Prayer Meeting (Nov 26, 2025)

Prayer for ‘Open Doors’, both personally & for the Gospel

Praying at all times—Colossians 2

2. In prayer give constant attention,
         keeping alert in it
         with thanksgiving;
3. praying at the same time also for us too,
         that God would open to us a door for the message,
               to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in chains,
4.       that I may reveal it, as I ought to speak.

• In Luke 11 we have a parable about how to pray
  • The man who banged on his neighbor’s door and just wouldn’t let up!
• The word is a very strong one that can be translated “shameless persistence” —most people would be embarrassed to keep on so long
  • E.g. we are praying for someone to be saved, we don’t give up but persist in it shamelessly.
• But not an attitude of being peeved at God, but “thanksgiving”
  • Not “God, why haven’t you saved them yet...”
• In this case, the context is the Gospel
  • What are the two requests? —opportunity and faithfulness
  • “Open a Door”: a favourite metaphor for Paul and others

God “opens doors”

• You might say that most of these are an open door for the gospel
• Yes, but if we re-frame it as the kingdom then our whole lives are ultimately about showing forth the kingdom
  • So our work, our relationships, our creativity, our families:
    Everything should show God’s power and glory to a dark world
  • So when we’re praying for an open door,
    • it’s a door into who God wants us to be, in order to carry his glory
• Then he prays that he will speak “as he ought to” —he’ll actually say what he should say
  • This is a good way to start your day:

Prayer to start your day

• “Lord, give me opportunities (open doors)
• In relationships, employment, opportunities & spreading your love & good news.
• and make me faithful when I get them”

Praying for Open Doors in Poland—Vera Ivakina

• November 27–30 we are organizing a national training and integration meeting in Katowice for ChSA employees and volunteers. We have invited over 20 students who want to get involved with us for the next year. Please pray for this meeting, for encouragement and God’s real work among us, so that we can work together throughout the coming year, and for the small group in Katowice, that this meeting will be a boost of energy and inspiration for them.
• On Sunday, there will also be a dinner for ChSA graduates. Let us pray that people who were once part of ChSA will be able to attend and be encouraged that their work is continuing, as well as inspired to be active ambassadors.

Please pray for our local groups:

• Warsaw, where Nicole works – for the Russian-speaking and Polish groups, especially for Virsaviy and Adriana, that God would equip them for further service, and for the growth and stability of the group.
• Bydgoszcz, especially for Melody and Karolina, and that there will be no shortage of medical students who will be able to formally support the activities at the university.
• Toruń – the group is currently in a dificult situation, seeking individuals willing to actively engage in activities that would relieve Beata, who works locally in Toruń, but also travels and mentors throughout the country, as well as in the IFES mentoring program.
• Białystok - the group started operating last year and is very active. Daniel, who works there, asks for prayers for a person who would help him with his many ideas and projects (he also writes grant proposals for ChSA nationwide and for individual cities).
• Katowice - a grassroots group of girls - at the moment they do not have a place at the university and are a group of believers, so we ask that they have the courage and know how to start reaching out to their non-believing friends and inviting them to meetings.
• Szczecin, Kornelia and Maciek have just had some important events, including a charity campaign at the university, which managed to engage over 20 students as volunteers. They are also preparing for the “Uncover John” meetings for skeptics, which are set to begin in December. They are also praying for Julia and Igor, new students who are very enthusiastic about evangelism.
  Their greatest desire is to be able to serve together full-time, but in order for Maciek to change jobs, he needs to save up enough money to support their family of five – they are praying for the best solution.
• Gdańsk – in the spring, a mission week called “Easter detox for the soul” took place there, involving many students from several churches, and now some of those students will be with us in Katowice. We are praying for a ChSA group to be established there and for it to be able to operate formally at the university (there was a problem with registration last year).
• Wrocław, where several students who were previously involved in other cities are studying, that God would convince their hearts to come out of their “shells” and create a space friendly to introverts.
  ☺ For Vera after her return, that she may be the right person in the right place and to enjoy being in our team ☺
• For our Director, Maciej Białecki who is a bit everywhere, that God would bless his ministry and family.
• For the event ahead of us in December („Impuls” in Warszawa), for expanding contact with churches in Poland and building relationships based on trust and understanding of the mission as the calling of the church.