Update of Inner City Prayer Ministry

Welcome Back!

Many exciting things are happening here with me at IHOP-KC, from getting ready to graduate Bible School, to being a part of a church plant among latinos, to laboring in prayer for the lost in our city and the nations of the earth.

As a vocation I am giving my life to full time ministry through intercession and acts of justice.

Today I want to highlight some videos and photos from Hope City, a prayer based ministry I've been involved in since 2009 in the inner city where the homeless, addicts, and poor can find a place of hope and function in the Body of Christ.

Worship at Hope City Prayer Room in Inner City Kansas City (I'm on the drums!)

Please continue to lift up in prayer all the Lord is doing here in Kansas City. Together may we see real lives impacted and changed by the power of the gospel. Blessings!

Extending My Hand to the Afflicted and Getting Saved

"If you extend your hand to the hungry and satisfy the afflicted soul, then your light shall dawn in the darkness, and your darkness shall be as noonday. The Lord will guide you continually, and satisfy your soul .." Isaiah 58: 10 - 11

Good Day to you from Kansas City! I'm back at IHOP-KC finishing my last semester in IHOPU and engaging in life as an intercessory missionary. These days I'm spending about 10 hours a week down at the prayer room in the inner city called Hope City. There I pray primarily, serve the house by playing the drums, and help wherever needed.

Recently, I have been struck with the fast that God has chosen (Isaiah 58), which is to share our bread with the hungry and not hide ourselves from our neighbors.

It happened like this: It was day three of a three-day fast here and I went down to Hope City to drum and pray. Many know with any fast, by the end you are pretty "raw." Meaning, the prop of food is gone and nothing is there but raw, or the real, you. So there I was on a Wednesday night in the inner city rubbing shoulders with people from the community. I felt uncomfortable, tired, and bothered. The novelty was gone. Why am I doing this again? I left the comforts of my little community and sheltered life to come down here on a Wednesday night for what? Nothing like fasting to show you what's really in your heart. Little compassion and a struggle to love, but a heart that deep down wants to.

For this reason PRAYER is a must. I MUST touch the heart of God in the place of prayer so that my heart can be filled with love, that I would overflow in love for those around me. Living a life of service sounds well and good, but unless I have God's love pulsing through me I have nothing to give. I don't want to give them me, because I don't love well. I want to love them with the God-kind of love which knows no bounds (isn't easily bothered, is kind, etc). For this reason I must pray.

The First Commandment (loving God with all your heart, mind, and soul) naturally leads itself to the Second Commandment (loving your neighbor). I cannot love apart from God's help.

God would have that we would not close our hearts to the needs of those around us. He's saving me again and again in the place of laying my life down. Let's lay down our lives together, because really deep down no one wants to just live unto themselves. What a wasted life!

On another note: March 1-3 is the Stand Conference here at IHOP KC. It's a conference Contending for the destiny of the black community. To find out how you can be involved either here in Kansas City or through the webstream visit: http://www.ihop.org/stand/

"A Life of Prayer, Studying, Going and Serving Others"

Bienvenido a todos! Welcome everyone!

First let me thank everyone for your generous contributions in helping me to return to the International House of Prayer as a missionary and student in their ministry school.

After concluding the "Fire in the Night Internship," I headed home to Washington, DC for three whole months. However, now it's back to missions field work in Kansas City, Mo.!!

(2) VERY IMPORTANT DATES:

Friday, July 17, 2009

Goal date to have obtained all quarterly financial living needs donations and contributions.


Monday, August 10, 2009

Due date for FSM Tuition and Books.


***Please keep me in prayer regarding receiving these funds timely by the above due dates in order to stay in school, pay my rent, and eat....

Again, thank you so much to everyone for all of your prayers, encouragment, and financial contributions!

Words fall short to express just how much of an impact each of you have made on my life. None of this would be possible without you; Thank you for partnering with me to touch lives!

Special thanks to my Uncle Al for driving me from the East Coast to the Midwest; to my parents & family for all of their support; to Maya for helping me make all that spaghetti for my fundraiser; Gail & Christine Rase; Frenika Mudd; Jessica Larsen; my Rhema family: Senator Harrington & Bro Ken, Bro Bill & Sis Tanya, Sis Deloris, Min Greg & Sis Chanda, Min. James Brown & Sis. Dorothy, Bro Nat & Sis V, Sis Blanche, Sis Margie & Bro Jeff; and others who have helped me to this point.

For you I am praying..........

What is the International House of Prayer (IHOP)?

The International House of Prayer is a non-profit missions organization located in Kansas City, MO. On September 19, 1999, a prayer meeting began which continues to this day, and has not stopped, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The prayer room is the heartbeat—the essence and the origin—of all that goes on at the IHOP–KC Missions Base.

What will I be studying in IHOP’s ministry school?

I will be doing a four-year diploma program called the "Justice Program," which was created to equip the prayer movement with an apostolic paradigm to serve the poor and oppressed. With this program I will be studying both at IHOP and abroad toward the goal of forming a theology of Justice with a Christocentric lens.

Why IHOP and the Justice Program?

I have a heart for reaching the invisible—the poor, the oppressed, often including women, children, and minority groups. While at IHOP I will have my mission and vision sharpened, so that I can be most effective in ministry. I want to be best equipped through giving my life in prayer, studying, going, and serving others.

What we are partnering together to do:

· While at IHOP I will be working in inner-city Kansas City, partnering with different churches to reach those in need and on the streets.
· I will also be working with Cristianos en Trabajo, which ministers to the Latino community, particularly children.
· I will be working with Exodus Cry which seeks to end sex slavery through fasting and prayer, raising widespread awareness, and outreach.
· Kansas City has high refugee population, which I hope to work with in some capacity (ie-teaching English, building relationships, etc).

What I will do following the program?
After the Justice Program I may stay with IHOP as a missionary on their base, or work domestically or abroad with a house of prayer or justice/ministry organization. I am interested in helping people, and giving myself to a lifestyle of prayer like the Prophetess Anna (Luke 2).

How can you be a part of this work?

The most practical way is through prayer and giving. Financial support can be given monthly, quarterly, annually, when lead, or as a one time special gift.

Checks can be made payable to me. Or, if you are interested in giving a tax deductible donation, make check/money order payable to "IHOP." For tax deduction purposes, the IRS stipulates my name not be written on the check. Please email me if you have any questions.


*Thank you so much for your prayers and may you be blessed.


**Donations can also be made via http://www.paypal.com/ For: "Lauren Mason Missionary"






IMPORTANT MINISTRY LINKS BELOW:


International House of Prayer:
http://www.ihop.org/

The Prayer Room Streaming:
http://www.theprayerroom.tv/

Exodus Cry (prayer movement to end sex slavery)
http://www.exoduscry.com/

Nefarious Documentary (uncovering human trafficking trailer)
http://www.nefariousdocumentary.com/

Teen Mania Ministries:
http://www.teenmania.com/

Kansas City Inner City Prayer Meeting:
http://www.kcprayerdome.com/

The Call (International Fasting and Prayer Vigils)
http://thecall.com/