Prayer, Week of October 23, 2016
The Universal Priesthood
First Peter 2:9 says, “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people acquired for a possession, so that you may tell out the virtues of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.”
“Among us, every saved one is a priest, a serving one. As such, everyone should preach the gospel directly to his family members, relatives, colleagues, schoolmates, and neighbors. This way of preaching the gospel is according to our appointment by the Lord to go forth and bear fruit (Luke 10:1-6; John 15:16). We are all branches of the Lord as the vine (John 15:5); as such, we need to bear fruit personally, not asking others to do it for us. We should visit people personally to preach the gospel and lead them to be saved and regenerated, and we should also nourish, teach, and perfect them.” (W. Lee, The Ministry of the New Testament Priests of the Gospel, ch. 1)
For the increase in the church in Los Angeles, we need to see who we are and exercise our priesthood. Pray that the Lord would gain us as a group of people who live in His presence by spending time with Him to be filled and saturated with Him. Pray for each saint to be connected with a companion to pray for the Lord’s interests on the earth. And pray for our church life to be filled with much begetting, nourishing, perfecting, and building so that both we and the Lord would be satisfied.
“We have to see that if the one-talented ones do not rise up to serve, there is no way for the church to go on. The priesthood is a universal priesthood. This is the greatest recovery of this century.” (W. Nee, The Resumption of Watchman Nee’s Ministry, p. 338)
Children’s Work Perfecting Conference
“We must realize that the children’s work is a crucial burden. Every locality must be aggressive in the children’s work, because there is a greater future in the children’s work than in the campus work. Generally speaking, it is easier to bring in children, and once they come in, they usually remain. Our history confirms this fact.” (Crucial Words of Leading in the Lord’s Recovery, Book 3: The Future of the Lord’s Recovery and the Building Up of the Organic Service, pp. 218-219)
There will be a perfecting conference for parents and those who serve with the children on Saturday, November 5 from 9am to 12pm at the church in Diamond Bar meeting hall. The first session will cover matters related to being parents and the second session will be about the children’s work in the churches. Registration deadline is October 30. Donation is $15; no lunch provided. Details at SCYP.com.
High School Conferences
The Southern California high school conferences are October 29–30 in Irvine (brothers) and Anaheim (sisters). From LA, we are expecting 20 young brothers (plus 4 serving ones) and 12 young sisters (plus 8 serving ones) to attend.
L.A. Intercollegiate Meeting
This Saturday, October 29, 6-9 pm we will have our Los Angeles joint college meeting at CSUN. Please strongly pray for: (1) many college students to be released to come from all parts of Los Angeles; (2) solid blending and relatedness to be built up among the different campuses; and (3) the strong release of the spirit and the Lord’s fresh speaking. May the Lord perfect us into one so that more in Los Angeles may believe into the Lord Jesus (John 17:21)!
Southern California ITERO Review
This Saturday, October 29, there will be an important all-day gathering (9 AM to 9 PM) in Anaheim for the elders and responsible brothers in Southern California. The primary purpose of this gathering is to review the nine messages from the recent ITERO in Australia. Please pray for this time, that the Lord would bless the fellowship among all the brothers for the building up of the churches here.
Winter Training Registration
The winter training is a time for all the saints to receive the Lord’s fresh speaking. Ask the Lord to release more of us from the affairs of human life to participate in this training in Anaheim or in the webcasts in LA. We believe “that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him” (Heb. 11:6). At the same time, we know that “it is God who operates in you both the willing and the working for His good pleasure” (Phil. 2:13). Ask the Lord to stir our hearts to pursue Him actively.
Leeds, United Kingdom
After many years of prayer, the saints in Leeds will take ground and hold their first Lord’s Table on October 30. Please pray for a strong beginning to the church life in Leeds, with many saints attending from throughout the UK.
Announcements
- Morning revival: Crystallization-Study of Exodus, vol. 8, week 45.
- Audio of the October 16 joint meeting of the church in LA is available at http://tinyurl.com/jssxyrk.
- The Children’s Work Perfecting Conference will be on November 5 in Diamond Bar. Registration donation is $15. Register by October 30 at http://www.scyp.com/forms.
- The 2016 Winter Training will be December 26–31 in Anaheim (live) and Los Angeles (simulcasts). Registration deadline is October 30. For saints in LA, go to http://tinyurl.com/wintertrainingla.
- The International Thanksgiving Conference will be in San Jose, CA from November 24–27. Details, including hotel group rates, are posted at https://churchinlosangeles.org/prayer/.
- The Lord’s Move in Europe:
Information about serving in Germany this fall is at http://germany2016.amanatrust.org.uk.
Giving for the Gospel Work in Europe instructions are at http://www.lordsmove.org/information.html. Giving for the UK Building Fund instructions are at http://www.lordsmove.org/ukbuildingfund or you may give to the church in LA, designated for UK Building Fund.
