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

• Vi Warden is with the Lord; and a service celebrating her life and faith was held Thursday.  Please pray for the family, and that the message of our faith in Jesus would touch many who attended. (details)

• 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 is 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)

• Please pray for Oscar & Mariles deOliveira who are currently on a long trip through the Amazon in Brazil, along the Purus River, meeting with various communities deep in the tributaries, bringing the message of Christ, encouraging believers, doing marriages, baptisms, and encouraging community and church leaders.  Pray for safety in their travel, and a deep work of the Lord in these communities.

• Please pray for Pastor Terry and family who will be on vacation this coming week, to enjoy time of refreshing.

• Thank you for praying for our Easter Services...as we experienced the moving of the Holy Spirit in our celebrations.  Pray for those who were challenged with the claims of the gospel. 

• Thank you for praying for the Macho Nacho Men's event Tuesday evening...a time of fun, friendship, and outreach--as a testimony and the gospel was shared.

• Tom Webster is still recovering from a bad fall, and is doing well. Thank you for praying!

• Carl Sherrett is back home now, and will be followed up through Jurvinski Hospital.  Please pray for Carl and Marjorie in the decisions regarding his ongoing care. 

• ALPHA - a new season of Alpha begins Tuesday, April 14th. 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.

• Please pray for our upcoming Baptismal service on April 19th, as two adults are preparing, and others are considering it.

• Pray for our upcoming Missions Weekend on April 24-26, with guests Isaac & Nikki Medler who minister to international students and newcomers in Toronto.

• Donna Simpson had a successful shoulder replacement surgery after injuring her right shoulder. She is recovering at home.  Please pray for God’s healing, strength and encouragement during this time of recovery. 

• Tom Karanfilis is recovering from his hip replacement surgery. Pray for strength and healing, and God's grace for both Tom and Lori in this time of recovery.

• Please pray for Lucas & Michele Souza, our missionaries in northeast Brazil. Michele continues to experience regular nausea and vomiting, however today (Tuesday March 31) they had an ultrasound, and they are grateful that everything is fine with their baby son in the womb!  Little Timothy is due May 28th. They continue to ask for prayer for the Michele and Timothy, and 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, 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.