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April 2024 
The Invitation of Spring
Pastor Carrie Butler | CTK Network Prayer

Hello Faithful Intercessors!

I have a soft spot in my heart for spring in the Pacific Northwest. Once the air turns a bit warmer, the sweet scent of buds and blooms fill the air, and the birds start singing their songs, I find myself thanking God for those simple things. After a long winter, spring is a welcome season and it ushers in new life all around us. These verses from Isaiah 43 come to mind this time of year…

This is what the Lord says—

    he who made a way through the sea,

    a path through the mighty waters,

who drew out the chariots and horses,

    the army and reinforcements together,

and they lay there, never to rise again,

    extinguished, snuffed out like a wick:

“Forget the former things;

    do not dwell on the past.

See, I am doing a new thing!

    Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?

I am making a way in the wilderness

    and streams in the wasteland.

The wild animals honor me,

    the jackals and the owls,

because I provide water in the wilderness

    and streams in the wasteland,

to give drink to my people, my chosen,

the people I formed for myself

    that they may proclaim my praise.

Isaiah 43:17-21

The invitation of spring is new life - resurrection life! We are in the middle of Eastertide, a 50 day season after Easter where we continue to celebrate and feast. The reason is quite simple. After the resurrection, Jesus spent forty days on earth before he ascended, and then there were ten more days after that before the Day of Pentecost and the birth of the Church. If you don’t know much about Pentecost, I recommend you read Acts 1-2, following the account when the promised Holy Spirit came upon the followers of Jesus, empowering them to continue proclaiming the message of Christ. It is a day we don’t often hear about, but it’s powerful!

God is always doing something new because he is the Author of Life. It’s his nature to bring new  - and dead - things to life. Are you paying attention? Are you asking the Lord what new thing he is doing? Are you asking him how you can take part in that restorative work? There is so much that is lifeless, broken and dead in this world, but God’s promises are firm and sure. He will make a path. He will provide. He will sustain. He will bring new life. Our job is to drink! To trust him, work with him, and spend time in his presence, letting him fill us so that provision overflows into praise. 

I look forward to praying with you today, and am eager to share more praises next month!

With you in unity,

Carrie

p.s. The Prayer Room (Room 214, upstairs) will be open during office hours (Mon-Thurs 9am-4pm) and on Sundays during services. Please don’t hesitate to visit!

CHRIST THE KING PRAYER GUIDE

CTK Staff (from Pastor Melonie Kemp)

The staff at CTK have been working hard this Spring to support all that has been implemented post Easter. Please pray for stamina to end this ministry season well (mid-June). The stretch from January-June is the toughest for ministry folks as there is no natural break between Winter and Spring quarters in all that we offer for folks on their discipleship journeys.

As a staff team we are reading and praying through the book How to Pray: A Guide for Normal People by Pete Greig. I can't recommend this book highly enough. Our hope for CTK is that we would not only be a church that offers prayer opportunities, but that we would become a praying church. Thank you for being a part of this vision for our future. Please pray for the staff as we embark on this prayer journey together.

CTK Missions (from Tracy Hull, Global Missions Director)

  • Prayer request from our CTK Partners in India: Elections are underway in India and the stakes are very high as the leading party appears to be heading towards a third term in power. If that materializes, a decade-long initiative to de-democratize India may result, making it a Hindu state.  This will have major ramifications upon religious minorities (specifically Christians and Muslims), and will open the way to an even-greater effort to rid the country of them.  Please pray!  Only God can stem this tide!  And if he should choose not to, pray that he will give grace and strength to his people, and either way that his purposes for India will continue to be carried out.

UNITED / Students (from Pastor Josh Lease)

  • Pray for our middle school director as he has started nursing school. Pray for capacity and peace.
  • Pray for spiritual protection over our staff, volunteers, and students.
  • Pray for new volunteers to join our team for next school year.
  • Pray for incoming 5th graders to get connected to Middle School UNITED.
  • Pray for our high school students to take ownership of this community.
  • Pray for wisdom for our team as we lead.
  • Pray for transformation to happen in the hearts of our students and that they would be with Jesus consistently.

Kids & Family Team (from Pastor Duane Weaver)

  • Please pray that as we plan, prepare, recruit, and deploy for ministry we will keep our mission in focus: CTK Kids exists to provide age-appropriate environments where children Discover Christ-Centered Community, Belong in God’s family, Grow in their relationship with Jesus, Serve others intentionally, and Share about Jesus faithfully so that others may experience new life in Jesus.

