Pray for Venezuela on Sunday January 16, 2011
Prayers for Venezuela: John 1:29-42
God, our hope and sustainer in critical times, we pray for the people of Venezuela and the churches in that country as they keep searching to be faithful servants of the Gospel and active promoter of your reign. May the expectations, urgencies and demands of so many tasks provide a sense of direction and vision, as they wait for the strength and the blessing that comes from You in due time.
We pray specially for,
- The new generation of theological students enrolled in the Center for Theological Studies of Venezuela
- The Women’s Program “Families as Peacemakers”
- The National Program, “All Hands in the Harvest” co-sponsored by the UEPV
- We thank you for the new congregations accepted as members of the UEPV in 2010
Mission Stewardship Moment from Venezuela:
Juan Valladares has been an active member of the Evangelical Pentecostal Union of Venezuela since its foundation. It was in her house that a new congregation was started in Ospino, Portuguesa way back in the 1950s. And Juana continues to be faithful member at Oasis of Peace congregation in Ospino to this day.
The Evangelical Pentecostal Union of Venezuela held one of its biannual Convention in Ospino, and Juana was a faithful attendant to every session and every worship service. Like any good Pentecostal she wanted to be “en la presencia de Dios y la de mis hermanos y hermanas” (in God’s presence and that of my sisters and brothers). I preached three times during that Convention and experienced how attentive and intense she was during those moments. For years I have known Juana and at times felt that she had some difficulties with her sight.
On Sunday morning, immediately after the Bible study I led in the closing session of the Convention, Juana came to see me. She was full of joy and almost dancing in the Spirit. She hugged me and expressed: “Didn’t you notice something different in me?” Yes, Juana, you have new eye glasses, I replied. “And not only new eye glasses, I had surgery in Cuba to correct my cataracts and implant a new lens. It’s that new mission that is called Misión Milagro (Miracle Mission); thousands of Venezuelans have received this blessing. To me as a Pentecostal it is another way in which the Holy Spirit is doing miracles.”
(Prayer & Mission Moment by Carmelo Alvarez)
Global Ministries International Partners in Venezuela:
- Center for Theological Studies of Venezuela(CEVET):
- Union Evangelica Pentecostal Venezolana (UEPV):
For more info about partners and projects in Venezuela: http://globalministries.org/lac/countries/venezuela/
Global Ministries Missionary in Venezuela:
Carmelo Alvarez, a member of Hermandad Cristiana, Indianapolis, Indiana, has been appointed to serve the Latin American Evangelical Pentecostal Commission (CEPLA) and the Evangelical Pentecostal Union of Venezuela (UEPV) based in Chicago, Illinois from 2002 to 2010. He serves as program consultant and visiting professor for the CEPLA and the UEPV.
Pray for Partners without Global Ministries Mission Personnel: Guyana
God, we lift up to you the ministries of the Guyana Congregational Union and ask you to bless them in this New Year. Amen