Pastor's 2018 Challenge

I'm putting out this challenge to our congregation and to all who want to consider this for themselves.  Taking the year 2018 as an inspiration, I am looking for 18 people who are saved and have a burden to reach others for Jesus Christ.  That "reaching" could certainly involve active witnessing to the lost and seeking to win them to Christ.  Others who are "reaching" may not feel they're ready to do the actual witnessing and praying with someone, but they will pray nonetheless that God would bring these people to Christ. 

I'm challenging these 18 (or more, hopefully!) to write down 18 names of individuals they really feel burdened for to pray for them to be saved.  They either know the individuals personally or they are aware of these people and their need to know Christ. 

Them, I'm challenging these 18 people to take a simple 18 minutes a day, EVERY DAY, for the entire 365 days of 2018, and pray for these 18 to be saved!  That's taking a minute per person and lifting them up before the Lord every single day all through this coming year.  Oh yes, certainly more time can be taken to pray!  But I want to ask that a concerted effort be made to pray at least a minute a day per person for these people to have the privilege to come to know Christ as their personal Savior and Lord. 

Think about this:  The Lord told His disciples to "...lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest!"  John 4:35.  He also challenged His disciples to "...pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest."  Matthew 9:38.  Paul tells Timothy in 1 Timothy 2:4, that "[God] desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth."  And Peter says, "The Lord...is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance."  2 Peter 3:9.  Now, with these Biblical statements can you see that God would be especially pleased to have even 18 people take 18 minutes a day and pray for 18 people to be saved in 2018?!  And think about this:  If 18 people prayed for 18 different people -- that's 324 people being prayed for! 

Now, I'm not being facetious about this!  If I can see 18 people do this - Praise the Lord!  (Between you and me, I'm hoping that far more people will accept this challenge!)

Here's another thought:  Can you imagine 18 people in heaven years from now who came to know Christ because you spent 18 minutes a day during 2018 to pray for their salvation?  Can that happen?!  Why not?!!

My email address is:  pseckardt@netzero.net.  If you're up for this challenge, let me know.  I'm not one to be on Facebook.  I'm not one to be constantly in contact with others.  I'm constantly in contact with the Lord.  I'll ask Him to speak to you when I don't feel I have time to do so.  But I'll pray for you as I pray for my 18 people.  You'll be an answer to my "Matthew 9:38" praying!