A Prayer to His Answer

     No, that's not a mistype in the title. Normally I would say something is "an answer to our prayer", but more and more I'm realizing that the things I'm praying for God has already prepared the answer to long before I thought to pray it. My prayers and my heart are just coming in line with His will.

​Open Doors to the Schools!
      That's the case again...

Open Doors to the Schools!
     That's the case again with some of the things God has been doing through MMOC. We have been so blessed to have received temporary support to come in allowing me to focus on the ministry these past few weeks. In that time God has enabled us to see much accomplished in structuring the ministry, updating the website, visiting with local pastors and ministries, running our monthly outreaches and discipleship programs, and so forth. 

       Our great cause for praise, however, is that we have been able to see God open the doors to the public schools in our area! We have sent out invitations to local churches to come together on March 24th in the local high school for a time of prayer and planning. The setting up of this meeting also resulted in a meeting with school staff who have realize that they need "faith leaders" to come in and help with the hopelessness and despair among students over recent suicides. They have invited us to start an after school club in which we can be available to talk with those who are hurting, lost and confused.
      In addition to all of this they have invited us to present our ministry as a "career" opportunity at the high school career day on March 8th. We will take the opportunity to talk to students about why we serve in this ministry and show them the love of Christ. We're hoping that this will result in many of them coming to our after school club.
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Excitement is Stirring in the Church
     We were also invited along with other pastors and ministry leaders to a suicide awareness seminar hosted at the local middle school this past Wednesday. In that meeting, which was run by the State of Maine, we were told that religious communities play a large role in helping kids turn from thoughts of suicide. We already know this and more importantly we know why this is true, because we know that the only answer to every problem is found in Our Savior Jesus Christ! To hear public school staff starting to realize the same is a miracle and an encouragement for us to continue on in what God has called us to do. We believe that more and more doors are going to be opening and we are starting to see that happen already. I think many did not believe that the schools would ever open up again. Now there is an excitement stirring in the church locally. Many are almost in tears as they are seeing answers to years of praying. 

Please Pray!
     It is exciting, but please keep praying.

• Pray for the March 8th Career Day and March 24th 'Answer the Call' Meeting.
• Pray that more school staff, parents and students would allow the church to come back into the schools.
• Pray for protection against the backlash that many are sensing may come from those opposed to the gospel.

• Pray that the church would humbly, graciously, and lovingly respond with hands and hearts that are willing to live out the Gospel through serving the students and staff. 
• Pray that we at MMOC will seek the Spirit's leading as we develop the after school program and recruit volunteers.
• Please pray that we would trust God to continue providing for our team's needs, as He has so faithfully, so that we can keep our focus on the ministry He has given us.
• Please pray that God would use my family's housing situation as a means to glorify Himself! We are trusting that He will provide a house for us soon as the deadline to be out of our current house is only a couple weeks away (March 18th). Our God is always faithful! 

           The God who can open the door to the public schools can certainly open the door to a house for us!


Thank you for your love and support!

In Christ and for His glory,

James Shaw
Center Director