"Prayer Priority" Request for Tuesday, September 30, 2008
30 Second Pause for Prayer from Bill and Ivy Bray...

CHRIST OF GOD, we thank You for the wonderful friends and supporters in Texas that have stood by the Brays for so many years and for blessing them in so many ways. AMEN

COUNSELOR, we ask you to lead Bill and Ivy as they are focusing on the future here for the next seven days. Help Bill to be a good steward of his time as he emails, phones and visits potential volunteers, supporters and partners in this state. We pray that you will open the watergates to provide floods of funds from here, beginning with enough offerings and gifts to cover expenses in October and the fourth quarter. We pray that you will provide the victorious volunteers needed to create a network here in North Texas that will send many international students back to their homelands as native missionaries, especially to the closed Arab, Chinese and Indian nations. AMEN and AMEN

VERSE OF THE WEEK: Please refer to the whole chapters of Psalm 90 and 91 to "pray read" the scriptures with Bill Bray today.

BACKGROUND ON TODAY'S PRAYER REQUEST: The next seven days will be most critical as Bill and Ivy plan to spend the weekend in Dallas meeting face to face with long-time friends and partners at the airport DFW Marriott Hotel. We have chosen this location because it is the most economical and convenient way to call interested believers together in this sprawling metropolis. We will start with a celebration dinner on Saturday night and then start back to back interviews on Sunday and Monday. Bill is preaching his "Giants in the Land" prophetic message for the 2009 program years of Overseas Students Mission and CIS. Pray that God will spread the word of this event by his Holy Spirit and bring all the right people together. Bill is doing advance work in Texas to set up for the evening now and Ivy is working at the home office in Charlottesville handling RSVP's until she leaves to join Bill late on Thursday night. Ivy is reachable at the OSM base, 434-229-6488 or on her cell at (434) 227-0812. If you want to contact Bill Bray at this time, try the time-share where he is staying at (903) 534-5900 (Ext. 2037) or his cell phone at 434-227-0811. Phone coverage is spotty at best, so keep trying to get through. YOUR PRAYERS AND FAITH WILL BRING THE VICTORY SO PRAY AND FAST AS THE LORD LEADS YOU FOR THIS MISSION.

"Prayer Priority" Request for Sunday, September 28, 2008
30 Second Pause for Prayer from Bill and Ivy Bray...

CHRIST OUR LIFE, thank you for safely delivering Bill Bray to Tyler, Texas for the weekend and opening doors for him there and making connections with old friends and supporters for the Bray Team Reunion October 4 in Dallas. AMEN

AUTHOR OF OUR FAITH, we pray that you will help Bill to successfully be able to invite key international student ministry leaders or 100 potential supporters to join old friends next Saturday night at the Bray Texas Team Reunion in Dallas. Continue to protect Bill's energy, faith, health and vision as he drives hundreds of miles this week to visit contacts. AMEN AND AMEN

VERSE OF THE WEEK: "Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citiezens with God's people and members of God's household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone" (Ephesians 2:19-20).

BACKGROUND ON TODAY's REQUESTS: Bill is actually staying in the East Texas capital of Tyler and commuting from there to make his calls and appointments this week -- often driving long miles on the vast system of farm roads and expressways that surround the metroplex. Pray for friends to help him make connections and sponsors the daily gas tank refills that keep him going for Jesus.

"Prayer Priority" Request for Saturday, September 27, 2008
30 Second Pause for Prayer from Bill and Ivy Bray...

CHRIST THE SAVIOR OF THE WORLD, we thank you that you promised us power after we received the Holy Spirit and a promise that we would be your witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and the uttermost parts. AMEN

CREATOR OF ALL THINGS, lead Bill to divine appointments today on the plane, in the air and on the ground. Continue to link him with new friends, supporters and volunteers every day this week. Provide for his every need and the needs of Ivy and the home office as he is away. Guide his steps that he will not stray from your path or get lost and heal his laptop computer that he will be able to stay in touch all along the way. AMEN

VERSE OF THE WEEK: "But as for me, I watch in hope for the LORD, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me" (Micah 7:7).

"Prayer Priority" Request for Friday, September 26, 2008
30 Second Pause for Prayer from Bill and Ivy Bray...

