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Prayer Leader OnLine
March 2007
Vol. 4, No. 3
Introduction A lot is happening with the CPLN these days! Our memberships continue to climb steadily. We are almost through our third year in our partnership with Harvest Prayer Ministries and the growth has been strong enough that we have not had to raise membership rates during that time (and have no plans to do so). Our conferences are gettting stronger and stronger. Many will be coming to Empowered 2007 in Grand Rapids. Don't forget to sign up! The registration rates go up May 1st. This Fall will see us with regionals in San Jose, California, Rochester, Minnesota, Atlanta, Georgia, and in Ohio at a location still to be determined. We are also partnering with Harvest Prayer Ministries for an October conference in Terre Haute, Indiana. Our website will soon have more details on these events. Now, God has moved us to partner with Harvest in launching a publishing ministry. We are so excited by what He is doing! Our main purpose continues to be encouraging, challenging and equipping prayer leaders and churches to become houses of prayer. We believe this publishing venture will take us to a new level in what we can offer to you, our members. Please read about this launch in our feature article. And I hope to see you in Grand Rapids! Blessings
Jonathan Graf
President It Seems to Me . . . . . . every church prayer leader needs to go on tour! Not a city-by-city, stadium and arena kind of tour. No T-shirts with a "Prayer Tour 2007" logo. I'm talking a tour of your congregation's council, committees and classes. I am suggesting you confer with your pastor and ask for permission to request 6 minutes of time at the next committee meeting for each ministry at your church. Then, use those minutes to cast a clear and compelling vision for prayer to saturate every group and gathering of the church. As you visit each ministry, thank them for tithing these minutes of their meeting to allow you to remind them of the vital role prayer must play in our decision-making, goal-setting, and ministry-activity. Challenge them to tithe these same 6 minutes in their future meetings to prayer. Not the down-the-list or around-the-circle kind of praying but a theme or burden focused, free-flowing conversation with the Lord. - Challenge the council to bathe every decision in prayer, before they arrive at the decision!
- Ask the financial stewards to prayerfully consider adding (or increasing) prayer to the budget.
- Encourage ministry teams to bathe their activity ideas in prayer.
- Explain to Bible studies and Sunday School classes how they can invite the Holy Spirit's teaching presence.
- Equip small groups to transform sharing-time into prayer for one another.
It seems to me a 6 month tour of the congregation's administrative leadership will have long-term benefits for the entire community of believers . . . and beyond! Pastor Phil
http://www.PrayerLeader.blogspot.com
http://www.PrayingPastorblog.blogspot.com
Harvest Prayer Ministries and CPLN Launch Publishing House Harvest Prayer Ministries and its Church Prayer Leaders Network division announce the launching of Prayer Shop Publishing. Prayer Shop Publishing will produce books, booklets, teaching DVDs and CDs and publications that focus solely on growing a church into a house of prayer. "We believe Prayer Shop is uniquely positioned to make an impact on the prayer lives of individuals and churches," said Prayer Shop Publishing director, Jonathan Graf, CPLN's president, who has more than 15 years experience in the Christian publishing industry. "The reason," Graf continued, "is our strong connection to local churches." Prayer Shop's product selection team is made up of Graf, America's National Prayer Committee chairman, Dave Butts, and Dr. Alvin VanderGriend, the author of Love to Pray!, which has sold 60,000 copies in less than three years and developer of 40 Days of Prayer, a prayer initiative that is revitalizing hundreds of churches. "Our team is not sitting in an editorial office trying to discern what will sell" said Graf. "We are in churches almost every weekend teaching on prayer. We see first hand what people need and want." Prayer Shop Publishing's retail side has been selling products for two years through www.prayershop.org, a webstore with more than 400 prayer products. It will continue to sell others' praye resources, but will now also produce its own products. This summer will see the first official book releases by Prayer Shop Publishing (Love to Pray! has been published by Harvest Prayer Ministries for the past three years). KidsGap: Teaching Children to be Kingdom Intercessors by Jenny Almquist will be released in June. KidsGap is a 12-week curriculum to teach children to pray for kingdom concerns. A version that was previously self-published by Almquist has had a significant impact on multiple churches. A Year of Prayer Events for Your Church by Sandra Higley will also be released this summer. This resource will provide the compete details for 15 different prayer events a church could hold. The idea is to do one a month. Everything from prayer breakfasts, concerts of prayer, to all nights of prayer will be included. The third book, Praying Like a King, will be released in August. It is a small group or Sunday school class Bible study by Dave and Kim Butts that looks at the prayers of Old Testament kings and then the John 17 prayer of the King of Kings, Jesus. Upfront: Training Prayer Teams for Ministry, a DVD teaching series on training individuals to offer healing prayer to hurting people taught by Dave Butts, will be released in May. It retails for $25. Prayer Shop is also looking for book and booklet ideas and manuscripts. You can send your ideas or proposals to Jonathan Graf at
