​PRAYER FOCUS
 
Issued on Wednesday 14th October 2015
 
Prayer requests from Presbyterian Mission in Ireland personnel and Home and Urban Mission congregations.

Moderator – Rt Rev Dr Ian McNie
Over the next week, the Moderator’s engagements include: a congregational dinner and book launch on Friday evening (16th) at First Larne Presbyterian Church; morning services in Glennan and Ballyalbany Presbyterian churches, and the evening service in First Larne Presbyterian Church, on Sunday (18th). 
·       Pray for the Moderator as he undertakes these engagements, and that he will encourage all those he speaks to. 
 
Joanne Dunlop – Deaconess serving in Antrim and Craigavon Hospitals
·       Give thanks for the warm welcome Joanne has received from the staff at Antrim and Craigavon hospitals on her return to chaplaincy work after maternity leave.  Joanne writes, “It is wonderful to feel part of the teams on the wards once again.”
·       Pray for ongoing opportunities to share the love and hope of Jesus with patients and staff, with the Lord's wisdom to know when to speak and when not to speak.
·       Pray also for all the staff in the acute hospitals as they enter the particularly busy winter season; for encouragement and energy when pressure can mount on resources.
·       Above all, pray that the Lord is at the centre of all the chaplaincy work.
 
Evelyn White – Deaconess serving in First Lisburn Presbyterian Church
·       Praise God for His faithfulness - giving all that is needed for each situation.
·       Pray that Evelyn will be given wisdom and guidance from God to speak His words into people’s lives.
·       Pray for direction for the congregation as they seek to use their newly renovated church building to reach out into the community in the name of Jesus.
 
Stephen Young – Community Outreach Worker serving in Brookside Presbyterian Church
·       Pray for the ongoing work of the Brook café as they try to reach the lost of Ahoghill through a Friday morning outreach. 
·       Pray for the Ahoghill food bank - a joint outreach by Brookside, Trinity and First Ahoghill Presbyterian churches.  Pray that this outreach would show the love of Jesus and that more people would realise their greatest need is to know the Lord.
 
Rev Jim Lamont - Chaplain serving in Letterkenny General Hospital and Donegal Hospice
·       Pray that God will guide the members of the chaplaincy team in their ministry as they meet with patients and their families in the hospital and hospice, in what can be traumatic situations.

·       Give thanks for the annual hospice remembrance service which was held on 27th September.  Pray that those present received comfort and strength, that they will know that God is always with them, and that they are able to cope with their deep sorrow. 

·       Continue to pray for the patients and staff in the hospice, and for those patients who are nursed in their own homes.

·       Pray for all the members of staff in the hospital as they seek to be a caring community for all who need compassion, help and healing.

·       Pray for the many patients, some who have to travel long distances two or three times a week, to receive dialysis.  Pray for the members of staff in the dialysis unit, that they will be given the strength to cope with the pressure of their work.

 
Craigavon Presbyterian Church – Rev Lachlan Webster
·       Pray for ‘Friday Club’ for primary aged children which started its new term last Friday, (9th October).  Lachlan writes, “Prayers have been answered and we have a number of new leaders this year.”  Pray that the team will gel quickly, and that God will bless and empower them as they share Jesus with the boys and girls who come along each Friday.
·       Pray for the leaders of ‘Superstars’ (Sunday School) as they begin to prepare for their first nativity play in many years.  Ask that God will bless their efforts and that this will provide the congregation with many evangelistic opportunities over the Christmas period.
 
Douglas Presbyterian Church – Rev David Reid
·       Pray for the life and witness of the home mission congregation of Douglas. 
·       Pray for the minister, elders and members of the congregation.
 
Kilkenny Presbyterian Church – Rev Daniel Reyes Martin
·       Pray for church leaders and Kilkenny congregation to be encouraged and protected when under attack from the devil.
·       Pray for the church to have a shared vision, and for many Christians to be fruitful in their frontline.
·       Pray for new believers to keep growing; for those who have lost their faith to return to the Lord; and for Christians to grow closer to Christ and never lose their first love.
·       Pray for Tom (Irish Mission Worker) and his team doing outreach every week: door to door, outreach at a market-stand, and the Identity evangelistic course.
·       Pray for Andras (youth worker), youth club and a new venture to help young people to know Christ deeper.

​Issued on Wednesday 7th October 2015
 
Prayer requests from Presbyterian Mission in Ireland personnel and Home and Urban Mission congregations.

Moderator – Rt Rev Dr Ian McNie
·       Pray for the Moderator as he continues his tour of Ballymena Presbytery this week.  This will include: visiting schools; meeting local traders; speaking at a Gospel Rally in Connor Presbyterian Church this evening, (Wednesday 8th); and on Sunday (11th) speaking at the morning service in Clough Presbyterian Church, and at the evening service in Third Portglenone Presbyterian Church. 
 
