June 2008

Vol. 5, No. 5 

Many of you checked out the new online store that offers CPLN member discounts on every product. If you haven't yet, go to www.prayershop.org. But we also heard a few of you had some trouble with sign in. Remember that as a CPLN member, your information is already in the store. You do not have to set up a new account. Simply enter your email address and your CPLN password (for most of you it is your last name and zip code) and you are in. If you do not know your password, call Joanne at 1-812-238-5504, or email her at This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it .

With Fall soon upon us, there are excellent Bible study resources you may want to check out. Our prayer guide seciton also is extremely popular.

We also want to continue adding new products. If you have found a resource that you really like, and you do not see it at prayershop.org, please let me know about it. Contact me at This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it

Blessings,

Jon Graf
President

Teleconference Presents the Joy of Prayer

It seems to me . . .

. . . airlines and churches have the same problem. Possible extinction.

Ministry in Boise, Idaho had gone very well. Over fifty local leaders met to explore a region-wide initiative of prayer-care-share evangelism. Their network of pastors and servant ministry leaders had long-ago embarked on the journey of collaboration and they had developed deep relationships as a result of being partners in showing and telling the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the citizens of their communities. These previous efforts had only served to increase their hunger for more; more process than programs

My shuttle ride to the airport the next morning afforded me an opportunity to give thanks to Christ for His faithful work in and through His Church. It also granted me a few moments to wonder upon what He will accomplish in the coming months and years as His people pursue a prayer-care-share lifestyle; what will be the impact on the culture of "church"?

This tranquil state-of-mind didn't last long. The pilot's announcement "we have a minor mechanical problem," turned into a canceled flight. The "minor mechanical problem" required specialized mechanics who needed to be flown in from Denver, which just happened to be our destination.  With my original flight canceled, I would be unable to catch my flight from Denver to Chicago, my hometown. Well, I made it home only six hours later than expected by flying to Chicago (east) through San Francisco (west). My checked bag (they hadn't started charging for one bag yet) had the best deal; it was flown direct from Boise to Chicago.

Long lines. Canceled flights. Flying west to travel east. Double-digit price increases. Surcharges replacing services. Stressed out attendants and cranky counter agents (I'm still smarting from the scolding I received from one of them for not standing in the correct line!). Lost baggage (They sent me to San Francisco but my checked bag to Denver).

Am I looking for sympathy? No, but I am concerned my less-than-satisfying experience with the airline is a picture of the church. A legacy institution struggling to survive in a changing culture. The airlines, along with the automobile industry and daily newspapers, are not merely in a down-turn financial cycle, they are fighting for their lives. United. Ford, Tribune. Familiar names that are in danger of extinction because they have been too slow (and unwilling) to adjust to the radical changes in our culture. Their tried-and-true approach to servicing customers, offering fuel efficient vehicles, retaining advertisers. has become increasingly ineffective in the 21st century. And don't get me started about the original three legacy television networks (losing millions of viewers every year).

So what?
Replace "legacy" with "traditional" and you've got none other than 80 per cent of today''s Christian congregations. Churches more concerned with retaining their comfortable 20th century (or 19th century, in many cases) culture than creating a compelling community of Christ-followers rooted in first century scripture.

    "If the Church has any hope of answering today's challenges, it must pursue what we call radical Christianity or orthodoxy." Charles W. Colson and Harold Fickett, The Faith

So what does that have to do with prayer?

We are in desperate need of visionary prayer leaders. Men and women, young and old, who turn the inward praying church outward; a personal-need praying church public; a country club prayer list church inside-out. Church prayer ministries content with status quo praying will neither impact the community nor influence those who shape the culture.

Prayer is not about prayer. It's about the result of those prayers. "Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done" is our Lord's way of reminding us our conversations, individual and corporate, with God are more about the Father's plans and purposes than our pains and problems.

I wonder how long I will have the option of flying an airline called United or watching a car commercial for Ford or reading a newspaper called the Chicago Tribune. Will they survive the culture changes by changing their corporate culture? Will they be able to celebrate their proud legacy while reaching for a new destiny?

It seems to me airlines and churches have the same problem. Possible extinction.

Pastor Phil 

“Outside-the-Camp”

(Have You Gone Yet?)

By Dennis Conner 

What’s their secret? How do I get to be a player like those in God’s ‘’Hall of Faith”? (Hebrews 11)  Is God still looking for people like those in the New and Old Testaments that we often think of as ‘heroes of the faith’? Would it ever be possible for God to use me for some special assignment He wants done, like these of old? If so, how will I know?

After walking with the Lord for almost forty years--sometimes closer than other times--and four years of practicing the prayer-habit of Moses, I think I have finally discovered “their secret.” It is identified in Exodus 33. There we find a twenty-first century person: 24/7. Yes, right there in the Bible is Moses, living like the majority of us here in the western culture; never lacking for something to do or someone needing something from him. But, in the midst of his overflowing PDA, Moses purposely made time to seek the Lord. The description given in Exodus 33:7-34:3 implies that his meeting with God was much more significant than what most of us experience in our daily “Quiet Time.”

I don’t know about you, but several years ago--while still “feeling good” about my daily Quiet Time--I began to have a desire for a closer/more intimate time with the Lord. Increasingly I recognized that I needed more direct interaction with God on vital matters of my family and the sports ministry (Fellowship of Christian Athletes) He had me leading in Texas. But, as aware of my desire and need for a Moses-type intimacy with God--and even the wooing invitation my spirit was feeling (that He also wanted such a meeting with me)--I consistently neglected any type of extended “up close and personal” time with God. I continuously justified my saying “No” to His invitation by reminding Him of how busy I was just trying to fulfill what He had already given me to do!  Although, I continued having my daily Quiet Time, this “hungering” for that extended, unfettered, and uninterrupted time with the King of kings and Lord of lords would not go away!

