The prayers for the first four days are again those written for our September month of prayer and fasting – specifically considering Outreach and Evangelism. The prayers for October are those written by Bernard Langford.

27 September – Sam Adjepong. Come Holy Spirit and help us to lift Jesus up – so that He will do only what He can do in and through Telford Elim, in person and online. We acknowledge that we can do nothing apart from Him and the power of the Holy Spirit.

Help us in our outreach that in Jesus’ name every step will be a step of faith and prayer. We always need Your presence of power, and there is a great need for boldness to count the cost, and also to know Your joy as our strength in these challenging times.

Lord Jesus, You did not grow weary but went all the way until it was finished. We want to make an impact in our community through our partnership with the Hadley Methodist Church, and with the Holy Spirit’s presence and power, to see all generations presented with Your gospel. We pray for conviction, repentance and many baptisms for the remission of sins, and reception of the gift of the Holy Spirit. In Jesus’ name. Amen

28 September – Himat Khetia. Winning the Lost: 2 Corinthians 4:4, ‘The god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.’

Lord Jesus, we know that the devil has blinded the minds of many and we need Your intervention because without Your help, and the leading of the Holy Spirit, we cannot do anything. We cannot pray without the help of the Holy Spirit – He helps us to hit the mark as we intercede for the lost.

We pray that they will find friends who are believers because that will provide an open door for sharing the Gospel. Father, we ask for Your mercy for the lost – just as one sheep was lost the good shepherd left 99 in search of that sheep. Let Your mercy fill their hearts that they may be able to know that You, the true and living God, unconditionally loves them in and through Jesus.

Lord Jesus, open their minds that they may know that it is only in surrendering themselves to You, they will find salvation and real rest. Lord, open the hearts of those who are lost that they may be able to hear Your word and accept it. Your Word is true. They shall know the truth and the truth shall set them free.

Lord, Your word says, 2 Peter 3 9, ‘The Lord is not slow to fulfil His promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.’ Thank You, Lord, for Your love for the lost – for You have not lost Your power to save. Amen

29 September – Himat Khetia. Prayer for Outreach: Matthew 28:19-20, ‘Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and I am with you always, even to the end of the age.’

Lord. we want to thank You for calling the church to go out and preach the good news to the whole world, and to make disciples of all nations. Thank you, Lord, for Your love was not only for Israel, but for all nations. As per Your command, Lord, please strengthen Telford Elim, in person and online, so that we can go wherever You send us to spread Your message as missionaries for Your Kingdom.

I pray that not only that we may preach Your good news, but help those who respond and are baptised to grow as disciples living in Your presence. Help us to be faithful and do what You have asked us to do by sharing Your love and grace with the world – this is the call of every Christian, young or old.

Fill us with Your Spirit to be bold and not shy so, with Paul, we can say, ‘I am not ashamed of the gospel for it is the power of God unto salvation for everyone who believes’ (Romans 1 :16). Increase our willingness to serve You, especially to witness of Your gracious love for all sinners. Thank You, Lord – because Your Spirit is upon Your church.

Thank You, Father, for You have anointed and commissioned us to bring the good news to the humble and afflicted, to bind up the wounds of the broken-hearted, to proclaim release to the captives and freedom to prisoners. Holy Spirit, fill us so we do more for Christ’s Kingdom. I pray in the name of Jesu. Amen

30 September – Bernard Langford draws our month of prayer to a close and seeks to draw all our prayers together in the following prayer: Heavenly Father, You are the creator of all things and this wonderful world is truly a fantastic testimony to Your glory. Lord, we pray that You will surround us with Your love and protection in the months to come, and that each and everyone of us will be prepared to submit to Your will for our lives and learn how to walk in Your will at all times.

Lord, we cannot conceive the enormous complexity of this creation and the depth of Your love because our minds are too small to take it all in. Lord, You are such a loving Father, and we are humbled by Your abundant grace which flows so freely day after day. Help us repay that love by being Christ-centred disciples.

Father, we ask that every single person that encounters our church, in whatever setting, will realise that Jesus is there waiting for them to open their hearts to Him; that we will be willing servants of You, a conduit of Your grace, allowing Your Holy Spirit to work through us so that hearts and minds are opened up to the reality of Your everlasting love.

We also know, Lord, that You have a plan for our church (and the locality) – we ask that we will be willing servants so that Your vision is not hindered by our deafness nor stubbornness. Father we ask that every single person that encounters our church, in whatever setting, will realise that Jesus is the only answer to all their questions and needs.

