Discoveries we have made since the hurricane
from Joe McKeever
(Twice in North Carolina on Sunday, January 29, I told my tarheel
friends some discoveries we are making post-Katrina. I keep tweaking
that message, and today--February 5--I'm sharing it with the folks
at the First Baptist Church of Luling, on the west bank from New
Orleans, and this week with the directors of missions at the Texas
Baptist evangelism conference at the FBC of Euless.)
"How blessed is the man whose strength is in Thee; in whose heart
are the highways to Zion! Passing through the valley of Baca
(weeping), they make it a spring... They go from strength to
strength." (Psalm 84:5-7)
1. Everyone down here was affected by the hurricane.
At first, we thought you had to have at least some building damage
to be among the suffering. Of course, hundreds of thousands lost
their homes due to the flooding that followed the hurricane, but
another hundred thousand or more in the western half of the metro
area had typical storm damage caused by wind and rain. What we're
finding out, nearly six months post-K, is that every single person
down here was affected.
Every church lost some members, every church had members who
suffered, every person has friends who were hurt. Every business
suffered and many thousands remain shuttered. And in the rare case
of a citizen who came through unscathed and knows no one who was
hurt, whose business is prospering and whose church is normal, they
still see the devastation of New Orleans every time they drive that
way and they hear of it continuously. It's all the news there is in
the Times-Picayune and on the radio talk shows. Everyone is
affected. It follows therefore that...
2. Everyone is sick and tired of the subject.
On the NBC Nightly News the other evening, Brian Williams told of
some critical letters his network is receiving because of the
on-going coverage of the rebuilding of New Orleans. "Enough with New
Orleans already" and "Give it a rest" were typical. He explained
that since millions were displaced by the two hurricanes, the
coastline of the USA was rearranged, a major city was devastated,
with hundreds of thousands of homes destroyed, and billions of
government money being spent to reclaim the area, this was a major
story which they intended to cover to the completion, and how people
feel about it is beside the point. I wrote him an email that evening
thanking him and said, "We surely understand the people who are sick
and tired of the subject. We are, too. We're ready for it to go
away. We wake up every morning wishing it had all been a bad dream.
But there it is." The result is a witch's brew of depression,
sadness, the blues, fatigue, and who knows what all else, all of it
poured upon this entire population. No one is unscathed, everyone
has been affected, we're all weary.
When Emeril Lagasse pleaded stress as his excuse for saying some
negative things about New Orleans, columnist Chris Rose answered,
"Hey, this just in: we're all stressed out."
A friend said, "Out where I live we have a saying: 'Too blessed to
be stressed.'" I respond, "We're blessed also. But is it possible to
be blessed and stressed at the same time?"
3. It's a great time to be a Baptist.
Just after the storm passed and even as the floodwaters began to
rise, Southern Baptists were already arriving. Massive trucks
bringing food and water and supplies began to pull in, first on the
Northshore and soon in Kenner and Metairie. Volunteers from Southern
Baptist churches all over the country who are trained in Disaster
Relief rushed in with their chain saws and cooking equipment. They
took over the Kenner City Jail and provided hot meals for hundreds
of military and law enforcement officers who had shut down the
entire metropolitan area and were rescuing stranded citizens. As
citizens were allowed to return, they were quick to notice the
Baptist volunteers, many going up and down streets offering
assistance and food. Some of the churches set up tents in their
parking lots and fed hot meals to the community twice a day, and
erected drive-throughs where people could get crates of water and
supplies without leaving their cars.
Shelters all over the country welcomed our displaced citizens. No
one was more active and more welcoming than Southern Baptists,
whether in Houston or Memphis or Jackson. We say this not to be
partisan, because we thank God for every person who helped, but to
give thanks where it is due. We Southern Baptists, who had built a
reputation for inner conflicts and debates, got something right this
time. It is not egotistical pride to point this out, but justifiable
gratitude.
In the weeks after our return, the talk shows around here were
flooded with people lauding the Southern Baptists. "My church was
shut up," they would say, "and my priest was gone, but the Baptists
were everywhere." Some were angry at their denominations and others
were vowing they had become Baptists in the interim. We know of at
least two churches that are changing their affiliation to become
SBC. Many of our churches are noticing new people in the pews every
Sunday, in addition to the volunteers from all over the country.
