Hello friends, I am Adrian Gardner, Director of Canadian Partnerships with CBM.  As we begin this new year, I am thankful for the faithful support of each of you as you uphold CBM’s ministry, staff, and partners in prayer.  The author of Hebrews reminds us that as followers of Christ, we can draw near to the throne of grace with confidence and find mercy and grace to help us in our time of need.  We so appreciate your prayers and recognize the importance of this support.

For this week’s CBM prayerline I would like to encourage each of us to pray for local churches and their leaders.  Recently, through my study of the Book of Ruth, I have been reminded that one of the primary means by which God is at work in the world is through the faithful and extravagant obedience of his people.  The story of Ruth is a story of Divine-Human cooperation, as every prayer of blessing is answered through human agency.  As the church, we have the incredible privilege and responsibility of joining God in His redemptive Kingdom building work.

It is for this reason that CBM works around the world through local churches, and it is for this reason that I remind us to pray for these congregations.  Please pray for the church in Canada that God will give local congregations a heart and vision for ministry in their own local context and to the ends of the earth.  May we see many people follow Jesus in new abundant life.  Please also pray for the churches we work with around the world.  May God empower them to persevere in their challenging contexts.  Finally, pray for pastors and church leaders that they may be both spirit-led and spirit empowered in their ministry.

Thank you for praying and for joining God in his work in the world.  May God bless you.

Please pray:

• Pray for local churches in Canada that God will give them a heart and vision for mission, in their own local context and to the ends of the earth.
• Pray for the local churches CBM partners with around the world that they will persevere in doing good in challenging contexts.
• Pray for pastors and church leaders that they will be Spirit-led and Spirit-empowered for the ministry to which they are called.