PRAYING FOR MESSIAH IN THE FALL

Dear Friends,

It is the middle of the summer and it almost feels wrong to even talk about September to December. So please forgive me for turning your mind away from holidays and summer time in Ottawa. All I ask for is that you will begin to pray for Messiah and the Fall. It is a good time to pray, and if the Lord leads you, feel free to contact Daniel, Jen, Council members, or me to share your best wisdom.

Looking Up

We all know the uncertainty of planning in 2021. We do not know the pace of reopening, or if there will be setbacks to reopening, or how long it will take individuals and institutions to feel comfortable with reopening. However, we do know the Triune God, who is sovereign, wise, and knows the future. So we can and should pray for His wisdom and His leading.

The basic and big prayer is that we will seek to know His will for us; seek to bring Him glory; seek to do His will His way; looking not at our own resources but Him; trusting that He will provide. Please pray along that line for us all the time. It might be that what I share is not what He wills - pray that I, and all of the leadership, will only want what He wills. It does not matter if some of what I share does not come to pass, and much that I do not suggest does come to pass - as long as it is His will for us and brings Him glory.

Looking Out

First, pray that we will know the right date, place, and time to launch Messiah Kanata. Pray that 30 people will step up to lead the launch; 30 more people will commit to attend the church; and that 30 new evangelistic conversations will begin.

Second, for over 20 years we have had some form of ministry to students at U of O. COVID lockdowns have brought our last version to an end. It is hard for me to believe that the Lord would have us worship on a Sunday morning just blocks from the University of Ottawa, and for it not be His will for us to reach out to the Christian and non-Christian students and faculty. Please pray that the Lord will guide and provide for this. For now, I am calling the ministry Campus Bible Studies (this is the name of a very successful University Student ministry in New South Wales, Australia). The name may change, but the call remains.

Third, there are a large number of new Canadians in Ottawa. For many of these people, they are having to learn English, often as their third or fourth language. One way that we can help is to provide a ministry that helps new Canadians read and speak English better. In small groups, with tea, coffee and cookies provided, people can practice reading and speaking as we provide encouraging help in grammar and pronunciation. Many new Canadians are curious about Christianity, so we could use a simple version of one of the Gospels as the text. Please pray that the Lord will guide and provide.

Fourth, we live amidst the shards and ruins of Christendom. As Christendom recedes, Christians will need more and more help thinking through how to live as a Christian in government, private enterprise, and the arts. Christians need to learn how to live with godly biblical integrity, while working for the good of the city and the glory of God. Please pray that the Lord will guide and provide for such a ministry. In my own prayers, I play around with the name City Bible Forum (the name of a successful ministry in Australia) or the Public Christian Ministry. The name may change, but the need will only get greater.

Looking In and Out

This potentially refers to all of our ministries, since all our ministries should benefit those who call Messiah their church home and those "outside" our community. However, some ministries are more outer focused, some more inner focussed, and some have the potential to be equally both. Each of the ministries listed below have a natural potential to reach out beyond Messiah.

First, pray that we grow a "University, College, and Careers Ministry." This will be a ministry for those between 18 and 30 (give or take).

Second, pray that the Lord will raise up a new Youth Group leader (or leaders) to lead and grow the Youth Group.

Third, pray that we will learn how to be three congregations and one church (8am, 10am, and online) - and that in the Fall when we add Kanata - four congregations, but one church.

Looking In

First, pray that the Lord will guide and provide in a timely manner for the rebooting of nursery care and Sunday School on Sunday morning. We were able to pivot quickly throughout the pandemic when it came to Sunday morning worship. These two important ministries are hard to pivot quickly. Please pray.

Second, pray that the number of small groups will grow in the Fall, and that the Lord will provide good leaders and locations.

Third, pray that we will grow and develop our new lay deacons ministry. This is a ministry of prayer and care for those who call Messiah their church home.

Fourth, pray that the Lord will raise up members of Messiah to step into these roles of service and leadership.

Looking Up

As Hudson Taylor famously said, "When we work, we work. When we pray, God works." Please pray. Please share your best wisdom. "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened." Matthew 6:33; 7:7-8. NIV

George+