October 2014 - Bethany Mennonite Church

October 2014
Falling leaves and cooler temperatures remind us that Thanksgiving will soon be here, but God invites us to live gratefully
every day, and to be thankful in all circumstances. (1 Thess. 5:18.) How do we do that when we are surrounded by
uncertainty? Ebola in West Africa, violence in the Middle East and Ukraine, climate change, economic concerns—the list
goes on.
When dark clouds prevail, let’s step back and look at the broader picture, trusting that God is at work in the world and in
our lives. Though times may be difficult, we can thank God for those who are working hard to bring Ebola under control.
We can praise God for the peace builders who patiently share visions of cooperation and wholeness, and scientists and
creation care advocates as they seek ways to redirect our paths. And we can express gratitude to God for the activities
and relationships that enrich our personal lives. Let’s consider our cares and concerns in relationship to what is good and
lasting. Being grateful in all circumstances doesn’t guarantee continual joy, but it does remind us of God’s faithful
presence and care, and that is an ongoing blessing.
May the light of gratitude for God’s blessings brighten your world.
Deborah Froese, PrayerNet Coordinator
[email protected]
Praise
 Praise God for a new small loans program offered by the church in Burkina Faso, thanks to gifts from Mennonite Church
Canada and the Evangelical Mennonite Conference. Pray that loan recipients will develop business capacity, and that
the Lord will bless the work of their hands.
 Thank God for Jeremiah's ongoing recovery following hernia surgery in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso on Sept. 2.
Jeremiah, the son of Mennonite Church Workers Nancy Frey and Bruce Yoder, is back to his regular activities apart from
participation in sports. (WWU 2014-05, pg. 9.)
 Thank God for a successful surgery and pray for the speedy recovery of Abdias Coulibaly, pastor of the Orodara
Mennonite Church. He underwent surgery for a herniated disk in September. Pastor Coulibaly connects with Nancy Frey
and Bruce Yoder, Mennonite Church Canada workers in Burkina Faso. (WWU 2014-05, page 9.)
 Praise God for the energy and commitment of Mennonite Church Canada worker, Palmer Becker. Bethlehem Bible
College (BBC) has invited Palmer to Palestine from Sept 13 to Oct 20 for an assignment that includes teaching Pastoral
Care and Counseling in BBC’s Gaza extension program. (WWU 2014-05, pg. 2.)
 Praise God for the fruitful ministries of Nathan and Taryn Dirks, Mennonite Church Canada workers in Botswana, as
they lead young people of African Initiated Churches in ministry for prison inmates. (WWU 2014-05, page 3.)
 We are grateful for new pastors and the congregations who support them as they grow into ministry. This fall, Mennonite
Church Canada’s Transitioning into Ministry (TiM) program has two groups of four first-time pastors. Each group meets
online bi-monthly with an experienced pastor/coach (David Brubacher and Marilyn Rudy-Froese) to develop networks,
habits and resources that will sustain them through ministry.
 Give thanks for generosity! An anonymous donor has made it possible for Mennonite Church Canada to send a copy of
Shine On: A Story Bible to every Mennonite congregation in Canada. Shine On is part of the new Shine Sunday school
curriculum for ages 3 through grade 8 from MennoMedia.
 We are grateful for the energy, time and dedication of Mennonite Church Canada volunteer leaders. This month they
meet in various locations to help shape ministries within the larger church. Christian Formation Council meets Oct. 1618 in Kitchener, Ont. Church Engagement Council meets on the same dates in Winnipeg, Man. and Witness Council
meets Oct 23-25 in Vancouver, BC.
