þÿ<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN"> <html> <head> <title>Faith Church, Malvern PA &bull; About Faith: Prayer and Planning</title> <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1"> <link rel="stylesheet" href="faith.css" type="text/css"> <style type="text/css"> <!-- body { background-image: url(images/sky.jpg); } --> </style> <script language="JavaScript" type="text/JavaScript"> <!-- block_status = new Array(); function showHide(theid){ if (document.getElementById) { var switch_id = document.getElementById(theid); if(block_status[theid] != 'show') { switch_id.className = 'show'; block_status[theid] = 'show'; }else{ switch_id.className = 'hide'; block_status[theid] = 'hide'; } } } //--> </script> </head> <body> <table width="622" border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tr> <td><object classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,29,0" width="622" height="84"> <param name="movie" value="images/faith_anim.swf"> <param name="quality" value="high"> <embed src="images/faith_anim.swf" quality="high" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="622" height="84"></embed> </object></td> </tr> <tr> <td><img src="images/faces.jpg" width="622" height="107"></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="622" valign="top" bgcolor="#CC9900"> <table width="490" border="0" align="left" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2"> <tr> <td width="118">&nbsp;</td> <td><a href="about_vision.html" class="TopNav"> mission &amp; vision</a></td> <td><a href="about_core.html" class="TopNav">core values</a></td> <td><span class="TopNav">prayer & planning</span></td> </tr> </table> </td> <tr> <td><table width="622" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> <tr> <td width="118" valign="top" bgcolor="#84023F"><table width="100" border="0" align="center" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="3"> <tr> <td align="left"><div align="center"></div></td> </tr> <tr> <td align="left"><div align="center"><a href="index.html" class="LeftNav">home</a></div></td> </tr> <tr> <td align="left"><div align="center"><a href="events.html" class="LeftNav">events</a></div></td> </tr> <tr> <td align="left"><div align="center"><span class="LeftNav">about Faith</span></div></td> </tr> <tr> <td align="left"><div align="center"><a href="pastor.html" class="LeftNav">our pastor</a></div></td> </tr> <tr> <td align="left"><div align="center"><a href="sermons.html" class="LeftNav">messages</a></div></td> </tr> <tr> <td align="left"><div align="center"><a href="directions.html" class="LeftNav">directions</a></div></td> </tr> <tr> <td><div align="center"></div></td> </tr> <tr> <td><div align="center"></div></td> </tr> </table></td> <td valign="top" bgcolor="#FFFFFF"><table width="470" border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tr> <td bgcolor="">&nbsp;</td> </tr> <tr> <td align=center><div align="left"><span class=largeHeading>Prayer and Planning Vision for 2011-2013</span><br> <!--span class=smallHeading></span><br--> <br> </div></td> </tr> <tr> <td align="left" valign="top" class="normalText"> <p align="left" class=normalText> James 4: 2 says,<em> &#8220;You do not have because you do not ask.&#8221;</em> Pray that God would do all these things (and more!) in the next three years at Faith Church, if these requests will bring honor to Him (James 4:3) and if they are consistent with His wise, sovereign plan (James 4:13-16). These are very specific ways, flowing from each of our Core Values, that God could work in us and through us in the coming days&#8230;</p> <div id="blocks"> <p align=center><em>Click each title below to expand or close the content.</em></p> <p align="left" class=listText><span class="boldText" onclick="showHide('block1')">Christ-Honoring Ministry</span></p> <div id="block1" class="hide"> <p><i>We seek to exalt our Lord Jesus in all we do, through the power of the Holy Spirit and to the glory of God the Father.</i></p> <p>Pray that every time we meet or conduct ministry, Christ would always be the primary focal point of our worship, learning, fellowship, and service. Pray that He would never be forgotten or left out  of anything we do.</p> <p>Pray that through the words and actions of the leaders and members of the body, everyone who comes in contact with us would be able to see that our greatest goal is to bring honor and glory to Christ. Pray that it would be clear that this is not the pastor s church, the people s church, the PCA s church, or anything similar, but that this is Christ s church.</p> <p>Pray that nothing else would become more important to us than pleasing Christ even good things like particular doctrines, worship preferences, buildings, attendance, money, etc.</p> <p>Pray that all we do at Faith would flow from the written Word of God and be consistent with it, because the living Word inspired all of Scripture as a record of His revelation to us, and all of it is actually about Him in one way or another. Pray that in our teaching and discussions of various parts of the Bible, we would see and show how they relate to the main theme, which is the person and work of Jesus Christ.</p> <p>Pray that at the end of every year, each member, attender, and many others we know would be able to say that through the ministry of Faith Church, they know Jesus Christ better than they did at the beginning of the year, and have a closer personal relationship with Him.