April 2026 Prayer Letter

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Dear Prayer and Fasting Partners,

               I want to thank you for your prayers during the first three months of the year. We have had several connections with potential church planters, have opened conversations with potential partners (both church and individuals) and have seen God open new opportunities for starting churches in our region. I know these openings are a result of the prayers you have been praying for our ministry of starting churches in Chicagoland and beyond. (When it comes to beyond, James and Joy Shahabi have seen two new Farsi daughters spring up here in the States: one in Milwaukee and another in St. Louis. We praise the Lord for the multiplication we are seeing in the ministry to Farsi-speakers here and across the world.)

With Easter upon us, I wanted to ask that you be praying for several items on the horizon:

• Our newest church plants: In April, Seth and Laura Rempel are going to a twice-monthly meeting rhythm for The Gathering Christian Church (that is their new name). Their growing team will be meeting for corporate worship on the first and third Sundays starting in April leading toward their launch in the fall. Please pray for them. Daniel and Emma Hazel are seeing their micro-church ministry in Chicago and beyond (HereWithin) continue to expand. They are challenging those involved in this ministry to consider starting micro-churches where they are and I would appreciate you praying for this focus of multiplication.

• Multipliers Pathway churches: On March 24, the 8 churches involved in this training revealed their plans for multiplication. These plans were bold and inspiring. I would like to ask you to pray for the implementation of the strategies the churches laid out. We want to see the spread of disciple-making and everyday missionaries deployed from central Illinois, across Chicagoland and beyond.

• Representing Ignite in Salem, IL: I have been invited to speak at FCC Salem on April 19 to share stories of  how we are seeing God at work in and through our ministry. They are particularly interested in our Farsi ministry, so I will focus on what about James and Joy are doing along with stories from other people groups we are reaching with the good news of Jesus.

• Representing Ignite at Disciple Heritage Fellowship: On April 29-30, Andy Hamilton and I will be at a conference hosted in Decatur for this group of churches who once belonged to the Disciples of Christ denomination. We have been at this event in the past and I’d like you to pray for us as we connect with potential church partners looking for missions to support and for potential church planters we may meet.

• Pentecost 2026, May 24: We want to raise $50,000 this year to support parent churches who want to sponsor a daughter church. Please be praying for this effort.

Thank you for your partnership of prayer with Ignite and have a blessed Resurrection Day, Lance

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