When a group gathers at a table to enjoy a good meal, no sooner are the plates filled than the salt shaker begins making its rounds so that everyone may season the food to their liking. Many a meal would be far less tasty—even bland—if no salt were readily at hand!
Jesus tells those of us who follow him that we are “the salt of the earth.” Since ancient times, salt has been used not only as a seasoning to enhance flavor, but also as a preservative. Long before refrigera-tion was available, salt was coarsely rubbed into meat so that it could be saved and stored over time, remain-ing useful for nourishment.
As the “salt of the earth,” there is a quality about us, a distinct character, a “flavor” that should enhance the quality of life for those around us. It should preserve relationships and the social structures that facilitate human flourishing. And it should make people thirsty for the living water, generating an awareness
REV. JIM BELLASSOCIATE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR GLOBAL MISSION
of spiritual need that can only be quenched by the presence of the Spirit given to those who come to faith in our Lord Jesus. (John 7:37-39)
Jesus includes with this charge a warning, however: Salt that “loses its saltiness” becomes useless and is tossed aside. The “salt” to which Jesus was referring was not like the refined sodium chloride that we use today. It was a course white powder mined from the area of the Dead Sea that contained gypsum and other minerals mixed in with salt. Over time, the sodium chloride would leach out of the powder, leav-ing a chalky tasteless powder that was poured on the roads and path-ways. No longer useful for seasoning or preserving, it was discarded.
So also we, as followers of Jesus, must remain in him and so retain those qualities that arise out of devotion to Jesus and commitment to the way of Christ—the fruit of the Spirit, love for one another and
holiness. (John 15:4-5; Galatians 5:22-23; John 13:34-35; 1 Peter 1:15-16)
Even these qualities may lose their life-enhancing, culture-preserv-ing and spiritual-thirst-producing qualities when they are only turned inward. Our “saltiness” is useless when we remain in the shaker, when we become inwardly focused only on our personal spirituality or the life of our Christian communities. It is when we are poured out in obedient service to God—when we become engaged in God’s mission in our neighborhoods, our schools, our cities, our nation and across cultural and national boundaries, “to the ends of the earth”—that we begin to see God’s will being done “on earth as it is in heaven.” (Matthew 6:10)
We invite you to join International Ministries in “passing the salt,” not only around a table, but around the globe. Through your encouragement, your prayers and your gifts to the World Mission Offering, you enable IM’s global servants, volunteers and international partners to share the good news of Jesus in word and in deed.
BUT WHAT GOOD IS SALT IF IT HAS LOST ITS FLAVOR?
CAN YOU MAKE IT USEFUL AGAIN? IT WILL BE THROWN OUT
International Ministries1003 W 9th Ave, Ste A, King of Prussia, PA 19406
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health & wellness | abolishing global slavery | economic & community development
M A T T H E W 5 : 1 3
1 Make us salt and light to a hungry and dark world as we powerfully proclaim and cou-rageously live out the good news of Jesus that brings hope and healing. A ARON
& VALERIE OSTERBROCK ,
MAL AYSIA
2 Lord, be the loving father to those who don’t know a father’s love. Restore wholeness to those who are broken and feel unloved. ALISE & MARK JUANE S ,
THAIL AND
3 Father, create in us a heart like yours. Help us to be bold and compassion-ate with the good news of Jesus. AMANDA & JON GOOD,
HUNGARY
4 Break our hearts with care for those who suffer, and work through hands and hearts to bring the love of Christ to those who cross our paths daily. ANN & B ILL
CLEMMER , DEMOCR ATIC
REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO &
SOUTH SUDAN
