We pray for the Texas District to...STRENGTHEN CONGREGATIONS to reach the lost,

disciple the saved,and care for people – locally and globally.

Texas District Mission PrayersNovember 122, 2021

Rev. Greg and Susan Finke, Dwelling 1:14 – Joining Jesus on His Mission

We give thanks that the Lord has allowed us to resume our training and travel thisfall. Since August, we have conducted 16 training events (including 4 conferences)for several thousand neighborhood missionaries around the country. PraiseGod! Each congregation has so many cool stories of people taking their first stepsinto missional living: seeking and finding what Jesus is up to, meeting and lovingneighbors, and sharing God's love and good news with them!

Please pray for the Lord's guidance as we finish writing the new resource, "JoiningJesus as a Family." It is a book that draws from our first two books in order tohelp parents disciple their own children to be followers of Jesus and

Rev. Dr. Michael Weider and the leadership ofEmmaus Road, Katy

Join together in Giving Thanks and Praise for:The baptism this month of a family of 4(Mom, Dad, and two young children) whohad no church background before startingto attend Emmaus Road. will be baptizednext week! Two different door-to-door Solar Power salesmen becoming members of ourchurch due to front porch conversations with members. A great Fall-Fest celebration last month that brought in many guests and first timeattenders for outdoor worship, food and fellowship! The continued to grow of Emmaus Road throughout the pandemic.

Pray that God be at work in some very big ministry opportunities coming up for ER thatcould make a profound difference in our ministry. We’ve been working on this initiativefor most of the year and it’s finally coming to a resolution. Prayers that He grantwisdom, guidance, and excitement about whatever happens.

Rev. Russell Strimple, Beautiful Savior Our Redeemer, Houston

Prayers of Thanks and Praise to God God’s provision of the congregation’s financial needs through the pandemic. The opportunity to host the LWML zone rally and the good turnout.

Prayer for God’s Comfort and HealingWe lost 2 long term members to COVID in 2021. Pray for our members to workthrough some lingering questions, resentments and unexpressed emotions due toanti-vaccination opinions.Also, the gentleman who passed away was an elder and the catechism teacher for3 children, so pray for the children who have lost their teacher.

God’s Continued Work Drawing People to HimInitially we had more visitors when our second service was at the elementaryschool then after we moved to our own church building in a neighborhood and noton a busy street. In the last 2 months some visitors have been returning. Our upcoming 4th annual "Advent by Candlelight" dinner at the church for invitingpeople of the community. May God open the eyes of our members to those toinvite.

Vicar Ryan Pennington, Fortress, Harker Heights

Prayers of Thanks and Praise to God 3 baptisms (see photos below)! We hosted our first VBS over the summer andhad 11 kids attend the 3-day event with theirparents to learn about Jesus. It was a hugesuccess for our small congregation.

Praying for God's Continued WorkAt the invitation of one of our parishioners, anelderly woman has been attending our worshipservice every Sunday. She's more regular thanmost of our people. Conversation is difficult tohave with her as she speaks English as a secondlanguage. Her past is obviously a sore spot forher, and we only slowly getting to know her.She leaves right before the Lord's Supper andavoids contact. Last Sunday, after the service was over, she approached me withsomething on her mind. I steeled myself, knowing that I was certainly going tohear something critical about my sermon or the state of the church, or otherwise.Instead, I heard in broken English, "I really have enjoyed listening to yoursermons. I appreciate how you talk to the people. I'm not sure what to make ofmy faith, or what's left of it. But I enjoy coming here. Thank you." I told her howmuch that meant to me and that we were so glad she has been coming. God isclearly working in her life!Vicar Pennington's SMP studies and January session at Concordia Seminary, St.Louis

God's Future Preparation and BlessingPlease pray for the transition of our church as we are getting ready to send ourfounding pastor to plant a new congregation. The official "sending" service will beon January 9th. We are excited to be rolling out a soft launch of our homeschool co-op. There willbe limited participation in the first semester to ensure that we can iron out allthe kinks. If the Lord wills, we are hoping to be fully open to the community bynext Fall. This will be a tremendous outreach into our community. It will enablehomeschool families to connect and learn together as they will have full use ofour facilities during co-op hours. Additionally, there will be a chapel service inour sanctuary, providing opportunities for families of all backgrounds to hearGod's Word. We're praying that it will be a fruitful endeavor and provide a bridgeinto the community that we've been asking God for. Please pray for RachelSchultz, who is our coordinator for this project!

You also must help us by prayer, so that many will give thanks on our behalffor the blessing granted us through the prayers of many.

2 Cor. 1:11

Texas District of The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod7900 E. Highway 290 | Austin, TX 78724 | P: 512.926.4272

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