Give thanks for the Vacation Bible School (VBS) which was held at the Anna B. Johenning Baptist Community Center (JBCC) during the first days of August. Fort Foote Baptist Church provided teachers for the VBS and the churches which use the JBCC for worship provided hospitality workers for the five-day school. Pray that the relationships begun through the VBS will present the work of God positively to those in the community of Ward 8. Give thanks for the efforts of all the volunteers who made this VBS possible.
Pray as well for a new ministry of daily Child Care which is seeking to begin at Clifton Park Baptist Church. The church having studied its community knows that the need for affordable child care is present there. The church is seeking also to take on the challenge of meeting the needs of young infants, a ministry which many child care centers do not address. Pray for the work of the people at Clifton Park who are seeking to start this ministry in the early Fall. Give thanks for the cooperation from the DC Baptist Convention which is seeking to assist this new ministry.
Pray also for the continued growth of a new student ministry from Georgetown Baptist Church. The church has for many years ministered to the students at Georgetown University, but it has been several years since they have worked officially with the school, providing ministry to the students. Pastors Shaw and Jones have led the church to partner with a student ministry organization out of Pennsylvania, CCO. Jim Hagen has come to work with the church. The ministry has already achieved the step of official recognition by the university. They are also making progress in involving student athletes with the ministry. Praise God for the initiative of this church and for the progress already made. Pray as well for the continued development of the ministry and for the response of the students. Praise God as well that DC Baptists have been able to be a partner already in this ministry.
Remember to pray for the Emergency Preparedness/Disaster Relief Workshop which is to be held on September 18 at FBC Camp Springs. Miss Gloria Grogan has been working on this workshop, where DC Baptists can receive or renew their certifications so that they may help in the relief of disasters when they occur. We pray that this ministry will be strengthened, for it is one through which churches in our convention can reach out to prepare residents within their community for disaster, and in that way these churches can relate anew to their neighbors. Pray for Gloria as she develops this workshop and for those who will attend.
Give thanks for all of those who have volunteered their time to serve in Ministry on the Mall this Summer. One of our Saturdays that we were to be present on the Mall experienced one of the few rains of the Summer. Consequently, three churches could not serve on that Saturday in early July. Give thanks for the presence of Ft. Foote Baptist Church on the third Saturday of July. Pray, as well, for those churches who will be on the Mall ministering through August. Interestingly, a secular choir from DC is looking to partner with the DCBC to provide gospel music on the Mall. Pray for this choir, its leaders and its members, as they consider this opportunity fully.
Remember to pray for the Older Adult Ministries Team (OAMT) as they work toward their convocation which will be held in the Fall. The OAMT does not meet through the summer months, but they are working toward their convocation. Pray for them also as they seek to bring together a fellowship event for Older Adults on the Potomac this Fall. Give thanks for the leadership of Rev. Gloria Grant in these efforts.
Pray also for the Vienna Baptist Church and for the youth that will travel from Ward 8 for camp at Lost River Retreat Center in West Virginia this month. DC Baptists and Texas Baptists support this effort to assist these children from Ward 8 by giving money to feed the campers, assisting in this ministry with Vienna Baptist Church. Give thanks for the faithful service which Vienna Baptist Church gives in this ministry and for the personal and spiritual growth which each camper experiences.
Remember to pray for the members of the Immigration Work Group who are working to build a curriculum for immigrant youth, helping them to adjust to their bicultural status. Pray that the ministers working in this work group will find the energy and time to commit to building the curricula for the youth. Pray also for these youth who struggle daily with their identities, as well as for all the youth found in the churches of the DC Baptist Convention.
Remember to pray for the Annual Meeting of the DC Baptist Convention. The meeting is scheduled for October 25 and 26, a Monday and Tuesday. The meeting will be held in the city of Washington at Israel Baptist Church, near the Rhode Island Metro Station and Rhode Island Avenue. Pray for the work of the Program Committee, and for other leaders in the DC Baptist Convention as these plans come together for the Annual Meeting.
Also pray for the Family Evangelism Convocation which is to be held at Upper Room Baptist Church on Saturday, September 25. This is the third year for this emphasis which blends the importance of the family with the sharing of the Good News. Pray for churches to sense the importance of these two priorities and to seek to build ministries that will strengthen families throughout the metropolitan area.
Finally, pray for the Search Committee of the DC Baptist Convention as the committee and its members continue the process of finding an Executive Director/Minister. Give thanks for the progress of the committee under the leadership of Dr. Ella Redfield. Pray that they can soon bring both a full report of their work and a potential leader before the DCBC for consideration.

✦        Give thanks for the good report from Salem Gospel Ministries.  These two congregations meet in two separate cities, one at the facilities of Montgomery Hills Baptist Church in Silver Spring-Wheaton and the other meeting in Patterson Park Baptist Church (non-DCBC) in Baltimore.  Salem Gospel Ministries is reporting several victories.  The congregations recently baptized eight persons.  They also have two of their members who feel called into the ministry and who are seeking status as licensed ministers.  Pray for the congregations as they continue to strengthen throughout this year and as they sense God’s hand upon them.
