During the day we read the New Testament Letter of Philippians through twice, asking God the Holy Spirit to use His Word to guide our prayers. He did.

We noticed that partnership in the gospel involves following the pattern set by the Lord Jesus - looking not to our own interests, but to the interests of others.

We noticed that to work in gospel partnership with others is costly, but that when giving ourselves selflessly to the work of the gospel we can trust the promise that “my God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19)

During the day, prayer focussed on five main areas:

1. That the Lord would move the hearts of those He wants to work in close partnership with CFC from January 2010

2. That the Lord would provide Peter and Sally with suitable accommodation in Potters Bar

3. The impact on EEFC of sending a group to Causeway

4. That the Lord would guide EEFC as we start to consider the use of the new building He is giving us

5. That the Lord would provide additional workers for Rooted on Friday nights (answered in the course of the morning by three folk volunteering!).

Please keep praying about these things, that whatever happens, the congregations at EEFC and CFC will conduct ourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. (Philippians 4:27)

Finally, this edition of Focus comes out on the first day of my sabbatical. I am grateful to the church for giving me this opportunity for refreshment of body, mind and soul. I will miss being at EEFC over the next four months. It is my spiritual home. I will miss the church family to which I belong – my partners in the gospel. Please be assured of my prayers for you all while I am away. To borrow Paul’s words...

“I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 1:3-6)

Jonathan Prime - (Pastor - EEFC) - November 2009