World Week of Prayer

Sunday, May 3

Africa Region

CÔTE D’IVOIRE

• FATEAC (La Faculté de Théologie Evangélique de l’Alliance Chrétienne) in Abidjan—Pray for stamina and perseverance for students who are studying for finals as well as those who are finishing their theses and preparing for oral exams. Pray that God will provide for students who are struggling to meet basic needs. Pray for the Livingstons and the Cooks as they finish classes this semester. Pray for the Harrisons who are serving as Missionaries in Residence at Simpson College this coming school year.

GABON

• Praise God that Bongolo Hospital has finally received permission to obtain the antiretroviral medications necessary to treat HIV positive adults and children, as well as pregnant women. Pray for staff members who are responsible for counseling, laboratory tests, treatment follow-up, and support. Pray that the Lord Jesus will be glorified through the ministry of the hospital.

GUINEA

• Pray for the president of the Guinean national church, Dr. Samuel Kamano, who faces many challenges. Pray that he will inspire godliness, integrity, and holiness among Alliance church members. Pray for the physical safety of his family and for wisdom and spiritual strength. Pray for an extra sense of peace and assurance that God is protecting and guiding him.
• Pray for stability and peace during the current political transition taking place in Guinea.
• Pray that God will provide land for Alliance workers who are seeking to build a youth center in the capital city of Conakry.

MALI

• Pray for the director and staff of Koutiala Hospital for Women and Children as they provide medical care for numerous women, deliver many babies, and share the good news of Jesus Christ. Pray for the chaplains who present the gospel every day.
• Pray for the nine FM radio stations that are sharing God’s Word throughout Mali.
• Pray for God’s anointing on ministries and outreaches among the unreached and least reached of Mali. Pray for new believers among the Bozo and Gana peoples of Mali. Pray for the national missionaries who are ministering to these needy groups.

REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO

• Pray for Dave and Teresa Bill as they move to the northern town of Ollombo to nurture church-planting efforts. They will be developing a model for planting churches throughout the unreached areas of the country.
• Pray for the team involved in leadership training through two Bible school campuses and Theological Education by Extension. Pray that the team will equip leaders for multiplying Great Commission churches.

Senegal

• Pray for four young families that are learning the French and Wolof languages and culture so that they can reach the resistant Wolof people of Senegal (Babyaks, Snowdons, Davises, and Stephens). Pray for unity as a team.
• Pray as Wes and Cori Nevius and Elin and Joel Bubna join forces in Dakar this coming summer in reaching urban professionals for Christ.
• Pray for the Conkles as they provide leadership to this new Alliance field and as they seek to connect churches in the United States with ministry opportunities in Senegal.

Monday, May 4

Asia/Pacific Region

Cambodia

• Pray for The Elim Center, a ministry started in 2008 and jointly led by the mission and the Khmer Evangelical Church (C&MA) to train church leaders in a residential program for ministry in the rural context.
• Pray for continued good, close relationships between the Cambodian church and the mission amid transition.
• Pray for the Kuy people of northern Cambodia who have begun to respond to the gospel. Pray that the first 13 who were baptized will be the foundation for an even greater harvest.

Indonesia

• Pray for a mighty outpouring of God’s power on the church for repentance and holy living.
• The Indonesia field is renewing the three-year work permit process to obtain visas for all field staff. Pray that the process will go smoothly and that an increased number of visa slots will be granted.

Taiwan

• Pray for Rev. Silas Yang who was elected to serve as chairman of the Taiwan Alliance Church Union.
• Pray for the Taiwan Alliance Theological College as it seeks God’s wisdom in light of a decline in registration.
• Pray for people in Yunlin to come to Christ and be baptized and that Alliance workers will be ready to disciple new believers.

Thailand

• Praise God for His work among the Isaan people of northeast Thailand. At a recent Bible study in the region, everyone in attendance made decisions to follow Jesus. The study was taught by Montri and EQ, two former prisoners who had received Christ through the ministry of TEAM Isaan, an Alliance church-planting initiative that includes Jim and Kathy Sappia, Jon and Joy Chase, Stacy Maikkula, and Deb Holonitch.
• Pray that God will raise up more Christian leaders through those coming to Christ both inside and outside the prisons. Pray for TEAM Isaan members as they pastor and train these new leaders.

