DAy to PRAY

CHRIST THE KING PRAYER GUIDE

This prompt was given to the staff and below are their responses…

What are 3 ways you hope to see people engage with God, our church family, and our Whatcom County community through your ministry this summer?

CTK Staff (from Melonie Kemp, Executive Pastor)

• Overall, the staff is feeling a bit weary, but deeply encouraged. As we move into the summer months, we ask for your prayers—for rest and renewal after a full and impactful ministry season from January through May. Please pray for both personal and collective moments of fun and joy, which bring restoration, as well as for meaningful connections with God and with life-giving relationships.
• This summer, our focus is on service and connection. The ministry staff is rallying around opportunities to serve alongside CTKers and to warmly welcome those who are new to CTK or new to the area. We ask for your prayers over these moments—that they would be filled with purpose, hospitality, and the love of Christ.
• Shawna Walton, our Director of Operations, retired at the end of May. As we begin the search for her successor and receive applications, we ask for your prayers for wisdom and discernment in selecting the right person for this important role. Please also keep Melonie and Grant in your prayers as they step in to fill the gaps during this transition period.

Connections (from Angel Finsrud, Connections Pastor)

• Join us in praying that our Connections volunteers will say yes to making time for discipleship meetings so that our ministry team can hear where God is at work in their lives and offer support for where the Lord is growing them.
• Pray that people will say "yes" to our Connect Sunday Summer Tour. We hope people make time to connect with their church family in a casual environment that helps make this big church feel more like a family.
• Pray that people will invite their unchurched friends, family, neighbors or co-workers to join them at something CTK this summer. Whether it's picking vegetables at the farm, connecting at the park on our summer tour, or church on July 6th. Pray that people will be inspired to invite others into the CTK community so they can have the opportunity to encounter Jesus.

Worship & Creative (from Anna Claire Forney, Creative Coordinator)

• Please pray that our staff & volunteers would encounter God, and that those encounters would lead us creatively and in kindness towards one another.
• Please pray that we would diligently lead worship behind cameras, on stage, serving behind the scenes, etc with a heart of gratitude and love as we serve our church family. Please pray that we would get better and better at engaging all our members in the Commons between services.
• We are beginning the hard work of planning the next One Church event. Please pray that the community would look in favor towards this event, that the people of Whatcom County would feel more united in their love for one another than ever before, that invitations would be given and received by us and others, and that all those in attendance and/or serving at the event would feel seen and loved by God. Please pray that situations would arise for all of us to connect & love our Whatcom county neighbors - forming connections that only God could be at the helm of! Most importantly - we need the Holy Spirit to pull this event off, so please be praying that we would be in step and in tune to what He is quietly speaking to each one of us in the planning process. 

Adults (from Julie Burleson, Lead Adults Pastor)

• We are wrapping up a great school year, and are thanking God for all he did this ministry season. We are thankful for the ways he moved and for the people who have said yes to him, either coming to know him for the first time, or taking steps to grow deeper in relationship with God and others!.
• We are praying that this summer people will say yes to showing up to serve our community, and that they will get to know others in our church more through our summertime connect events. We are also asking God that the people of his church will engage with God consistently this summer, experiencing all the goodness that life in him offers!

Young Adults (from Jake Hruza, Young Adults Pastor)

• When we’re in God’s presence and encounter Him in a real, tangible way, whether our hearts are deeply moved or we see, in some way, the face of Jesus, it should stir us to move outward and love the people He loves so deeply. So, pray that young adults would encounter God in such a way that they see His heart's desire for the people of Whatcom County.
• On the flip side, when we serve others, whether it's the widow, the foreigner, the orphan, or simply our neighbor, we catch a glimpse of our suffering Savior in their stories, situations, and struggles. So, pray that as young adults serve this summer, they would see Jesus in the faces of those they’re serving. And may that experience stir them to return to God’s presence and re-encounter Him in a real and tangible way, continuing the cycle of being with Him, encountering His love, and moving outward in love.
• Pray that the internal unrest, insecurity, noise, and wounds in our young adults wouldn’t be buried or numbed. Instead, as they encounter God and His deep love for people, may they be present enough to allow healing and growth to take place in the process. Pray for them to step into their identity and grow in love and power in their spiritual gifts.

UNITED / Students (from Josh Lease, Students Pastor)

• Pray for seniors graduating. That they would know God's love in this season and reflect on all He has done. Pray for them to find community and to be centered in Christ as they move into their next stage of life.
• Pray for us to get Christian, student led clubs, started in every high school in Whatcom County. Pray that students would desire to start these clubs and share the gospel in their schools.
• Pray for Go Camp! Pray that students would sign up. Pray for $12,000 to be fundraised. Pray for 90 volunteers to join us in some capacity during the weekend!
• Pray for Megan as she joins our team as the Middle School Director. Pray for her to discern uniquely what God is calling her to in this role and that we can work together to empower her to serve students well.

Kids & Family (from Duane Weaver, Children’s Pastor)

• Please pray that the children will engage with our intentionally guided times of worship and prayer during their class time in Base Camp.
• Pray that many children and families will choose to visit the CTK Farm during our field trip on June 8th to learn how they can participate in feeding those in our community who have food insecurities.
• Pray that each child who comes into our spaces will encounter one adult and one peer who will welcome them so that they are seen and feel invited into space.

Blessing (from Nathan Ford, Outreach Team Director)

• Pray that we as a blessing team will seek to follow where the Spirit is going in everything we do. That we will not let our fears or fatigue get in the way of trusting in God's promises and provision.
• Pray that people who have called CTK home for a short time or even a long time will step into being the hands and feet of Jesus through serving at the Farm and with Response Teams. That Sundays will be a launching point into transformation that results in tangible participation.
• Pray that transformation happens in the Whatcom Dream classes that Keri is teaching out in the community and leads to sustainable impact and improvement in the lives of those attending.

Global Missions (from Tracy Hull, Global Missions Director)

• Millions of people will pilgrimage to Rome this summer for the Jubilee, with the goal to walk through four doors to have their sins absolved. Pray that their quest for deeper spiritual connection will be met with more of Jesus! Pray for our CTK Global Partners at Italy for Christ as they engage with pilgrims and share the good news that in Jesus the door is forever open.