Hi All,
My family home had a ship’s clock hanging on the wall. It reported ‘bells’ on the half-hour rather than chiming on the hours. If you have not heard the ships bell system, it rings in a series of eight rather than the familiar 12 hour system. The ‘eight bell’ system was designed to direct the functions of the sailors on duty sailing and tending a ship on a series of four hour watches.� (Eight Bells completed every 4 hours when sounding on the half-hours)
Bells are interesting. Some historians report that the largest known bell weighed over 600 thousand pounds and was lost in Myanmar by the Portuguese who had taken it from a local temple. The largest functional bell still in existence is the Mingun bell in Mingun, Myanmar which weighs in at just over 200 thousand pounds.
I am sure that through your life you have heard various bells in churches and schools. Bells are often sounded for a purpose. Bells can remind us of the time or perhaps remind us of events such as weddings, victories, or calls us to worship and/or prayer.
Consider this email the ringing of a great bell. The bell tolls a loud and constant call for prayer for the ministries of Omaha Bible Church in the Sarpy County area. In your personal and family devotions, small group meetings, care groups or other gatherings, I ask you to purposely pray for the following.
Pray that God will be glorified in all activities relating to OBC South
Pray for the leadership of OBC, the pastors, elders and others who are seeking God’s Wisdom and direction for the ministry
Pray that God will provide the place and things needed to begin services at OBC South
Pray that God will raise up gifted individuals to fill the needs of the church
Pray that each individual’s focus will be on Christ, His Church and His Kingdom
Pray for God to grant love, patience and understanding to all who are involved in preparations for the new ministry
Pray that Bellevue, Papillion and the surrounding area would be impacted by the preaching and teaching of God’s Word to His glory
Pray that God would change hearts, and call His own to worship and obedience
Pray that the Holy Spirit would lead draw all of us to God’s Word as the perfect source of knowledge, understanding and correct action in planting a church
I would ask you to pray all the above and anything else the Spirit lays upon your heart to pray in support of the church plant. We are to encourage one another to love and good works. I ask each of you to encourage one another in praying for this ministry. Please pray for this church planting effort whether you plan to attend services in the Bellevue/Papillion area or not.
The bell is sounding-it is our ‘watch.’ May our great God and King be glorified by our prayers and our desire to serve Him.
Your Brother in Christ,
Hank
PS If you will commit to praying regularly for this ministry, please see me on Sunday morning and I will give you something to help you in this endeavor.
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