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or Prayer Shop Publishing
619 Washington Ave
Terre Haute, IN 47802 How Much Prayer Is Enough? I have been pondering recently the issue of how much prayer is enough? Two things have been the cause of this pondering. First, I continually talk with prayer leaders who are not satisfied with the corporate prayer level of their church. They firmly believe that God would move with more power in their midst if they can just get more people praying! But how many people in a given church are necessary? Five out of 100, Ten, Twenty? Or Thirty-three? Scripture tells us if two or three agree . . . Hmmm. Maybe five out of 100 can be enough. Second, I have been mystified by people’s constant need to get more people to pray for their need. Someone may have dozens of people praying for what is on their heart, but then they need you too. So they ask you to pray for their friend, whom you have never met and will never meet. Or at a prayer meeting that is supposed to be focused on God transforming the community, they bring up their second cousin’s heart surgery. Gotta get more people praying, they think. Aren’t the prayers of the ones who already are praying enough? Didn’t God hear those? Is one more person going to make a difference? I don’t think so. And so these things have got me pondering this subject. Why is that we feel we have to get more and more people praying? Is it a lack of faith? Is it because nothing has happened so we need more people. Hopefully someone will pray the right thing that moves the hand of God! Sorry to disappoint you, but I don’t have the answers to these questions. I am just wondering. I welcome any input or incite any of you might have. Feel free to email me with your comments. There are some things I do know and believe, however. I know that God only needs one person to pray—if that prayer is prayed by someone who is pure before the Lord and it is in accordance to His will (1 John 3:21-22, 5:14-15). Ezekiel 22:30 tells us that He looked for one man to pray, to intercede on behalf of Israel so God wouldn’t have to destroy it. But no one would. One person would have spared an entire nation’s exile! Think about that when you are complaining that no one is showing up at your prayer meeting. I also believe (though I can’t say for certain, so I won’t say “know”) that Satan uses people’s insecurities to get a lot of people to waste others’ “prayer time.” Satan knows God doesn’t need ten more people to pray for something before He responds. So I believe Satan moves many people to keep asking more and more people to pray for what’s on their heart. So even though people are praying for their need, they take prayer meetings on revival down bunny trails and cause people to stop praying for kingdom moving things so they can pray for their cousin’s surgery. This topic needs a book , not a 600 word article, but let me conclude by offering two words of encouragement as prayer leaders. First, while you should still try to encourage more people at your church to pray—both privately and corporately—don’t get too discouraged if it is slow going. The prayers of a handful of dedicated, desperate intercessors can be highly effective in the life of a church. Even if no pastor or leader comes to the prayer time. I was recently at a church that struggles to see its leadership involved in prayer. But their praying people have very effectively set up meaningful prayer strategies. And that church has seen close to 800 people born again in the last two years. Don’t tell me the prayers of only a few aren’t effective. Second, don’t feel guilty if you do not pray for every person’s need. God will move the hearts of those He wants to pray for a given person. We do not have to feel responsible for everyone’s prayer agenda’s. You might encourage the person who might want a lot more people praying to check out the World Prayer Team (www.worldprayerteam.org) or Supplicate Ministries (www.supplicate.org). Both are web-based prayer ministries where potentially hundreds of people might see one’s request. Stay focused on praying what God wants you and your groups to pray for your church. You have enough numbers to move His hand, because all He needs is one person to put His heart into!
--Jonathan Graf is the president of the Church Prayer Leaders Network. His book, The Power of Personal Prayer is available to CPLN members at a 30% discount. Click here for more information. Developing a Culture of Prayer Prayer Leader OnLine interviews Steve Loopstra, director of Prayer Transformation in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Q. Steve, you will be holding a workshop on "Developing a Culture of Prayer" at our Empowered convention in June. Why are prayer leaders beginning to think about the need to develop a culture of prayer?