5 Jesus, the mothers and fathers of refugee children are tired of war. Please tenderly dry their salty tears and restore peace and hope to their lives. ANN & BRUCE
BORQUIST, SOUTHE AST ASIA
& JAPAN
6 We work every day with people who are bought and sold, used and abused, and seem to always be at risk. It is not easy to remain as your salt in the world. Renew our saltiness again, O Lord, that all whom we encounter and serve may savor your presence and your purpose for their lives. ANNIE & JEFF
D IE SELBERG , THAIL AND
7 Open doors and equip us with every good thing, that we might do effective work and speak clearly the mystery of Christ. BARBAR A
& DWIGHT BOLICK , CHILE
8 Today, Lord, let me be so close to you that you become a part of my every conversa-tion. Let my life be a prayer. BECK Y MANN , THAIL AND;
MIKE MANN , GLOBAL
9 Jesus, help us to use the many gifts you have given to bring others closer to you. May our flavor be ever pleas-ing to you. BRIAN & LYNET TE
SMITH , HAIT I
10 Lord, we pray that you will provide us the needed resources to be in Colombia serving as salt to the Wayuu in the Guajira Northern Region. CARLOS BONILL A
& MAYR A G IOVANET TI ,
N ICAR AGUA
11 Thank you for the gift of your precious children with learning and behavioral chal-lenges. Awaken the areas of their brains that are not func-tioning as they should and strengthen each one in mind, body and spirit. CARMELL A
JONE S , HUNGARY
12 May IM’s Nepali col-leagues, being salt to their world of Hindu neighbors, continually show the love of God through their various ministries of healing: physi-cally, mentally and spiritually. CAROLE SYDNOR , NEPAL
13 Lord, we pray for trav-eling mercies and effec-tiveness as we spread the gospel of Christ in many dif-ferent ways this year, in many different countries and cities. CARRIE & KURT SMALLEY,
HUNGARY
14 We pray for the Syrian civilians living east of Damascus who are being indiscriminately attacked and killed. May they have peace and receive food trucks. DAN
& SAR AH CHET TI , LEBANON
15 Jesus, our Prince of Peace, may your people everywhere be your agents of reconciliation. Transform us to be transformers of the conflicts around us. DAN &
SHARON BUT TRY, GLOBAL
16 Ana, a theology student, said, “I will keep running to the feet of my beloved, and wait.” We pray to listen attentively. DAVID & JOYCE
REED, IBEROAMERICA & THE
CARIBBE AN
17 Our Father, we pray for you to pour out upon us your spirit of compassion and re-newal and a reverent desire to follow you daily. DEBBIE &
KE ITH MYERS, ME XICO
18 May Christians and non-Christians stand united against evil to bring justice and peace to all people in our world. DEBBIE MULNEIX ,
SOUTH & E AST ASIA
19 I want to be salt today, Lord, to season the teaching of your word so that those who hear will be thirsty for Jesus, the Living Water. DEBBY & K YLE WITMER ,
THAIL AND
20 Let us be the salt of this world. Help us to transform hate, violence, intolerance, apathy and hopelessness into love, peace, tolerance, empathy and hope. DELIR IS
CARRIÓN -JOSEPH , ME XICO
21 Father God, remind us in every moment of our lives that you have given us a pur-pose, and may our children be empowered by it. DENISE
& JUAN AR AGÓN , ME XICO
22 Dear Lord, break the crusts off our hearts and give us your patient love and tolerance for people’s foibles each day, realizing that we have some our-selves. ED & MIRIAM NOYE S,
DEMOCR ATIC REPUBLIC OF
THE CONGO
23 Lord, help us to remem-ber that we are your precious ones, bought at immeasur-able price and redeemed to reflect Christ’s own image at all times. EMERSON & IV Y
WU, E AST ASIA
24 In a world descending into moral and spiritual decay, may your church lead the way in proclaiming your path that leads to healing and abundant life. GLEN & R ITA
CHAPMAN , DEMOCR ATIC
REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO
25 God’s Spirit is drawing people in the disaster area in northern Japan where Christians have prayed and are helping. Please pray for strength and wisdom. GORDON & LEE ANN HWANG ,
JAPAN
26 We pray for those who have left their families, friends and country behind and feel isolated. May you be their comfort, joy and hope. HERMELINDA &