SUN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, we praise you again that You arise with healing in your wings for our diseases, conflicts and sins. By your strips we are healed and reconciled to one another and to You. Thank you Lord that in your name we are treading down the wicked and preparing the way for your soon return. Thank you for the physical healing that you are giving Bill Bray as he prepares to travel to Texas on Saturday, September 27. Thank You for the spiritual healing and victory You are giving him with all his adversaries. AMEN

PHYSICIAN, we pray that you will extend your healing power and strength to Sister Ivy and give her the same quick healing that You have given Bill during this attack of influenza. May her symptoms be slight and may she have the strength to soon join Bill in Texas, recovering quickly and handling the missionary support duties of the home office while Bill is away. We continue to look to You as the source of healing in our bodies and between generations, asking You to turn the hearts of fathers to their children and children to their fathers. May we always walk in your divine health, be agents of healing and bear healing to everyone as we go, helping to call out the next generation of indigenous missionaries. AMEN and AMEN

VERSE OF THE WEEK: "But as for me, I watch in hope for the LORD, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me" (Micah 7:7).

FURTHER BACKGROUND ON TODAY'S PRAYER REQUEST: On the very eve of his departure for 10 days of pioneer missionary outreach among potential volunteers and supporters in the Dallas area, we see Satan's attention being focused on Ivy. Although Bill is back to work, Ivy is displaying early symptoms of the same massive flu attack that kept him at home for two days of recovery. Pray for her rapid healing as she plans to be driving Bill to the airport Saturday morning. Meanwhile, the whole Bray family is sharing cars, borrowing rides and using rental cars to keep the doors of the office open and drive "the miles for Jesus" that this mission requires. Pray that both Bill and Ivy will have the strength they need both spiritually and physically to launch the ministry in Texas. May they be supernaturally guided to the right volunteers and friends to reach All Nations with this Gospel, especially in the closed lands ruled by Arabs, Chinese and Indians.

"Prayer Priority" Request for Thursday, September 25, 2008
30 Second Pause for Prayer from Bill and Ivy Bray...

LORD JESUS CHRIST, we thank you for the volunteers who make the work of missions possible at every level and have done it now for over twenty centuries. We thank you that you are calling out a new generation of volunteers as well as calling many baby boomers to join us in encore careers. AMEN

KING OF KINGS, we ask you to bring out the volunteers needed to help Ivy to do the mission newsletter mailings and help Bill Bray to recruit many new volunteers to expand the outreach to international students in Texas. Call out a special volunteer to be take over the job of OSM Webmaster and Internet Ministry director at the headquarters in Charlottesville. AMEN

VERSE OF THE WEEK: "But as for me, I watch in hope for the LORD, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me" (Micah 7:7).

"Prayer Priority" Request for Wednesday, September 24, 2008
30 Second Pause for Prayer from Bill and Ivy Bray...

SUN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, you arise with healing in Your wings for our diseases, conflicts and sin. Thank you Lord that in your name we are treading down the wicked and preparing the way for your soon return. AMEN

PHYSICIAN, we pray that you will give Bill Bray a quick healing as he remains home today for the second day recovering from a massive attack of the flu. We look to you as our source of healing in our bodies and between generations, turning the hearts of fathers to their children and children to their fathers. May Bill Bray and the OSM missionary staff be fully healed and bring healing to others everywhere they go, helping to call out the next generation of indigenous missionaries. AMEN AND AMEN

VERSE OF THE WEEK: "But as for me, I watch in hope for the LORD, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me" (Micah 7:7).

BACKGROUND ON TODAY'S PRAYER REQUEST: Practically on the eve of his departure for 10 days of missionary outreach in the North Texas area around Dallas/Fort Worth, Bill Bray has been forced to remain home for two days recovering from a sudden influenza attack. During this time, the whole Bray family is drawing closer to one another in forgiveness and reconciliation, including Bill and Ivy themselves. She has been nursing him back to health while using borrowed cars to go into the OSM office to keep the doors open and minister to the team. Pray for this time of healing to continue and be completed so that Bill and Ivy can travel to Texas fully empowered for ministry and in strong health.

"Prayer Priority" Request for Tuesday, September 23, 2008
30 Second Pause for Prayer from Bill and Ivy Bray...

BREAD OF LIFE, we are so thankful to You for supplying our every need. We shall not want because You lead us besides still waters and prepare a table before us in the presence of our enemies. You are larger than recessions, depressions and even the fears of those who bound by the love of money. AMEN

CHIEF SHEPHERD, we ask you to send floods of funds for the work of Christian missions this month. With your rod and staff, we ask you to do what we cannot do, guide the pens of those who are able to give largely to the work of missions. We pray for surprise $5000 and $10,000 checks this month, but ask that you will open the windows of heaven to cover every expense so that you might be glorified. Lord, we ask you to bless the widows, the pastors and others who are giving out of their poverty in faith that you will supply. Help Bill and the volunteers to edit and mail out the October news letters on time this week and next. AMEN AND AMEN

VERSE OF THE WEEK: "But as for me, I watch in hope for the LORD, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me" (Micah 7:7).

