. . . the desire to grow deeper in our understanding of the Word and go higher in our Christian experience can prevent us from seeing the obvious.

A recent fresh look at Jas. 5:13-17 uncovered a short, simple phrase that reminded me of something as basic to prayer as breathing is to staying alive: “Phil, you should pray.”

No new truth here. Certainly not a new insight that has escaped the Church fathers (and mothers) for centuries. Only a simple, yet woefully needed reminder, no, admonition--pray!

Is it possible that in all our sermons, websites, workshops, meetings and ministries, that we have forgotten to pray? Not so much forgotten; is it possible we have so emphasized the trappings around our praying (chairs or candles, hymn books or song sheets, standing or kneeling, loud or silent) that we have neglected or underappreciated the simple act of praying? The truthful, tender sharing of our heart and soul with our Master, Friend, Savior Jesus? Listening and learning. Observing and obeying. Have we done everything around prayer but the praying?

The simple, straightforward words of James admonish me; “Phil, you should pray.”

With you for a prayed for planet,

Pastor Phil

Praying for Passion in Ministry

The following format is based on the chapters of Stephen Seamands’ book, A Conversation with Jesus (Victor Books). Each is based on Christ’s post-Resurrection, breakfast-on-the-shore conversation with Peter in John 21. “Jesus . . . remind[ed] Peter of the essentials of ministry-–truths he already knew but had forgotten. His five ‘words’ to Peter revolve around key elements of ministry.”

Focus: Renewing Our Passion For Ministry

Prayer is not just another ministry

By Jonathan Graf

A few years ago I spoke at a prayer conference at a Baptist church in metro Atlanta. The Friday night/Saturday event was poorly attended (80 people) for such a large church (6,000 members).

The prayer leader apologized for the small turnout, but revealed that one of the problems was that most events at this church were not announced from the platform. She went on to say that so many ministries have events each month that a rule had been made: none could have “platform time.” To be fair, any ministry leader could advertise in the bulletin or newsletter or put up posters but could never promote during a service.

Prayer Leader OnLine interviews, John Franklin, author of And the Place Was Shaken: How to Lead a Powerful Prayer Meeting, and Southern Baptist prayer leader.

Q. John, you have just published a new book on the local church prayer meeting. What motivated you to write an entire book on that subject?
I asked three very revealing questions to approximately 6,000 pastors or prayer leaders over the last five years. They are: 1. When was the last time you remember the manifest presence and power of God on a regular basis in your church prayer meeting? Very few people could answer that question. 2. How many of you have been trained in how to lead a prayer meeting? Of all those people, only 53 have raised their hand. 3. Could you tell me the dynamic church you could go to in our denomination to learn? Nobody could really offer one. Once I heard a Korean and Chinese church named. The other church that surfaced several times was Brooklyn Tabernacle, although it was not in my denomination.

So you see the pictured that has been painted. We have not had the presence of God in a long time in our prayer meetings. We haven't been trained in how to do anything differently, and if you did want to go learn, where would you go? That's the motivation.

Introducing a Powerful Curriculumn to Teach Kids to Pray

KidsGap: Come Pray with Us
By Jenny Almquist

KidsGap was developed in the trenches of local church prayer. Prayer leader, Jenny Almquist put her passion for prayer and her passion for kids together and said why can't they learn to pray powerfully? Today, her church--Menomonie (WI) Alliance reaps the benefits of kids who are trained in kingdom praying. Not only do these kids pray powerfully in their own lives, but they have been taught to pray through their church's services.

Among the 12 lessons this book teaches are:

• How to hear God's voice
• What an intercessor is
• The importance of personal purity to powerful prayer
• The power of praise in spiritual warfare
• How to pray for the lost
• How to have a quiet time

Besides Menomonie Alliance, KidsGap is catching on elsewhere as well. "Experiencing KidsGap in our church," says worship and prayer leader Jaimee Grangruth (Chetek Full Gospel Tabernacle, Chetek, WI), "has really been an awesome time of getting closer to God's heart for communication with us. The kids in our group have taught me that adults really make prayer more difficult than it was meant to be. We have been able to have so much freedom because the curriculumn opens the doorway and the kids run right through to the presence of God."

KidsGap sells for $8 ($6.40 for CPLN members) and is available at our webstore: https://store.prayerleader.com.

PrayerLeader OnLine, November 2005, Vol. 2, No. 11

Introduction

The Christmas holidays are upon us. Soon the new year will begin. That always means fresh starts. Is it time to think about some changes, some improvements to your prayer ministries, strategies, meetings, or prayer teams?

It is easy to fall into ruts--especially if things are running smoothly--even with prayer. How might the Father have you tweak things to make them more effective. What new prayer initiatives or ministries might He be placing in your heart?

As you go through the bustle of December, why not keep that idea before the Lord. "Father, what is on your heart for our church, and how might our prayer foundation come alongside that?"

Note: Don't forget to set aside Saturday morning, December 3rd (noon EST) to participate in our teleseminar: "Developing a Prayer Strategy for Your Church." Check out the information at www.prayerleader.com.

Jonathan Graf
President, CPLN