A few days from now, men from FBC Moberly and Renick Church will hit the road and head north for Pleasant Hill Baptist Church in International Falls, Minnesota on mission. We’ll drive 12 hours, about 730 miles from Moberly to the Canadian border to join with about 50 other people from across our association to minister in International Falls. While every mission trip is uniquely different, each trip has the same prayer requests. Here is how you can pray for the Minnesota Mission Trip.
Pray For An Upward Focus (Our Mission)
Our mission is always to bring glory to God. That is our primary goal on every mission opportunity. We desire deeply to see God glorified through our service to Him. Our primary focus is on his glory, and from that we see the goodness of God on display and the Gospel of God advanced. Pray that we would keep an upward focus and keep our minds on the glory of God. Pray that every struggle that comes our way is met with a Kingdom perspective and that every challenge is met with the same attitude of the Apostle Paul, who, while sitting in a prison wrote this: “For I want you to know brothers, that everything that has happened to me has helped to spread the Good News” (Philippians 1:12). Pray we keep the revealing and spreading of the glory of God as our primary focus.
Pray For An Outward Focus (Our Ministry)
Our “job” for the week is to partner with our brothers and sisters at Pleasant Hill Baptist Church in International Falls. We’ll be putting some new siding on their building, some grounds work, some painting and possibly some other renovations inside their building. We’ll also have a team doing outreach in the community, spreading the Gospel throughout International Falls. What generally happens is a physical need is met, which opens the door for a spiritual need to be met. We’ve been afforded the opportunity to encourage pastors and staff members, help families work through struggles and be a listening to ear to someone who is struggling through life’s challenges. When we serve someone by meeting a physical need, it often opens the door to meet a spiritual need. We are there to minister however the Lord directs AND to minister to those along the way. We’ll also be ministering to each other on the van ride there and backAND to those who will be joining us from across our Association. This particular trip is more of a “Family Reunion” for many who go. The same faces join up each year and encourage each other as we labor together for the glory of God. Pray we have open eyes and open hearts to minister how the Lord leads. And pray we have strong backs to meet the physical ministry needs.
Pray For An Inward Renewal (Our Spirit)
God has renewed me by being on mission multiple times. Many times I’ve left discouraged and came back on fire. The reason for this is typically that I get “outside of my world” and see that my problems and struggles are not unique. I hear how other brothers and sisters are struggling and admire their strong faith. I watch God, who is able to do all things, use broken people like me to bring encouragement to others. I’m reminded that our own community needs the Gospel. I’m also encouraged by a church family that is willing to do whatever it takes to be on mission.
Pray For Our Families Back Home
Lastly, I would ask that you pray for our families while we are gone. It is always hard to leave family behind, but sometimes it’s extra challenging. My wife (who I know as Super Woman) is one of the strongest people I know. She’ll have her hands full, but she is ready for the week ahead. Our life is finding some routine and some sense of normalcy (as normal as a Veal family can be). Pray for the families of the other men and women who will be on mission with us, by serving in our own homes and communities.
All total, around 50 people or so from across Mid-Missouri will descend upon International Falls with one united purpose: To bring Glory to God by living on mission.
Thanks for praying for us!