Prayer, Week of October 16, 2016
The Exercise of Our Priesthood
“You yourselves also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house into a holy priesthood to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ” (1 Pet. 2:5).
“Today in the Lord’s recovery the greatest need, the primary need, is to gain the increase. A house cannot be built without materials. We need to save sinners through the preaching of the gospel that they may become material for the building up of the church as the house of God (1 Tim. 3:15)” (Fellowship concerning the Urgent Need of the Vital Groups, p. 182).
For the increase in the church in Los Angeles, there is a need for all of us to be priests. Pray for all the saints to exercise their priesthood in the following ways:
- Coming to the Lord and spending time with Him.
- Praying with a companion for the Lord’s purpose on this earth.
- Practicing the God-ordained way of begetting, nourishing, perfecting, and prophesying (building).
Junior High Conferences
The Southern California junior high conferences are October 22–23 in Fullerton (brothers) and Diamond Bar (sisters).
Spanish-Speaking Conference
On Saturday, October 22 in Anaheim, there will be a special time of fellowship and perfecting for the Spanish-speaking saints in Southern California. This conference is open to all the saints in the churches
and there is no need for registration or donations. Child care will not be provided.
4:00–6:00 pm First Meeting
6:00–7:00 pm Dinner Break (bring your own food and water)
7:00–9:00 pm Second Meeting
May the Lord bless this special time with His presence and speaking. Pray for many saints to attend and for the word of God which they will hear to operate in them (1 Thes. 2:13).
Bibles for America
Each month, approximately 4,000 Bibles and 16,000 Christian books are ordered through the Bibles for America website. We praise the Lord that so many have taken the opportunity to discover the riches in the Word and the ministry. Please pray that many people would continue to discover the BfA website and order the free New Testament Recovery Version and ministry books. Please also pray that those who have already ordered would open up their books and receive the supply of light and life in the Word.
European Brothers’ Training and Blending Conference
Brothers from the churches in Europe will gather in Baarlo, Netherlands for a three-day training (October 18–20). The messages will be a repeat of the most recent ITERO, October 6-8, in Australia. Our
goal is that the Lord will make us all able ministers of the New Testament, effective building material for the universal Body of Christ, and good stewards and serving ones in our respective local churches.
Following this training, saints from all over Europe will gather at the same location for an international blending conference (October 21–23). Lord, gather many saints for more constituting with
Your truth, more infusion of life, more vision of Your move in Europe, and more blending.
Pray “that the word of the Lord may run and be glorified” (2 Thes. 3:1). Also pray that the burden of the Lord’s speaking in the fall ITERO will be imparted into the leading brothers in Europe and that the saints in Europe will be further blended together in the Lord’s up-to-date speaking in the conference.
Krakow, Poland
There has long been a burden to raise up a lampstand in Krakow, a major educational and cultural center and the second largest and one of the oldest cities in Poland. By the end of October, six full-timers who previously served in the UK will relocate to Krakow and will begin to serve there. For many years the saints in Poland have been praying for Krakow, and in the past several years groups of saints have gone there on a regular basis to distribute free ministry literature, including the English New Testament Recovery Version. Please pray:
- That suitable housing will be found for all the full-timers;
- That all the full-timers will be blended together in prayer and fellowship to serve in one accord;
- That the labor of the full-timers, in coordination with the local saints in Krakow, will be under the Lord’s blessing and will be fruitful in bringing local seeking ones and students into the church life;
- That a golden lampstand will be raised up as the testimony of Jesus in Krakow.
Announcements
- Morning revival: REPEAT Crystallization-Study of Exodus, vol. 8, week 44.
- Junior High Conferences will be held October 22–23 in Fullerton (brothers) and Diamond Bar (sisters). Registration deadline was October 16.
- High School Conferences will be held October 29–30 in Irvine (brothers) and Anaheim (sisters). Registration deadline was October 16.
- The 2016 Winter Training will be December 26–31 in Anaheim (live) and Los Angeles (simulcasts). Registration deadline is October 30. For saints in LA, go to http://tinyurl.com/wintertrainingla.
- The Children’s Work Perfecting Conference will be on November 5 in Diamond Bar. Registration donation is $15. Register by October 30 at http://www.scyp.com/forms.
- The International Thanksgiving Conference will be in San Jose, CA from November 24–27. Details, including hotel group rates, are posted at https://churchinlosangeles.org/prayer/.
- The Lord’s Move in Europe:
Information about serving in Germany this fall is at http://germany2016.amanatrust.org.uk.
Giving for the Gospel Work in Europe instructions are at http://www.lordsmove.org/information.html.
Giving for the UK Building Fund instructions are at http://www.lordsmove.org/ukbuildingfund or you may give to the church in LA, designated for UK Building Fund.
