Pray for Venezuela on Sunday, April 21, 2013

Pray for Venezuela on Sunday, April 21, 2013

Lectionary Selection:  Acts 9: 36-43

Prayer for Venezuela
God of miracles and blessings we thank you for the many ways in which you have expressed your love and kindness throughout the world. We are very grateful for the ministry we share with the Evangelical Pentecostal Union of Venezuela. Our offering this morning is a concrete expression of our continued commitment with our Pentecostal sisters and brothers in Venezuela and around the world.

You have called us to a missionary presence in Venezuela of nearly 50 years in critical and joyful times, sharing our financial resources and missionary personnel in educational ministries, sharing in concrete actions through medical, and youth and women delegations. Our local congregations have organized working teams and sponsored in constructing new church buildings and other facilities.

Help us, Oh God, to be good stewards of the gifts you have bestowed upon us in order to be in solidarity with our partner in mission in Venezuela.

May your peace and reconciliation be a reality these coming weeks in Venezuela as they elect a new president on April 14, 2013.

In Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen.

Mission Stewardship Moment from Venezuela:
Acts 9: 36-43. The story of Tabitha (Dorcas) in the Book of Acts is probably the most popular and beloved biblical narrative among women in Pentecostal congregations in Latin America and the Caribbean.

First, Dorcas was a disciple that was resurrected from the dead, like Jesus. This confirms the importance of the miracle of life in the midst of these early Christians.

Second, she became a living testimony of the power of healing to the whole community and the world, which stresses the close relationship, for the primitive church, of the dynamic

Dorcas’ life and witness has become a powerful symbol for Pentecostal women. What in Disciples of Christ local congregations we call women fellowship Pentecostal women call, “Las Hermanas Dorcas”, the Dorcas sisters. Every week they join in prayer and in solidarity to care for each other. The Evangelical Pentecostal Union of Venezuela, responding to that Dorcas model have organized what they call “El ropero de UMIFE”, the Women’s Wardrobe Keeper. It is a cooperative effort to provide clothing to poor women, both in the church and in the community.

When as a missionary I see these women sharing and rejoicing, caring for each other, I praise God because this is what mission is all about: Sharing in God’s Mission!

(Prayer and Mission Moment by Carmelo Alvarez)

 

 

 

Mission Partners in Venezuela:

Video Resources about Venezuela

More information on Venezuela:
http://globalministries.org/lac/countries/venezuela/

Global Ministries Missionary in Venezuela:
Carmelo Alvarez serves the Latin American Evangelical Pentecostal Commission (CEPLA) and the Evangelical Pentecostal Union of Venezuela (UEPV) based in Chicago, Illinois. He works as program consultant and visiting professor for the CEPLA and the UEPV.