Eleanor Drysdale – Deaconess serving in Wellington Presbyterian Church, Ballymena
·       Pray for the work in the congregation amongst the senior members.  A number of them have been in hospital recently or are awaiting tests.  It is anxious time for them and their families. 
·       Give thanks for the work of the congregation’s new pastoral care teams.  Eleanor writes, “They are making a difference and have been such an encouragement.” 
 
Rosemary Spiers – Deaconess serving in First Antrim Presbyterian Church
·       Pray for Rosemary who is involved in visitation, Tiny Tots and the Care Ministry in First Antrim congregation, and also takes school assemblies and visits nursing homes in the local area. 
·       Pray that Rosemary would be led by God in all she says and does. 
·       Pray that God would do great things in Antrim, transforming lives for His glory.
 
Eddie Spence – Community Outreach Worker serving in Ballygomartin Presbyterian Church
·       Pray for the preparations for the Christmas concert on 28th November in Ballygomartin Presbyterian, when Eddie will perform with his eight-piece band.  Pray for ticket sales to go well, and that many will attend for the congregation, local community and further afield.  Pray for all who will take part, and that it will be an enjoyable evening and that all will go smoothly. 
·       Pray for the men that Eddie meets in the community garden in Blackmountain Estate and the continuing relationships he is building with them.  Pray that the Word of God may be planted in their hearts and minds as he engages with them.
·       Pray for those who attend Eddie's weekly Bible study in a home in Highfield Estate. 
·       Pray for the men and women who work in Farset International Hotel, and also those who meet on Friday mornings with Eddie to discuss political, social and Biblical matters.
·       Pray for the midweek meetings.  Eddie has been asked to lead these every other week.  Pray for time to prepare material and to engage folks in a meaningful way which meets their needs, and challenges them to radical discipleship.
·       Give thanks for Eddie's improved health.
 
Rodney Cameron – Chaplain serving at Maghaberry Prison
Rodney is currently in France where he was the guest speaker at a conference in Rennes, Brittany for prison chaplains in western France, which concludes today (7th).
·       Give thanks for the opportunities Rodney has had to meet with others in France engaged in prison chaplaincy. 
·       Pray for Rodney and Graham Stockdale (working part-time) as they continue in prison ministry in Magheraberry. 
·       Pray for the meetings being held in the prison when singers and a speaker come to share their testimony with the prisoners.  Give thanks for the positive response to this.
·       Pray for the Presbyterian Church in Ireland and its engagement in the work of prison ministry.
 
Norman McDowell – Forces Chaplain
Norman writes, "Working with recruits from the day they first set foot in an army barracks is a real privilege.  These young people have, on the whole, had no positive contact with the church, and some have even the impression that we are only there for funerals.  I have the opportunity to minister to between 50 and 250 of these young people on a weekly basis, and many more than that in a pastoral counselling way.”
·       Pray that the recruits will be able to see that Christianity is about life, rather than death. 
·       Pray that God will speak to those Norman meets with on a weekly basis, and that those who are Christians will have a strong and faithful impact on their peers.
·       Remember also the staff, both civilian and military.
 
Alt Presbyterian Church – Rev Colin McKibben
·       Give thanks for joint summer services, which have given the Alt congregation a great boost; for a family who have recently joined the congregation; and for Glendermott congregation helping Alt out with recorded music.
·       Pray for the harvest service on 1st November; as this draws in the local community. 
·       Give thanks for the witness of the congregation of Alt over the past 180 years and pray for the celebrations to mark this, which will take place in May.
·       Pray for the congregation as they seek to elect new elders and committee members in June.
·       Pray for the installation of new sound and PowerPoint systems, that they hope to put in place in the new year.
·       As God continues to bless the congregation, pray for an out pouring of the Holy Spirit.  
·       Pray too for the team ministry that is up and running; for Evelyn Boyd (Auxiliary Minister) and Colin & Beth McKibbin. 
 
Corvally and Ervey Presbyterian Churches
·       Pray for the life and witness of the home mission congregations of Corvalley and Ervey in the Monaghan Presbytery which are vacant at present, as part of the wider group including Castleblaney and Frankford. 
·       Pray for the elders and members of the congregation.
 
Kells Presbyterian Church (Monaghan Presbytery)
·       Pray for the congregation which is vacant at present. 
·       Give thanks for faithful and loyal members and pray that more people will come along to Sunday services. 
·       Pray for Rev Christy Irwin, stated supply in Kells, reaching out to people in need of spiritual help, many of whom have no church connection.
 
Council for Mission in Ireland
The Council for Mission in Ireland (CMI) is due to meet next Wednesday morning (14th).
·       Pray for wisdom and discernment in all decisions made by CMI; and a clear sense of God’s guidance in all we do in His Mission in Ireland. 
·       Pray for the Council Convener, Rev Stephen Simpson and Council Secretary, Rev David Bruce.