New Year Check Up

Just as many corporations perform an annual review, some even requiring top management to take yearly physical exams, it may be a good idea to evaluate the state of prayer within your congregation.

Take both a rearview mirror and a windshield look.

Rearview Mirror:
1. Visit: http://www.nppn.org/Articles/Article062.htm

2. Print a copy of “A Diagnostic Tool to Assess the Prayer Life of a Congregation.” Originally prepared for an association of congregations in New York City, this tool will enlist core leadership in the process of evaluating the health of their ministry as related to prayer.

3. With your pastor’s permission, distribute a copy to each ministry leader and several church members. Best use would be to meet together for two hours: Explain the purpose and the process, distribute the survey, work on the survey (individually or I groups), then discuss.
4. Report to the pastor, with the hope of reporting to the congregation (verbally or through communication tools).

5. Share overall results on the CPLN Discussion Board as a means of encouraging other congregational prayer leaders.

Windshield View:
1. Purchase a business or planning calendar for 2006. If possible, utilize a computer-based calendar that can be printed and copied for distribution to every leader. The goal is to produce a visual schedule (and reminder) of prayer.

2. Identify all ongoing times devoted to prayer, such a weeknight prayer meeting, prayer groups, prayer rooms, etc. (red).

3. List special prayer days, services or seminars (green).

4. Show groups or classes that give a tithe of their meeting time to prayer each meeting (blue).

5. Include weekly prayer lists, monthly mission-prayer bulletin boards, daily E-mail prayer lists (yellow)

6. Ask your pastor for any dates when prayer is the topic of preaching (sermon or series) or teaching (brown).

7. Update and distribute quarterly as a means of ongoing information and motivation.