China Ministries

• Pray for the millions of migrant workers who have lost their jobs due to factories that have closed. May this be an opportunity for them to come to know the only One who can give them hope.
• Pray for the huge need for church pastors who will help believers grow spiritually. Most churches are led by laypeople with minimal training.

Tuesday, May 5

Europe/Middle-East Region

The Balkans

• Kosovo—Pray that God will raise up leaders for the growing Resurrection Church. Pray for God’s blessing on ENTRUST, a national women’s discipleship program established through the national church and led by Alliance workers. The Resurrection Center needs additional space for the many activities there. Pray for God’s direction, provision, and timing in finding a new location.
• Bosnia Herzegovina—Pray for creativity for Alliance international workers and Bosnians as they share Christ with lost people.

France

• Pray for wisdom and discernment as Trinity International Church in Paris seeks a lead pastoral couple.

Germany/Berlin

• Pray for the Open Door Church as it seeks a German pastor and begins to transition toward becoming a self-sustaining church. Pray that God will direct church members as they reach out to the community.
• Pray for Freischwimmer, a new German-led church plant in Mitte. Pray that leaders and members of the core group will remain focused and have clear guidance and understanding about the Lord’s desires for the project.
• Pray for the Berlin International Church as it provides follow-up in the lives of the many who are making decisions for Christ.

Israel

• Pray for the Beersheba congregation as its nationally publicized court case protesting harassment was postponed. Pray that God will call national and international workers for outreach to unreached people.

Russia

• Pray for God’s direction in personnel transitions during the next few months. Seven families will return to ministry after completing home assignments this year. Also, a new field director and a new president of the ECMU (the C&MA’s main partner in Russia) will be elected in the next few months.

Spain

• Pray for a new outreach ministry to an Unreached People Group that is being launched this summer. Two missionary couples have been assigned to this project, which will focus on reaching a demographic group of more than 1.1 million people.
• Pray for God’s financial provision for local Alliance churches, most of which are struggling to meet their budgets. Pray for the Servant Leadership Team that gives direction to this ministry.

Wednesday, May 6

Latin America Region

Brazil

• Pray that Alliance church plants will thrive and grow, having Kingdom impact in their communities. Pray that many will come to know Jesus through these congregations. They include Porto Alegre-Petropolis church, Caxias do Sul São Paulo, Zona Norte, and Alphaville.

Central America

• Pray for the development of the Theological Education by Extension program that begins this month in Alliance Nicaraguan churches. Pray that it will build a strong foundation in preparing leaders.

Chile

• Pray for the consolidation of the work in Reñaca as missionaries Chuck and Betty Ostlie and Bob and Giselle Hepokoski continue their efforts in completing the mission’s participation in that project.

Colombia

• Pray that God will provide miraculously for the Cali West Church during the current economic crisis. Last year the church ended in the red, and an account for emergencies was depleted. Pray for a commitment on the part of the men to serve in the church and its leadership.

Dominican Republic

• Pray for the Lord’s blessing on ministry teams being developed by the House of Blessing Church to prepare for the Marriage Encounter weekend, May 15-17.

Ecuador

• On June 30, 2009, the Ecuador field of the C&MA will close after 112 years of continuous Alliance missionary presence in Ecuador. The remaining missionaries will serve under the Latin America Regional Office. Pray for Mike and Carol Welty as they organize the closing of the field. Pray for all of the legal and administrative details that must be handled before June 30.

Mexico

• The Alliance mission in Mexico has never had a permanent base of operations as an office, guest facility, and ministry center. Pray for specific guidance to a property that could be used for this purpose and for God’s supernatural provision for this facility.

Paraguay

• The Asunción Church in Paraguay needs a new pastor. John Sappia has taken over the new church plant while Forest Schell is on home assignment. This is a challenge for him since he has been in Paraguay for less than a year and is still adjusting to the culture and language.

