Fall 09 Exploring Christianity - Wk 2

Can I ask you, whether you are married or single, older or younger, male or female, to pray for the power of the gospel at Exploring Christianity? If you are a head of household, can I ask you to lead your families in praying? If you are a Care Group leader, can I ask you to lead your Care Groups in praying?

The Furnace for Evangelism

When I think about CrossWay, I envision a church that is passionate about evangelism. As a mission minded church, we can be involved in this winter’s Exploring Christianity by either attending, serving, or praying. Spurgeon referred to the group of people who prayed in the basement of the Metropolitan Tabernacle during the service as the “furnace” for his preaching.

I envision CrossWay praying in their homes on Wednesday evenings as the furnace for our evangelism at Exploring Christianity. Paul told the Colossians,

Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison— that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak. -Colossians 4:2-4

If you are the head of your house, lead your family in prayer and build into them the importance of evangelism and model for them a mission mindset. I will be posting a weekly update and prayer requests for EC. Look for the Wednesday posting and lead your family in prayer.

Last Wednesday

Last Wednesday we hosted our Preview Dinner, an introductory evening for people to experience Exploring Christianity before registering for the series. The evening started with dinner, followed by two interviews from past participants, and ended with a talk on, “How Good Is Good Enough?” We served around 90 people at 12 tables.

This Wednesday

This Wednesday the topic is “What Is God Like” and we break the participants into discussion groups for the first time. We currently have 6 discussion groups with about 84 people pre-registered. Here is how you can be praying for us.

• Pray that everyone who registered to participate this week will attend. Pray for those who said they were “unsure” about attending would come this week. Pray that new people will attend this week as a result of additional invitations given out.
• Pray that as guests come through our doors we would welcome them with joy, warmth, and a servant’s heart.
• Pray for our discussion group leaders: David & Jade Miller, Andy & Jenni Naselli, Thom & Jill Stapleman, Dick & Cathy Warren, and George & Amy Fastenau.
• Pray that our discussion group leaders would make everyone feel welcome, that they would quickly alleviate everyone’s fears, and that they would demonstrate the love, care, and compassion of Christ.
• Pray that the teaching would be clear, relevant, and compelling. Pray especially that the gospel message in light of who God is would be clear.
• Pray that the Explorer Kids workers would be able to quickly learn the names of the children, setup effective ministry by ages, and so care for the children that they drag their parents back next week.
• Pray for those setting up, taking down, cooking food, serving food, managing sound and everyone who serves, that they would see how they’re service fits into God’s redemption of a people for His very own.
• Pray that many would come to saving faith through the ministry of EC. Pray that some would place their faith in Jesus Christ this Wednesday night.
• Pray that in everything, God may be glorified and His kingdom built.