</p> </div> <p align="left" class=listText><span class="boldText" onclick="showHide('block2')">&#8220;Great Commission&#8221; Discipleship</span></p> <div id="block2" class="hide"> <p><i>Helping people of all ages and backgrounds to become followers of Christ, to grow in their relationship with Him, and to pass on to others what they have learned and experienced.</i></p> <p>Pray that God would bring at least 25 new people to the church by the end of 2011, 50 by the end of 2012, and 100 by the end of 2013. Pray that all of these people would be being discipled  in some way by others and most of them would also be discipling  others by sharing their faith.</p> <p>Pray that at least one-third of the people who attend the church regularly would be people who were not previously in a good church (i.e. they were unitiated  in the faith). Pray that at least one-tenth of them would be people who have not yet committed their lives to Christ, but are open to learning about Him.</p> <p>Pray that the members and attenders of our church would be diverse in their racial, financial, and cultural backgrounds (Jesus said make disciples of all kinds of people ). For instance, pray that we would have Asians and African-Americans, rich people and poor people, disabled people, government officials, people struggling with addictions, famous people, people who have been in the gay  lifestyle, senior citizens, etc. etc.</p> <p>Pray that because of the kind of people God has already brought to our church, and the demographics of the communities around us, we would especially minister to many educated professional people. This is one of the most unreached people groups in America today,  as one student of the culture has said. Pray that we would study and understand this people group  better, and find new ways to connect with them.</p> <p>Pray that the paradigm of connecting>learning>loving>serving  mentioned at the beginning of this project would be known and understood by all who attend the church, so that people who are coming to Christ and the church for the first time will know and understand how they can progress in their faith at Faith.</p> <p>Pray that our five Faith Builders Fellowship Groups (three mixed groups, one men s and two women s) would double in number by the end of 2013, as apprentices are raised up and trained in the groups and empowered to start their own group when the time is right.</p> <p>Pray that every one of our Fellowship Groups, and our Ministry Teams, would not be consumed with mere Bible Study or church business, but would serve as an important part of the personal discipleship process of everyone who attends, because they all are developing spiritual friendships and shepherding relationships through them.</p> <p>Pray that by the end of 2011, we would have a good system in place for following-up on visitors to the church, which will give them an opportunity to be assimilated into the body by developing at least three meaningful relationships with others. (Statistics say that if this doesn t happen, most people will not continue attending.)</p> <p>Pray that by 2012 we would be able to add another full-time pastor to our staff, to assist in making disciples and training others to do so. Pray that God would raise up the right man for the tasks that are needed the most at this time (some possibilities are children and youth ministries, evangelism, biblical counseling, administrative functions, etc.)</p> <p>Pray that by the end of 2011 we would be able to complete a rejector analysis  in which we find out the reasons why people do not decide to attend regularly after they visit the church. This is so we can reach out to people better and avoid any unnecessary stumbling blocks  that may keep them from returning to the church.</p> </div> <p align="left" class=listText><span class="boldText" onclick="showHide('block3')">God-Centered Worship</span></p> <div id="block3" class="hide"> <p><i>Sunday services that enable us to see the greatness of God in all His attributes, bringing joy to His heart and to ours through singing, praying, confessing, learning, and communing.</i></p> <p>Pray that all the believers who gather to worship at Faith Church on Sundays would be there primarily to please God, and their hearts will be focused on what honors Him more than on their own enjoyment. Pray that those who plan and lead worship would also be thinking this way, and would constantly find ways to remind and encourage people to focus on the Lord more than on themselves.</p> <p>Pray that our Sunday worship would represent God accurately and reflect His Divine attributes in a balanced way, so that the members of the body and anyone who joins us would see Him in all His glory. Pray that our worship would communicate both His transcendance and His immanence, the fact that He is both a God of the ages and a God of today, and the balance of formal order and informal spontaneity that is revealed in His creation. (This is why elements of our worship are both traditional  and contemporary  why we sing both old and new songs, for example, and offer some prayers that are scripted and some that are spontaneous.)