Week of Prayer 2024

In our deep responsibility before God and people and remembering the words of our Lord Jesus Christ that without Him we can do nothing, we call on all the churches of our brotherhood to begin the new year with intense prayer to the Lord so that He will govern our lives and ministries in the coming year and poured out his blessings on our country .

The year 2024 in the Russian Union of Evangelical Christians - Baptists is called the Year of Hope and Consolation or Encouragement: “And everything that was written before was written for our instruction, so that through patience and consolation from the Scriptures we might maintain hope” (Rom. 15:4).

We encourage you to spend the first week of the new year in joint prayer according to the proposed program .

 

31th of December

Prayer of thanksgiving :

 “In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

(1 Thess. 5:18).

At the turn between two years,  one old and on new, many thoughts appear in our hearts. Many questions face us...

Can we complain about the past year? Complain about our failures, mishaps and mistakes? Looking back at the path we have traveled, we can say with confidence that Jesus Christ was with us. He blessed us, was long-suffering and abundantly merciful to us. His mercy was renewed every morning!  “How many good things You have, which You have stored up for those who fear You, and which You have prepared for those who trust in You before the sons of men” (Ps. 30:2).

What is required of us is a more serious and thorough examination of ourselves, our lives and ministry, but not in order to become discouraged or give up. And more gratitude to the One who gave us so much last year: “Remember the mercies of the Lord, count them!” 

We also face another question: what awaits us in the new year? What problems and difficulties will we encounter, and how will we overcome them? We find the answer in the words of Abraham: “The Lord will provide!”

“Nevertheless, brethren, rejoice, be improved, be comforted, be of the same mind, be at peace, and the God of love and peace will be with you” (2 Cor. 13:11).

 

1st of January.

Prayer for our faithfulness to the Lord in ministry and daily life :

“And whatever you do, do it heartily, as for the Lord...” (Col. 3:23).

As we enter the new year, let us remember that the Lord expects from us faithfulness in service, so that we would be “an adornment to the teaching of our Savior God” (Titus 2:10), so that we would bear the wonderful fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22-23).

We are called to make every effort “to demonstrate in our faith virtue, knowledge, self-control, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness and love” (2 Peter 1:6). People around us should see in us the beauty of the Christian life, the strength of our faith.

Let us examine ourselves, our deeds, analyze our achievements and failures and admit that we are not yet shining enough with the beauty of Christ, we are not yet doing everything for His glory. In deep contrition of heart, let us bow before the Lord and ask Him for forgiveness and renewal, for a new filling of us with the power of the Holy Spirit for further fruitful work.

 

January 2.

Prayer for the brotherhood of Evangelical Christian Baptists of Russia :

1. Prayer for the blessing of all servants of our brotherhood:

“Honor everyone, love the brotherhood, fear God, honor the king

(Peter 2:17).

2. About the different leadership in the Russian UECB Denomination and for the Council of the Union:

“Pray with all prayer and supplication at all times in the Spirit, and to this end watch with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints...” (Eph. 6:18).

3. For our people will be filled with wisdom and the guidance of the Holy Spirit in their responsible service both in the building of the Church and in representative functions in front of the outside world:

“... But we urge you, brothers, to prosper even more, and to try to live quietly... so that you may act honorably before outsiders and not lack for anything” (1 Thess. 5:12).

Let us pray for all Christians, that God, in His great mercy, will grant them wisdom from above, filling them with the power of the Holy Spirit, so that in fear and trembling they will do their work in the field of God, sincerely loving the Church of Jesus Christ.

 

January 3.

Prayer for the churches:

1. Prayer for the churches and home groups of our brotherhood, for the ministers in our churches: pastors, deacons, leaders of various ministries:

“And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, some to be shepherds and teachers, for the perfecting of the saints for the work of service, for the building up of the Body of Christ, until we all come to the unity of the faith and the knowledge of the Son of God, into a perfect man, to the measure the stature of the fullness of Christ...but that by speaking the truth in love, we may grow up in everything into Him who is the Head, Christ..."  (Eph. 4:11-15).

Let us pray for the unity of God's people.

Let us pray for the blessing of all elders, deacons and ministers in the churches of the Russian ECB Union in serving Christ.

2. For training of new ministers:

“...and he said to them, The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest” (Luke 10:2).

            Let us entreat the Lord to add those saved to the church, and to give us the determination to show love and care to everyone who has believed in our Lord Jesus Christ. And that we may notice those who need to be encouraged.

          

4 January.

Prayer for Evangelism :

• about reaching all people of our multinational country with the Gospel;
• about developing our missionary service;
• about desiring and equipping of believers to be active evangelists among unbelieving people.

“Faith therefore comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God” (Rom. 10:17);

“For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast about, for this is my necessary duty, and woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!” (1 Cor. 9:16 ).

We pray that God’s people will be encouraged and go out to do His work. As the Lord once turned to Zerubbabel with the words: “Be of good cheer now” (Hag. 2:4). Let us pray for the general encouragement of the local churches because the Lord of hosts says: “I am with you.” We read a similar text in the New Testament: “...therefore he who plants and he who waters is nothing, but God who makes everything grow” (1 Cor. 3:7). The point is not that we do nothing, because God himself does everything, but that we must sweat, plow, get our hands dirty - it all makes sense, since God is with us, He will give the growth!

 

5 January.

Prayer for authorities :

1.  Prayer for representatives of the legislative and executive powers in Russia, so that the Lord controls their decisions and actions .

“Therefore, first of all, I urge that prayers, petitions, supplications, and thanksgivings be made for all men, for kings and for all those in authority, that we may lead a quiet and tranquil life in all godliness and purity (1 Tim. 2:1-2).

2.  Prayer that there will be favorable conditions in our country for church services and evangelism to all nations .

 “... and take care of the welfare of the city to which I have removed you, and pray to the Lord for it; for in his prosperity there will be peace for you also” (Jer. 29:7).

 

6th January.

Prayer for Peace :

“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; the government will be upon His shoulder, and His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

(Isa. 9:6).

On the days of the great feast of the Nativity of Christ, the small city of Bethlehem and the poor manger with the Divine Child will again occupy a central place in the thoughts and feelings of all Christians in the world. We will experience deep joy and gratitude for the coming of the Son of God Jesus Christ into our world. For God's manifest love for all humanity through the Savior of the world born in the Bethlehem stable.

Along with joy, we experience pain, sadness, fear and anxiety as wars rage throughout the world. During the Christmas season, let us remember that our Savior bears the glorious name: “Prince of Peace.” This means that peace on earth is dear to His heart. But He wants peace on earth to be dear to us too. He says to all His disciples: “Blessed are the peacemakers!”

May the Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ, help all Christians to be blessed bringers of peace in the new year: “The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:7).