Third Watch Ministries, NFP Bob & Ellen Bollow
P.O. Box 1283 December 13, 2017
Wheaton, IL 60187-1283
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Hey Merry Christmas! I hope you felt the blessing of the Lord so far this holiday season. School finished up for the semester for us and we are still decorating a bit for the upcoming Christmas party for the students. I’ve been sick, and a relapse slowed the works down a bit.
The world is full of a lot of turmoil and yet we have peace because we know God’s promises and that He is in control. The greatest blessing, of course, is the forgiveness of our sins. Psalms 32:1 “How blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, Whose sin is covered! How blessed is the man to whom the LORD does not impute iniquity, And in whose spirit there is no deceit!” It has been a great semester to preach the greatest promise ever given to mankind.
We have so much to be grateful for. So I often, when praying for all the students who come to Christ each night (from this year and the last), will pray for an attitude of thanksgiving to be in them. There are so many to pray for each night, and I cannot often know more than their first and foremost need – to be strengthened in their lives in Christ. So I often pray the prayers of Paul, or pieces of them, as I mention each name. There are so many good words Paul has prayed for others (God’s words to us now) that it really helps in knowing what to pray. In 1Thessalonians 1:2 (and other places) Paul talks about making mention of them in his prayers. One might easily assume Paul had a long prayer list and so he mentions many people to God. I was talking with a friend (I was helping do some painting) and I said I was praying for him and his family. I also said I thought that churches should pair people up to pray for one another and preach more about being steadfast in our prayers. I said I thought it was possible there were people in the Church for whom no prayers were being said at all. Many churches these days are so big that there is no realistic possibility your pastor could be praying for you regularly, unless you personally know him pretty well. But if a church would even randomly pair people up, all could be prayed for each day. This could be done without even sharing their needs but only a first name (anonymous other than this) and the suggestion that people pray one of the prayers of Paul for them each night, or even the short wish from 3John 2 “Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers.”
Here some of the passages I pray for the peeps each night:
Colossians 4:2, Ephesians 1:15-19, Romans 15:13, Ephesians 3:14-19, 2 Corinthians 12:7,1 Thessalonians 3:11-13, 2 Corinthians 13:7 2, 2 Corinthians 13:9, Phil. 1:9-11 Colossians 1:9-10, 1 Thessalonians 3:12-13, 1 Thessalonians 5:23, 2 Thessalonians 1:11, 1 Timothy 2:1
We know that so many people are praying for the work of Evangelism and Discipleship that we are doing on campus. Each night Ellen and I, in the time we pray together, pray for many of these we know who are praying for us by name. And we also pray for God to bless in return all those who are praying for us and the Ministry. We know these prayers for the work are why so many have trusted Christ after talking with me as I go around campus. This semester, 87 people have prayed with me to receive Christ (157 since January). Two were off campus (Joe and Mikaela) and one (Larry) prayed later and let me know. Here are their names listed and an * means they said they would pray later and do not know if they did so.
Dante, Alex, Xavier, Josh, Samantha, Kayla, Korin, Maria*, Ruben, Nicole, Emrah, Aristaia, Lisa, Phillip, Alex, Brigitte, Razy, Oni, Thomas, Daisy, Caitlin, Joe, Mason, Tom, Jimmy, Luis , Felix, Dan, Jordan, Abby, David, Katie, Stephanie*, Remy, Issac, Tae, Zay, Shannon, Kyle, Jocellyn, Jay, Michelle, Brian, Taylor, Samantha, Jasmine, Zac, Jared*, Walter, Jenee, Annalisa, Nick, Mark, Celine, Peter, Deionte, Zach, Miracle, DeAnte, Kaylin, Chris, Juan, Imani, Honey, Sherin, Mike, Axel, Khardajah, Jenna, Olivia, Conner, Cole*, Alexus, Destini, Richard, Sal, David, Liam, Hira, Mikaela, Frank, Mathew, Tom, Andrew, Larry, Cole, Alexis, Jennifer, Marcus, Christina and Joseph
We are so grateful for your partnership in ministry with us. We could not do it without you and truly need your continued help. If you are still contemplating giving at the end of the year, we would be grateful if you would prayerfully consider Third Watch.
Thanks again. We love ya.
Bob & Ellen
bob.thirdwatch@sbcglobal.net
www.thethirdwatch.org
Wishing you a Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year!