Revitalize your church's prayer ministry, using NDP as a jumping off point
What a gift!
Every first Thursday of May, your congregation has an opportunity to join the Church across America in praying for our nation … and in so doing, revitalize your prayer ministry at the same time. The observance of the National Day of Prayeris the perfect time for a spring-cleaning of your approach to prayer and praying. No better time to review and revise the systems, structures, and strategies.
“Every church prays, but not every church is a praying church.”
Ask every member of your congregation, young children to senior saints, to establish a personal plan to participate on May 3rd
· Prayerwalk their street, praying for neighbors
· Devote all or part of their lunchbreak to praying for our nation’s leaders
· Pray for our President and other leaders at the evening meal
· Attend a community-wide prayer breakfast or concert of prayer
· Spend 15 minutes in the prayer room (or a designated prayer location) in the church facility
· Write a letter to a local or national leader and indicate you have taken time to pray for her or him
Challenge each class and committee, fellowship group and ministry team t prayerfully discern a plan for National Day of Prayer
- Prayerwalk together a section of town near city hall
- Gather at the church for a 30 minute prayer meeting
- Meet early for breakfast and prayer before going to work
- Attend together a community-wide prayer event
After the National Day of prayer, announce a planning session for every leader in the church (deacons, Awana, Sunday classes, music, etc.). Begin with a bathed in prayer assessment of the state of prayer in your congregation. Invite core leaders to participate in an honest discussion of the vitality of praying in each of the church’s ministries and for each of the congregation’s activities. Use a tool, such as Article #062 Diagnostic Tool To Assess The Prayer Life Of A Congregation. http://nppn.org/Articles/Article062.htm
A praying church not only invites everyone to the place of prayer (usually a weeknight prayer meeting) but also takes prayer to the places where everyone already connect. Invite members to experience a fresh approach to corporate prayer, one that emphasizes Spirit-led participation, praying scripture, and praying for names and needs and neighborhoods … SO THAT the answers to each of our prayers results in a greater revelation of the glory of God (John 17:1-5).
Lastly, provide practical, biblical training through an experiential workshop, so that, prayer is no longer limited to the 60 seconds of a Sunday morning pastoral prayer or the often mechanical opening and closing prayer of a meeting.
May this National Day of Prayer see a release of the Holy Spirit’s fresh wind and fresh fire of prayer that stirs revival among believers and awakening in our communities.
