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Praise & Prayer Weekly Update - 10/7/2025

Prayer at MBC

It is our desire to be available to support you every day of the week, not just Sunday mornings. If you are in need of prayer or would like to share a praise, please fill out the email request below.

Submit Prayer Requests Here

“I call on you, O God, for you will answer me; give ear to me and hear my prayer.” ~Psalm 17:6​

Praise God:  

  • Praise God for the released Israeli hostages. Play for continued peace in the Middle East. 
  • Praise God for keeping James Rickershauser rested and invigorated to complete the Chicago Marathon. 
  • Praise God Andrew Strain had to have minor surgery on Sunday. His new liver is doing fine, and numbers are heading back to acceptable levels.

For our MBC Family & Friends, please pray for:

  • Pray for Shirley Kraus as she recovers from double bypass surgery. Surgeon said everything went well. 
  • Please pray for Jennifer Lin. She needs protection for her bones and joints from the effects of multiple steroid treatments, and that the treatment will be effective this time. She is also scheduled to have foot surgery on 10/23.
  • Marilyn Flood had an MRI showing inflammation in L2 and she had severe pain in her groin. She will be getting an epidural on Monday. Please pray that it will be effective so that she can stand and walk without severe pain. She is very appreciative of everyone’s prayers. 
  • Don Youtkus recently underwent a second eye surgery to repair a torn retina. Because the retina was too thin for the planned procedure, doctors placed an oil bubble in his eye to aid healing. His recovery requires him to remain face down and stationary for an extended period. Please keep Don in your prayers as he heals. 
  • Danny Orben requests continued prayer for intrusive thoughts.
  • Pray for Michelle Bachman, as she had her first surgery this past Tuesday and was told that she will need at least two more. Dates to be determined.  She will be seeing the surgeon on October 23rd and will make decisions then; she is home resting because she’s exhausted.  
  • Pray for Stan Zugay who is staying in Rahway hospital. He had a fall and is getting better from that and an infection. They believe he will need in-home care when it comes time to get home. This is quite an adjustment. 
  • Pray for Susan LaSelva’s continued recovery and healing.  Praise God she has experienced some pain relief since her recent spinal surgery.
  • Priscilla Jangen asks for prayer for Daniel (20) and Olivia (18) that they will come close to God, used by God, get baptized and excel in school and get into good graduate schools. Pray also for her ministry “Zion Prayer Calls”.
  • Praise for Charlie Latora’s test results: two the lymph nodes were tested and both were benign. Continue to pray for Charlie to stop smoking.    
  • Bianca Burke’s bible study at Fairleigh Dickinson University for leadership situation and restrictions from college administration. They are averaging 50 students at their weekly (Tuesday night) bible study. Pray that God helps them stand firm in the Gospel and that God would use their response to current events to draw unbelievers to the Savior and not away from Him. Pray also for them to effectively disciple new/young believers.  
  • Connie Wilken request prayer for her daughter, she is battling mental illness and needs a revelation of Jesus Christ.    
  • Bill and Marian Miller were in a car accident (rear ended and totaled car) which left Marian with whiplash & concussion. Please pray for her complete recovery.      
  • Joy Skubic requests prayer for her to sell her condo and find an affordable place to move.   
  • Adrianne DeCarolis requests prayer for her foster son Sal to get a room to live in or a place to live with Christians.   
  • Pray for Bruce Hyldahl for his ongoing cancer treatment.    
  • Pray for Carole Hyldahl who is struggling with health issues.   
  • Julianne Lavornia is asking for prayer as she moves forward in finding other doctors and treatment options.    
  • Amy Acker would like prayer concerning an ongoing legal situation she has with a dangerous ex-client. Amy is praying for a long-term strategy for her safety.  The sentencing for her stalker has been rescheduled for October 24th. Her stalker will remain in jail until my sentencing, so this gives her an additional 3 weeks that he will be behind bars. Please pray for this extremely complicated situation. Amy also asked for prayer for her family.  That the restraining order the court grants her includes her family without specifically naming their names. 
  • Please continue to pray for our expectant mother’s, Lindsey Yarrington Williams who is due in October, and Caroline Pisano, Kim and John McCarthy’s daughter, who is due in January. Madi and Luke Prothero, Ruth Prothero’s son and daughter-in-law, due in late January. 

