Pray for East Timor on Sunday, May 1, 2011
Prayer for East Timor: John 20:19-31
Almighty God creator and giver of all spiritual and material things, share your wisdom with leaders of Timor Leste as they embark on their campaign for the 2012 national elections. As they begin their partisan campaigns, we pray that they would listen to their inner moral conscience; that they would not revert to creating a division among their people.
We further pray that as mid-2012 comes when the United Nations Peacekeeping Force departs, national leaders would make this nation a shining example of how to establish peace and reconciliation among its people instead of reverting to a potential civil unrest.
Likewise, we fervently pray that the Timorese would chose someone who is god-fearing and caring; who could lead by example, one who is just and fair and no record of corruption, nepotism and/or hidden agenda of personal grandeur.
As IPTL also faces the challenge of choosing their own leaders in a General Assembly by 2012, we pray that someone would emerge who has the heart and service attitude to strengthen the various congregations instead of the influence and privileges of those in positions of power. We pray that all leaders of IPTL and its two service foundations would reflect by heart more on the examples given in Jesus ministry in whose name we all serve. Amen.
Mission Moment from East Timor:
As I write these thoughts, I am with a bottom-up strategic team [BUSTeam] created to help congregations develop their own strategic plan. The BUSTeams first concern was to determine the basis for such a plan based to evolve. It decided to ask the congregation perceptions of what is best for the church ten years ahead. From this, the BUSTeam is able to determine what each congregation’s strength and weakness as well as areas of ambiguity or confusion in terms of liturgy, administration, programs on Sunday school, visitations, stewardship and outreach that each congregation can do. It is hope that in spite of the poverty stricken situation they would somehow endeavor to fund part of what they believe is God’s vision for themselves.
Out of the 72 congregations, the BUSTeam has visited 36 congregations. Tom Liddle and Pdt Duate DaCosta in Lospalos gave the team valuable assistance when we got there. In the meantime, there was telling moment of diversity in the Global Ministries’ service; that was when Hannah Rose Miller Liddle, the daughter of Dr Monica and Tom, was caught teaching English to the Vice Moderator of IPTL.
As far as the BUSTeam is concerned, there are so many figures and information yet to be analyze and ideas of change to be reconciled with the existing national leader’s perceptions. The most interesting thought was one given by an old church member…Puji Tuhan adhirnya sekarang hanya Sinode mengambil pikeran Jemaat. [Praise God, at last, it is only now that the synod sought our ideas].
(Prayer and Mission Moment by Carlos Madrazo)
Video Resources on East Timor:
· Interview with Tom and Monica Liddle: http://globalministries.org/resources/multimedia-resources/index/video-mission-moments/east-timor-liddle.html
· Interview with John Campbell-Nelson: http://globalministries.org/resources/multimedia-resources/index/video-mission-moments/eastern-indonesia-pastoral.html
Global Ministries Partners in East Timor:
The Protestant Church of East Timor (IPTL): represents the Reformed Church presence in a predominantly Roman Catholic country in Southeast Asia.
Global Ministries Missionaries in East Timor:
· Tom Liddle, a member of Peace United Church of Christ, Duluth, Minnesota, serves with the Protestant Church of East Timor (IPTL). He works as a facilitator in the IPTL’s program for strengthening congregations and continuing education of pastors.
· Monica Liddle, a member of Peace United Church of Christ, Duluth, Minnesota, serves with the Protestant Church of East Timor (IPTL). She works as a naturopathic doctor in the clinic in Lospalos, which is run by FUSONA, the relief and development wing of the IPTL. Monica’s appointment is supported by One Great Hour of Sharing (OGHS).
· Carlos Madrazo, a member of Bethany United Church of Christ, Seattle, Washington, serves the Protestant Church of East Timor (IPTL). He works as an adviser on institutional capacity building, resources and curriculum development with ITPL and its two related foundations – Foundasaun Didache (for the Lisa Dila Vocational High School) and Foundation Social Naroman (engaged in relief and development).
For more info on East Timor: http://globalministries.org/sasia/countries/east-timor/
Pray for Partners without Global Ministries Mission Personnel: Micronesia
For more info on Micronesia: http://globalministries.org/eap/countries/micronesia/