GOD CALLS US TO “MAKE DISCIPLES OF ALL NATIONS” FROM HOUSTON- Ignite 2020!
On Christmas day, I opened this world map gift from our precious church planting family, Chris and Ashley Millar. I just began to weep and weep! Through the liquid prayers of my tears, my heart exploded as I experienced a smidgen of God’s vast love for the lost. This realization also included the 223 people groups represented right here in Houston, Texas. Yes, directly by His Spirit and through multiple affirmations, our God has called me back from traveling and ministering in the nations. He has called me to ignite and refocus Igniting Prayer Action right here in my home city.
In this IGNITE we will share briefly how God is working through us and for His glory; Currently and Looking Back, in next month’s IGNITE we will Look forward to what and why God has called me to serve from home, here, in Houston.
LET US IGNITE & PRAY NOW:
“Father God in heaven we praise You for how You can turn our deepest and most painful trials into triumphs as we simply CHOOSE to wait, trust, depend, quietly, silently upon You alone! “Waiting on You, Lord, may sound simple but oh Lord, it certainly IS NOT EASY. As I read Colin’s IGNITE speak to my heart and grant me grace to be obedient if there is anything You call me to do, in Jesus name amen.”
CURRENT: Triumphs out of Trials:
Share the Sufferings of Christ
1 Peter 4:12-13 “Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you; but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation.”
PERSONAL:
At 8am on the 5th of December, Bernie Price, my precious Brother-in-Love, for the first time clearly confessed Jesus as Lord. He did so right in his hospice hospital bed!!! My beautiful bride shares one of the closest brother/sister relationships with Bernie. Their relationship is the closest I’ve ever known, and her grief has been deep and painful.
He is so sadly in the 4th and final stage of COPD. His salvation confession has been a HUGE encouragement in this sad season. After leading him through several scriptures on being saved, he came into 100% assurance of his salvation! This has been the fruit of 4 years of daily prayer and living in the same home together.
We have continued into the 8th week of 2 sometimes 3 visits a day to be with Bernie in hospice. However, we’ve seen God open a steady flow of ministry opportunities among many of the of the hospital staff! In fact, we’ve even been invited in to 3 different staff meetings to express our deep appreciation. Each time, we presented a gift of the “Waiting on God” book, prayer, and the gospel message!
IGNITE MINISTRY:
Our parallel trial has been in the financial health of our ministry Igniting Prayer Action where for only the second time in 14 years we have been sending a support-raising letter, due to a significant financial shortfall in both our, one time, as well as our monthly gifts of support. With the counsel of our trusted godly advisors we have been encouraged to be very transparent about these needs. They have also encouraged us to purposefully expand our base of supporters, and seek more partners to commit to monthly support.
LET US PRAY NOW: ”Lord God we praise You for the triumph of bringing in 75% of our shortfall in 53 days. LORD please speak to me if You would have me be a part of the remaining 25% by making a gift here and now Give Here., in Jesus name I pray amen.”
LOOKING BACK:
Since 2005 we give Him praise for what He has done through each of you who partner with us in prayer and financial support. This has allowed us to provide strategic prayer for many individuals, families, ministries and corporations. We have been honored, and blessed to see lives radically transformed through the power of prayer.
I highlight our key financial ministry partner Global Media Outreach for whom I’ve served , on a part time basis as their Chief Prayer Officer for †he past ten years. These are staggering numbers but ARE also individual lives from every nation on the planet, who have been impacted for Jesus by online evangelism.
Global Reach Impact FY 2019
Gospel Visits 129,889,941, Indicated Decisions, 20,952,454 , New Contacts 1,587,805
Foundational to such fruitfulness is our care through prayer of each constituency; our seekers, our staff and our donor partners. A large % of our donors we seldom get to meet in person. Mark is on our development team. He has a beautiful gift in reaching out through email and occasionally by phone to our online donors. With Beth’s permission I share a few excerpts of how God moved through hearts set on Him through prayer and an encouragement to practice: “WAITING ON GOD”
A Letter from a Precious Sister!
“Mark, Thank you for reaching out to me! Many organizations are happy to take money, but few are concerned about the donor’s needs. Thank you that GMO is different. Yes, I have two requests for which I’d treasure your prayers.
Colin, thank you for your and your wife’s continued prayers. The Lord is at work. I’m on day 11 of “Waiting on God”. I’m learning so much about the Lord and about resting in Him. He’s giving peace such as I’ve never known before, though I’ve been a Christian many years. I feel I’m being bathed in His love. Moreover, I’m starting to know Him in a more intimate way than I ever thought possible.
I’ve always been a doer, never satisfied unless I was completing something. And I always with a mental list of what had to be accomplished. I suppose I approached my Christian life with the same attitude—what I needed to be doing, reading, and praying about. The Lord is teaching me a blessed different way.
You, your wife, GMO and Mark were an answer to my literal cry to the Lord. I can never thank you enough!! And, the Lord gave me an A in in my Tech course!”
Beth
