifts around the world.
Tuesday, November 17 - Pray that the Lord will use Operation Christmas Child to bring joy to boys and girls who face difficult circumstances such as poverty, disease, famine, and war.
Wednesday, November 18 - Pray that every child who receives a shoebox gift will be open to hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Thursday, November 19 - Pray that every girl and boy who receives a shoebox will experience God’s unconditional love through the gifts.
Friday, November 20 - Pray that the children who enroll in The Greatest Journey follow-up discipleship program will come to faith in Jesus, and share the Good News with their friends and family.
Saturday, November 21 - Pray for the safety of Operation Christmas Child volunteers who are serving in areas of the world that may be hostile toward Christians.
Sunday, November 22 - Thank God for blessing Operation Christmas Child with more than 124 million shoebox gifts over the past 22 years. Pray that millions more children will experience the love of Jesus Christ through these simple gifts.
Monday, November 23 - Pray for the seamless transportation of the shoebox gifts as they are transferred from local drop-off sites to regional Processing Centers.

FOR MORE PRAYER OPPORTUNITIES: click to join the Operation Christmas Child Prayer Network 

31 Days of Prayer for Operation Christmas Child - Day 13

Today pray for the safety of Operation Christmas Child staff as they travel to the Processing Centers to serve this season.

Operation Christmas Child, a project of Samaritan’s Purse, is the world’s largest Christmas outreach of its kind. Since 1993, Operation Christmas Child has delivered gift-filled shoeboxes to over 124 million children affected by war, poverty, natural disasters, and other crises in more than 150 countries and territories. We partner with local churches to share the Good News of Jesus Christ with those who receive shoebox gifts and offer a 12-lesson discipleship program, The Greatest Journey, that helps boys and girls learn what it means to follow the Lord and share their faith with others.

O Father,

You are always there,

For your love reaches everywhere.

Above the clouds,

Beneath the sea,

I know your hand will cover me.

Through the darkened starry night.

Again at dawn when all is bright.

Upon the heavens, or over bridges,

Deepest valleys, rocky ridges.

You beside me, o so close,

Knowing when I need you most.

Through different lands of war or peace,

Where suffering stirs or riches twist

I choose to walk the path you tread.

And carry your wisdom where I'm led.

To leave your love in every place

I rest my head or dine or wait.

You keep me safe, watch over me.

I choose to put my trust in thee.

"Travellers Prayer" by Julie Palmer

“Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him; I will protect him, because he knows my name. When he calls to me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him." Psalm 91:14-15

31 Days of Prayer for Operation Christmas Child - Day 12

Today pray for God's hand and wisdom in recruiting volunteers during National Collection Week to become more involved in Operation Christmas Child.

It’s not for the money, it’s not for fame

and it’s not for any personal gain.

It's for love of fellow man,

It’s just to lend a helping hand.

It’s just to give the tithe of self.

That’s something you can’t buy with wealth.

It’s not the medals worn with pride.

It's just for that feeling deep inside.

It’s that reward down in your heart.

It’s the feeling that you’ve been a part

Of helping others far and near,

That makes you a VOLUNTEER.

Connect to Your Calling:

Connect Volunteers serve year-round to expand the Kingdom of God through the ministry of Operation Christmas Child. These dedicated volunteers come together around the country to serve in the specific areas of Prayer Mobilization, Church Relations, Community Relations, Media Relations, and Logistics. Opportunities are available to use your gifts in these areas. To serve as a Connect Volunteer with Operation Christmas Child, click the link and fill out the Year-Round Volunteer Interest Form 

"For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us" Romans 12:4-6

Also today pray for Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago. Suriname is on the Northeast coast of South America, between Guyana and French Guiana, north of Brazil. It has 26 people groups with 20 languages. 14% of the population is Evangelical Christian. Trinidad and Tobago are two islands off the coast of Venezuela in South America.  They have 15 people groups with 7 languages.  13% are unreached.  20% of the population is Evangelical Christian.  The nation’s racial diversity could also be considered a racial divide. Inter-ethnic harmony is hindered by racially aligned politics.  Pray that the government may be impartial and fair to all ethnic groups and that the culture of corruption and bribery would be exposed and eliminated. The Church is one of the only structures connected to every community, and therefore has enormous but unrealized potential to bridge the racial divide. Pray that churches would be instruments of reconciliation and demonstrate that all are one in Christ.
Specific requests for Suriname:
1. Pray for unity among the OCC national volunteer members and that they will be able to meet their personal ministry goals for OCC.
2. Pray for wisdom as the team develops their strategic plan.