Our Church:

  • Please pray for Pastor Bob as he continues the new series on Isaiah 25:1-12 and preaches this Sunday 10/19/2025. 
  • Pray for our Membership Class that has begun a new session. Pray for good participation, attendance, and clear direction for those who are considering the decision to become members. 
  • Please pray for great weather and turn out for our MBC Kids Trunk Or Treat this Saturday, October 18, 2025. 

Our nation & those in authority.

1 Timothy 2: 1-2 First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, 2 for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.

  • Please pray for those in authority in our country. 
  • Pray for our nation that there will be no more political violence. 
  • As we mark the anniversary of the tragic day of October 7th we continue to pray for peace between Israel and Gaza.

Our Extended Family & Friends: 

  • Amy Acker’s mother, Ellen, shoulder replacement surgery was on Thursday. Ellen was in a lot of pain the first 1-2 days, but her pain is now well managed and she is recovering well. 

  • Please pray for Debra Witte’s infant grandson, Xander, as he works with doctors at CHOP to address several medical issues. 

  • Lenore Tosi’s cousin Nancy suffered a stroke a few months ago, and her speech remains significantly delayed, which has been discouraging for her. Please pray that Nancy finds encouragement in small blessings and continues to heal. 
  • Please lift up former MBC member Jack Davis as he waits for test results on a lung biopsy.  
  • Marcel Neves asks God for continued guidance as they move to New Jersey looking for a new church and starting new relationship.   
  • Please pray for one of our attendee’s daughters, who is facing significant challenges in her marriage. She and her spouse are currently considering divorce. Your prayers for wisdom, healing, and peace.   
  • Please keep one of our attendees in prayer as this is a critical week for their business. They are currently looking for a buyer to take over my business so I can be more present with my family. I’ll be finding out on Tuesday whether a potential buyer will be moving forward.   
  • One of our attendees is requesting prayer for her husband. Praying for strengthening of faith and fellowship with other men as he deals with loneliness.   
  • Lucas Closs is asking for prayer to find right discipleship, friends who have a similar heart for Jesus, and for his relationship with God to grow. He is excited to get involved with Young Adult ministries.   
  • Praise God Bill Miller’s sister, Ellen, is able to walk with walker & for now is staying with a friend who’s a nurse. Please pray for continued strength & healing.   
  • Marian and Bill Miller request prayer for their son in law, Henry and his wife Kim for salvation.   

 

Missionary Partner for the week:  City Relief

We are excited to share that City Relief is launching a new outreach in Newark, NJ, bringing hope, compassion, and practical support to those experiencing homelessness and poverty in the city.

Please join us in praying for this launch—that God would open doors, prepare hearts, and provide protection and provision for the team as they serve. Pray for meaningful connections, transformed lives, and lasting impact in the Newark community.

We also want to thank City Relief and all their supporters for their generosity, dedication, and heart for the marginalized. Your giving makes this work possible, and we are deeply grateful.

If you feel led, we encourage you to get involved—whether through volunteering, giving, or simply spreading the word. Together, we can be the hands and feet of Jesus in Newark.

Persecuted Church: West Bank Christians Threatened

Radical Muslims in the West Bank have threatened to kill a Christian convert from Islam and his family, including his four children. After receiving the death threats, the man and his family fled from Bethlehem to hide in a larger city. They request prayer that Israeli authorities will allow them to stay. Another West Bank convert to Christianity was confronted by his parents and his village imam with an ultimatum: Return to Islam within a month or be imprisoned by local Palestinian officials. “When a Palestinian Muslim embraces Christ, it leads not only to a change in their religious beliefs, but their community also perceives that he or she has betrayed their own people,” a front-line worker explained. “No one wants to be related to a traitor, so the pressure from family members on new Christian converts is often intense and violent.” The worker requested prayer for both converts.

Would you like your prayer request to remain active longer?

Prayer requests will remain active for two weeks. If you would like your request to continue please update by contacting us here or via a connection card on Sunday. All long-term prayer requests (chronic illnesses) will remain active for one month. If you would like your request to continue, please update by contacting us here or via a connection card on Sunday.

 

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