Mars Hill Church Blog

This week I'm at the National Pastor and Staff Conference for Great Commission Association of Churches.

Here's a challenge from last night that I think is applicable to every pastor and house church leader.  

As you consider how and what you should be doing with your church God's church under your care, start with answering the following 2 questions

1. What did Jesus intend the church to be when he said, "... I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it."  (Matt 16:18(

2. What did Jesus teach and build into 12 men, so that in 3 years he could turn the world over to them?

I'm looking forward to hearing others thoughts on these questions and to thinking deeply about them myself.

- Nathan

Juarez, Mexico & El Paso, TX

Please pray for the cities of Juarez, Mexico and El Paso, TX. These cities are across the border from each other, on the Rio Grande River. They have been a main gateway for immigration and tourism. Lately, drug smuggling has been focused on these cities. Increased enforcement and violence have made it a dangerous place to live. Juarez is now considered Mexico's most dangerous city. Recently, the former mayor of Medellin, Colombia visited to give insight and hope to the leaders in Juarez from his experience leading Medellin during its most violent days.

Drug cartels are targeting drug treatment centers, killing patients and staff in an effort to find informants and recruit smugglers.

Please pray:

• For the civic leaders in both cities, that they would stand firm in supporting what is right.

• For law enforcement officers to continue to enforce the law and resist bribery and intimidation.

• For church leaders, especially those at The Rio Church (our sister church in El Paso), that they would respond to the situation with compassion and wisdom, and win many to Christ in the midst of difficult circumstances.

Poznan: For the Evangelism Training being done with a new fellowship of young Poles during September.

Madrid: For the logistics and preparations for the Awaken conference.

Pamplona: To maintain connections and share the Gospel with English Club students met during the May STM.
Madrid: For wisdom and power for Jose Enrique, Jesus Guzman & David Aviles as they lead the church in Madrid.

Amsterdam: For a good start to the new year of the Servant Leadership Council.

Milan: That Teo and Aretta are able to obtain scholarships to study in Milan and also to find affordable housing and that Tony Liu is able to obtain his visa from China and join the Milan church planting team.

Dortmund: For Dankmar & Renate Fischer's move to Dortmund and uniting with the church. For their missionary work in the Ruhr area and for their housing & financial provision.

Rock Berlin: Keep praying for growth, especially growth of and through the new believers.

Pamplona: For continued language advancement and cultural adaptation for Dom.

Dortmund: For the retreat Sept 11-13 in Hohenböken. Pray for great fellowship, teaching and growth in the faith.

Amsterdam: For new workers to fill the volunteer roles in the church (especially with children's ministry).

Turin: That the transition of responsibilities and leadership transfer smoothly from the Apisas to young leaders.

Poznan: For Jack to redouble his efforts with the Polish language. Pray for success.

Turin: For the Meiburgers who are on home service, that they would have safety in their travels and success in their support raising activities so that they can return 100% supported with religious workers visa in hand.

GCE: For Joe Dunn's MTD (Ministry Team Development) effort. For new team members and prayer partners.

Poznan: For wisdom for Joan in putting together Graham's and Isaac's home schooling program.

Amsterdam: For the continued development of new teachers through the Luke series running through December.

GCE: For the Awaken conference to be held Jan 2-6 near Madrid, that many from the European churches attend.

Rock Berlin: Praise for Every Nation, a ministry that is planning to rent their rooms for Saturday evening services.

Pamplona: For the church plant team formation, especially as Jordan Monson prepares to move to Pamplona.

Milan: That evangelism and discipleship become a passion for the Italy churches, Milan & Turin.

Pamplona: For formal recognition by the Public University as a student service organization.

Kiev Simple Network: For networks in Ukraine, Moldova, Russia and Kazakhstan to plant churches.

Germany: For the Pastors' Summit in Berlin Sep 24-27. For the elders from our churches that will be together learning how to build healthy leaders and planning for the future.

Madrid: For Mayir and Tamara, that they will conduct their lives according to the will of God.

Amsterdam: For the formation of the communities as we transition away from Home Groups and into "Communities" made up of individuals with like-minded passion/heart for the same sub-culture or outreach focus.