Specifically for Trinidad and Tobago:

1. Pray against the idol worship in the country. 

2. Pray the people will seek forgiveness from God and heal the land. 

3. Pray for the spiritual growth of the prayer partner.

31 Days of Prayer for Operation Christmas Child - Day 11 and 31 Days of Prayer & Fasting for FWB Missions

Pray for Operation Christmas Child Project Leaders across the country as they involve many people in outreach through Operation Christmas Child this season. Teach your children about caring for others as the extend God’s love to a boy or girl in need.

The mission of Operation Christmas Child is to demonstrate God’s love in a tangible way to needy children around the world, and together with the local church worldwide, to share the Good News of Jesus Christ.

 As we continue 30 Days of Prayer and Fasting for FWB International Missions I want to share part of today's email:

DAY 26: Giving of Ourselves First
One essential factor in giving is the attitude with which we give. Another factor of great importance is our spiritual condition. Simply stated, if our hearts are not right with God, then what is the real value of the offering? It appears clear that offerings given unwillingly are not acceptable in the sight of God. We can also confidently say we should repent of any sin in our hearts before presenting our tithes or offerings. One other factor we need to consider is resolving any conflict between us and another believer before putting our offerings in the plate.
It seems we have almost come to the point that it doesn’t seem to matter what your heart condition might be as long as you give. Perhaps, some serious teaching needs to be done about what makes our offerings acceptable or unacceptable.
As much as we need funding, it is imperative that giving to the cause of world outreach comes from a pure and willing heart.
Amos 5:21-27, Malachi 1:9, 2 Corinthians 8:12, 13:3

Pray for a spirit of self-sacrifice among Free Will Baptists. Ask God to help each of us practice obedient giving. 

31 Days of Prayer for Operation Christmas Child - Day 10

Pray that the children and families will be encouraged by the Family Tours at the Processing Centers.

A small shoebox can have a big impact. What goes into the box is fun, but what comes out of it is eternal. Be a part of changing children's lives all over the world in Jesus' Name through the power of a simple gift with Operation Christmas Child.  As you pack your shoeboxes with gifts, here are some specific ways you can pray and encourage others to pray...

1. Toy Car – Pray for Transportation of your shoebox Gospel Opportunity: These shoeboxes have many miles to travel before they reach their destinations. “Lord, please protect these boxes and those involved with providing safe transportation.”
2. Toothbrush or Hygiene Items – Pray for the health of the child who is receiving this shoebox. “Lord, give this child good health and protection from disease and harmful conditions which may affect their well-being.” 
3. School Supplies – Pray for their education: Many children cannot go to school without the simplest of school supplies. “Anoint the school supplies that have been packed in these shoeboxes, that the children can learn and thrive as they grow to work good jobs with good wages to provide for their families.” 
4. Water Bottle, Bowl, Cup, or Spoon/Fork – Pray for their Nutritional Needs: Many children who receive shoeboxes suffer from malnutrition and hunger. “We ask you, Lord Jesus, that the physical needs of this child be met, that their food would be plentiful and nutritious, and that their bodies would be healthy and strong.” 
5. Toys/Teddy Bear/Stuffed Animal – Pray for JOY: “Dear Jesus, may these fun items bring JOY to these children. We ask that happiness and joy transfer to their families, church, and community. Let these shoebox gifts be a tangible representation of LOVE!”  
6. The Greatest Gift (it's added by Operation Christmas Child) - Pray for Spiritual Needs: “Jesus, we pray for the spiritual needs of each child. May you already be preparing their hearts to hear Your Gospel message. We ask that each and every child comes to know you in a personal way and declares you as their Lord and Savior.”  

You may also make these six gifts into prayer cards to display as an example of how donors can pray strategically for their own shoeboxes during their drop-off experience at businesses, churches and relay centers. Add the cards to the specific items using tape and place it on display for everyone to see! These are great to place in your church to encourage prayer as shoeboxes are packed and collected prior to national collection week! If you want a file of the card templates, just send me your email and I will send them to you!

31 Days of Prayer for Operation Christmas Child - Day 9

Pray for "Follow Your Box" technology to work well and be used by donors to know the destination of their gift-filled shoeboxes. 

