September 2023 Prayer Requests

Dear Friends of Estonia!

Thank you so much for your faithful prayers for the Methodist Church in Estonia!

Summer is over, but we look back with grateful hearts to the many wonderful events that we had over this summer: the Annual Conference, Seminary graduation, different children’s and youth camps, the Summer Conference, and many other events and ministry opportunities that we had. We thank God for His blessings and for the opportunity to spread His Kingdom!

Please pray for all of our 23 congregations, as it is this time of year again when churches begin their Sunday School classes, youth events, regular Bible studies, and many other activities after summer break. Please pray for all the pastors and their teams so that they would have wisdom and guidance from the Lord and that they would be effective in their ministry.

Please give thanks to the Lord for providing me strength and wisdom to balance the Seminary and ministerial responsibilities in Rakvere. He gave me much-needed peace in August and I need it for September because it may be a bit more challenging month.

Praise God that we had a successful admission process where approximately 20 new students will begin their studies at the seminary.

Thank God as well for the wonderful start of the new academic year during our August study session at Saaremaa. About 50 faculty, students, and staff spent time worshipping, sharing, learning, and relaxing. It was also a great time to get to know one another.

Finally, praise God for the successful team meeting on August 31st. We gathered for the August retreat feedback and vision work concerning the fall semester.

Please pray:

For Seminary Sunday in the churches across the land. On September 10th the Seminary is part of the intercessory prayers in the Methodist churches across Estonia and they are encouraged to make an offering for the Seminary. Pray that the total offering will be larger than last year.

For the new school year and the first study session, students gather in the Seminary building. The 2nd and 3rd year students start on September 13-16th, while the 1st year students begin on September 20-23rd.

For me as I prepare to go to the Friends of Estonia gathering in Mt Bethel Church later in
September (Sept 27-Oct 3rd).

For my church in Rakvere during the time I am gone.

For the Russian and Belorussian students who have had a hard time finding jobs and provisions for their studies.

Keep in prayer the Võru, Viitka, and Räpina church’s fellowship and workers. Let us pray that God would raise up the workers and help develop strategic cooperation in South Estonia Parish.

A new season of Youth ministry over Estonia. We are planning a new 9-month-long youth leaders training program. Let’s pray for that.

Some close friends are having serious health problems. Let’s pray that we all will be under God’s protection.

We need wisdom and God’s revelation to keep going on different projects. Wisdom from God to be in His plan, timing, and direction.

Let’s pray for the Räpina congregation’s future, and the construction of the new building.

• Pray for new season activities.
• Pray that all small groups will grow in faith and that all leaders and group members will be motivated and willing to work.
• Pray for students and teachers.
• Pray for children and young people who suffer depression and suicide risk.

I am very thankful to God for Agape church in Pärnu. We celebrated the 102-year anniversary last Sunday. I am very thankful for all the people who have been in the congregation before and those who are in the church these days. Also, I am thankful for the last Sunday´s worship. It was a day full of good emotions. Please pray that God will lead the church on and the best of His plan will work out for the congregation´s future.

We thank God that in the summer the children had the opportunity to take part in several camps, organized by the Calvary UMC (Nashville), Asbury (Tusla), the local church, and the city. The children are rested, happy, and ready for the new school year. We hope that this enthusiasm will continue for the whole school year. We pray that God will give the children wisdom and strength in the new school year and that they will be able to overcome all the difficulties associated with it. We also ask for your prayers for 4 new children who now come to the children’s center and 2 children who moved some years ago to another city but are now back in Tallinn and the children’s center. We also pray for all the staff of the children’s center, that God will give us the wisdom to find a way to the heart of every child.