The most powerful way to direct and capture the biblical motivation for witness and service in your community is through a growing prayer ministry. Many people in today's culture are spiritually seeking to connect with God and to find something beyond themselves. Prayer is the conduit that connects us to God and opens up the possibilities of direction and understanding. It is a good time for the Church, as the body of Christ, to reestablish and advance our understanding, use and development of this powerful gift as an effective tool for ministry and outreach.
Why bother praying?
A frequently asked question is, "Why bother praying if God is going to do whatever God wants anyway?" Here are some thoughts on why we need to pray:
The Hebrew scriptures introduce the understanding that we were created by God for the sake of an interdependent relationship with God. God placed us on earth as God's representative to creation having received authority to exercise God's will (Genesis 1; Psalm 8). The responsibility and authority to carry out God's plan comes from the covenant relationship that God established with us. Prayer reinforces our dependence on God for everything.
Furthermore, God needs us to pray. "God chose, from the beginning of Creation, to work on the earth through humans, not independent of them. He always will, even at the cost of becoming one. Though God is sovereign and all powerful, Scripture tells us that He limited Himself, concerning the affairs of earth, to working through human beings." 1
Three examples make this point clear:
1) In the Lord's Prayer, we are taught to pray, "your kingdom come, your will be done" (Matthew 6:10). Why should we be taught by our Lord to pray this petition, which God desires, if our prayers do not impact its outcome?
2) God wants to be in a relationship with all people. If God does not need our prayers, why did Jesus say that we are to "ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers in his harvest?"(Luke 10:2)
3) We are to be God's hands, feet and voice in our world. "So we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us" (2 Corinthians 5:20). Ambassadors are people who have been authorized and sent to represent a particular country. We have been sent by God to be witnesses, to make disciples, and to intercede on behalf of individuals to God in prayer.
Why is it important that we pray? One of the New Testament images of the church is the "Body of Christ." As such, Christ is the head and we are the body. Using this metaphor, the right hand does not act unless it is instructed to do so from the mind, or head. Prayer enables the church to communicate with and understand the will of God. Jesus said, "I still have many things to say to you. But you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you in all the truth; for he will not speak on his own, but will speak whatever he hears" (John 16:12-13).
Prayer is an expectation of Christ for the Church. Jesus said, "and when you pray..." in Matthew 6:5, not, if you pray. "When we pray, we offer ourselves to God. We become agents of God's acts in new ways because we pray. By entering into intercessory prayer, we give God opportunities that God did not have before...If God is to intercede in human affairs, if God is to continue to bring the creative power of love and justice into our lives, God needs us to pray and to act." 2
It is important to see that prayer connects us to acts of justice and compassion in our community. Former ways of thinking disconnected prayer and action as if they were on two different planets. In fact, a deeper spiritual problem often underlies social problems like violence, prejudice and poverty. A growing life of prayer will lead to deeper connections and result in sustained attitudinal change and involvement in your community for just causes.
The natural connection between prayer and action leads us to respond to God's call to us as believers to intercede on behalf of our community and world. Intercede is a Latin word, intercedere, which means "to go between." Webster's dictionary defines intercede as follows: "to plead or make a request in behalf of another; to intervene; mediate." The prophet Isaiah says, "Justice is turned back, and righteousness stands at a distance..The Lord saw it, and it displeased him that there was no justice. He saw that there was no one, and was appalled that there was no one to intervene" (Isaiah 59:14,15b-16a).
The image of intercession here is like an attorney who represents her client by speaking to the judge on her clients behalf. To do intercessory prayer requires preparation and understanding, like a lawyer who has done her homework on a case. Then we can plead, mediate or intervene for individuals or for whole groups of people who are experiencing starvation, abuse, and other forms of injustice.
Catching a vision for prayer ministry
A metaphor for a God-given vision is a compass which points out the direction to go, but does not give a clearly marked or detailed map to follow. The Great Commission in Matthew 28:18-20 is a purpose or mission statement for the church. Our purpose is named by our Lord: we are to make disciples by going out into the world, baptizing and teaching all people. Acts 1:8 is a vision of our whole world having received the witness to Christ, beginning in our own home town. This is a vision for effective congregational evangelism.