FINANCIAL REPORT AND BACKGROUND ON TODAY'S REQUEST: Many of the missionaries we support are facing special problems and challenges this year, due in part to the growing economic judgments that are falling upon the USA including inflation and the devaluation of the American dollar. Bill and Ivy Bray have been hard hit with a special cash flow crisis. They must replace two cars that have been totaled in accidents this month and over out of pocket expenses for the Texas Mission. While they have GAP insurance on one of the cars, they want to avoid financing the shortfalls. Bill and Ivy want to obey the Bible and owe no man anything. It is important that all our missionaries and missions practice what they preach, living and ministering debt-free. Pray that extraordinary gifts come in and that good, late model cars will be donated to the Brays and the mission.

"Prayer Priority" Request for Monday, September 22, 2008
30 Second Pause for Prayer from Bill and Ivy Bray...

BRIGHT AND MORNING STAR, we praise you for a wonderful weekend of ministry in our churches and various ministries. We especially praise you for Advancing Native Missions, Christian Aid, International Students and the other ministries that are doing such a wonderful job carrying on this vision. AMEN

CAPTAIN OF OUR SALVATION, lead us into the future this week. Use Bill and Ivy and their ministries to others through Overseas Students Mission and CIS in order to find and send out the next generation of native missionaries. Especially empower Bill and Ivy by faith and grace to see impossible things come to pass as they prepare to travel to Texas. Lord, you are able to do much more than we ask or think. Give us a thirst for your Kingdom to Come, and quench it by nothing less than the power of your Holy Spirit. AMEN and AMEN

VERSE OF THE WEEK: "But as for me, I watch in hope for the LORD, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me" (Micah 7:7).

"Prayer Priority" Request for Friday, September 19, 2008
30 Second Pause for Prayer from Bill and Ivy Bray...

LORD MY LIGHT AND MY SALVATION, we thank you that we know no fear regardless of what is happening around us. You will save us in the time of trouble. We thank you that those who wait upon you will have their strength renewed -- and we thank you that so many are beginning to watch and pray here in Charlottesville and across the USA. AMEN

HOLY ONE, LORD GOD ALMIGHTY, we ask you to hear and answer the prayers of your people who are fasting and praying this weekend and all those who will be joining in this prayer movement in the weeks ahead. We repent of our sins and ask you to give us the awakening we need. May this revival will give birth to the Next Generation of indigenous missionaries. Lord, give grace and favor to Bill Bray and the OSM team. May they faithfully cast the vision of your heart for All Nations and your soon return, and we look to your to meet their every need for this work. AMEN AND AMEN

VERSE OF THE WEEK: "But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me" (Micah 7:7).

"Prayer Priority" Request for Tuesday, September 16, 2008
30 Second Pause for Prayer from Bill and Ivy Bray...

BRIGHT AND MORNING STAR, thank you for the life and service of CIS Board Member Dwight Foster who is having surgery today in Charlottesville. We praise you for the many cars he has helped find for indigenous mission leaders and the Bray Family missionaries over the years. AMEN

CAPTAIN OF OUR SALVATION, we pray for the surgeon and all involved in Dwight's healing. May they have skill as they work on his back today and may Dwight recover rapidly to perfect health. We also pray for the immediate Bray Family transportation crisis and automobile needs for this week and in the month ahead. May the insurance company settle rapidly and may the Brays find a temporary car in Charlottesville by Thursday when the free rental car is set to expire. Provide rental or loaner cars in Dallas as well as airfares and all other travel expenses for Bill and Ivy's mission trip to Texas. May this trip to DFW result in many new volunteers and supporters for the work of the Lord's mission to all nations in Texas. AMEN AND AMEN

VERSE OF THE WEEK: "Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil" (Ecclesiastes 12:13b-14).

BACKGROUND ON TODAY'S PRAYER SITUATION: Almost three weeks ago, a young man from the music department of the University of Virginia ran a stoplight and crushed into the Bray Family Gospel Van. The aging vehicle was a total loss. His insurance company (Geico) has promised to send the "Blue Book" value of the car to help the Brays obtain a replacement vehicle and has covered the cost of a rental car until Wednesday. Loaner and replacement vehicles, both for use in Charlottesville and in Texas, are urgently needed this month and next.

