Praise God for the true freedom that can only be found in Jesus Christ. Thank God for all those who have paid the ultimate price for the freedoms we experience here in our country and for the picture it is of the ultimate sacrifice made by Jesus on the Cross. Pray for God’s comfort for all those who are hurting, but especially for those who are missing loved ones this weekend. Ask God to help us all use our liberty not for our own benefit but for the sake of others coming to know the gospel.

This week we are praying for Aspire Movement, a local Christian mentoring ministry aimed at developing and deploying the next generation of leaders through mutually transforming relationships. Aspire focuses on the mental, physical, spiritual, and social development of youth through life-on-life mentoring. Aspire also provides additional resources such as small group mentoring, college trips, and a network of resources to shape students’ identity, purpose, and destiny. We’re also praying for Dawson Memorial Baptist and Pastor David Eldridge.

Day 1: Pray for Aspire Movement as they seek new ministerial avenues after the pandemic and in an educational landscape that has changed dramatically in the last five years. Pray for Aspire to continue to meet the needs of the community effectively.

Day 2: Pray for wisdom for the Aspire board and staff. Pray for discernment as they lead and support volunteers, school staff, and students.

Day 3: Pray for mentors to persevere in engaging with their students. Pray for Aspire to find creative new ways to recruit new mentors and new students. Pray for gospel conversations as they mentor.

Day 4: Pray for the high school graduates of Aspire. Pray for their transition out of high school and into the next chapter of their lives to be a positive one.

Day 5: Pray for the students Aspire Movement reaches through their ministry. Pray for the Lord to meet these kids where they are, change their hearts and lives, and empower them to see His purpose in their lives.

Day 6: Pray for the families of the Aspire students that are facing hard situations. Pray for housing for those experiencing homelessness. Pray for jobs for those seeking employment. Pray for peace for those experiencing loss. Most of all, pray for the Lord to use these things in their lives to call them to Himself.

This week we are praying for the Somali people. Somalis are located primarily in the Horn of Africa, but many live in the U.S. Somalis are almost entirely Muslim and there are many physical needs, resulting in a humanitarian crisis. They are among the top five least-reached people groups in the world and are very difficult to access and engage. Join us this week as we pray for God to move among Somali people and for the gospel to spread among them. 

Day 1: Pray for God to ransom many Somalis from the darkness in which they live. Pray for Christ to be made known and for many Somalis to believe.

Day 2: The number of Somali believers is growing, but they are still few. Some believers are beginning to gather together for the first time. These gatherings are life-giving catalysts to their discipleship and the growth of the church. Pray for Somali believers to continue to find ways to gather for fellowship and discipleship. 

Day 3: There are approximately 145,000 Somalis living in the United States, with large populations settled in Minnesota, California, Georgia, Colorado, and Washington D.C. Pray for God to mobilize local churches around Somali communities to have a burden for their neighbors and engage them with love and boldness. Pray for God to give access into Somali communities in these cities.

Day 4: Pray for Christian workers who are engaging Somali communities throughout the Horn of Africa and in other parts of the world where Somali families live. Pray for discernment and wisdom for workers as they shepherd new Somali believers and help them form churches. Also, pray for boldness in witnessing and growing access to Somali people. 

Day 5: Somalia has been on the World Watch List since 1993 as one of the worst countries for Christians. Christians barely survive on the outskirts of society and face significant persecution. Martyrdom is very common. Pray for God to sustain Somali believers and make the church bold in sharing the gospel. Pray for the hearts of Somalis to be opened to the truth of the gospel and for many to know Christ.

Day 6: Pray for healing from vast trauma experienced by all Somalis. Pray that this trauma will lead Somalis to find healing in Jesus and that believers will patiently walk alongside one another and spur one another on in their healing journeys.