Yesterday, during worship, I called on The Fount family to fast and pray as we make our exodus journey. Prayer is essential, and fasting helps to accentuate our prayers and deepen our experience of God’s presence.

As a congregation that believes in prayer, we need to practice prayer consistently and urgently. We need to travail in prayer, that God will cover us with His favor and enable us to find a way. Here are some prayer suggestions:

• Pray for protection from authoritarian leaders in our denomination, that they will get hearts of peace instead of hearts of war. We don’t want to burden others, but neither do we want to be burdened beyond our ability.
• Pray for strength for our congregational lay leaders, especially Church Council chair Joy Goebel and vice chair Bob Henning, Trustee president Gary Ashcraft, and Staff-Parish Relations chair Mike Whitmore. Ask God to bless and encourage them, helping them to keep their eyes on Jesus and not to fear.
• Pray for our Lay Leader, Ted Smith. He is an attorney and is offering council to other churches as well as ours in this process. Pray for protection and for energy and stamina as he works many hours every week on this matter.
• Pray for me, your pastor, as there is risk to me as an ordained elder in the UMC. Pray for protection and wisdom.
• Pray for those other churches, including Surf City Church, who are likewise seeking to disaffiliate from the UMC both in this annual conference and throughout the denomination.

I know you are already praying! I just want to focus all of our prayers on this matter. Be sure to spend some time every day in prayer, including the guidance above.

By calling for a fast, I am asking the members of The Fount to prayerfully seek God’s best for them in choosing a fast. I will be fasting from food one day a week. Others may choose to fast a meal once a week, or several meals. Some may choose to fast something other than food. Whatever you choose, keep your own health in mind and seek the Lord’s wisdom. During your fast, pray and seek the face of the Lord. Keep your eyes on Jesus! We have a helpful brochure on fasting that you can obtain from the church office, or pick up in the narthex at church when you’re here.

In addition to praying and fasting, I’m asking The Fount family members to bring their Bibles with them to church. By carrying a physical Bible, you will be making a statement to all, that the Word of God is of central importance to our faith and to our church. Bring your Bible and use it during worship, to follow along with the sermon, read along with the Scripture readying and have at the ready.

If you have any questions about all of this, or just want to talk, I am always willing to chat with you over the phone or in person. Just let me know if you want to talk.

Peace,