“We pray together not so that God can know what we need. We pray that we might become more open to the ways he wants to work through us to meet those needs. ”
The Unsaved and Unchurched of our Community
We begin by praying for the people of our community whom God is calling us to reach. Pray that their hearts will be open to hearing and receiving God’s love in Jesus Christ. Just as importantly, pray that we as a church will have a genuine desire to build relationships with them.
There is no shortage of needs within our church family, but the greatest need is for individual transformation for each of us. Our church can only be as spiritually vital as each of us who make up this family, so we conclude our 40 days of prayer by asking that God change each of us. Pray that he will make us each more compassionate, more generous, more forgiving, and more eager to share the love of Jesus.
With recent changes in our staff, roles and responsibilities are changing. Pray that our staff will remain unified in their loyalty to each other, their commitment to our church’s mission and vision, and their passion for leading our congregation into God’s future for Bonsack Baptist.
There are populations of people in our region who might never physically come to our church campus. How might God be calling us to go to them and plant the seeds of Christian community where they are? Pray that God will give us a sense of vision, unity, and passion to take the gospel to people instead of waiting on them to come to us.
This year we are sending mission teams to Nickelsville, VA, Standing Rock, SD, Alaska, Nicaragua, and Kenya. Pray for the preparations already taking place for these trips. Pray for those who will travel, and also for those to whom they will minister. Pray that relationships will be built and that the love of Jesus will be shared.
Our youth gather on Wednesday nights for worship and fellowship. Pray that tonight’s gathering will be a time of welcome and growth for our young people. Pray they will be equipped to live as Godly teenagers among their friends and classmates. Pray they will be unified in love for each other and for Christ.
Our friends in our special needs ministry bless us with their warmth and kindness. Pray for those who meet every Sunday in our Bonsack Hall, and for those who meet together at North Roanoke Assisted Living. Pray also for their leaders. Pray that the love of Jesus would radiate through their gathering.
There are many people who work behind the scenes in our church office to keep our ministers and their ministries organized and efficient. Offer thanks today for those who display the gifts of administration. Pray God’s blessings on their work and on their families.
People often form quick impressions about church based on their first experiences when they walk in the door. Pray that our greeters and ushers will provide a space of welcome and hospitality today for all who come to worship and study with us.
Our men’s ministry sponsors fellowship, discipleship, and outreach events for the men of our church. In an age of confusion about gender, pray this ministry will help to raise up Godly men who serve their families, their church, and their community.
Many within our congregation live with anxieties about how to meet the financial demands placed upon them. Often, these burdens are carried in secret, which only increases their weight. Pray those in financial distress will find meaningful solutions to their problems. Pray also they will find the release to share their burdens with others who can help them.
The New Testament identifies singleness as a holy way of life. Without the time demands of a family to care for, the single among us often devote themselves more fully to the service of Christ and His church. Pray the single adults in our congregation will find authentic community and fulfilling opportunities for service.
Every Wednesday night, young ladies in elementary school through high school meet to learn about missions and to pray for those who lead mission work throughout the world. They also engage in various service projects for our church and community. Pray for these young ladies and their leaders as they gather tonight.
Jesus welcomed little children into His presence. Pray today for those who give of their time to welcome and teach our preschool and school aged children each week. Pray they will build meaningful relationships with the children and their families and will find effective ways to communicate Biblical truth to them.
Every Monday evening a team of volunteers meet at the church to follow up with guests at recent worship services. Through cards, phone calls, and personal visits, they seek to answer questions and extend a warm welcome. Pray that God will ordain the contacts they will host tonight.
The fact that we have two different worship venues enables us to reach a wider cross section of people. However, we must pray that while we may worship in two different spaces, we remain unified in our love for each other and in our shared mission. Pray today that Bonsack Baptist will be one church proclaiming one faith in one Lord.
It would be easy to take for granted all those who work behind the scenes to manage the lights, microphones, sound, and multimedia presentations that enrich our worship services and other gatherings. Today, offer thanks for these servants. Pray God will bless their families and their ministry.
We have a team of over 40 individuals who have been set aside to serve our congregation as Deacons. Among other acts of service, each of these servant leaders are assigned a group of families to whom they minister throughout the year. Pray God will uphold our deacons as they carry out their ministry. Pray also for the relationships they build with their families.
Every Thursday morning a team of volunteers serve as many as 40 families from our community who are in need of food assistance. Pray that physical and spiritual needs would be met through this ministry, and that genuine relationships would be formed for the good of God’s kingdom.
Our Weekday Early Education Center is a vibrant ministry that nurtures mental and spiritual development for preschool and afterschool students. Pray today for the many families with whom we have the chance to build relationships through this ministry. Pray these families will be spiritually healthy and that God will draw them into relationship with Him.
Across our country there is a tendency for college students to drift away from church as they leave home. Pray today for the college students who are a part of the Bonsack family. Pray that they will continue to build on the spiritual foundation that has been laid, and that they will be effective witnesses for Christ.
We desire to more effectively tell the story of what God is doing through Bonsack, and to do it in a way that connects with the community beyond our walls. Pray for all those who have a hand in crafting our newsletters, social media posts, blogs, bulletins, videos, and other channels of communication. Pray that God will be glorified in all of it.
We have two teams of people currently searching for the right persons to fill these vital roles. Pray for their unity, clarity, and direction as they seek to lead us to the future staff members God has in mind for us.
Providing a safe and caring environment for children takes a team of dedicated people who often work behind the scenes. As we anticipate gathering tomorrow for study and fellowship, pray in gratitude for those who are willing to serve the youngest among us. Also pray that God will raise up new servants to sustain and grow this ministry into the future.
Those who are new in the covenant of marriage face unique joys and challenges as they begin the journey of two becoming one. Pray the newlyweds in our church family will find mentors and friends who can support and sustain them as they begin their life together.
Our women’s ministry sponsors a wide array of Bible studies, conferences, and mission opportunities throughout the year. Pray the leaders and participants in this ministry will help propel the mission and vision of our church.
Our RA program teaches elementary and high school aged boys about missions, while also involving them in hands-on mission projects. Pray that as the students and teachers in our RA program meet tonight they will grow a heart for reaching others with the gospel.
Those who teach our youth have the potential to impact their lives in profound ways. Pray that our youth Sunday School teachers will be effective in building relationships with and communicating truth to our students.
This team of people is charged with oversight of the policies and the performance of all church staff. Especially in this time of staff transition, pray they will have wisdom as they discern the most useful and effective way to staff our church for the future.
Our sanctuary services are enriched each week by choirs, soloists, and instrumentalists who use their gifts to direct our worship toward God. Pray that God will use them to open people to receive His word.