Peru

• Pray against the spiritual strongholds Alliance workers are facing. Buddhism and Taoism are commonly practiced, and the bondage of gambling has caused much pain and suffering for many families. Pray for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit.

Uruguay

• Pray for a successful initiative in Maldonado that will encourage the church to move forward into other areas of the country soon. Pray for the growth of La Rambla church-planting team and the continued growth of this new community of faith.
• Pray for effective implementation of a new program in the Rivera Bible Institute, including the strengthening of the faculty team with missionary and trained national leaders.

Venezuela

• Pray for the restructuring of the Seminary in Venezuela and for Pastor Eduardo Mercon, the new director.
• Pray for Rebecca Rodriguez, Norma Van Dahlen, Cathy Petteys, and Bob and Joy Brougher as they transition to ministries in other countries or back to U.S. ministries

Thursday, May 7

Creative-Access Countries

CAMA

• CAMA Kosovo—Pray for Dianna Ullrich as she is in England receiving further training in occupational therapy to advance her work at the community center in Kosovo.
• CAMA Laos—The English program at Candlelight School is in desperate need of more teachers. Pray that God will provide enough English teachers to meet this need.
• CAMA Mongolia—Pray for faithfulness, fellowship, and genuine seeking during street prayer times every Saturday. Pray for thirsty hearts among Darhan pastors and for unity in prayer.

IFAP

• Pray for safety, good health, protection, and encouragement for IFAP workers who face daily dangers, heightened risks of life-threatening diseases, government instability, and opposition to the gospel.
• Pray for sensitivity and creativity in reaching out to the lost, for courage and clarity in preaching the gospel, and for the ability to see people and situations from God’s perspective.

Missionary Candidates

• Pray for the Missionary Candidate Office as staff members work with candidates who are going through the Process of Consideration. These are the people who may be appointed by the Board of Directors in October.

Global Ventures

• Pray for college-age students who are ministering with Global Ventures Discovery and Global Ventures Praxis. Many are completing cross-cultural internships required for graduation, and all are seeking God’s direction regarding future missionary service.

Friday, May 8

U.S. Church Ministries

• Pray for a new openness among Native American and Jewish people in the United States to the gospel and for a fresh anointing for Alliance workers among these people groups.
• Pray for the birth of new church-planting models that will not be dependent on buildings and paid staffing.
• Pray for clear direction from the Lord as The Alliance moves from being “intercultural” toward becoming “multicultural” and for the raising up of a new generation of multicultural leaders for the denomination.

Alliance Women Ministries

• Pray for the District Director’s Leadership Training meetings, May 25-26, in Louisville, Kentucky. Pray that God’s Spirit will be evidenced in the meetings and in the lives of those who attend.

Alliance Youth (AY)

• Pray for intentional relationships among Alliance youth workers as AY seeks to create a care support network for Alliance churches and the people who work with youth. Pray for the development of healthy youth workers who will lead strong, vibrant youth ministries.

Candidate Development

• Pray for the Candidate Development director, Rev. Douglas S. Bortner, Northeast, and the other regional representatives—Rev. James T. Hoobler, Southeast; Rev. Mark C. Lynch, Western; and Rev. Trent W. Thornton in the Midwest—as they assume great responsibility for identifying and developing ministry candidates.

Chaplains

• Pray for men and women seeking God’s guidance concerning military and institutional chaplaincy. Pray for the following new chaplains: Chaplain Clayton Jones, U.S. Navy; Chaplain Ted Randall, U.S. Army; Chaplain Rob Olson, U.S. Army; Chaplain Jesse Hall, Tennessee Army National Guard, now on extended Active Duty; Chaplain Paul Dordal, U.S. Army Reserve; Chaplain David Goodin, Marketplace Chaplain; Chaplain Dennis Whalen, Police Chaplain; Chaplain Mark Failing, Police Chaplain; Chaplain Jeremy Myers, Federal Prison Chaplain; and Chaplain John Henderson, Part-Time VA Chaplain. Pray also for six new Chaplain candidates.

