PrayerLeader OnLine, November 2005, Vol. 2, No. 11

Introduction

The Christmas holidays are upon us. Soon the new year will begin. That always means fresh starts. Is it time to think about some changes, some improvements to your prayer ministries, strategies, meetings, or prayer teams?

It is easy to fall into ruts--especially if things are running smoothly--even with prayer. How might the Father have you tweak things to make them more effective. What new prayer initiatives or ministries might He be placing in your heart?

As you go through the bustle of December, why not keep that idea before the Lord. "Father, what is on your heart for our church, and how might our prayer foundation come alongside that?"

Note: Don't forget to set aside Saturday morning, December 3rd (noon EST) to participate in our teleseminar: "Developing a Prayer Strategy for Your Church." Check out the information at www.prayerleader.com.

Jonathan Graf
President, CPLN

. . . the desire to grow deeper in our understanding of the Word and go higher in our Christian experience can prevent us from seeing the obvious.

A recent fresh look at Jas. 5:13-17 uncovered a short, simple phrase that reminded me of something as basic to prayer as breathing is to staying alive: “Phil, you should pray.”

No new truth here. Certainly not a new insight that has escaped the Church fathers (and mothers) for centuries. Only a simple, yet woefully needed reminder, no, admonition--pray!

Is it possible that in all our sermons, websites, workshops, meetings and ministries, that we have forgotten to pray? Not so much forgotten; is it possible we have so emphasized the trappings around our praying (chairs or candles, hymn books or song sheets, standing or kneeling, loud or silent) that we have neglected or underappreciated the simple act of praying? The truthful, tender sharing of our heart and soul with our Master, Friend, Savior Jesus? Listening and learning. Observing and obeying. Have we done everything around prayer but the praying?

The simple, straightforward words of James admonish me; “Phil, you should pray.”

With you for a prayed for planet,

Pastor Phil

Plan to Attend a CPLN Conference in 2006

Have you budgeted for a CPLN conference in 2006?

We currently have them planned for California, Arizona (annual convention), Massachusetts, Indiana, and Ohio. We are finalizing our exploration of Georgia, Texas, and New Jersey as well.

Depending on the size and length of each conference, prices will vary from $35 to $125 Below are some planned dates and speaker information:

Get Empowered for Prayer!

New England Regional
Amherst, MA
March 17-18
Keynote Speakers, David Butts, Jonathan Graf

National Convention
Prayer Quake/Empowered
Mesa, AZ
June 14-16
Keynote Speakers: Henry Blackaby, Dutch Sheets, Jackson Senyonga

Western Regional
San Jose, CA
September 15-16
Keynote Speakers: Jonathan Graf, Ginny Kisling

Midwest Regional
Terre Haute, IN
October 26-28
Keynote Speaker--Henry Blackaby

Eastern/Midwest Regional
Cleveland, OH
November 9-11 Keynote Speaker: Jonathan Graf

Uncommon Prayer Meetings
Turning Prayer Meetings into Adventures

The following format is based on the chapters of Stephen Seamands’ book, A Conversation with Jesus (Victor Books). Each is based on Christ’s post-Resurrection, breakfast-on-the-shore conversation with Peter in John 21. “Jesus . . . remind(ed) Peter of the essentials of ministry-–truths he already knew but had forgotten. His five ‘words’ to Peter revolve around key elements of ministry.”

Focus: Renewing Our Passion For Ministry

Format:
 Sing–-Choose a song that leads into the next theme
 Scripture--Read and Expound on Scripture (2 minutes)
 Silence-–Give everyone time to mediate on the scripture (2 minutes)
 Supplication-–Explain how to pray (partners; groups, etc)
 Song-–Transition to the next theme . . .

Scripture Themes:
 “Do You Love Me?”
 “Feed My Sheep”
 “Where You Do Not Want to Go”
 “Follow Me”
 “What Is That to You? Follow Me”
 “Receive the Holy Spirit” (John 20:21-22)

Chapter Heading Quotes:
“Do You Love Me?”
 "Whatever happens to you, never give up praying. It would be
like giving up breathing. A man or woman who does not pray
is no longer a ministry."--Henri Nouwen

“Feed My Sheep”
 "Feed my sheep-–identify yourself with My interests in other
people, not identify Me with your interests in other people."--Oswald Chambers

“Where You Do Not Want to Go”
 "The work of God can only be built upon the ruins of ourselves."--Fenelon

“Follow Me”
 "The working minister is in a co-working ministry day after day
with Christ’s own ministry, supported and energized by the Holy
Spirit."--Thomas Oden

“What Is That to You? Follow Me”
 "Envy causes us to want to be what we were never created to be–-someone else."--Robert Schnase

“Receive the Holy Spirit” (John 20:21-22)
 "Unless the Holy Spirit fills, the human spirit fails.”--E. Stanley Jones

A Worthwhile Fight
Prayer is not just another ministry
By Jonathan Graf

A few years ago I spoke at a prayer conference at a Baptist church in metro Atlanta. The Friday night/Saturday event was poorly attended (80 people) for such a large church (6,000 members).