</p> <p>Pray that we will always follow a thoughtfully planned, theologically-informed order of worship (Praise, Renewal, and Commitment, adding Communion on the first Sunday of the month), so that people will develop good habits in worship, and that we will always include the scriptural elements of singing, praying, confessing, learning, and communing. But pray that we will also have variety in the way we practice the order and elements, so that we might reflect both the order and variety in God s character and creation.</p> <p>Pray that our worship music would always be biblical in its content, and that those who lead and accompany the singing would always plan and practice their ministry in a way that encourages participation from the congregation more than performance from the people up front. Pray that the style of the music will have variety, for the same reason mentioned above, but that it also will flow  with enough uniformity that the variety will not be a distraction to the worshippers.</p> <p>Pray that the pastor would at least be involved in the planning of the Sunday worship, if not leading some himself, for theological and philosophical guidance and protection. But pray also that through him God would also raise up others who can participate in this ministry, and carry it on in stride  if the pastor is not there.</p> <p>Pray that we will make use of all the musical talents of the people who attend the church and who are led by God to serve in this way. Pray that we will always strive for excellence in our music, but never succumb to pride or snobbishness.</p> <p>Pray that our worship would serve as a model to other churches, and that God would give us opportunities to encourage and train others in this God-centered, biblically balanced approach.</p> </div> <p align="left" class=listText><span class="boldText" onclick="showHide('block4')">Kingdom-Oriented Prayer</span></p> <div id="block4" class="hide"> <p><i>Enjoying the worship of God and accomplishing the work of the ministry through praising and petitioning Him according to the principles and examples in His Word.</i></p> <p>Pray that Faith Church would be known as a praying church,  that prayer will permeate all we do, and that the people in our body will be constantly seeing the fruit of answered prayer.</p> <p>Pray that the prayers offered in the gatherings of Faith Church would be filled with praise and thanksgiving to God and focused primarily on the advancement of His kingdom in the world. Pray that even when we pray about personal needs and desires, we would always remember to make a connection with God s will and His glory, and that we will always remember to pray for people in other places around the world.</p> <p>Pray that we would especially remember to intercede constantly for those who do not yet know Christ, because God desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth  (1 Timothy 2:4).</p> <p>Pray that our prayers would always be according to the will of God  (1 John 5:14) that they would be consistent with what the Bible says and offered in humble submission to what He knows is best for us ( if the Lord wills ). Pray that the people in the church would be encouraged by instruction and example to use the Scriptures in their prayers, even reading or quoting the exact words that God has revealed.</p> <p>Pray that the leaders of our gatherings (worship services, small groups, ministry teams, etc.) would always be modeling the kind of prayer described above, and instructing others in how to do it.</p> <p>Pray that all of our fellowship groups and ministry team meetings would spend at least 20 minutes in this kind of prayer every time they meet.</p> <p>Pray that by the end of 2011 we would have a good system by which people could share prayer requests with the rest of the Faith family, or at least with the members of a Prayer Team. </p> <p>Pray that before the end of 2012, we would have some kind of formal training in the practice of prayer for our leaders, and for at least 20 of our other members. (This could happen through fellowship groups, a class, a seminar, a retreat, or another kind of program.)</p> </div> <p align="left" class=listText><span class="boldText" onclick="showHide('block5')">Life-Changing Bible Teaching</span></p> <div id="block5" class="hide"> <p><i>Explaining and applying the truth of God&#8217;s Word, informed by what God has taught His people throughout the rich history of the Christian faith.</i></p> <p>Pray that the teaching of the Word of God, in a variety of forms, would be a prominent feature in most of our gatherings (Sunday services, small groups, etc.), so that the Lord would be allowed to speak to us when we meet in His name and for His honor.</p> <p>Pray that the teaching at Faith Church would always be biblical in that its goal is to communicate what God has to say, rather than the thoughts and priorities of men, and that the meaning of each text of Scripture would be accurately represented.</p> <p>Pray that the teaching would always be Christ-centered and gospel-centered, in that every passage and topic addressed would be connected to the person and work of Jesus, and saturated with His grace.</p> <p>Pray that merely human rules, preferences, and opinions would never be presented as equal to the Word of God itself, and that those who teach would always be careful to differentiate between the two (Mark 7:7-9, 1 Cor. 4:5-6).