Children’s and Adult Disciplemaking

• Pray that Alliance people will participate in the new online Alliance Disciplemaking Network, enabling churches and leaders to serve and encourage each other in making disciples. Praise the Lord that a new edition of Safe Place is completed and at the press. Safe Place advises churches about the ethical, legal, and environmental issues involved in ministry to children, youth, and adults.

Church Multiplication Ministries

• Pray for several opportunities for our church-planting and church health directors to meet together at Council.
• Pray for the full development of regional assessment centers for church planters around the country.
• Pray for more than 120 church plants being established across the United States.

Intercultural Ministries

• Pray for Rev. John F. Soper, vice president for Church Ministries, as he seeks to hire the right leader to replace Rev. Joseph S. Kong, who will retire from his position as director for Intercultural Ministries. (Rev. Kong, along with his wife, will transition to serving as C&MA career missionaries in Cambodia in summer 2009).
• Pray for a dozen new church plants that are currently in the incubation stage of development as they strive to reach ethnic minorities among the Next Generation of Cambodian, Lao, Hmong, and Vietnamese people. Pray that these Next Generation church planters will be encouraged and able to recruit key leaders for their core groups in order to launch services in the near future.

Life Impact Ministries

• Pray for strength and wisdom as Life Impact Ministries team members handle the logistics of General Council. Pray that all the details will fall into place and that a spirit of unity and servants hearts will prevail.
• LIFE 2010 is fast approaching. Pray for the Executive Team as it ramps up preparations for this awesome National Youth event. Pray that the Lord will prepare the hearts of the students who will attend. Pray for His anointing on the speakers and worship leaders as they prepare, wisdom for the seminar leaders in selecting relevant and sensitive topics, and that a new sense of urgency to touch lives for His Kingdom will prevail.
• Pray for International Bible Quizzing Finals at Crown College in July as well as AY Encounter as it holds four summer events—one at each C&MA college. Pray for the teams as they plan, for good registrations, and for life-changing experiences for all who attend.

Ministry Studies

• Pray that the redevelopment of the Church Leadership Academy courses and curriculum will result in effective equipping of leaders for Alliance churches and districts.
• Pray for a smooth and timely changeover as disciplemaking and Church Leadership Academy resources are transitioned to new forms of printing and delivery. Newer technologies, such as print-on-demand, and alternative ways of filling orders are expected to reduce costs and facilitate service to more churches and students.

Missions Mobilization and Ministry Partnerships

• Pray for Don Sappington as he directs the Offices of Missions Mobilization (OMM) and Ministry Partnerships (OMP). Pray for Missions Mobilization staff members as they assign missionaries for fall tours.

Saturday, May 9

U.S. Alliance Districts

Central

• Pray for the district as it moves forward in aggressively and intentionally advancing the Kingdom with a three-part focus upon renewed dependence on the Holy Spirit, missional living, and godly leadership development.

Central Pacific

• Pray for the development of church plants in Antelope, San Francisco, and Stockton, California; Strip Church in Las Vegas, Nevada; North Ogden, Utah; Hilo, Hawaii; and some churches developing multisite campuses.
• Pray for churches in communities impacted by job losses and home foreclosures.

Eastern Pennsylvania

• Pray for the re-plant of the church in Wissinoming (Philadelphia) as it launches public services in September.
• Pray for church multiplication into under-evangelized regions of the district.
• Pray for ongoing efforts to develop a culture of coaching leading to healthy Great Commandment/Great Commission churches.

Metropolitan

• Pray for 15 new churches being planted this year.
• Pray for the district churches to move toward giving 10 percent of church revenue to the GCF.
• Pray for churches to develop effective discipleship methods that lead to the multiplication of disciples.

Midamerica

• Pray for the growth of Journey Church in Southwest Omaha as it has recently launched public services.
• Pray for ongoing discussion with a Hispanic group in Edwards, Colorado, about its church affiliating with The Alliance. Pray for Doug Grogan and Danny Garrido as they provide leadership in this effort.