In the "Adopt-a-Church" program, hundreds of SBC churches across
America teamed up with congregations in our area to assist them.
They have literally sent millions of dollars to help our people. One
of our pastors told how an adopting Oklahoma church invited him and
his wife out to visit in early December. "It's a wonderful church,"
he said. "They have more members than there are residents of the
town. They had two Christmas trees set up in the church. On one,
they all pinned money, every dollar of it for us. Under the other
tree, they had presents for us." That pastor was African-American
and the church was completely Anglo, but God bonded them permanently
and deeply.
Before Katrina, New Orleans Baptists had a hard time being noticed.
Afterwards, the mayor put one of our pastors on his commission to
advise on the rebuilding of the city, and others of our leaders have
been prominent in leadership roles. At one point, a group of Baptist
pastors--not Southern Baptist, and that's as specific as I'll
get--was in the news after Fred Luter was appointed to the mayor's
commission. They protested that their group was not represented,
that only pastors of big churches had been put on the panel, that
they wanted leadership roles, too. I wanted to say to those
ministers, "Don't ask the mayor to appoint you as a leader. Go lead,
do something, and the mayor will have no other choice. God said, 'I
will make you the head and not the tail.' (Deut 28:13) So, if the
Lord makes you the head, lead out and we will follow."
4. God is doing some wonderful things in all of this business.
Romans 8:28 is still in effect. God is at work, turning these tragic
conditions into blessings. There are the stories of evacuees
returning home to tell of their hosts in distant towns introducing
them to the Savior. There is Horeb Baptist Church of Gretna where
Pastor David Rodriguez evacuated with all 150 members of his church,
staying for 3 weeks in a Baptist encampment across the state, then
returning with every person. During their absence, three members of
their group were saved, and since that time, another 32 have come to
Christ. Some of our Spanish churches are reaching out to the
thousands of Mexican construction workers flowing into the city. And
one of them has opened their doors to Brazilian workers. Pastor
David Lema of Emmanuel Spanish Baptist Church in Kenner tells me
their Portuguese mission--which they started a few weeks ago--is
already running 50 or more, and the new pastor is one of the
construction workers.
Pastor Dennis Watson of Celebration Church in Metairie told the
Louisiana evangelism conference a few days ago of a church member
who came to New Orleans sometime back to open a new business. He
checked into a downtown hotel and walked around. That night, after
seeing the wickedness in this city, he knelt by his bed to pray,
wondering if he should stay. God told him to stay here and said that
He was going to do a mighty work in this city, something not seen
since the days of Nineveh. When Pastor Watson heard that, he said to
the man, "Why, in Nineveh, every man, woman, and child turned to the
Lord. If God were to do that here, New Orleans would have to be
broken."
God is up to some things here, friends. Let us believe and trust
HIm. Let us pray for His mighty hand to do His great work. Let us be
faithful, on our knees praying, responsive to His will. When He does
it, I want to be here and to be part of it.
5. We have discovered how much we need each other.
Before the storm, we would have been hard pressed to get 15 pastors
together for a monthly ministers' conference. These days, we meet
every Wednesday morning, from 9 to noon at the First Baptist Church
of LaPlace, and we have 50 there. When we break for lunch at 11:30,
a few of the ministers move down the hall to eat, but most of them
gather in clusters to talk and encourage and pray together. We never
know who's going to be there each Wednesday, but always there are
Baptist leaders from our state convention office or Lifeway or the
SBC or NAMB or another state convention, and from other churches
around the country, other directors of mission--all of them come
with encouragement, teams of helpers, words of hope, gifts of
assistance. They come early and stay late. This gathering may be the
best thing we could have done, and we stumbled on it. During the
exile, David Crosby of the FBC of N.O. said, "Joe, we ought to get
our guys together." We set up a meeting at the FBC of Jackson, MS,
and tried to contact as many as we could. Twenty showed up. We
called Pastor Bobby Burt of FBC LaPlace and he said they would be
glad to host the pastors the next Wednesday for as long as we wanted
to meet, and they would provide lunch. We've met there every week
since.
One of my great burdens about our churches and pastors before the
storm was our isolation. Our pastors did not know each other, our
church members were strangers to one other. Katrina broke down a lot
of walls, spiritual as well as physical. Our Black and White and
Hispanic pastors have learned each other's names and many have
become great friends. God is doing a new thing in our midst.
