The theme for the 2006 Week of Prayer is the Beatitudes. The spiritual content of their message, for each one of Christ’s followers from the apostolic period to the time of the end, is profound and of great importance for today. We are truly living in the last moment of the history of this planet.
Consider carefully these solemn declarations. Keep in mind that we are responsible for being fully committed to Christ and His church. Remember one of His last messages to His faithful people: “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock.” Revelation 3:20.
During the Week of Prayer, take time to reflect on a personal, family, and community level about the year that is soon to end. Let us establish new spiritual goals and lift up our hearts to the Lord in prayer. Let us humiliate our souls before Jesus for vows unfulfilled, goals not reached, defects still undefeated,
and our overall neglects. Finally, let us find consolation for our spirits in the loving arms of our tender Saviour, who bestows on us one more opportunity to grow into His image, to enjoy His love, to know His truth, to overcome evil with His power, and to impart to others His good news of salvation.
Let us commit ourselves to advance together in God’s cause, to help one another grow and gain more souls for His eternal kingdom. In this way, we will accomplish Acts 1:14—“These all continued with one accord in prayer.” The Spirit of Prophecy emphasizes the same thought: “The disciples prayed with intense earnestness for a fitness to meet men and in their daily intercourse to speak words that would lead sinners to Christ. Putting away all differences, all desire for the supremacy, they came close together in Christian fellowship.…
“These days of preparation were days of deep heart searching.” –The Acts of the Apostles, p. 37.
From the beginning of the Week of Prayer, the church elder or other local leader should announce the special offering to be collected on the last Sabbath of the readings. This offering is devoted entirely to the advancement of the work on a worldwide level. Remember that “spiritual prosperity is closely bound up with Christian liberality. The followers of Christ should rejoice in the privilege of revealing in their lives the beneficence of their Redeemer. As they give to the Lord they have the assurance that their treasure is going before them to the heavenly courts.” –Ibid., p. 344, 345.
It should also be announced that the last Sabbath of the Week of Prayer is a special day of fasting.
“Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end.” Ephesians 3:20, 21.
The brothers and sisters
of the General Conference