neighbors & Nations prayer guide – spring 2025

Neighbors & Nations is April 12-20 with an emphasis on the Go pursuit Serve the Vulnerable. We Serve the Vulnerable to proclaim the gospel and make disciples as we meet basic human needs. The impact of sin is clearly visible in things like injustice, poverty, suffering, sickness, etc. Our need for salvation is all around us. Serving those in need is an open door for gospel proclamation and discipleship. We will consider how we take next steps in advancing the gospel by being challenged to Pray, Give, and Go.

All TCBC members are invited to follow the prayer prompt each of these 8 days to pray for the gospel to be advanced as we serve the vulnerable and for Jesus to be worshiped as we remember His crucifixion and celebrate His resurrection. 

Fasting is a discipline that can often accompany prayer. View this Fasting Guide for tips if you’d like to participate.

Our hope for these 9 days of focused prayer is that we would set our minds on the mission of God and our faithfulness in striving to advance the gospel among our neighbors and to the nations.

Saturday, April 12

Pray for TCBC this week to faithfully proclaim the gospel and call our neighbors and the nations to repentance and faith in Jesus. Pray for our members to make known the love of God by seizing everyday Go Moments and through planned Go: Serve projects in our community.

Sunday, April 13

Pray for those we are serving this week whose soul is at risk. Pray for those who have not experienced the only hope for true restoration by being reconciled to God through the gospel of Jesus. 

Monday, April 14

Pray for those we are serving this week whose community is at risk. Pray for the Lord’s provision of basic human needs such as food, water, clothing, and shelter. 

Tuesday, April 15

Pray for those we are serving this week whose life is at risk. Pray that our society and our church would defend the value of every life and care for the suffering and helpless.

Wednesday, April 16

Pray for local churches to prioritize the advancement of the gospel as the mission of the church and to equip their members to diligently disciple those that come to faith in Jesus.

Thursday, April 17

Pray for the compassion ministries and organizations  in our community as they serve the vulnerable on a daily basis and for their faithfulness in proclaiming the good news of the gospel.

Friday, April 18

Pray in gratitude that God sent Jesus to shed His blood, making atonement for sinners and the remission of sin.

Saturday, April 19

Pray that you will be a faithful ambassador of the gospel where you live, work, play and go.

Sunday, April 20

Pray in worship that Jesus defeated death, sin, hell, and the grave in His victorious resurrection.


neighbors & Nations reading and prayer guide – Fall 2024

Neighbors & Nations is the weeks of November 17 and 24 with an emphasis on the Go pursuit Train Leaders. We will consider how we take next steps in advancing the gospel by being challenged to Pray, Give, and Go.

During Neighbors & Nations, we will read Scriptures that teach through seven principles of training leaders and pray for several partners and members who serve as examples of this pursuit.

Each of these 14 days from 11/17 -11/30, read and meditate on the Bible passage and then follow the prayer prompt. The first 7 days from 11/17-11/24, you can also watch a very short video about one application of that principle and then pray. You can also view the entire YouTube playlist.

Fasting is a discipline that can often accompany prayer. View this Fasting Guide for tips if you’d like to participate.

Our hope for these two weeks of focused prayer is that we would set our minds on the mission of God and our faithfulness in striving to advance the gospel among our neighbors and to the nations.

Sunday, November 17

Leaders need to be trained in order to lead faithfully. 

Read: Hebrews 5:11-6:2
Example: The Tri-Cities Leadership Training Program exists to train leaders by pairing the expertise of a seminary with the practical experience provided in the local church. To date through the LTP, we’ve trained over 70 local church leaders who have served within the Tri-Cities, across the United States, and around the globe.
Prayer:  Pray for the current and future students of the Leadership Training Program. Pray that by grace-fueled effort and pursuit they would continue to grow into faithful, biblically qualified church leaders who model the character of Christ, know the Bible and sound doctrine, teach biblical doctrine while refuting false doctrine, and lead their family and the church to maturity well.

Monday, November 18

Training leaders helps reach the unreached with the gospel.  

Read:  Revelation 7:9-17
Example: TCBC partners with IMB missionaries in South Asia to reach 23 unreached people groups. Our Go Trip teams help them expand their efforts to share the gospel in villages, strengthen existing churches, train leaders, encourage pastors and missionaries, and meet physical needs. 
Prayer:  Pray for wisdom for this IMB team to best utilize the mission teams that come to assist them and for their national partners to boldly persevere despite persecution as they attempt to advance the gospel among their people. Revelation 7 tells us that people from every tribe and tongue will stand before the throne of God and worship. Pray that unreached people groups would be reached with the gospel and for the hearts of the South Asian people to be softened and receptive to Christ.

Tuesday, November 19

Training leaders protects the church from immaturity and heresy.

Read: 2 Peter 2:1-3
Example: Pastor Gene and Gayle Mermilliod recently traveled to visit our IMB partners in Kaabong, Uganda who serve among the Karamojong people. The Karamojong people are immersed in a culture of alcoholism, witchcraft, and sexual immorality, which provide unique obstacles seeking to share the gospel with them. Training leaders in this context helps to plant churches in new villages, assist the young churches in raising up elders, and resource leaders to travel to another part of the country for seminary training.
Prayer:  Pray today for the IMB Team’s resolve to persevere as they serve the Karamojong people. Pray for these young churches and new leaders as they learn and begin to teach God’s Word. Pray that the Lord would send more workers to join this team in this difficult part of the world. Pray that the pastors trained will be well-equipped to deal with the specific strongholds and cultural beliefs that are prevalent among the Karamojong people. Pray that they would be bold to proclaim truth and to call people to respond to the gospel of Christ.