We had a leader from the North American Mission Board with us one
day who said, "In 1992 when hurricane Andrew went through Southern
Florida, destroying entire cities, I was a pastor there. No one got
our pastors together. We were all on our own. And within a year,
everyone was gone. We were depressed and hurt and isolated." Then he
said, "It blesses me to see you all meeting and encouraging each
other."
6. How much we need prayer. We need the power of God with us every day.
People frequently tell me they're praying for us. I say to them,
"May I tell you how to pray? Pray BIG. Don't come in here with a
miserly little 'God bless New Orleans.' Pray BIG. Tell the Lord,
'God, you love this city. Jesus died for this city. You have a lot
of people here. Satan has had it long enough. We're asking you to
take it back, Lord. This is your place!'"
Pray BIG. Ask God to do a NEW thing here. In Scripture, the Lord
says, "I am making all things new." He loves to make things new. New
creation. New heart. A new man. We sing a new song to the Lord. Old
things are passed away. New wineskins. Tell Him, "Lord, we don't
want the Old New Orleans back. It didn't work. It failed people and
insulted Thee. We want a new city."
Someone called in to a talk show recently and told host Garland
Robinette, "I want the old New Orleans back. I liked it the way it
was." Garland said, "We had the highest crime rate in the nation and
the sorriest schools. People were dying of HIV and AIDS and drugs.
And you want that back?" The man sheepishly said, "Well, I don't
want THAT. But I want the old New Orleans back." Give me a break. No
one who is thinking clearly wants it back the way it was. God, do a
new thing!
And Lord, make it a GOD thing. In your image, not in the mayor's or
the governor's, and definitely not in Washington's. Regardless what
plans the various commissions bring to the table, we're asking YOU
to make the decisions, set the new course for this city. You said,
"Except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain who build it."
Lord, you re-build it. You take the lead. You decide. You are in
charge. You said, "The king's heart is like channels of water in the
hand of the Lord; He turns it wherever He wishes." (Proverbs 21:1)
Turn this thing, Lord. You do it!
A Big thing. A New thing. A God thing. That's how we're praying.
There are places in the Old Testament where the Lord says, "I'm
going to do a thing that is so big the ears of all who hear it will
tingle." O Lord, do an ear-tingling thing in New Orleans. And let it
begin in me and in us.
My son Neil told his children, "Pray for good weather tomorrow and
we'll go to the park." Next day, it was a lovely sunny morning. As
they drove toward LaFreniere Park, he said, "Who prayed for this
beautiful day? Grant, did you?" The 11-year-old said, "No, I
forgot." Neil said, "Abby, did you?" The nine-year-old said, "I
forgot, too." At that, her twin Erin said, "Oh good. Then it was my
miracle."
When God sends that revival to New Orleans, when men and women and
children are converted, when the city is no longer known as 'the
city that care forgot' but 'the city that cares for God', when God
works His mighty new thing here, will it be your miracle? It will if
you will pray. Pray big. For a big thing, a new thing, a God thing.
--------------------------------------------------------------
[ Comments? http://www.joemckeever.com/mt/archives/000237.html ]
--------------------------------------------------------------
And the hits just keep on coming...
"Joe, I might be late for the pastors meeting Wednesday morning,"
the e-mail note said. The writer, one of our displaced pastors,
explained about his wife's surgery and the death in his family. His
job is in jeopardy and he still doesn't have direction on what to do
with his flooded church, which has been gutted by teams of
volunteers and needs to be restored internally, but what's the point
if no one lives in the neighborhood.
Now--not knowing any more about him than this--would you say there's
a brother who needs your prayers?
Last August, one of our pastors evacuated the area ahead of the
storm and found shelter in his home state, only to see both his
daughters in car accidents and his father come down with a serious
disease and die a few weeks later. Internal stresses with his
congregation led him to resign and take a temporary position in
another church.
One pastor who lost both his home and his church had a stroke and
while he was in the hospital recovering, his mother died.
Want me to go on? I could. I can tell you of another dozen New
Orleans ministers who have come through the storm and its
devastation only to turn around and find more trials coming, one
after another, each one worst than the one before.
We keep asking for prayer for our ministers down here. Only the Lord
knows what pressures each one is enduring and only He has the
resources and strength to get us through this.
