Life can be busy. But last week, members of Mennonite Church USA intentionally took a break to pray.
Wednesday, May 15, was Mennonite Mission Network’s annual Day of Prayer for mission. Prayers began that day and continued until Sunday, May 19, Mennonite Church USA’s Witness of Prayer and Faxing.
Prayers were offered for immigration reform and action was taken on Capitol Hill, from May 14-15, led by Iris de León-Hartshorn, director of transformative peacemaking for Mennonite Church USA. On Pentecost Sunday, May 18, congregations within Mennonite Church USA participated in the Witness of Prayer and Faxing for Immigration Reform.
Other congregations are planning to host prayer and faxing events in the future. This advocacy initiative is part of the denominational lead-up to Convention in Phoenix this July. “Whether congregations plan to go to Phoenix or not, we hope they can join us in advocating for our brothers and sisters who are immigrants,” says de León-Hartshorn.
For the Day of Prayer for mission, prayer requests came from Mennonite Mission Network workers from around the world. Congregations and individuals responded.
Beth-El Mennonite Church in Colorado Springs, Colo., held a 24-hour prayer service, where church members committed to praying for a length of time over a 24-hour period. One of the planners was Easton Camp, a Mission Network Service Adventure program participant. After a worship night with his fellow participants, Camp felt compelled to lead this type of prayer service. He was excited that all of the prayer times were filled. “Some are going to be at home or in airports,” he said. “[Others] will be coming into our prayer room, where we will have many different ways to pray and worship.”
In Perkasie, Pa., Deep Run Mennonite Church East celebrated the Day of Prayer for mission by:
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Incorporating the Day of Prayer into the May 12 Sunday worship service.
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Creating bulletin inserts, naming the congregation’s mission workers.
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Posting reminders about the Day of Prayer on Facebook and encouraging friends to like Mission Network’s Facebook page to receive prayer updates.
Barb Rice, Deep Run East mission commission chair, even contacted their congregation’s mission workers for praises and prayer requests. The workers were grateful for the prayers and encouragement, Rice said.
Edward Aryeetey, from Ghana, noted mission workers’ difficult situations and was glad to lift them up in prayer.
“Our hope is that the Day of Prayer created space for intentional prayer for God’s mission, but also time to listen for how God might be calling us to join in the work,” said Kelsey Hochstetler, Day of Prayer coordinator.
Joan Troyer of Goshen, Ind., is committed to supporting mission any way she can. “Prayer is a powerful way to do this,” she said. Troyer follows Mennonite Mission Network’s prayer updates on Facebook, and is hoping to join in the mission work in the near future.
To stay informed about Mission Network workers’ praises and prayer requests through the year, consider becoming a prayer partner. To receive prayer updates, contact Abby Findley at AbbyF@MennoniteMission.net.
As the gathering in Phoenix nears, continue praying with the 40 Days of Scripture and Prayer, an initiative of the Evangelical Immigration Roundtable of Mennonite Church USA. More information can be found on their website and Facebook page.
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Mennonite Mission Network, the mission agency of Mennonite Church USA, leads, mobilizes and equips the church to participate in holistic witness to Jesus Christ in a broken world. Media may contact news@mennonitemission.net.