</p> <p>Pray that the goal of our instruction  would always be love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith  (1 Tim. 1:5). Pray that our teaching would never be merely for the purpose of intellectual curiosity or accomplishment, but so that people will become more like Jesus Christ in their hearts and lives.</p> <p>Pray that through personal training and apprenticeship in the fellowship groups, at least three new teachers will be raised up by the end of 2012 people who are gifted and qualified to teach regularly in new groups and other venues.</p> <p>Pray that by the end of 2013 we would have at least two more men who would be qualified to preach in our worship services, and/or be pursuing ordination for the role of teaching elder  (pastor). Pray that our congregation would be able to participate in sending them to seminary, if that is what they need to achieve their goals.</p> <p>Pray that every year we will evaluate whether Sunday School  is a good option for our church, and start that ministry if wisdom leads that way. But pray that such a ministry would never be allowed to replace or diminish the ministry of our fellowship groups, because the latter are more conducive to life-changing Bible teaching  (see above), and to producing the caring community  discussed in the next section.</p> <p>Pray that Pastor Dave would make it a priority to train leaders in teaching, in the Ministry Leaders Meetings and in at least one retreat for that purpose.</p> <p>Pray that the teaching of Faith Church would be consistent with the system of doctrine contained in the Westminster Confession of Faith and other historical creeds, and that our people would learn to appreciate the contributions of godly and gifted pastors and teachers  that God has raised up throughout the history of the church (Matt. 16:18, Eph. 4:11).</p> <p>Pray that the teaching in the worship service and fellowship groups, etc. would be appropriate for all ages, so that children can make a seamless transition from childcare or Children s Church to the larger gatherings. Pray that Doodle Sunday  would continue to be helpful in making that transition, and to get children excited about being a part of the big church. </p> </div> <p align="left" class=listText><span class="boldText" onclick="showHide('block6')">Caring Community</span></p> <div id="block6" class="hide"> <p><i>A family atmosphere where people genuinely care for one another, and share openly their hopes, fears, and struggles with one another.</i></p> <p>Pray that all the people who attend the meetings of Faith Church would truly think of themselves as being a part of a family, in all the good ways that term is used (like mutual commitment, loyalty, life together, honesty and openness, unconditional love and acceptance, providing for one another, etc. etc.).</p> <p>Pray that the members of this spiritual family would be prepared to care for one another as much as, and even more, than they would for their own blood relatives  (Matt. 19:29).</p> <p>Pray that we would have genuine openness with one another about our struggles and sins, which would start with the leaders and be apparent even to those who are new in our midst. Pray that this transparency and humility would communicate the gospel to us all, and especially those that are new, so that they can learn to admit and even embrace their own profound neediness, and receive and rest in the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ (Luke 18:9-14, James 4:10).</p> <p>Pray that as the early believers were together, and had all things in common  (Acts 2:44), that we would share our time and lives together in a variety of settings, as any good family does.</p> <p>Pray that as the early believers were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart  (Acts 2:46), we would frequently extend hospitality to one another and enjoy being in each others  homes (Rom. 12:13). Pray also that we would share church-wide meals together, regularly or at least periodically.</p> <p>Pray that each year we would have at least five community-building events,  some planned by our fellowship groups, that will give people the opportunity to spend time together and grow in their relationships with one another.</p> <p>Pray that as the early church gave as anyone might have need  and there was not a needy person among them  (Acts 2:45, 4:34-35), so we would care for one another s physical needs. Pray that we would always keep enough money in our Mercy Fund  to meet any significant needs that arise in our church family, and that we would increase that amount if necessary.</p> <p>Pray that individuals would be willing to meet needs personally if that is necessary, but that we would all give generously in the offerings so that the whole church can have the privilege of participating in this ministry, and that it can be administered by the leaders of the body (Acts 4:34-35).</p> <p>Pray that our Mercy Team would successfully coordinate the meeting of other physical needs of people in the body, such as rides, moving into a new home, house maintenance, etc.