I've been camping out in Psalm 84 lately. I was first attracted to
that short passage several years ago when a college-ministry
committee I was chairing met in a classroom at the old First Baptist
Church of New Orleans on St. Charles Avenue. Someone had gone to the
trouble of cutting out large letters and stringing on the walls
around the room verse 11 of that psalm: "The Lord God is a Sun and a
Shield. The Lord gives grace and glory. No good thing does He
withhold from those who walk uprightly." I sat there transfixed,
drinking that in, thinking, "What a great verse. What a wonderful
praise, what an incredible promise."
Psalm 84 contains the church ushers' favorite passage. "I'd rather
be a doorkeeper in the House of the Lord than to dwell in the tents
of wickedness," verse 10.
Lately, post-Katrina, I've been claiming for us the promise that God
gives to those whose strength is in Him: "Passing through the valley
of Baca (weeping), they make it into a spring." (verse 6)
We're living in the valley of weeping just now. The wife of a good
friend who is a leader in one of our flooded churches came up and
hugged me last Thursday. She was working on the church grounds with
volunteers from Colorado, and she was in tears. She said, "You would
think I'd be over my tears by now." None of us are. The sadness is
palpable. But there's a promise here.
God can turn it into a spring. A fountain. A place of refreshment
and rest and renewal. It's just like Him to do that. He loves this
kind of alchemy, turning the awful into the awesome. The depressing
into the inexpressible. A place of death like Calvary into a
fountain of life.
When you pray for us, would you claim this, please? That God would
turn this devastation into delight, both his and ours.
"They go from strength to strength." Verse 7. That's what I had in
mind in mentioning this psalm to you, it's where I was aiming, I
just had to point out those other wonderful insights in this psalm
to get to this insight. Like stairs we climb or escalators that
climb for us, God's strength and His blessings come one after
another, each one pushing us a little higher.
Yes, the hits just keep on coming. But so does the strength. So do
His blessings.
Evangelist Jerry Drace has been in New Orleans for 3 months as a
part of the Billy Graham organization's Rapid Response Team. He told
our ministers Wednesday, "I've learned never to ask anyone around
here, 'How are you doing?' They'll tell you, and you don't have time
for their life story."
He went on. "A better question, one that gets right to the heart of
the issue is: 'Are you getting better?' The other day in the Sam's
Club store, I was in a long line at the checkout and the girl asked
about my Billy Graham insignia. I told her what we do and I said,
'Are you getting better?' She teared up to cry right in front of me.
And with that long line behind, I held her hand and led her in
prayer right there. No one complained and no one left."
Everyone understood. The tears are always flowing just beneath the
surface, the woes come one after another. But thanks be to the Lord,
He is here with us, He has not abandoned us, He keeps sending us
friends to comfort and encourage and stand us on our feet; we are
stronger today than we were yesterday.
And one day closer to being out of all this.
The Louisiana State Legislature is meeting right now in Baton Rouge.
Governor Blanco called this special session to get them to
consolidate our myriad levee boards into one with overall, sweeping
authority. You ought to hear the special interest groups hollering.
And to streamline the courts and tax assessors' offices in the city
of New Orleans. With one-third the population we used to have, we
don't need the bureaucracy that weighted us down previously. Again,
those who have lived at the public trough are crying foul at the
prospect of having to find an actual job.
While you're praying for us down here, if you happen to mention the
governor and the legislature, praying they will do the right thing,
we'd appreciate it.
--------------------------------------------------------------
[ Comments? http://www.joemckeever.com/mt/archives/000238.html ]
--------------------------------------------------------------
>From http://www.JoeMcKeever.com
To subscribe, send a blank message to:
joeslist-subscribe@joemckeever.com
Sunday, February 19, 2006
Friday, February 17, 2006
NPPN GLOBAL NETWORK - International Prayer Council
PRAYER CONNECTIONS:
February/March 2006
Newsletter of the International Prayer Council
“Globalising Prayer, Transforming our World”
