Ask God to thrust into His harvest many young people ready to proclaim the “Good News.” Pray that they will learn from God’s Word to live in the light of His coming and be ready to stand before the judgment seat of Christ. “I have written to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one” (1 John 2:14). Thank God for every pastor and teacher already laboring to perfect the saints, and ask Him to strengthen them to continue their work through the power of the Holy Spirit.

A Christian’s behavior and manner of life is supposed to reflect the godly character of Jesus Christ. When a person confesses his sin and turns to Christ for forgiveness, the Holy Spirit comes to live in that person. All Christians possess the same Spirit; He is the common bond, the unifier. “For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body… and all were made to drink of one Spirit” (1 Corinthians 12:13).

Spiritual unity is the consequence of salvation by faith in Christ. Therefore, believers are “to maintain the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:13). Living in unity will be strengthened and solidified by this bond of peace.

Preparing for ministry includes a personal disposition to maintain oneness and peace in Christian fellowship and activity. “Now you are Christ’s body, and individually members of it” (1 Corinthians 12:27). Effective outreach in the world calls for churches to encourage, mobilize and instruct people in the development and expression of the spiritual gifts given by Jesus Christ.

The Bible clearly teaches that every Christian has been given a spiritual gift in order to strengthen the church and impact society with the Gospel message. A local body of believers should shine like a many faceted diamond and showcase unity in all its endeavors. Although there is diversity in people, there is unity in purpose.

The church cannot make any impact on the unbelieving world when believers hold grudges or criticize one another. Bickering and selfishness destroys this unity. Peace is the cement that holds this unity together. The experience of peace unfolds when believers are living in meekness, patience, forbearance and love for one another in the body of Christ.

God has placed each regenerated person into the body of Christ to perform his specific work on behalf of all the other members. “But now God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired” (1 Corinthians 12:18). Pray that the missionaries of Slavic Missionary Service will be servants of God who exhort and encourage others to “attain to the unity of faith” (Ephesians 4:13). May God help His children to express His love, “which is the perfect bond of unity” (Colossians 3:14), to one another and to the world.

"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled."

Matthew 5:6

Never wait for the lost soul to approach you and ask about the way to salvation. He or she seldom comes. The method of our Lord Jesus was to seek the lost. “For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10). All around us are opportunities to witness about “new life” in Christ, if the believer will allow the Holy Spirit to assist him in sharing that marvelous message. People should be given a choice. Pray that all of the SMS missionaries will present the Gospel to anyone who is willing to listen to the “Good News.”