Updates and Requests for the Prayer Team

This has been an intense and special week in our ministry.  

Every few months, NAMB has an “at home” week.  Originally, it was  every month and used to encourage staff to not travel that week….to stay at home and meet together.  Now, because we have reduced our staff and are pushing our resources to the front line, the “at home” week takes a little different focus.  We do call off all travel and stay home—but different regional staff, city coordinators and other field leaders come to GA so that we can learn what God is doing and align our ministries to be more effective. 

This week was a great time to hear from our Send Cities, to meet with Regional VPs, etc.  I have been asked to provide interim leadership to our Evangelism Group—so in addition to meeting with the NAMB Sr. Leadership Team, I used this week to meet with the leaders in our Evangelism Group.

This may be more information than you want—but I wanted to give context to these prayer requests.

1.  Pray for Jerry Daniel as he assumes a new role as Team Leader for LoveLoud.  I will continue as Exec Dir of LoveLoud.  Here’s how it works:  I dream it and Jerry helps me do it!  His gifts are very different than mine and we work well together as a team.

2. Pray for God to give me wisdom in this interim role as VP for Evangelism.

3.  Pray for Pastor Taylor Field, and Graffiti Church  (NYC) as he helps our LoveLoud Team look for ways to multiply churches like Graffiti in our Send Cities.           

 see:  http://www.graffitichurch.org/  and http://www.namb.net/cities  

4.  Pray for Chet Cantrell, and the C.A.C in East St. Louis, as Chet expands his ministry center and looks for ways to help us multiply ministries like the C.A.C. in our Send Cities.        

see:   http://www.cacesl.org/   and   http://www.namb.net/cities 

5.  Pray for us as we travel to  Chicago this week for our NAMB Board meeting.  KK and I will visit with area ministries then work with Trustees–  we continue to look for the best ways to penetrate lostness in North America.  

Pray for Chicago?  click here for today’s NAMB blog on Chicago

 

 

Updates

NYC

Our time in NYC was very profitable.  We were able to visit all 4 sites of the Graffiti Church and learn how God is working through their ministry.  We are prayerfully working on ways to multiply their vision in other cities.

Request:  Pray for direction, relationships and wisdom from above.  James 3:17

At Home Week (NAMB)

Every couple of months we dedicate a week to bring people in from the field and spend time evaluating our ministries and making plans for the future.  This is at home week and I have been in meetings with our Regional VPs and City Coordinators from our Send Cities. http://www.namb.net/cities/

Request: I have been asked to provide interim leadership for our Evangelism Group since Larry Wynn, VP for Evangelism, left NAMB to join the staff of GA Baptist Convention.  Again, I ask for wisdom from above.

Chicago

Next week we head to Chicago for NAMB’s fall trustee meeting.  After a vision tour on Monday afternoon, we will have a Regional Celebration Dinner Monday night.  Tuesday and Wednesday is a time for staff and Trustees to conduct our fall business.

Prayer Update 09.21.12

Katy made it home.  Had some problems with her flight in London and was re-routed to DFW and then ATL…and her suitcase didn’t make it…but she’s fine and resting….and we’re catching up.

Yesterday afternoon I drove to Spartanburg, SC for a Leadership Conference.  FBC North Spartanburg, led by Pastor Mike Hamlet, has called leaders together for a Friday night/Saturday morning prayer time.  We are seeking God together as they prepare to implement some new directions for their ministry.  We sensed the hand of God at work last night and I am anticipating a great morning.

We’re going to look at James 4:5-8;  2 Kings 18:4 with Jn. 3:14-15; John 15;  and  2 Cor. 5:16-21

Will you pray for us?

 

Prayer Update (and Requests)

September has been exciting and challenging.  We have seen God at work and want to thank you for your partnership in prayer. 

We take your prayer partnership seriously.  Paul told the Romans that they were his co-laborers as he called them to “strive together” (together-agonize) with him in their prayers.

“….strive together with me in your prayer…” (Rom 15.30)

Last Sunday, at FBC Roanoke, the hand of God was on the service.  My heart was over-flowing as people responded to the message and knelt at the front to pray.  It was clear that God was at work—I know you prayed.

This has been a special week meeting with friends and co-workers in Tennessee.  Most of the week has been in Nashville but yesterday I visited the campus of Union University (Jackson, TN) and talked about how God is moving in Memphis, Jackson and Nashville, TN.  Pray for my colleague (Shane Critzer) who will be speaking on campus today and tomorrow.

Today I will be with the National SBC African-American Fellowship and then hurry back to ATL to meet Katy as she arrives from the Middle East tonight.

