1. MLPA WEEK OF PRAYER * PREACHERS’ MONTH 2014 * MARCH 24-30
“We all have this Ministry: To Rise and Build
Nurture the Children, Build the Kingdom. ”
Day 1 – Monday March 24
“My Place on the Building Team”
Choruses: I have decided to follow Jesus/I’ve found a new life/ I got my mind made up/Lord prepare me
Opening Prayer Scripture Reading – Romans 10:9-17
Hymn 310 VIP 778 MHB – “How Beauteous Are Their Feet”
The MLPA has committed itself as an organisation to 2 weeks of prayer each year; the first to take place
during Preachers’ month and the second to occur during the month when the Association holds its AGM
and convention. These prayer outlines have been put together to guide the participants as we focus on
the Jamaica District theme “We all have this Ministry: To Rise and Build”. It is our prayer that these guides
will aid in meaningful discussion, prayer and commitment to be builders in God’s kingdom.
Very often we forget that as Christians, we are all called to spread the good news and as Methodists our
mandate by John Wesley is to spread scriptural holiness.
Have we accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as our personal Lord and Saviour?
Are we actively engaged in witnessing for Christ? “But how are they to call on one in whom they have not
believed? And how are they to believe in one of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear
without someone to proclaim him? And how are they to proclaim him unless they are sent?” (Rom 10: 14-
15)
Prayers: For those who attend worship but don’t yet have a relationship with God in Christ
For those who have forgotten when Christ was their first love
For those who find it challenging to share their faith…
Other prayers as so led
Closing Hymn 221 VIP 390 MHB – “Give Me The Faith Which Can Remove”

2. Day 2 - Tuesday March 25
“Nurture The Children: Build the Kingdom”
Choruses – I am a Promise/Jesus loves the little Children/This little light of mine/
Opening Prayer Scripture Reading – 1 Samuel 3
Hymn 467 VIP 849 MHB – “Father Lead Me Day By Day”
Are we engaged in bringing up our children “in the nurture and admonition of the Lord” (Eph 6:4). Samuel
was in fact being tutored by Eli, when God called him. Let us look back at the circumstances surrounding
Samuel’s birth and presentation before God. (1 Samuel 1)
Hannah made a promise to give her child to God, if she should become pregnant. She kept her promise to
God.
Are we serious about the promises made at the baptism of infants?
Susannah Wesley exercised a strong pastoral role in her home. As parents and guardians have we been
providing spiritual direction for the children in our care? The home should be the first point of evangelism
for our children and the children of our communities. (It takes a village to raise a child). What of Methodist
Children’s Fellowship and Members in Training classes? Read Hymn # 848 MHB (prayers may be
interspersed)
Prayers: For the children of our congregations, circuits, communities
For the parents and sponsors/cradle roll secretaries
For the distractions that children face (abuse, violence etc)
Other prayers as so led
Closing Hymn 338 VIP 609 MHB – “Saviour, Like A Shepherd Lead Us”

3. Day 3 - Wednesday March 26
“Building the Youth Today for the Kingdom Tomorrow”
Choruses – I’m trading my sorrow/We are marching in the light of God/Jesus is my Deliverer
Opening Prayer Scripture Reading – Jeremiah 1:1-10
Opening Hymn 288a VIP 538 MHB – “What A Friend We Have In Jesus”
God sent Jeremiah to give Judah the last warning before He cast them out of the land, decimating the
nation and sending them into captivity in the pagan kingdom of Babylon. Jeremiah, a faithful, God-fearing
young man, was called to tell Israel that, because of their unrepentant sin, their God had turned against
them and was now prepared to remove them from the land at the hands of a pagan king whom He called
“My servant” (Jeremiah 26:7).
Jeremiah, was only about 17 when God called him, God had forbidden him to marry or have children
(Jeremiah 16:2), and his friends had turned their backs on him. Do our youths feel the need to speak up in
our congregations on God’s behalf?
How do we equip our youth to handle other battles – peer pressure, ridicule, drugs and alcohol, having the
latest electronic device, sex, just to name a few, and it is a wonder to find those who are still attending
worship regularly.
Like Jeremiah, have they been told that “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you
were born I consecrated you” because this is one of the most challenging periods of their lives.
How do we include them in the worship process and the life of the church?
Prayers: Youth, young adults and the ministries geared towards them across the Connexion
Youth and young adults engaged in Ministry
Parents/Guardians of youth
Young people who are struggling in our society and those that are yet to know God
Young persons who feel the “church” has let them down
Other prayers as so led
Closing Hymn 272 VIP 526 MHB – “O Jesus, I Have Promised”