Now, I am excited to say, after finally responding obediently (four years ago) to the Father’s ever grace-filled calling and the Spirit’s wooing--to come away from my never-ending “to-do” list and meet with God for an extended and uninterrupted encounter--God has faithfully met with me “outside-the-camp” every time I show-up. I began purposely setting the time aside (4-5 days and nights alone; 2-3 times per year) on my calendar . . . in advance!! (This is my schedule, and He will be faithful to give you yours.) What He has done in and for and with me through these (I now call my “OTC”) meetings has been amazing!

From new revelations to conviction/cleansing, to creative visions and dreams, to personal affirmations and family/ministry confirmations, I always return home already anticipating my next “OTC” time with the Lord!

 During these “OTC” meetings--at a retreat site God has provided in East Texas--I focus completely upon Him and His Word: no TV, no computer, no phone calls (except nightly with my wife) and no e-mails. I enjoy one daily walk (sixty minutes) and what I call my “Dennis-fast”: one-meal per day (two peanut butter/jelly sandwiches) around 7 o’clock in the evening. (NOTE: Those of you near Terre Haute, IN., will definitely want to check out the inspiring retreat center overseen by Jon and Jolyn Graf. To check on availability: call 1-812-238-5504 or email This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it ; Harvest Prayer Center is located at11969 E. Davis Ave., Brazil, IN.)

Yes, I have discovered, those “Hall of Faith” heroes of the Bible had no real secret! What they had was an intimate relationship with God that motivated them to do whatever was needed to meet with Him for extended times that our modern day Quiet Time (too often, a ten minute devotional on-the-run out to the car and on to work) cannot provide.

How about you? Has the Holy Spirit been wooing you to come “outside-the-camp” to meet more intimately with Father God for an extended personal retreat time alone? Let me encourage you to start now! Don’t rationalize it away as I did and Satan would want. My deepest regret is that I didn’t start doing this when He first began inviting me 25 years ago. The rewards of obedience to Him always overshadow the required steps!

Interestingly, as I write this article, I am on the second day of my tenth “OTC” meeting. And what you are reading now is God’s answer to my prayer four days ago, when I said “Yes” to the invitation of Jon Graf, to begin writing an encouraging or instructive article each month for this Prayer Leader On-Line resource to CPLN members. Was I thankful for God’s prompt answer: Yes! Was I surprised: No! Because for these past four years, every time I have come aside from my regular daily activities for one of my “OTC” meetings, I found He was already there, awaiting my arrival; enthusiastically ready to listen and speak to me about things I did not know!! (Jeremiah 33:3)

The question is: Like King David and the Apostle Paul, how intimately do you want to know this King of kings and Lord of lords? How much more of Himself and His plans for you do you want Him to reveal? How much do you desire to truly be used in a significant way by God in His Kingdom work? Are you willing to go “outside-the-camp”? Why not put that “Divine Appointment” on your calendar right now!!

--Dennis Conner and his wife, Betty Jo are the member relations directors for the CPLN.

What’s the Purpose of Your Prayer Meeting?

That may seem like a silly question. You want to seek God. You want His power, direction, His will to be released through your prayers. You want to see your church become more dependent on Him. What do you mean what’s the purpose of our prayer meeting?

Recently I participated in leading an evening of prayer at a church. It was the culminating event to a conference that had several speakers. The pastor wanted all of us—him, me and the other leader to each feel free to step to the mike and lead a section of the prayer time. We did have a little planning for direction ahead of time, but not a lot.

The prayer meeting was fine as prayer meetings go, but something happened that got me thinking about the purpose of a prayer meeting. At one point in the service the mike was opened to individuals to come up and pray. At first instruction was given as to some general topics (schools in the area, etc.), but as was typical at prayer meetings it become a mix of topics that were on the hearts of the pray-ers. What struck me was that the intensity of the praying increased. So much so, that soon the prayer meeting became not participatory for all, but it became a spectator event where the congregation watched as only intense intercessors prayed. After awhile we got them back into groups to pray on a selected topic and the meeting was participatory for everyone again.

There was nothing really wrong with the meeting but it got me thinking about purpose. When I go into a church and lead a prayer meeting I have two primary purposes in mind—and neither one has anything to do with seeking God or power, though those are important. I want to show a more dynamic way to conduct a prayer meeting, and I want to do something that will draw in the weakest and most immature pray-er. I do not want to intimidate anyone.

Not all prayer meetings should be or need to have that purpose. Mine do because of what I am trying to accomplish in a church when I speak there. I am trying to get the average pew sitter engaged in prayer.

My point is that a good prayer meeting leader will think about purpose when he or she plans the meeting. What do you want to accomplish with this prayer meeting. Do you want it to be accessible to all, or should it be an outlet for the strongest intercessors to go after God’s heart. If the former, than you have to watch format and passion. If the latter than you can’t worry that you only have five people coming to the prayer meeting.

Another example: when we try to bring churches in a community together in prayer, ask what’s our primary purpose? If it is unity, then you want to do everything you can to assure that it is formatted to appeal to the most conservative church that was invited. You do not want to offend. You want to bring everyone in. But if your purpose is something else (and it is perfectly fine to have a different purpose) than may not need to worry about making the meeting comfortable for every possible participant.

Don’t forget to consider these things when you plan your prayer times. Recognize that if the prayer time is geared toward one purpose, than you may not see something you want to see—more people, etc. Also recognize that your prayer meeting will be more effective if you format it with purpose in mind. And, though perhaps this thought should be expanded upon in another article, also remember that if others don’t share your purpose they can work against you.

--Jonathan Graf is the president of the Church Prayer Leaders Network and is an effective prayer presenter at prayer weekends in churches. Contact him at This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it