|
 A Prayer Guidebook for Churches and Associations
What do you want to see happen through prayer in the association, state, or province? One way to respond to God’s call to pray is to discover a strategy for Spirit-led prayer ministry in the association and the church. It is unlikely that an association can guide churches in prayer if they do not have a vital, comprehensive prayer ministry themselves.
A. Prayer Strategy
A prayer strategy seeks to discover the Holy Spirit’s plan of action. It can teach believers to acknowledge their dependence on God’s power by praying for everything that occurs in or through their ministry. It helps people acquire sensitivity to pray for and share Jesus with everyone in their community and across the planet.
Satan has convinced many leaders that having a prayer event or a series of prayer events constitute a strategy for a prayer ministry. A prayer event is helpful but is much more effective in the context of a comprehensive prayer ministry strategy. The association can encourage churches to seek the prayer plan that the Spirit wants in that unique congregation.
A prayer leader in Arkansas comments "For some churches and associations the first priority in establishing a prayer strategy may be praying for revival. A renewed relationship with the Lord together with a subsequent daily renewal (See 2 Cor. 4:16) may be the first step to the recognition of the primacy of prayer. A small core group may need to regularly meet together to pray until revival comes. I’m convinced that all of the strategizing in the world won’t get people to pray unless there is revival."
B. Prayer Ministry
A prayer ministry helps to saturate with prayer everything done in and through the association and church. Every church and association needs to respond to God’s call for people to pray. This response may mean a prayer ministry or an overall prayer strategy. A strategy ensures that prayer is a foundational and functional priority. Prayer supports and strengthens evangelism, training, outreach, ministry, church planting, and the multitude of other responsibilities in the association. Each of those activities is important. Each of them requires fervant, specific prayer support.
Failing to have a strategy is like the story of the famous sharpshooter. People heard that he was the greatest shot in the country. One day people came from everywhere to watch an exhibition of his skill. The sides of his barn were covered with bullet holes right in the middle of dozens of "bullseye" targets that had been drawn on the barn. The great moment came and the sharpshooter came outside. He lifted his rifle and shot toward the barn. Then he walked over and drew a bullseye around the hole!
C. Intentional Prayer
A comprehensive strategy for a Spirit-led prayer ministry helps provide intentionality to reclaim the church as a house of prayer with a passion for lost people. Hosting a few prayer events will involve and remind people of prayer. But a prayer ministry strategy is needed to saturate with Spirit-led prayer everything done in and through the church or association.
A prayer coordinator said, "We always did one or two big prayer emphases every year. They were always good and pretty well attended. But they were temporary events and did not really impact the whole church. That changed when the church council agreed to put prayer as the foundation of everything we do. Now we have great prayer times during the services, during Sunday School and at home prayer meetings. It has changed our whole church into a house of prayer."
"Pride, self-esteem, and self praise effectively shut the door to prayer."
Lord, You are truth, mercy, and lovingkindness. Forgive me for being deceitful, unmerciful, and inconsistent. Thank you for showing me Your ways through Your Word and Your Spirit. Make my feet stay on Your path. Make my heart burn for your Word. Let Your praises be on my lips. Use me to lead others to saving faith in You. In Jesus name, Amen.
|
