crossing borders: the 72

In Luke 10.1-2, Jesus appoints 72 people and sends them out two by two ahead of him.  They are to go to every town and place to pray and prepare the way.  Jesus says to them, "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.  Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field."

If we are to be effective in the 97% of our waking hours not spent in church or church-sponsored environments, we will be like the 72 - normal, everyday believers (not apostles or professionals!) who pray and see ourselves as sent into the world - homes, neighborhoods, schools, workplaces - for the sake of mission.

Between now and Sunday we ask you to pray and invite God to bring to mind people who need to know Christ in four areas: Family, Work Associates, Friends and Neighbors.  Pray not only that they will be drawn near to God, but that God will send workers - ourselves and others - to help them come to new life in Christ.  As the 72 brochure puts it, "Just as Jesus sent the 72 into their own mission field, we are called to build relationships, invite [others] to participate in kingdom experiences and tell them the story of Jesus.  The fields are indeed ripe for harvest."

We will make lists for ourselves as reminders for prayer in the coming year, and duplicates of those lists will be placed in an offering basket and taken to the Central Conference Annual Meeting (next week) and the denominational Annual Meeting (in June), where they will be prayed over as well.
Join with me as we together live dangerously by praying and participating in God's mission to bring people into relationship with him.