Praise God for the privilege of approaching Him and conversing with Him in prayer. Ask the Holy Spirit to prompt us to prayer throughout our days and lives and to help us to recall Scriptures to guide us in our prayers. Pray for God to grow us into deeper relationship with Him and greater dependence upon Him.

This week we are praying for Awaken, a gospel-based recovery ministry led by Brook Hills members, Greg and Stacey Oliver, dedicated to helping individuals and ministries navigate the trauma and difficulties associated with sexual brokenness and addiction. One of the specific desires of Awaken is to establish meaningful relationships with local church leaders to help them better understand and respond to these issues within their congregations. We are also praying this week for ​​Redeemer Community Church and Pastor Joel Brooks. 

Day 1: Pray for the rapidly growing communities of men and women seeking recovery from sexual brokenness to find the hope, support, and resources they need to help them find the freedom they've been looking for. Over the past two years, Awaken has seen a dramatic increase in people whose sexual addiction has brought them to the place of seeking help. Pray they will connect to a community and to the healing grace of Christ.

Day 2: Pray for the Awaken community of women seeking healing and recovery from sexual betrayal trauma. Many of them are trying to make decisions about their future while experiencing PTSD symptoms common to betrayed partners. Pray they will experience support from the community, and guidance and wisdom from the Holy Spirit as they make difficult decisions. 

Day 3: Pray for those who facilitate Awaken recovery communities outside of Birmingham (Cullman, Montgomery, Prattville, AL, and Nashville, TN). These communities are growing, so pray that more people will become trained meeting facilitators.

Day 4: Pray for the ministry leaders who are currently a part of Awaken Ministry Cohorts, a resource that offers equipping to help ministry leaders more effectively shepherd their people through sexual brokenness. Pray that more leaders will join future cohort groups starting later in 2022.

Day 5: Pray for the Awaken staff: Greg and Stacey Oliver, and Bobby West. Pray that God will protect their marriages and personal recovery journeys. Pray that the Lord will give them energy and resilience as they work with many hurting people. Pray for wisdom to set healthy boundaries and limitations as they serve.

Day 6: Pray for the Awaken Board of Directors as they seek to lead Awaken with integrity and grace. Pray for Awaken as they seek to add additional members to the board in order to develop more effective strategic goals and raise additional financial support.

This week, we are praying for Brook Hills Long-Termers, Hunter and Meghan S. They are serving in the Middle East with their newborn daughter, Nora. They were sent out by Brook Hills to work among least-reached people groups in the Middle East. They are currently in the U.S. for their stateside time but will be heading back to a new country in the Middle East in late summer. 

Day 1: Hunter and Meghan are changing countries when they head back overseas this summer. Please continue to pray for their former place of assignment in the Middle East and the few local believers there. Pray that local believers would gather together in one church, despite cultural pressures against them. Pray that local brothers and sisters would remain bold to proclaim the gospel amidst persecution from family members and government officials.

Day 2: Pray for Hunter and Meghan as they learn how to be parents. Pray that the Lord would pour out grace on them. Pray that they would magnify Jesus as they raise their daughter, Nora. 

Day 3: Pray for Hunter as he pursues their visas for living in the new country, and for transportation and housing. Pray that they would be able to settle in quickly and make good connections with neighbors and their team. 

Day 4: Pray for the Lord to give the growing number of believers in their new country boldness to proclaim the gospel in the face of pain and possible death. Pray that they would see the importance of committing to gather regularly in local churches, despite the risks. 

Day 5: Pray for Jesus’ church to be built in their new country according to His design. Pray that local and ex-pat believers would boldly proclaim the gospel and that the Lord would add to their numbers. 

Day 6: Pray for the many ex-pat Christians that have moved into the country. Pray that they would see the unique opportunity that they have to faithfully make disciples in an unreached context. Pray that churches in every language would be established throughout their city and the whole country.