Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should. Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.
Colossians 4:2-6

This text has provided us a GPS reference frequency as we navigate the various and sundry challenges facing us as we discover clear and fresh articulation around engaging pastoral care and discipleship in the area of human sexuality. We see much of what we are reaching for reflected in this passage. Our current cultural reality demands that we are clear about who and what we are as followers of Jesus. The mine field of creating a posture of a "bait and switch" in our approach to evangelism and building community is very real. We acutely feel the need for wisdom. Engaging in dialogue and discourse certainly is requiring a tact that is saturated in grace especially in the swirl of social media, sound bites and easily manipulated communication streams.

But it is the first of these citations mentioned here, the devotion to prayer, that is front and centre for us at this time. It is the source. Devoted to prayer. Watchful. Thankful. Vigilant and full of intention. Another text jumps to mind, "the fervent prayer of the just has great impact."

Walter Wink, theologian and activist, stated that "history belongs to the intercessors."
So here we come Lord. Knocking. Leaning. Believing.
We know that our brother is not our enemy. Our sister is not our adversary. It is not flesh and blood we battle. Wisdom from above comes to those who ask, unfettered by fear and doubt. Trusting in the everlasting arms, resting in this place of prayer. Boldly approaching the throne of grace in our time of need.

Beginning in December we will be more strategically rallying Vineyard Canada to synchronized rhythms and themes of prayer. Leading into the culmination of our communal discernment process in January we will be calling the community into a 21 day fast. Be watching for upcoming details, but let's not wait until we get this material to you to engage.

David and Anita Ruis