Imagine being a pastor during a global pandemic . . .

It might feel something like what Paul felt for the churches he planted while he was

imprisoned.

You love your people who seem so far away. You hope that they are keeping the faith.

You hope that they will continue to serve the Lord.

You pray for them. You pray that God will use them for a breakthrough.

Paul stated, I always pray with joy, because of your partnership in the gospel from

the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in

you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus (Philippians 1:4-6).

He continued, And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in

knowledge and depth of insight (Philippians 1:9).

As a “lay person,” I was not privy to the discussions of our lead pastor and our ministerial

staff. However, I have a feeling that they prayed for us in similar ways while we were

unable to meet as a church body.

Before things shut down, our church was growing. Before things shut down, we were

called to pray for revival. Before things shut down, we prayed that there would be 100

baptisms that year.

While no one knew when we would be able to gather as a church body again, we did

know this:

He who began a good work in us before the shutdown would carry it on to completion.

Let’s continue to join our hearts together and pray that our love will abound more and

more. Let’s continue to grow in knowledge and depth of insight. Let’s continue to pray for

revival. Let’s continue to pray for more than 100 baptisms.



Let’s pray for a breakthrough in our city, state, nation and world today – no matter what’s

going on around us!

By LaRaine Rice

LaRaine is the wife of Jeff and mother of Christopher and Elizabeth.