Pray for God to raise up leaders among us. Pray for people willing to take up the challenging task of serving on Ministry Council. Pray for sensitivity to God’s leading in your own life and anything He would ask you to do for our church.

Consider fasting in a broader context than just food. The discipline of saying NO for a short time to something we cling to makes saying NO to other things easier. Think of coffee, chocolate, TV, computers, iPhones. If you have never fasted before, try a 12 hour fast initially. Spend a moment or two in prayer each time the craving pulls. Although it is ideally a private decision between you and God, challenging one or two others to team up with you for the same time period can be helpful.

Pray for the courage to consider fasting.

“Even now,” declares the Lord, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning. Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity.” —Joel 2:12-13

Pray for a deep love for Hanover Missionary Church. Ask God to help you always strive for His best for the church. Ask Him to help you be a unifying force. Ask Him to help you be an encourager.

Pray for our missionaries on Canadian soil. Pry that their ministry would be recognized as valid and vital. Pray for sensitivity to the people they are working among. Pray for understanding and compassion for the reason they are regarded with suspicion. Pray for patience for the long, slow process of building trust. Pray for integrity in day to day living.

Pray for our Missionaries in other parts of the world. Pray for sensitivity to the culture. Pray for wisdom with language issues. Pray for physical and spiritual safety. Pray for family dynamics, whether close to home or far away.

Pray for the spiritual temperature of HMC. Revive us! Refine us so that we burn hot for our heavenly Father. Give us singleness of heart and open minds to understand God’s Word so that our hearts are on fire for our great God.

Pray for HMC in the world, that we would be known as distinct from the world in love and holiness, even as we engage outsiders. Pray that members would share the gospel this week—and see more conversions! Pray that members would be prepared for persecution, remembering to love, not curse, when it happens.

Pray for the Behind-the-Scenes Workers—thank God for every preschool/nursery worker, coffee/facilities/mission planning/bylaw/policy/finance/discernment/personnel/ team member, janitor, etc. devoted to serve. Pray that God would bless them for the obedience and generosity they have displayed and keep them in an attitude of humility.

Pray for Men in Action. Pray that this ministry will build our men in their faith. Teach them to be in right relationship with God and each other, to love their wives sacrificially (as Christ loved the church) and to instruct their children with patience. Encourage them to hold each other accountable as they carry each other’s burdens. May they speak the truth in love to each other even when it’s hard.