Mid-Atlantic

• Pray for six churches that have enrolled in a 16-month “turnaround” strategy called High M-Pact, led by Dr. Ken Priddy, district church health consultant.
• Pray for the continued development of INSPIRE ME 2012, a vision initiative to hold district conference in Israel and Jordan in order to provide partnership opportunities.

Midwest

• Pray for new initiatives (church plants) in the Midwest District: Fresh Start Alliance (Elkhart, IN), Church of Loving Kindness C&MA (Merriville, IN), Eagle at Avon (Avon, IN), Middle Urban (Ft. Wayne, IN), Fox River Grove (IL), Chinese/Mandarin (SW Naperville, IL), Spanish (Villa Park/Lombard, IL), Filipino (Ft. Wayne, IN), Filipino (Joliet, IL), and two locations (Life on the Vine) to be decided.

Ohio Valley

• Pray for six major opportunities to expand the Kingdom and that God will give wisdom in choosing among the many open doors.
• Pray for four ministries to Unreached People Groups, including one to South Asian Indians and two that are reaching the least-reached group in America: 18 to 30 year olds.
• Pray that God will give Ohio Valley church leaders eyes to see economic conditions as opportunities to advance and not retreat.

Pacific Northwest

• Pray for the district office’s new team members. Pray that God will give them a hunger to know Him, to walk with Him, and to experience Colossians 2:6-7 in their lives and leadership together.
• Pray for churches, pastors, and leaders to develop a love for lost people. Pray that they will lead a movement of Great Commission churches that love seeing people become part of God's forever family in heaven.
• Pray for Alaska pastors, many of whom minister in very dark areas of the country. Pray for God’s protection, His miraculous provision, and for the stamina and courage needed to persevere in pastoral care.

Rocky Mountain

• Pray for Cliff Williams in Nampa, Idaho, who pastors The Rock Church. He was diagnosed with ALS disease seven months ago and is deteriorating steadily. Pray for healing from God and for his family and church members as they walk this journey together. Pray for wisdom and grace.
• Pray for Downtown Alliance, a church plant in Missoula, Montana, using a coffee store, “Zootown Brew,” as a platform to represent Christ and His gospel in the university district. Pray for Scott Klaudt, the church-planting pastor there.
• Pray for God to open more doors for church planting in the district.

South Atlantic

• Pray for the pastors and key leaders from five district churches who are actively engaged in an intensive 14-month church health and revitalization process. Pray that participants will be completely open and obediently responsive to the Spirit’s promptings regarding God’s desires and plans for their unique church settings.
• Pray for five new regional church multiplication networks established in partnership with Saturation Church Planting International. Pray that networks will be established in major areas of the district. Pray that churches will become more missional and share the burden with other churches to reach every man, woman, and child in the district with the gospel.

South Pacific

• Pray for the closing of the pending sale of the Crosspoint Tucson property in a timely manner.

Southeastern

• Pray that the new round of Natural Church Development coaching in wellness care and special care churches will be orchestrated and blessed by God, yielding greater health and new fruit.
• Pray for new strategic church-planting efforts in the Tampa Bay area. Pray that as area churches come together, they will they unite with a common vision to reach this west/ central Florida region with the gospel of Jesus Christ. Pray specifically for John Caterson who serves as the district multiplication associate in that area.
• Several counties of Florida are facing high unemployment and foreclosure rates. Pray for the churches in those areas as they creatively seek to minister to families affected by these challenges as well as cope with the economy’s affect on church finances.

Southern

• Pray for a number of new church plants. Praise God for the faithful giving of Alliance people to their churches and district.

Southwestern

• Several pastors, licensed workers, or their spouses have been living under the shadow of cancer. Pray for the continued health and healing of Pastor Leroy Haenze, Mrs. Tiblez Berhe, and Mrs. Kathy Wycoff.
• Pray for Filipino International Network (FIN-USA), a new missions paradigm of reaching into creative-access countries that is organized under the umbrella of the Southwestern District. God is using believers trained through FIN to bring the gospel into areas where traditional ministries cannot go.
• Pray for church planters/redevelopment pastors who in many cases, as bi-vocational ministers, find the present economic situation a real hardship. Pray that the Lord will abundantly supply their needs.

