Welcome to the October 2026 Prayer Vigil!
Throughout
the centuries scholars have been arguing for and against the existence of the
God of the Bible, the God who created man and the universe, the God of Abraham,
Isaac and Jacob. The Christian Bible presents God’s existence as a given fact
from the beginning -
“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth….”
The rest of the Scriptures show how God revealed himself through the history of
people and events which serve as witness of his existence. Ultimately,
we are called to seek him and believe in him
through faith.
“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” (Heb. 11:6)
And our faith is based partly on what can be seen in the design and working of the physical world -
“….since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.” (Rom. 1: 19-20)
“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge.” (Ps. 19: 1-2)
And finally God is revealed to us by his only son, Jesus Christ, whom God sent to save the world from sin -
“In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe. The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.” (Heb. 1: 1-3)
“Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?” (John 14: 9)
And by how all things on earth and in the heavens are sustained and held together by him in the most remarkable way -
“The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.” (Col. 1: 15-17)
Let us pray -
Heavenly Father, Almighty God, we thank you for the privilege of knowing you as our God and Jesus Christ your son as our Lord and Saviour. Thank you for your love, mercy, grace and gift of faith through which we are able to enter into your kingdom of light, freed from bondage to the kingdom of darkness, by the atoning blood of Jesus Christ who died on the cross for our sins and was resurrected such that we can have the hope of eternal life with you. We pray for those who do not know you and pray that you reveal yourself to them, each according to his circumstance, so that they too may come to know the truth and receive salvation through Jesus, each seeking you with all his heart (Jer. 29:13)
Continue in prayer for -
- Thanksgiving that Pastor Jon accepted IBC’s call to be pastor; pray also that the Lord will provide his wife Shelly with suitable work in Hong Kong; and also pray for the Lord’s protection and guidance so that all the logistics for their move to Hong Kong will work out smoothly.
- Give thanks for Pastor Domenic and his ministry of preaching for our church.
- Pastor Luther (pastor of Pastor Domenic’s church) and his family; for his recovery and restored health after bypass surgery.
- The deacons, ministry leaders and teams, the church staff, Life Group leaders and Small Community Group hosts, that the Spirit will work through them to help the whole Body of IBC work together as one and grow in Christ.
- The Lord to raise up more leaders and discipleship makers in IBC so that we will be a community of disciple makers and prayer warriors to fulfill the vision and mission of IBC.
- Carlos as he continues God’s work in Hong Kong while he waits for the Lord’s call to leave Hong Kong at the appropriate time.
- The preparations for the church retreat on October 18 and 19; and for Pastor Dan Tupps, the guest speaker.
- People to come to know the Lord through the Putonghua parenting class and the Experiencing God study of the Ladies’ Fellowship.
- The missionaries among us and our mission partners as they work with IBC to reach out to the communities in Hong Kong and beyond; also, for our church members who reach out regularly to people in the community e.g. to the prisoners and the homeless.
- The inmates of the Ling Oi Drug Rehab Centre, Lai Chi Kok prison and other prisons; the street sleepers in Sham Shui Po and Happy Valley; the elderly in Wah Fu Estate and Silver Mine Bay; that they may experience God’s love and receive salvation through Jesus.
- Our young people as they study abroad (Mica Chan, Charis Yip, Miles Ling, Timothy Tso, Joshua Tso, Isabelle Roskell, Matthew Lam) or who are making plans for future education (Nathaniel Yip, Emily Ling, Hazel Roskell), for their protection and strengthening of their faith.
- Those we know who need physical, emotional or spiritual healing and care: Dave Kwok’s colleague Demi (diagnosed with a heart aneurysm); Tony Mo (recovery from second stroke); Mike Ainslie (Alzheimer’s); Brian and Yun Xiang’s baby Hudson; Alice's brother-in-law Edward (treatment for rare illness); Thomas Lam (eyesight); Iris’ two sisters, Winnie and Teresa, and Jackson’s sister-in-law Alice (God’s grace in their fight with cancer); Stephanie’s father (eyesight and hearing); Frank’s brother Jan (glaucoma) and brother John (cancer); Ailin Iwan’s father Susanto Iwan in the U.S.(treatment for prostate cancer); Sandy’s father (Thomas’ father-in-law) in Shanghai (cancer treatment).
- God’s grace, care and strength for Uncle Harold, Beatrice, Y.M. Chen, Kaushic’s mother and Alex’s father; continue to pray for Steve Metz and his family members, and also Steve’s recovery from shoulder surgery; for Andrea and Faizal and family, and for Betty and Philip (Andrea’s mother and Philip’s sister passed away recently).
- The Lord’s strength, wisdom and peace for caregivers for the elderly or those with health or special needs.
- Non-believing friends and loved ones to be drawn to Jesus – Charlie Teo’s grandfather in Shanghai; Frank’s brother Jan; Kenneth’s mother and siblings; Terry’s son Joseph; Michelle Niem’s family members; Angela Arguelles’ sister and brother-in-law; Pansy’s husband; Stephanie’s parents and sister; Frederick’s mother; Ivy’s son and family; Maria Tanielu’s mother and family in Samoa; Charles’ brother William in Canada; Iris’ sister Winnie in Australia; Ailin Iwan’s parents in the U.S.; and Sandy’s father in Shanghai.
We lift up all these prayers in Jesus’ name. Amen!
[This prayer guide was prepared by Charles Ip]