Praying for those in Montgomery Who are Hungry

Summer is about to begin. While most of us will travel, run to the beach on the weekends, just be a little more laid back, ministries all around the Greater Montgomery area will be working harder in many ways. One such outreach is that most food pantries will be OVERFLOWING with folks who need MORE groceries because schools are closed for the summer which means that parents who live on limited incomes will not be able to afford to feed their kids much for breakfast or lunch. What does this have to do with prayer? 

This weeks challenge: Praying for those who are hungry.....
"And he answered them, “Whoever has two tunics is to share with him who has none, and whoever has food is to do likewise.” Luke 3:11

1. Montgomery has 26% of it's approximately 250,000 people go to bed hungry most every night. That is 65,000 human beings young, old and in between. Most of this 26% rely on school breakfast and lunches to feed their children during the school year. Pray for each of these 65,000 PEOPLE to not have to go to bed hungry.
2. Pray for ways YOU can share what YOU have with those families. Look through your closets, your food pantry, your garages and see what you are not using anymore and share it. Jesus says to do that in Luke 3:11.
3. Pray for ministries/churches around the Greater Montgomery area who depend on food donations to help families in need. AND the need is going to increase this summer starting this week...school is out now and more food is going to be needed to give to families who come through these ministries/churches.

IDEAS:
1. If you go to a church where you have a food pantry, buy a few extras this week and donate them. Trade your extras this week and give them them to someone else(please buy semi healthy food-no junk!). Several churches are asking for more donations right now and as the church, we need to help out. Give what you can!
2. Find a ministry around town this summer and either volunteer or donate your excess to them. We don't need everything we have in our homes and there are families who do. Be generous today for God has been generous to you.....Matthew 10:8


For a list of ministries around Montgomery that you could serve through your donations, call Lisa Rose at 334-271-6794 or email lrose@mgmbaptist.org

Helping Children

Just finished going through a Tutoring Children and Youth as a Ministry training this weekend. I am reminded of some things I have read over the years about this.

"In CA(and other states), prisons look at 3rd grade test scores to determine the amount of beds needed in the next ten years...." Catholic Campaign for Human Development. 

From the Atlantic Magazine, "In an Education Week article last year, the magazine highlighted a report by sociology professor Donald Hernandez who compared reading scores and graduation rates of almost 4,000 students. "A student who can't read on grade level by 3rd grade is four times less likely to graduate by age 19 than a child who does read proficiently by that time. Add poverty to the mix, and a student is 13 times less likely to graduate on time than his or her proficient, wealthier peer," read the report. Enter crime". 

All these notes point to a fact: We need to help our kids(grades K-12)learn to read and do math. It is a life skill that all need. I would be so bold to say that based on Jesus life, He always seemed to meet a physical need that was blocking the person's ability to HEAR the gospel. I'm wondering:.... if this need that is so big in the Greater Montgomery area would this be one of those Jesus things he would have done in our time....teach someone to read and do math?

As followers of Christ, we have an obligation to meet needs where we can. 
I John 3:17-18 says this:   "If someone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need but shows no compassion—how can God’s love be in that person? Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions". (NLT)

Prayer Points for This Week:
1. Pray that the Lord will show you how to meet this critical need for many of our children in the Greater Montgomery area. If we want to slow down crime, we need to help children.
2. Pray for kids who go through school(both public and private)that if they are having problems with reading or math, that someone will notice and help them. 
3. Pray for your church. Would you and your church consider partnering with a school and helping kids who need to learn to read and do math?

Philippians 2:4 says: "do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others".

If you would like to help kids learn to read and do math, contact Lisa C. Rose at 334-271-6794 or email lrose@mgmbaptist.org

Praying for Those Who Live With Mental Illness

I know we have touched on this subject before, but wanted to remind us all that there are many people in the Greater Montgomery that are living with mental illnesses. The stereotype is that ALL people with mental illnesses commit crimes or "go berzerk" but that is NOT TRUE. Most people who live with these illnesses go unnoticed every day.

Unless you have experienced a family member or yourself walking through this challenging experience, it is hard to fathom what it feels like. Our churches and our towns are FULL of folks who struggle with anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, trauma and other mental illnesses. It is important for the church body to be sensitive to this and learn how to minister in the right way. 

As we pray this week, remember that mental illness is usually hidden from our sight. You can't always SEE mental illness. As you go about your day each day this week, know that there are those around you here in the greater Montgomery area who have to live with this each day for the rest of their lives.

Here are a few prayer tips you can use to pray specifically for those who live it. You may know some folks so remember to lift them up as well.

1. Pray for the Lord to continue to provide what is needed to each person who lives with a mental illness in Montgomery.
2. Pray for our state and national leadership. Though mental illness is on the rise, resources are being cut. In Montgomery alone, several facilities have been closed and outpatient resources are limited.
3. Pray about how you and your church can show love and care to those in your congregations who live with mental illness.
4. Pray for your own eyes to be opened to what theses folks go through each day.
5. Pray for soothing healing of the soul, heart and mind for every person who lives with this. 

2 Corinthians 12:9 - "And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me".

If you need some help or know someone who does, you can contact the National Alliance on Mental Illness. The Alabama chapter is right here in Montgomery. Their number is: (800) 626-4199.

Praying Outside Our World

Today, as we sat in staff meeting, when we read the prayer requests, I looked down the list and saw that there were many hurting people in our churches who needed prayer, support and care. And that was just those we knew about IN OUR churches. Every day, everywhere you go.....there are those you bump into or sit by at the restaurant who are hurting and feel very, very alone. It is important that we get out of our "world" and look around us.
God is working all around you....bringing people into your midst who NEED YOU to tell them about Jesus and his love for them. God brought you to that person for a reason...to share HIS love in your actions and your words.

Are you and I "willing" to get out of the fishbowl of "our world" and look around us, here in the Montgomery area and see who might be hurting?
Prayer challenge this week: As you go about your day, each day this week, ask the Lord to show you who HE wants you to talk to and strike up that conversation.......be BOLD, be STRONG....be COURAGEOUS.
PRAY PRAY PRAY for our city our neighborhoods as we go about our days. How do we fit into God's plan for OUR neighborhoods to know Christ?

"Pray for the city to which I have sent you, for when it prospers in peace, so will you"? Jeremiah 29:7