Creative Team (from Pastor Brian Behrends)

  • Refreshed vision as we move away from Easter content and begin to think through the rest of the year and even next year.
  • Please pray for continued friendship and fellowship with all of our volunteers. Prayers that we lean into what that looks like this summer as we have some extra time to connect with them!
  • Specifically from Ivelice: For God's overwhelming presence, comfort and peace for each worship team member as some figure out what’s next for them, family dynamics, hard family relationships and overall continue to grow in their relationship with God! Thank you.

Connections Team (from Pastor Angel Finsrud)

  • Smooth transition as we introduce a rotating team plan for our greeters. So many greeters have been serving a long time and don't want to change, but we have a lot of new people coming in and need to give everyone space to serve.
  • Good health for all of Mikey's volunteers as many of them are in their 70's and 80's.
  • Pray for Jim Bean to get the ear procedure he's been waiting a long time for to restore his hearing.
  • Pray for Therese Opperman who has been out for months due to health reasons unspecified. 
  • Pray for our offering experience to become smoothed out, and have little to no bumps each weekend and for Mikey as he works to communicate and train all of his people to do the work well.
  • Praise God for the good health of the cafe volunteers.
  • Prayer for the young people in the cafe who are transitioning in their schooling.
  • Pray for Jordan Gustafson who is going on a mission trip in May to Africa with the organization she works for.
  • Pray for Bob and Joan Behrends as they prepare to return to Alaska.

Blessing Team (from Pastor Wendy Powell)

  • Please pray for our Blessing Coordinator Keri as she battles pneumonia.  We are asking the Lord to restore her breathing and clear away other symptoms.
  • The Foodshare and Farm team is building the spiritual framework for their work this year around Hosea 10:12, "Plow new ground for yourselves, plant righteousness, and reap the blessings that your devotion to me will produce.  It is time for you to turn to me, your lord, and I will come and pout our blessings upon you."  We are praying that volunteers' time at the farm will produce righteousness and devotion that cause blessing to pour through their lives into our community.
  • We have a huge praise!  After waiting for over a year to find the right person for our Community Outreach Director position, the Lord has given us the chance to work with Nathan Ford who is also the part-time Campus Director at CTK Downtown. As he begins this additional role, please pray for synergy, beneficial training, and fresh vision for our community partnerships!

Adults Team (from Pastor Julie Burleson)

  • For the Adults team this month - we are celebrating a lot! We had 66 people make a commitment to Jesus on Easter, over 120 people at Alpha when it kicked off, and we baptized 25 people this month! God is moving, and we are excited to be a part of it! We are asking for prayers for our Alpha leaders - that they will lead with wisdom and discernment as they love the participants that God put at their tables. And we are praying that participants will stick with Alpha as it's hard to stay committed to something for 8 weeks. We hope they will continue to show up each week to learn about Jesus and what life with him looks like.

    Day2Pray

    Sustainable       Strategic        United

    Prayer for Whatcom County and the World – March-April 2024

    Praise and Worship – Galatians 5:16-17, 22-25

    “So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions.”

    “But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives.” (NLT)

    This prayer guide focuses on praying the FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT over each part of our community.

    First Pray for your Family – Church - City - Schools.

    Pray for the unique setting your church has as a part of the body of Christ. Pray for the body of Christ to grow in expressing God’s heart to the community.  The Fruits of the Spirit do not grow one at a time.  In God’s design all 9 aspects of His character grow in us individually, as a family, church and county-wide body all at the same time.  

    FATHER, GROW YOUR FRUIT IN US, YOUR BODY, THE CHURCH OF WHATCOM COUNTY.

    Praying for Whatcom County

    Art/Media 

    Love – Unselfish concern for others – pray Jeremiah 31:15-17

    • Pray that ‘Even the Darkness’ and other faith-based films like the Chosen will shine the light of Christ into many who have not yet met Jesus.
    • Pray for families to understand the power of media and make family-wide decisions for purity and faith.

    Business 

    Joy - exuberance about life – pray Deuteronomy 16:15

    • Pray for simplification and clarity in business practices. 
    • Pray for workable zoning, planning, and permits so there is the ability to create affordable housing.
    • Pray for the availability of economic grants and opportunities for innovation.

    Church 

    Peace - shalom – being a peacemaker – pray John 12:23-26

    • Pray that each church develops a culture of prayer.
    • Pray for Unity in the body of Christ in the county.
    • Pray for each believer to embrace their role as a witness to what Christ has done in their own lives.

    Development 

    Patience - ability to stick with people – pray John 15:27

    • Every non-profit needs strong board members.
    • Pray that Boards and Staff would be willing to pursue solutions that are loving, faith-filled and not constrained by current conventional thought.

