Together We Can Pray for Changed Lives, Caring People . . .

"If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land"(2 Chron. 7:14, NIV).

Sunday
"I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts, through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power together with all the saints to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge-that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God" (Eph. 3:16-19, NIV).

Pray for the ministry of the churches within the association.
1. Pray that God would be honored and glorified in all that each church and each member does. 2. Pray that Christ would dwell in our hearts and that lives would be changed. 3. Pray for the unity of the believers. 4. Pray for the effectiveness of each church's ministry in our community. 5. Pray that each church will have a positive image in the community.

Monday
"Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, 'The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field'" (Matt. 9:35-38, NIV).

Pray for our community-our Jerusalem.
1. Pray that the members of our churches will be moved with compassion and conviction to reach out to the people within our community. 2. Pray that those who are lost will be receptive to the gospel message. 3. Pray that Satan will not have power over our witness. 4. Pray that our churches will gain the favor of all people within our community, like the early church did in Acts 2. 5. Pray that many wonders and miraculous signs will be done and that people will be filled with awe (see Acts 2). 6. Pray that our community will know that we are Christians by our love.

Tuesday
"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth"(Acts 1:8, NIV).

Pray for our partnerships-our Judea, Samaria, and the uttermost parts of the world.
1. Pray that God will give us wisdom in partnering with other mission fields. 2. Pray for our state missionaries and partners. 3. Pray for our North American Mission Board missionaries and partners. 4. Pray for our International Mission Board missionaries and partners. 5. Pray that God guide our partners and that we will have cooperative spirits. 6. Pray for a kingdom mindset.

Wednesday
"I will give you shepherds after my own heart who will feed you with knowledge and understanding" (Jer. 3:15, RSV).
"Surely the Lord God does nothing, without revealing his secret to his servants the prophets" (Amos 3:7, RSV).

Pray for our director of missions.
1. Pray for him to be the spiritual leader that God has called him to be. 2. Pray that God will reveal a vision for the ministry to him, and will give him a passion for reaching and ministering to those in our community. 3. Pray that he will be able to put first things first-to set priorities for each day. 4. Pray that he will have wisdom and understanding. 5. Pray that he will act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with God (see Mic. 6:8). 6. Pray that he and his family will have quality time together. 7. Pray for his physical and spiritual protection.

Thursday
"Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of the truth" (2 Tim. 2:15, NIV).

Pray for the staff of the association.
1. Pray that each staff member will have wisdom and understand his calling to the position. 2. Pray the staff will be encouragers to each other and to their churches. 3. Pray for the unity of the staff. 4. Pray that each staff person's ministries will be a blessing to others and will expand. 5. Pray for the health of the staff. 6. Pray for the families of the staff and that they will have quality time together. 7. Pray that they will have a quality quiet time each day with the Father.

Friday
"So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God" (1 Corinthians 10:31, NIV).

Pray for the corporate ministries and work of the association.
1. Pray for each of the community and social ministries of the association. 2. Pray for the training, mentoring, and coaching in the association. 3. Pray for cooperation among the churches. 4. Pray that God would bless and expand the ministry of the association. 5. Pray that each ministry would be bathed in prayer. 6. Pray that the work will yield results. 7. Pray that all glory and honor will be given to God for whatever is accomplished.

Saturday
"I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow"(1 Corinthians 3:6, NIV).

Pray for new churches.
1. Pray that God will reveal where a new church is needed. 2. Pray that our churches will support starting new churches. 3. Pray that the necessary resources will be provided for new work. 4. Pray that God will provide the right leadership to guide the new work. 5. Pray that the new churches will reach lost people and show them how to be fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ.

Sunday
"'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future" (Jer. 29:11, NIV).

Pray for the future of the associations.
1. Pray that God will reveal His vision for the future direction of the association. 2. Pray that our leaders will capture the vision through the development of excellent plans. 3. Pray for the implementation of new plans. 4. Pray that the association would prosper. 5. Pray that there would be changed lives and caring people.

The Strawberry Baptist Association is a partnership of local, self-governing, Southern Baptist churches that have chosen to align together to reach and minister effectively within their community. During some of the darkest hours of our nation (the events of September 11, threats of terrorism, and the rising questioning of the morality of church leaders), we need, more than ever, the local associations of churches to band together to pray for their communities and associational ministries. It will take the combined efforts of local, caring churches to change lives, demonstrate love and concern for people, and help restore hope and trust in God. Together we can make a difference. Together we can help heal the broken-hearted. Together, through prayer, we can see changed lives and caring people.

Strawberry Baptist Association...

Together we are making a difference in the lives of folks in our area who need to learn English as a second language.

Together we are helping to heal the broken-hearted as we support the work of Bedford Domestic Violence Services and the Bedford Jail Ministry.

Together we are changing our world through the new church start in Forest, through partnership missions overseas and in the United States, and through Internet Evangelism.

This year's Associational Missions Offering will be used to support the ongoing ministries of Strawberry Baptist Association.

Promotional materials and offering envelopes have been distributed to our churches.