Prayer & Praise

THANKS FOR PRAYING FOR OUR CHURCH FAMILY:

To submit a request for prayer, an update, or praise, send an email to mgoode@graceniagara.ca

• CROSSWORLD (whom Don & Karen Stauffer have served under) will be  hosting a live online prayer event tomorrow (May 20th).  Workers from around the world will share real, specific needs from their countries to lead participants in prayer together. This is open to everyone who supports Crossworld (as we did with Stauffers).  You can pray generally for this mission, and/or sign up here to be part of the Zoom prayer event.

• Patrick Wanjohi and his family need our prayers, as his son, Trevor (11) passed away last week Friday following a few months of illness. Pray for his wife Phyllis in Kenya, for God's comfort, and the testimony of their faith in Christ through this time of loss.

• Trevor Hartwick's mother, Shirley, is in hospital in North York and had a significant hernia surgery last Friday; where they learned that she has stage 4 inoperable cancer throughout her abdominal area. Please pray for Shirley, and the Hartwick/Belet families as they absorb this news, and for Shirley's care and faith-confidence through this time.

• Catherine‘s boyfriend Joe Fragnito's mother had a car accident and a stroke. She is currently in hospital and has a very long road of recovery ahead of her. She will need extensive rehab on her left side. Please remember her and the family in your prayers.
  

• Nelson Pereira had his angiogram Tuesday, showing one 80% blockage; he had a stent placed and is now at home...grateful for our prayers as he recovers and adjusts to new meds.

• Please pray for Ursula Gerbes, who recently turned 101. She had a fall backwards into her tub in early April. She has no apparent injuries, but she is more sore as the days go on, and it seems she may have a concussion. Pray that she heals and is able to rest.

• Trevor Hartwick requests prayer for their son, Adam Hartwick, who had an accident at work yesterday (Monday), and has a broken sternum and multiple bones in his face. He is home recovering.

• Sandy Cooper requests prayer; she was diagnosed with vertigo and may be Meniere's disease.  Further examination is needed at this point. Please pray for wisdom for the doctor and discernment for what may be needed. Most of all God's will be done. 

• Wanda Perrier requests prayer as she will have X-ray and ultrasound tomorrow (Wednesday) for her right hand, due to pain with de quervains tenosynovitis since February; please pray for needed answers and treatment (she wants to be able to crochet again). 

• GRADUATES: University and College programs are finishing, High School and Grade School another month or so away from finishing the year. Pray for our students, and especially our graduates--that they will finish well, and for God's guidance for those finishing their programs.

• Andrew & Danielle Nicholls request prayer for an upcoming assessment for Willa through regional health, on May 11th at 9AM.  Please pray that God would give doctors discernment to help them see the needs Willa has, enabling them to get the additional resources she requires to succeed, especially at school.

• Thank you for praying for our Missions Weekend with guests Isaac & Nikki Medler. There were many comments of appreciation for their ministry, their passion to reach out to int'l students and newcomers to Toronto.  They left us with a challenge!  Let us be praying for those in our own neighbourhoods and acquaintances that we can offer hospitality to in the name of Jesus!  Also pray for Isaac & Nikki as they host guests/international students several times a week, with meals and long hours of hospitality and gospel conversations.

• Pray for Pastor Terry Miller and his family as he transitions to a new ministry pastoring at Bertie Church in Sherkston.  Terry is on vacation for the coming month as he prepares to assume this new role.

• Pray for our Church Youth Ministry as our leadership team prepares to lead a new format of combined Jr. and Sr. youth nights on Thursday evenings.

• Tony Schaapman requested prayer for a fellow missionary in Poland named Joe, who was involved in a vehicle accident.  The concern about this accident becoming a criminal charge on this missionary was of no small concern. Thank you for praying.  Joe has an appointment with the police today (Tuesday).  Thanks for praying for God's grace in this matter, and recovery for the one injured in this accident.

