Praise God for sending His Son, Jesus Christ, on that first Christmas so long ago. Pray for opportunities to share the message of Christmas with others we encounter over the holidays. Ask God to soften the hearts of those who will hear the gospel through so many times of celebration and to grant them ears to hear and faith to believe. Pray for God to use us all individually and corporately as a church to carry His gospel to many who have not yet heard, that we might celebrate Christmas next year with new brothers and sisters in Christ.

This week we are praying for The Lovelady Center (loveladycenter.org), a residential Christian ministry in East Lake dedicated to empowering women to overcome barriers such as addiction, homelessness, and re-entry from prison. The Lovelady Center serves over 500 women and children daily and is the largest transitional program of its kind in the country. The organization partners with others like WorkFaith Birmingham to prepare the women staying there to work and walk forward with faith-driven hope for the future. We are also praying for Victory City Church and Pastor Brandon Knight.

DAY 1: Pray each woman will be open and receptive to the Gospel and the transforming work of the Holy Spirit in their lives. Pray for the women to feel the love of Jesus through the center’s programs, leaders, and volunteers.

DAY 2: Pray for the children at The Lovelady Center. Pray educators and providers will be able to meet the needs of the children academically and emotionally. Pray for the children to know God and love God. Pray against the ongoing impact of their previous trauma and for God to bring healing to their lives.

DAY 3: Pray for the graduates of The Lovelady Center. Pray for God to put a hedge of protection around them and provide them with stable work. Ask God to provide the women and children with deep community through a local church that encourages them and seeks to walk with them in every season. Pray for God to give them spirits of endurance when they face challenging circumstances.

DAY 4: Pray for the staff and leaders of The Lovelady Center. Pray for God to sustain their faithfulness in ministering to the women and children at the center. Pray for a deepened love for the women and children and an ongoing desire for them to put their faith in God.

DAY 5: Pray for the Lovelady’s Santa Workshop, an opportunity for mothers to choose gifts for their children for Christmas. Praise God for the generosity of people across Birmingham donating toys to their gift drive. Pray that as each child receives a gift from their mom, they would better understand the gift of Jesus Christ at Christmas.

DAY 6: Pray for ongoing financial provision for The Lovelady Center. Pray the funds given by generous donors will meet the center’s needs. Praise God for the champions who generously support the organization financially. Ask God to continue to give the board and staff wisdom in faithfully stewarding the financial gifts the center receives.

This week we are praying for our long-termers Reagan and Katie as they transition to a new, permanent location for ministry in the Middle East. 

DAY 1: Pray for God to go before them as they transition to a new city where there is no church and very few, if any, believers. Pray they will be received well and welcomed into their new home and that they would be blessed with good neighbors and community.

DAY 2: Ask God to protect their marriage during this time. Pray both Reagan and Katie would be faithful to seek the Lord and lean on Him. Ask God to grow their love for each other and the Lord so their marriage will be a testimony of God’s grace and mercy in their lives.

DAY 3: Pray for God to open minds and soften hearts, even now, to receive the Good News. Ask God to help Reagan and Katie form relationships and to assimilate into the community well.

DAY 4: Ask God to give Reagan and Katie great wisdom and discernment as they establish a business in their new city. Pray for them to receive favor from the government and local authorities and for their business to be welcomed into the community.

DAY 5: Pray for the gospel to spread and for people in Reagan and Katie’s city to believe and follow Jesus. Ask God to grow the number of believers so a church can be established and bring gospel light to this part of the world..

DAY 6: Ask God to enable us as a faith family to continue to support long-termers like Reagan and Katie through the Global Offering, prayer, and going on mid-term and short-term trips. Pray we would give sacrificially and abundantly so others can know the hope we have in Christ.