Milan: For English Club registration - that many students sign up who are spiritually hungry and for 5+ salvations.

GCE: For the Leadership Team Retreat in Cologne. For vision, unity, prayer, planning, direction and faith.

Poznan: For people to be saved as the students apply what they have learned. For several effective evangelists to be raised up.

Pamplona: For Daniel's first year of school; to be a witness for Christ with his teacher and classmates.

The Poor:

• That we would be willing to give without expecting anything in return.

Luke 14:12-14 Then Jesus said to his host, "When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous."

• That we would be blind to their appearance and aware of their spiritual and physical needs

• That we would be willing to give out of our abundance to help with their lack.

2 Cor 8:9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.

• That our nation would set our priorities according to what is true and eternal.

2 Cor 4:18 For we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

• That we as a church would seek to care for one another's needs, and be an example to the world.

Galatians 6:10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

GCNW:

• Prairie Ridge, Aurora, CO: For fruitful follow-up of people from our "End of Summer" picnic and outreach events, and from our "prayer on the porch."

• Mars Hill, Iowa City: For our house churches to grow in evangelism and discipleship.

• New Life, Cedar Rapids: Please pray for our new Church plant-- The Core.

• The Rock ISU, Ames: Please pray for the new students the Rockers will be reaching out to. Pray we will be bold in our love and in the gospel of Jesus Christ.

• Walnut Creek, Des Moines, IA: Pray that God would raise up laborers for a harvest of souls: Matthew 9:37-38; also pray to discern the will of God in all matters: I Kings 3:8-9.

• Vintage Faith Church: Fruitful follow-up of students contacted during our fall evangelistic outreach with Steele Croswhite.

• Provo Utah church plant - Pray for grace to be a bold witness; pray for more leaders for the harvest.

• Grace Campus, Purdue: Pray that God will bless the development of leaders to assist with the work here at Purdue and prepare us for effective Kingdom work.

• Summitview Loveland: That our fall outreach would be fruitful for the kingdom of God, fruitful in the lives of our saints, and a blessing to our community.

• Summitview, Fort Collins: Please pray for an effective month of outreach on the CSU campus. Also pray that church-wide we would have 'all hands on deck' for evangelism/outreach!

• The Expedition, Seattle, WA: Pray for success in influencing young families; fruitfulness and more laborers.

• The Rock, Sandy, Utah: Pray for more laborers in Sandy Utah; for wisdom and grace in our negotiations for land and eventual building. Finances are a little tight-- please pray for God to bless and for us to trust Him.

• Foundation Church, Janesville, WI:  that God will cause many souls in the area to be saved.

• Candlewood, Omaha, NE: Pray for more laborers; and to be more radical in their love and bold in their witness.

• Day 7, Loveland: Trusting God for greater things in 2009: 24 new souls to minister to, 12 new saved souls, 12 baptisms, 4 community outreach events, 100 prayer requests, all contributing in service, 2 new Fellowship Teams.

• New Song Phoenix: Pray for salvations this fall, and that we would all have times of intimacy with the Lord away from day-to-day responsibilities

• Lifesong, Rio Rancho, NM: Pray for their growth as they love and reach out to their new community.

• Glen Arbor CC, Chicago: SALT Ministry--Young College age Leadership Training to continue to grow.

• The Rock, Salt Lake City, Utah: Please pray for fruit to remain and grow from our summer Saturday night mission trips.

• Prairieview,  Parker, CO:  People saved and discipled for Christ Salvations and transformed lives.

• Stonebrook CC, Ames, IA: God would raise up workers and build our discipleship skills.

• Tri-State, Dubuque, IA: Pray for more salvations; a renewed spirit of service, and help to finish the building.

• Valley View: Pray that our church would wage spiritual war against our adversary by taking up the full armor of God. Pray that we identify any lie from the truth and pursue love with one another.

• Harvest CC, Lincoln, NE: Each One Reach One Together; 150 to Faithwalkers; to reach $50,000 building fund goal.

• Community Church, Greeley, CO: Please pray that God would bless our campus ministry at UNC this fall with a worship team, laborers, more men, and salvations.

• El Paso, TX church plant: Pray for fruitfulness with this new church plant.

