New teams!

Hi guys,

Thanks for making the effort to come for the ALG Get-Together today. Things certainly didn't turn out the way we imagined it would, but I believe this is all in God's plan. I was really impressed by the mature words of Sharon Wong and Angela about getting out of the comfort zone and getting to know new people. *applause*

Having said all that, here are the key things that have transpired from our discussion today:

1. New teams
We decided to draw lots as it was the fairest way to decide the groups, since most of us opted to change rather than stay in the current team. By drawing lots, we've ended up with the following teams (I/C in CAPS):
JON, Sharon Teo, Jasmine, Aaron, CK
YEW HOCK, Sharon Wong, Debbie, Kenneth, Dominic
Angela, Matthew, Ai Ping, Jackson, Jeannie (I/C TBC)

Congratulations on having the opportunity to meet new people and grow with them. As Sharon Wong put it, when we started off this year, we were also relative strangers to our current ALG, but then grew closer in these 6 months. I believe the same will happen again.

Also psychology studies show that you can't really start with a new team until you have closure with your current team. So perhaps you guys can organise one last farewell meeting with your current ALGs to thank them properly for the blessing they've been to you, and wish them all the best in their new teams.

2. Samuel & Shirley to Marrieds
As announced some time back, Samuel and Shirley will be moving on (graduating?) to the Married ALG. Since Shirley wasn't able to join us today, we will meet after service on 18 Jun for their farewell dinner. I think Matthew, CK & Jackson should decide on the place, to make it a special occasion for their ALG. In view of that, we will meet in our new ALGs only from 20 Jun onwards, the following week.

3. Kampung Games Day
For our 2nd quarter outreach, Matthew and Jon will be organising a Kampung Games Day comprising some of the games we played as children.

Date: 10 Jul (Sun)
Time: 1-4pm
Cost for Agapeans: $10 (free for guests)
Venue: Blessing, Serangoon

Look out for the Facebook events page (http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=128299720583842). Let's make it as big a success as our Kinect Sports Challenge was.

4. Reminder
Finally, a gentle reminder about the purpose of ALG:
We want to help one another grow in Christ, and we do this by sharing our personal devotion, testimonies and prayer requests. After each meeting, the I/C should ensure that someone posts something (picture, summary etc.) on the Facebook page so that the rest can appreciate what is happening in the other ALGs. This should be done as soon as possible, by the next day.

Yew Hock and I would like to thank all of you for being such a participative and democratic group today. Here's to helping everyone grow even stronger in God for the rest of 2011!

Agape, Aaron & Yew Hock

Global Day of Prayer Day 10

Topic: Extending the Blessing of Christ [for promised blessing among all His peoples]
Concerning: hunger, warfare, gangs, corruption
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First, praise God for who He is, what He's done and what He's going to do. Spend at least 5-10min doing this, in tongues if you can. Then, we start our prayer. Try to claim God's promises from verses you know or have heard.

Adopt a position where you have been given authority by God to claim things in God's word. We are not minions and savants that we must meekly ask God for everything. In His word, God has already GIVEN us some things that all we need to do is claim them! Pray like you are a warrior of Christ tasked with taking down the strongholds of the evil one. Be forceful and aggressive with the devil as you can expect the same from him. Don't let him off lightly in your prayer. You can expect him to try to retaliate, so ask also for God's protection as you pray in this manner.

For the Glory of Christ:
Father, You say in your word of the prayer of Jabez as well as Your promise to Abraham, that You'd bless Your people abundantly.

We believe that You have only good things for us and so we want to claim all this in Your name. Bless Your children abundantly, that we can be an impact for You in our community. It is patently wrong that Your children should live in subsistence when we should be able to "export" Your blessing to people all around the world. Open the floodgates of Heaven that we might be a conduit to bless others.

Reveal Jesus Your Son to the world, that the world might hear of Your Name and believe on You. Raise up evangelists and missionaries to reach those who have not heard Your gospel, but most of all, imprint the Great Commission on the hearts of Your people, who should realise that evangelism is for all of us, as we can't wait to share the Good News we have received to others.

In doing so, I proclaim that churches of the world will not work independently, but learn to put aside doctrinal differences to come together as a united body of Christ, believing in Jesus Christ the Saviour, and work with You to impact the world for Your glory.

For the Blessing of the Nations:
May Your Holy Spirit touch the lives and hearts of our governments and authorities. Though they may be secular, we banish the scourge of corruption from the face of the Earth. It robs Your people of the money they need. Corruption and sin has no place in authorities that have been instituted by You and we condemn, rebuke and cast it out in Jesus' name.

Elevate God-fearing Christians to key positions in national governments and world organisations, that we can impact the world in a greater manner for You. The devil should have no place in the running of Your government and we cast him aside in Jesus' name.

As Your gospel permeates the Earth, shouts of praise will burst forth from every corner, praising You for who You are and the salvation that You have given to us through Christ Jesus Your Son.

In Jesus' mighty name I pray, Amen!

NB: Guys, feel free to add your comments and prayers!