By now you are well into your fall. Christmas and the New Year are just around the corner. Begin now praying and planning for next year! What resources will you need? What budget items are needed? Should you plan an all-church prayer initiative like Seek God for the City, Love to Pray or Ready for Revival?

Start by seeking God for His plans. Bring your team together for prayer. Don't have a team? Then develop one. We are trusting God for deeper things for you and your ministry. Take advantage of all we have to offer.

Blessings,
Jon Graf
President

It Seems to Me . . .

. . . 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?

I cringed as I heard myself say: “This coming Wednesday is just a regular prayer meeting.”

Regular? Since when should we ever consider two or three gathered in His name in His presence as regular? I only meant that we would be returning to our pre-prayer station format but the Holy Spirit would not let me forget my choice of words.

Sad to say, when I looked up the term, it all made sense: “Regular: Unvarying, predictable, normally expected, conforming.”  Hasn’t our week-to-week experience of corporate prayer become predictable? Don’t we walk into the room expecting a normal, ordinary, just-like-last-week-and-the weeks-before experience? Unvarying; isn’t it a virtue in many prayer circles? Would you agree we have conformed more to tradition that to what we read in scripture?

My slip of vocabulary spoke volumes. Too many gatherings of prayer are all too regular. It is time for some irregular prayer meetings!

With you for a prayed for planet,

Pastor Phil

HOPE THIS HELPS

“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.

The hope is for everyone in the church, for at least one month out of the year, to experience a mini-prayer meeting in every class or group or committee they attend. Prayer that calls for an inward look (1 John 1:8-10) has the potential of producing the same fruit traditionally sought through revival meetings. 

Typically, a pastor or prayer leader will provide a daily prayer guide or a listing of scriptures that help members focus their prayers on scriptural truth and biblical values, such as Returning To Holiness by Greg Frizzell
http://www.frizzellministries.org/pubs.shtml . Some pastors are even brave enough to pray-oritize a tithe of time in the Sunday worship service.

Hope this helps!

P.S. In between issues of Prayer Leader Online, visit these sites for additional ideas, resources, and the latest news on prayer:

*CPLN Members have access to:  http://www.PrayerLeader.com
Members Only Menu
Praying Pastor: www.prayingpastor.com
IncenseRising (intercession): www.incenserising.com

Does Prayer Just Happen?

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:

• Intimidation. Newer believers usually hear mature pray-ers only in church. Often they think, I can't pray like that. As a result, they believe their feeble attempts at prayer are worthless, and they don't pray much.
• Hitting the wall. New believers and children seem to get more specific prayers answered quickly. Why? I believe God wants to prove Himself to them. Also, they haven't let skepticism enter their prayers. But after a while, most of us reach a place where our petitions don't always bring the same results. Many give up on prayer at this point. But good discipleship would prepare us for this.
• Shyness. Many believers--especially men--are shy about praying in public. Shy pray-ers will not pray with others, and this can mean death to powerful corporate prayer in churches, in small groups, and in families. Good discipleship in prayer will not let them stay stuck there.
• Stunted Kingdom Mindset. Believers who don't pray don't grow. The more we pray, the more we are infused with God's heart. And God's heart is for the lost, for the nations. You want your people to be Kingdom-minded; teach them to pray!

Praying churches are deliberate about discipling in prayer. They make sure that Sunday school classes-at all age levels-regularly provide instruction on prayer. They hold prayer conferences, retreats, and seminars. They train their men in how to pray! And they provide plenty of opportunities to pray, so prayer can be caught and practiced.
 Here are some recommendations:

1. Have organized prayer instruction at least every six months (every three is better). Teach an elective in Sunday school, on Sunday night (if you have a meeting then), or in small groups. Look for studies that go beyond simply "prayer as relationship." There are some excellent resources available that take people into Kingdom praying. My personal favorite is Lord, Teach Us to Pray (NavPress 2003) by pastor Fred Hartley. It is a 13-week study based mainly on the prayer teachings of Jesus from Luke and John. The last three chapters present a thorough look at the relationship of the Holy Spirit to prayer. Other favorites are Approaching God (NavPress 2003) by Lee Brase and Blueprint for the House of Prayer (Prayer Point Press 1997) by Terry Teykl.
2. Train your leadership. Many churches are hampered because their elders, deacons, and/or pastoral staff have little sense of expectancy from it. A simple but effective resource to disciple leaders is My House Shall Be a House of Prayer (Pray! Books 2002). Another effective tool is Pray! Magazine. Discounted prices are available on bulk subscriptions. Go to www.praymag.com for information.
3. Focus on teens, young adults, and men. At the risk of being sexist or aged-prejudiced, I believe our most effective results will come here. First of all, I have observed that women are more naturally drawn to prayer and older believers are more likely to be stronger people of prayer due to life's experiences. Young adults and teens are more driven by experience; they need it and seek it. Since prayer is experiential, our discipleship efforts will more readily take root here. And why men? Linear and pragmatic thinkers, they are more likely to have been thrown by some of the afore mentioned problems. And when coupled with authority and headship issues, a father/husband who prays is a powerful force in the Kingdom!