• The Firehouse, Denver, CO: God's blessing on our fall outreach and building campaign.

• Rio West Community Church, Albuquerque: Pray for a start up of a college ministry by our church, this fall.

Mars Hill Prayer List - August 25, 2009

CHINA

Some background about China:

Much has been said about the revival of Christianity in China in recent decades, And yet, more than 1.2 billion Chinese - nearly one-fifth of the world population - do not know Christ! Many have never even heard. China is at a pivital point in its history.

As recently as 1979 all churches in China were shut-some turned into factories or storerooms, others left derelict. Madame Mao had vowed to destroy Christianity so thoroughly that it would survive only in museums. In 1949 the Protestant community numbered less than one million. The persecutions of the 1950s and the catastrophe of the Cultural Revolution (1966-76) had apparently eroded the church still further. But in those dark years God did a beautiful work. His faithful servants cried to him in prayer in the midst of their suffering. Then, as the Maoist dream of an atheistic utopia turned into a nightmare enveloping the entire country, more and more people were deeply moved by the love of the despised Christians and turned in their despair to the living Christ. One pastor said, "We thought things could only get worse. But in 1976 Mao died and a month later Madame Mao and the infamous 'Gang of Four' were arrested. God intervened! Now the churches are open again and are full to overflowing. It's a miracle!" A quarter-century has passed, and today there are about 50,000 churches and meeting points legally open all over China as well as countless house churches. The number of registered, adult Protestants is approaching 20 million. Nearly every day a new church opens.

The China Christian Council and the Three Self Patriotic Movement (TSPM) are the two organizations, under the control of the Communist Party, which supervise the registered Protestant church. At the grassroots, this church is vigorously evangelical. Thousands flock to Sunday worship and attend weekday Bible studies, prayer meetings, youth meetings, choir practice etc. Every year tens of thousands of new converts are baptized-usually at mass baptisms taking place at Easter and Christmas. Churches are often so crowded that people must stand or sit in the courtyard outside, or attend overflow meetings in other rooms, following the service on closed-circuit TV. However, there is a shortage of trained pastors. On average, one pastor has to minister to over 10,000 Christians! Because of the persecutions of the 1950s and 60s, pastors tend to be either elderly or very young. This is a church of great diversity. In Shanghai and Beijing, well-educated, relatively wealthy congregations-often including many students and young people-meet in huge cathedrals. In remote rural meeting points, illiterate old women and peasant farmers gather in dire poverty, yet with great fervor. They often walk for miles to worship God with other believers.

Some prayer requests from Christians working in China:

• That God may guide the Chinese back from straying into pursuits of wealth, power and lusts following the country's rapid economic growth.

• May God remember the remote and rural segments that remain abjectly poor despite China's rapid economic development.

• May all levels of Chinese authorities remain incorruptible against temptations under a prosperous economy

• May God do away idol worship and other superstitious culture that bewilder the people, so that they may be set free to receive the true light.

• May churches focus on evangelism and lead many to Jesus Christ.

• May God provide the needs of churches involved in church planting

• May God remove all superstitious practices among the people and revive them from their spiritual stupor.

• That the younger Christians keep to holiness and reject worldliness.

• May campus ministries prosper and many students come to the Lord.

• May God upgrade the pulpit messages and training programs of the churches to bring in new souls day by day.

• That believers are not only grounded in the truth but holding fast to it in resisting heresies.

• That the provincial authorities will effectively stem the spread of aids and provide adequate care for the aids victims.

• That you continue to guide new believers here so that they can grow more fully in their faith. Give them the faith to be able to believe without seeing in a country where it can be a difficult choice to follow you.

• Continue guiding people with your loving hand as the people of Sichuan are still rebuilding from last year's devastating earthquake.

• Be with the families who make hard decisions between sending their children to school or the factory to make ends meet.

• Help rural churches find the preachers they need so that they can continue their ministries in the countryside.

• Guide new believers here so that they can grow more fully in their faith. Give them the faith to be able to believe without seeing in a country where it can be a difficult choice to follow you.

• Continue guiding people with your loving hand as the people of Sichuan are still rebuilding from last year's devastating earthquake.

• Be with the families who make hard decisions between sending their children to school or the factory to make ends meet.

