January 1, 2018
Dear Church of the Open Door family,
Starting this week we will get a barrage of infomercials on weight loss plans, life altering pots and pans, financial debt recovery, and relationship restoration programs. With the New Year, we are offered new opportunities and techniques to tackle the challenges of our lives and each has a cost and money back guarantee (shipping and handling not included).
In great contrast to the precarious promises offered by this world, the writer of Hebrews asks us to walk another path in 2018:
Therefore since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast to our confession. For we do not have a high priest incapable of sympathizing with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in every way just as we are, yet without sin. Therefore let us confidently approach the throne of grace to receive mercy and find grace whenever we need help.(Hebrews 4:14-16)
In 2018 we can boldly and confidently approach the throne of grace to find mercy and grace, and we want to do this as a community.
Church of the Open Door is convinced of this promise and believes that God always moves ministry forward through prayer. Here are the 5 requests (we call them Breakthrough Prayers) that God has laid on the hearts of our elder and pastoral team for 2018.
1. Father, please keep us one.
2. Father, please give us 100 stories of grace released.
3. Father, please give us all the joy of regular giving.
4. Father, please move 40 of us to lead Gospel of John groups.
5. Father, please retire the Worship Center mortgage by 2025.
We will continue to pray for the unity of this church, because it is through relationships that we will succeed or fail as a community.
We are asking God to give us all the joy of trusting Him in our finances.
As we reach into our neighborhoods and circles of influence we are asking the Father to give us 100 stories of grace released in people’s lives and opportunities to introduce folks to the message of grace through the Gospel of John.
Finally, we are asking Him to miraculously retire the mortgage on the Worship Center in the next seven years.
In 2018 we need help and we have a high priest who will help us. Would you approach the throne of grace with us?
Much love,
David Anderson
P.S. To help us keep these prayer requests on our hearts and minds in 2018, we have prepared some Breakthrough Prayer resources – visit our website for desktop wallpaper and an e-version of the Breakthrough Prayer card.
And look for a hard copy of the card in your bulletin this Sunday or pick one up on the Resource Table in the Worship Center lobby. Let’s approach His throne together!
