5/12 Sunday Announcements

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1. *WELCOME TO HOSANNA & HAPPY MOTHER’S APPRECIATION LORD’S DAY! – *If you are a new or returning visitor, please be ushered to the gym after-service to a seat with a welcoming plate sheet, and let our Welcoming Team serve you a meal and a cup of water – free at no cost! Our church lunch is always free for all. **Today being Mother’s appreciation LORD’s Day – or in the Korean calendar “Parents appreciation” – the menu is a surprise, but guaranteed to be a fuller special meal, especially for our mothers and parents! It is our joy to serve you! Stay with us after-service to break bread. Fill-out a yellow newcomer’s contact card so that we can keep in touch. We welcome you into this family in Christ’s love and remain here for you as His body to grow and flourish together!
2. *UPDATES from Bethany Korean Presbyterian Church –
   • *Education Head and Youth Minister Ha Cho, currently in an overstay period in Korea, was unable to secure the visa or interview needed with his new bride and wife, Mrs. Sarah Seong Hyeon Cho, to return together back to Dallas. *As the future of Minister Cho’s return is unknown at this point, let us continue to pray for the Cho’s and the youth ministry. While the youth minister is absent, any further questions about the youth ministry can be directed to Deaconess Kris Lee, director of youth ministry.
   • *Signup is continuing for the 2024 children’s VBS – “SCUBA: Diving into friendship with God”! Parents, register your child online at the link on the homepage of our website (hosannapc.org) or register on paper at the south entrance foyer table, near the Korean chapel. *Let us pray and volunteer (as able) to help all children scuba-dive into friendship with Jesus. Share the registration link to other families and parents with children in need of a church family! Let us help both children and parents come to know Jesus through “SCUBA” VBS!
3. *PRAY FOR NEW STAFF SEARCH PROCESS – All who have received God’s calling for one or multiple staff roles are encouraged to apply for each one. On the homepage of our website is a direct link to information and instructions to apply. Until the staff roles are filled, there is no deadline for applications. Above all, let us keep in prayer this search, for the Lord knows the needs of His church and will supply in His way and time. May the Lord bring His good and faithful choice servants.
4. *THANK YOU FOR COMING TO HOSANNA PRAYER MEETING YESTERDAY! – Praise God for our 2nd all-congregational prayer meeting! Thank you for all those who came to pray to the LORD together. Let us continue to foster cross-generational praying for our families, our mission as Hosanna Church family, and the world! See you at the next one on Saturday, June 15th, 8:30am at Ezra Chapel!
5. *TODAY, KITCHEN MINISTRY – *Special thank you to all the servants who helped prep food yesterday (Deborah Ko; Gloria Gee; Josie Kim) and those serving dishwashing (Ben Park) today. Let us continue to be of help and serve with our Bethany Korean church partners.
6. *TODAY, VBS PRAYER MEETING – The Korean church staff will lead a prayer meeting to pray for the upcoming “Scuba” VBS from 1pm to 2pm at Ezra Chapel. Let us pray for God’s blessing over our 2024 VBS with many children being drawn to dive deep into relationship with Jesus Christ!
7. {**THIS EVENT IS POSTPONED/CANCELLED/RE-SCHEDULED TO ANOTHER DATE**} *THIS FRIDAY (5/17) JOSHUA MEN’S FELLOWSHIP, 6:00pm @ TopGolf (Colony) – Our Hosanna fathers (JOSHUA life group men) will be fellowshipping with some golf this Friday evening. Signup with Elder Joung.
8. *THIS FRIDAY (5/17) AGAPE life group, 6:30pm @ location TBA – We invite all young adults to this Friday’s gathering. RSVP to Deacon Hana or in the group chat. Thank you in advance to all those opening their homes for ministry. Pray for our AGAPE ministry of college, postgraduates, and newlyweds, gathering every Friday evening at 6:30pm at various homes, and our shepherds Deacon Hana Lee and assistant shepherd Jake Jeong, as they guide this precious family.
9. *THIS SATURDAY (5/18) JOSHUA life group, 4:00pm @ Ezra Chapel – We invite all our adults and families to this Saturday’s gathering. Childcare ministry will be provided. Pray for our shepherds Elder Joung Park and assistant shepherd Elder Heather Lee, as they guide this precious family.
10. *NEXT SUNDAY (5/19) SESSION/ELDER BOARD gathering, 1:30pm @ Corner Room – The elder board will gather for their monthly meeting next week for prayer, discernment, and direction to guide Hosanna into God’s future path and ways. Please pray for our elders!
11. *REMINDER TO GET INVOLVED IN W.O.H. AND M.O.H. – women’s & men’s ministries! – On Wednesday evenings, all the Hosanna sisterhood gather to edify each other towards godly womanhood. They are about to finish a season studying 12 extraordinary women of the Bible, and moving towards another study on lies women believe and the truth that sets them free. On Saturday afternoons, 1:00pm at coordinator Jake Jeong’s home, all the Hosanna brotherhood gather around a new season together with the book Knowing God by J.I. Packer. Join, find genuine Christ-community, strengthen your walk with Jesus and each other!
12. *KINGDOM EXPANSION PRAYER – We are moving to pray for a wider vision of God’s Kingdom to expand through the global prayer guide for the persecuted church and persecuted Christians worldwide from The Voice of the Martyrs organization. Today, we are praying for our persecuted Bahrainis brothers and sisters in Christ in west Asia.