IN THIS EDITION
1. The IPC Wants To
2. Please Tell Us
3. Great News!
4. Calendar
5. Websites Worth Visiting
6. From the GDOP Youth Office
7. Youth and Children's Prayer Networks
8. Global Day of Prayer for Lebanon
9. Global Day of Prayer for Burma 2006
10 International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church
11. Praying Through the Window 8
12. Global Day of Prayer 2006
13. To Contact Us
1. THE IPC WANTS TO
The International Prayer Council wants to CONNECT prayer leaders in every region of the WORLD in order to:
ÿ Help Develop mechanisms for continued relationships
ÿ Help Organize an annual Global Day of Prayer on Pentecost Sunday
ÿ Multiply - Spawn new international networks
ÿ Strengthen and help to develop regional prayer networks
ÿ Plan jointly a second World Prayer Assembly in 2009
ÿ Build relationships between prayer leaders
ÿ Celebrate the wonders of God together
2. PLEASE TELL US
The focus of Prayer Connections is to keep prayer leaders and regional liaisons informed on what is happening worldwide in the prayer movement. This newsletter wants to assist you to be informed about prayer events, but also wants to create a network where we can work together in reaching our goal of bringing in the harvest.
It is only possible to be of such help if we receive information on what is happening in your region. Please send the prayer news of your region and news of conferences and networking seminars to Nita van der Merwe office@ipcprayer.org.
3. GREAT NEWS!
1. The World Wide Day of Prayer for Children at Risk
The World Wide Day of Prayer for Children at Risk took place on 4 June 2005, involving hundreds of thousands of people in over 90 countries. Here are a few examples of prayer events that happened around the world:
A prayer march of 2,500 children for children at risk took place in the city of San Salvador, El Salvador 4 June 2005. In Cape Town a “Compassion Day” was held which included practical service to ministries for children at risk, and an afternoon of prayer for these children. The prayers of a group in Singapore, who focused their prayers on the cancellation of the poorest countries’ debts, were answered when $40 billion of debt had been cancelled by the G8 leaders! www.viva.org/wwdp Praise God for those that answered the call to pray and for children at risk across the world.
2. Five Encouraging Developments Worldwide
Often the best news doesn't make it into the newspapers. At the start of 2006, Joel News International lists a simple top-5 of what we consider the most encouraging developments at this moment. Looking at what God is doing worldwide, we see:
1. an unprecedented growth of the prayer movement world
-wide;
2. God's Spirit being poured out in many places, marked by
conversion and miracles;
3. many new partnerships and networks are being formed
on a city-, nation-and even continental level, linking prayer, saturation church planting and frontline missions;
4. more and more Christians, churches and ministries are engaging in a transformational process to bring godly change to their societies;
5. radically simple and innovative forms of church are springing up in many places, reaching the unreached.
Source: www.joelnews.org
Free 2-month trial subscription at www.joelnews.org or
www.subscribe.htm
3. 2006 Is First-Ever Swiss Year-Of-Prayer
Following an initiative by youth prayer movement 24-7prayer, churches in Switzerland committed to a first-ever year of non-stop prayer. "We have two major goals for this year," says prayer mobiliser Susanna Rychiger, who runs the Swiss 24-7 base in Thun. "First, we want to establish 24-7 long term in Switzerland. And second, we want to see a network of relationships built on community and prayer that will carry on into our future." Churches are praying together and praying for one another. www.ch06.ch
4. CALENDAR
DATE EVENT DETAILS
5 February 2006 Global Day to Pray for Lebanon www.Pray4Lebanon.blogspot.com
27 February to 1 March 2006 Heaven to Earth Intimacy and Warfare. Swanwick Prayer Conference www.worldprayer.org.uk
12 March 2006 Global Day of Prayer for Burma www.prayforburma.org
25 – 29 April
2006 Azusa Revival Centennial www.azusastreet100.net
25 May 30KD Challenge in schools and campuses www.globaldayofprayer.com
25 May –
3 June 2006 – 10 Days of Day and Night Prayer www.globaldayofprayer.com
25 May –
3 June 2006 10 Days of Prayer in Boiler Rooms www.globaldayofprayer.com
2 June 2006
30KD Challenge in schools and campuses www.globaldayofprayer.com
3 June 2006
Day of Compassion Outreaches in Communities and Kids Games www.globaldayofprayer.com
4 June 2006 GLOBAL DAY OF PRAYER
Focus on the World Day of Prayer for Children at Risk www.globaldayofprayer.com
4 June 2006
“90 Days of Blessing” or Community outreach start www.globaldayofprayer.com
5 June 2006 ff
Challenge the youth to live the PEACE principles as part of 90 Days of Blessings www.globaldayofprayer.com
20 – 24 Sept 2006 IPC Prayer Leader Summit www.ipcprayer.org
26 – 30 Sept
2006 Global Prayer Summit for Children in Malaysia tamilla_palmer@wvi.org
23 Sept –
22 Oct 2006 Muslim Prayer Focus www.30-days.net
Oct 2006 Pray Through the Window www.win1040.com
9 – 13 Oct 2006
Asian Summit On The 10/40 Window in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia www.win1040.com
www.worldprayer.org.uk
20 – 21 Oct 2006
South Asian Regional Prayer Conference, in Hyderabad. www.win1040.com
www.worldprayer.org.uk
23 – 24 Oct 2006 Consultation on Spiritual Strongholds in Hyderabad. www.win1040.com
www.worldprayer.org.uk
25 – 28 Oct 2006 Transform World Conference lena@nlfcambodia.org
14 Nov 2006 International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church www.idop.org www.worldevangelicalalliance.com
5. WEBSITES WORTH VISITING
Have a look at these great new websites!