• Help rural churches find the preachers they need so that they can continue their ministries in the countryside.

Mars Hill Prayer List - August 4, 2009

"The greatest tragedy in life is not unanswered prayer but unoffered
prayer." F. B. Meyer

"You do not have because you do not ask." James 4:2

Dan & Lori Goering

Dan & Lori Goering are church planters who have been missionaries to Germany for 19 years. Starting in Lawrence, KS and then Champaign, IL, they moved to Germany in 1990 and have been used by God to start
churches in Dortmand, Dusseldorf and Cologne. Please pray the following for the Goerings:

• that they would be able to visit with the right people and see the places they want to see in the remaining time they have in the states

• for Europe 2014, a major effort by Great Commission Europe to plant new churches on the continent

• for men & women in Germany to join them in reaching that nation for the gospel

• that their vision to reach Europe would spread to other churches in the US, and God would call laborers to join them

• that all of their financial needs would be supplied

Mars Hill House Churches

Please pray the following for the house churches at Mars Hill:

• that God would lead us into opportunities to share what he has given us with the lost

• that our house churches would be communities of much truth and much love

• that our influence would spread beyond our neighborhoods and into our region and the world

• that we would be blessed by the Lord to be fruitful and multiply

• for 3 people that you know who your house church could reach out to

From the Hill is a new blog on the Mars Hill website that will offer perspective and ideas from Dan Bovenmyer, a pastor at Mars Hill Church.

You can subscribe to this Blog's RSS feed here: http://feeds.feedburner.com/fromthehill

You can read this blog on the web at: http://marshill.cc/fromthehill

GCNW:

• The Global Pastors Network: Pray for 1 billion souls to be saved and 5 million churches planted. Our movement of churches is committed to this initiative.

• Grace Campus, Purdue: Pray that God will bless the development of leaders to assist with the work here at Purdue and prepare us for effective Kingdom work.

• Mars Hill, Iowa City: For our house churches to grow in evangelism and discipleship.

• New Life, Cedar Rapids IA: Please pray for the success of our Christian Day Care as an outreach to our community.

• The Rock, ISU: Please pray for our upcoming fall semester. We're branching out to a new dormitory in hopes to spread the Gospel to the corners of our campus.

• Walnut Creek, Des Moines, IA: Pray that God would raise up laborers for a harvest of souls: Matthew 9:37-38; also pray to discern the will of God in all matters: I Kings 3:8-9.

• Tri-State, Dubuque, IA: Pray for more salvations; a renewed spirit of service, and help to finish the building.

• Provo Utah church plant - Pray for grace to be a bold witness; pray for more leaders for the harvest.

• Prairie Ridge CC, CO: "O God, our Father, let us not be content to wait and see what will happen, but give us the determination to make the right things happen." (H.B. London Jr.)

• Summitview Loveland: Unity of leadership; financial-saints trusting for God's provisions to continue to be poured out on His church.

• Summitview, Ft. Collins: Focus on summer evangelism through youth group and young adults; The Rock CSU: Outreach in El Paso by our Infusion teams to be fruitful.

• Mission USA: Pray for more Great Commission churches to be planted in the U.S.

• The Expedition, Seattle, WA: Pray for success in influencing young families; fruitfulness and more laborers.

• The Rock, Sandy UT: Pray for favor from the sellers on our recent offer to buy their property; Psalms 119:165. Pray we would love God's word and seek him diligently.

• Foundation Church in Janesville, Wisconsin, that God will cause many souls in the area to be saved.

• Candlewood, Omaha, NE: Pray for more laborers; and to be more radical in their love and bold in their witness.

• Day 7, Loveland: Trusting God for greater things in 2009: 24 new souls to minister to, 12 new saved souls, 12 baptisms, 4 community outreach events, 100 prayer requests, all contributing in service, 2 new Fellowship Teams.

• New Song West, AZ: Pray that our youth who go to HSLT would be humble servants, growing in faith and evangelism.

• Lifesong, Rio Rancho, NM: Pray for their growth as they love and reach out to their new community.

