Serving Our Churches Through Prayer
One of the greatest blessings of ministering in the EFCA is that we aren’t alone. Our churches are part of an association that shares a deep bond through a central belief and mission. We major on the majors, minor on the minors, defend our faith (where stands it written?), we strive to fulfill the gospel by multiplying healthy churches…and we do that together.
The more together we are, the more effective we are in those things.
With a new year ahead of us and each church considering the opportunities God has in store for them, your EFCA East board wants to serve you in 2026 by regularly bringing your churches before the Lord in prayer. We are confident that God will do amazing things through your service, and we are happy to support you by praying for the things that God has put on each of our hearts for this year.
Guy Kneebone: My prayer is that our churches will equip and empower the next generation of leaders to reach our world for Christ.
Tony Hunt: For God to help each of us be faithful to the Lord in remaining tender in heart to Him and faithful in stewarding well our role in shepherding God’s sheep.
Stephen Na: In the new year, my prayer is that our EFCA East churches will stay faithful to the calling of making disciples of Jesus. I’m asking God to raise up new pastors and church planters from within our congregations, so that together our movement would continue to be a source of blessing and renewal in our communities.
Tony Balsamo: My prayer is that our congregations would grow in their love and passion for our Savior, that they would walk in unity, love and shared mission with one another and out of a sincere love for the lost, bring the Gospel to their community!
John Nesbitt: That our churches will grow closer in 2026 by finding ways to partner to accomplish kingdom work that is greater than we could do as one church.
Matt Saxinger: That God would raise up a future generation of pastors from within our congregations. That they carry on this movement beyond us.
Paulo Freire: That our churches would cultivate a deepening desire to meditate on and understand God’s word and live out the teachings as the habit of life.
Kirk Belmont: That we as churches have an increased desire to multiply and that God would send out of us more workers into his harvest field.
Peter Hunter: My prayer is that the Lord watches over us as we continue to spread the gospel. May no weapon formed against us prosper. As we share His word, may our hearts be softened to receive, our ears opened to hear, and our eyes made clear to see as we minister in truth and love.
Marc Woodard: That God would grant each church the wisdom to see His vision clearly and, as a result, be obedient enough to ‘walk in straight lines’ versus wandering (in the desert).
Cedrick Brown: My prayer is that we may remain devoted to prayer, so that God would open up doors for the gospel, and when He does, we would speak clearly and confidently the good news of Jesus Christ.
It’s our joy to serve you each in this and many other ways. If there’s ever a need to connect for a specific prayer request, please don’t hesitate to reach out to anyone on the board
Matt Saxinger has served in the EFCA since 2005. He currently is the Lead Pastor at Susquehanna Valley Church in Harrisburg, PA. He has a heart for the gospel and seeing the next generation rise up in leadership.