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 A Prayer Guidebook for Churches and Associations
A. The Most Effective Prayer Coordinators have the Complete Support of the DOM, Pastor, and Staff
1. The prayer leader needs to have an influential position that has access to the decision making and budgeting process.
2. The prayer ministry needs to have a priority budget.
3. A case can be made that the DOM or pastor should be the prayer coordinator. It takes a lot of time to integrate prayer into every part of the association or church. It will usually require someone to devote primary leadership to creating and expanding a prayer ministry.
4. Strive to keep prayer a priority for everything done in and through the association and congregation. A priority is seen by how an association or congregation spends its money, its time and its people’s gifts.
5. Consider adapting some of the prayer ministry form descriptions found in Appendix E.
A DOM commented, "Eureka! No wonder prayer is not a priority. We have our people involved in so many activities we have left them no time to focus on their relationship with God."
B. Involve and Inform as Many People as Possible.
1. Use and develop every possible communication network. Electronic technology has made communication easy for those who are online. Many associations and state conventions have all of their churches online. They communicate often through e-mail and web pages. A lot of prayer information and prayer coordinator networks are listed at www.namb.net/prayer and www.imb.org/pray.
Use church and associational newsletters, e-mail newsletters, FAX, Internet web pages, fellowship gatherings of those groups, prayer conference calls for associational directors, and chat rooms. Survey the pastors and staff for prayer needs.
2. Discover and report on what’s happening in prayer. People are encouraged to pray when they hear about answered prayers. God answers some prayers with a "no" and some prayers with "wait." Many people think that God does not answer prayer because He answers them "no" or "wait."
Encouraging people to see that answered prayer helps them to learn important prayer lessons. Prayer is not so much trying to convince God to see things our way. It helps us to see what God wants and agree with Him. When we agree with God we always get a "yes" answer. Encourage believers to share examples of when it was good that God answered their prayer "no" or "wait."
3. Discover and report different prayer strategies. Let others see how Great Commission Prayer Strategies are being adapted locally and nationally. Learn from each other.
C. Be Careful Not to Make Payer a Program. It is a human tendency to create a program that becomes a lifeless ritual. Begin small, mentor and train individuals. Keep the focus on a relationship with Christ.
D. Reject "Trick or Treat" Prayer. A pastor shared "I discovered that prayer to me had become a habit of running to the door of heaven asking for a treat. Then I would run off and go hunting other treats." Satan enjoys keeping prayer as obscure as possible.
"If Satan cannot persuade us to fail in the flesh, he will convince us to succeed in the flesh."
Lord, You rule all of time, space, and history with justice and might. Thank you for your patient kindness to me. Teach me to be your obedient servant. Let me be a pleasing aroma and a delight to You. Thank You that You hide Your living Word in my heart and bring it to mind in times of need. Show me the true image of the temptation that surrounds me. Let me walk blamelessly that people will be attracted to you and I may show them the way. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
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