To birth this vision for evangelism requires the empowerment and direction of the Holy Spirit who speaks and acts through prayer. When the disciples returned from hearing Jesus final instructions regarding their witness, they were committed to prayer (Acts 1:14). On Pentecost, the Holy Spirit filled the church with power and three thousand converts were instructed in Jesus' teachings, strengthened through Christian community, blest through the breaking of bread together and interceded on in prayer on behalf of the church and its' witness in the world (Acts 2:42). It was through the power of fasting and prayer that Paul and Barnabus were sent out to do mission work from Antioch (Acts 13:3). It was the prayers of the church that led to Peter's miraculous release from prison (Acts 12:5-12). With these and many other biblical accounts in mind, we have a great gift in prayer to accomplish this vision for evangelism.
Assessing Your Congregation's Current Prayer Ministry
An honest evaluation of your congregations' current life of prayer can help you determine how to grow forward your prayer ministry to become a mighty force for your evangelism efforts. Take a moment now to assess the present value prayer receives in the life of your congregation. Next to each item, evaluate on a scale of 0-10 using this key: 0-2=very seldom; 3-5=seldom; 6-7=often; 8-10=almost always; add all scores and divide by 10 for your average.)
_____Prayer is understood as a key part of our pastor/s job description.
_____Prayer is
a daily expectation for leaders of our congregation (council, staff, committee heads).
_____Prayer is seen as critical to the faithful preaching of God's Word and worship
leadership.
_____Prayer seminars are hosted one to two times a year; at least 10% of our
congregation's members attend annually.
_____Prayer opportunities are available for the congregation and community during the
week.
_____Prayer partners pray for our congregations' staff and their families.
_____Prayer
articles appear consistently in our congregational newsletter.
_____A Prayer Room is
available in our church building and is often used by members.
_____Prayer is available before or after worship through the ministry of a prayer team.
_____Answers to pray are made known in the congregation to thank God and inspire faithful
praying.
There are probably few congregations in North America that would score consistently in the 8-10 range. Like tending a garden, once the vision for prayer and evangelism has been established, your congregation, as "soil", must be prepared by tilling it through clear, creative and frequent communication. Think about the ways that you can make the vision for prayer known by utilizing the three learning styles: seeing (visual), hearing (auditory) and hands-on (kinesthetic). Continuous opportunities for learning about the vision will build a broad-based understanding and an active practice of prayer within your congregation.
Effective prayer ministry strategy: Tending your garden
An intentional strategy for beginning a prayer ministry should begin with Bible study and experiences in prayer. Every congregation has people at different points of development in a life of prayer. This means that your congregations' prayer plan needs to take into account the variety of experiences and exposure to prayer members have had in their lives. Keep in mind, the majority of members and non-member worshipers in congregations will usually rate their prayer life as ineffective. The remainder of this article will suggest many ways to grow forward a vital prayer ministry.
The key to tending the vision among those who view themselves as beginners in prayer is to grow their understanding and involvement. Begin teaching about prayer with a beginners' perspective in mind. Questions to be answered are: Why should I pray? What's in it for me? What difference will it make? How do I pray? Specifically, what are you asking me to consider doing and how much time will it take? Answers to these questions will lower the anxiety of a beginner about prayer and will nurture an openness to it.
Use the following five biblical examples to instruct and motivate people in intercessory prayer and lift up the goal to be a prayer-centered congregation:
Abraham is the first account of intercession on behalf of others; Abraham prayed for Lot and the people of Sodom, in an attempt to have God spare their lives (Genesis 18:22-32). Moses fasted for forty days on behalf of the sin of Israel, empowering his intercession for the salvation of the Jews (Deuteronomy 9:18-29, Nehemiah 1:4-11). Other biblical intercessors include Hannah, Samuel, David, Amos, Jeremiah and Elisha. Elijah battled and persisted in prayer to accomplish God's will.
God needs and uses our determination (1 Kings 18:1, 41-45) and also persistence, as with the widow in Luke (Luke 18:1-8). Peter had his whole evangelism perspective radically changed when he began to pray. He did not realize that another person had been faithfully praying and seeking God even before he had received his life changing vision (Acts 10). Paul was not only a great missionary, but also one who understood the necessity of prayer: "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you" (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18).
