Archive for October, 2009
Watchmen on the Walls
Tuesday, October 13th, 2009
We have begun to get commitments for prayer “watches” in the Prayer Room or in the “virtual” (anywhere on campus or around the world) prayer room. A master calendar will eventually be posted on the web. Last Wednesday students prepared to lead worship times throughout the week and others signed up to assist with sound, video, or other ways of serving in this ministry to the Lord. This is open to anyone. We will provide training and support.
I would encourage anyone who would like to lead a prayer session - perhaps on a theme (justice for children and the unborn, a certain area of the world, the church in the Twin Cities, unsaved family, etc…) to contact us about serving around that issue. Some may want a quieter environment (sometimes just to think clearly) while others a certain type of music (i.e. hymns). We will be developing the calendar with these times of alternative worship settings.
Prayer requests will be posted in the prayer room and eventually will be available via email blasts or on a prayer chat room. This week has seen a number of prayer requests that have required immediate prayer-visa problems for missionaries, police raiding a gathering of believers in Asia, earthquake damage of the homes of Christian workers, and health issues. One missionary shared how much they desired the prayers of believers.
You can communicate with the prayer support office at: bethanyprayer@gmail.com
Thanks for standing firm in the Lord. Our individual and corporate “fight” is not against flesh and blood, but against spiritual forces resistant to God’s people and God’s reign. Praise God for His victory through Christ Jesus and the power of His blood and cross.
Area Coordinators Meet and the Philippines Flood
We held the BIM Area Coordinator Retreat on Bethany’s campus October 6-9. Meetings included discussion, planning, and prayer. Four coordinators were on campus and we used Skype to include others from the field.
A week ago, Manila was hit hard by a typhoon with heavy rains which dumped
one month’s worth of rain on the city in about six hours (13″-14″). Estimated reports are that 500,000 people have been displaced (left homeless) as a result of the destruction from floods (at one time 80% of Manila was said to be covered with flood waters). Alberta K., one of our missionaries who is a nurse, is assisting with medical care to those injured which includes a large number of people with injuries to their feet from wading through flood waters. Alberta says that the devastation reminds her of the destruction in Aceh, Indonesia following the tsunami. Alberta and and her daughter were safe during the storm, though they each had to “ride out” the storm in different parts of Manila since they weren’t home when it hit hard. Steve K. is in the US to attend a “Pastor to Missionaries” conference as well as the Area Coordinator Retreat. The “K’s” are okay, but clean water is difficult to find. Pray for those suffering from tremendous loss in Manila and for Alberta and others as they provide medical treatment and cleanup assistance.
Our newest Global interns have recently arrived on the field. These are our Associate Interns, who serve for four months. We have two locations for these interns: Alycia B., Jessica B., Katelyn B., and Ruthy G. are in Birmingham, England, and Andrea P. and Naomi H. are in Vienna, Austria.
Preparations are underway for the Candidacy/Furlough Seminar October 19-30. Please pray for the final details being worked out.
Going to Kenya
This week at STEM we’ve been working on preliminary logistics for a short-term team to Kenya. The team will spend most of their time with Bethany workers and interns in that nation. This is yet another step towards incorporating STEM with Bethany and we are thrilled seeing the possibilities.
Praying
Tuesday, October 6th, 2009
A week ago in our Team Bethany Chapel I laid out the basics of our Bethany Prayer Room vision. The Prayer Room is a place where we can corporately grow in a lifestyle of intimacy with and love for God. It is out of this that all other service flows; seeing God’s purposes established on the earth, “living with eternity’s values in view,” preparing God’s people for Jesus return, and sending workers into God’s harvest field.
On Monday I met with the team serving the Bethany Prayer Room ministry. They put together first steps for raising up “watchmen” who join together for 24/7 worship and prayer. There is now a schedule online.
Dave Horsman and the team presented six different opportunities for students to get involved-worship set leader, audio helper, prayer leader, video tech, etc. You, too, can join in. This is open to anyone who desires to volunteer and engage in prayer, worship, and intercession. We have really wanted to keep it easy for you to get involved.
What does this mean to post watchmen on our walls? This is an invitation for you to join The Bethany Prayer Room on campus and wherever you are in the world to provide a 24/7 base of watches - committing to take a 1-2 hour watch (or as many as you’d like) anytime day or night, every week.
Here is how you can get involved in establishing the “Watchmen on the Wall” framework:
1. Commit to specific times when you will come before the Lord (primarily within the Bethany Prayer Room, but not exclusively).
2. Establish and/or join a gathering of believers for prayer and intercession throughout the Bethany world, on campus, and/or in the Bethany Prayer Room.
To get involved in a Prayer Watch, please email our prayer team at: bethanyprayer@gmail.com. We will post your Prayer Watch. - Dan Brokke
“I have posted watchmen on your walls, O Jerusalem; they will never be silent day or night. You who call on the Lord, give yourselves no rest, and give him no rest till He establishes Jerusalem and makes her the praise of the earth.” - Isaiah 62:6-7
