A Message from the Moderator of the General MB Conference

Sometimes, inaudibly or aloud, we plead our case by saying, "The devil made me do it." There are no doubt times when he plays a role through the various temptors assigned to lure us off course. One path, however, which the enemy will never tempt us to get off is the path of prayerlessness.

Reading about Christians who have made a difference reveals at least one common thread--they were women and men of prayer. Some have said that the bottom line "fear" of Satan and his host is the believer at prayer. There is no end of sayings and slogans that attest to the absolute essentiality of prayer. A myriad of writers and teachers have affirmed that prayer is the way that God has provided for His family to find His heart and to come clear on whom He would have us to be. Richard Foster goes so far as to say that prayer is the heart's true home.

Fewer times than the Father would like, I'm sure, I have been there--in the throne room of God--on occasion to adore Him, to bask in His presence and offer worship and thanksgiving, and sometimes to cry out confession and repentance. Mostly, though I have not kept track, I think I approach God for provision of one kind or another. There is some comfort in the fact that the prayer Jesus taught His disciples is largely on this theme. So I take courage to invite you to join me again in that place.

We have encouraged each of our national, provincial and district MB conference leaders to make praying together a centrepiece at our various conventions and meetings. It will not be difficult to know what to pray. We need to ask for wisdom for the Task Force which is reviewing the ministry structures for our bi-national conference. We need to pray that communication will be clear as the information is gathered. We need to pray that we will discover the mind of Christ in the matter of how we will minister together. We need to pray that the church will live out the grace of Jesus for the sake of the lost people in our world. We need to pray that the Father's will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

There is every chance that Satan will discourage this in every way available to him. Thankfully, there is full assurance that the Holy Spirit will invite and enable our heartfelt involvement. This is an invitation to turn Him loose in your heart and to pray in the Spirit, with all kinds of prayers in the name of Jesus, that His will be done among us.

Ed Boschman,
Moderator,
General Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches

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