Prayer Letter

Dear Prayer Partners:

            We had a wonderful season of prayer last week at our annual District Pastors' Prayer Retreat.  A dozen pastors gathered from Tuesday evening through Thursday noon to spend time with the Lord and each other.  We spent the entire morning last Wednesday lifting up every church and pastor on the District.  God's Presence was evident, His Spirit is moving, and prayer makes the difference. 

            Here are some requests for this month:

·         The countdown is on for District Assembly.  Please pray for your District Superintendent, your District Secretary, your District NMI President, and several others who are engaged in the preparation for the Assembly.  Please also remember to pray for our Fairview Village Church as they host us this year. 

·         There are several important meetings leading up to District Assembly, none more important than our District Board of Ministry meetings.  We will be meeting on March 3 to interview all District License candidates and on March 5 to interview ordination candidates.  Please pray for wisdom for the Board and understanding on the part of our candidates.

·         As we come to the end of our Church Year and fiscal year please pray for all of our pastors and churches with regard to the payment of our denominational apportionments.  We all know these last few years have been difficult from an economic standpoint but our college, retired pastors, new start ministries on the District, and 150+ world areas depend on our faithful giving.  I just received a phone call this morning from one of our churches who has had an extremely difficult year but reported they will be paying their budgets in full.  It is a miracle and another indication that God is faithful and answers prayer. 

·         The new year brought losses to several families on the District.  Two of our pastors lost parents this past month--Rev. Ken Mingledorf (New Holland, PA) lost his mother, and Rev. Mark Prugh (Lansdale, PA, Immanuel) lost his father.  Rev. Leon Buckwalter (Mexico) lost two brothers in the space of about a month.  Please lift up these families in prayer. 

·         Anna Miller, former pastor's wife and long-time member of our Woodstown (NJ) Church, and now the NMI President at Pitman, fell in the church parking lot this past Sunday and broke her hip in a couple of places.  Anna has been such an encouragement to so many with her cards, handwritten notes, and prayers.  Please pray for her healing at this time.

·         We are still in the process of trying to sell some buildings and properties that have had to close.  This has become a real challenge in this economy.  If and when these properties sell, we can re-invest those dollars in ministry so we appreciate your prayers in that regard.

·         Continue to pray for our Montoursville (PA) Twin Hills Church as they seek new pastoral leadership.  Also, pray for our Bethlehem (PA) First Church as they are struggling with some serious financial concerns.

·         Our Allentown (PA) Church lost the group that was going to purchase their present building.  Their relocation plans were dependent on that sale so we need to pray for guidance and wisdom as they seek other possibilities.

·         Continue to pray for Pastors Wil and Dawn Snell (Philadelphia, PA, Stenton Park and Media, PA) as Wil's mother awaits her heavenly homegoing.  They just returned from visiting her in South Africa and had the opportunity to say goodbye.  Obviously the miles that separate Wil and his mother make this an extremely difficult time.

·         Please pray for Peter and Leeann Clarke (Thailand) as they will be returning to the District in a few weeks from this missions' assignment.

·         Please pray for all of our retired pastors on the District who as such a blessing.  Many are doing very well physically but others have faced some health issues in recent times.  Although I will not list them by name, perhaps God will bring certain ones to mind that you can pray for.

·         Continue to pray for Pastor and Mrs. Clemens Russell (Alloway, NJ).  We closed our Alloway Church as of the first of the year.  Pray for their future as well as the members of the church as they seek God's direction.

·         Continue to pray for the father of Pastor Jonathan Merki (Millville, NJ) in his battle with cancer.

·         Continue to pray for Eastern Nazarene College.  They start revival today with Dr. James Diehl, General Superintendent Emeritus. 

·         Pray for Pastor Chuck Melton (Selinsgrove, PA) as he continues to recover from some recent surgery.

·         Please pray for June White, long-time secretary at Lavelle (PA) Church who was seriously injured in an automobile accident recently.

·         We praise God that our District NMI President, Sharon Thornhill (Limerick, PA) is making progress in her battle with Lyme's disease.  Pray that God will give her the health and strength as she prepares for the District NMI Convention in May.

            God continues to do some amazing things in spite of these uncertain times in which we live.  I'll close with just this one encouraging story.  Philadelphia First and Urban Missions are starting a house church movement called Mosaic.  There are approximately 16 groups meeting right now on a regular basis.  One of these groups meets in a very rough neighborhood in inner city Philadelphia where there is a lot of crime, drugs, and prostitution.  A couple of weeks ago two women accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior and are being delivered from a life of prostitution.  That's why the church exists and why we keep on praying for a 21st Century Pentecost!

His for the Kingdom,

Newell Smith