Home  October 2005
October 2005
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Dear Phil,
Thank you so much for the items in Prayer Leader Online. I can't tell you how much I needed to hear these things right now as I struggle with the fledgling prayer ministry at my church.
I need advice on how to light enthusiasm for prayer and worship. In this past year, we've held a prayer seminar, prayer workshop, prayer vigil, prayerwalk and attempted to form a prayer team. All were not very well attended despite much advance communication. In our early prayer team meetings, we tried to initiate the formation of groups to cover various aspects of the church, (i.e., teams to pray for staff, for youth, for children, for each worship service, for various committees, etc.). I have now switched tactics and am going to folks one by one, starting by asking them to meet me on Sunday mornings to pray for/with our pastors. There are a few successes, but often I'm met with various excuses (too early, maybe sometime . . .).
On the other hand, we now have a lovely prayer room, and there are a few folks becoming amenable to the idea of covering all we do in prayer. It's just very encouraging to me to hear from others about feeling a bit frustrated and I appreciate the prayers. I also appreciate all the resources and advice I can find!
In grateful prayer,
Carol S.
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Turning Prayer Meetings into Adventures
Praying in the Church, for the Church
Purpose: Church members praying for the church ministries in the ministry locations throughout the church building.
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An Idea for Prayer Champions |
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Give Thanks . . . with a Gift
Thanksgiving is a wonderful and appropriate time to show appreciation to those who support the ministry of prayer . . . and to plant the seed in others. Why not bless those on your prayer team and/or those who support the church in prayer with the gift of a book or tape that the Holy Spirit can use to draw them deeper into biblical prayer.
One book we highly recommend is The Lighthouse Devotional. Currently, Harvest prayer ministries is offering this $15 hardcover book at 67% off the retail price ($5.00). Pray! books also offers multiple copy discoutns on its products. Such books as Lord, Teach Us to Pray, Approaching God, or the inexpensive Paths of Gold would make good "thank yous" for people of prayer.
If you do not have a prayer ministry budget, ask permission to utilize the church’s leadership budget or raise enough funds to cover the cost of purchasing multiple copies of a prayer resource.
Include a note that affirms them and invites their fuller participation. |
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Developing a Congregation That Loves to Pray |
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Prayer Leader OnLine interviews Dr. Alvin VanderGriend, Prayer Evangelism Associate for Harvest Prayer Ministries
Q. Alvin, many prayer leaders and praying pastors are concerned about the lack of participation in prayer among their church members. Do you share this concern and, if so, how have we gotten to this point in the North American Church?
I agree that there is a lack of participation in prayer among North American churches. I think this has happened for two reasons. First, for the past century most North American seminaries have failed to give ministerial students an adequate understanding of prayer and have failed to help them develop their prayer lives. Consequently, congregations led by these pastors have lacked the leadership required to develop their understanding and practice of prayer.
Second, Christians, influenced by our materialistic and hedonistic society, are prone today to think of prayer as a way to find solutions to problems and to get the good life. When used in this way prayer turns into a monotonous system of begging God rather than a joyful love relationship. When that happens prayer becomes an activity not a joy. Begging is not something people naturally love to do.
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Setting All-Church Prayer in Motion |
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By Jacquie Tyre
“Hear ye! Hear ye! Starting next month City Community Church will embark upon a new and exciting ministry. Prepare now to be a part and see the blessings of God pour out through this new work!”
“Prepare now . . . ?” How do I do that?
Does this scenario sound familiar to you? Whether you are a pastor, lay leader, or member of a congregation, opportunities for church-wide involvement come along almost weekly. We usually think of roles like teaching, serving, greeting, gathering or preparing supplies, contacting people, set-up, or clean-up as ways to be involved. But what about mobilizing people to pray before, during, and after the event?
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A new prayer initiative has caught fire and is effecting hundreds of churches, firing up their congregations to love to pray!
40 Days of Prayer leads people into a deeper prayer life through devotionals and study materials that are designed specifically to teach them how to pray, what to pray and why to pray. The 40 Days of Prayer campaign and its website provide all the resources needed to effectively use the Love to Pray books, study guides and DVD to participate in a 40 Days Of Prayer experience. Individuals, families, prayer cells, small groups and churches can all use these materials and tailor them to their specific needs.
While there are a number of good prayer initiatives available these days (Seek God for the City and Ready for Revival being two others), 40 Days of Prayer provides your church and people with the most complete package available today that will develop people into a pattern of prayer. |
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October 2005 Complete Issue |
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October 2005
New Benefit for Members
I am so excited to announce a new member benefit! Starting in November, we will begin offering "tele- seminars." What's a tele-seminar you ask? It's where you listen to a live seminar over your telephone.
Most seminars will feature either a CPLN staff person or rep or a local church prayer leader. The teaching will last 30-40 minutes and then there will be a short time for interaction.
More information will come in a few weeks via a speacial email. The first teleseminar topic will be "Developing a Prayer Strategy for Your Church," taught by yours truly. As soon as you hear when it is, why not sign up (it's free, except for your long distance charges). We encourage you to get your entire prayer team together, listen to the seminar on speaker phone, and then discuss it together afterwards.
The seminar will be hosted by our new ministry partner, GreaterCalling.org.
Jonathan Graf
President, CPLN
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