Prayer, Week of October 9, 2016
Church in Los Angeles
“But to Him who is able to do superabundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power which operates in us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus unto all the generations forever and ever. Amen.” (Eph. 3:20-21)
“The church is a group of people who allow God to be mingled with them and who are mingled with God. This was the situation with the early apostles. They were truly Galileans, but they were also truly one with the God of heaven; they had the appearance of Galileans, but they also had the expression of the God of heaven… A glorious and great God was now mingled with common people, shining forth and being expressed through them.” (WL, The Church as the Body of Christ, pp. 46-47)
The whole church will meet together at 10 am this Lord’s Day, October 16 at LA Trade Tech College. Please pray for a strong and healthy attendance of all the saints in Los Angeles. Pray for a rich time of blending among all the saints—across all the languages, ages, districts, and halls—for the Lord to gain His shining testimony and expression in Los Angeles.
ITERO
The International Training for Elders and Responsible Ones concluded this past weekend in Australia with a blending meeting on the Lord’s Day. The subject of the training was “Returning to the Orthodoxy of the Church.” Many saints are now participating in blending trips in the region. Please pray for the digestion of the messages and for all the saints traveling and blending.
Winter Training Registration
The winter training is a time for us to receive the Lord’s fresh speaking. Ask the Lord to release more saints from the affairs of human life to participate in this training in Anaheim or in the webcasts in LA. Ask the Lord to stir our hearts to pursue Him actively. “For it is God who operates in you both the willing and the working for His good pleasure” (Phil. 2:13). (See Announcements for registration details.)
Frankfurt, Germany
The new university semester here officially begins on October 17. For the next few weeks the gospel team is spending more time on the campus to contact students. We are planning four barbecues as a way to contact new ones and gain them for the church life. We are burdened to gain the German students and pray that many would become pillars of the Lord’s testimony in Germany.
We have had a new meeting hall for the past month. Last Saturday, we held an open house to meet neighbors whom we had invited by going door-to-door and with whom we had many positive conversations. We pray that we would first of all have a proper testimony to our neighbors as we assemble at the hall throughout the week, and also that many would be gained for the church life. We appreciate your remembering these matters in your prayers.
Ethiopia
Over the past several weeks there have been some skirmishes in the country and the government has tried to keep the peace. Unfortunately, the clashes between government forces and some of the people keep escalating in most parts of the country and around Addis Ababa. There are some legitimate requests by the people, which the government admits need to be addressed, yet the rioting and violent protests continue. Many people have been killed and the situation does not seem to be calming down. Movement within the country has become unsafe, and the government has just declared a state of emergency.
We feel that Satan is behind all of this unrest and is working to frustrate the Lord’s move in Ethiopia. We do believe that the Lord is working behind the scenes to arrange a suitable environment to further His move to all the parts of the country. We know the Lord is the glorious God-man enthroned to direct the world situation. We worship the Lord and look to Him to preserve all the saints here. We need the prayer of the Body and the fellowship of the Body.
Harare, Zimbabwe
A country with 13 million people, Zimbabwe shares a border with South Africa. Over 80% of the population identifies as Christian, the vast majority being Protestant. The largest city is the nation's capital, Harare, with a population of nearly 1.5 million people.
The saints in Zimbabwe will have their first Lord's table on October 16 in Harare. A good number of saints from South Africa are planning to attend to support this time. Please stand with the saints by praying that the church in Harare will have a new and strong start.
Announcements
- Morning revival: Crystallization-Study of Exodus, vol. 8, week 44.
- Junior High Conferences will be held October 22–23 in Fullerton (brothers) and Diamond Bar (sisters). Registration deadline is October 16.
- High School Conferences will be held October 29–30 in Irvine (brothers) and Anaheim (sisters). Registration deadline is also October 16.
- The 2016 Winter Training will be December 26–31 in Anaheim (live) and Los Angeles (simulcasts). Registration deadline is October 30. For saints in LA, go to http://tinyurl.com/wintertrainingla.
- The International Thanksgiving Conference will be in San Jose, CA from November 24–27. Details, including hotel group rates, are posted at https://churchinlosangeles.org/prayer/.
- The Lord’s Move in Europe:
Information about serving in Germany this fall is at http://germany2016.amanatrust.org.uk.
Giving for the Gospel Work in Europe instructions are at http://www.lordsmove.org/information.html.
Giving for the UK Building Fund instructions are at http://www.lordsmove.org/ukbuildingfund or you may give to the church in LA, designated for UK Building Fund.
Prayer, Week of October 2, 2016
International Training for Elders and Responsible Ones
The International Training for Elders and Responsible Ones (ITERO) will be October 6 to 8 in Gold Coast, Australia. It will be followed October 9 by a Lord’s Table and blending meeting open to all the saints. Some brothers will participate in three- to five-day church visiting and sightseeing trips beginning October 9. Please pray for all the brothers traveling, for the Lord’s rich and up-to-date speaking, and for the blending of all the saints.
UCLA
This weekend, October 8 to 9, the UCLA students will go to Engedi for their Freshmen Fall Retreat. Please pray that at least 30 new ones would be able to go, and that from this time, many of them would be prepared to be born as remaining fruit in the homes.