</p> <p>Pray that we would be building a community to reach the community  that our purpose would never be merely to create a club  for our needs and enjoyment, but also so that we could enfold new people into our spiritual family. Because of the breakdown of the family in our culture today, as some have observed, belonging  often precedes believing. Many people come to embrace God as their Father only after they can see themselves as a part of His family.</p> </div> <p align="left" class=listText><span class="boldText" onclick="showHide('block7')">Merciful Service</span></p> <div id="block7" class="hide"> <p><i>Reflecting the character of God by showing kindness to people made in His image, without placing prior conditions on them or expecting anything in return.</i></p> <p>Pray that God would lead us to many people outside our body that we can serve by meeting their physical and financial needs, to honor Christ in this way and build bridges for the gospel.</p> <p>Pray that the Mercy Team would be constantly developing ways to find and serve people like that, successfully coordinate the ministry of meeting their needs, and instruct and involve the congregation in this important task.</p> <p>Pray that the Mercy Team would always have the willingness and resources to help people when we first meet them, but also the wisdom to know whether giving to them is the best way to help them, beyond that intial outreach.</p> <p>Pray that God would provide at least one person qualified to do financial counseling, who would be willing to meet with people that we are helping.</p> <p>Pray that the Mercy Team, and perhaps others in the congregation, would find creative and appropriate ways for us to help these people with their spiritual needs as well as their physical ones.</p> <p>Pray that by the end of 2012, the Mercy Team would identify some other ways (besides financial support) that we could participate in a ministry to pregnant women and their unborn babies (the most helpless of all the needy ), and find ways to inform and involve the congregation in regard to this kind of ministry.</p> <p>Pray that by the end of 2012, God would raise up from the Mercy Team at least two men who are called and qualified to be elected to the office of deacon (I Tim. 3:8-10). Pray that these men would then oversee the work of the Mercy Team, and all related ministry in the church (Acts 6:3).</p> <p>Pray that by the end of 2013, the deacons and/or deacon candidates would be able to attend a Mercy Ministry conference or training seminar, to be further equipped for their ministry.</p> <p>Pray that the Mercy Team would be able to organize regular ministry projects, at least four times per year, that would give groups of people from the church an opportunity to serve together in this kind of ministry. These projects are called S.O.S. (Servants of the Savior) because of what Jesus said in Matthew 25:34-40.</p> </div> <p align="left" class=listText><span class="boldText" onclick="showHide('block8')">Loving Shepherding</span></p> <div id="block8" class="hide"> <p><i>Godly, mature leaders who take seriously their responsibility as &#8220;spiritual fathers&#8221; to those who are younger in the faith, and members who look to those leaders for instruction, counsel, and accountability.</i></p> <p>Pray that all our fellowship groups and ministry team leaders would see themselves as shepherds to those who attend their meetings, and that they would be increasingly equipped for this task.</p> <p>Pray that by 2012 at the latest, God will call and raise up at least three men who will be trained and qualified to become elders, to shepherd the entire flock. Pray that the members of the church will have wisdom in the election of these men.</p> <p>Pray that the elders who are raised up would fulfill all the qualifications listed in 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:6-9, that they would be gospel-centered men who freely and frequently confess their own sins, that they would be men of prayer and the Word who consider those to be the primary parts of their ministry (Acts 6:4), that they would all share this same vision for Faith Church, and that they would be able to serve together and complement one another without differing agendas, power struggles,  or dissension of any kind. Pray that God will protect this church from any leaders who would put their own ambitions and preferences ahead of the good of the whole body, or who are otherwise unqualified to be in that role (Acts 20:28-30, 2 Peter 2:1-3, etc.).</p> <p>Pray that through the loving shepherding of goldy leaders, we will be admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, that we may present every man complete in Christ  (Col. 1:28). In other words, pray that every member of the body, and those who should be members, will have some connection with the leaders, so that no one will fall through the cracks. </p> <p>Pray that all the believers who worship at Faith Church and consider themselves a part of the church family would commit themselves to membership, or at least be in the process of learning about it and moving toward it, so that the shepherds can know who their sheep  are and fulfill their responsibility of watching out for their souls (Heb. 13:17).</p> <p>Pray that the members of Faith Church would willingly submit to the authority of their leaders (Heb. 13:17), and that the leaders would always exercise their authority for the good of the members and never abuse it (1 Peter 5:2-3).