Prayer
"Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. And pray for us, too." — Colossians 4:2-3 (NIV)
At Union Gospel Mission, we believe that prayer is essential to the vitality and mission of our organization. We firmly trust that prayer changes things in our world and it is our desire to foster a network of people devoted to praying for the transformation of our community, the health of our staff, and the effectiveness of our work. Whether you’re a donor, a friend of UGM, or looking to partner with us in a tangible way, you can walk alongside those struggling with poverty, homelessness and addiction, as well as those serving in UGM ministries by participating in prayer. We trust that the following guides and areas of focus will inspire, encourage, and unite us together in our collective prayer, “on earth as it is in heaven."
Partner with us in Prayer
Each month, we will be featuring a specific ministry from UGM to lift in prayer, including a focus highlighting that ministry as well as prayer points, scripture and a written, accompanying prayer.
If you have any specific words of encouragement to share in response, please send us an email at churchrelations@ugm.ca. We would love to hear from you.
May 2023
“What matters is not your outer appearance — the styling of your hair, the jewelry you wear, the cut of your clothes — but your inner disposition. Cultivate inner beauty, the gentle, gracious kind that God delights in.” — 1 Peter 3:3-4 (MSG)
Prayer Focus
Located near Mission, BC, Lydia Home is UGM’s 3–12-month live-in recovery program for women in the Fraser Valley. Here, women can receive trauma-informed counselling, develop new habits, and be challenged to transform their ways of thinking to experience healing from past trauma.
This is an intimate addiction recovery journey that surrounds those at Lydia Home with compassionate, like-minded women that help make participants feel comfortable and at ease.
It is a place where women can pursue a life free from addiction and full of joy, belonging, and God’s unconditional forgiveness and love.
Prayer Points
1. The team at Lydia Home are praying for a full-time recovery worker as well as a few on-call workers to join the team. They would greatly appreciate prayers for God to send the right people their way.
2. Continued future growth and prosperity in UGM’s endeavors in the Fraser Valley.
Prayer
Lord, we thank you for walking with us and illuminating our path even when we don’t know exactly where to go next. Our strength lies with you alone. We humbly ask that you lead the team at Lydia Home in guidance, direction, clarity, and wisdom into your truth. We pray that you would be raising up experienced and godly leaders in the Fraser Valley that will apply to work at Lydia Home and greatly benefit the community there.
We pray that you would be the lamp unto the feet of those working at UGM, for we know that it is only by your providence that we are able to have clarity in our situations.
For the love of others and in the name of Jesus Christ we pray.
Amen
Prayer Requests from Lydia Home Program Participants
- Sally – Ex-husband has recently relapsed back into addiction after quite a few months of sobriety. She is requesting prayers for divine intervention from the Holy Spirit to visit him and bring him back to Jesus
- Danica – Struggling with her health and is asking for healing of her physical body and restoration of her confidence
- Gabrielle – New to Lydia Home and is praying for victory over past trauma and is requesting prayers for healing of generational curses. She is also asking for protection and guidance for her son
- Christina – Going through a difficult divorce and is praying for protection for her and her son
- Charlotte – Struggling with poor vision and has trouble securing the funds for glasses. Praying for the funds to secure glasses
*names have been changed to protect confidentiality
April 2023
“Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary; they will walk and not faint.” — Isaiah 40:28-31
Prayer Focus
UGM’s New Westminster Resource Center is an extension of our ministry around Metro Vancouver. Providing services like life-skills workshops, meal programs, tax assistance, the Alpha course and more, UGM New West works to provide connection to life-changing resources to the local community.
Lately, the team has been dealing with several changes in various areas of operation and outreach. In this area, they would appreciate prayers for clarity during these transitions as well as wisdom in determining the vision for the Resource Center in this next season.
Prayer Points
1. That the New West team would find God’s strength and wisdom to deal with ongoing needs and demands of their work
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2. God’s leading amid transitions and vision going into this next season of ministry
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3. For the general health needs of the staff so that they would be able to sustain effective outreach to the community
Prayer
Gracious God, the only source of life, health and strength. We pray that you would help the team at Union Gospel Mission New Westminster. Be with them, comfort them and relieve them from any unhealthy burdens. Give your power of healing to those who minister to the needs of others, that our weakness may be turned into strength and confidence in your loving care.
For the love of others and in the name of Jesus Christ we pray.
Amen
Prayer Requests from UGM Recovery Program Participants
- Andrew – dealing with anxiety related to keeping his housing while in treatment
- Evan – high anxiety and knee pain (trying to participate in running program)
- Damian – searching for housing post program – needs a place by mid-April
- Christopher – commencing medications for bi-polar condition – often suicidal
- Micah – concern about his breathing due to COPD. He is trying to participate in the running program but is struggling
*names have been changed to protect confidentiality