First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings should be made for everyone, for kings and all who are in high positions, so that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and dignity. This is right and is acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour, who desires everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God; there is also one mediator between God and humankind, Christ Jesus, himself human who gave himself a ransom for all �this was attested at the right time. For this I was appointed a herald and an apostle (I am telling the truth, I am not lying), a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth. I desire, then, that in every place the men should pray, lifting up holy hands without anger or argument...� -1 Tim. 2:1-8

Let us be about our Father�s business, on our knees, committed to prayer, and committed to making Disciples for Jesus Christ!

The foundation of the Red Flannel Challenge is its need to be immersed in prayer.  Not just the Red Flannel Challenge but all that we do within the church and within our lives as Christians.  As we seek to enter into relationship with Christ and the neighbor, a prayer life is essential individually and collectively.  Conversation with God allows us to dialogue and hear that �still small voice� that longs to touch our hearts and fill our souls.   

In his book �Acts 29: Fifty Days of Prayer to Invite the Holy Spirit� Dr. Terry Tekyl writes; �Our goal is not just to be counted among the regulars on Sunday morning!  We are here to make a difference in a dying world.  Everything we do should be motivated by the desire to win this generation to Christ, and if we do not have a sense of urgency about that, then we have missed the whole meaning of the cross.� 

I challenge you to engage in the work and prayer of ministry so that we may share with the world, the abundant love of Jesus Christ, the grace and the forgiveness of a God who loves us in ways that we cannot imagine and with a deep compassion that our souls cannot fathom.  May we be the empty vessel, the torch bearer, the hands and feet and �the whatever it takes� people to carry on the mission and ministry God sets before us. 

 �So let us not grow weary in doing what is right, for we will reap at harvest-time, if we do not give up.� (Galatians 6:9).  May it be so. 

                                                            Sincerely,

                                                            Jonathan D. Keaton

We invite you to share stories of how prayer has positively affected the growth, ministry and movement within your congregation.  Those stories may be emailed to RedFlannel@miareaumc.org

Learn more about the Red Flannel Challenge