Pray for Lesotho on Sunday, September 8, 2013

Pray for Lesotho on Sunday, September 8, 2013

Lectionary Selection: Philemon 1-21

Prayers for Lesotho:
Dear God,

Whenever the world cries “useless” O God, you proclaim “useful!”  In a throw-away world, where so much of what comes to us is discarded and snap judgments are made, you call to us:  “Wait…hold on…listen…consider…open your eyes…look deep…think hard…you, and they, are mine!”  Forgive us, God, when our thoughts are not always your thoughts and our ways are not always your ways.  Open our hearts and minds so that we may recognize the usefulness of all your wondrous and good creation!

Today we pray for people in Lesotho who suffer from HIV/AIDS. We also pray for those caring for the suffering, the orphaned, the grandparents, and the forgotten. Give them the treatment they so desperately need. Provide the caregivers for those children left alone. Show us how to accompany our brothers and sisters in their time of suffering.

We ask this in Jesus’ name.  Amen!

Mission Stewardship Moment from Lesotho:
Working together, either as individuals or organizations, is nothing new.  Biblical wisdom from Ecclesiastes such as, “Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work” (4:9) and, “A cord of three strands is not quickly broken” (4:12) both point to the positive impact that joint efforts can make.

A good example of joining hands across the waters between Global Ministries and the Lesotho Evangelical Church in Southern Africa (LECSA) took place earlier this year.  The LECSA congregation at Khotla had started a new church building a number of years ago, but progress had stalled once the walls were up.  A gift from Global Ministries supplemented local fundraising efforts so that all the materials for roofing the building could be purchased.  Since then, the local pastor has reported what an impact this boost provided: 

  • congregational giving has doubled;
  • congregational support for the LECSA Central Fund has improved dramatically;
  • church attendance has increased; 
  • members who long ago stopped attending have now returned;
  • the congregation has continued the work by installing windows and making preparations to complete the inside.

Your gifts to support the work of Global Ministries made this possible!  Thank you for being part of the story!

(Prayer and Mission Moment by Mark Behle)

Mission Partners in Lesotho:

 Video Resources about Lesotho: Empowerment through Education (Mark Behle, Global Ministries missionary)

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. He is working to identify development projects, assisting the church in preparing project proposals, coordinating project implementation and working with the denomination’s Planning Commission.