What is important in helping your congregation to become a prayer center? How can your congregation cultivate a passion for reaching out to others who do not have a relationship with Jesus Christ? Consider these ideas:
Planting: Ideas to sprout a prayer ministry
Month of Prayer
Select a prime-time month for a 30-day emphasis on prayer. For example, in December a weekly focus might follow:
Week 1: "Answered prayer"-Zechariah's story (Luke 1:5-20)
Week 2: "Nothing is impossible with God"-Mary's visitation (Luke 1:26-38) Week
3: "Emmanuel: God is in our prayers"- Joseph's dream (Matthew 1:18-25)
Week 4: "Intercession for the poor"- Mary's prayer (Luke 1:39-56)
Week 5: "Persistence in prayer" Simeon and Anna (Luke 2: 25-38)
A devotional booklet can be developed, giving members the opportunity to write personal examples of how prayer has impacted their lives. This witness tool inspires all to be more prayerful and may be used as a way to invite local residents to "come and see." Be sure to include in the booklet the stories of prayer from the children and youth of your congregation.
Weekly Prayer Insert
A bulletin insert can be developed locally as a congregation prayer guide. For example:
Monday--Pray for our youth group, area youth groups, students, teachers and
administrators of our local junior and senior high schools, and the ELCA Lutheran Youth
Organization. Especially pray for guidance for high school seniors making school and
work-related plans.
Tuesday--Pray for the evangelism efforts of St. Timothy, Center City, a mission
congregation in our synod...etc.
Prayer Chain Celebration
Many congregations provide a prayer chain ministry. Plan a special time during worship to recognize, affirm and lift up the members of your prayer chain ministry in prayer. This reinforces the importance and availability of the prayer chain to members. It also communicates to the congregation that prayer is valued in your setting.
Watering: Ideas for rooting prayer in the life of your congregation
Prayer partners
This simple idea allows your congregation to connect two people or two households together to pray for one another. In larger congregations, this will require a coordinator to plan, implement, recruit, encourage and manage the yoking of prayer partners. In smaller congregations, this type of congregation-wide prayer ministry may be implemented during one weekend in worship. For instance on, or during Epiphany, each worshiper could receive in their bulletin a star on which to write their first and last name.
During worship, the stars could be collected and then distributed at the end of the service as worshipers leave the sanctuary. Distribution should be by random selection. In prayer partner relationships, it works best if natural relational boundaries are honored or proximity to partners is considered. The congregation then needs to encourage weekly or bi-weekly contact. If weekly face-to-face contact is not reasonable, telephone or e-mail is an option; however, at the minimum, personal contact should be a twice-monthly goal.
Prayer services
Special services for prayer are planned well in advance, announced and open to the public. Decide the frequency and format that fits your setting.
One possible format for a prayer service might be:
Centralize prayer in all congregation meetings and events
The vision for prayer in your congregation will only grow forward to the level of involvement of the leadership. Begin with biblical teachings on prayer, interpret the vision and its' possible implications, invite ideas and pray. Prayer partners work well within council and committees, taking time for the partners to pray together as a part of the opening of each meeting. Eventually, decisions will be prayed about, not just discussed and debated!
Growing: Ideas to harvest people with an abundant prayer life
Establish a prayer ministry team
The prayer team functions to coordinate and provide prayer ministry in addition to, and in support of, your congregations' ministry and staff. The Prayer Team Coordinator is accountable to the pastor(s). Due to the importance of this ministry, it is vital that the Prayer Team Coordinator is in regular communication with the pastor of your congregation or the pastor on staff in your congregation with responsibilities in prayer ministry. One way to launch a prayer team is to think about the gifts of members, especially those with strong compassion and good listening skills.
Check out the bibliography listed in this resource for further assistance in recruiting people to be a part of a lay-led prayer team. Ask yourself, "Who is demonstrating a calling from God in the area of prayer?" Typically, some of the best members for a prayer team may not come from the ranks of the most visible members of your congregation. You may want to begin recruiting a prayer team by offering a book study using resources specific to prayer. Lent serves as an ideal six-week period for teaching on prayer. A prayer team may surface out of a deliberate and focused study such as this.