L.A. Korean Bible Seminar
The Lord blessed our Bible seminar on Saturday, October 1. Fifteen new ones attended; five of these were contacted during the Bible distribution at the L.A. Korean Festival. We are thankful for the prayer in the Body. Hallelujah! Please continue to pray that we will stay in contact with these seeking ones, especially those who promised to come to our weekly Bible study.
Turkey
Proof-reading has been completed for the Turkish translation of The Normal Christian Faith by Watchman Nee, and the manuscript has been sent to the local publisher. Please pray for every step of the publication process to run smoothly so that this book could be published in November.
Pakistan
From July to August, 46 saints in Pakistan, mostly young ones from 6 cities, offered their vacations and put aside their jobs to join the One-Month training. In a corporate prayer during the last week of the training, all the saints interceded for the Lord’s interest in this country with tears, beseeching the Lord to raise up 20 local churches in the coming five years and gain 1000 young people to be absolute to Him for the spreading of the testimony of the Lord’s recovery.
Thailand
The 2016 International Blending Conference in Bangkok was held from August 12-14 with 1352 saints in attendance. In addition to the 800 saints from Thailand, 525 saints from 7 countries also participated. In the next five years, the saints plan to gain 1300 college students in the 13 universities in Thailand and have 5 families in the vicinity of each campus to be opened for the students. May the Lord continue to strengthen all the churches to receive grace and advance in the Body of Christ.
The September issue of the LMA newsletter has full reports on both Pakistan and Thailand:
English: http://lmasia.org/temp/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/E-2016-09.pdf
Chinese: http://lmasia.org/temp/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Asia-2016-09.pdf
Accra, Ghana
The lease for the meeting hall in Accra is up for renewal. This property has been instrumental for the Lord's work in Ghana by housing all the full-time serving ones (one family of 5, one family of 3, and 2 singles), providing hospitality to visiting saints, and serving as a convenient meeting point for students from the nearby university. There is still a good feeling to continue the lease. The amount needed to renew it for one year is $16,200. Ask the Lord to cause us to abound in grace for giving (2 Cor. 8-9). Contributions may be made to the church in LA, designated for Accra.
Announcements
- Morning revival: Crystallization-Study of Exodus, vol. 8, week 43.
- The whole church in Los Angeles will meet together Lord’s Day, Oct. 16 at LA Trade Tech College.
- Junior High Conferences will be held October 22–23 in Fullerton (brothers) and Diamond Bar (sisters). Registration deadline is October 16.
- High School Conferences will be held October 29–30 in Irvine (brothers) and Anaheim (sisters). Registration deadline is also October 16.
- The 2016 Winter Training will be December 26–31 in Anaheim (live) and Los Angeles (simulcasts). Registration deadline is October 30. For saints in LA, go to http://tinyurl.com/wintertrainingla.
- The International Thanksgiving Conference will be in San Jose, CA from November 24–27. Details are at https://churchinlosangeles.org/prayer/.
- The Lord’s Move in Europe:
Information about serving in Germany this fall is at http://germany2016.amanatrust.org.uk.
Giving for the Gospel Work in Europe instructions are at http://www.lordsmove.org/information.html. Giving for the UK Building Fund instructions are at http://www.lordsmove.org/ukbuildingfund or you may give to the church in LA, designated for UK Building Fund.
Prayer, Week of September 25, 2016
Oneness that the World May Believe
“That they all may be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us; that the world may believe that You have sent Me.” John 17:21
The Triune God is one, and that oneness is a model of the oneness of the Body of Christ. Because the oneness of the Body has the oneness among the Three of the Trinity as a model, John 17 tells us that this oneness is altogether wrapped up with the Triune God (v. 21). The oneness of the Body of Christ is just the enlarged oneness of the Divine Trinity. (WL, The Intrinsic Problem in the Lord's Recovery Today and Its Scriptural Remedy, ch. 1, sec. 2)
Lord, enlarge the oneness among us that You may add believers from the world to Yourself.
International Training for Elders and Responsible Ones
The International Training for Elders and Responsible Ones will be October 6 to 8 in Gold Coast, Australia. Ask the Lord to richly supply the speaking brothers, all who are preparing to serve at the training, and all who are traveling to Gold Coast.
L.A. Korean Festival and Bible Seminar
Hallelujah. We distributed more than 400 Recovery Version New Testaments at the festival. And many people showed interest in joining our Bible seminar on October 1. Please continue to pray that many open ones can actually come to the Bible seminar this Saturday.
Bibles for America
The Bibles for America tour in Central and Northern California concluded last week with distributions at College of San Mateo and UC Merced. Please pray that the Lord would operate in each person who received a Bible, book, or gospel tract from the saints during these two weeks. May the word of God grow and multiply in the state of California!