4. Day 4 - Thursday March 27
“Rise Up O Men Of God – Builders In The Kingdom”
Choruses – Everybody ought to know/ I love that Man/Closer than a Brother/Come, Let’s magnify
Opening Prayer Scripture Reading – Matthew 16:13-19
Opening Hymn 585 MHB – “Rise Up, O Men of God”
Simon Peter (the Greek being Petros) Cephas – the Rock. Peter the man, represents many of us; the brash,
the outspoken, the impetuous, the one to whom God revealed that Jesus was the Christ, the Messiah,
(Matt 16:16) who moments later dared to take Jesus (The Master) aside, and berate Him because He
spoke of His own death and resurrection (Matt 16: 22-23).
Do we like Peter, deny Christ at the moments when we should stand up boldly?
Do we celebrate the transformation when it takes place in the lives of our men folk? (The boldness of
Peter on the day of Pentecost)
Do we allow God in Christ to use our weakness to become His strength: Peter the one who always seemed
to speak out of turn, now became the spokesman for the brethren and indeed stood as the rock, the one
on whom Jesus depended to start the work of building the church, the body of Christ, on earth.
Prayers: For the faithful men in our congregations/circuits
For men’s work within our congregations/circuits/District
For men who are afraid to stand up for Christ
For men who marginalized themselves within the church and the community
Other prayers as so led
Closing Hymn – “My Hope is Built” 201a VIP
Day 5 - Friday March 28
“Women Of God In Action: Rising And Building The Kingdom”
Choruses – All the way to Calvary/In moments like these / I worship you Almighty God/As the deer
Opening Prayer Scripture Reading – John 4: 5-30; 39-42
Opening Song – Fill My Cup Lord 437 VIP
The woman from John’s gospel is not known by any name, other than “The Samaritan Woman” or “The
Woman at the Well.” But John so faithfully recorded her encounter with Jesus, and the effect of her
testimony, ‘He told me everything I have ever done.’” Has our testimony been so effective?
Think of the work of Mary Wilkinson, who so faithfully continued Methodist witness in downtown
Kingston when the Coke chapel was closed for seven years, doubling the membership when the doors re-
opened. Are we heeding the call to action, rising and building as the women of the church?
Prayers: Women who have been marginalized because of the choices they have made
Women who have been abused
Women who are single parents
Women’s work in our congregations, circuits and District
Women who are now the backbone of the church
Other prayers as so led
Closing Hymn 154 MHB –“I Heard The Voice Of Jesus Say”

5. Day 6 - Saturday March 29
“Families: strong units building the kingdom together”
Choruses – I’m so glad I’m a part of the family of God/We are together again/I love the thrill/Get together
Opening Prayer Scripture Reading – Joshua 24:13-15
Opening Hymn 446 VIP 875 MHB – “O Happy Home”
This is a beautiful affirmation of faith by Joshua in the Old Testament. How many of us make a conscious
effort to worship and do ministry work as a family?
There are many choices that we can make; however, one that is absolutely vital is to serve the Lord. How
serious about that are we or do we choose to have our false gods (the love of money, clothes, jewelry,
sports, TV, etc.)
A decision to follow God means a decision formed with a commitment of “sincerity and truth.” This
means to serve wholeheartedly, to serve with integrity, or without blame. This was true for the Israelites
as it is true for all humanity.
Joshua made the decision along with his family to serve the Lord. Will you and your house serve the Lord?
We need to be aware that our decisions have consequences good or bad not only upon ourselves but also
upon other people. A selfish decision affects our families in negative ways. Likewise, a decision to serve
God influences our families positively. What sort of decisions are we making for our families/the persons
within our households?
Prayers: For the restoration of wholesome family life in Jamaica
For single parent families that are facing challenges
For families/ homes that will seek to nurture their children to become Christians
For families that are facing stressful circumstances
Other prayers as so led
Closing Hymn 248 VIP 426 MHB – “Ye Servants of God”
Day 7 - Sunday March 30
Building Communities for the Kingdom
Choruses – Sing praises unto God/I love the thrill/Sing till the power of the Lord
Opening Prayer Scripture Reading – Acts 2:43-47 & 4:32-37
Opening Hymn 410 VIP 717 MHB – “Help Us to Help Each Other, Lord”
Today is the final day in our series that has looked at the District theme, “We all have this Ministry: To Rise
and Build”. We have looked at the part each of us as individuals must play in building up our church and
then examined other groups by age and gender. The scriptures offered certainly were not the only
examples available, but we hope that they inspired discussion, prayer and a commitment to serve in
building up God’s kingdom. Today we will now look at the church as a community of believers.
The early church as seen in the 2 readings from Acts, show us what it means to be the church in the
community. They worshipped together, shared in fellowship (Acts 2:46), and went as far as to share their
possessions so that no one was in need (Acts 4:32).

6. Are we serious about being our brother/sister’s keeper? How far are we willing to go to assist another
person/family/community member?
Are our congregations committed to similar acts of caring, sharing and praising God? Are persons open to
sharing their good fortune with others to the point of selling their possessions and ensuring the fair
distribution among all, as any has need?
Our times of fellowship and worship should be so filled with praise for God and testimonies about His
goodness and mercies that those who spiritually are in despair should be drawn to the message of hope
by our witness. There is a lot of pain and suffering in the world and it is up to us as children of the Most
High God to show them the way of hope and truth. While it may seem like a challenge to live like the
“Acts” church, let us strive to be the church to the community, presenting the people to Christ and
representing Christ to the people.
Prayers: For the outreach programmes of our congregations and circuits
That our members will be inspired by the life and witness of the early Christian church
That the community will be receptive to the acts of outreach and care
That all members of our congregations will acknowledge that they have a part to play as
the church in the community
For those who are engaged in starting or who have started congregations in their
communities
Others prayers as so led
Closing Hymn 402 VIP 745 MHB – “All Praise to Our Redeeming Lord”