Donate $7 online for each box you are sending and receive a tracking label. Attach the label to your shoebox, and OCC will track it and send an email about the country where your box will be delivered with the message of Christ’s love.  As you checkout, print your unique label or save it to your computer.  If you’re sending more than one girl or boy box, use the same label. Print or copy as many as you need.  Take care not to cover the barcode with tape or damage it in any way as this can affect scanning. If your label is ripped or separated from the shoebox in the packing process, it may prevent us from tracking your gift.  You will receive an email for each destination country for your shoeboxes. If your boxes go to only one country, you will only receive one email. 

http://www.samaritanspurse.org/operation-christmas-child/follow-your-box/?redir=follow-your-box-iframe

31 Days of Prayer for Operation Christmas Child - Day 8

Today join me in praying for success of the National Leadership Teams in securing donated resources, such as transportation services and warehouse space.  We need to store and ship these precious gifts!

31 Days of Prayer for Operation Christmas Child - Day 7

Today please pray for Processing Center locations to be finalized and for all needed equipment to be delivered in a timely and safe manner.  Prayer is the foundation of Operation Christmas Child and is at the center of all we do!  It is our desire for every detail of the project to be covered in prayer from start to finish.  Please make praying for OCC a priority for the next month as Satan will attack our efforts.  We are on Day 7 of our 31 days of prayer journey, but it won't end there.  We will continue to pray for OCC year-around and the power of the shoebox Gospel Opportunities.  Thank you for your faithfulness to pray for the ministry!  It is one of my passions and I love what I do, almost as much as I love being a wife, mom, and pastor's wife!

31 Days of Prayer for Operation Christmas Child - Day 6

Today pray that Operation Christmas Child will bring HOPE to the hopeless, JOY to the sorrowful, and Christ's LOVE to the lost--both to the children who receive the shoebox gifts and to their families.  What goes in the box is FUN...but what comes out is ETERNAL!!!

31 Days of Prayer for Operation Christmas Child - Day 5

Prayer Warriors, today we ask that you pray for provision of the shoebox filler items through Gift-in-Kind donations to be used in the Processing Centers. Operation Christmas Child can utilize over 8 million gifts-in-kind donations a year. These filler items are used to ensure that each shoebox is full and to replace any items that must be removed that could harm a child or damage the shoebox. These items include toys, school supplies, non-liquid hygiene items, quality crafts, clothing and accessories, and more! To donate gifts-in-kind call or visit: (855) 356-0252 occgik@samaritan.org

Also, this week we are focusing on praying for Guyana and St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Guyana is on the north coast of South America. It is 20% Evangelical Christian. It has 19 different languages with 22 different people groups. 9% of these people groups are unreached. St. Vincent and the Grenadines are windward islands located between St. Lucia and Grenada. They have 3 languages and 39% are Evangelical Christian. St Vincent is a religious country, but most are not related to God through a personal faith in Jesus Christ. There is a crisis of holiness, lack of spiritual fruit and growing apathy, especially regarding missions. Pray for revival and for restoration of a biblically-based, Spirit-led Church.

Guyana Requests:

1. Pray that all the children who start The Greatest Journey discipleship program will complete the program. 
2. Pray the children who receive Jesus will continue to attend church. 
3. Pray that churches will collect their New Testaments for graduation and will follow-up with the students after they graduate.

St. Vincent and the Grenadines Requests: 

   1.  Pray for the efforts to reach the outer islands.


Thanks for being a prayer warrior for Operation Christmas Child!

"The prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results" James 5:16

31 Days of Prayer for Operation Christmas Child - Day 4

Today pray for every domestic and international volunteer leadership team to have a full complement of Prayer Coordinators and team members to mobilize prayer as well as fervent prayer partners who diligently and faithfully lift up Operation Christmas Child and its mission year-round. 

Part of our NEA OCC Team with Alina Massey

31 Days of Prayer for Operation Christmas Child - Day 3

Today, pray for the hiring process of approximately 1,000 associate staff who will serve in the Processing Centers.  Millions of lives will be touched by shoebox gifts collected this year!  Each precious Gospel Opportunity is carefully inspected and prepared for overseas shipments at our processing centers.  Our processing centers are in Boone, Charlotte, Baltimore/Washington, Atlanta, Dallas/Fort Worth, Denver, Minneapolis, and Southern California.  

31 Days of Prayer for Operation Christmas Child - Day 2

Today pray for the success of Operation Christmas Child volunteers in their efforts to develop church, community, prayer, and media partnerships.  If you would like to volunteer for a time slot to be scheduled to pray with people as they drop off their shoeboxes during National Collection Week for an hour or two, I am working on a schedule so please let me know asap.  As millions of souls of children and their families are at stake, we know and have seen firsthand how the enemy tries to impede the plans for shoeboxes to reach their final destination.  From now until the end of National Collection Week, we ask that you join in and mobilize prayer along with all of our other prayer network partners, team members, and leaders and strategically cover our volunteers, drop-off locations, and logistics network.  Ask your church to pray for OCC.  