JORGE DAMASCENO, UNITED
K INGDOM
27 God, help us to enrich the lives of our students and their families so that they can improve in their studies and in their relationships with you. INGRID ROLDÁN - ROMÁN ,
PANAMA
28 Guide Master’s students in Bolivia, Brazil, Mexico and the U.S. as they learn to lead transformational churches that proclaim the gospel and care for the marginalized. J .D . REED, IBEROAMERICA
& THE CARIBBE AN; RHONDA
REED, BOLIV IA
29 Lord, bless the students taking the Online Masters in Theological Studies Program. Continue to shape and mold them to become the peo-ple you want them to be for your glory. JAE STOCK TON ,
ME XICO
30 We pray for those who have never tasted the salt of your people. Sprinkle salt among them to give a deeper thirst for you. JE ANINE &
WALT WHITE , GLOBAL
31 Abba, we cry out for the ongoing protection and healing of so many young girls whose lives and bodies have been shattered by sex-ual abuse. JENI PEDZ INSKI ,
THAIL AND
32 Lord, please provide for peaceful elections in the Congo in 2018 to bring the stability that this coun-try needs to continue its development. J ILL & MIKE
LOWERY, DEMOCR ATIC
REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO
33 We humbly ask for your perspective as we navigate your plan for peace. Protect all ethnic and national peo-ple. Thank you for building compassion and hope. JOEL
HOEFLE & TRISH MAGAL ,
THAIL AND
34 Pray for the Congo. The suffering of the population increases as authorities harden their hearts. We need wisdom to know how to be “salt and light” today. K ATHERINE & WAYNE NILE S ,
DEMOCR ATIC REPUBLIC OF
THE CONGO
35 God, please send forth laborers to Vanga, specifical-ly a maintenance supervisor, a bookkeeper and accoun-tant, an IT person, a general or orthopedic surgeon and a kindergarten and elementary teacher. K ATHY & T IM R ICE ,
DEMOCR ATIC REPUBLIC OF
THE CONGO
36 God, I pray for your grace and protection upon new believers who risk their lives to meet together, pray and receive instruction, growing in faith to share Christ’s love with others. K ATIE & TAKU LONGKUMER ,
INDIA
37 May the church pre-pare and empower immi-grants so their lives can be built on a solid foundation for a self-sustaining and dignified future. KETLY &
V ITAL PIERRE , DOMINICAN
REPUBLIC
38 God, we are over-whelmed by the banquet of your extravagant goodness. Thank you for using us to ex-tend your life and restoration to hungry souls. KIT R IPLEY,
THAIL AND
39 Jesus, healer of a wounded world, help us all to be salt and light to those forgotten corners in need of your loving touch. KRIST Y
ENGEL , GLOBAL
40 Lord, grant us the strength to be salt, bringing about the full potential in ourselves as well as those to whom you have brought us. K ATRINA & K YLE WILLIAMS,
DEMOCR ATIC REPUBLIC OF
THE CONGO
41 We lift up Hungarian students, Serbian communi-ties and the refugees among us. Lord, please let us be salt and light for these—for your glory and their joy! L ARRY & REBECCA STANTON ,
HUNGARY
42 Shine the light of your love, dear Jesus, into the lives of those who suffer from exploitation and abuse, bringing them healing, justice and peace. L AUR AN
BETHELL , GLOBAL
43 Lord, keep us safe as we travel out to the villages with our team and for the many challenges our clients with disabilities and their families face. LE A LINDERO,
THAIL AND
44 Please Lord, send more harvesters into this world, to be salt and light for spread-ing your dominion in places of so much pain. LORI &
MAT T MANN , SOUTHE AST
ASIA
45 Bless those who have nothing and give every-thing to benefit others. May families in the D.R. and Cuba be blessed with food, clean water, health and education. MADELINE FLORE S - LÓPE Z ,
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
46 Help us to accept your gift of love to us and through us, as our source of strength and nourishment. MARILYN
R A ATZ , AFRICA
47 O God of immigrants, God of refugees, grant us love, peace and joy to help our neighbors living in this country. MARLENE
PO, IMMIGR ANTS FROM
MYANMAR IN THE U. S .
