My prayer for you, is that our Father will return the blessings you pray for this ministry, back to you and your family... and that He will accomplish His will in you and through you as you labor with us..
The following are current prayer request that we desire you bring before the Father. The request are listed in both Summary (Bold) and Detailed form so you can read as much (or as little) about these requests as you desire.
1. Pray... for More Prayer, that God will build a strong prayer support group to undergird the ministry and seek God's will.
2. Pray for the lives God intends to touch through this ministry.
3. There will be approximately 30 meetings during the month of June. Pray for God's will to be done in each of these meetings so the board will have clear direction in various decisons that are being made.
1. For years my desire for Bel-Aire is inspired from the story of Samson when he tied the foxes tails together with lite torches, and let them loose to run through the Phillistine vineyards. I imagine the field igniting every time the flames hit the ground...each new flame starting a new fire spreading until the entire vinyard was consumed. In my mind I picture the Holy Spirit racing through Bel-Aire igniting soul after soul...and each soul affecting everyone around them until the whole community is consumed by the outpouring of God. For years I prayed its coming, but saw little evidence of it. Now, I see it beginning...I feel it happening in me... I sense it happening in those getting involved...I see God calling people...not in masses, but one at a time to get involved (from the suburb and the inner-city). I feel the opposition of our adversary, I sense the battle intensifying and I feel the attacks daily and often in my sleep. What more could we ask for, than more prayer... Spirit filled, powerful, effective prayer. I have many things that I feel God calling me to do, but I have an unusual "intense" urge to pray and to call those ministering with us to pray. That can only be from God and a sign He is moving. I ask that you 1) join me in prayer, and 2) recruit those who are close to you to join us in prayer, as God so leads you.
2.
Specifically,
A. Does the community want to embrace the inner-city ministry as a "public" ministry...or is the work intended to be the work of a few folks in a more private supported ministry? In 2009 we had over 30 groups come into Bel-Aire and do work days and help with have projects, yet none of those groups helped finance the ministry. In reality the ministry has outgrown our ability to fund it, and the board is therefore faced with a decision to either downsize the ministry to a level that we can afford, or find partners who will help us fund the ministry at its present public level.
B. While our desire for the inner-city ministry is to be a "church" lead and organized ministry of the local Body of Christ working together, this ministry is in its 24th year of operation and history has shown that while this objective might be the more Biblical approach...the local churches have not expressed a desire to take an active role in the outreach our Greenville's disadvantaged neighborhoods, which is a national norm. During June, and maybe some overlap in July, we will be meeting with all the major churches that are sending their people to minister with us to try and determine how we can better partner with them and how they see their role in this ministry going forward. If the interest (perhaps commitment is a better word) is not there, we will continue to work with the churches, but will no longer look to them for support and over-sight, but will establish our boards with community leaders and seek our funding from business, private, and civic sources.
2. Are our goals for being financially supported realistic