Accra, Ghana
The lease for the meeting hall in Accra is up for renewal. This property has been instrumental for the Lord's work in Ghana by housing all the full-time serving ones (one family of 5, one family of 3, and 2 singles), providing hospitality to visiting saints, and serving as a convenient meeting point for students from the nearby university. There is still a good feeling to continue the lease. The amount needed to renew it for one year is $16,200. Ask the Lord to cause us to abound in grace for giving (2 Cor. 8-9). Contributions may be made to the church in LA, designated for Accra.
Germany
Our new ones from the Middle East are beginning to receive appointments with the German Government to address their request for asylum. Please pray that 1) the Lord will be their peace inwardly, and 2) they will receive the favor during their government interviews so that they would be able to remain for their growth in life and advancement in the church life.
Please continue to pray that a sufficient number of saints from outside Europe will be burdened and available to participate in the current crucial stage in the Lord’s move in Germany.
Frankfurt
We have a Bible table three times a week in the University campus. We have distributed a handful of Bibles every time and received some new contacts. Please pray that many open local Germans and young students will come to the table and that the Lord will open up the best ways for local families to capture them in the church life.
Slovakia
On September 10-11 an annual blending conference was held in Bratislava, Slovakia attended by more than 140 saints from Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Croatia, Hungary, Poland, Austria, and Serbia. The brothers shared three messages on “Keeping the Principles of the Body” from the 1998 Thanksgiving Conference. This conference was a new experience for many who have recently come into the church life. The Lord's table was a beautiful exhibition that there is only one Body in the universe, and we are part of it.
A one-page report is at https://churchinlosangeles.org/prayer/. A six minute video of the
conference overlaid by reading of the one-page report is at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_OkaDGXGnUo&feature=youtu.bee
Announcements
- Morning revival: Crystallization-Study of Exodus, vol. 7, week 42.
- The International Thanksgiving Conference will be in San Jose, CA November 24 to 27. Details are at https://churchinlosangeles.org/prayer/.
- The Lord’s Move in Europe:
Information about serving in Germany this fall is at http://germany2016.amanatrust.org.uk.
Giving for the Gospel Work in Europe instructions are at http://www.lordsmove.org/information.html. Giving for the UK Building Fund instructions are at http://www.lordsmove.org/ukbuildingfund or you may give to the church in LA, designated for UK Building Fund.
Prayer, Week of September 18, 2016
Coming to the Lord
“Come to Me all who toil and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am meek and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30)
If the brothers and sisters are to be adequately and properly participating in the church life, they need to receive the life supply continuously. What you need is not so much to do something, to learn something, or to bear more burdens. What you need is mainly to receive the life supply... The Lord came to be this life supply...
Outwardly speaking, the church life is a requirement to us. It requires us to pay a price, but in reality we are enjoying, and we obtain Christ as our supply. (WL, Messages Given to the Working Saints, ch. 3)
Church in Los Angeles
The whole church will meet together Lord’s Day, October 16, at 10 am at LA Trade Tech College (same location as May of this year and October of last year).
L.A. Korean Festival
This popular annual event will take place at Seoul International Park in Koreatown from September 22 to 25. The festival is one of the largest cultural events in L.A. and is expected to attract over 350,000 visitors. The church has been using this time for the spread of the truth by giving out copies of the Recovery Version New Testament and BfA materials. This year, we will focus on inviting contacts to a Bible seminar for further contact. Spanish-language tracts and Bible offer cards will also be distributed. Please pray that:
- More seeking ones would be contacted and invited to the Bible seminar on October 1;
- Saints would coordinate as companions to contact people;
- More saints would participate by praying in twos or threes, even though they may not be at the venue.
Oak Glen and Engedi
The Oak Glen Conference Center (https://socalblendingcenter.org) has belonged to us since
December of last year. Usage of this camp by the recovery has increased from 5% of total use last year to 35% percent now. Uses include churches, groups, and campus-related events. In November our college conferences will be held at Oak Glen.
Besides the down-payment last December, the churches in Southern California are making payments this year and next to complete this purchase. Financial giving through the first half of this year was less than needed. May we all be encouraged to give ourselves to the Lord to be graced by Him for giving to meet this need (2 Cor. 8:1-15). Each saint or family could set aside a small amount each week and give it to the church at intervals, marked for Oak Glen.
The Engedi conference center is for sale. Proceeds will be used for both the purchase of Oak Glen and for refurbishments or improvements. Some potential buyers have expressed interest but there has not yet been a definite offer. Ask the Lord to move this sale onward to completion.
Spanish-Speaking Perfecting Training
Saturday will be the second of three days of this year’s training for Spanish-speaking saints in Southern California. The focus is on the practice of the God-ordained way by our cooperating with Him. For this we need to have the vision of the age to arrive at the high peak of the divine revelation; we need the God-man living by being discipled to be overcomers living in the kingdom; and we need to be shepherds caring for and feeding the flock of God. Lord, train us to be the dispensational instruments You seek!