UNCOMMON PRAYER MEETINGS
Turning Prayer Meetings into Adventures

The Prayer of Faith

In her new book, Fueled by Faith (New Hope Publishers http://newhopepublishers.com/bookstore), 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.

Praise
 “Praise is a key element in prayer. Praise
 …puts the focus on God
 …causes your mind to stay fixed on Him
 …creates openness toward the things of God
 …builds faith
 …stirs love for God
 …can change the way you view life.”

Purity
 “Praise leads naturally to an awareness of sin in your life.”

Petition
 “Asking grows out of relationship.”

Pliability
 “As these first three elements of prayer take root, the naturaloutgrowth is a yielded, surrendered life.”

Use these four elements as your format. Select a hymn or worship song to be used at the beginning of each section to help center spoken prayers. After each song is sung, have someone read a scripture, then ask the group to offer prayers.

Are You Ready for Disaster-Praying?

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 Interview: Learning Styles Impact Praying

Kathleen Trock
Pebbles and Stones
www.PebblesandStones.com

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.

How did God birth this ministry?

As a young mother, I had a desire to share my faith with my children, but I did not know how. I remember reading Solomon's prayer and using it as the basis for my prayer as well. I prayed, "Father, I am but a young mother, I don't know how to come in and go out myself let alone lead my own children and, I believe that generations will come forth from them. Teach me how to share you with my children.” I laughed to myself as I remembered the numerous times I had called my mom for one her recipes or for some counsel. Now, very much aware of my own inadequacy to share my faith with my children, I was asking God to teach me how. He did answer reminding me of the process I had gone through to make their baby food. What ever I was learning and experiencing about Him, I was to break it down and share it with my children. I asked some of my friends to join us with their children. We met together for a time of worship, listening to the word, and listening for how God through the Holy Spirit might speak to each one of us.  We shared our lives together and prayed for each other. Today, many of those same children are passing along their faith, and Pebbles and Stones has expanded into the nations.

What caused you to introduce children to such deep levels of praying?

There is a street close by my home where many of our city's homeless live. It is there, and through my own childhood experience that I have learned the importance of introducing children to deep levels of prayer and into an intimate relationship with their Lord and Savior. I had two questions that I liked to ask the residents of the streets. Is there a Bible memory verse that you can remember from childhood, and do you remember a song from Sunday School. The number one song was "Jesus Loves Me," and the number one verse was John 3:16-17, "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. NIV. They would often attempt to recite the verse and sing the song, however before completing them tears would begin to flow down their faces. And I would wonder what were we doing in our Sunday School classes. Were we content in singing songs and memorizing Bible verses or were we intentional about bringing children into an intimate personal relationship with God through prayer and the power of the Holy Spirit? I believe that we must be diligent in the latter, making prayer both speaking to God and hearing from Him a priority when ministering to children. We must provide a time for children to experience the "Living Word.”  I too, as a child had heard story after story about Jesus, and had sung, "Jesus Loves Me‰ but did not experience knowing Him. There is a difference you know; it is the difference between life and death.

What is unique about a Pebbles and Stones group meeting?

Pebbles and Stones is intentional about bringing the generations together in families, and in communities such as neighborhoods, churches, schools and nursing homes.  As we meet and develop our spiritual gifts, we experience as brothers and sisters what it means to live out the greatest commandment of all, loving God and loving each other.

Pebbles and Stones teaches children and adults to recognize the many ways in which God may be speaking. As we do this, we experience for ourselves the importance of recognizing His voice and His ways.

It teaches children and adults to journal with words and or pictures about what God is showing them. They learn the importance of sharing those thoughts with others, which in turn directs the prayer time.

The leader's lessons can come from a curriculum, their own quiet time, or from what they have been learning. The lesson serves as a launching point that God uses to teach his children as they pray and listen.

Pebbles and Stones encourages children and adults to sing "new songs." Children are naturals at making up songs in their play. This natural bent in children is encouraged and directed as a way to worship and give God glory as we sing our "new songs.'

As Pebbles and Stones expands into different parts of the word, the children are directed to seek God's heart through prayer, to hear how they might be able to pray for, serve and love their brothers and sisters as they live out the great commission to make disciples of all nations.

