Pastor Joynt's Devotionals

Your Church, God's World - Day 35

MARK 12:28-31 | One of the scribes came near and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, he asked him, “Which commandment is the first of all?” Jesus answered, “The first is, ‘Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one; you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ The second is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”

Charity begins at home! The command to love neighbors is partly about nearness. It is wonderful to help in Malawi, one of the world’s poorest countries, where our dollars and efforts have such a gigantic impact. But what about our own community? Our help for local schools and food ministries is ongoing, and 2019 will see the official launch of MentorKids in South Scottsdale. Our resources will support Johnny Martinez as he initiates programs that will serve children and youth in the Paiute neighborhood.

This coming year, Family Promise plans to acquire new transitional housing and office space, allowing them to double the number of families they can help move from homelessness to housing. VPC support is the key element in this expansion.

Pray that tutoring, mentoring, leadership, and discipleship efforts will change the trajectory of many lives in Paiute.

Pray for Dick Lockwood and the MentorKids board and Aaron Parrot.

Pray for Ted Taylor and the Family Promise board.

Your Church, God's World - Day 34

Colossians 1:3-6 | In our prayers for you we always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, for we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints, because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. You have heard of this hope before in the word of the truth, the gospel that has come to you. Just as it is bearing fruit and growing in the whole world, so it has been bearing fruit among yourselves from the day you heard it and truly comprehended the grace of God.

It is exciting to think of the reach of global Christianity—but even more exciting to see how our local church can be part of it. Our direct investment in Malawi will create a secondary school in Sakata, in an area that where children have never had access to education. The land sale went through a few weeks ago! Our work there through Villages in Partnership and in Lilongwe through Ministry of Hope will continue. Orphans will be fed and educated and encouraged in their faith. Wells will open and agricultural development will extend the growing season. Medical care will be offered through visiting teams. Micro-loans will jumpstart business, and sanitation will improve.

The great material and economic struggle among our Malawian friends will shift in important ways, and God’s hope will spread.

Pray for PV and Scottsdale for Africa Day in February and for our mission partners.