United States
The elections for the U.S. president and congress are November 8. We pray to release on earth the authority of the “Ruler of the kings of the earth” (Rev. 1:5) for His choice of elected officials.
Freshers’ Fayre on UK University Campuses
Most universities in the UK are starting their new academic year in recent weeks or now. This is the most crucial time for making new contacts on campus. Just in London alone, campuses where the saints will have a presence this week include the University of Greenwich, Brunel University, King’s College, University of Westminster, Kingston University, London School of Economics, and City University. Please pray:
- To consecrate the new academic year, the students, the homes, and the labor on campus to the Lord;
- That the Lord will raise up key students to co-labor on many campuses throughout the UK and Europe;
- That the Lord will open the way to contact local seeking ones during this critical time and gain them as
remaining fruit.
Zurich, Switzerland
This semester, the Lord brought six student saints from all over the world—Australia, Africa, Canada, China, and the United States. Three are doing a one-semester exchange and the rest are doing a master’s degree. The Lord is certainly blessing Zurich, and we want to be faithful to receive. Please pray that 1) by shepherding the students, the local saints would be vitalized; 2) by the shepherding, the students would be built into the church life and be connected with the saints; 3) by these students enjoying the church life, the Lord would have a way on the campuses, especially among their friends and classmates).
Bulgaria
There will be a conference in Sofia, Bulgaria September 23 to 25.
Announcements
- Morning revival: Crystallization-Study of Exodus, vol. 7, week 41.
- The last of this year’s Spanish-Speaking Perfecting Training in Southern California will be Saturday November 19.
- The International Thanksgiving Conference will be in San Jose, CA November 24 to 27. Details are at https://churchinlosangeles.org/prayer/.
- The Lord’s Move in Europe:
Information about serving in Germany this fall is at http://germany2016.amanatrust.org.uk.
Giving for the Gospel Work in Europe instructions are at http://www.lordsmove.org/information.html. Giving for the UK Building Fund instructions are at http://www.lordsmove.org/ukbuildingfund or you may give to the church in LA, designated for UK Building Fund.
Prayer, Week of September 11, 2016
Bind and Loose in Harmony
“Truly I say to you, Whatever you bind on the earth shall have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on the earth shall have been loosed in heaven. Again, truly I say to you that if two of you are in harmony on earth concerning any matter for which they ask, it will be done for them from My Father who is in the heavens.” (Matthew 18:18-19)
[In Matthew 18 the Lord Jesus said that] we have to bind the binding one [Satan] and release the bound one [a brother] by praying together in harmony.
We may have a reason for each one no longer meeting with us, but would the Lord agree with our reasoning? The Lord would ask, “Where is your brother?” In other words, the Lord would not let us give people up. We should not give up on anyone. We have to go to the Lord again and again with prayers touching heaven by binding and releasing in harmony. Heaven means God. We touch God, and God comes in to do something. (WL, The Vital Groups, ch. 1, sec. 3)
International Thanksgiving Conference
The conference will be in San Jose, November 24 to 27. Details are at https://churchinlosangeles.org/prayer/.
Because the conference is close to us, let us ask the Lord to send many from L.A., especially those who rarely go to conferences, to receive His word first-hand and to experience blending with saints from everywhere.
Bibles for America California Tour
Last week Thursday, a team of BfA staff members began a two-week distribution tour to cities in Central and Northern California. In many cities, local saints will join the team to give away free copies of the New Testament Recovery Version and ministry books at various venues.
Please pray that the Lord would go before the saints on this tour and that He would lead many sons of peace to them as they give away the Bible and books in each city. Please pray also for the local saints’ continued contact with many who receive these materials.
Germany
On 1 September saints began to serve in Germany for one to three months to continue shepherding the many new ones contacted and saved in the first half of the year. Detailed information and an application can be found at http://germany2016.amanatrust.org.uk . Please pray that:
- a sufficient number of saints from outside Europe, including Los Angeles, will be burdened and available for this crucial stage in the Lord’s move in Germany;
- the new ones will be solidified in the church life during the next three months.
Lyon, France
Through the years, a major obstacle to the Lord’s move in France is the lack of stable families. Before 2008 in Lyon there was only one family. By Lord's abundant grace, now we have eight. All the families face different challenges daily. Please pray that the Lord continue to supply and strengthen these families.
For the past three years we had a brother’s house which has been a great blessing, but not after this summer; one brother graduated and the other continues his study in another city. Nevertheless, the Lord continues to strengthen our sisters’ houses: three sisters were admitted to Lyon universities, and the Lord sent two new sisters. Now there are seven sisters; six will live in two separate sister’s houses, and another with a family. We pray that all of them will be build up together through the corporate living.
Announcements
- Morning revival: Crystallization-Study of Exodus, vol. 7, week 40.