"Prayer Priority" Request for Monday, September 15, 2008
30 Second Pause for Prayer from Bill and Ivy Bray...

SON OF GOD, we know that you are the true God and that in you we have all things including eternal life. Thank you for all the benefits of our lives in Christ and for faithfully meeting our every need. Thank you for answered prayers this day and for your protections, benefits and blessings in this world of turmoil. AMEN

WORD OF LIFE, although we are attacked on every side, facing accidents, distresses, persecutions and needs we pray that you will deliver us from distractions, idols, fears and worries. Lord, we ask you to keep us true to the callings and assignments you have given to us and raise up more laborers and supporters to join us in the harvest. AMEN AND AMEN

VERSE OF THE WEEK: "Dear children, keep away from anything that might take God's place in your hearts. Amen" (I John 5:21, TLB).

UPDATES: In direct answer to prayer, the Bray's grandson Michael has been reinstated as a correctional officer at the Fluvanna Correctional Center after a week's suspension. Pray for the children of missionaries around the world who face their own set of challenges while living in a missionary household.

"Prayer Priority" Request for Saturday, September 13, 2008
30 Second Pause for Prayer from Bill and Ivy Bray...

BACKGROUND ON WEEKEND PRAYER REQUEST: The Bray Family Missionaries are expanding the work of OSM into Texas this month and have been spiritually and physically attacked. Their Gospel Van was totaled in an accident, one of the children in their household was suspended from his work and there has been increased financial pressure on the transportation fund which is in the red now just when more finances are needed for travel. Please ask folks in your church and prayer groups to pray for emergency financial breakthroughs this week.

BLESSED AND ONLY POTENTATE, LORD JESUS, we thank you that in all things we are more than conquerors in Christ. We praise you that nothing takes you by surprise and you are always greater than our trials and tribulations, and you are able to always meet our every need. We thank you that you answer the believing prayers of those who delight in you and unite to accomplish your will for all nations. AMEN AND AMEN

BLESSED HOPE, we call upon you to meet every need and emergency expense in the family and ministry of the Bray Family Missionaries this week. We pray for living allowances to be paid on time for all the staff, for the emergency transportation fund needs to be met and for the insurance payments to be generous and prompt. We pray for a replacement car or cars to be donated or purchased without the need for financing. AMEN AND AMEN

VERSE OF THE WEEK: "Be ye strong therefore, and let not your hands be weak: for your work shall be rewarded" (2 Chronicles 15:7).

"Prayer Priority" Request for Thursday, September 11, 2008
30 Second Pause for Prayer from Bill and Ivy Bray...

ANCIENT OF DAYS, we thank you for the tens of thousands of Filipino believers whom you have placed in the Arab Gulf states, China and many other closed lands where they can help assist native missionaries from all nations. We thank you for the way that you are using them to reach out to others in the Filipino diaspora as well as their neighbors with the good news of salvation. AMEN AND AMEN

AUTHOR OF OUR FAITH, we pray that you will use Ivy and Bill to mobilize support and help send forth many hundreds of additional Filipino indigenous missionaries. We pray today for those Filipinos who are in places of peril and are suffering for their faith, especially those in bondage or prisons for their faith. We particularly remember Lourdes Sanchez who is working in Greece today and Juanito Sanchez who is in Ireland. Send healing to Lourdes and provide a helper for her as well as the finances she needs. Open the door for Juanito to come and assist her on a short term basis. Use the Brays and OSM in a special way to work with Filipino missionaries in the Philippines and around the world -- especially as they are developing their hour by hour itinerary for Texas starting this weekend. AMEN AND AMEN

"Prayer Priority" Request for Monday, September 8, 2008
30 Second Pause for Prayer from Bill and Ivy Bray...

WORD OF GOD, we thank you that by faith today Bill and Ivy Bray are starting the first annual OSM Back to School Bible Institute in Charlottesville under the teaching of pastor Earl Burton. Thank you, Faithful and True, for giving us the Bible as our rule of faith and guidance. Thank you for giving us the special opportunity to prayerfully focus on it and study it for the next 12 days. AMEN

KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS, we pray that you will reveal much to Bill and Ivy during the next 12 days of Bible study and meanwhile open the doors that no man can close and grant us wonderful contacts with pastors and missions committee chairs as well as speaking engagements this fall, particularly in the Dallas Fort Worth area. May Bill and Ivy and the missionaries of OSM find many opportunities to minister life into local churches. In return, dear Lord, we pray that they will have solid support in many 2009 Church Mission Budgets. Especially fill our calendars on the Sundays of September 28 and October 5 in Carrolton, Flint, North Dallas and Valley View where the Brays already have friendly contacts. Lord, we look to you to establish a firm financial footing for the Bray's ministry at OSM that will grow stronger and stronger till the day you call them home. AMEN AND AMEN

VERSE OF THE DAY: "...and out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God" (Revelation 19:15).

