Welcome to the November 2026 Prayer Vigil!
In the Gospel of John Chapter 15, Jesus told his followers that they need to “abide” in him and he in them (Jn 15:4 NKJV), comparing himself to the vine and his followers to the branches of the vine - “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.” (Jn 15:1-5 NKJV).
What does abiding in Jesus mean and what does it look like?
The term “abide in” is translated from the Greek word “meno” which has the meaning of “remain, dwell, stay or continue in”. It expresses an active, close and continuous relationship like the branches which have to be attached to the vine in order to draw nourishment from the vine. Any branch detached from the vine will become useless and can no longer bear fruit (Jn 15:6).
Those who abide or remain in Jesus will -
- Love Jesus and obey Christ’s commands which will allow them to remain in Christ’s love and also be loved by the Father (Jn 14:21,23-24; 15:10).
- Recognize that they have to continuously depend on Christ for spiritual life, strength and continuous growth.
- Trust in God’s word and allow Christ’s teachings to shape their thoughts, decisions and actions. By having God’s word remain in them, they can expect answers to their prayers which will be aligned with God’s will (Jn 15:7). They will memorize and meditate on God’s word and allow the Holy Spirit or “Advocate” to guide them (Jn 14:26).
- Be in continuous communion or ongoing fellowship with God through prayer.
- They will bear spiritual fruit such as love, joy, peace, patience, kindness and so forth in a transformed life (Jn. 15:11-12; Rom. 12:2; Gal. 5:22-23).
Pray -
Holy Father in heaven, may your kingdom come on earth and your will be done through me and others in IBC and churches throughout Hong Kong. Thank you for your mercy, steadfast love and grace which we experience and enjoy each day. Father, please work in my heart (Phil. 2:13) that I will truly love Jesus and abide in him and so that I may remain in his love and yours (Jn. 14:23; 15:9-10). May people see the love, joy and peace that is in our transformed lives and may your glory shine through us so that your name will be praised and people drawn to Jesus Christ your Son, our Lord and Saviour.
Continue in prayer for -
- Pastor Jon, that the Lord will guide him for timely completion of his doctoral thesis and for Shelley as she seeks a teaching position in an international school in Hong Kong; And for their preparations to move to Hong Kong.
- The deacons, church staff, pastor search and personnel teams of IBC as they make the necessary arrangements for Pastor Jon and Shelley’s move to Hong Kong.
- Give thanks for Pastor Domenic and his ministry of preaching for our church.
- 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 Lord’s guidance for the ministry leaders’ meeting on November 29, for a God glorifying and fruitful outcome.
- The word of the Lord to continue its work in the hearts of those who attended the Putonghua parenting class and the Experiencing God study of the Ladies’ Fellowship.
- Those who were baptized on November 1, that their love for Christ, knowledge of God’s word and their sense of belonging to the church will grow.
- 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, 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).
- Those who need God to sustain their health and strength; for Uncle Harold, Beatrice, Y.M. Chen, Kaushic’s mother, Tony Mo and Alex Ling’s father.
- The Lord’s strength, wisdom and peace for caregivers for the elderly or those with health or special needs among us.
- 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]