- The second and third parts of this year's Spanish-Speaking Perfecting Training in Southern California will
be Saturdays September 24 and November 19. - The Lord’s Move in Europe:
Giving for the Gospel Work in Europe instructions are at http://www.lordsmove.org/information.html.
Giving for the UK Building Fund instructions are at http://www.lordsmove.org/ukbuildingfund or you may give to the church in LA, designated for UK Building Fund.
Prayer, Week of September 4, 2016
Middle-Age Full-Time Training
The fall term of the middle age training in Anaheim begins this week. One hundred ten are registered; 93 for the full term and 17 for a week or a few weeks. Please pray for the Lord's moving in every trainee 1) for an eagerness to know Him and be trained, 2) for a strong exercise of the mingled spirit, and 3) for the 17, that the Lord will open a door and that each will give themselves to stay for the whole term.
Frankfurt, Germany
There has been a lot of positive development this year. Please continue to pray for us. Last fall, before the gospel activities started, we had a Lord’s Day attendance of 10-15 adults, meeting in homes. Now we have 35-45, including those who migrated here and new saints, not including visitors.
We have access to our new meeting hall starting this month. Besides meeting rooms, it has four small apartments. We praise and thank the Lord for His bountiful supply from the Body. We no longer need to change meeting places frequently through the week. Please pray that the new facility will release more blessing and building for the church, and be utilized profitably for the gospel and perfecting of the saints.
We have about 50 new ones from the Middle East who were baptized; the majority are Farsi speaking. We are laboring faithfully to enlarge our capacity to shepherd them with new believers’ meetings, home meetings, and other personal contacts. Please pray that many new ones will receive adequate shepherding and perfecting to become useful material for God's building.
We also have several hundred on our master list seeking further contact through the Bible Table distributions. These are another field of labor. Among these are a handful of local Germans that we try to take care of. South Africa, Angola, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia
James Lee and Craig Birchler will be in South Africa for a conference in Pretoria September 9 to 11. At the conference many new ones are expected, especially a number from nearby countries such as Zambia, Zimbabwe, Angola, and Botswana.
After the conference James Lee will have a one week class at FTT Pretoria. The new ones from Angola, Zimbabwe, and Botswana will also join the class. This will be a very crucial time for saints from Zimbabwe and Angola because Zimbabwe is about to have their first Lord's Table in early October and the testimony in Angola is getting restored and strengthened to go on with the rest of the recovery. Please pray for this conference and also for the Lord's gaining these nearby countries for His testimony.
Conferences in Europe
The European Chinese-speaking conference will be September 9 to 11 in Paris.
There will be a conference in Bratislava, Slovakia, September 10 to 11.
There will be a conference in Lausanne, Switzerland, September 10 to 11.
Lord’s Move in Asia
The current LMA newsletter has reports from a young adults’ training, church life, and gospelizing in Sri Lanka. It also has a report from the international college training held in July in Taiwan.
English: http://lmasia.org/temp/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/E-2016-08.pdf
Chinese: http://lmasia.org/temp/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Asia-2016-08.pdf
Announcements
- Morning revival: Crystallization-Study of Exodus, vol. 7, week 39.
- The International Thanksgiving Conference will be in San Jose, CA November 24 to 27. Details are at https://churchinlosangeles.org/prayer/.
- The Lord’s Move in Europe:
Information about serving in Germany this fall is at http://germany2016.amanatrust.org.uk.
Giving for the Gospel Work in Europe instructions are at http://www.lordsmove.org/information.html.
Giving for the UK Building Fund instructions are at http://www.lordsmove.org/ukbuildingfund or you may give to the church in LA, designated for UK Building Fund.
Prayer, Week of August 28, 2016
Know God, Show Strength, Take Action
“The people who know their God will show strength and take action” (Dan. 11:32b).
Knowing God can strengthen us. Many times we are weak because we do not know God. Our strength depends on the degree of our knowledge of God. Only those who know God will show strength and take action. To take action means “to expand.” Those who know God will be strong to expand their horizons and extend their boundaries and break new ground for God. On the earth today God needs those who would know Him in this way. (Crucial Truths in the Holy Scriptures, vol. 4, chap. 1, sec. 7)
CSUN, USC, Cal State Channel Islands, Junior Colleges
Semester universities and junior colleges began last week or this week. Please pray that the Lord supply our students and build them together as they contact gospel friends and classmates. Please pray also for continuing contact with students we met during the summer.
Perfecting Training for L.A Korean-Speaking Saints
The Lord started this monthly perfecting training early this year and we believe that He blessed this time. Besides monthly meetings, all the participating saints meet multiple times throughout the month with their vital companions or small group members to digest the contents after each meeting. Especially young believers are having much benefit from this practice.
We will redeem more time this Labor Day weekend to cover four messages about ‘Life’ and ‘the Body of Christ.’ Please pray that many saints join this training and there would be the clear sky so that Christ would be increased among us.
Southern California Chinese-Speaking Gospel
Last Saturday in Cerritos there was a joint gospel in-reaping meeting, which is part of the Southern California Chinese-speaking monthly event held at the different localities.