</p> <p>Pray that if necessary the leaders of Faith Church would be willing to exercise that aspect of loving shepherding that is commonly called church discipline  (Matt. 18:15-17, 1 Cor. 5). Pray that the people in the body would support this process as a way in which God restores those who sin, preserves the purity and peace of the body, and provides the motivation and accountability we all need to continue growing in our faith.</p> <p>Pray that if the needs of shepherding and training shepherds require it by 2012 or 2013, that God would provide an additional pastor who could enhance both of those important aspects of church life.</p> <p>Pray that through Pastor Dave and other training resources, the leaders of Faith Church would all have a growing ability to counsel people from the Scriptures (Rom. 15:14; James 5:14-16, see the core value Biblical Counseling  below).</p> <p>Pray that all the leaders of Faith Church would be training other faithful men, who will be able to teach others also  (2 Tim. 2:2). Pray that they each will reproduce themselves so that there will be more leaders to serve a growing congregation, or to replace them when they are no longer able to serve.</p> </div> <p align="left" class=listText><span class="boldText" onclick="showHide('block9')">Gospel Communication</span></p> <div id="block9" class="hide"> <p><i>Constantly and creatively spreading the good news about Christ through word and deed to all kinds of people, and building friendships with non-believers with this goal in mind.</i></p> <p>Pray that each member and attender of Faith Church will be sharing the gospel with non-believers they know and showing them the benefits of the gospel by their changed lives. Pray that each of us would be known as a friend of sinners,  as our Lord was called.</p> <p>Pray that Pastor Dave and the other leaders in the church would be setting an example by doing the work of an evangelist  along with their shepherding duties (2 Tim. 4:5). Pray that God would guide them to regular opportunities and creative ways to make this a priority in their lives.</p> <p>Pray that each year the leaders would provide at least one opportunity for people to learn about evangelism, either through sermon series, classes, small group studies, or a retreat or conference.</p> <p>Pray that whenever we meet together, we would make it a priority to pray about gospel communication in word and deed, and that individually each of us would remember to pray regularly for those who need Christ.</p> <p>Pray that in response to those prayers, God would cross our paths  with many people whom He plans to save (Acts 18:10), since we are utterly dependent upon His sovereign work for the opportunities and the results.</p> <p>Pray that we would understand and articulate the gospel of grace in a thoroughly biblical way, and that we would communicate it in a way that is consistent with the Reformed theology in our confession of faith. Since so many Reformed churches do not excel at evangelism, and many others practice it in a way that is not consistent with their theology, pray that God may give us the opportunity to provide a model of Reformed evangelism  that is both doctrinally sound and practically effective.</p> <p>Pray that our Church in the Park  ministry in Malvern would be successful and provide new ways for us to connect with the community and build relationships in it.</p> <p>Pray that by 2013 God would raise up another church planting apprentice  who is gifted in evangelism, could serve in our church for several years, and then be sent out to start a new gospel-centered church in another neighboring area.</p> </div> <p align="left" class=listText><span class="boldText" onclick="showHide('block10')">Biblical Counseling</span></p> <div id="block10" class="hide"> <p><i>Pastors and others who are gifted, trained, and compassionate helping people to apply the Scriptures to their toughest personal and relational problems.</i></p> <p>Pray that the pastors, elders, and other leaders of Faith Church would believe wholeheartedly in the sufficiency of the Scriptures to address the spiritual issues that people face, and would be able to discern and discredit the non-biblical approaches to those issues that are so widespread in the world and in the church.</p> <p>Pray that through the public and private teaching of those leaders, the people of the body would look toward the resources of God rather than man for their help with life s problems, and would also be discerning regarding the cracked pots that can hold no water  (Jeremiah 2:13).</p> <p>Pray that the pastors and other leaders would be knowledgeable and skilled in how to apply the Word of God to people s problems in pastoral  or formal  counseling, and that they would provide training for other gifted men and women to assist them in that process. Pray that by the end of 2013 we would have at least three men and women, besides the pastor, who are equipped to serve the body in this way.</p> <p>Pray that the people of the body would be equipped and encouraged by the leaders to help one another with their problems in many informal  ways; may they all realize that in Christ they are filled with goodness and knowledge, and able to counsel one another  (Romans 15:14).