✦        We have had a report from The First New Horizon Baptist Church, a congregation which began in the 1990s located on Piscataway Road in Prince George's County.  In transition between the two pastors, Rev. Wilbert Williams and now Rev. Soammes Williams, the church has encountered some challenges.  Pray for the church and for Pastor Williams as they work through these challenges and continue to share Christ in the area around their facilities.
✦        We are having good reports from the churches that have held Vacation Bible Schools (VBS) this Summer.  In visits to churches, I see frequently signs of their ministry efforts in VBS.  Gloria Jenkins is the one who bears much of the general organizational responsibility for the VBS efforts.  She is planning a celebration of the VBS, a celebration called the “Blessed Pot.”  This potluck lunch is to occur on Saturday, September 11.  Give thanks for the efforts that have occurred in VBS over the past year.  Pray also for the follow up of those who have come to faith in Jesus through these ministries.  Pray as well for the church members who will continue these ministries of follow up and for those friends and families members not yet in Christ who are observing the transformation which God is bringing.
✦        Pray for the community of people from Rwanda who are displaced from their home country and living in the Washington metropolitan area.  One of the efforts of DC Baptists in partnership with  a Baptist church in Georgia has been the establishment of River City Church which meets on Connecticut Avenue.  Rev. Emmanuel Mutangana serves as the pastor of the group.  The group is making good progress in its development as a congregation and is strengthening again its ties to the DC Baptist Convention.  Praise God for what has been done and pray for the congregation as they grow in identity. 
✦        Remember to pray for another partnership which DCBC has with the Baptist General Association of Virginia and those who are Muslim Background Believers (MBBs).  These will be having their annual meeting on the border between New York and Pennsylvania.  This is a great time of fellowship and encouragement for those who feel religious and social pressure constantly.  Give thanks for the ministry of sharing the Good News that occurs through this group.  Pray for DC Baptists as they discover opportunities to share Christ responsibly with those who come from  Islamic backgrounds.
✦        Pray about a desire on the part of several Sizang Chins, a people group from Burma (Myanmar), to start a new congregation among their people in the metropolitan Washington area.  There is already one Sizang Chin Church which is attached to the Baptist Convention of Maryland/Delaware and which worships at Seven Locks Baptist Church.  While there is no tension at the congregation, this group proposing the new congregation feels that it has a distinct style of worship different from the congregation at Seven Locks.  Pray for these concerns and issues, asking God to clarify what should be done to help these friends in Christ.
✦        Remember to pray for the meeting of the CHED (Center for Congregation Health, Evangelism and Discipleship) Team which will occur on Monday, September 20.  The CHED Team has done good work this year under the guidance of Ms Eular Robinson.  Give thanks for the efforts of both this leader and all those who work on the CHED Team.  Pray for their work next year.
✦        Give thanks for the interest of Kris Beckert, an associate pastor at Commonwealth Baptist Church.  Kris has an interest in the ministry of starting new congregations.  He had been involved in this ministry in Maryland in a church he served previously.  Pray that Kris will come to find a way to express his gifts and interest as he continues his service in Alexandria, VA.
✦        Victor Benivides is coming as a representative of the North American Mission Board (NAMB) on Friday, September 10.  His purpose in coming is to investigate an opportunity for attendees to the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) when it comes to Baltimore for its meeting in a few years.  The SBC has a tradition of witness during the conventions which is called “Crossover.”  Victor wants to discuss how Southern Baptists might extend their witness to DC during that time.  Pray for the meeting as Victor comes to talk with staff of the DCBC.
✦        Give thanks for Jean Ndahiriwe of Rwanda who has contacted CHED and its leadership to see if there might be a congregation started in northern Virginia among his fellow countrymen living there.  Jean stated that he is particularly interested in expressing reconciliation between the national groups of Rwanda.  DC Baptists already have a new church start River City Baptist Church which seeks to meet the spiritual needs of this group in Washington.  Pray for the developments among the expatriate Rwandans in metropolitan Washington.
✦        Give thanks for the revival which was held at Forest Heights Baptist Church.  A report in the church newsletter indicated that the revival was a good experience.  Further, it encouraged the members to continue in the spirit of revival, following up on the good work begun.  Pray for the continued development of the congregation and give thanks for Pastor Waymond Duke.
✦        Praise God for two partners of the DCBC who work in Evangelism and new church starts.  These partners are the Baptists of the world (through the Baptist World Alliance) and the students and faculty at John Leland Center for Theological Studies in Falls Church, VA.  This year this seminary is focusing on its partnership with the DCBC.  Pray God’s blessings upon these partners, as well as our traditional partners: the American Baptist Churches, USA; the Progressive National Baptist Convention and the Southern Baptist Convention.

✦        Remember to give thanks for the work of the congregations of the DC Baptist Convention (DCBC) in regard to Vacation Bible School this past summer.  Now, families and children involved in churches for the first time are coming out of their patterns for the summer.  Schools start again.  More adults are back at work.  Pray that the contacts made through the Summer by the Vacation Bible Schools will strengthen the ministries of existing congregations.  Pray that those who came to know Christ or who grew in Christ will continue that growth through into the Fall.
