Lately I’ve been crushing it regarding prayer.
Last week I was invited to my church’s missions conference as a speaker. I’ve attended for a few years as an attendee, but never on the other side of the podium.
My topic: How churches can build a prayer program that functions well.
I was amazed that it was so simple to stand in front of a room of people and talk for 75 minutes about what works and what matters.
My key points were:
- The Bible instructs us to pray
- Prayer requires a strategic foundation in the church in order to thrive
- 4 Convictions that make a prayer program functional
- 20+ methods church leaders can use to implement a prayer program.
Just for fun, my 4 convictions were:
- We pray when the need arises
- We pray for every need we know about
- We lift up the church in prayer
- We entrust the program to a leader
It was really fun to see all this content come together.
For the last several years, I’ve been part of the church planting curriculum for our church planting arm (vintagemission.com). I get 60 minutes to talk to every cohort of church planters that come through the program. Based on my years of experience leading a growing prayer ministry, I share my insights and encourage them to make prayer an integral part of their new churches.
You think it’d be a simple matter for a church planting pastor to pray and make it central. Every one that I’ve spoken to would have described himself as “committed to prayer”. But there is a difference between a vague commitment and a plan. I encourage them to build a plan and have structure and purpose behind it.
Honestly, I myself am not a super-gifted prayer warrior. I know many people who pray better and find deeper joy in it. But for this season God has given me a ministry in prayer and He entrusts me to deliver it faithfully.
I know that my “brand” so far has been around studying the Bible. Biblical literacy. But as it turns out, prayer is becoming a thing too.
I don’t know where I’m going with this – other than to put it out there and see what God does with it. It seems that this is something He wants me to lean in on.
So I’m trying to be faithful.
There are more chapters to this prayer story. And I want to tell you about them. I think it’s interesting. And compelling.
As in all things that happen in my life and ministry, I’ve started writing a book about prayer. It’s designed for the discouraged and frustrated Christian who wants to pray, but finds that they try, the works fall flat and seem dull.
There is hope, and I think the Bible points us toward some easy lessons to make prayer full of life and exciting again.
I’m looking for some partners in this venture. People who want to pray more, but maybe feel discouraged. Folks who will read the book and give me some feedback. People who will agree to leave an honest review when I do publish it (because Amazon tends to ignore books that don’t have honest reviews).
If you’re interested, you could let me know by clicking this link and signing up. I’ll be able to tell you more as I progress through the book. But for now, I’m interested in you virtually “raising your hand.:
Thanks!
Dennis
