“That every man grow in his relationship with Jesus Christ through an effective men‘s ministry in every congregation.”

This is an invitation for you to join in prayer each week with men throughout the ELCA at noon on Wednesday... or when you are able. We are praying for revival/renewal for men throughout the ELCA and beyond. This includes the men in your life, for the support of ministry with men churchwide.

Matthew 9:18-26: 18While he was saying this, a ruler came and knelt before him and said, "My daughter has just died. But come and put your hand on her, and she will live." 19Jesus got up and went with him, and so did his disciples. 20Just then a woman who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak. 21She said to herself, "If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed." 22Jesus turned and saw her. "Take heart, daughter," he said, "your faith has healed you." And the woman was healed from that moment.

23When Jesus entered the ruler's house and saw the flute players and the noisy crowd, 24he said, "Go away. The girl is not dead but asleep." But they laughed at him. 25After the crowd had been put outside, he went in and took the girl by the hand, and she got up. 26News of this spread through all that region.

Questions: What are you like when you get up? What feelings prompted the ruler to approach Jesus? How would you feel as you reached out to touch Jesus? Just afterward? What did the ruler and the sick women have in common? In what area of your life is it most difficult to have faith?

(Scripture verses and questions from the Master Builders Bible for

Men)

Our prayer for all of us as leaders is that our spiritual vision would be so clear that we would see “Jesus only”.

Men, once again the purpose of these weekly encounters is to pray for renewal, and revival in the church- beginning with men. Let us be relentless in our prayer that this ministry will be one that supports that renewal/revival among men.

PLEASE PRAY:

● For the men in your life and beyond- that they might come to a

deeper relationship with Jesus.

● Praise God- we are getting very close to our goal of adding $1.5

million to our endowment fund with cash, deferred gifts and pledges to the Building for the Future campaign. But our immediate need remains

critical- please pray for our financial stability.

● For events:

● The One Year to Live retreat and Connecting with Younger Men:

Changing Church Culture events being developed by LMM.

o The Lutheran Men’s Gathering in Omaha, August 1-3, 2008

● For the LMM Board, the Young Men’s Ministry Council, the LMM

Development Council, local Lutheran Men’s Gathering planning team and our synod and congregational men’s leaders.

Finally- please pray that those of us in leadership keep our eyes fixed on Jesus. Our focus is for men to have a growing relationship with Jesus.

On behalf of our leadership- thank you so much for your prayers!