(Pebbles and Stones is intentional about bringing the Body of Christ together, the young and the old alike. We do this through worship, the study of the Word, waiting on the Holy Spirit and through prayer. As we gather, we experience what it is to live together as brothers and sisters in the communities that we live in such as our families, neighborhoods, churches, schools, and just about anywhere where the generations gather and what it means to love God and to love each other. We have also learned the importance of children in Body.  Not too long ago, I was feeling trapped.  During our journaling listening time, a four year old drew a picture of someone trapped in a cage. She was standing on one side of the cage and the American flag was on the other side. As she shared her picture she said, "Some one is trapped in this cage. The American flag stands for freedom and God wants this person free. I am standing beside the cage, but I don’t know why?” I too, sitting on the opposite side of the circle had drawn a small picture of myself trapped in a trap. The little girl prayed for me and I felt the Lord’s freedom.)

Can children really listen and discern the voice of God?

Not only can children listen and discern the voice of God, but they were created to hear and follow His voice. Jesus said, "My sheep, hear my voice and they follow me."  Through out the scriptures, there are stories of young and old alike who hear God's voice. For example, God spoke to a young boy named Samuel.  Samuel did not recognize that God was speaking to him.  Eli told Samuel to say, "Speak, Lord, your servant is listening.  Pebbles and Stones helps children begin to recognize the many ways in which God may speak to them: through His word, through others, through dreams/visions, through prayer, and through our feelings are a few ways that God may speak. I have many stories from children who have learned to recognize the voice of God. During a time of journaling, a four year old drew a picture of her house, the road in front of her house and her father coming home in time for her birthday. We asked the Holy Spirit to lead us in prayer for her father. After the meeting, the girl's mother told me they had not seen him since her little girl had been born. The day of her birthday, her father came home. The little girl excitedly told her father that Jesus had told her that he was coming, and shared with him what she knew about Jesus. The little girl later invited me to come to dinner to tell her father more about Jesus. As he listened, his heart was turned toward God and toward his family as he openly repented and asked their forgiveness. Today her father loves God and his family.  Yes, God does speak to children and children can discern His voice.

How can we train (encourage) children to listen and discern the voice of God?

First of all, I want to dispel any mystery of hearing God's voice by saying, it is as natural as learning to hear the sound of your best friend's voice. Years ago, I read a booklet, God Guides  by Mary Geegh. Mary was a missionary to India from 1924-1962. In her booklet Mary shares the importance of recognizing God's voice and following His word as she ministered in India. I first met Mary, when she was 101 years old. I told her that I was going to Africa, and that I wanted the children to learn to recognize God's voice. She looked at me with penetrating eyes and spoke with the voice of a sage, "Don't waste your time reading about it or studying about it , just do it." Hmm, I thought, just do it. "Just wait... be still.... listen.(God Guides page 1)  It really is that simple. There are several ways that we encourage the children to begin to listen for and to discern the voice of God. They include worship, meditating on His word, prayer, journaling and being in community. After worship and sharing the Word, we begin our listening time with prayer. We encourage each child to pray.  We may say something like this, "Dear Father, It's me! I have come to spend time with You, to get to know you more and to listen to how you might speak to me. I thank you that you want me to hear your voice and to follow you, and I also want too. Help me to know your voice and to follow you. I ask that you would send your Holy Spirit to lead me into all truth, to remind me of all that Jesus taught and to fill me with your love. As I meditate /think on your Word, may I be changed. In Jesus' name."
 
Secondly we invite the children to journal what they want to say to God about the verse or have them listen to what He might want to speak to them. As the journal pages are shared with each other, we help each other to discern the difference between our own voice, the voice of others, the adversary's voice and the voice of the Lord.  We do this in much the same way as we begin to recognize a friend’s voice from other voices. We learn through relationship. 
 
For example, I taught a lesson based on Isaiah 41:9 which says, "Know that I have chosen you, I will never throw you away."  During the journaling/listening time, One of the children wrote, "Dear God, is it true, did you really choose me, and if you did, what did you choose me for? Do you want me to play football or basketball?"  After writing his question he listened for the answer.  He wrote;" I have chosen you to help others." He listened again as He asked God how and who he was to help. 

Children are also writing praise and worship songs...?