To volunteer with Operation Christmas Child click on the link at the top of my blog or the link below...  www.samaritanspurse.org/operation-christmas-child/volunteer-with-occ

31 Days of Prayer for Operation Christmas Child - Day 1

Today will you be an Operation Christmas Child Prayer Warrior? Pray for God to work in the hearts of the millions of children who will be receiving shoebox gifts this season, and for the millions who will continue in The Greatest Journey discipleship program.  Jesus told his followers to "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations" (Matthew 28:19).  We praise God for how he is working through TGJ to make disciples in over 100 countries!  Millions of children have already made decisions to follow Christ, have their own New Testaments to read in their own language, and know how to share the Gospel with their friends and family.  TGJ is in 66 languages so far, and Samaritan's Purse has trained over 250,000 volunteers to teach these precious lessons.  We hope to enroll 3.5 million children in the 12 lesson The Greatest Journey Discipleship program in  2016!!!!  TWO children EVERY MINUTE around the WORLD are ACCEPT JESUS as their SAVIOR through The Greatest Journey!  Pray and Praise Jesus today!!! 

30 Days of Prayer and Fasting Continues for FWB Missionaries

Today is day 13 of prayer and fasting for Free Will Baptist Missionaries and everyday the email updates have been very touching, but I wanted to share yesterday's prayer...

THEME III: PRAYING FOR GOD TO CALL MORE LABORERS

DAY 12: Responding to the Call 

When God has a task to do, He reaches down, taps one of His people on the shoulder, and asks, “How about you?” Throughout the ages, men and women of God have responded affirmatively to His calling.
Some people find themselves just a few miles from their birthplace, planting new churches; others are directed thousands of miles away, across the ocean, into areas that are often extremely resistant, sometimes violently so, to the spread of the gospel.
The common denominator in these directives is not the geographical or cultural context, but the Light being taken to those living in darkness.
A pastor visited us in Africa. After several days with the missionaries, he made this observation: “It takes a preacher to understand a preacher, and a teacher to understand a teacher, but I don’t know who can understand a missionary.”
I think maybe he was seeing something intriguingly unique about those who leave all, to give all. Our Free Will Baptist missionaries, both home and international, responded in the affirmative when God tapped them on the shoulder. They were willing to leave all, to give all. Each one needs your prayers on a daily basis.
Do you have a set of missionary prayer cards? Cards are a good way to look at a face as you pray for a missionary. You can also go online and see the different missionaries serving in North America (www.fwbnam.com) and around the world (www.fwbgo.com). Why don’t you set aside time to pray for our Free Will Baptist missionaries wherever they are serving?
Pray for commitment to fulfill His will as He leads. Pray those who have committed to missions work, both home and abroad, will continue faithfully shining the light of Christ.

Dominica and the Dominican Republic & OCC Prayer

This week will you pray with us for Dominica and the Dominican Republic in the Caribbean Sea?

Dominica is an island country in the Caribbean Sea. Its population is just over 72,000. It is a hurricane-prone, rugged, mountainous island. It has 3 languages. 16% of the population is Evangelical Christians, while 91% claims Christianity as their religion. Most are only nominally (by name only) Christian, but only a small number actively follow Christ. Pray these socially deprived people, especially the Carbi Indians, that live on an isolated reservation will find their true identity and fulfillment in Christ. They are among the last indigenous peoples in the Caribbean. Specifically, pray for Dominica as the team builds a strategy for their second year.

The Dominican Republic shares the eastern two-thirds an island with Haiti. It has 18 different people groups and only 9% are Evangelical Christians. A challenge has been retention of those converted and getting them active in a local church. Pray for retention and pray for Biblical ethics--in this society corruption, violent crime, and promiscuity are alarmingly widespread. Praise God that the number of Dominican missionaries are growing! Pray for the Dominican Republic teams as they rise to the challenge of reaching rural areas. Pray for them as they will be stretched physically, emotionally and financially as the work to reach places previously unreached with Operation Christmas Child.

OCC General Requests:

1. As we countdown to National Collection Week, we are praying and asking God to provide 10,200 Gospel Opportunities from NEA, 737,500 shoeboxes from the Mid-South Region (TN, AR, & KY), 8.6 million from the U.S., and 11 million worldwide.
2. As millions of souls of children and their families are at stake, we know and have seen firsthand how the enemy tries to impede the plans for shoeboxes to reach their final destination. From now until the end of National Collection Week, we ask that you join in and mobilize prayer for all our volunteers, drop-off locations, and logistics network. 

