Pray for Lesotho on Sunday, August 17, 2014
Lectionary Selection: Genesis 45:1–15
Prayers for Lesotho:
O God, when we find ourselves on the road of uncertainty, faced with too many forks in the road and none of them seem to lead us anywhere closer to an answer, may we remember that you are there with us. Whatever the circumstances, help us to put our trust and hope in you. For while we may not understand now, one day, further down the road, we will look back, like Joseph, and see your divine providence in our lives.
We pray today for our partners in Lesotho, the Lesotho Evangelical Church in Southern Africa and the Christian Council of Lesotho. We especially pray that you will guide them in their ministry of reconciliation in the current political crisis in the country, as you have done in the past. May you grant them the wisdom to help heal the wounds of division, calm the tensions of dispute, and speak for justice, peace and truth.
In the name of Jesus, we pray. Amen.
Mission Stewardship Moment from Lesotho:
One of the joys found in my work with the Lesotho Evangelical Church in Southern Africa (LECSA) is hearing stories of how pastors received their call to ministry. During services of ordination, before being ordained, the individual shares his or her faith journey into ministry. Many of today’s pastors in the LECSA have overcome major challenges in fulfilling God’s call to pastoral ministry.
The story of Rev. Nelson Posholi’s path to ministry is one worth sharing. After becoming a primary school teacher, he was plagued with vision problems that the doctors could not explain. He prayed to God for healing and said he would enter the ministry. Healing came, but his parents frowned on his idea of becoming a pastor. His fiancé and eventual wife encouraged him to keep seeking the blessing of his parents to follow his call, which was constantly fed by words spoken by God to Moses in the book of Exodus: “Therefore, come now, I will send you…”
A few years later, now working in the mines in South Africa, he was stabbed in the abdomen while trying to break up a fight. Rushed to the hospital, he learned the prognosis did not look good. Once again he asked God to heal him and renewed his vow to enter the ministry. Within a few days, to the amazement of his doctor, he had miraculously recovered.
His parents, their son now twice healed, could no longer deny God’s call on his life, and thus Rev. Posholi entered the LECSA seminary in Morija. Earlier this year he became the LECSA Executive Secretary. The seminary, which has been training future pastors and evangelists for over 130 years, is supported through your gifts to Global Ministries. We give thanks for your prayers and financial support which nurture this partnership with the LECSA, one that brings to life the call to serve God in church ministry.
(Prayer and Mission Moment by Mark Behle)
Mission Partners in Lesotho:
Christian Council of Lesotho
More information on Lesotho:
http://globalministries.org/africa/countries/lesotho/
Global Ministries Missionary in Lesotho:
Mark Behle, a member of The Church of the Palms, United Church of Christ, Sun City, Arizona, serves the Lesotho Evangelical Church in Southern Africa (LECSA). Since 2012 Mark has been working in the planning office of LECSA. Prior to this he taught math and religion at Masitise High School for fifteen years. His work is supported by Our Church’s Wider Mission, Disciples Mission Fund and your special gifts