    Education 

    Kindness - heartfelt compassion – pray Colossians 3:12

    • Pray for more church involvement in praying around schools (Mom’s in Prayer, LOWPC prayer walking teams)
    • Pray for people of faith to volunteer in schools.
    • Pray for people of faith to hear the call to become teachers and aides in schools.

    Family pray Galatians 6:9

    Goodness - conviction that all are made in God’s image - 

    • Love Life – praying and acting to save unborn lives and minister to abortion vulnerable women and men.
      • Pray for 4 teams of 2 to minister on the sidewalk outside planned parenthood (2 teams are in place)
      • Pray for churches to sign up to pray for a week and/or to become Refuge churches.
    • Pray for Whatcom County Pregnancy Center to find the right people to be trained as mentors for those who say ‘yes’ to having their baby.
    • Pray for Young Life, Child Evangelism Fellowship, youth groups and Christian schools as they seek to share the gospel with kids.

    Government 

    Faithfulness - loyal commitments – pray Joshua 24:14

    • Candidate filing is May 6-10. Pray for those who are called to hear the voice of the Holy Spirit and that they would respond.
    • Truth to be honored and corruption/lies to be exposed.
    • Pray for someone to raise up prayer teams for each city council, school board and the county council.
    • To pray for the bills and activities in Olympia check out the Family Policy Institute of WA https://fpiw.org/

    Health 

    Gentleness - meekness – pray 1 Thessalonians 2:7

    • There is a dramatic increase in transgender surgeries currently. Pray for believers in health care to love in the Name of Christ the humanity of the person for whom they are providing care.  
    • Pray for patients in times of turmoil and distress to ask probing questions of Health Care believers that will open the door to share the gospel.
    • Pray for the possibility of small farms to be used in the healing & recovery of those struggling with mental health issues, including addictions. Pray that these farms can become a collaboration between the Church in Whatcom County and various ministries and agencies that are working with those who need healing and restoration in relationships & purpose! 

    International Missions/Israel/Native Americans 

    Self-Control - able to marshal and direct our energies wisely – pray 2 Timothy 1:7

    • Muslim day of prayer is coming up on April 5th.  Pray with the nations of the world for millions of Muslims to discover Jesus this year during Ramadan. (see below)
    • Pray that God will stem the tide of an increasingly anti-Christian environment in India, give extra grace to his people in the midst of it, and that his gospel will be furthered in spite of it! (Project 92)
    • Israel – The Lord is really moving among the youth, Arab and Jew worshipping together. They face peer and societal pressure to take sides, but they seek to live the unity and love of the Kingdom of God instead. Pray for them to remain strong in the Lord.
    • Native – pray against deception and confusion of drugs and other addictions. Pray that Christians will live so completely filled with the hope of the gospel that others will ask them to share the source of their hope.

    Benediction Galatians 6:14-16

    “As for me, may I never boast about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of that cross, my interest in this world has been crucified, and the world’s interest in me has also died. It doesn’t matter whether we have been circumcised or not. What counts is whether we have been transformed into a new creation. May God’s peace and mercy be upon all who live by this principle; they are the new people of God.”

    PRAYER OPPORTUNITIES IN March/April

    For further information contact Tim at

    Day2Pray Here is a summary of prayer points for Jan/Feb 2024

    Praise and Worship – First give God thanks as He is Worthy!

    ART/MEDIA

    • Pray faith-based films will draw many to Jesus.
    • Family unity when making decisions about social media.

    BUSINESS

    • simplification and clarity in business
    • workable zoning, planning, and permits
    • availability of economic grants

    CHURCH

    • each church develops a culture of prayer
    • Unity in the body of Christ in the county
    • each believer to embrace their role as a witness

    DEVELOPMENT

    • need strong board members
    • willingness to pursue solutions that are ‘out-of-the-box’

    EDUCATION

    • more church involvement in praying around schools
    • people of faith to volunteer in schools
    • people of faith to become teachers and aides

    FAMILY – all generations

    • for 4 teams of 2 to minister on the sidewalk
    • churches to sign up to pray for a week and/or become Refuge churches
    • WCPC to find the right people to be trained as mentors
    • for Young Life, CEF, youth groups - to share the gospel

    GOVERNMENT

    • Candidate filing is May 6-10
    • Truth to be honored
    • prayer teams for each council and board 
    • pray for the bills and activities in Olympia

    HEALTH

    • concerning increase in transgender surgeries
    • Pray for believers in health care to love w/ Jesus love

    INTERNATIONAL MISSIONS

    • Muslim day of prayer is on April 5th
    • Stem the tide of the anti-Christian environment in India
    • Arab & Jew youth worshipping together in Israel - Pray for them to remain strong in the Lord
    • NA - pray against deception and confusion of addictions