… and behold, a throne stood in heaven, with one seated on the throne. Revelation 4:2b
In a few months we will be heading, restrictions permitting, to the polling stations for our national elections. If we have learned anything over the last year, we have surely learned how important it is to have leaders who can use authority wisely and carefully. Being a leader is a difficult job, especially so in this broken world, and we need to pray for them. It is such a comfort to know that our ultimate leader is not a fallen man or women like you and I, but the Lord almighty who sits on the throne in heaven.
I was helpfully reminded of this as I had the privilege of reading through Pete Campbells devotions on Revelation 4 and 5 this week (if you haven’t signed up for them – it is well worth doing). Though everyday can seem like a ‘groundhog day’, and though we can sometimes struggle to see the way ahead, it is a wondrous comfort to know the God is in control. He is the one who reigns, and it is His throne that is at the centre of all reality, and we have the privilege of approaching Him through the blood of His Son.
Thank you again for your ongoing prayerful partnership in the gospel – it is only through His power that we can continue to serve gospel churches and Christians in Wales.
Steffan Job (North Wales Office)
Wales in general
- Let us thank God for the blessings of the last months as we have seen such an orderly and successful roll-out of the vaccine. Please join us in praying that the easing of the lockdown will bring people to the realisation of their need for a Saviour – it is only the Spirit that can convince people of this. We ask that you pray especially for all the Easter outreach activities that will be taking place all over the country.
Please join us in thanking the Lord for:
- The Call to Prayer – Every year, during the first week of March, we call on Christians around Wales to pray for our nation. The theme for this years Call was God himself. Every day we drew comfort and prayer from focusing on a different aspect of God’s character. Although the numbers at the online prayer meetings were fairly small, we thank God for the prayerful spirit, and we hope that the daily messages that were sent out to hundreds proved helpful. It was good to be able to realise once again of our utter dependence on God – Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
- South Wales Ladies’ Conference – Please join us in thanking the Lord for the ministry of Elinor Magowan at the South Wales Ladies’ Conference. As with so many things, the Lord used the covid-19 difficulties to bring real blessing as so many extra women were able to join the online conference. The theme for the conference was ‘Lord I can’t do this on my own – how to deepen desire, seek direction and know God better as a woman today’. It was clear that the Spirit used the conference to encourage and strengthen many.
- The Devotions – In the last prayer bulletin we asked for prayer for the devotions, and it is with thankfulness that we can report that a group of writers have come together to contribute to the devotions. This will ease the pressure on the regular writers and will provide much needed encouragement and blessing to the hundreds who read the devotions.
- The Magazines – Join us in thanking the Lord for the ministry of the magazines. The two editorial boards have been busy preparing the latest editions, and we’re thankful for the gospel focus and pastoral help that is given to people through these magazines on a regular basis.
- Other Online Support Meetings – Please thank the Lord for the ministry and support provided through the Pastors’ Wives meeting and Youth and Children Workers meeting that took place last week.
Please pray for
- Prayer bulletins – It might seem a little odd to ask for prayer for prayer bulletins! Our burden is that churches and Christians use these bulletins to share prayer requests – something that happened regularly a few years ago. However the pandemic, and the passing of time has seen less contributions. Please pray that if the Lord wills it, people would contribute so that we encourage more gospel unity and a burden for prayer amongst each other.
- Easter camp – Having had such a successful Welsh language mini-camp, we have decided to run two online English language Zoom Camps in the run-up to Easter. Full details are on the website (www.emw.org.uk), and many young people have already booked. Please pray for all the practical arrangements, but above all pray that the God would use these camps to save, encourage and help the young people.
- TeamTalk – Yesterday saw the first of three sessions by Geoff Thomas on ‘Preaching Gethsemane, Golgotha, and the resurrection.’ Over seventy leaders joined the meeting and were blessed and challenged as Geoff showed us our very real need to pray and depend on God, just as Jesus did in the garden. Please pray that the next two meetings will be a blessing to leaders as they prepare to minister over Easter.
- Summer – We’re busy praying and planning for our summer events. Please pray for wisdom as we seek to find the most appropriate ways of encouraging Christians and helping Churches to reach out. Pray especially for the Summer Conference (we’re hoping to organise three meetings at locations around Wales), the camps (we’re hoping to organise a programme of camps around Wales) and the mission work with a possible Summer edition of Ask.
- The Press – Three books will be heading to the printers in the next few weeks. Please pray for the two Welsh language books, and the English book ‘What is a Christian?’ by Gwynn Williams. We’ve also ensured that many older books are available on our website. We want our books to be helpful to Christians, encouraging them in their walk with God and pointing people to Christ.
- Bookshops – It is likely that our bookshops will be able to re-open in the next weeks. Please pray for our staff and volunteers as they prepare to open their doors, providing more gospel opportunities.
- Bryn y Groes – Our conference centre, will be re-opening as a holiday provider in the next few weeks. Whilst this brings much needed income, we pray that restrictions would be eased as soon as possible so that we can use the centre to it’s full potential to serve Churches and Christians.