40 Days of Prayer Fasting and Action

“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favour.”
(Luke 4:18-19)

Church Leadership and those serving the church

·     Church life is at its best when every member is involved (1 Corinth 12:12-21).  Please pray that Hope Church will be a church like this and prayerfully consider how you could get involved where you are not.

·     Praise God for every person He has blessed the church with and that they fill the roles He made them for.

·     But a church also requires leadership. (Heb 13:17).  Praise God for Bryony and Kevin and all the work they do in leading Hope.  Pray for them for strength, wisdom, patience and continued enthusiasm.

·     Pray also for the leadership of Salt & Light (the family of churches we are part of) and in particular for Andy Barclay-Watt and Nick Matthews from SMCF who are actively involved in supporting Hope Church.
                                                       

Toybox

Toybox is a charity which works with children in Latin America, who are living on the streets, hoping to turn their lives around for the better.

·     Praise God for Toybox's new office and ask that he will bless them in this move.

·     Praise God for all the work that so many committed staff accross latin America do.

·     Pray for children supported by the charity in Guatemala; a country described as 'a paradise for organised crime'.  Pray for the International Commission against impunity in Guatemala, and for peace in the futures of the children in the country.

·     Pray for Valle Homoso (beautiful Valley) in Bolivia which is a new home set up for orphaned or abandoned children.  Pray that children's lives will be turned around for the better.

Action

·          Have you every considered sponsoring a child?  Toybox give a fantastic opportunity to do this. Check out the website (www.toybox.org) for more on this and other praying/giving/fundraising challenges.

Eithinog

Eithinog is the residential area around Ysgol Friars. 

• Praise God for the friendships with members of the Eithinog community that were formed during Engage 07. Pray that these friendships may be maintained or renewed.

• Pray for the planning that goes into Engage 08 (2nd -8th June). Pray that as a church we can think of ways to bless the community even more than last year.

• Pray for ideas as to how as a church we can be a mid-weekly presence in Eithinog and bless the community.

• Pray that the residents will become increasingly aware of Hope Church and the love that God has for them.

Tearfund

Tearfund is a Christian organisation that is passionate about the local church bringing justice and transforming lives by overcoming global poverty. Their ten-year vision iso see 50 million people released from material and spiritual poverty through a worldwide network of 100,000 local churches . Visit www.tearfund.org for more information.

James 1:27 "Religion that God our father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world."

• Praise God for Tearfund's work in reducing global poverty, increasing awareness of it and spreading the Good news.

• Pray that Christians around the world will become passionate about seeing poverty disappear and will commit to praying for change and taking action.

• Pray that Tearfund will be bold in speaking the truth in love about poverty and not be in fear of losing the supprt of Christians who focus more on the wealthy than the values of the Kingdom of God.

Action

• Take some time out on Wednesday morning to go prayer walking around Eithinog. Meet at 9am at Ffridd/Belmont Rd junction.

• Visit www.tearfund.org to find out about the many campaigns run by Tearfund and prayerfully consider which ones God wants you to get involved with.

• As Tearfund commit to do their part to reduce carbon emmisions worldwide visit www.tearfund.org/carbonfast to see what simple things you can do to help.

•     If you want to get more involved with the work in Eithinog and/or you have ideas about how to do this then please speak to Carolyn

Students, Youth and University

God’s promise for the Youth: “Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” Isaiah 40:30-31.

·     Pray that the Christian students would be diligent and hard working in their work and in

·     that way carry a good witness.

·     Pray that the Christian students would be eager learners of the Word of God (2 Tim. 4:13, Paul longed to study God’s Word even in prison!).

·     Pray for the Christian students’ uncompromising godly life style and boldness to testify of their faith to their fellow students.

·     Please pray that God would raise up a young generation of lovers and worshippers of God.

·     Pray for the youth of the church to be strengthened and expanded. Pray also for the youth group leaders.

·     Pray for the Christian witness in all departments of Bangor University among the staff and students.

·     Pray for the University’s Christian Union as the new committee has recently stepped in; pray for a fresh vision and the members’ commitment to their tasks and each others.

Operation Mobilisation (OM)

OM is an international missions organisation which is committed to mobilising people into world missions. They focus on the least evangelised people groups and provide many service opportunities for young people especially. Visit their web site for more information about the missions opportunities and for news updates and prayer point at http://www.uk.om.org./

God’s promise for the world missions: “All the nations you have made will come and worship before you, O Lord; they will bring glory to your name.” Psalm 86:9  (See also, Isaiah 66:19, John 10:16, Revelation 5:9.)

Action:

-     If you have passed ‘a college age’ maybe you can re-connect with some of your college friends and share about your present life. This would be especially amazing if you did not know the Lord at that time yet, how great news you would have to share!