You can impact whole villages and communities by praying for children in over 150 countries and regions across the globe who are waiting to receive a shoebox gift.

"Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 19:14

Barbados, Belize, and OCC Prayer, Will you be the one?

This week will you join us in praying for Barbados and Belize? They are in the Caribbean Sea. Barbados has 10 different people groups and 20% are unreached. 34% of the population is Evangelical Christian! Belize is a Caribbean coastal enclave bordering Guatemala and Mexico. It has the world’s second-largest coral barrier reef. It has 14 different people groups and 7% are unreached. 19% are Evangelical Christians. HIV/AIDS is a serious threat to Belize with its 2.4% (and rising) infection rate, it is the highest in Central America. Pray for Barbados and Belize this week.

Specific requests are:
Barbados:

1. Pray for favor from the government for a successful exoneration for next year’s distribution season.

Belize:
1. Pray for God’s covering and blessing on those involved with the project.
2. Pray that leaders around the world will lead with integrity, humility, justice, and mercy.

General International Prayer Requests:

1. Wisdom to recruit, select and lead new and/or transitioning volunteer leadership team members.

2. Provision of resources to reach their God-sized goals for the current year.

OCC Mid-South Regional Prayer Request:
1. Pray for OCC events that are happening around our region.
2. Pray for good health and protection for all OCC volunteers and staff.
3. Continue to pray for all Collection and Relay Center Coordinators as they prepare for National Collection Week.
4. Pray for the Mid-South Goal of 737,500 Gospel Opportunities.
5. Please pray for the refugee crisis that is happening and for Samaritan’s Purse as we respond.

NEA OCC Requests:
1. Our 10,200 Gospel Opportunity Goal for this season!
2. For patience and wisdom during this collection season so that others may see Christ through our actions as we serve as year-around volunteers.
3. For us to be rooted and strengthened as we roll into collection season!

Did you know, in today’s world…
· 2.6 billion people lack basic sanitation?
· 1.8 billion are undernourished?
· 1.5 billion have no access to medical care?
· 1.4 billion live on less than $1.85 a day?

From a spiritual perspective, did you know…
· 2.6 billion people do not have religious freedom?
· Of the 6,468 languages spoken in the world today, 4,024 do not have a complete Bible translation?
· 22 countries absolutely forbid preaching the gospel?

Billions upon billions of people have little to no access to the saving gospel of Christ. Billions of men and women live in spiritual darkness without hope of light. Billions of boys and girls have never heard “Jesus loves me! This I know, for the Bible tells me so.”

Pray against the oppression and suppression of the gospel around the world. Ask God to help us see the lost with His eyes and feel an immense burden to share Truth with them.

Pray I will be the Light to this dark world as we pack and ship Gospel Opportunities around the world! Will you also be the one?

Al Denson sings:

"Oh sometimes it's hard to know, Who is right and what is wrong, And where are you supposed to stand, When the battle lines are drawn? There's a voice that is calling out,
For someone who's not afraid, To be a beacon in the night. To a world that's lost it's way.
There are still some battles, That I must fight from day to day, Yet the Lord provides the power, For me to stand and say, I will be the one, To answer to His call, I will stand,
When those around me fall, I will be the one, To take His light into a darkened world.
I will be the one!"

Will you be the one to answer to His call? 

Will you pray and be love on the move for Him today? 

Will you encourage someone to pack a shoebox today?

What does God desire from us?

These are not my own thoughts or words but they great not only for Free Will Baptist International Missions to consider but also for us in our daily lives...

"DAY 1: WHAT DOES GOD DESIRE FROM US? We sense we are on task at IM. Trust is up and we have great hope for the future. However, we also sense God has much more in store for Free Will Baptists than we are seeing at this time. We do not want to miss His greatest blessings by satisfying ourselves with His blessings. If we are going to know God’s best for us we must come before Him as His people and ask with specificity what He desires of us. If we are to know precisely what He wants us to know, several things must happen: We must humble ourselves before Him. We must ask Him to give us clear direction. We must discern what He desires of us. We must be committed to obeying His commands. We must obey. We must give Him the glory. With these thoughts in mind I would like to ask you to commit to 30 Days of Prayer and Fasting for the future of International Missions. I do not think for one second that Free Will Baptists or International Missions are dying. We have a task to do, and it remains before us until His return. Pray we will clearly know what God desires from us during this 30 days." I hope and pray I will always listen and obey the direction God has for the path of my life. I pray that I will clearly know what God desires of me and what His direction is for International Missions. "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope." Jeremiah 29:11