Several years ago while preparing for Pebbles and Stones, I was looking for some worship songs to accompany the lesson (Musical). I was not finding any, and so I began to pray. In answer to my prayer, I sensed the Holy Spirit saying He wanted me to provide a place where the children could come and sing the songs that He had ordained them to sing. I searched through the scriptures to find one of if not the first "new song" recorded. Israel sang this song when they crossed the Red Sea with Pharaoh's army in pursuit. I asked the children to think about where this song had come from, and we discovered together that it had come from Israel‚s experience with the Living God who had delivered them from the hands of their enemies. During our journaling listening time, our first new song was birthed. Since then, the children have continued to sing their songs. We just completed our third album. One of my favorites songs on our new CD is called, "What's the Lord Going to Do?" written by an almost four year old. The lyrics are: "What‚s the Lord going to do with me today? I'd better get down on my knees and pray for the Spirit to guide me, and the Word to Light my way. Oh, Lord, it‚s going to be exciting!!!‰ I have heard that some families play this song on their alarm clocks to wake up to. As I travel into different countries, I encourage the nations to sing their "new songs."  It is difficult to describe the emotions that I feel as I listen to the children of the nations sing their songs.

You can order the albums through our website:www.PebblesandStones.com or by writing to:  Suite 559, 9778 Bend Drive, Jenison, MI 49428 Our first album, "Pebbles and Stones" is available in Spanish and English on cassette. The other two, "Why we Sing" and Pebbles and Stones Volume 3 are available on CD.

You make use of the "Seven Learning Styles‰ in your ministry. What are they and how does this impact how you approach learning with both children and adults?
Did you ever notice a frantic hand waving while you are teaching? And the child asks, "Do you have any pets?"  You may wonder what does this question have to do with the lesson?  The answer is nothing; the question has to do with the learner's 'personal intelligences' Developing lessons for Pebbles and Stones is based on cognitive work done by Howard Gardner. In his book Frames of Mind, Gardner describes seven 'personal intelligences' or learning styles.
  Those who learn best through reading, writing and telling stories are Linguistic. They use language to express themselves and to accomplish their goals. 
  Those who like to experiment, and like working through patterns are Logical/Mathematical. 
  Some individuals learn best through drawing and creative activities, these learners are Spatial. 
  Still others love to learn through singing, playing instruments or by listening to music. They are Musical.
  Then there are the learners who love to learn through action. They like doing things that are physical such as sports, dancing and activities where they can use their senses. These learners are Kinesthetic. 
  The last two types of intelligence/Learning styles are the Interpersonal and the Intrapersonal learner. The interpersonal learner learns through relationships, while the intrapersonal learner learns through reflection and meditation.  Being aware of these seven intelligences/learning styles helps me to understand the child who asks, "Do you have any pets?," the child who wants to know "why?," the one who seems to be in constant motion, the quiet child, the one who sings under his or her breath or taps the feet, and the one who doodles, etc.

In developing curriculum for Pebbles and Stones, I incorporate each of these seven intelligences/learning styles into a single theme insuring that everyone present will receive the message once through their personal intelligence/ learning style as well as through the other styles. The model for Pebbles and Stones is simple. The meeting begins with an icebreaker (interpersonal) helping the group become comfortable talking with each other and serving to bring the theme (scripture/Bible story) into focus. Next, the group enters into a time of worship using songs that are relevant to the theme, (musical) followed by a short lesson (linguistic, logical/mathematical). When the lesson is finished, all are encouraged to listen to how the Lord may be speaking to us (intrapersonal/ spatial).  The children listen to Instrumental music as they listen and pray (musical, intrapersonal, and spatial).  Each one is invited to write down or draw a picture (journal) of what they feel the lord is saying or what they want to share with the Lord.(intrapersonal, Mathematical/Logical, linguistic). Each participant then has the opportunity to share his or her journal page and receive prayer (interpersonal).  This model is performed at each meeting. Using these seven learning styles each one present, through prayer, both listening and verbal, children and adults experience the love of Father God, and the love of His family assembled in community. We learn to recognize His loving voice, pray out His instructions and receive the grace to follow them. 

Kathleen, please write a prayer for church prayer leaders to become advocates who develop the praying life of children -
Heavenly Father, we feel like children ourselves in helping children to develop a life of prayer. We confess that we do not know how to pray and ask you Holy Spirit to pray through us. May our tears flow like a river day and night, and may we give ourselves no relief and our eyes no rest. May we arise, cry out in the night, as the watches of the night begin. May we pour out our hearts like water in your presence, Lord. May we lift up our hands to you for the lives of our children, who faint from hunger at the head of every street. (Lamentations 2:18b-19) Father we know that they hunger and thirst for you. We ask that you come and fill them. May they pour out their love upon you and fill your bowls of incense with their prayers. May we be like Joel, Jehosaphat, and Josiah who called the entire nation of Israel, the young and old alike, to seek your face through prayer and fasting .May we fling open wide the doors to your House of Prayer and welcome the children. We believe it is then that we will know what it means to be the Body of Christ.” Open our eyes and our hearts to see, and understand the place of children in your Body. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

If we want to see our churches grow in prayer, we must be deliberate about discipling and providing opportunity for people to pray!