Wednesday, November 20

Training leaders helps the advancement of planting new, healthy churches.  

Read:  Colossians 1:3-14
Example: TCBC is partnering with several other local churches to help plant Hampton Community Church in Hampton, TN in January 2025. Adam and Mckenzie Stine received theological training and ministry coaching through their completion of the Tri-Cities Leadership Training Program in May 2023. We rejoice with new healthy churches starting and serving our area with the good news of the gospel.
Prayer:  Pray for Adam and Mckenzie as they continue to build relationships with the people in Hampton in preparation for planting a new church next year. Pray for their marriage and family and those of their core team. Pray that the Lord would give them favor with people in the Hampton community and that from their first day as a church they would pursue health and growth in Christ.

Thursday, November 21

Training leaders serves the church locally. 

Read: Titus 1:5-11
Example: Local churches are led by qualified leaders. At TCBC, we are led by our elders and are faithfully served by many teams of leaders, including our Go Group leaders. Every Go Group is led by a disciple-maker who is intentionally helping everyone in the group take their next step of growth in Christlikeness, seeking to add, expand, and restore edifying pursuits. 
Prayer: Pray for our elders and the more than 60 Go Group leaders currently serving at TCBC. Pray for their continued growth in maturity and the health of their families and Go Groups. Pray as they lead their groups to replicate, intentionally multiplying groups and helping more and more people take their next step of growth in following Jesus.

Friday, November 22

Training leaders serves the church globally.

Read: Matthew 28:16-20
Example: TCBC Pastor Mike Laughrun also serves as the Director of Global Engagement for Send Network, the North American church planting organization of the Southern Baptist Convention. Send Network partners with the International Mission Board to take trips each year that introduce 100 church planters from all over the country to missionary teams all over the world. The aim of these trips is that every Send Network church plant will begin to actively work to advance the gospel in strategic global locations.   
Prayer:  Pray for Pastor Mike and the Send Network Global Engagement Team as they seek to lead these church planters to develop a heart for the nations

Saturday, November 23

Training leaders equips the next generation to be disciples sent out to work for the glory of God.

Read:  Psalm 127:1-5
Example: Chase and Madelyn Bartlett were discipled, equipped, and sent out by TCBC in May 2024. Chase is serving as the Next Generation Director with our church planting partner Overland Church in Fort Collins, Colorado. TCBC desires to train members to be faithful disciplemakers, help them discern their giftings and callings, and release them to pursue next steps of fruitful ministry to advance the gospel. 
Prayer:  Pray for Chase and Madelyn as they continue to learn to pastor and serve in a new context. Pray for the families of Overland, that they would be faithful to train their kids to know, love, and follow Jesus. Pray that more and more children and teenagers would grow up to be exemplary in their pursuit of following Jesus and would be sent out to serve in various places with the gospel. Like the picture in Psalm 127, they are arrows meant to be shot out for the glory of God. Ask the Lord to do this work in our families!

Sunday, November 24

Leaders need to be trained in order to lead faithfully. 

Read: 2 Timothy 3:1-17
Prayer: As you read the qualities of the false teachers in 2 Timothy 3:1-9, pray against each of them for the church’s leaders. Pray that they would not be lovers of self, proud, arrogant, ungrateful, etc. Pray that our leaders would hold fast to the Word of life even in the midst of persecution. Pray that we would embrace and pursue the teaching, reproof, correction, and training in righteousness of Scripture.

Monday, November 25

Training leaders helps reach the unreached with the gospel.

Read: Romans 10:9-17
Prayer: Pray for the billions of people around the world who are currently unreached with limited or no access to the gospel. Pray that through His church, the Lord would raise up leaders to go and preach to them, and that the proclamation of the Word would lead to their believing in Christ.

Tuesday, November 26

Training leaders protects the church from immaturity and heresy. 

Read: Ephesians 4:11-16

Prayer: Pray for the maturity of leaders in our church and other churches. Pray that they would be faithful to diligently pursue equipping the saints for the work of ministry. Pray for the saints, that we would pursue growing up into maturity as defined by full and complete Christlikeness. Pray that we would be spiritually discerning and would not be susceptible to false teachers who will lead us to be tossed to and fro.

Wednesday, November 27

Training leaders helps the advancement of planting new, healthy churches.

Read: Acts 2:37-47
Prayer: Thank God for the gift of His church. Ask God to raise up leaders to start new churches in areas that need to hear the gospel and to grow as faithful Jesus followers. Ask God to give His church a zeal to grow in Him and a sense of responsibility to help one another grow.

Thursday, November 28

Training leaders serves the church locally. 

Read: Acts 1:1-8
Prayer: Pray for the other healthy, faithful local churches in our area. Pray that our community would be changed with the gospel because of the work of these churches to make Jesus known throughout the Tri-Cities.

Friday, November 29

Training leaders serves the church globally.

Read: Psalm 67
Prayer: Thank the Lord for our mission partners around the globe who are faithfully pursuing training leaders. Thank Him for how this expands our local church’s impact, giving us access to serve and reach people with the gospel who we would otherwise never have access to. Pray that through their work, the nations would come to know God and His works and rejoice in Him.

Saturday, November 30

Training leaders equips the next generation to be disciples sent out to work for the glory of God.

Read: Psalm 78:1-8
Prayer: Gospel missions begins in the home. Pray for parents and families, that they would be resolved to teach and talk with their children about who God is and what He has done. Pray that as a church, the Bible would be our final authority in our families and parenting and that we would treasure Christ above all else.