Prayer Spotlight

Willow River is a small community of 200 with mixed occupations, such as logging, farming, and those that commute thirty minutes to Prince George, known as the capital of northern BC. The scenery on the drive from Prince George to Willow River is very scenic, with many trees, a few smaller farms, a one-lane bridge across the Willow River, and a glimpse of the mountains in the distance. Our claim to fame in Village Missions is that we were the first Village Missions church started in Canada, and will be celebrating our fortieth anniversary in 2008! Please pray that God would touch and change hearts to accept Christ, and bring healing to the hurting. Pray for our Bible study and Sunday school class. Pray for our family: Lynnelle, grade 12; Daniel, grade 11; and Timothy, grade 8.

Where the Willamette & Columbia Rivers meet - just 12 miles from downtown Portland, Oregon - you will find Sauvie Island. The island is about 17 miles long, 9 miles wide and is shaped like a flying goose, which is appropriate since most of the island is a wildlife refuge, with the rest being agricultural. We have about 1500 residents, including the houseboats; but have over half a million visitors during the year: hiking our trails, running & biking on our roads, enjoying our beaches, purchasing produce and experiencing our corn mazes. Praise the Lord with us, for the 60 or so adults, teens, and children who are working on a daily quiet time in God’s Word. Pray for our after-school Olympian Club (elementary) and our Youth Group, as well as their leaders. Pray too, for our ladies’ Bible studies and our men’s accountability group. Pray we would be faithful in fulfilling the great commission: to make disciples.

Carter County, MT, is in the very SE corner of the state with a population density of about .4 people/square mile. Ridgway is our community, covering about 400 square miles and representing about 65 people. People here are ranchers with some farming thrown in. Basically they raise cattle and sheep and do just enough farming to get hay for the winter. Our nearest towns are Ekalaka and Broadus, each 50 miles away. Needless to say, our people are very self-sufficient. Church finances are always a prayer item. Pray for opportunities to minister to our unsaved neighbors. Pray that our attendance would hold steady through the winter.

Canyon Community Church is located on the I-5 Corridor, 25 miles north of Redding, CA. Situated in the mountains on Shasta Lake, Lakehead is primarily a recreation/retirement community whose population of 2500 expands to 10,000 during the summer vacation months, with campers, boaters, hikers, and fishermen. The local school closed, ending a Bible Release Time program for students. Pray for our outreach to the children and youth. Pray for a continued unity of spirit, increased knowledge of God’s Word, and resulting spiritual growth. Pray for those caring for elderly loved ones. Pray for an open door for the Gospel and for the Holy Spirit’s working in lives.

Horsefly is located in the Cariboo Forest District in British Columbia. Within an hour’s drive from here in all directions, we can be in either almost rain forest, to high alpine mountains, to a desert with actual cacti! Situated in the foothills of the mountains, logging, ranching, and tourism are the main sources of income. Established in 1859 as part of the Gold Rush trail, Horsefly has always attracted independent and strong-willed folks. This is an interesting but awesome place to live! There has been a “Church” group meeting here for well over 20 years, but they were never able to have a building of their own. We meet for church in the Community Hall, unless there is a community activity on a Sunday. The church body wants its own building, but has been unable to get one going. Many in the community think it will never happen. We do have a large building fund, but what we really need is outside help, as many of the guys here are too busy to help build. Please pray that the Lord will give us wisdom and help so that we can build our much-needed building. Please pray that the Bible studies and Sunday morning service will become more of a priority to those who come to church. Even though we feel at home here and very accepted by the community, please pray that we will have the opportunity to be very involved in the lives of the unsaved.

We are located about 50 miles north of Seattle in a rural community where most people commute to work at places such as Boeing. We have approximately 50 active families in our church and average around 100 in attendance at Sunday worship. We currently meet in the Bryant Grange building, just across the highway from the Bryant Store and the Bryant Fire Department. Pray for our church family to grow in unity and love and to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ in a dark community. Pray for our current ministries, which include Nursery, Children’s Church, Awana, Youth Group, Ladies’ Bible Study, Men’s Breakfast, Senior Lunch, Women’s Fellowship, and Small Groups. Pray for these to result in spiritual growth for those attending. Pray for continued strength and encouragement for our pastoral staff.

Mattawamkeag is located about 67 miles north of Bangor, Maine, on Interstate 95, and 25 miles east of Mt. Katahdin. The name Mattawamkeag means ‘where two rivers meet.’ The Penobscot and the Mattawamkeag Rivers meet here in the center of town – a small community of about 800 people, where woodworking and paper mills are the main industries. Lincoln is the nearest larger town, which is growing rapidly. Here in Mattawamkeag everyone knows everyone and everything about everyone. Please pray for open doors to share Christ, church growth, and wisdom in leadership.

Machias is a small community situated a few miles east of Everett, WA, on the edge of what are fast becoming the Megopolis of Tacoma, Seattle, Everett, and Marysville. The surrounding area is experiencing explosive growth, and yet Machias retains a rural flavor. Employment is plentiful and diverse at this time, although the Puget Sound region has experienced its turn at the bottom of the economic cycle. Please pray with us for Contenders Bible School as we work to send laborers out into the harvest fields: a continual stream of new students, financial support for those going out into Village Missions, and more people coming to Machias Community Church to replace those leaving for VM.

Middle Stewiacke is located in central Nova Scotia, one hour northeast of Halifax, near Truro. It is a farming community but is seeing young families move in to work in Truro and surrounding areas. Please pray for our Kids’ Club outreach on Tuesday nights and for our church as we seek to win the lost to Jesus Christ. Please pray for fruit from our labours in community involvement. Please pray for new families to be won for the Lord and to become part of the body of Christ here, and that they would use their gifts to serve Him.

Skykomish is located 40 miles east of Everett, WA, on Hwy 2, just 16 miles from a ski resort. Burlington Northern Railroad runs through our town. This is a recreational area with year-round activities. Please pray for our new Awana Club, that folks will see the need for their children to learn spiritual truth. Also, Burlington Northern will relocate our church for 6 months while they clean up an oil spill. Pray for the right facility and that we will show our neighbors the Joy of the Lord.