During our intern leader retreat at the end of May, we began to study the book of Colossians together. Our Czech intern teams will reunite three more times throughout the summer, and we will eventually make our way through the entire book. It is a great way for us leaders to refocus on Christ, as well an opportunity for us to bond and encourage one another amidst the frenzy of the summer. It's also great to just let loose and have fun together!

While going through chapter 1 at this leader retreat, a particular passage especially stood out to me, and has become my prayer for the summer.

Colossians 1:28-29 - "Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me."

My three points of prayer are as follows:

1. That we would "proclaim" Christ with boldness - "warning" unbelievers and "teaching" believers, that both may see the glory and fulness of the gospel.

2. That our goal would be the building up of the church - to "present everyone mature in Christ." 

3. That we would "toil" and "struggle" this summer, but that it would not be in our own strength. Rather, that we would serve sacrificially "with all his energy" so that Christ would be glorified and we might be vessels of his grace.