Dear Beloved Intercessor,

With a new year and a new US president being inaugurated today, I can’t help but think of God’s promises of new things. There is newness of life when we come to know Jesus. In Isaiah 43:19, God says, “Behold, I will do something new.” God’s mercies are new every morning (Lam. 3:23). There will be a new heaven and a new earth (Rev. 21:1).

What new thing is God calling you to do for His glory this year? Are you willing to be stretched? The God at work story below is about a church that got members out of their comfort zones and put feet to their prayers. I hope it will challenge all of us to dream and pray for big “impossible” things that only God can do. We need a miracle in North America, in our churches, and in our families. Ask God – He’s in the miracle business.

“Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen” (Eph. 3:20-21, NASB).

Thank you for being on the NAMB prayer team.

For God's Glory,
Elaine Helms

Weekly Prayer Focus for January 21: Where is My Fear?

“This sense of the fear of God is a vital element of true revival.” – Erroll Hulse

Scripture
“. . . If I be a master, where is my fear? saith the LORD of hosts . . .” (Mal. 1:6, KJ).

Prayer
Father, in mercy forgive us for our sin of not fearing You as commanded. Grant us a fresh encounter with You in Your holiness that would make us deeply aware of Your presence in our lives and inspire us to fear You greatly. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Weekly Prayer Focus for January 21 and 28, 2009
Daily Prayer Guide for January 21, 2009
Daily Prayer Guide for January 28, 2009 

Prayer Requests:

For the benefit of those wishing to print handouts of missionary prayer requests for group prayer, they are on a separate, printer friendly page. Click on the underlined dates to see the requests:
 
January 8 - 21, 2009
January 22 - February 4, 2009

For all Daily Prayer Requests on the website, visit: www.namb.net/prayerrequests.   

Special Praise/Prayer Requests

Praise the Lord for the 253 NAMB Pregnancy Centers. In 2008 they served 145,433 clients, saved 4,726 babies, and had 3,434 professions of faith! Thank the Lord for all who serve in these centers.

Pray for a stop to abortion as we observe the “Sanctity of Life Week”, January 18-25, 2009. 

Pray for those taking a stand by participating in the many “Right to Life” marches during this week, including Washington, D.C., Thursday, January 22. Check your local media for events in your area.

Pray for God’s guidance for the many people serving in the NAMB pregnancy centers, and the thousands who have made decisions to save their babies because of the centers.

Pray about serving the Lord through this ministry.

Read more about the Pregnancy Care Ministries.

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you. . .” (Jeremiah 1:5, NIV).

Featured Article: Putting Feet to Their Prayers

The activity of this church got members out into the community and the community into the church when they became “doers of the Word and not hearers only.” Action brought the answer to their prayers – a passion for souls.

Read more at www.namb.net/Godatwork

• Chris Lorillard, MSC criminal justice minister, is praising the Lord. The last time he requested prayer was for members to join his team in the Houston area prisons. Praise God there are now five regular members and several possible ones. Chris is so grateful for these passionate volunteers eager to share the Lord! With the demand for this type of service, the volunteers can burn out very fast. Pray for many volunteers, allowing them to rotate their service and not burn out. Pray for more fresh, vibrant volunteers who are in love with the Lord. Thank you, prayer warriors!
  Encouragements to: clorillard@fm-solutions.net.
• Praise the Lord for His wonderful works! Alpha International Ministries’ president, evangelist, and COSBE member, Albert Finny, shares that in 2008 their ministry reached 311,548 people in India with the gospel, 4,036 were  baptized, and 350 churches were planted. Encouragements to: info@alphaministries.com. 

“Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken . . . says the Lord, who has compassion on you” (Isaiah 54: 10, NIV).

Please pray for the following new believers who have committed their lives to Christ recently through the Evangelism Response Center (ERC) of the North American Mission Board.   

Victor – Tucson, Arizona; Jeff – Apple Valley, California;
Bethann – Springfield, Illinois; Gail – Luana, Iowa; 
Clara – Lafayette, Louisiana; Terrance – Baltimore, Maryland; Brenda – Essexville, Michigan; David – Brooklyn, New York; Kenneth – Napoleon, Ohio; Chris – Vineyard, Utah;
Anthony – Augusta, Georgia; Michael – Eton, Georgia;
Reuben – Corpus Christi, Texas; Judy – Laredo, Texas;
and Melissa - Haltom City, Texas.

Other NAMB Prayer Requests 

Evangelism

• Pray for the planning and organizing of Crossover, June 19 and 20, in Louisville, Kentucky. Pray for the thousands who will come from across North America to participate in this exciting evangelism outreach before the Southern Baptist Convention begins.
• Pray for inspiration, motivation, and training for church, association, and state leaders attending the State Evangelism Conferences January through March.
• Please pray for the plans and implementation of God’s Plan for Sharing (GPS) outreach pilots in four states around Easter and one state in summer of 2009, as preparation for ACROSS AMERICA in 2010.

City Prayer Requests

• Cleveland Hope – Pray for the launch of the leadership development for new church planters – for leaders to have vision, to develop mission, domain and prayer strategies, and to determine a philosophy of ministry.
• Embrace Baltimore – Please continue praying for the Evangelism and Community Impact Team of Embrace Baltimore as they work with pastors and churches in planning their 2009 outreach strategies.
• Vision San Diego – Praise the Lord for the 28 church plants that continue to minister in communities around San Diego, and the 28 additional starts in various stages of the planting process - all strategically located and focused.
• Vancouver Focus – Pray for many to participate in prayerwalking the Sikh and Hindu community of Surrey on January 30. 

Volunteer Mobilization – As this new year begins, may we all dedicate ourselves anew to the faithful service of the Lord who calls and equips us. Pray that we will be sensitive to His call, go where he directs us to go, when He asks us to go, and serve as He guides us to serve.  

“Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible" (Matt. 19:26, NIV).

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If you have a prayer request, praise, or a story of how you have seen God at work in your area, please click here. When submitting your request please:

• Keep the request and praises brief and ministry-related.
• Stories can be up to 500 words.

The requests are subject to editing and condensing.

To view the Wednesday Window on the World from the International Mission Board, please click on:
http://www.imb.org/CompassionNet/window.asp

Thank you for praying!