At the Cerritos meeting hall, there was a gospel truth forum 4 to 6 pm and a gospel meeting 7 to 8 pm. There were 120 from L.A. hall 3 and 60 from hall 4 with total of 280 present in the meeting. The meeting went very well. At the end, 21 new ones were baptized.
Northern California Labor Day Conference
This conference is Friday evening, September 2 through Lord's Day noon, September 4, in San Francisco. May the Lord bless this time of blending for the building up of His Body.
Freshers’ Fayre on UK University Campuses
Most universities in the UK are starting their new academic year in the coming weeks. This is the most crucial time for making new contacts on campus. Please pray:
- To consecrate the new academic year, the students, the homes, and the labor on campus to the Lord;
- That the Lord will raise up key students to co-labor on many campuses throughout the UK and Europe;
- That the Lord will open the way to contact local seeking ones during this critical time and gain them as remaining fruit.
Germany
Beginning September 1, saints have the opportunity to serve in Germany for one to three months to continue shepherding the many new ones contacted and saved in the first half of the year. There is a great need to solidify the seeking ones in the church life, and the number who have applied to serve for the first month is well below the need. Detailed information and an application can be found at http://germany2016.amanatrust.org.uk. Please pray that a larger number of saints from outside Europe will be burdened and available to join the European saints for this crucial stage in the Lord’s move in Germany.
Ethiopia
Thirty-one saints gave up their jobs to join the One Year Truth Pursuit Training in Ethiopia starting two weeks ago. The spread of the recovery in Ethiopia has been strong and the saints are eager to be perfected, but the South African government has not let them come to the FTT in Pretoria. Please pray that the Lord will honor their consecration and provide the finances to meet this need.
Romania
The national conference will be September 2 to 4.
Announcements
- Morning revival: Crystallization-Study of Exodus, vol. 7, week 38.
- The second and third parts of this year's Spanish-Speaking Perfecting Training in Southern California will be Saturdays September 24 and November 19.
- The International Thanksgiving Conference will be in San Jose, CA November 24 to 27. Details are at https://churchinlosangeles.org/prayer/.
- The Lord’s Move in Europe:
Information about serving in Germany this fall is at http://germany2016.amanatrust.org.uk.
Giving for the Gospel Work in Europe instructions are at http://www.lordsmove.org/information.html.
Giving for the UK Building Fund instructions are at http://www.lordsmove.org/ukbuildingfund or you may give to the church in LA, designated for UK Building Fund.
Prayer, Week of August 21, 2016
Christ Grows and Believers are Added
“Holding to truth in love, we may grow up into Him in all things, who is the Head, Christ, out from whom all the Body...causes the growth of the Body unto the building up of itself in love.” (Eph. 4:15-16)
“A considerable number was added to the Lord.” (Acts 11:24)
Although we completed the morning revival on the increase of Christ, we need to continue opening to the Lord for His increase in us and for more people around us to be saved and added to Him. May we follow the example of the church in Antioch where “the grace of God” was visible (11:23). This was “the Triune God received and enjoyed by the believers and expressed in their salvation” (11:23, part of note 1). By such receiving and enjoying the Lord will grow in us and new believers will be added to the Lord.
Southern California Young People Blending Meetings
There will be a blending meeting for all the young people in Southern California this Saturday, August 27 from 4 to 9 pm in Arcadia. Please pray that the young people would be free to come to this time with an open heart, sober mind, and strong spirit to receive the fresh speaking from the brothers. May the Lord build up our junior high and high school students in the Word and with their companions as they begin the new school year.
Spanish-Speaking Perfecting Training
Saturday will be the first of three days of this year’s training for Spanish-speaking saints in Southern California. These days focus on the practice of the God-ordained way by our cooperating with Him. For this we need to have the vision of the age, to arrive at the high peak of the divine revelation; we need the God-man living by being discipled to be overcomers living in the kingdom; and we need to be shepherds caring for and feeding the flock of God. Lord, train us to be the dispensational instruments You seek!
UK and Ireland Blending Conference
This annual conference will be August 27-28. We expect a rich feast and the Lord’s blessing in the fellowship and blending among all the saints and churches attending.
UK Building Fund
Information about the new facilities at Bower House, Bower Farm, and Woodland Camp are at https://www.amanatrust.org.uk/uk-building-project. To give to the UK Building Fund for these projects, instructions are at the same web site or you may give to the church, designated for UK Building Fund.
Announcements
- Morning revival: Crystallization-Study of Exodus, vol. 7, week 37.
- This year's Spanish-Speaking Perfecting Training in Southern California will be Saturdays August
27, September 24, and November 19. - The Lord’s Move in Europe:
Information about serving in Germany this fall is at http://germany2016.amanatrust.org.uk.
Giving for the Gospel Work in Europe instructions are at http://www.lordsmove.org/information.html.