I’m finding a genuine interest in the concept of a culture of prayer because it challenges us to look at prayer from a whole different perspective than we are used to. And I think a more biblical view as well. Rather than seeing prayer as another program to run in the church, looking at prayer as a culture, takes us to a whole new way of looking at prayer, and how it is or is not a part of our church lifestyle. Q. Help us get our arms around this new concept. Define and describe "culture."
Culture, simply defined, is the sum total of the lifestyles of a particular group of people. It involves not only our actions, but those unspoken ways that we communicate and interact with one another. It involves those things that we grow up with, and become second nature to us without our even thinking about them. Q. How does a prayer leader apply the concept of culture to a congregational prayer strategy?
If culture has to do with mindset and lifestyle, then prayer leaders need to think beyond program to discipleship. How are we helping and encouraging our people to make prayer a part of their lifestyle in every part of their lives, not just in church? Are families praying together? Are couples praying together? Is prayer an integral part of decision making in the church, and not just a couple minute obligation to open the meetings. Are we learning to “inquire of the Lord?” Q. What is the role of the prayer champion in shaping the culture of prayer?
In order to begin to change the culture of the church to a culture of prayer, it will absolutely take the leadership of the pastor, and leadership in the church, working together with those who are championing prayer, whether that be paid staff, or volunteer prayer coordinators. I end my seminars by reminding people that every church is different and unique. This is not some program to copy from another church. Rather, the leadership must be willing to spend the time asking the Lord, who is the Head of the Church, “what would a culture of prayer look like in our church?” This will take a period of time, and commitment individually, and corporately to inquire and hear from the Lord. Then, they must also ask: “How do we change our culture?” The Lord, who is Head and has a destiny for every church has the answers to those questions, and will respond if asked if faith. Q. You state "the culture of an organization operates at both conscious and unconscious levels." How does this work in the area of corporate prayer?
In every organization there are those “unspokens” that those who have been a part of the organization know without saying them. In corporate prayer, it may be a certain “style” of prayer that we use, that is understood by all who come. If a stranger comes into the group, and begins to pray with a different style, a tension soon is very evident. This is evidence of the culture of prayer in that group. I’m sure we have all had an experience like that. We just never have thought of it as culture before. Q. Identify some of the hidden barriers to developing a healthy corporate culture of prayer.
Perhaps some of these barriers are not so “hidden,” but they are deadly to developing a healthy culture of prayer: - Inflexibility. This has to do with our unwillingness to change our style.
- Stubbornness. An unwillingness to learn new ways.
- Lack of leadership. No one having a strong enough vision for a culture of prayer to lead the way.
- Program mentality. Programs are useful to help disciple a new culture, but it is very easy for us to fall back into only thinking of this as a program we must run.
Q. What scriptures relate to this issue of corporate culture?
Some key verses in the New Testament are: Acts 2:42; Rom. 12:12; Col 4:2. A couple interesting verses from the Old Testament are Jeremiah 23:18 having to do with spending time inquiring, and Jeremiah 10:21 that relates to pastors. Q. What is the first step a prayer leader should take to: understand the general concept of culture?
Two things: 1) Do some reading on culture--educate yourself. 2) Begin to observe culture around you. Make yourself aware culturally.
discern the culture of their church?
Look beneath the surface. Why do you do the things you do in your church? What are the “unspoken” things. Ask people, be a detective. You’ll be surprised what you’ll find out.
share their insights with key leadership?
Engage your leadership in looking through “cultural lenses” at your church. Expose them to the scriptural foundation of prayer. A great study is the study of “devoted” that I do in the seminar. It gives the Lord’s expectation for prayer.
begin to reshape the corporate prayer culture?