-     Have a look at the OM web site prayfully and wait on God and let him work in your heart in the ways he wants to.

-     Make contact with the missionaries you used to support or be in touch with. Maybe you could send them something as simple as a postcard and tell them that you are praying for them (and don’t forget to pray either!). If you don’t know any missionaries have a look at the missions organisations web sites and look for missionaries’ profiles and get in touch with one!

• Please pray for wisdom for MPs when voting on the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill.  Pray that the lives of unborn children are protected.
• Please pray for those facing unplanned pregnancies, that God will guide them and that they will see alternatives to terminating the pregnancy. 
• Pray for Christian pregnancy advice centres and counselling services for those who face unplanned pregnancies, or who may have gone through the pain of an abortion. 

• Pray for families - that they will be blessed with safe, loving homes without fear.  Where there are difficulties, pray for God to bring healing, restoration and stability.
• Pray for the schools - for godly teachers and all those involved in making decisions that affect our schools and children’s education. 
• Pray that prayer networks be set up to continue praying for our local schools. 
• Pray for Carolyn and Hannah on Wednesday as they do an assembly at Ysgol Hirael.
• Pray for Carolyn, Sam and team for wisdom, strength and joy in leading the youth.
• Pray for Laura and the children’s team as they faithfully teach God’s love to Frog Squad. 
• Pray for the future - that our children would not fall into drug or alcohol abuse, crime or any other destructive way of life and protect them from evil and ungodly influences.
• Pray that they will seek God and His guidance when facing difficult times.
• Pray that they would have purpose and passion for life and grow spiritually.

Care for the Family – www.careforthefamily.org.uk:

Care for the Family is a Christian organisation that supports and encourages families in the UK.  They organise family building events of all types to help and support all the different types of families, including stepfamilies, bereaved parents, and those parenting alone.  They are involved in supporting families through all the issues above, but also pray to support their specific projects.

ACTION:

• ·Write to your MP regarding the Human Fertilisation & Embryology Bill.
• Consider and get involved in ways in which Hope church can evangelise the young people in the surrounding community, eg: Engage.
•  Start a prayer network for your local school and contact the Head Teacher to offer to pray for the school and any issues they may have.

Week 2: 17-23 February

Church Unity and Students in Bangor

Church Unity:

What does it look like?  Acts 2:42 – “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.”

 How do we do it?  Ephesians 4:2+3 – “Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.”

 Why do we want it?  Revelation 3: 15+16 – “I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm – neither hot nor cold– I am about to spit you out of my mouth.”

 See also - Psalm 133

 Pray for Acts 2:42-47 to be a description of Hope Church

• Pray that we won’t be lukewarm, that the whole of Hope Church will be filled with the Holy Spirit
• Pray that all will see their gifts realised and will use them for the good of the church.
• Pray that the life of the church won’t revolve around Sunday mornings – “for where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them”

 Students:

• Please pray for Fusion, a Hope-supported charity that aims to reach every student in Higher and Further Education with the gospel message.
• Pray that the Holy Spirit will strengthen the training that Fusion and UCCF offer to Christian Unions and cell groups across the country
• Pray that students everywhere will hear the gospel and find a group to be part of
• Pray that Christian Unions will offer the spark of revival in towns and cities

 ACTION:

• For more prayer ideas see www.fusioncells.net or www.uccf.org.uk
• THIS WEDNESDAY we will be meeting together in 2s, 3s or 4s from 12pm to 12am to pray together for the church – please sign up!

Week 1: 10 - 16 February

Going deeper with God and Christian Solidarity Worldwide

Seeking God:

Is 55:6 - Seek the LORD while he may be found; call on him while he is near.

• Spend some time each day meditating on the verse above.
• Ask the Lord to reveal what hinders us from getting close to him and then leave them at the foot of the cross.
• Pray for a heart of discipline to help us to seek him and pray over the next 40 days.

 The Persecuted Church:

• Pray for families left behind when family members have been killed or imprisoned (Deut 10:18, James 1:27)
• Pray for at least 2,000 Christians and thousands of political prisoners detained in appalling conditions and without trial for their beliefs in Eritrea. Pray for compassion from the warders and an end to torture, as well as swift release.
• Pray for young Christians in Nigeria who are at risk from abduction. Ask God to protect these young people and their families. Ask God to be very near to parents who do not know the whereabouts of their children.
• Pray for the government of Uzbekistan, and in particular, President Islam Karimov, asking that he would not see religion as a threat and would restore social, political, media and religious freedom to his people.

 
ACTION:

• For more prayer ideas see www.csw.org.uk (Christian Solidarity Worldwide)
• NEXT WEEK we will hold a special offering for CSW and their work with the persecuted church.
• If this topic has stirred you, you could help us promote these issues more regularly in the church (speak to Bryony).