• Bill C-9...the "Combating Hate Act". We've been concerned about this parliamentary bill that, while aiming to protect religious freedom in our country, essentially limits it.  On March 26, the House of Commons passed Bill C-9. It has now moved on to the Senate.  Pray that God will keep our land, preserve His church in this country, and give wisdom as this Bill is further considered in light of other current protections in our criminal code. (REVISED EFC update here)

• ALPHA - meets each Tuesday evening. Pray for those who are being invited, planning to attend, and for a fresh openness to the gospel of Jesus Christ as presentations and discussions take place. Pray for Pastor Jim and the organizing of the care team for a good start to this 10-week outreach.

• Pray for School Without Walls (SWW) with Mission Eurasia (ME), as they celebrate the graduation of nearly 50 students from our SWW program on May 9th.  Pray for the training session happening that day and for safe travel for all attendees. Most importantly, pray for the future ministries and lives of these 50 graduates as they step into their callings.  In 2025, over 311,940 people were discipled and equipped through SWW, representing countless lives touched and transformed by the love of Jesus across the 15 nations ME serves. 

• Carl Sherrett is receiving care at home and continues to go to the hospital twice weekly for dialysis.  Please pray for Carl and Marjorie in the decisions regarding his ongoing care.

• Pray for Hilary Daley, who had her second knee surgery and is recovering at home.  She will be off for approximately 3 months for treatment, trusting the Lord for better days ahead and God’s healing hand.

• Please pray for Lucas & Michele Souza, our missionaries in northeast Brazil. Baby Timothy is due May 28th. They continue to ask for prayer that the delivery will be without complications.

• Please continue praying for overall church ministry, for ministry leaders, life group leaders, discipleship triads, children and youth ministry teams, outreaches, and of course, our regular Sunday morning ministries in worship services and Sunday School..., for our responsiveness to God's Word both personally and in group studies. Pray that we will be steadfast in standing on the truth and be life-giving in our witness to those who need Jesus!
  

• Please pray for God's wisdom, strength, and joy for each of:
  • Our Elders: Jim Stuart, Phil Osborne, Jeff Korody, Norm Hill, Trevor Hartwick, and Pat Bartley, along with Pastor Martin and Pastor Bruce.
  • Our Directors: Lawrence McGinn, and John-Rock Bilodeau, along with Elders Jim, Phil, Jeff, Norm, Trevor and Pat (Pastors non-voting)
  • Our Deacons: Mark Ridgway, Ian LeSurf, Hilary Daley, Irene Osborne, Anthony Maracle, Mark Daley, Patty LeSurf, Elaine Korody, and Mellanie Romita.

• Pray for God's peace for Ron Myers (Lundy Manor), Elaine Short (Oakwood Park Lodge), Alex Kaye (Chapel Heights), Tom Goode (Linhaven/Regatta House), Vera Harnden (Simcoe), Esther Rosa (Meadows), Betty Enns (Meadows of Dorchester), Bethene Fretz (Maple Park Lodge), Doreen Menard (Elgin Falls), Mary Franco (Queenston Place), Bill Howie (Bella), and Della Height (Oakwood) in their care at Senior Homes, and for others like Ellen Kerr, Edith Hodgen, and Sandy Cooper who are mostly homebound.

• Pray for our regular ministries at Cavendish Manor, Oakwood Lodge, Niagara Long-Term Care (NOTL), Bella Retirement Home, River Road Retirement Home, Willoughby Manor and now Elgin Falls.  Pray for God's strength and wisdom as we bring encouragement through song and studies from God's Word to these senior residents. 

• Pray for our our Missionaries: CLICK HERE for updates: Oscar & Mariles DeOliveira in Brazil; Deimerson & Alissandra Vanencia in Amazon-Brazil (see report here);  Lucas & Michele Souza in Brazil; Brother “D” in Pakistan, Tony & Kornelia Schaapman in Poland; Daystar Native Christian Outreach; the MINAP Team in Peru; School Without Walls in Ukraine and Russia; as well as AGC Church Planting (Hamilton, Winnipeg), Galcom, ShareWord Global, and Tearfund Canada.

• Here is the AGC Prayer Guide for April (click here)

Thanks for praying!  Please include these in your personal, small group, and ministry team prayer times. Also, there is a weekly women's prayer time at the church, on Mondays at 1:00 PM...all women are welcome.  And, you are welcome to join our pre-service prayer time each Sunday morning at 9:20 AM in the Family Room, praying specifically for God's work among us and in the lives of those not yet saved.