www.islamlighthouse.com
www.capn.info
www.pcftn.org
www.svm2.net
www.cpnsa.co.za
www.ethne.net
www.extremeprayer.com
www.kidspray.org.au
6. FROM THE GDOP YOUTH OFFICE
In 2005, during the 10 Days of day and night prayer, preceding the Global Day of Prayer, even more young people participated by doing the 30 Second Kneel Down Challenge, praying together in Boiler Rooms and doing A Whole Night for the Whole World on the evening before Pentecost Sunday. And on the Day of Prayer itself younger faces could be seen at all the gatherings.
In 2006 we really want to build on this momentum and have therefore put out a strategy to involve even more young people. Our dream is to see a new generation of prayer warriors who will live transformation in their communities through a lifestyle of prayer.
We have also partnered with Viva Children’s Network and will mobilize young people to reach out to the youth in their communities with a Day of Compassion. On the Global Day of Prayer on 4 June 2006, Christians all over the globe will also focus their prayers on Viva’s Worldwide Day of Prayer for Children at Risk.
Herewith the strategy for 2006 as decided on by the GDOP planning team:
Step 1:
25 May 30KD Challenge in schools and campuses
10 Days of Prayer in Boiler Rooms start, as well as L-10-T Lifestyle of Prayer
Step 2:
25 May - 10 Days of Prayer in Boiler Rooms and L-10-T
3 June Lifestyle of Prayer
Step 3:
2 June 30KD Challenge in schools and campuses
Step 4:
3 June Day of Compassion outreaches in communities and Kids Games
Step 5:
4 June Join the GDOP event in your area/region. Organize a youth prayer event to flow spontaneously out of the GDOP event. Focus on the World Day of Prayer for Children at Risk
Step 6:
5 June ff Challenge the youth to live the PEACE-plan principles as part of the 90 Days of Blessing and continue Days of Compassion
A very informative website www.globaldayofprayer.com contains a youth link with all the needed information. Here you can also register your youth group’s participation for the 2006 process.
Our contact details at the Global Day of Prayer Office are be:
Tel: +27-21-856-3130
Fax: +27-21-856-1174
E-mail: etienne@globaldayofprayer.com
Website: www.globaldayofprayer.com
We urgently need your help, not only to involve the youth of your community, but to bring us into contact with more youth leaders from your nation and all over the globe. Please be so kind to register your youth group’s participation, but also to submit the names and contact details of more youth leaders to us.
Please reply to etienne@globaldayofprayer.com
7. YOUTH AND CHILDREN’S PRAYER NETWORKS
We are urgently looking for contacts with leaders of youth and children’s prayer networks all over the world. This will enable us to broaden the prayer network across generations in every single nation of the world, but it will also help us to involve youth and children in the many prayer initiatives throughout the globe e.g. Praying through the Window, GDOP, etc. Please help us to establish definite children’s and youth global networks in order to give more momentum to prayer amongst a generation passionately seeking the opportunity to change their destiny through prayer. Please send all information to: office@ipcprayer.com
8. GLOBAL DAY OF PRAYER FOR LEBANON
Lebanon has been, and is, going through many changes and a very difficult time politically.
