September, 2018 Carolina's 10,000 P5, part 1
The 10,000 President’s Prayer Partners is a fast-growing group of Carolina Conference constituents who take matters such as these to their knees. We invite you to join us, and make this monthly list a matter of prayer. Together we seek the Lord for His answers and provisions to every need we bring before Him.
Vacations are wonderful and needed breaks for every one of us. My good friends in the office often chide me when I call in or respond to an e-mail while on vacation, reminding me that I am on vacation!!
Unfortunately, there is often a price to pay on the other side of a vacation! After having been on vacation at the beginning of this month, I came to a backlog of correspondence and articles to write in addition to other meetings and appointments.
Perhaps, however, this month it was providential that this issue of the P5 for September is coming to you much later than usual. We have a very special need for an outpouring flood of prayerful intervention in the wake of destruction and death that has enveloped much of this part of God’s vineyard in the Carolinas. Thank you so much for your understanding, but most of all for your earnest prayers.
1. PRAYING FOR RECOVERY AND RESTORATION IN THE AFTERMATH OF HURRICANE FLORENCE
Hurricane Florence was a long-lived Cape Verde hurricane and the wettest tropical cyclone on record in the Carolinas and the ninth wettest tropical cyclone to affect the contiguous United States. It has been the sixth named storm, third hurricane, and the first major hurricane of the 2018 Atlantic hurricane season.
Although Florence decreased from what was a powerful hurricane to a tropical depression, its effects could still spread potentially life-threatening diseases and illnesses. The death toll in the Carolinas keeps increasing by the day and we are finding out how flooding has impacted so many homes and communities throughout the Carolinas.
As I write this, I am aware of one of our churches that has suffered some significant damage. However, we have not gotten the full report on all our churches yet. We are awaiting word from pastors and elders in the communities affected by this devastating storm as to how our dear members have been affected.
As we assess the damage and the needs before us, please pray that the Lord will use our disaster response and community services ministry to partner with other agencies – both Federal and State – and implement every possible action to extend the compassionate arms of Jesus to people who’ve lost so much in last week’s storm surge.
As we see and experience year after year of storms and crisis events that impact our lives and personal possessions, we recognize that we are living in the midst of the end time prophecies of Daniel 7 where he was enabled in vision to peer into the future. In Daniel 7:2 he declared, “I saw in my vision by night, and behold, the four winds of heaven were stirring up the great sea.”
Our God-ordained responsibility is to watch and pray as Jesus urged us to do in Matthew 26:41. Ignorance comes from ignoring, and God does not want us to be ignorant and “in darkness” regarding the times in which we are living (see 1 Thessalonians 5:1-10). Life and the things of this earth are so fragile and temporary. Let’s keep that simple prayer of the apostle John ever on our lips – “Even so, come Lord Jesus.”
2. THE LATEST UPDATE WITH PROGRESS AND POSSIBILITY IN PROCURING A MUCH-NEEDED 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!
During the month of September, Lucy Hall, Our Business Development Director for Mount Pisgah Academy (MPA) has been provided with an opportunity from Adventist Health Systems, Inc. (AHS) to apply for a grant that could made a significant stride toward the realization of our goal before the end of 2018 in the purchase of a bus for MPA. Let’s earnestly pray for Lucy and the decision-making entities at AHS in the coming weeks so that we may realize a great need for our academy.
We will continue to press forward to our goal and pray for God’s blessings by not giving up on this project, until we see the fulfillment of our prayers. 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? You can be a part of making this dream come true too! Every investment – small or large – can add up toward realizing this big Christmas gift for the studentsat 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 Carolina Conference of SDA’s
THE MPA BUS FUND THE MPA BUS FUND
75 Academy Drive P.O. Box 44270
Candler, NC 28715 Charlotte, NC 28215
Credit Card Donations: Credit Card Donations:
Contact Kevin Worth Contact Elder Rick Russell
Vice Principal for Finance Vice President for Finance
828-667-2535 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:
Ephesians 6: 11-12 — Lord, I pray for discernment in exposing any schemes of the enemy against my 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 our pastor.
1 Peter 3: 12 — I thank You, Father, that Your eyes are on our shepherd and Your ears are attentive to our pastor´s prayers and Your face is against those who plot evil against our pastor.
Romans 8:28 — Lord, I know that in all things You work for the good of _____ (insert pastor´s name) who loves You.
Galatians 6:14 — Father, allow my pastor to glory only in the cross. May the cross alone be the motivational reason for his ministry.
I Peter 1:16 — Jesus, keep my pastor holy in every way.
James 4:8 — As my pastor draws near to You, draw near to my pastor.
2 Corinthians 11:14 — Lord, let your servant have a discerning mind to prioritize the precious minutes in the day.
CONSIDER SENDING THESE PASTORS AN E-MAIL NOTE OF ENCOURAGEMENT AND AFFIRMATION WHEN YOU HAVE PRAYED FOR THEM. BEGINNING WITH THIS ISSUE, WE’VE LISTED THEIR E-MAILS FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE AS MEMBERS OF OUR CAROLINA PRESIDENTS’ PRAYER PARTNER TEAM
Pastors Church; Company & Groups
Jason Belyeu............................................................................................................................................................................Pastor
jbelyeu@carolinasda.org Columbia First SDA Church
Marcos Bernal...........................................................................................................................................................................Pastor
mbernal@carolinasda.org New Bern Spanish SDA Church
Wilmington Spanish Company
Myrtle Beach Spanish SDA Group
Jacksonville Spanish SDA Group
Steve Bietz...................................................................................................................................................................................Pastor
sbietz@carolinasda.org Thomasville SDA Church
Lexington SDA Church
Liberty Mission Group
Elvera Blake.........................................................................................................................................................Assistant Pastor
eblake@carolinasda.org Fletcher SDA Church
Daniel Bran, Jr............................................................................................................................................................................Pastor
dbran@carolinasda.org Tryon SDA Church
Evan Bujeker...............................................................................................................................................................................Pastor
ebujeker@carolinasda.org Albemarle SDA Church
Pittsboro SDA Church
Carthage SDA Group of the Sandhills