Come Lord, have Your way with us. In Jesus’ special name. Amen

1 October – The following three prayers have also been written by Bernard Langford: Thankfulness and focus – Psalm 100 – John 15:5-6 – Matthew 6:1-4

Heavenly Father, we come before You at the beginning of this month wanting to enter Your courts with thanksgiving and praise. You are the King of Glory, the Creator of this wonderful universe, and we are indeed privileged to be called children of the Living God. 

Lord, we thank You for the gift of life, and we ask that You would provide the grace for us to live it out honouring Christ at all times. Help us this whole month to be ‘plugged into You’ so that we are fully charged in order to work diligently, be loving to all who we might come in contact with, and be wise in our decision making. Let us be good servants of you, Lord Jesus.

We want to give thanks for the holiday period that we have been able to enjoy, July to the end of September, and acknowledge that many of us are privileged to be able to take paid leave when so many others either have no holiday entitlement or pay.  We pray for the self-employed who often struggle to afford holidays, or need to juggle many things in order to take time away.

We also pray for those less fortunate with no job, and in some cases, no hope, and particularly for those who are being exploited by unscrupulous men and women who fail to love others as Jesus commanded. Confront their greed, Lord, and expose their selfishness helping us to understand how we, as a Church, can reach out to those in need. In Jesus’ name.  Amen

2 October – Nurseries, Schools, Colleges, Universities and Education authorities – Proverbs 1: 2-7 – Joshua 1:7-8

Father, again we give thanks that we live in a country where education is freely available – we acknowledge and give praise for our Christian forefathers who paved the way for us to benefit from this valuable resource.  

As our children are in nursery, school, college, apprenticeships, or university, we ask that Your Holy Spirit will be with every individual providing a deep sense of security. Whether they be a small child attending nursery for the very first time, those in primary and secondary education, or a vocational or ‘A’ level student going to College, or an undergraduate or postgraduate University student – we pray that they will move forward without fear and look to the future with a positive, fearless attitude.  

We also ask that every student will be a good witness for Christ, and that they will invest time and effort in their education. Be with them Lord. 

Heavenly Father, we acknowledge that as Christians we are coming under increasing pressure to accept things that are not acceptable to You. LGBTQIA pressure groups continue to influence decision makers, and as our children are in education – we ask that they will be protected from what are unbiblical outlooks on life, identity, love, gender and inclusivity. 

We pray for all education policy makers, academics, head teachers, governors etc, that they will stand firm against such groups, and that Your truth will reign in these institutions. May Your Holy Spirit speak into those situations where gender, identity or sexual confusion exists, and lead those individuals to see that true wholeness, identity completion, and freedom is only found in Christ.

Anoint Your people to have prophetic voices bringing Your perspective silencing those individuals who continue to create confusion in these young lives in Jesu’s name; and cause the authorities to take a Christ-honouring pathway instilling Your God-given guidance in all education institutions. In Jesus’ name. Amen

3 October – Government – Ezekiel 11: 18-21, and Resources – Malachi 3:10

Father, we give thanks and praise for bringing us, in this nation, through the worst of the Covid-19 pandemic. We pray for those countries still suffering greatly in the Pandemic – for Your healing, strength and grace.

As our country goes forward – that You will guide and lead our Government, Opposition parties, Civil Service and all key decision makers and influencers at this difficult time. We also ask that You will empower all the Christians in both local and central government to speak up and influence the decision making that goes on within the corridors of power. 

Father we want Christ, the “Lord of all,” to be Lord of our nation – and we know that, with Your grace, truth and wisdom, this country can once again be a beacon of hope and prosperity in both material and, more importantly, spiritual terms. Our lives have been transformed by You, and we know that You can do the same for this country.  Do it Lord in marriages, other relationships and the wider society so often riven with division, problems and brokenness.

Lord, as we look to the children in school – already having prayed this week for them – we also pray that they will live in a nation that knows its God, is strong and lives out the Faith; a nation with Christ as its Head.

As we move forward – we pray that Your plans and purposes for us as a church will be at the heart of all that our Church Leadership Team does; and that we will have the resources – money, materials and people – to deliver what You have planned for us. 

We pray for the children and young people and young adult’s work in our church, and pray for a greater anointing as Pastors Sam and Alisha continue to sow the seeds of hope and salvation to all they encounter – whether it be in church, or Hadley Learning Community, and beyond.   Help us also to unlock the finance streams that will enable us to invest and build the right infrastructure so that we can be a resource centre for Your glory, and be effective Stewards of the Gospel and ministries You call us to. In Jesus’ name. Amen