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WHo Is Your Church's MVP? |
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By Cheryl Sacks
I’ve heard John Maxwell talk about the Most Valuable Player in his church. It wasn’t his worship leader, youth pastor, or Sunday school teacher though he would certainly say these are vital. But during his days of successfully pastoring Skyline Wesleyan Church, in San Diego, California, his Most Valuable Player was his prayer partner. Why? Because when people start praying, God starts moving. The church body and the pastor have more protection, peace, and power.
A sports team’s MVP is visible, recognized and rewarded. Yet, a
church’s MVP often does his or her job behind the scenes. It reminds me
of a story told by the great British preacher, Charles Spurgeon. When a
group of young visiting pastors asked Spugeon the secret to his
powerful preaching, he took them to the boiler room of his church where
a group of some 300 were praying fervently. “Here in lays the secret to
my success,” he declared.
Often a church’s best kept secret is its prayer partners. These
intercessors seek no reward other than intimacy with the Father and
service to their church. Yet it would please God to give “honor to whom
honor is due.” Whether your church’s prayer team is a small group of
five or a well-developed prayer ministry of 500, thanking and honoring
these key players will keep them fueled and focused for the long haul.
That’s what this issue of Empowered is all about―sharing ways to help
you do just that!
Pastors, if you haven’t done this lately, why not introduce your prayer
team in a weekend service soon and share how their prayers have been a
lifeline to the church? Throughout the year a personal note of thanks
from the pastor or prayer coordinator will go a long way toward
encouraging your pray-ers. Maybe it’s time to host a Prayer Partners’
Breakfast where church leaders thank the team with a special gift.
You’ll find a gift idea list in our article on resources.
Utilize your pray-ers. Remember: frequent communication fuels
intercession. Take time to give your prayer team specific, updated
requests. And don’t forget that one of the best gifts you can give your
intercessors is to let them know when their prayers have been
answered!
In his article, Paul Covert talked about the importance of training. If
your church can afford it, registration to a prayer conference will
offer fresh inspiration as it trains and connects your intercessors
with others in similar ministries across the country. This year, the
national Church Prayer Leaders Network will hold six regional
conferences and its annual convention (held in Phoenix, Arizona in June
2006). For more information go to www.prayerleader.com. What a great
way to show your prayer team that you really care!
Caring for your prayer partners may take a little planning, time, and
money, yet it’s an investment that will pay great dividends. Numerous
positions and programs are important to a church, but one thing is
indispensable: the power and presence of God brought forth by
prevailing prayer.
--Cheryl Sacks is a conference speaker, church prayer consultant, and
author of The Prayer Saturated Church, a handbook for prayer leaders
published by NavPress. She is a contributing writer to My House Shall
Be Called a House of Prayer booklet and is the newest member of the
advisory board of Pray!
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March 2006