The prayer leader apologized for the small turnout, but revealed that one of the problems was that most events at this church were not announced from the platform. She went on to say that so many ministries have events each month that a rule had been made: none could have “platform time.” To be fair, any ministry leader could advertise in the bulletin or newsletter or put up posters but could never promote during a service.

Many churches have similar rules. Unfortunately, most of these churches relegate prayer to “just another ministry” status. That’s a problem.

If I read the Book of Acts correctly, prayer was not just another activity. At the start of the Early Church in the upper room, prayer held a significant place. In fact, it was one of only four things the apostles did along with teaching, fellowship and breaking of bread (Acts 2:42). When the apostles became overwhelmed with all the work in the church, they pulled back their ministry to concentrate on two things: prayer and ministry of the Word (6:3–4).

The Early Church was absolutely on fire with Kingdom passion and was always engaged in God’s work. Time and time again when the believers prayed, the Holy Spirit’s filling, enablement and agenda came (Acts 4:23–31, 10–11:18, 13:1–3).

In most of today’s churches, prayer needs to be elevated again to the status it enjoyed in the Early Church. Instead of being just another activity, prayer takes ministry and invites the Holy Spirit to infuse it with His power. Prayer takes activity and makes it Spirit-led and Spirit-empowered!

We need to stop worrying about what the leaders of other ministries—drama, small groups, children’s, youth, men’s, women’s, even missions—will think if we push prayer more than their activities are promoted. Prayer is not on the same level. What’s more, prayer makes every one of those ministries more powerful and effective.

Do you want to see the activity and power of the Holy Spirit heightened in your church? Then fight for prayer’s Early Church status. Do you want to see the status-quo wall in your church topple? Then fight for prayer’s Early Church status. Do you want to see God’s Kingdom expand through your church—not in little spurts and advances, but in daily ground-taking? Then fight for prayer’s Early Church status. Do you want to see your fellow congregants so hungry for God that their desperation is palpable? Then fight for prayer’s Early Church status.

Prayer is always at the center of revival. When this “ministry” returns to its Early Church status, the Kingdom-expanding, life-transforming, miracle-working power of God becomes the norm.

An Idea for Prayer Champions

A Recurring Reminder to Pray

Several prayer ministries offer bookmarks with text that promotes prayer, an easy and relatively inexpensive way to provide an ongoing “time to pray” reminder.

Purchase several different items in quantity and insert a new one the first Sunday of each month.

During the worship service prayer time, ask those present to take their insert, find a partner (optional), and pray for 60 seconds according to the focus of the bookmark.

Consider connecting this exercise to your celebration of the Lord’s Supper. If possible, utilize the focus of the bookmark as the emphasis of the communion experience.

There are a number of organizaitons that produce excellent prayer guides which can be used for this purpose. Check out the following:

http://www.prayershop.org
http://www.praymag.com
http://www.waymakers.org
http://www.dynamicpraying.com

One of the newest prayer guide products on the market is Jim and Kaye Johns's Dynamic Praying Prayer Guides. Heavily based on Scripture--which will not return void--these guides will assist you, your congregation (and new Prayer Team members) to pray specifically for issues you or someone you love are facing. Each prayer you pray is power-packed with at least 10 scriptures. You'll find more than 200 scriptures referenced and displayed alongside the prayers.

Topics:

• How to Grow in Your Prayer Life
• Praying for Loved Ones Serving in the Military
• Overwhelmed
• Pregnancy: For Myself and My Unborn Baby
• Praying God’s Will for My Marriage
• Decision-Making: Praying God’s Will When I Need Guidance
• Children-Teens
• Missions: Preparing Our Hearts for the Harvest

Learing to Seek God in Corporate Prayer

Prayer Leader OnLine interviews, John Franklin, author of And the Place Was Shaken: How to Lead a Powerful Prayer Meeting, and Southern Baptist prayer leader.

Q. John, you have just published a new book on the local church prayer meeting. What motivated you to write an entire book on that subject?
I asked three very revealing questions to approximately 6,000 pastors or prayer leaders over the last five years. They are: 1. When was the last time you remember the manifest presence and power of God on a regular basis in your church prayer meeting? Very few people could answer that question. 2. How many of you have been trained in how to lead a prayer meeting? Of all those people, only 53 have raised their hand. 3. Could you tell me the dynamic church you could go to in our denomination to learn? Nobody could really offer one. Once I heard a Korean and Chinese church named. The other church that surfaced several times was Brooklyn Tabernacle, although it was not in my denomination.

So you see the pictured that has been painted. We have not had the presence of God in a long time in our prayer meetings. We haven't been trained in how to do anything differently, and if you did want to go learn, where would you go? That's the motivation.

Q. Why do so few pastors and leaders have little or no training in corporate prayer?
There's very little out there addressing leaders. There has been a blessed resurgence on prayer for the individual, but leadership issues have been scarce. The implications are that if we've never been trained to do anything differently, we will do what we've seen modeled. And based on the response of 6,000 leaders, the vast majority have not had a viable model, so we either self-perpetuate the cycle, or we try to do better, but are very frustrated.

