. . . we need some irregular prayer meetings!

Not too long ago, I was trying to explain our upcoming midweek schedule to the congregation. We had just completed two months of “Free Lemonade/Free Prayer” prayer stations. In two weeks, an all-church prayer meeting would commemorate my final day as their interim pastor. Easy enough. But how to describe the week in between the prayer stations and the special “good bye” meeting?

“A congregation in our association recently had a ‘prayer saturated’ month instead of their usual week of revival meetings. What does this change accomplish?”

Firstly, by saturating every meeting and activity with a time of praying (some pastors set a time, such as 10 minutes, while others ask for a tithe, say the first 6 minutes of a 60 minute meeting) the entire congregation is involved, not just those who would attend the (revival) meetings.

Secondly, this method requires the leadership of the church to do more than sit through another church service; they must take the lead in bringing people to the place of prayer. They must also think strategically in order to set a focus for the time allotted to praying.

Thirdly, a prayer saturated month can also include one or more special gatherings devoted to introspective prayer aimed at spiritual cleansing.

By Jonathan Graf

Over the years, I've heard a few pithy sayings about prayer. "Prayer is caught, not taught," and "You learn to pray by praying." Both are true, but the effect of these sayings has added to the prayerlessness of many churches. Why? Because they keep churches from being deliberate about discipling in prayer.

These two truths make us assume that prayer will happen naturally. But as I've visited churches across the country, I've observed that it usually doesn't. Without consistent discipling in prayer, the following often happens:

Turning Prayer Meetings into Adventures

 
In her new book, Fueled by Faith (New Hope Publishers), Jennifer Kennedy Dean includes a chapter that can be used to facilitate a small group or weeknight prayer meeting.

The content of the chapter can be used as study material for the facilitator (or, better yet, someone in the group) to present a brief (5-7 minute) devotional to focus everyone’s thoughts.

The outline of the chapter offers a format for three sections of prayer. Scripture is presented that can form the basis of each prayer emphasis.

Recent events such as Katrina have rallied many people toward prayer. While a powerful and needed call, President Bush's declaration of a Day of Prayer caught many churches and communities off guard. In our planned-event style, we found it difficult to rally our people to meaningful prayer.

We recommend keeping a folder with available resources from which you can draw should you need them in the future. Keep copies of available prayer guides and web addresses that likely would have the most up-to-date prayer ideas for praying in times of emergency or calamity. The following information shoud be included:

Websites:

www.nationalprayer.org--the website of America's National Prayer Committee, this site would keep abreast of any available prayer information.
www.greatercalling.org--a website that host teleprayer meetings related to various
www.centoday.com--the website of the Christian Emergency Network

Prayer Guides:

"Prayers of Hope in Times of Calamity." A prayer guide produced by Pray! magazine. SOld in packs of 50 ($7)
http://www.navpress.com/Store/Product/239.html

Prayer Leader OnLine interviews, Kathleen Trock, founder of Pebbles and Stones
www.PebblesandStones.com

Q. Kathleen, your Pebbles and Stones prayer ministry is for "young and old alike" but you have a special place in your heart for children. Why do you give so much emphasis upon young children?
As a child, I often wondered what it would have been like to live when Jesus did--to walk the same streets that He did, to hear His voice, and to watch Him. I especially liked to think about the day that He invited the children to come to Him.  Sometimes, I could almost hear Him say, "Let the children come to me. Don't stop them! For the Kingdom of God belongs to them.’ I longed to be a part of His Kingdom.

Mark used the Greek word “eeganakteesen” which means to feel deep agonizing pain to describe Jesus‚ reaction to his disciples when they tried to stop the children from coming. What was in the heart of Jesus that caused Him to feel such pain?  Did the Eternal One look through the corridors of time? Did He look into the past, through the present and into the future? Did He hear the screams of the children sacrificed to Molech? Did He hear Rachel weeping for her children? As Jesus looked into the present, did He hear the cries of our own children? Did he see our children physically abused, addicted to drugs, and abandoned to the pain of poverty? Did He see the children orphaned by AIDS begging in the streets of Africa? Did He feel the pain of abortion? As He looked into the future, what horrors did He see? No wonder Jesus said, "Let the children come. Don't stop them. For the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these.”

I emphasis children, because I believe that Jesus eternally calls the children to come to Him to receive His "blessings." I believe that without Him they will never know the Love they were created to know, or their destinies.