• Glen Arbor CC, Chicago: SALT Ministry 2009 - Young college-age Leadership Training in Chicago

• The Rock, Salt Lake City, Utah: Please pray for our short term summer mission trips with our House Churches. We have two going to Colorado and one to Seattle.

• Prairie View, Parker, CO: Salvations this summer and lives transformed and changed into laborers.

• Stonebrook CC: God's transforming power to be evident at the Parent/Teen Leadership conference in Des Moines July 23-27.

• Vintage Faith Church - Pray for the CSU and the ISU Mission Teams coming to help our church July 9-12, that we would be a blessing and encouragement to each other.

• Valley View CC, Denver: Please pray our church will unite to support those in need in this financial crisis, and that we all we trust God for His provision; that we use these days to reach others with similar needs.

• Harvest CC, Lincoln, NE: Each One Reach One Together; 150 to Faithwalkers; to reach $50,000 building fund goal.

• Summitview CC, Greeley, CO: Please pray for our "Banish the Buckets" fund raiser to fix our aging and leaky church roof: we're aiming for $50,000.

• El Paso, TX church plant: Pray for fruitfulness with this new church plant.

• The Firehouse, Denver, CO: For God to win the lost through our church and our new campus ministry.

• Rio West, Albuquerque, NM: Completion of our facility addition within budget; multiplication of young leaders.

• Please pray that all Great Commission churches would be effective in evangelism

The Decorah Church Plant

Please pray the following for the Decorah Church Plant:

• The immediate sale of the Borseth's house in Ames - specifically that the city will be favorable to their interpretation of the occupancy code.

• A job for Bob Hibbing in his area of expertise, and a house for Bob & Patty that will be useful to the ministry and meet their needs as a family.

• Boldness for the Summer Project team to proclaim the gospel & their vision to the community.

• Many seeds planted through the summer project that will bear immediate and longterm fruit.

• Open doors in the community - men & women like Crispus (Acts 18:8) and Lydia (Acts 16:14).

• Strengthening & encouragement through those invited to speak throughout the summer (Joe will be speaking this weekend).

Honduras

In the past few weeks the country of Honduras has experienced a great deal of political and social turmoil. The sitting president attempted to introduce a referendum to be voted on by the people in November. This was viewed as an attempt to consolidate his power by the courts, the military and his own party. He was forcibly removed from the country, and has been trying to return and regain his office. Many demonstrations on both sides have caused a great deal of unrest. Please pray:

• That opposing political views would be expressed legally and peacefully.

• That evil men would not use the opportunity to commit crimes like murder and looting.

• That the government leaders would see themselves as accountable to the people and to God, and not use their office for selfish gain.

• That the external pressure being applied by the US, the Organization of American States, the UN, the World Bank & others would result in the dispute being resolved in accordance with the constitution of Honduras.

• That the church in Honduras would seize the opportunity to tell people about the one true King, Jesus, and that many would place their faith in him.

• That the church would be viewed as a stabilizing force in this uneasy time, and would be a refuge of reason and hope.

Europe

Please this week pray for the continent of Europe. Pray that as the nations are seeded with the truth, that they would find good soil to take root in and bear much fruit. Pray for the church in these nations, that they would accurately reflect Jesus as the bride of Christ and live in light of eternity. An asterisk (*) indicates nations were Mars Hill Church has a connection with existing outreaches. Please pray by name for those you know.

2 Thessalonians 3:1 ... pray ... that the message of the Lord may spread rapidly and be honored

Colossians 4:3 ... pray ... that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ

Ephesians 6:19 Pray ... that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel,

Romans 15:20 It has always been my ambition to preach the gospel where Christ was not known

• Norway

• Sweden

• Finland

• Estonia

• Latvia

• Lithuania

• Belarus *

• Poland *

• Ukraine *

• Ireland *

• Scotland

• England

• Netherlands *

• Belgium

• Luxembourg

• Denmark

• Germany *

• Czech Republic *

• Slovakia

• France

• Switzerland

• Italy *

• Monaco

• Austria

• Hungary

• Romania

• Moldova

• Slovenia

• Croatia *

• Bosnia Herzegovina

• Serbia

• Montenegro

• Bulgaria

• Albania

• Macedonia

• Greece

• Turkey

• Spain *

• Portugal