 

• Prayer Topic: Persecuted Christians in Bahrain (west Asia)
• Scripture – JOHN 15:19-21

 
**Prayer Topic: Persecuted Christians in Bahrain (west Asia)
     This small island nation is located in one of the world’s chief oil-producing regions, but it has relatively small petroleum resources. Therefore, its economy has long relied on processing crude oil from neighboring countries. Bahrain has experienced significant religious, political and economic tension, resulting mainly from the Sunni-Shiite division among its Muslim populace and its involvement in the global economy. This unrest, coupled with the faithful witness of indigenous Arab and immigrant Christian workers, has led to a season of openness and some response to the gospel among those indigenous to Bahrain.
     Less than 1 percent of native Bahrainis are Christians; nearly all are Muslims. However, Christians among Bahrain’s expatriate workers make up 8 percent of the population. Families and local communities are the main persecutors, but the government occasionally imprisons or harasses a new Christian. Christian converts from Islam often lose their jobs and social status, and many are rejected by their families. However, some still gather to worship in secret. Bahrainis have limited access to the Bible through the internet and churches.
 
*The Scripture for today is:
 
If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. But all these things they will do to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me. (JOHN 15:19-21)
 
Prayer by Pastor Chester:
Our Father, we lift up to You our Bahrainis brothers and sisters in our Lord Jesus Christ in west Asia. Even in the midst of imprisonment and harassment, keep Your followers faithful to You by the great love and mercy and joy in Christ alone. Thank You for the faithful witness of the indigenous Arab and immigrant Christian workers of Bahrain. May the seeds of the gospel they spread keep growing, and guard them from discouragement and danger in the face of little spiritual fruit and growing opposition. We pray that the false ways of other gods among the Bahrainis people will be broken in the powerful name of Your one and only eternal Son our Lord Jesus! We pray that family members who relentlessly persecute Christian converts will find their surrender and repentance in the kindness and compassion of Jesus. We pray for the secret gatherings of your church in houses and villages and locked rooms will experience deep Christ-centered fellowship and growing teaching of Your gospel, so that it may continue to spread. We pray for Ghaleb who placed his trust in You through the Voice of the Martyrs ministry – that his family’s excommunication and workplace harassment due to his Christian faith will not shake him, but strengthen him all the more to walk with his Lord. We pray for those hiding from family members seeking to harm them due to their newfound life in Christ – protect them. We especially pray for the children of Bahrain, the homeless and vulnerable youth – Lord, have mercy and protect them from the evil one. Fill us with a greater burden to pray for Bahrain as Your house of prayer for all nations. Let us not take for granted Your grace and freedom in gathering to worship You today. Lord, we long for the same in this distant land. In the risen Lord and Savior of the Bahrainis people, Jesus Christ’s name we pray, Amen.