5:17

5:17AM

I took the screen shot below 

 at Midway Field, Chicago

as my phone alarm went off while

I stood in line at Dunkin Doughnuts

at 5:17 AM.

Yep, a delayed flight caused me 

to miss a connection the night before, 

so I got to stay overnight 

in Chicago and fly out early.

That's why I was standing in line 

at 5:17 AM this morning.

I'm sharing my Dunkin Doughnut story with you
because I'm getting ready to ask you 
make a commitment to set your alarm 
for either 5:17AM or PM 
for the next 30 days.

I think I hear you asking,

"Why should I set my alarm for 5:17?

I'm looking for people in the Southeastern District 

of the Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod 
(and beyond)

who will band together 

to pray a bold prayer of faith for 
the people living next door to us in our neighborhoods. 

Specifically, I'm asking you to make a commitment 

to pray once a day (5:17AM or PM) 
to the Lord of the Church.
We are praying that 
by our May 2021 District Convention 
our 216 congregations will have the joy of
welcoming 50 new chartered congregations
into our fellowship.  

Why 50?

Through our neighborhood ministry outreach 

we hope to have ministry activity in 

500 new neighborhoods across the SED

over the next three years.

We are praying that 10% 
of the 500 new neighborhood ministries 

will become new church plants. 

But why pray at 5:17?  

It was in I Thessalonians 5:17 

that Paul encouraged the people to:

"pray without ceasing."

Some translations say: "pray continuously."

Here's what he said: 

So set your alarms and join us 

as we pray for 50 new church plants.

At least try it for the next 30 days.  

I'm hope that our Lord Jesus 
receives these prayers so frequently and so continuously 
that He says to His Father,

"It's them again in the SED."