Prayer Targets and Praise Reports for Greater Houston: May 2008

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We are asking God for nothing less than the spiritual and social transformation and revitalization of greater Houston - each person, neighborhood, and community.

We are asking to see His influence established and expanding in and through every facet of every community of greater Houston.

We are asking for a unified church that together employs every spiritual and human resources to change greater Houston for good

Thank you for praying!

Celebrations and Giving Thanks

“Give thanks to the Lord, call upon His Name; make known among the nations what He has done. Sing to Him, sing praise to Him; tell of all His wonderful acts.” Psalm 105:1-2

· ... for faithful and committed volunteers and leaders serving on teams in 7 Community Service Areas (CSA's).

· ... that 29 graduates have completed Faithwalking to date, with 10 graduates currently being trained as Faithwalking coaches

· ... for the successful 2 Saturdays of serving our city as over 250 volunteers from 15 different congregations participated in cleaning, restoring and renewing 9 City parks on April 5 and 12.

· ... for the successful "Project 180 Day" in Alief: over 1500 volunteers worked on the school beautification day and community festival at Boone Elementary School, and over 3000 attended the festival following the campus project.. The staff and members of Grace Presbyterian Church were joined by leaders and member of several other Alief congregations and of local businesses.

· ... that more underserved schools have been adopted in the Bellaire/ SW Loop, Cy-Fair, Sugar Land/Stafford, Alief/Sharpstown, Missouri City/Fresno/Arcola CSA's, with mentors now being recruited and trained to serve students.

· ... that approximately 1500 believers gathered with Christian leaders of area congregations and of businesses in downtown Houston for a National Day of Prayer gathering on May 1.

For Reversal of and Healing in areas of Brokenness

“And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and the Lamb will be in the city, and His servants will serve Him.” Revelation 22:2-3

· Pray for an increase in the number of believers whose lives integrate both sides of Isaiah 58:1-14: wholeheartedly seeking God in prayer and fasting, and personally involved in demonstrating compassionate intervention for the poor and those in need. Pray for an increase in the number of Christians serving as volunteers in non-profit service organizations.

· Between1986 and 2005, there were 2.2 million students who had dropped out of Texas high schools. Dropouts are 8 times more likely to go to prison and currently make up 50% of the total prison population. Pray for God's help and intervention through His Church to dramatically reduce the dropout rate among students in greater Houston.

For the Unity of and Collaborative Actions by the Body of Christ

“May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that You sent me and have loved them even as You have loved Me.” John 17:23

· Pray for 120 to participate in Faithwalking in 2008 and that they will join the ranks of leaders uniting and catalyzing the Church into action. (There are 4 more Faithwalking retreats scheduled for 2008. See www.faithwalkinonline.com for information).

· Continue to ask the Lord for multi-denominational, multi-racial, multi-generational, and mixed gender leadership teams to be formed in Community Service Areas across the city, producing united prayer and collaborative works of compassion. Continue to pray that God will provide a full complement of CSA team members to lead and steward community transformation in our current 7 CSA's and in 7 more CSA's during 2009.

· Pray that God will multiply the number of praying Christians and increase the numbers of congregations united in prayer around common prayer targets for communities.

· Pray for the November 17-20 "Transform World - 2008" conference to be held at Grace Community Church. Pray for the Houston design team who will be helping to shape this event.

For the Prospering of Greater Houston and for Church-Civic Partnerships

“Also seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, for if it prospers, then you too will prosper.” Jeremiah 29:7

· Pray for increases in donations from individuals, congregations, corporations and foundations to outreach ministries and service providers that address human needs in greater Houston.

· Pray that at least 1000 volunteers participate in and pray during the "Reach Out to Dropouts" day on September 6, 2008 sponsored by the Houston Independent School District. Pray for God to touch the lives of the drop-outs and their families so that students choose to return to school, and for other school districts to provide similar programs to reach drop-outs.

For the “Whole and Healthy Children” Efforts in Public Schools

“Then little children were brought to Jesus for Him to place His hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples rebuked those who brought them. Jesus said, “Let the little children come to Me and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” Matthew 19:13-14

· Mobilization of prayer: For an increase in each CSA and across the city of the number of daily and weekly intercessors praying for the students and staff and (eventually) the mentors at the schools being adopted by CSA's (which presently includes Bane Elementary, Boone Elementary, Gordon Elementary, Lamkin Elementary, Ridgemont Elementary, Stafford Elementary and Stearns Elementary). Pray for CSA teams to successfully mobilize prayer in and for administrators, teachers and students in these schools and for public schools across greater Houston

· Mentors recruited: Ask the Lord for 100 Christians who will commit 1 hour each week for the entire 2008-2009 school year to be a mentor to an at-risk child at each of 6 elementary schools, and who will offer the student and their extended family

- A role model whose life and choices are worth imitating,
- Academic assistance,
- Consistent love and affirmation,
- When God provides opportunity, clear communication of the Good News.

· Money & Gifts-in-Kind raised: Pray for $10,000, or $10,000 worth of requested items as in-kind gifts, to be donated for each of the under-resourced schools that are adopted by CSA teams, in order to assist the school's staff in providing improved educational opportunities.

· Makeover campus projects: 500 students from across Texas will gather in Houston for a conference that will include assisting campus beautification projects at several under-resourced schools in 5 CSAs. Pray for God's protection for the students and leaders. Pray for favorable weather, for successful completion of these projects, and for relationships with leaders in each school that results in invited ongoing service to the schools by the Body of Christ.

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