Week of January 12

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[Update on the Situation in Los Angeles]

Prayer for Los Angeles

“God is our refuge and strength; a help in distress, He is most readily found. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth change…” (Psa. 46:1-2a)

“Hallelujah! Praise Jehovah, O my soul! I will praise Jehovah while I live; I will sing psalms to my God while I yet have being.” (Psa. 146:1-2)

On January 7, devastating fires broke out in several areas of Los Angeles. While direct damage to property among the church members has been relatively limited, over 12,000 structures across the city have been lost, and estimates indicate this will be among the costliest natural disasters in U.S. history.

In the church in Los Angeles, our prayer is in three directions (cf. 1 Kings 8:48):

1. For the fulfillment of God's economy, which is for all things to be headed up in Christ (Eph. 1:10). Our attention is not merely on the crisis, but on the furtherance of the constructive divine economy and the enlargement of Christ in and through the church (1:22-23). We bless our God and Father for His good intention and exalt Christ during this time. We thank Him and praise Him for His care for His members in the church.
2. For one another in the household of the faith (Gal. 6:10). Any suffering is shared by the fellow members (1 Cor. 12:26). Our responsibility is to care for one another; let us remain attentive to such needs and bring them into fellowship (1 John 3:17-18; Hebrews 13:16; Acts 20:35).
3. For the city of Los Angeles, where the Lord has placed us to be His testimony (1 Thes. 1:7-8; 1 Cor. 1:2). Pray that our campus gospel labor could continue despite the interruption to classes. Also pray for the strengthening of the community gospel; our presence in our communities can bring the Lord's healing presence to those who interact with us (Matt. 9:20-22). May we be one with the Lord in His compassion and care for our fellow Angelenos—including neighbors, colleagues, and classmates.

May the peace of God, which surpasses every man's understanding, guard our hearts and our thoughts in Christ Jesus. (A more comprehensive update is posted at www.churchinlosangeles.org/prayer)

Seeing a Vision of the Son of God

“But when it pleased God…to reveal His Son in me that I might announce Him as the gospel among the Gentiles…” (Gal. 1:15-16a)

“But whenever their heart turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.” (2 Cor. 3:16)

Pray that you may see such a vision of the living person of the Son of God. Also pray that others will see this vision. Pray that they will see this living person and care for Him instead of things such as the Sabbath, head covering, healing, and spiritual gifts. We need to pray that we will care for this living person more than anything, even more than for the church life. Without this living person as the reality and content of the church life, even the church life will become a tradition. Oh, it is vital that we see this living person! (Life-study of Galatians, 2nd ed., msg. 3, pp. 27-28)

With respect to receiving revelation, there is no problem on God's side. On His side everything is ready. The problem is altogether on our side. We need to drop the veils, that is, to drop our concepts. It is important for us to pray, “Lord, help me to drop everything that is a veil.” (Msg. 4, p. 32)

SoCal Spanish-speaking Conference

The Southern California Spanish-speaking Conference is this weekend, January 17 to 19 at the Ministry Conference Center in Anaheim. Meetings are Friday 7:30 pm, Saturday 4:00 and 7:00 pm, and Lord's Day 10:00 am. Messages will be spoken in English and Spanish with side-by-side translation. Child care for K–6 will be provided only at the Church in Anaheim District 2 hall. There will be no child care provided at the MCC. Please find more information at conf.socalspanish.org.

Please pray for the Lord to bless all the practical services and release the saints to attend with open hearts to hear what the Spirit is speaking to the churches. May the Lord bless this weekend with His presence, His smile, and His fresh speaking full of life and light!

French-speaking Europe

A number of gospel trips will be taking place from the middle of next week to early February. Please pray for the Lord to open the hearts of the people and to bring His seekers in contact with us.

Let us also continue to ask the Lord to supply all the saints who live in French-speaking Europe, and all who are there on “shepherding trips” for weeks or months, to labor diligent in ministering Christ to the seeking contacts so that these ones may grow in truth and life and be added to the church. Beseech the Lord to thrust out more workers into this harvest and to release the long-term visas.

For all the latest reports of the gospel and shepherding trips, click here.

Turkey

The Turkish translation of The Experience of Life was published last month. Pray that the Lord will use this book to help Turkish-speaking Christians know and experience the divine life and bring more saints into the organic building.

Announcements

1. Morning Revival: Week 1 of Galatians with recommended resources.
2. LSM Radio Programs: Life-study of the Bible with Witness Lee focuses on the enjoyment of the divine life as revealed in the Scriptures. Spoken ministry portions are followed by a lively discussion. For example, all 45 episodes on Galatians are available at www.lsmradio.com/programs/galatians.
3. Radio broadcast in Spanish: El Estudio-vida de la Biblia con Witness Lee is broadcast Mondays through Fridays, 9:00 to 9:30 pm, and Lord's Days, 6:00 to 6:30 am. LA County 100.3 FM; San Fernando Valley and Ventura County 90.3 FM.
4. Living to Him has a podcast series particularly helpful to working saints, including two recent episodes on being vitalized by “Setting Proper Goals,” at livingtohim.com/the-living-to-him-podcast.
5. FTTA: A video of the graduation meeting on December 21 is available for a limited time at ftta.org.
6. LSM Conferences & Trainings: Information on upcoming Living Stream Ministry “feasts” can be found at lsm.org/announcements/events.html. The upcoming International Chinese-speaking Blending Conference will be February 14 to 16 at the Ministry Conference Center in Anaheim.
7. Ways to Give: Information about the church's online giving platform, Subsplash, and where to mail checks, are at www.churchinlosangeles.org/members/offerings.