Prayer teams can provide powerful and effective ministry around worship in these ways: by providing pre- or post-worship prayer time near the altar or in an established prayer room for worshipers requesting prayer or by praying silently for the worship services, including participants and leaders. In addition, a prayer team may bless your congregation through the ministry of visitation and prayer with those in need of healing and by mentoring others in prayer.
Recruit intercessors to support your congregations' staff
Intercessors pray regularly for specific areas of need, support, encouragement and guidance on behalf of your congregations' staff and their families. The demands and spiritual needs of your congregation's members and ministry can often take a significant toll on staff. Intercessors can provide much-needed spiritual support and a great blessing to the staff of your congregation and their families. Because of the sensitive nature of this ministry, staff intercessors need to be people with tremendous spiritual maturity who honor confidentiality and discretion.
Weather protection: Ideas for deep and abiding advocacy through spiritual warfare
Ephesians 6:12 says, "For our struggle is not against enemies of flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places." It is clear today that we are not simply dealing with human failure in our cities and rural communities. Growing violence and fear has a grip that is spiritual in power. We must utilize the spiritual authority that Christ has given us to extend Christ's kingdom to all people. To seek out the "lost sheep" (Luke 15) in our communities, we need to know and understand the spiritual forces that occupy and reside in our area. How can we gain such an understanding?
Prayerwalking
Prayerwalking (see Genesis 13:14-18; Joshua 1:2-3) is praying for homes, businesses, schools and government agencies in your community as you walk through local neighborhoods. The joy of prayerwalking is that it can involve the whole congregation in teams of two's or threes. Children, teens and adults can all participate by sharing insights based on sounds, sights and smells of the neighborhood, as well as spirit-led impressions as you pray for the person or family living in a particular home or apartment.
With a brief orientation to prayerwalking, singing a few songs of praise to open hearts to God and a prayer of blessing, participants are launched on a mission. Keep in mind: Who - Make sure all prayerwalkers meet one another. Where- Distribute maps and directions for the route. When- Agree on an ending time and a final destination (usually 1-2 hours). What- Pray a general blessing, for evangelism concerns, children, teens and family life. Why- This ministry is especially effective for a special day or season in the life of your congregation or for an event or issue happening in the neighborhood.
The reason for pairing up on the walk is that its adds another perspective, offers the opportunity to pray in agreement for others, provides safety to the walkers and reinforces confidence in verbalizing prayer. It is important to end the walk by sharing observations and learnings, evaluating the walk and setting a date and time for the next walk. In addition, walkers may want to share together any special prayer concerns that emerged from their prayerwalking through the neighborhood. 3
Spiritual Mapping
Spiritual mapping is an historical and Spirit-led study of your local community (see Jeremiah 33:3; 2 Corinthians 4:18). What are the basic problems your community is facing? How did these challenges become a present reality? How is God guiding you and your congregation to respond?
St. Paul writes, "...the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God" (2 Corinthians 4:4). Through spiritual mapping in prayer, you will discern patterns of sin and death that take their toll on your local community. A local crack house or a place where drugs are bought and sold may be places where Satan's rule is most evident. Armed with the knowledge of this kind of bondage, we can pray for liberation for local residents. At the very least, such a study will enhance understanding of your community and impact future plans for the ministry of your congregation.
Identificational repentance
This is a form of confession which moves beyond individual or congregational repentance to repenting on behalf of your local community, denomination or nation (see Daniel 9:3-20). The purpose is to bring healing and forgiveness to your community. This form of spiritual warfare works for a unity that is grounded in honest confession and absolution for known or unknown harm that has been done. Identificational repentance addresses the systemic issues of sin and evil, such as racism, sexism, or factional divides caused by denominational differences.
