It Pays to Pray (Sometimes Literally!)

Published: Sun, 09/01/24

Updated: Thu, 09/05/24

This Week in DJJ

Hey , it's Mark. I wanted to begin by expressing my heartfelt thanks for your prayers for Carolyn's recovery during our special 45th Wedding Anniversary month. Your love and support have been a blessing, and we're deeply grateful. I have some inspiring stories and upcoming events to share so let's dive into the second edition of This Week In DJJ:

Join: Prayer Meetups this Wednesday & Thursday
Register: Free Partnership Training Next Week
Pray: September 2024's Prayer Calendar
View: Nangobi Jamirah's Testimony
Read: It Pays to Pray (Sometimes Literally!)

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Meet Up This Week

DJJ's Prayer Meetups are this week! These are a monthly opportunity to pray together for DJJ Ministry’s impact, growth, partners, and team. Folks from around the world come together to pray, whether they're new around here or have been praying with DJJ since it launched in 2016. All are welcome to join DJJ's Prayer Meetup this month (and every month).

Click the links below to view the start times in your time zone. When it's almost start time, click the "Join Now" button below to join via ZOOM a few minutes early.

Wednesday, Sep 4: View start & end times

Thursday, Sep 5: View start & end times

Join Now

Meeting ID: 879 8980 6238

Passcode: 223752

Register for Next Week

Unlock your potential as a disciple-maker!

Do you want to effectively share the Gospel and make disciples, but don't know where to start? At Discipleship Journeys with Jesus (DJJ), we believe that being a Jesus-follower means more than just being a disciple—it means making disciples. That's why we're excited to announce a LIVE Partnership Training, taking place NEXT WEEK, where experienced trainers will share valuable insights and provide the tools needed to fulfill your spiritual calling.

Enjoy three days of inspiration and equipping!

This free online training is designed for BOTH seasoned Christian leaders and those just starting out. During the training, we'll explore:

The true meaning of the Great Commission
Jesus' "Process of Discipleship"
How to utilize our "Journeys with Jesus" Bible study lessons
Discipleship landmines and how to avoid them
How to become an Ambassador with Discipleship Journeys with Jesus

Discover the keys to effective discipleship!

Throughout this training, there will be a diverse range of trainers, including:

Dr. Mark Williams, DJJ Founder and President
Dr. Jim Carpenter, DJJ Partnership Director
Godfrey Kakembo, DJJ Regional Coordinator for Uganda
Katende James, DJJ Ambassador in Uganda
Bishop Hudson Bande, DJJ Ambassador in Kenya
Bishop Kennedy Karanja, Church on the Rock, Kenya

Secure Your Spot: Register Now!

Registration is required and can be completed online. A confirmation email with the ZOOM link will be sent upon registration. This event will be an inspiring and informative experience, equipping attendees to make a lasting impact in their local church, community, and beyond. Invite your friends, family, life group, and church to register for this unique opportunity!

Date: Tuesday-Thursday, September 10-12, 2024

Time: Check your local start & end times by clicking HERE.

Duration: 3 hours of training per day

Prayer Calendar

Click below to view the September 2024 Monthly Prayer Calendar. Everyone is invited to lift up these daily requests as the DJJ team seeks God's guidance and blessing on the ministry's growing impact worldwide.

View Calendar

Testimony of the Month

Meet Nangobi Jamirah, a young woman in Uganda, whose walk with Christ has been transformed by Discipleship Journeys with Jesus, inspiring her to share the good news and fulfill the Great Commission in her community:

"As I have had the opportunity to study the DJJ Journeys, I learned that when I am stuck, I always need a mentor to mentor me spiritually. For example, in “Landmines” in lesson 6, I learned that these discipleship landmines can destroy my discipleship opportunities if not overcome. I must make sure I am always with Jesus so that I can fulfill Jesus' command to make disciples.

Journey 4, Jesus' Journey to a Mountain (Mentoring), was the most challenging for me, but I eventually got a green light. I have learned that selfish study is not a biblical approach. We should balance our time with friends to make sure we can make more disciples and help fulfill the Great Commission. Every chance I get, I should preach the good news."

— Nangobi Jamirah, Disciple in Uganda

Read More Stories

AI-generated watercolor of Carolyn and I eating breakfast near the San Clemente Pier.

It Pays to Pray

(Sometimes Literally!)

Years ago, my wife Carolyn and I had a surprising experience. We were celebrating our anniversary with a romantic getaway to San Clemente, California, where we spent a lovely evening strolling along the pier. The next morning, we enjoyed breakfast at a charming outdoor café with sidewalk seating, overlooking the ocean. As we sat together, we took a moment to say our usual prayer of thanksgiving for God's provision.

That particular day, we also started quietly singing a few old familiar hymns, such as "Great is Thy Faithfulness" and "Amazing Grace." Nobody said anything, and I figured that if anyone noticed, they probably thought we were just a couple of eccentric beachgoers.

We thoroughly enjoyed our sidewalk breakfast.

Then, when it was time to leave, the waitress said with a smile, "You don't owe anything today. The people at the table beside you paid your bill!" We were dumbfounded. We hadn't paid much attention to the people around us. When we asked who they were, the waitress pointed to a younger couple walking away, already halfway down the street.

Wow. It pays to pause to pray.

On many occasions, we've been in restaurants and admired people at other tables bowing their heads to pray. It's always an encouragement to our faith to see others publicly practicing theirs. What does it do when we pause to pray before we eat, even in public places? Here are my thoughts:

It honors Jesus' practice of praying before partaking.
It cultivates gratitude in our hearts and perhaps in others.
It helps us maintain consistency between our private and public lives.
It's a small witness to our faith when we pray in Jesus' name.

That's my take on the subject. Can anybody say "amen?"

For more resources to help you grow in your walk with Christ, visit my blog: markalanwilliams.net

If you're reading this...

I want to express my heartfelt gratitude for your time and attention as this newsletter comes to a close. Would you consider supporting the vision to take 100 million people on discipleship journeys with Jesus? Your generosity provides resources in 20+ languages, free of charge, to believers worldwide. Every gift, no matter the size, equips people to live obedient, mature, and God-honoring lives. Thank you for your partnership!

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