Q. Theology shapes ministry. How has our theology of prayer shaped our corporate practice of prayer?
In our case in America, I think we have acquired an accidental theology instead of deliberate theology. I don't know of anyone who has ever taught that the primary purpose of prayer is to have our needs met and crises fixed, but practically speaking that's what we've modeled to our people. The vast majority believe that because when you ask for requests, that's what comes out of their mouth. Instead we should be teaching and modeling that the primary purpose of prayer is to walk with God--knowing Him, being conformed to His image, and fulfilling His will on earth.

Q. What discovery surprised you most as your searched the Scripture and researched the history of local church prayer?
The fact of how important it is to pray together. The reasons for that are in fleshed out in chapter one of the book, but here's the condensed version. 1. When Jesus gave a command to pray or a condition for God to answer favorably, 33 out of 37 times He taught on prayer in the corporate. 2. The apostles viewed mobilizing God's people to pray as one of their two non-negotiable ministries 3. Prior to the resurrection, the majority of God's mighty moves come through the prayer lives of individuals. After the resurrection they could through the prayers of two or more. 4. There's never been a time in history that the church impacted the culture more than vice-versa that Christians didn't pray together. 5. One common denominator around the world today where God is moving mightily is that the people pray together.

Q. How should a prayer leader or facilitator approach corporate prayer in order to develop a more powerful prayer meeting?

1. The leader must have a dynamic relationship with God
2. The people must have a right relationship with God and each other
3. The leader must fulfill the three great desires of God in a prayer meeting. First, that His people would know Him. Second, that His people get on mission with Him. Third that He could minister to His people especially through His people.
4. There are four responsibilities a leader has in leading a prayer meeting. These responsibilities transcend format, style method, denomination, culture, and history. They are in order of importance:
• To discern the activity of God. If you don't know God's will how can you guide people?
• To shepherd His people in their relationship with God and one another. They need help in recognizing God and knowing how to respond to Him. They need to know how to walk with their brother as well.
• To develop a God-centered format.
• To guide activities that help people respond.

Q. John, lead us in a prayer that seeks God's help for those of us who want "the place shaken . . ."
Father, Your body in America desperately needs to return to the relationship You intended us to have with You. Oh, that You would rend the heavens and come down! Oh that You would turn us back to Yourself! Oh, that You Yourself would revive Your people! May You turn back the judgment that we so richly deserve, and leave behind a blessing. Would You do this for Your holy name's sake? Would You cause breath to enter these corpses? Come O breath from the four corners and blow on these slain, that we may once again become a mighty army in this nation! We pray this, as did Daniel, not for our sake, but for Yours. In the name of Jesus. Amen.

Read John’s latest book:
And the Place Was Shaken: How to Lead a Powerful Prayer Meeting
John Franklin
Broadman & Holman

Publisher’s Description:
Prayer for the church is not a casual practice but communion between Christ and His body that is as intimate as communion between a husband and a wife. And for the church, corporate prayer is not an optional ritual but a commanded expectation. However, having an effective corporate experience of prayer-whether in a large congregational setting or a small group--depends on many factors. John Franklin highlights not only the theology behind powerful corporate prayer times but also the effective habits and practices of a praying church. Know why God especially requires corporate prayer.

Know what motivates God to move in power. God wants to reveal Himself to His people, to move them onto His agenda, and to minister to His people particularly through His people. A God-centered prayer format is central to having a “God experience” in the corporate church setting.

Site Surfing

Spend some time at http://www.LifeAction.org

• Articles on prayer, holiness, revival
• Resources for seeking God for small group leaders
• Revival E-sources
• Book Reviews
• Spiritual growth worksheets (great for Uncommon Prayer)

Introducing a Powerful Curriculumn to Teach Kids to Pray

KidsGap: Come Pray with Us
By Jenny Almquist

KidsGap was developed in the trenches of local church prayer. Prayer leader, Jenny Almquist put her passion for prayer and her passion for kids together and said why can't they learn to pray powerfully? Today, her church--Menomonie (WI) Alliance reaps the benefits of kids who are trained in kingdom praying. Not only do these kids pray powerfully in their own lives, but they have been taught to pray through their church's services.

Among the 12 lessons this book teaches are:

• How to hear God's voice
• What an intercessor is
• The importance of personal purity to powerful prayer
• The power of praise in spiritual warfare
• How to pray for the lost
• How to have a quiet time

Besides Menomonie Alliance, KidsGap is catching on elsewhere as well. "Experiencing KidsGap in our church," says worship and prayer leader Jaimee Grangruth (Chetek Full Gospel Tabernacle, Chetek, WI), "has really been an awesome time of getting closer to God's heart for communication with us. The kids in our group have taught me that adults really make prayer more difficult than it was meant to be. We have been able to have so much freedom because the curriculumn opens the doorway and the kids run right through to the presence of God."

KidsGap sells for $8 ($6.40 for CPLN members) and is available at our webstore: https://store.prayerleader.com.

(c) 2005 Church Prayer Leaders Network
619 Washington Ave
Terre Haute, IN 47802