Strategic-level warfare
This form of spiritual warfare involves being prepared for spiritual battle, as Jesus was in the wilderness (Luke 4; Luke 11:21-22) . Strategic-level warfare requires a Christian to recognize their weaknesses and utilize their strengths (Ephesians 6:10-18). This form of prayer ministry demands that Christians do similar homework on the enemy and understand the places where battle will most likely happen. It is critical for missionaries and pastor-developers to be armed and ready for this level of prayer ministry because of the high stakes involved in intentional and deliberate spreading of the Gospel. It is also essential that a congregation dedicated to revitalization or redevelopment address this form of prayer ministry.
Seven vital steps to advance your prayer ministry
Vital prayer ministries are foundational to the entire ministry, and particularly the evangelism focus, of every congregation. There are seven vital steps to advancing your congregation's prayer ministry:
Step 1: Reinforce a vision of prayer
Use frequent and creative communication to reinforce the vision for prayer established by your congregation's leadership. Use your newsletter effectively to lift the vision. Keep it visibly in front of the congregation by displaying a banner at the entry to the worship center. What symbol can you develop that will be associated with the prayer vision? Can a song be written to capture the vision? Include reminders about prayer in the sermons and worship services of your faith community.
Step 2: Lay a solid biblical foundation
Launch your prayer ministry through a series of sermons that support a vision for individual and communal prayer. This deliberate approach will help address any questions or concerns about a focused emphasis on prayer. Keep in mind that wise leaders will build prayer ministry on a solid biblical foundation. When the storms of conflict come, this "house of prayer" will not be washed away (Matthew 7:24-27).
Step 3: Train prayer team members
Take the time and energy to train those who volunteer or who are selected for your congregational prayer team. Make expectations clear from the beginning for prayer team members. Communicate clearly the hopes and dreams for this ministry. A helpful guide for planning your congregation's prayer ministry is listed in the bibliography of this resource: Face to Face with God: Establishing a Prayer Ministry in Your Church. This resource also contains ideas for training a prayer team and intercessors.
Step 4: Establish clear lines of accountability
It is vitally important to have clear lines of accountability in your prayer ministry. Because of the spiritual reality of prayer and the need for confidentiality, it is important to work through issues of accountability ahead of time. Having one person in charge who communicates regularly with your church staff prevents chaos.
Step 5: Develop prayer mentors
Mentoring can be an excellent way to develop skilled people for your prayer team. It also reinforces what the mentor has learned. Mentoring expands and multiplies prayer ministry training to include greater numbers of congregational members. Imagine a whole congregation that has received some special prayer training. It could revolutionize your congregation.
Step 6: Protect your prayer ministry
Follow a few simple guidelines to protect your prayer team and its members. Ephesians 6:13 says, "having done everything to stand firm." We are all subject to temptation. It is wise in prayer ministry to establish clear boundaries for the emotional safety of all those involved. If a man or woman requests private prayer, be sure that the prayer team member is of the same gender. A prayer team consisting of both a man and a woman is another good solution to private prayer. Prayer partners should be of the same gender unless it is in a public meeting. If there is a desire for the laying on of hands in prayer, ask permission first. Then, and only then, the prayer partner may place a hand on the head or join hands with the person for whom they are praying.
Step 7: Celebrate publicly those who serve in this ministry
Just as you install others for a variety of other congregational volunteer ministries, it is important that your congregation has an opportunity to publicly affirm those who serve in your prayer ministries. This also reminds your congregation of its commitment to accept, support and pray for those who have stepped forward for this important ministry.
Prayer Ministry in Action: Congregational Examples
Here are a few examples of dynamic prayer ministries happening in congregations of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America:
St. Paul's Lutheran, Decatur, Georgia
At St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Decatur, Georgia, Pastor James Capers credits prayer ministry for the growth in the congregation. He says, "It is the undergirding behind what is going on here!" Begun in 1956, this congregation is blessed with two intercessory prayer groups, one that meets weekly and one bi-weekly.
Ms. Willa Franklin, one of the founders of the intercessory prayer group, shared, "God can and will move when we intercede. We've seen God move a lot in miraculous ways. We had a young woman with a child who had a heart defect. Now the child is a bubbly three-year old and is doing just fine. I think Lutherans seem afraid about needing to pray the right way. Prayer is a communication tool. It's simply talking with God." Ms. Franklin describes the congregations' intercessory prayer meeting by saying, "We start by singing praises to God. God moves through prayer. We ask the Holy Spirit to be in the midst of our prayer time and that we may be in one accord. We began a few years ago by reading a Charles Stanley book on prayer. Now we just start praying. We have become so bold! We know that God will give you what you need."
