Day 8 - Wednesday, January 8
Rachel Barber
Garden Ridge Leaders

Father God, 

As we begin 2025, we want to lift up the Shepherds, staff, ministry leaders, and Connect Group leaders at Garden Ridge.  

God, we thank You for these dedicated men and women who serve this congregation and beyond. You have put on their hearts to use their gifts in Kingdom work, and they have responded, “Here am I”. 

We lift up the Shepherds: Joel, Bret, Greg, Ed, Jeff, Philip, Charles, David, Bob, and Alan. We are thankful for these imperfect, but willing men. We praise You that, though these 10 men are not in complete agreement about everything, through the Holy Spirit’s leading, they work in unity to lead this flock. What a blessing and example they are to this congregation! We ask for continued unity and peace within this group. We also ask for protection from the evil one who would love to stir up strife and discord among them. And Father, these men have dealt with a lot of health issues in 2024, so we boldly ask that 2025 will be a year of better physical health.  

Father, we also lift up our ministry staff: Sheri, Scott, Leigh, Dan, Ross, Josh, Wimon, and Trane. These are the men and women that are the face of Garden Ridge to the community, the people they will encounter if they walk in off the street during the week or into a CR meeting. These are the people that make things happen around our building and coordinate the use of the building, who direct children’s education, teen functions, planning of the worship service, live streaming and all the other techie things, pulpit preaching, and so much more. God, You alone know ALL the things that this staff does every single day. Thank You that they have chosen Garden Ridge to be their home base for Kingdom work.  

We also lift up Joby and Matt, whose work with the finances is mostly behind the scenes but so critical, staying on top of the bookkeeping so that all the bills are paid timely and things around the building can run smoothly. Thank You, God, for these men.  

Father, we also want to thank You for the many men and women who serve as ministry leaders and Connect Group leaders. These are the people who have seen a need and said, “I want to fill that need.” You, Father, are the one that gives us eyes to see needs and stirs our hearts to action. Thank You for the many people who have seen and done. 

We pray for many more to have their eyes and hearts opened to a way to serve, both the members of Garden Ridge and the surrounding community, in 2025.  

Thank You, God, that You did not make us all alike but made the many members of the body with different gifts. Help us to remember that we are one body, with a unified purpose: to glorify and magnify You, to be salt and light to a lost world.  

In Your Son’s precious name, we offer this prayer.  

Amen