48 God, please heal Syria and draw close to the over one million Syrian refugees in Lebanon. Be with the refu-gee children who are Syria’s future. MEL ANIE BAGGAO,
LEBANON
49 Lord, open us to the love and learning that we so desire. Inspire others to seek God-led action and strive to serve today. MERCY GONZ ALE Z- BARNE S,
IBEROAMERICA & THE
CARIBBE AN
50 Creator, restore our spiritual taste buds with justice so that by being seen, heard and honored, your creation will be loved into repair, wholeness and dignity. MYLINDA BAITS , GLOBAL
51 Help us be the salt that brings out our holy flavor, that we may be full of compas-sion, mercy, love and healing to those whom we serve. NANCY & STEPHEN JAME S,
HAIT I
52 Almighty God, help us be witnesses to the ends of the earth, especially to reflect Jesus’ presence in loving all neighbors in our communities. NOR A &
PIETER K ALKMAN , EUROPE
53 We are grateful, Lord, for the women and men of your global church who even today begin a journey of bib-lical and pastoral preparation in respone to your call. May they know your continued guidance and presence. PAT TI & T IM LONG , ME XICO
The global servants and staff of International Ministries are pleased to
bring you 60 special prayers to enhance your walk with God during your
church’s World Mission Offering (and beyond!).
Our inspiration for these prayers comes from Jesus’ words to his follow-
ers, “You are the salt of the earth.” (Matthew 5:13)
Salt, as ordinary and plentiful as it is, possesses a unique power. Unlike
any other seasoning, salt unlocks the subtle flavors in almost any food,
enhancing them and bringing new sensations to our taste buds. When
the Lord says to his followers, “you are the salt of the earth,” he is urging
them to go into the whole world and unlock the good that he is doing so
others can be touched by the power of the saving grace of God. As fol-
lowers of Christ, we too are the salt of the earth, seasoned with the love
of the gospel and called to carry that love to all the earth.
This World Mission Offering focuses on three areas of holistic action:
Health and Wellness, Abolishing Global Slavery and Economic and Com-
munity Development. While they are not inclusive of all the ministries of
International Ministries, they serve to illustrate some of what God is doing
worldwide through our 120 global servants, 900+ volunteers, 43 home
staff and 240+ global Christian partners. Your gifts to the World Mission
Offering powerfully connect you to all of the global servants and minis-
tries of ur Lord through International Ministries.
Please use these prayers and the Biblical Reflection with church groups,
in worship services or in quiet personal meditation, using them as the salt
that will bring ever more flavor to your walk with Jesus.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR GIFTS TO THE WORLD MISSION OFFERING
AND FOR SHARING IN THIS MISSION ALONGSIDE OUR GLOBAL SERVANTS.
YOU MAY GIVE THROUGH YOUR CHURCH OR AT
WWW.WORLDMISSIONOFFERING.ORG.
54 The earth rotates daily without our thought or effort. Yet it’s the efforts of those who serve you, God, that make the difference. May we remember our connec-tion to each other each day we’re blessed to wake. ROVAUGHNA RICHARDSON ,
GHANA
55 Lord, guide our grad-uates from the Universidad Bíblica Latinoamericana to make their churches salty with loving welcome to all and with life-giving service. RUTH MOONEY, COSTA R ICA
56 Loving God, let us be salt of the earth that brings out your flavors of love and justice as we minister to chil-dren in Bolivia. SAR AH NASH ,
BOLIV IA
57 Spirit of the Living God, renew our faith and our flavor, so that all may taste and see that you, Lord, are good! STAN SL ADE , GLOBAL
58 Dear God, we pray for the churches in Bulgaria, that they may be salt in their communities, transforming them in your name. TERRY &
TOM MYERS, BULGARIA
59 Pray for our teenage kids who are miraculously being adopted. Pray that these homes are prepared for the scars our kids carry and that they will be uncon-ditionally loved. CORENNE &
PHIL SMITH , BR A Z IL
60 We pray for women living with injustice, that through Christian ministries they will experience God’s love and transforming power, allowing them to walk toward justice. SUE HEGART Y,