Hosanna Lutheran, Lakeville, Minnesota
Another congregation that is deeply involved in prayer ministry is Hosanna Lutheran Church in Lakeville, Minnesota. Pastor David Householder was called to this 18-year old congregation in 1994. He brought with him an idea for prayer ministry that had worked in his former congregation: a prayer closet. Today, the "prayer closet" at Hosanna is a highly visible chapel adjacent to the congregations' worship center. It is staffed all Sunday morning with a lay-led prayer team of five people. Hosanna has five prayer teams, each serving one Sunday a month. Pastor Householder said, "There is a line of people all morning long waiting to receive prayer on Sunday mornings in the chapel." Householder added, "We've become a people of prayer. It is now a part of our congregational culture at Hosanna. Eighty percent of the people receive their pastoral care in our prayer chapel!"
Good Shepherd Lutheran, Irvine, California
Out of a grief group whose needs for care and support were met, came a desire to care for others. This is how the prayer ministry at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Irvine, California, was born. One of the group participants, Gwen Byrd, now serves as the coordinator of Family Ministry and Small Groups, which includes the prayer team of this congregation.
The Good Shepherd Prayer Team has adopted a membership directory focus. Each week the prayer team gathers to pray for the members of the congregation by name and by household. As a result of their time in prayer, forty or fifty letters are sent out to the congregation informing them that they were prayed for that week. At the bottom of the letter is a tear-off form which asks for specific prayer concerns. Ms. Byrd shared, "A woman called the church and asked for one of the prayer team members by name. She said that her family had received the letter and it felt so good to know that someone had cared enough to pray for her family. She admitted that her family had not been to worship in a long time. Now they were coming back!" Another person who had been involved in a Lutheran church since the cradle called the church and said, "This is the first time we have received a letter from the church without the letter asking us to do or give something!"
During Lent at Good Shepherd, the Wednesday evening and Sunday morning worship bulletins include a strip of paper with a form to record prayer concerns. These prayer concerns are prayed over by the prayer team the next week and then looped and stapled into a "prayer chain" around the worship center. "We had over 800 loops in our chain last year and over 900 prayer concerns this year. I cannot wait for the day that the whole sanctuary is encompassed in a colorful prayer chain." Ms. Byrd said. She added, "There is nothing more powerful to me than to pray over a concern written in a child's handwriting."
St. John's Lutheran, Gardena, California
Another congregation known for its strong prayer ministry is St. John's Lutheran Church in Gardena, California. In its' membership class, a vision for high expectation membership is shared. One of the goals is to make disciples who "grow up" spiritually. As a part of the membership classes, Prayer 101 is taught, introducing new members to the basics of prayer. A similar class is taught on the junior high level as a part of the confirmation ministry!
To develop spiritual maturity, St. John's offers seven small groups for discipleship development that meet throughout the week. The first twenty minutes of each hour-long small group is spent in honest discussion about the daily devotions and prayer life of each member during the preceding week. The remaining forty minutes is spent in Bible study and prayer for personal, family, church-related and community-based concerns.
George Villa, pastor of St. John's, says, "Transformed lives are the bottom line. From newcomers to old timers, we are seeing lives changed by the Gospel. It's walking the faith with people, that's what it's all about! For example, we have seen street people and drug addicts who have lost their kids, get cleaned up, get straight, get their kids back, and become gainfully employed. People in our local community are taking notice."
Prince of Peace Lutheran, Fulton, New York
A final example of a congregation with a growing prayer ministry is Prince of Peace in Fulton, New York. Pastor David Poling-Goldenne, Director of Discipleship in the ELCA Division for Congregational Ministries says, "Healthy congregations are ones who are growing deeper in discipleship and wider in evangelism." Prince of Peace intentionally began a journey seeking to go deeper in Lent of 1997 through a study of Dietrich Bonhoeffer's book, The Cost of Discipleship. In the fall of that year, "Community of Prayer" was born as a vision to draw the congregation into a closer relationship with Christ through prayer.