"Prayer Priority" Request for Friday, September 5, 2008
30 Second Pause for Prayer from Bill and Ivy Bray...

UPDATE ON THE GOSPEL VAN: Bill and Ivy Bray met with the estimators at Taylor Auto Body yesterday and the prognosis was grim. They feel the vehicle is a total loss. Insurance inspectors from Geico hope to examine the van today and propose a settlement. The family and team is ridesharing now for commuting and the ministry. Pray that at least one more vehicle will be donated to the ministry as well as to the Brays.

BRIGHT AND MORNING STAR, we thank you for blessing us with the energy and vision to go forward with Your work in spite of trials and circumstances that sometimes seem like setbacks in our eyes. We thank you for the five wonderful years of service the van has provided this ministry. We thank you for the rental car which the insurance company has promised to reimburse while they decide on what to do with the Bray's wrecked Gospel Van. AMEN

LORD JESUS CHRIST, we pray for a new Gospel van or vehicle(s) to replace the one that was hit Wednesday night. May Geico make the right decision regarding repair or replacement of the van and provide a generous settlement. We pray that you will provide for all the gas and transportation needs both in Virginia and inTexas this month. Open doors as the Bray Team visits colleges, Bible Schools and universities in the DFW area. Provide campus advisors, leaders and mentors at leading schools and seminaries such as Baylor, Christ for the Nations, Dallas Theological Seminary, Southwestern, UT Arlington and many others. AMEN AND AMEN

SCRIPTURE OF THE WEEK: "Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart" (Hebrews 12:3).

"Prayer Priority" Request for Thursday, September 4, 2008
30 Second Pause for Prayer from Bill and Ivy Bray...

WORD OF GOD, we thank you that no one was hurt in Wednesday night's three car collision involving the Bray Family Gospel Van. AMEN

LAMB IN THE MIDST OF THE THRONE, we pray for the insurance companies involved in covering the damage from this accident and all concerned including the body shops, drivers, police, witnesses and so forth. May this not hinder the work of the missionaries being assisted by the Bray Team or preparations for the launch of OSM in Dallas, Texas later this month. We pray that every deadline will still be met and that there will be at least six Table Hosts who will respond positively to the invitations to volunteer. May there be good response to all the missionary letters that are arriving in the homes of supporters this week. May Ivy, Bill and the whole family will have your perfect peace during these days or weeks without the car and respond with grace and love to the problems that may arise. We pray that the van can and will be quickly repaired or a new car will donated or loaned so that there will be no interruptions of ministry during this time. May we delight in seeing how good comes out of this apparent disaster. AMEN

VERSE OF THE WEEK: "Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart" (Hebrews 12:3).

TRANSPORTATION SITUATION: In the Bray Household now there are only two operating vehicles for four adults working at odd and overlapping hours. The mission does not have a vehicle for ministry business. Therefore there is a lot of forced carpooling and there is the potential for waste and inefficiency. Pray that more frequent flyer miles will be donated to the work for interstate travel, as well as additional cars and funds for gas and transportation.

"Prayer Priority" Request for Tuesday, September 2, 2008
30 Second Pause for Prayer from Bill and Ivy Bray...

FIRST AND LAST, we unite our hearts to thank You Lord for a new school year and for open doors in the DFW area to start Overseas Students Mission. Thank you for the many Texas friends who have supported the Brays over the years and thank you in advance for those who are rallying around us as we move toward our Reunion Banquet October 4. AMEN

ALPHA AND OMEGA, use Bill and Ivy today as they send out letters seeking the non-budgeted, extraordinary support essential to launching OSM student outreaches this fall all across America. Bless their efforts on Facebook and other viral forums to multiply volunteers and find special support. Especially bless Bill Bray's efforts to launch new blogs for this cause. May many churches, mission committees and pastors give generously this month from discretionary funds. Lord, we look to You for the miracles needed to rebirth, renew and expand this ministry. AMEN

VERSE OF THE WEEK: "Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart" (Hebrews 12:3).