3 Purposes of Prayer

God’s Plan for Effective Intercession

You’re the one.”

I wasn’t sure why I was the one when he pointed at me in the lobby of a hotel. But Jon Graf had been dreaming about starting a new magazine on prayer. He needed someone with editorial experience who also intersected with the prayer world. So, when he spotted me lingering in the lobby, he realized I might just be the answer to his prayer.

Jon and I already knew each other because we had previously intersected at Evangelical Press Association meetings. He was an editor with another magazine, and I was the editor of two magazines at the time.

Now, several years later, we crossed paths again in Hollywood, CA, where we were both attending the National Prayer Committee meetings. I was no longer editing magazines but had launched my own editorial business after working several years with a prayer ministry in the Minneapolis area.

Two people who love writing, editing, magazine publishing, and prayer—meeting in the most unlikely place. Soon after, we became the founding publisher and founding editor of a magazine that has lasted 13 years and 59 issues. It was an answer to prayer—for both of us!

Jon pulled in his friend Bridget Rennie, a freelance graphic designer who worked with Jon on previous magazines. Bridget and I quickly became long-distance friends as we passed electronic files back and forth between Minneapolis and Fort Collins, CO. In fact, Bridget and I have met in person only twice in the 13 years! But we like to chat about current events while we navigate the magazine through all the production stages.

I added a couple of friends—Joyce Ellis and Joan Sherman—to help find nasty typos in our proofing stages. They enhanced the quality of the magazine with their editorial expertise.

And, of course, many wonderful prayer friends—I like to call them “prayer practitioners”—provided wonderful content. It was rare that a national prayer leader declined when I pitched an article idea to him or her. These leaders, with all their expertise, are part of the Prayer Connect family. I am especially thankful for Dave and Kim Butts, who served us well as prayer partners and editorial advisors.

Jon, Bridget, and I stayed together as the founding team through all the struggles and joys of magazine publishing. And as a credit to Jon’s faith and belief in our work, we lasted much longer than most magazines with financial challenges. I love print magazines, but the industry has taken a hit with rising costs and changing reading habits. Jon held out as long as possible—and I will always be grateful.

A Great Run

And so now, we come to the final issue of Prayer Connect. I have loved this project more than any other in my editorial career.

In this issue, we close out by highlighting three wonderful prayer purposes: a personal and intimate prayer relationship with God, the power of agreeing in prayer with others, and an invitation to pray fervently for others in a world charged with spiritual warfare. Kim Butts, Jon Graf, and I are honored to contribute the final theme articles.

I don’t think any of us dreamed that Prayer Connect would last this long. I’m so grateful God directed Jon to ask me to be “the one” to serve as editor. It’s been a great run with a great team and an even greater God.

CAROL MADISON is editor of Prayer Connect. She is also the author of Prayer That’s Caught and Taught and editor of Do It Again, Lord.