</p> <p>Pray that God would give us many opportunities to counsel people in the Malvern area who are not yet Christians, but would be willing to hear about God s solutions to their problems. (There is much familial and personal brokenness in the Upper Main Line area, and we have the answer to it!).</p> <p>Pray that we would be able to identify other biblical counselors in the area who are also committed to the total sufficiency of the Scriptures and who could partner with us in helping individuals and turning God s people as a whole back to the Word as the solution to our problems.</p> <p>Pray that in God s timing we would be able to start or partner in starting a Biblical Counseling and Training Center, so that people outside our church could be helped by the Word and trained in the Word, and that this Center would be used by God to impact the area, the country, and even the world regarding the sufficiency and power of the Scriptures for counseling.</p> <p>Pray that Pastor Dave and others at Faith would be able to contribute to our church and also the body of Christ at large through writing materials about biblical counseling (and perhaps other media) and that in God s timing Dave or others might be able to receive continuing education in this type of ministry, to improve their own abilities and training of others, and to enable them and our church to have a broader impact on the kingdom.</p> </div> <p align="left" class=listText><span class="boldText" onclick="showHide('block11')">Strong Families</span></p> <div id="block11" class="hide"> <p><i>Loving relationships between husbands and wives and parents and children, so the world can see that God s ways work (even when we are far from perfect in following them).</i></p> <p>Pray that the men of Faith Church will be constantly encouraged, trained, and held accountable in their crucial role of providing loving leadership in their homes (or being prepared for that role if they are not married yet). Pray that God will use men s groups, personal discipleship, and other means to accomplish this goal, and that Faith Church will never be anything like the stereotype of churches where the women are spiritually strong and the men are weak, or not even there. Pray especially that men would be like Christ in exercising servant leadership,  always for the good of those under their care (Mark 10:42-45).</p> <p>Pray that the women of the church will be constantly encouraged, trained, and held accountable to be truly helpful to their husbands (Genesis 2:18), as well as submissive and respectful (Ephesians 5:22, 33; 1 Peter 3:1-2), or being prepared for that role if they are not married yet. Pray that older women,  or those who are spiritually mature, would encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be dishonored  (Titus 2:4-5). Pray that women would be able to use their many gifts and talents to the fullest in their families, in the church, and in the world (Proverbs 31:10-31).</p> <p>Pray that all the parents at Faith Church would not provoke [their] children to anger; but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord  (Ephesians 6:4). Pray that they would love their children enough to use the rod  when necessary (Proverbs 13:4, 22:15, 29:15, etc.), and would also be constantly teaching God s Word to them (Deuteronomy 6:6-9), with special emphasis on the gospel of God s grace in Christ (Romans 1:16, 10:17).</p> <p>Pray that all the children at Faith would be baptized and become communing members of the church early in their lives (Matthew 19:13-15, Luke 18:15-16), and that they would learn to obey and honor their parents (Ephesians 6:1-2). Pray that they would recognize their important role in the church family, worshipping God and using their gifts to the fullest in the opportunities they have.</p> <p>Pray that the Children s and Youth Ministry Teams would pray, plan, and work toward assisting parents by organizing and supervising ministries like Sunday morning Children s Church (for those who may have difficulty sitting or learning in the sermon) and special events that allow them to be blessed by their peers and other adults as well as their parents.</p> <p>Pray that the church would continue to emphasize the importance of family solidarity by encouraging parents and children to worship together for a significant part of the Sunday worship service (and the whole service during the monthly Doodle Sundays ). And pray that as children grow old and wise enough to understand the teaching of the pastor(s), they would be encouraged by their parents and others to attend the big church  and be instructed/examined for participation in the Lord s Supper. But also pray that we would have excellent nursery care and classes for those children who are not yet ready to remain in the service, for whatever reason.</p> <p>Pray that the Children s and Youth Ministry Teams would find ways to encourage and edify the parents in our church, not just the children, because the quality of parenting is the biggest factor in the spiritual success of children. Pray that we will have two Parents Retreats  each year (spring and fall), so that couples and single parents will be able to get away for a day and spend time learning, talking, and praying about this all- important part of their lives.