We concluded our week of prayer with a focus on missions. Pastor Jeff led the evening and opened with a time of worship. People responded in praise and worship in God's presence and from the outset, a very real sense of the moving of the Spirit was evident in the chapel.

From our time of worship, we moved into a time of prayer in small groups for the local ministries that PORTICO supports. There was a great sense of urgency as prayer from all over the room began to rise to heaven for ministries like Mississauga Life Centre, Cornerstone Church, STM Network and The Dam Youth Centre.

After this small group prayer, we had many lead out in prayer for specific missionaries that PORTICO supports around the world. Jim Craig led in a powerful prayer for Ilya and Janet Bantseev and their ministry in Novokuznetsk, Siberia.  Martin Reid prayed for Charles and Conny in Thailand. A few different people led in prayer for Ken Birch and his work with African missionaries but also specifically for healing in his body. Many others led out as well for the missionaries and ministries that were on their hearts.

One of our elders, Enn Martin, then led us all in prayer for the three Short-Term Missions teams that will go out from PORTICO this summer to Northern Ontario, Peru South America, and Zimbabwe Africa.

The evening ended with another worship song and a challenge from Colossians 1:5-7a:

"...the faith and love that spring from the hope that is stored up for you in heaven and that you have already heard about in the word of truth, the gospel that has come to you. All over the world this gospel is bearing fruit and growing, just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and understood God's grace in all its truth. You learned it from Epaphras, our dear fellow servant..."

Pastor Jeff noted how Paul reminded the Colossians that the gospel had come to them and was now bearing fruit and growing all over the world...but someone, Epaphras had brought it to them. It was a reminder to all of us that someone shared the gospel with us, and we need to pray for those who are faithfully bringing the gospel to so many others around the world so that God's kingdom can continue to grow and bear fruit.

Pastor Jeff closed the meeting in prayer and urged everyone to continue to pray for our missionaries and supported ministries as a part of their daily prayer times.