A call to prayer: People who have ceased attending church

This week we are called to prayer by our women who lead us each day in a prayer that is both filmed and written. From 18-25 June 2023 tune in for prayers on: openness to God, cultural inclusion, those suffering loss and grief, those under pressure to conform, women of Carey Baptist College, relationships, Baptist women in positions of leadership, and people who have ceased attending church.

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Thank you to Baptist Women New Zealand who have called us to pray.

Today

Odele Habets, Senior Pastor at Albany Baptist Church, prays for people who have ceased attending church. Listen to Odele pray in this video, or read the text below:

Lord you are an amazing God, we love you and give thanks to you.

Thank you for your mercy, thank you for your faithfulness to us.

Thank you that we can enter your throne room and be in your presence In Christ,

Thank you that you hear our prayers and know them before we even speak.

Today we pray for those that are no longer part of a church family.

We pray for those who have left due to unresolved conflict with other church family members, we ask that by your Spirit you bring healing, that you help them to forgive and that you draw them back so that restoration and reconciliation can take place, or if this is not possible that they seek a new church family to grow in faith with.

We pray for those who no longer see church as a safe place. We ask Holy Spirit for your healing and ways in which this can change for such people, where in fact church is a place where they are to flourish again.

We pray for those who have left due to anxiety of being near others which has been exacerbated by COVID and lockdowns, we ask that you give them peace and comfort. Holy Spirit still their minds from worries and anxiety. We ask that you bring Christians into their lives that can walk alongside and them and be their church family.

We pray for those that have become lazy in their faith and perceive being part of church is too much work for them. By your Spirit convict them, encourage them, stir within them a longing to know you more and to wake up. That their relationship with you will grow again in Jesus Christ and through your Holy Spirit and your church.

Hear our prayers for our brothers and sisters in Christ.

Amen.