“Look to the LORD and his strength; seek his face always.” 1 Chronicles 16:11
Dear Friends,
Join me this week in praying for the people of East Timor, and the work of our ministry partners there.
Blessings,
Pastor Basile
About East Timor
East Timor’s road to independence – achieved on 20 May 2002 – was long and traumatic. The people of the first new nation of the century suffered some of the worst atrocities of modern times in their struggle for self-determination. When their Portuguese colonial masters withdrew in 1975, Indonesia claimed the territory for itself and ruthlessly suppressed the independence movement. Eventually the UN took over the administration and supervised the territory’s transition to independence. (4 September 2015, East Timor Country Profile, www.bbc.com)
Ministry in East Timor
Tom Liddle, a member of Peace United Church of Christ, Duluth, Minnesota, serves with the Protestant Church of East Timor (IPTL) as a facilitator for strengthening congregations and continuing education of pastors.
From Mr. Liddle…
The ministry of the Protestant Church of East Timor is a ministry of the Word. Does that seem antiquated? I think not. In the Internet age, our world is teeming with words — mostly empty words. And then there’s the instantaneous, ever-present digital image with accompanying sound bite. It’s a barrage of babel intent on forming diligent producers and obedient consumers. Over and against this, the church speaks of the Word of God. The Protestant Church of East Timor has a vital home ministry dedicated to the study and proclamation of the Word. What underlies such a ministry is the confidence that the Word available to us in the Bible is also a vital presence in the world. Thus, a life spent meditating on the Word forms people who are like “…trees planted by streams of water” (Ps. 1). And the Word proclaimed “…goes out and does not return empty,” as the poet in Isaiah says. I think U.S. churches have something to learn from this. Quite often our church ministries mirror the culture’s obsession with “efficient action implementation” schemes. A ministry of the Word, however, is long-term, contemplative work that fosters an alternative life-map outside the realm of fear, conformity, and prattle. Instead, meditation on the Word creates faith and fosters freedom. It opens the imagination and bestows on us space for living humanly in the midst of death.
A Prayer for East Timor:
By: Tom Liddle
Loving God, in our fractured world you have brought us together with partners all over the world. You call us to unity and make us one in the sharing of bread and cup, the water of baptism and meditation on your Word. You ask us to be your people wherever we are. We are thankful for all that we learn from all our global partners. On this day we pray for the Protestant Church of East Timor. We ask that you lead and guide them in their ministry of the Word. Bestow upon its ministers wisdom, patience, and courage. Strengthen the faith of its members. Bless the clinic workers, teachers, and young people. May their ministries in your name be salt and light for all your children in East Timor. In Jesus name, Amen.
“Praying with the Pastor” is a resource highlighting prayer needs in our community, nation, and world. Names of Zion members and friends requesting prayer are listed in the weekly church bulletins, and monthly Messenger Newsletter. May God’s blessings abound as we consistently lift up the world, including our own church family, in prayer!