IGNITE August 2024
Greetings, dear friends and fellow Prayer Igniters! Our hearts are full and memories enriched as we’ve winged our way back from five rest-filled days in cool Carlsbad, California, to the hot, heavy, and humid heat of Texas. Upon entering our 20th year of serving God full-time through Igniting Prayer Action, we continue to encourage everyone who even half-heartedly follows God that they are a “Race Car” for Jesus!🤩 Just as a race car needs a PIT Crew, we declare that you, too, need and deserve a P.I.T. Crew, a Personal Intercessory Team.
A PIT CREW IS THE SECRET behind a continuous thriving life, living, working, and walking in the limitless favor of God!
WHY? Because God promises and commands it!
Psalm 133:1 says, “Behold, how good and lovely it is when brethren dwell together in unity!” There is no greater place of unity, than when a team of people are “praying the same scriptures,” with the same purposes and promises of God over, into, and through your life.
And Psalm 133:3b says: “…For there the Lord commanded the blessing— Life forevermore.”
So, I share just one of the multiple testimonies to the unmerited favor and commanded blessing of God during our recent five nights at the Westin Spa and Resort. Our main purpose in going to Carlsbad, CA, was to attend the wedding of Jon Stoehr, son of Matt and Amy Stoehr—our remarkable covenant friends and PIT CREW captains. So, we flew out into San Diego early, to rest and relax in the celebration of our own 38th wedding anniversary (August 30, 1986)!
Whenever my bride and I travel, we always pray beforehand: “Lord may we be a blessing bringing, salvation, encouragement, healing, joy, and peace through prayer to every person you put in our paths at airports, planes, hotels, car rental stations, shops, and restaurants… in Jesus matchless name we pray, amen.”
When we first arrived, the young valet serviceman, Bryan, brought our luggage to our beautifully upgraded room with a view over the ocean.
However, the air conditioning was not on, and the room was about 80°. Honestly, my initial thought was: ‘How can this hotel not have the room air-conditioned before the guests arrive?’ The Holy Spirit prompted me to this adjusted thinking: ‘Oh Lord, we are going to meet an engineer who might need to be blessed.’ 🙏🤩🙌
A bit later, an older gentleman, Donald, came into the room to check and restart our AC. So, we talked, visited, and prayed for him. While we went to dinner, he said he would check back to ensure everything was in order. We returned to find a cool room and two boxes of specialty chocolates on our counter.
Strangely enough, over the next two days, we encountered two more bathroom challenges and got to pray for five more people before dear Jenifer, the customer service agent, transferred us to The President’s Suite! We stayed in the top suite for our last two nights and two days there, which more than made up for the inconveniences we had experienced!
Jenifer Fix, our Westin Hotel friend, treated us royally.
The Lord’s lavish favor bestowed upon us, once again, confirmed that the effectual fervent prayers of our PIT Crew availed much!
Due to my tendency towards “hyperengagement” with partners and gospel opportunities, my siblings, family, and, specifically, our PIT Crew encourage and pray for intentional downtimes like this so we can rest and relax.
Thankfully, attending the Stoehr Family wedding in Carlsbad afforded us the extra downtime. We went out early to take three days to rest, relax, and celebrate our 38th wedding anniversary!
Heading to the wedding with our magnificent ocean view from our Balcony
The wedding was on Del Mar Beach inside Camp Pendleton, the Marine Corps base.
It was one of the most Christ-filled ceremonies we had attended. Pastor John, Victoria’s brother, gave a deeply engaging invitation and gospel message before the bride and groom exchanged their heart-of-Jesus-filled vows with one another.
Jon and Victoria in worship, beginning the ceremony.
Both Matt and Amy humbled and overwhelmed us when they sat us next to them at their family table in the beautiful wedding venue, River Gardens!
I deeply believe that most of the favor and joy in God we are blessed to experience comes through the faithful, consistent intercession of our PIT Crew! “THANK YOU” to you, Matt and Amy, and each beautiful intercessor who serves with us.
Matt and Amy Stoehr- Our PIT Crew Captains
We deeply encourage you to click and watch this video about the power of God through a PIT CREW. And once you’ve watched the video, pray about ways to identify and mobilize your own PIT Crew today!
Thank You, Precious Partners & Prayer Igniters!
Perhaps you’ve never, or haven’t for some time, made a gift to Igniting Prayer Action? In either case, will you pause now, be still, and ask God if He might have you make a financial gift to IPA today?
May God bless and inspire you to identify and mobilize your own PIT Crew today!
Chkk-Chirrrrrrrrrrrrrr!
Colin
