Pray for God to grant strength, patience, understanding, and wisdom to the men in our faith family to lead their families well. Pray for the fathers in our church to take seriously their responsibility to raise up their children in the knowledge of God. Pray for all of us to join these fathers in helping them make disciples of their children. Pray for the fatherless today to find comfort in God. Pray for fathers who have lost children to know the peace only God can provide. Praise God for being our good, gracious, and loving Heavenly Father.

This week we are praying for Community Care Development Network (CCDN), a partner Christian ministry located in Center Point that is comprised of local leaders helping to develop and maintain community programs across Birmingham. They specialize in serving local families through the areas of family and life services, mentoring, food and clothing support, educational services, workforce development, and community outreach. We’re also praying this week for Hope Mountain Church and Pastor Deric Thomas.

Day 1: Pray for all the families CCDN impacts each year: the families of the clients they serve, the families of the volunteers that sacrifice their time, the families of the staff members, and all of the families that are dealing with difficult challenges and hard circumstances. Pray they would know Christ and embrace His good design for their lives.

Day 2: Pray for sustainability and growth for CCDN. Pray for opportunities to hire additional employees. Pray for financial provision. Pray for continued funding from faithful donors and new opportunities for additional funding. 

Day 3: Pray for guidance as CCDN seeks to hire a new operations manager. Pray for God to lead someone to CCDN that will be a team player and have a servant's heart. Pray that this person would have business acumen, knowledge of nonprofits, and financial management skills. Pray that the board would have clarity and assurance when making this important hiring decision.

Day 4: Pray for the CCDN Board of Directors. Pray that they would continue to be faithful in serving with CCDN and that they would be stirred to help CCDN reach its financial goals for 2023. Pray that as CCDN continues to grow, the Lord would continue to raise up strong and servant-hearted leaders to serve in this way.

Day 5: Pray for the continued expansion of CCDN’s efforts to serve Birmingham, and now Bessemer. Pray for the new education and agriculture programs beginning, the new expansion to the west side of the Birmingham/Bessemer area, and for current and new partnerships to continue to work together to help make these expansions possible.

Day 6: Pray for the CCDN leadership team, staff, and volunteers. Pray that they will continue to be Spirit-led in their pursuit of serving Christ and our city. Pray specifically for continued health, strength, and energy for CCDN Founder and Director, Tamika Holmes, as she seeks to serve the city of Birmingham well.

This week we are praying for The World Games coming to Birmingham from July 7-17. There will be an estimated 3,600 athletes coming from over 100 countries to our city for 36 events at 14+ venues around Birmingham. Learn more about TWG sporting events.

Day 1: “And so I will show my greatness and my holiness, and I will make myself known in the sight of many nations. Then they will know that I am the Lord” (Ezekiel 38:23). Pray for the estimated 3,600 athletes from over 100 countries.

Day 2: Pray for safe travel for all World Games athletes and their entourages. Pray for the athletes to be protected from injury.

Day 3: “But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one” (2 Thessalonians 3:3). The Department of Homeland Security has ranked TWG with a Special Events Assessment Rating of Level 1, requiring extensive federal interagency support. Pray for all city, state, and federal government agencies involved in providing security during TWG.

Day 4: “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile” (Romans 1:16). Pray for the families of the 3,600 athletes from over 100 countries.

Day 5: Pray for the 1,000 credentialed media members who will be covering TWG. Pray for all visitors, world leaders, and dignitaries attending TWG. 

Day 6: Pray that each visitor and each athlete will have the opportunity to hear the gospel of Jesus Christ while in Birmingham for TWG.

*Prayer points adapted from the “Praying on the 7s” guide provided by the Birmingham Metro Baptist Association.