Prayer
 We invite urgent prayer for the Indigenous people of the Guajira region in Colombia where there has been no rain for
more than nine months. Thousands of animals are dying for lack of water and appropriate feed. Please pray for those
who are suffering from the drought, especially children, seniors and farmers. May God grant wisdom, energy and
October 2014 PrayerNet
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leadership to María Melo, pastor of the region’s Mennonite Church. Pray also for Amanda and Gamaliel Falla,
Mennonite Church Canada workers who are developing pastoral leadership in Colombia. You can support their
ministry here: https://donate.mennonitechurch.ca/project/colombia (WWU 2014-05, pg.3)
 From Sept. 9-11, a special Round Table in Oslo, Norway drew together leaders of Christian, Muslim and Jewish
faith communities in Ukraine and Russia for a call to prayer and dialogue. Please continue to pray for peace in
Ukraine, and remember the pastors and churches with whom Mennonite Church Canada relates. Pray for Anya
Allipova and the Zaporizhzhye Evangelical Mennonite Church; Sergie and Leyna Denykin and the small fellowship
they lead in Kherson; as well as Mary Raber, who teaches theology at several schools in the region. Pray also for
Gordon Janzen, Director of Europe Ministry, as he offers connection, encouragement and support.
 As congregations gather October 5 to celebrate World Communion Sunday with Christians around the world, pray
with mindfulness of the challenges and threats faced by our sisters and brothers in places like Iraq, Palestine and
Sudan.
 Nancy Frey and Bruce Yoder, Mennonite Church Canada workers in Burkina Faso, invite prayer for the farming
community of the Mennonite church in the village of Sidi. Landowners are demanding that each farmer provide an
offering for the spirits believed to watch over the fields. As a matter of faith, they have refused to do so. As a result,
they have been ordered to abandon their land after harvest. Pray for wise council from church leaders, and
compassion and tolerance from landowners. (WWU 2014-05, page 9.)
 Pray for Norm Nicolson, Mennonite Church Canada worker in Burkina Faso, as he prepares to teach welding and
carpentry to apprentices from the Evangelical Mennonite Church of Burkina Faso. Pray that Norm will develop
good relationships with the students and that the training will be successful. (WWU 2014-05, page 4.)
 Daniel and Joji Pantoja, Mennonite Church Canada workers in the Philippines, are spreading peace by facilitating
the development of Peace and Reconciliation (PAR) teams throughout the country with their ministry,
Peacebuilders Community Inc. Pray for continued energy and enthusiasm as they strive for one team in each of 80
Philippine provinces by 2020. An August 2014 reported noted 24 PAR teams in place. (WWU 2014-05, page 6.)
 Though mainline China has become more open economically and socially, recent civil unrest in Hong Kong is
raising concerns. There continues to be disagreement about the level of openness and freedom available for the
church. Jeanette and Todd Hanson, Mennonite Church Canada workers in China, invite prayer for Chinese
Christians as they seek to be like Jesus in a complicated world. (WWU 2014, page 3.)
 From Oct. 20 to Nov. 4, Rene Baergen, the pastor of Hispanic Ministry at First Mennonite Church in Kitchener, is
serving Mennonite Church Canada in Uruguay. Pray for Rene as he leads Bible teaching workshops for pastors
and church leaders. May his efforts encourage leaders in their ministry, and strengthen connections with our Latin
American brothers and sisters.
 Pray that congregations will embrace MennoMedia’s new Sunday School curriculum, Shine. MennoMedia, the
publisher of Mennonite Church Canada and Mennonite Church USA, describes Shine as Biblical, flexible, spiritual,
and creative. shinecurriculum.com/
 The Mennonite Church Canada Resource Centre enters an exciting transition period this fall as it amalgamates
with the CMU Bookstore, renamed CommonWord. They anticipate moving into their new facilities by January
2015. Please pray for smooth transitions – and for the greater services envisioned through CommonWord.
 From Sept. 23 to 28, Korey Dyck, Mennonite Church Canada Heritage Centre Director, visited Mexico to develop
new contacts for Mennonite history and archival programs. Pray that the connections made during his visit will
inspire open doors and strong support.
To support Mennonite Church Canada and a variety of projects around the world, see donate.mennonitechurch.ca/ For
information about Mennonite Church Canada Witness workers, order the free 2014 edition of Witness Worker
Update (WWU) from www.mennonitechurch.ca/tiny/1651 or go to www.mennonitechurch.ca/tiny/1421
Please share this issue with other pray-ers in your local faith community and encourage them to support the wider
church in prayer. Subscriptions are available at no charge by calling toll free 866-888-6785 and asking for Ingrid
Miller, or by registering online at resources.mennonitechurch.ca/ResourceView/59/7507. Thank you.

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