HAVE YOU EVER HEARD someone
say (or perhaps you have said it yourself), “I cannot give, but I can pray”?
Or, “I cannot serve, but I can pray.”
It’s the “but” in their statement that concerns me—as if the
person believes prayer is not as significant or helpful as giving finances or
“doing ministry.” And woe to us involved in ministry if we ever think of others’
prayers for us as less critical than their donations or volunteer service! One
of COTS' top core values is to be “dependent on prayer”—and there is a good
reason for that. Prayer, along with reading the Scriptures, is part of our
conversation with God that keeps us abiding in Him. Prayer protects us from
going off on our own course; prayer allows us to hear and understand the
guidance of the Lord; prayer helps to unleash the power of God to redeem,
reconcile, and transform! Jesus never ceases interceding for us before the
Father, and He calls all of us to be intercessors with Him in behalf of one
another.
Prayer unleashes God’s power and provision, enables us to remain
true to His mission, and helps protect us from moving outside of His will. Therefore, however else you may be called to partner with this
ministry, be assured that we also desperately need your prayers. And if prayer
is your main contribution to this ministry, then that is your gift to us;
that is your act of service—and we value it highly. No “buts” about it!
"The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth
much."
~James 5:16b
Here is a list of
things we would love for you to pray for:
PRAY that God will continue to grant COTS favor with corrections
officials and prison staff, so that they will open doors for our volunteers and
programs to reach as many prisoners as possible.
PRAY
that more and more churches would obey Christ’s call to “visit those in prison”
to proclaim the hope of Christ, and would come alongside those getting out of
prison to give encouragement and support.
PRAY
for our transformational strategy to communities across the country, helping
prisoners nationwide become reconciled to God, to their families, and to their
communities.
PRAY
that more churches will capture the vision of COTS, embracing prisoners’
children through mentoring relationships, summer camp experiences, church youth
programs, and other ministry opportunities.
PRAY
that our worldview teaching will ignite and fuel a powerful movement within the
Body of Christ, as multitudes of Christians become serious about engaging with
the culture as ambassadors of truth and reconciliation.
PRAY
that COTS' leadership team will lead with humility and wisdom, ever sensitive to
the direction of the Lord and seeking only to serve and glorify Him.
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