Today I want to say something about the Islamic terrorist attack in Barcelona, but first I want to remind of us why we are focusing our prayers on certain people and things during this Five Week Challenge.

The weekly assignments for prayer in this challenge are intended to help us grow in our prayer life.  That’s why you’ve been encouraged to pray:

• for two different people each day in our church family who are not normally on your prayer list
• for two different people each day who are struggling spiritually and backslidden
• for two different items each day listed in our Sunday bulletin

The goal is to pray more than we normally do for spiritual things – things the New Testament teaches we should pray for regularly and with passion.

• praying for the faithful to remain faithful and grow
• praying for spiritually backslidden to be revived
• praying for the ministries of our church and God’s kingdom

I had not planned on this next item being part of this sermon series and prayer focus, but recent events in Charlottesville and Barcelona demand our attention and prayers.  One important way to deepen your love for the people of this world is to pray for those impacted by world events.  It is impossible to genuinely pray for people and not grow in your compassion and concern for them.  Praying those who’ve been injured and killed in both cities – praying for those who love them – praying for the leaders in those communities – is a good thing.  It helps us see beyond ourselves and care about people in other places.

The God who gave His only Son for the world (John 3:16) wants us to genuinely love the people in this world.  While some may discount the value of praying for people, God does not.  We pray when we care.

Pastor Steve Hogg

PS This link to an article in “The Telegraph” tells the stories of some who died in Barcelona

PSS  Here is a summary from the BBC as of this Friday morning…