A key in reshaping a culture is to be focused, yet introduce change subtly. Use modeling, and example in subtle ways. Think about how those who have changed our culture (gay agenda) went about those changes. Time, direction, persistence. Q. Steve, please offer a prayer for prayer leaders and our need to discern and develop cultures of prayer. Father, we want to be a people of prayer. We come to you as did your disciples when you were modeling prayer before them. You created that hunger in them, so they asked you to teach them to pray. We ask you that you, by the power and direction of your Holy Spirit would give insight, and wisdom to church leaders and prayer leaders in local congregations to begin to catch a vision from your heart of what a culture of prayer would look like in their church. Help them to take the time to inquire of you, and hear from you. Give them the kind of vision for a culture of prayer that will keep them persistent until there comes a day when they know there is a cultural change that has taken place in their church. Open our eyes to see prayer in new ways in our churches, Lord, in Jesus Name. Amen. Praying for the Presence of God Applying the Power of Targeted Prayer By Eddie Smith and Michael L. Hennen One mid-1980s Sunday in Houston, our worship service began at 8:30 am. From the first moment we sensed an awe-inspiring divine presence. God often graced us with a momentary discernible visitation, but this was much greater than anything we’d ever experienced. As I (Eddie) led in worship it was clear that the preaching pastor wasn’t going to be coming to the pulpit. His face was buried in the carpet as he profoundly and personally engaged with God. Soon it was time for the Sunday school hour. But no one could move. We were all captivated by the Son of God. As that hour should have ended, people began coming into the sanctuary for the eleven o’clock worship hour. But the building was packed; dozens were on their faces at the altar. Again, nobody had said one single word since we began at 8:30! When we concluded at 2:30 PM, eighteen adults had been born again. Lives were radically changed. For years to come that single service, where the Lord’s presence was so real it could be felt, was the topic of conversation. And once you’ve experienced God’s presence like this, you’ll crave it for a lifetime. It is a foretaste of heaven. This is one prayer target hat, if reached, will not only radically change your future, it will also radically change your influence and relationship with others. In our personal search for prayer targets that will make our ministries more effective, one target remains elusive. We know what the target is, but honestly we’ve not yet consistently reached it. We’re certain that when we do, we and those to whom we minister will be changed forever. So we continue to aim for that target , striving daily to reach it in prayer. What prayer target could possibly have such dramatic results? To Dwell in the Presence of God
In Exodus 33:13, in the midst of interceding for his people’s destiny, Moses makes some bold requests: Now therefore, I pray, if I have found grace in your sight, show me your way, that I may know You and that I may find grace in your sight. And consider that this nation is your people (NKLV). From the context (v. 12), we see why Moses asked this. God had commanded him to “bring up this people,” but He hadn’t let Moses know how to accomplish the task. Moses understood the goal but didn’t know the way. He also knew he couldn’t reach the goal in his own strength—he knew he needed help. And though God had said to him, “I know you by name, and you have also found grace in My sight,” He had not yet revealed who would help or how. So Moses said, “You have not let me know whom You will send with me.” What an audacious prayer! Who was this Moses who would make such a bold request of the Lord? According to verse 11, “The Lord spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend.” Moses was God’s friend. He was known by God, by name, and had foun d grace in His sight. Moses’ request reflected his knowledge of God’s character. The Lord didn’t rebuke him for being so bold; to the contrary, he responded, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest” (v. 14). Hen Moses knew that God Himself would go with this people and replied, “If Your Presence does not go with us, do not bring us up form here. For how then will it be known that Your people and I have found grace in Your sight, except You go with us? So we shall be separate, Your people and I, from all the people who are upon the face of the earth. (vv. 15-16) God’s Presence Is His Way
E glean several principles form tese passages. First, when Moses asked, “Show me Your way” (v. 13), God responded, “My Presence will go with you” (v. 14). God’s presence is His way, and His way is His presence! Too often we seek to accomplish the work of the Spirit in the strength of the flesh. We attempt to fulfill His purposes without His presence. What we need most is to wait and seek God’s presence, not anxiously moving ahead in our own strength and presumption. We don’t wait for God’s presence, but we still expect His grace. We don’t understand what Moses did understand: that God’s grace is experienced in His presence. Presence Reveals Grace
God’s grace is made known by His presence. If His presence is not with us, His grace is not apparent to others; it is only in God’s presence that His unmistakable grace becomes visible. The presence of God distinguishes and sets us apart fomr others—it “separates” the holy from the profane. God’s people ought to be identified by His presence, and when we are, the peoples of the earth will know that He has sent us. With this in mind, let us pray with renewed vigor for the presence of God. Pray that He will show you His way; that He will go with you. And do not try to accomplish His purposes without His power. Pray for His presence! Taken from Strategic Prayer: Applying the Power of Targeted Prayer (Bethany House 2007) by Eddie Smith and Michael L. Hennen. Used by permission of Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group, copyright (c) 2007. All rights to this material are reserved. Materials are not to be distributed to other web locations for retrieval, published in other media, or mirrored at other sites without written permission from Baker Publishing Group. www.BakerPublishingGroup.com. This book, which retails for $13.99 is available at the CPLN members store for a 20% discount. Click here for more information.
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March 2007 
