The Open Door: A summer list of praise and prayer

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She represented the best of Georgia Baptists. Her quality of devotion is the very reason it has been an amazing blessing to serve Georgia Baptists with the finest people I have ever known. Though I never had the privilege of working with her, because she retired before I joined the staff, I did enjoy visiting with her on the numerous occasions that we hosted former employees for special events.

The obituary stated plainly that she was a resident of Atlanta and died on Sunday, May 29, 2016, at the age of 99. Then, the remarkable contribution of her life to ministry was revealed: She retired in 1985 from service among Georgia Baptists where for 46 years she served on the staff of The Christian Index. Forty-six years! Now that is amazing!

Just think of the thousands of lives she impacted through her work at The Index. She witnessed a lot of Georgia Baptist history including victories, challenges, and controversies. I will always remember her as a lady who lived out her name, “Grace.” She was full of grace and a joy to be around. Her warm smile and gracious and welcoming personality were compatible with her love for people and her close walk with the Lord. Pray for her son, Joe, her granddaughter, Kelly, and grandson, Michael, and her six great-grandchildren, as they will surely miss her in the days ahead.

As we enter the summer months, I want to ask you to pray for our staff and for those to whom they will be ministering. Children and youth summer camps abound. Many young people will make life-determining decisions that will impact Christianity across the world in the decades to come. Many young people will give their lives to Christ, others will make rededication decisions, while others will surrender to God’s call to ministry and missions.

Pray for nearly 200 student summer missionaries who will be going out from our Georgia Baptist churches and collegiate ministry to proclaim Christ, literally across the world.

Pray for the thousands of children who will be attending Vacation Bible School in our Georgia Baptist churches. Pray that their young hearts will be open to receive the Lord as their Savior. Pray for the huge number of volunteers who will be serving in Vacation Bible School this summer.

While you are praying, will you also pray for more Grace Nasworthys who will devote their lives to serving Christ and His church?