Praise God for the privilege we have to gather to worship Him each week. Pray for our worshp of God to ascribe to HIm the glory He alone deserves for who He is and for HIs salvation of us. Pray our worship will also serve to motivate our witness here in Birmingham and around the world.

This week we are praying for Oak Tree Ministries, a ministry that partners with The Church at Brook Hills to labor with the people of Mark’s Village in fulfillment of God’s promises in Isaiah 61. The verses of Isaiah 61:3-4 will guide our prayer for Oak Tree Ministries this week. “They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the Display of His Splendor. They will rebuild the ancient ruins and restore the places long devastated; they will renew the ruined cities that have been devastated for generations.” We are also praying for The Vine Birmingham and Pastor George Whitlock.

Day 1: Pray that Oak Tree would be able to be a literal picture of rebuilding the ancient ruins through creative and meaningful use of their space and resources, including the future renovation of an owned but currently uninhabitable building where lives can be transformed by the power of our Lord Jesus.

Day 2: Pray that Oak Tree would offer biblical “shalom” through community support adding value to their community through intellectual, spiritual, and occupational resources, such as educational partnerships like Love Oliver and job creation like a future screen-printing business.

Day 3: Pray that Oak Tree would be a part of restoration in places long devastated through holistic care, including spiritual, mental and physical support in the name of Jesus.

Day 4: Pray that the trauma-informed practices employed at Oak Tree will lead to healing – from past, present, and future devastations. Acknowledging that the Lord loves justice (Micah 6:8) and desires biblical justice to be accomplished through His church, we desire for the dividing wall of hostility to be practically destroyed. (Eph 2:14).

Day 5: Pray that God will use Oak Tree and Brook Hills to be a part of renewal in the ruined cities that have been devastated for generations as we share Jesus with our words and prove we believe what we say with our actions. Pray that staff, neighbors, volunteers, and partners will bring glory to God through mutually transforming and healing relationships.

Day 6: Pray that through their gospel-centered approach, it will be said of the colaboring between Oak Tree and their neighbors in Marks Village that as the earth brings forth sprouts and a garden causes what is sown to sprout, The LORD God will cause righteousness and praise to sprout up in Marks Village until the trumpet sounds. Pray that at His coming, He would find His people there faithfully exulting in His name, clothed in garments of salvation and wearing Christ’s robe of righteousness.  (Is 61:11).

This week, we are praying for our two summer Mid-Termers, Bekah M and Margaret T. Bekah and Margaret will be heading to Southeast Asia for the summer to work with some of our long-term missionaries.

Day 1: Pray for Bekah and Margaret as they go through Mid Term training with the Global team before they leave. Pray that they would be quick to listen and learn, and that they would have hearts ready to serve the people they will meet in Southeast Asia.

Day 2: Pray for logistics of travel as they head to the other side of the world on May 4. Pray for them to have peace as they travel. Pray for their families here in the USA. Pray for smooth travel and for a quick adjustment to the new time zone and new schedule for the summer.

Day 3: Pray for Bekah. Pray that she would see her purpose in the place God has called her and that he would use her in his work. Pray that she will boast in the Lord, not her own strength. Pray that as she is stretched and challenged she would find comfort and strength from God alone. 

Day 4: Pray for Margaret. Pray that she will continue to be steadfast in her walk with the Lord for whatever trials may come. Pray for overall health (physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual) so that it may not become a distraction from being fully present. Pray that the Lord will open the hearts and minds of the people that they will be working with, making them eager to taste and see that the Lord is good.

Day 5: Pray for the hearts of the people of Southeast Asia to be opened to hear the gospel. Pray for Bekah and Margaret to have eyes to see people like Jesus sees them. Pray that Bekah and Margaret will go out proclaiming the good news of Jesus with boldness and with love in their hearts for each person they meet.

Day 6: Pray for their friendship to grow deeper in Christ. Pray that they will love each other as sisters in Christ and that they will be a blessing to the Sent Ones and other believers in their city.