Western Great Lakes

• Pray for our church-planting pastor and launch team in La Crosse as they begin preview services this spring in anticipation of a September launch.
• Pray for the ongoing development of a strategic plan to reach Milwaukee.

Western Pennsylvania

• Pray for six church plants in progress and twelve redevelopment/replant churches that are striving to bring the good news of Jesus Christ to their communities as well as supporting global Alliance missions.
• Pray for pastors who are participating in the Issachar Coaching Clusters. The ultimate goal is to produce healthy, Christlike servant leaders who are intentionally reproducing themselves in others, resulting in an ongoing multiplication of leaders.

Sunday, May 10

Support Ministries

Development

• Alliance Life Magazine—Pray for wisdom for the Alliance Life staff as it strives to maintain magazine circulation in a culture that increasingly seeks information and inspiration through Web-based media. Pray that Alliance churches will rediscover alife as a valuable tool to help raise awareness of and passion for Christ’s Commission to the last unreached frontiers of the world.
• The Orchard Foundation—Pray that Orchard will be strategically positioned to effectively work with churches and donors in the next fiscal year.
• Communications—Pray for Communications team members, including video, design, and writers, as they experience a heavier than normal workload in preparation for General Council, Great Commission Sunday, and Missions Conference.
• Web Team—Praise God that the new and improved cmalliance.org will launch at Council this year!
• Pray for the eCommunity to grow into a tool used by Alliance people to connect both domestically and internationally. Also, pray for creative ways to use existing social networks (such as Facebook, YouTube, and Flikr) to enable such communication and connections.

Operations/Finance

• Great Commission Fund—Pray regarding the impact that the current economic crisis is having on contributions and for wisdom to set budgets accordingly. Pray for God’s mighty provision.
• Alliance Benefits—Pray for wisdom to create and maintain the benefit plans to meet the needs of pastors and missionaries while still remaining affordable. Pray that God will protect and meet the financial needs of participants in the Fellowship Fund retirement plan. Pray also that God will protect investments within the retirement plans during this economic downturn.
• Operations And Business Services—Pray for God’s protection over all the resources that He has provided: building, grounds, and equipment.
• Technology Group—Pray for wisdom as staff members move forward with supporting critical National Office systems and applications. Pray that they will always be mindful of God’s guiding hand as they deal with hard economic times and the impact on staff.
• Allliance Development Fund (ADF)—Pray during these particularly challenging times for God’s continued wisdom, direction, and protection for the churches and investors that ADF serves, as well as ADF staff, board members, and other stakeholders.
• Retirement Centers—Pray for God’s blessing on the centers and staff as they reach the lost for Christ.
• Alliance Community For Retirement Living (ACRL)—Pray that the Alliance community leadership team will make the necessary changes to develop and implement the 2010 budget. Pray that each employee will understand and live out the mission to honor God and serve residents. Pray that each resident in the nursing center, many of whom do not know Christ, will hear the gospel clearly.
• Chapel Pointe At Carlisle—Pray for senior leaders and board members as they continue to seek direction for long-range planning to address the physical needs for campus renovations as well as new ministry opportunities that God may have for the future.
• Shell Point Retirement Community—Pray for ongoing wisdom and insight that will help Shell Point work with residents and prospects in light of economic challenges that affect decisions for residency. Pray also for God’s continued blessing on multiple spiritual outreach programs and activities in the community that bring people to Christ and nurture their spiritual growth.
• Town And Country Manor—Pray for wisdom for doing business during challenging economic times. Pray for wisdom in controlling expenses and in sustaining revenues. Pray also that staff members will continue to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ at a time when many people are looking for answers.

Executive

• Pray for wisdom for President Gary Benedict and his cabinet as they deal with the challenges of funding Alliance Great Commission Ministries.
• Pray for God to unleash the laity in Alliance churches to strengthen local and worldwide ministries.
• Pray for wisdom in seeking the Lord’s will for new initiatives in global missions.
• Pray for Alliance institutions of higher education as they face challenges in recruitment and financial support.