Prince of Peace's Coordinator of Prayer Ministry, Margaret Nichols, says, "One of the challenges we face to be a community of prayer is having people see that we are all called and drawn to pray in different ways. We must continue teaching, inviting, encouraging, and welcoming new people to one of the many prayer opportunities available." A participant on the prayer team with a gift of healing, Chuck Copps, adds, "In a general way, prayers are being answered as we open ourselves up to God. There are a number of times that people have come back a day or two after we have prayed together, and their specific concern has been answered, by the mercy of God!" Ms. Nichols sums it up best when she says, "This prayer ministry is the most wonderful thing I have ever done in the church!"
These five congregations represent just a glimpse into the dynamic prayer ministries evident in congregations across the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America today! Sharing ideas with other congregations builds faith, encourages risk-taking and helps to advance prayer in our congregations. Is God speaking to you about initiating a deeper emphasis on prayer in your congregation?
Growing your congregations' prayer ministry is a first step in equipping it to engage in evangelism and outreach in your local community. With a vision in place, your congregation can help people make a life-transforming connection with God through prayer. Tend the garden of prayer and then prepare for a bountiful harvest of new life in Jesus Christ!
Prayer ministry resource list
General Books on Prayer:
Foster, Richard J. Prayer. San Francisco: Harper Collins, 1992.
Martin, Glen and Diane Ginter. Power House. Nashville: Broadman & Holman,
1994.
Petersen, Bjorn. Face to Face with God in Your Church: Establishing A Prayer Ministry.Minneapolis:
Augsburg Fortress, 1995.
Wagner, C. Peter. Churches That Pray. Ventura: Regal, 1993.
Prayer small groups:
Klug, Lyn. Praying: Meeting God in Daily Life. Minneapolis: Augsburg Fortress,
1995.
Heald, Cynthia. Becoming A Woman of Prayer. Colorado Springs: NavPress, 1996.
Numerous resources for women are available on this topic from the Women of the Evangelical
Lutheran Church in America, Chicago, Illinois. 800/638-3522.
Healing prayer:
Beckmen, Richard J. Praying for Wholeness and Healing. Minneapolis: Augsburg Fortress,1995.
Intercessory prayer:
Jacobs, Cindy. Possessing the Gates of the Enemy. Grand Rapids: Chosen, 1991.
Sheets, Dutch. Intercessory Prayer. Ventura: Regal, 1996.
Vennard, Jane E. Intercessory Prayer: Praying for Friends and Enemies.
Minneapolis, Augsburg Fortress, 1995.
Spiritual warfare:
Beckett, Bob with Rebecca Wagner Sytsema. Commitment to Conquer. Grand Rapids:
Chosen, 1997. (On spiritual mapping and identificational repentance)
Dawson, John. Taking Our Cities for Good. Lake Mercy: Creation House, 1989. (On
spiritual mapping)
Hawthorne, Steve and Graham Kendrick. Prayerwalking. Orlando: Creation House ,
1993.
Silvoso, Ed. That None Should Perish. Ventura: Regal, 1994. (On prayer
evangelism)
Endnotes:
1 Dutch Sheets, Intercessory Prayer (Ventura: Regal, 1996), p.28-29.
2 Jane E. Vennard, Intercessory Prayer: Praying for Friends and Enemies (Minneapolis: Augsburg Fortress, 1995) p.21.
3 Steve Hawthorne and Graham Kendrick, Prayerwalking (Orlando: Creation House, 1993) basic ideas here have been adapted from the resource.
Writer: Brent Dahlseng Editor: Marta Poling-Goldenne Design: Sharon Schuster; Publication Plus, Inc. Copyright 1998 by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, 8765 West Higgins Road, Chicago, IL 60631. 800/638-3522. Produced by the Education and Evangelism team of the Division for Congregational Ministries.
Permission is granted for congregations of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America to reproduce this resource for local use. Multiple copies can be ordered by calling 800/328-4648 utilizing the code listed below:
69-9290 6-0000-9997-5