 Please pray for this weekend.  I am going to FBC North Spartanburg to spend Friday night and Saturday morning with their church leaders.  Their pastor (Mike Hamlet) has asked me to spend a few hours helping church leaders seek God together and pray for personal revival. We will be looking at what the Scripture says about Hungering and Thirsting for God.

 Preparing for this time has been weighty!  Will you pray for us?

” …you help us by your prayers. …

many will give thanks on our behalf

for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many.”  

(2 Cor. 1:11)

September Prayer Calendar

September is filled with challenges and opportunities.  We appreciate your prayer support as we hit the road.

• This week–Alabama Baptists: meet with Evangelism leadership as we prepare for a special ministry evangelism emphasis.
• IMB:  Gordon Fort invited me to IMB’s Emeriti week.  This event, for retired missionaries, takes place every five years.  Over 1000 missionaries will be there….and we will talk about how their ministry experience can impact North America.
• Together for Adoption (T4A):  the 2012 Annual Conference (in Atlanta where we will hosts a SBC breakout session. (09.14-09.15)
• FBC Roanoke:  Preach for morning services (Sept 16^th)
• SBC Executive Committee: (Nashville) Sept 17^th-18^th
• Union University (Jackson, TN)  Sept 19^th
• African American Fellowship (Nashville) Sept 20th
• FBC Spartanburg, SC  (leadership retreat) Sept 21-22
• Graffiti Church, (NYC)  Sept 25^th
• 10 City Coalition (NYC) Sept 26^th
• Movement Day (NYC) Sept 27^th
• Graffiti Church (NYC) September 28^th
• Jackson, GA:  Reunion and Preach at Home church (FBC Jackson) September 30^th

Thanks for your prayer support.  Would not want to try it without you!

August–Prayer Updates

We walked in confidence as you prayed for us and God put His light on the path–step by step.

God blessed our time in Denver.  We were encouraged by the people at the Riverside Church and the bonus days in the Rockies were fabulous!

KK always chooses time looking at God’s handiwork over any fancy place I could take her!  We don’t feel good about leaving Big D alone for very long.  But, we arranged some things for him and stretched this trip into 4 days and 3 nights away.  It was great!

My time in the Raleigh area went well.  I spent one day visiting with friends discussing how Business and Professional Networks can play a big role in transforming North American Cities.  That night, my co-worker (Sam) and I shared a meal with 8 seminary students and were encouraged by friends and met some new friends.

Being on the campus of Southeastern Seminary  is always special to me.  I remember going there 20 years ago to teach classes and challenge students to engage their churches in missions.  Later, two of our daughters finished their undergraduate degrees at Southeastern.  Today I am honored that Danny Akin, and many of the professors, are my friends.  It was exciting to preach at the opening missions chapel.

Immediately, I left Raleigh for a couple of days in Houston.  We talked about the existing ministries in Houston and spent time praying for the SBC that will be there next summer.  We dreamed of ways Southern Baptists might use their time in Houston to LoveLoud and serve the city.  We pray that God’s love will be demonstrated in word and deed when we arrive next June!

Finally, KK has spent a couple of weeks loving on Cari and her son Timothy.  Timothy had emergency brain surgery after a fall on August 18th.  KK spent a week in Nashville–in the hospital room with Cari and Timmy.  As a part of his recovery process, Timmy was transferred to Children’s Hospital (here in Atlanta) for physical therapy.  KK has been able to spend some time with Cari every day…loving on Timmy and serving Cari.

You can read about Timmy’s progress on CaringBridge.

September promises to be an exciting month with many opportunities.  I will list the prayer requests soon but it didn’t seem right to move on without giving you this update and saying a BIG THANKS to all of you who are on our Prayer Team.

 

Thanks for prayer support–as we go!

KK jumped in the car today to go to Nashville to help our friend Cari.  Cari has a special place in our heart and her special-needs son Timothy had an accident requiring surgery…and he’s in ICU. KK is helping Cari at the hospital and will be helping with the other kids as well. Pray for Cari and Brian and Timmy (and the 4 other kids).    for updates on Timmy click here

I’m packing for my trip to RDU and Houston. Here’s the schedule:

• Meeting with Business and Professional Network leaders on Tuesday
• Meeting with Seminary students for dinner Tuesday night
• Preaching at Southeastern Seminary’s chapel on Wednesday
• Flying to Houston for meeting Wednesday night
• Meetings all day Thursday and flying home late Thursday night

A couple of more things.  

Kevin Ezell’s father-in-law is near death.  If you don’t recognize his name, Kevin is President at NAMB.  Join me in praying for Kevin’s wife Lynette and all of her family.  

Big D (KK’s 89 yr old father) will be home alone for two nights.  He should be fine but we are always thinking of him in situations like this when we are both gone.

Thanks.  It’s hard to explain how much we need you prayer and how much we see God move when you pray.  

We really need our prayer partners!