Through your prayers and giving, you are our partners in proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ. Pray that we would continue to do so with all boldness and without hindrance!
The hymn “What a Friend We Have in Jesus” offers the reflection, “O what peace we often forfeit,/ O what needless pain we bear,/All because we do not carry/ Everything to God in prayer!”. Many within Halling Baptist Church have been very anxious about COVID-19 and how the church should respond. It has been an opportunity for the church, led by pastor Kevin Felix-Hollington, to, as the song says, “take it to the Lord in prayer.”
Shortly after the church began regathering after the first lockdown in July 2020, they held a day of prayer and fasting. Everyone was led to meditate on Daniel 9:1-19, accompanied by a devotional reading by Charles Spurgeon, and then to pray. You might be interested to pray, and even fast, similarly, so here is the list the church worked through:
· Pray that we may obtain the pardon of our sins.
· Plead for His blessing and assistance as we represent Him on earth through the COVID-19 pandemic.
· Supplicate for the growth in grace and spiritual maturity leading to personal holiness of all church members (may believing non-members join us in joyful fellowship and commitment to one another and to the Lord).
· Implore for the salvation of the unconverted around us.
· Worship and give thanks for God’s steadfast love and mercy.
A few weeks later, the women of the church organised another day of prayer and fasting. In light of the November lockdown and the government’s decision to include churches, the elders of the church called for three days of prayer and fasting, and again in the New year, the church had a week of prayer closed by a day of fasting, with various passages to consider and prayerful petitions to offer for the week. In all of this, Kevin has focused on reminding people of the gospel’s promises, the blessings we already have in Christ, the future hope of glory, and the privilege of prayer. “One has to keep repeating these realities over and over again”, Kevin says, “because when people ‘see’, their load falls, yet they revert back to the old ways.”
Praise God for the ability to boldly, freely, and regularly access him in prayer. Pray for the church at Halling that even as they grow in this discipline, they would find God’s grace in their time of need.
Since regathering in July, an unbelieving woman confined to a wheelchair has been attending almost every week. Pray for the church as they teach her about Jesus, and the gospel.
The church has continued with their evangelistic literature table where possible and is recommencing door to door work. Pray that God would give those involved in these efforts strength and wisdom, that he would open doors, soften hearts, and bring people to repentance and faith in Christ and participation in the fellowship of the church.
You can make a gift to Grace Baptist Partnership and the ongoing work of leadership training, church planting and revitalisation, using this link: Donate | Grace Baptist Partnership.
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