</p> <p>Pray that since the real Children s Pastors  and Youth Pastors  of the church are the parents (Deuteronomy 6:6-9, Ephesians 6:1-2), fathers and mothers would be involved in the Children s and Youth ministries of the church body, using their gifts to make them the best they can be. Pray that many of our Children s and Youth events would develop from ideas that parents have, wanting to bless their own children but also making those blessings available to other children as well.</p> <p>Pray that by the end of 2011 God would put together a ministry team of people who love teens and want to serve them and their parents in a special way. Pray that this team would be guided by God to promote and provide ways that the teens in the church, and others in the community, could be helped to honor God more in these important areas of their lives: Service (1 Corinthians 7:32-35 says that they have a lot of time and energy to devote to the Lord), Sexuality (in Proverbs 5-7 Solomon s first instructions to his sons are about this topic, and 1 Corinthians 7 talks a lot about it too), Family (teens need to be connected to their parents more, and also to the whole church body, rather than being off by themselves  all the time), and Fun (Ecclesiastes 11:9 tells us that God wants young people to have a good time, as long as what they do is not contrary to His Word).</p> <p>Pray that our Boy Scouts troop would continue to be used by God in the lives of young men to complement the training of their parents, and that in 2011 and each subsequent year God would bring in several boys who are not yet attending a good church.</p> <p>Pray that Pastor Dave would continue to serve as a speaker or counselor at Tri-Pres Summer Camp (ages 7-12), that others in the church would serve at the camp as well, and that we would provide scholarships if necessary so that more children can have the unique and life-changing experience of a Christian camp that shares our theological distinctives. Pray that God might lead us to similar camp opportunities for teens as well.</p> <p>Pray that by the end of 2012, we would have enough money in our budget to pay a staff member at least half-time  to oversee and develop our ministry to children (and their parents). Children truly are our future, and the best disciples anyone could ask for (Psalms 127:3-5)!</p> </div> <p align="left" class=listText><span class="boldText" onclick="showHide('block12')">Multiplying Missions</span></p> <div id="block12" class="hide"> <p><i>Planting new churches, supporting urban and foreign ministries, and sending out workers to a variety of harvest fields, both at home and abroad.</i></p> <p>Pray that in 2011 God will raise up a leader and others who are willing to be a part of a Missions Team,  which will work with the pastor in developing a written philosophy of missions support and involvement, evaluate possible ministries to support, and serve as a catalyst to increase participation in missions among the people in the body.</p> <p>Pray that our church would generously support ministries in these four areas: our Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth  (Acts 1:8). Pray that our first priority in giving and ministry would always be our Jerusalem  (the area will live in), but that we would also give generously to support ministries in our Judea  (the areas around us that are similar to us), in our Samaria  (places near but different from us, like urban areas including the city of Philadelphia), and in faraway countries (foreign missions). Pray that we will be balanced in our giving to those three kinds of ministry outside of our own congregation...something like 1/3 to nearby church planting, 1/3 urban and mercy ministries, and 1/3 foreign missions.</p> <p>Pray that the mission works we support will primarily be those who share our theological distinctives, our commitment to the local church, and many of the other core values in these pages. Pray that we would be able to give significant amounts of support to some ministries, rather than very small amounts to many of them, and have a close connection with those we support.</p> <p>Pray that by 2012 we will have doubled our giving to ministries outside our church, and that by 2013 we will have sent out at least one of our members as a missionary.</p> <p>Pray that each year we would provide opportunities for members of our church to participate in short-term mission trips, so they can serve God in this way, broaden their spiritual horizons,  and be challenged to consider full-time missionary work in the future.</p> <p>Pray that by 2013 God we would have another Church Planting Apprentice,  who would serve at Faith for a year or more and then start another ministry in a neighboring area. Pray that God will provide the funds needed for his apprenticeship and the new ministry.</p> <p>Pray that the people from our church who move out of the area would be missionaries themselves by sharing how they have learned and grown with the people they meet in their new area.</p> </div> </div> <p>&nbsp;</p> <div align="left">&nbsp;</div></td> </tr> </table></td> </tr> </table></td> </tr> <tr> <td>&nbsp;</td> </tr> </table> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> </body> </html>