✦        We are beginning again to sense some outbreaks of conflict in some of the congregations of the DCBC.  Conflict is a portion of congregational life as groups adjust to new circumstances and leadership.  Indeed, conflict can be useful as an engine for change, either personal or corporate.  DC Baptists always regret conflict when it reaches a destructive level.  Pray that the conflicts that are beginning or which may have been smoldering beneath in the surface will result in positive change for both the church and the Kingdom of God.  Pray that destructive conflict will diminish wherever it might arise.
✦        Pray for the Immigration Work Group as it engages the ministry of assisting the immigrant churches of the DCBC.  We have a wonderful group of congregations that are made up of immigrants from across the world.  Some of these families come to the United States as refugees, while others come seeking new opportunities in the United States.  Pray for the work group as it seeks to make English language classes available, to facilitate citizenship workshops and to provide immigrant youth with needed resources.  Give thanks for the work done in the past which serves as a foundation for these future ministries.
✦        LifeWay Christian Resources is one of the partners of the DCBC.  LifeWay, the Baptist Convention of Maryland/Delaware and DCBC are working as partners to hold an eighteen-month long relationship for consultation with interested churches.  Within the DCBC, this project will be known at the Minister of Education Project: DC Connection.  The focus of this consultation will be on the Ministry of Education of these churches.  At this time, four DCBC churches have chosen to participate in these ministries.  Pray for the beginning of these relationships and for the churches who will start in these consultations this month.           
✦        Remember also to pray for the celebration of the work and ministry of the Vacation Bible Schools.  This event is one of fun and fellowship for those who have worked hard in the ministry through the summer.  The “Blessed Pot” event is coordinated by Rev. Gloria Jenkins, who gives leadership through the DCBC of the ministries of Vacation Bible Schools.  The “Blessed Pot” is to occur on Saturday, September 11.  It is the event which closes much of the ministry of VBS for the year and begins to prepare for the coming workshops in 2011.  Give thanks for Gloria’s leadership in this area and pray for her continued strength.
✦        We are now in the time of the Orientations for New Teachers.  These orientations occur over a period of six weeks during August and September.  Already Janet Henley of Clifton Park Baptist Church and Dub Pool of Heritage Baptist Church have oriented New Teachers of Adults and of Youth.  Deborah Cochran will lead the Orientation of New Teachers of Children on Thursday, September 9.  We are grateful that 18 persons have participated in these sessions already.  We choose this time for the orientation due to the new school year and also due to the follow up of new teachers who might arise out of the ministries of VBS.
✦        Pray for Salem Gospel Ministries which meets in two locations:  Patterson Park Baptist Church in Baltimore and Montgomery Hills Baptist Church in Silver Spring.  Salem Gospel Ministries is showing good growth among the international and refugees who were born in Central Africa.  Now, they are looking for some orientation and training for the leaders that are developing.  To this end the congregation will host a training session for their leadership on Saturday, September 18 in Baltimore.  Pray for this session, its leader and for the leaders who will participate.  Give thanks for these good developments at the two congregations of Salem Gospel Ministries.
✦        Give thanks for the entrance of the DC Baptist Convention into the Baptist World Alliance (BWA).  DC Baptists have for many years related positively to the BWA, having shared offices for many years.  Now, in July the DCBC was received into membership of the BWA as a full member.  This gives us the opportunity to increase our prayers for Baptists ministering across the globe.  Some of the good work of the BWA is in Religious Education.  Pray for Dr. Bernie Spooner who leads that committee of work.  Ask God also to strengthen the ministries of education among Baptists across the world.
✦        Give thanks for the development of leadership at Alafia Baptist Church.  During the month of August the church recognized the ministries of five lay persons, three men and two women.  These were recognized in different ways, some as deacons and some as evangelists.  Give thanks for the development of these gifts by this Nigerian congregation.  Pray for these developing leaders, for their growth as individuals and for their ministries.  Give thanks for the work of Pastor Joel Ojelade and Associate Pastor Abiodun Ijaola who are working on developing this congregation on Eastern Avenue in Maryland.      
✦        LifeWay Christian Resources, already mentioned in this prayer newsletter, is setting their ministry for the next decade.  They are working to see churches transformed.  “Transformational Churches”will be LifeWay’s ministry theme in the coming years.  Pray for the effectiveness of this emphasis and for the lessons which will arise out of it.  Pray for Gary Jennings and Dan Garland as they come to discuss this theme with the DCBC staff during September.
✦        The John Leland Center for Theological Studies (JLC)  is another partner with the DCBC.  JLC meets across the Potomac in Falls Church, VA.  Pray for the faculty and students as they begin a new academic year.  In this academic year, JLC is emphasizing its partnerships with DCBC.  DCBC was instrumental in the genesis of the initial efforts of theological education that led directly to the establishment of JLC.  Give thanks for the ministry of JLC so far and consider supporting the ministry through prayers, funds and other interests.