July, 2018 Carolina's 10,000 P5 (part 1)

1. PRAYING FOR OUR COLLEAGUES IN MINISTRY IN THE LESOTHO CONFERENCE

I returned home a few days ago from Lesotho (a country in southern Africa) with our terrific

team of 9 Carolina evangelists (mostly young adults in our church). I was very thankful for the wonderful opportunity to work with Elder Israel Mora (Our Carolina ShareHim Coordinator), Elder Freddy Rivera, and Pastor Ruben Casabona.

The Kingdom of Lesotho is a small mountainous country landlocked inside of South Africa. It has a population of approximately 2 million people. The Seventh-day Adventist Church in Lesotho is made of up approximately 10,000 members with 46 churches and 38 companies. The entire country of Lesotho is in one conference within the Southern Africa Union Conference and the Southern Africa & Indian Ocean Division. Our team focused our efforts in the mountainous, rural town of Mohale’s Hoek.

While there, I had the wonderful privilege of meeting with Pastor Amos Bahole, President of the Lesotho Conference, and his wife Agnes. They were glad to welcome our team. Within one week, we witnessed the Holy Spirit’s blessing with 27 baptisms and at least 20 more who are preparing for baptism in that one town alone.

The Lesotho Conference staff and pastors have a heartfelt desire to plan a unification ministerial retreat for their pastors. However, they need some help. The conference simply doesn’t have a budget to plan a ministerial retreat that would bring his team of workers and their spouses together for a time of renewal and spiritual revitalization. We went over his budget for an event like this and reviewed the funds he’s been able to raise. They still need to come up with $130 per worker or $260 per couple for a total of 64 individuals to be able to see this event become a reality for their team.

Join us as we pray to find churches who would help sponsor a pastor at a cost of $130 OR a pastor and his spouse at $260 so they can have the opportunity of experiencing the first conference-wide ministerial retreat. This is the balance they need after having raised all the funds they’ve been able to generate to provide such an event of unifying the pastors and office workers in that conference.

We do have a deadline in order for them to not have to cancel their ministerial retreat plans at the end of this month. All funds need to be submitted by no later than July 18, 2018 to the Carolina Conference with the notation of: Lesotho Ministerial Retreat Assistance. We will wire the money directly to their account to enable our colleagues in Lesotho to go forward with their plans.

Let’s pray that this small amount of support by each participating church will make a mighty impact for our pastoral team in the Kingdom of Lesotho for the Kingdom of God.

2. NEW BUS FOR MOUNT PISGAH ACADEMY

I CHOOSE TO KEEP THIS PRAYER PETITION, WHICH WE LAUNCHED AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS YEAR, BEFORE YOU THROUGH THE REMAING MONTHS OF 2018. LET’S CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR GOD’S PROVISION TILL WE REACH THE REALITY OF THIS DREAM COME TRUE FOR MPA!

There are times when we pray about small things. There are other times we pray over larger items. But nothing is too small or too big for the God that you and I worship! WE TRULY NEED A RELIABLE BUS FOR OUR ACADEMY!

When we all pray together and commit to a task, God can do amazing things – far beyond our imagination!

Of course we need some large donors to accomplish raising almost $200,000 for this newer coach bus. However, let’s not minimize even the small gift.

I’ll keep you posted about the MPA Bus Fund as prayers go up and funds come in!

Unfortuntaely, we’ve not received much toward this project – Only $340.00 so far. We will continue to pray for God’s blessings till we realize the fulfillment of our prayers by not giving up on this project. We’ll press forward to realizing our goal! As I keep this before our Prayer Partners, I am reminded of the words of that wonderful little song… “In His time, In His time…He makes all things beautiful in His time.”

Would you make this a matter of sincere prayer? Every investment – small or large – can add up toward realizing a big dream for our academy. As we continue to pray about this need, may the Lord impress each of us as President’s Prayer Partners and others too to do their part . All contributions can be directed to either:

Mount Pisgah Academy

THE MPA BUS FUND

75 Academy Drive

Candler, NC 28715

Carolina Conference of SDA’s

THE MPA BUS FUND

P.O. Box 44270

Charlotte, NC 28215

Credit Card Donations:

Contact Kevin Worth

Vice Principal for Finance

828-667-2535

Credit Card Donations:

Contact Elder Rick Russell

Vice President for Finance

704-596-3200

Thank you!

3. PRAYING FOR OUR CHURCH DISTRICTS & PASTORS

Under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, these words of encouragement were penned for

our churches: “Ask of me, and I will answer your requests. The promise is made on

condition that the united prayers of the church are offered, and in answer to these prayers

there may be expected a power greater than that which comes in answer to private prayer. The power given will be proportionate to the unity of the members and their love for God and for one another.” [9MR, 303]

Praying for our pastors is very important. They are serving God and the attacks of the enemy are relentless. They must be covered in prayer on a daily basis.

Our prayers should be personalized by saying the title of pastor along with their name since they hold a position of sacred trust for God’s remnant church.

Here’s a suggestion for this month: Why not pray for our pastors by name using these seven scriptural passages:

1. I Peter 3:12--I thank You, Father that Your eyes are on Your shepherd and Your ears are attentive to Your pastor´s prayers and Your face is against those who plot evil against my pastor.

2. Romans 8:28--You work for the good of _____ [Insert pastor´s name] who loves You.

3. Romans 8:33-34--Who can accuse Your pastor who is daily interceded for by Christ Jesus?

4. Ephesians 6:11-12--Lord, I pray for discernment in exposing any schemes of the enemy against Your pastor. Show our congregation how to pray against all powers of this dark world and the spiritual forces of darkness in heavenly realms. And, Lord, protect us as we wage warfare on behalf of Your pastor.

5. Psalm 91:5-6--Father, I thank You that no weapons formed against Your pastor will prosper. Every tongue raised against Your shepherd will be cast down. Rumors and gossip will be turned aside. For _____ [Insert pastor’s name] will be still before the Lord and wait on You. May Your pastor dwell in the shadow of the Most High God and will be delivered from terror, darts of doubt, and disease

6. Psalm 91:11--Set Your angels about Your pastor.