After 30 years of its presence in Lebanon, the Syrian army left the country, being the answer to thousands of prayers. A result of this withdrawal, however, is that 18 different denominations are fighting for authority. This is in addition to the stress of the struggle between the Muslim Sunni and Shiite in Iraq that is affecting them as well in negative ways.
They say that every 20 years Lebanon goes through a war, but this time there is a difference. There is now a church in Lebanon willing to stand up against another war, and who is asking for all around the world to unite in prayer, praying for the peace of Lebanon. Lebanon is the only country in the Middle East that has a Christian President through its Constitution, the only country that has the freedom to worship, to evangelize, to build churches, and to teach and equip believers. It is because of these things that it is believed that Lebanon has a strategic place in the Middle East.
They have appointed Sunday, February, 5th 2006 to be a global day to pray for Lebanon and are asking the church all around the globe to stand with them on this day. The need is great and they believe that this day will shape the history of Lebanon forever.
Please click here for more information to log on the special web designed for this day: www.Pray4Lebanon.blogspot.com
9. GLOBAL DAY OF PRAYER FOR BURMA 2006
March 12th, 2006 is the Global Day of Prayer for Burma. It is a
special opportunity to unite for concerted prayer and action on behalf of those from Burma who have been oppressed.
Please visit www.prayforburma.org to download the Global Day of Prayer booklet. It contains the latest information and photos about the situation facing internally displaced people, personal testimonies and ways you can respond.
10. INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER FOR THE PERSECUTED CHURCH
According to organizers of IDOP -- the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church -- more than 200 million men, women and children in more than 60 countries face discrimination, persecution and even death for their Christian faith. The 2006 IDOP takes place on Sunday November 14th. Prayer has always been the strongest weapon used by the followers of Christ in all situations. This year, Christians in over 100 countries will join in prayer to strengthen those who are persecuted for their faith and to comfort those who are overcoming the great losses wrought by the Southeast Asian tsunami, Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, and the 7.6-magnitude earthquake in South Asia. The goals of IDOP are three-fold: increase awareness of the persecuted church worldwide, lead in prayer on behalf of the persecuted church, promote ongoing and appropriate action on behalf of the persecuted church. www.idop.org or www.worldevangelicalalliance.com
11. PRAYING THROUGH THE WINDOW 8
There are numerous Christians in the 10/40 Window who are being punished by tyrannical governments and terrorist groups because they refuse to deny that Jesus Christ is their Lord and personal Saviour. The purpose of mobilising massive numbers of Christians to pray for the Persecuted Church in the 10/40 Window, is to bring awareness of their inhumane suffering and raise up advocates who will hold democratic governments accountable to speak out and put an end to the international human rights violations and horrific crimes against humanity that occur on a daily basis. Daily prayer points can be found at www.win1040.com
Praying through the Window 8 will continue until Sept 2007.
12. GLOBAL DAY OF PRAYER 2006
On 15 May 2005 more than 200 million Christians in 156 nations united in a day of repentance and prayer for the world. Christians came together in large stadiums, open fields, market squares, churches and other public venues to pray. It was broadcast by hundreds of radio and TV stations around the world.
The Global Day of Prayer will be on 4 June 2006. Many prayer networks, Christian organisations and prayer leaders support this initiative. Christians all over the world are invited to take hands in a Global Day of Prayer. This initiative will continue for the next five years, until 2010. Every year on Pentecost Sunday there will be a Global Day of Prayer. The two key verses that are guiding our planning around the Global Day of Prayer, are 2 Chron.7:14 "If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land" and Hab.2:14 "For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea."
There is a simple threefold strategy:
1. 10 Days of day-and-night prayer from Ascension Day till the Saturday before Pentecost Sunday.
2. A global day of repentance & prayer on Pentecost Sunday
3. 90 Days of "community blessing"
10 Days of Day and Night Prayer
25 May – 3 June 2006 – Like the Early Church in Acts 1, we encourage all local congregations, communities, cities and regions to spend 10 days in prayer leading up to Pentecost Sunday, 4 June 2006. In all countries around the world Christians will be encouraged to spend these 10 days in Day-and-Night (24-7) prayer, asking God for a fresh outpouring of His Spirit, the salvation of the lost, the unreached and the healing of the nations.
Youth – Youth around the globe will be challenged to start the 10 Days of day and night prayer with an initiative called the “30Kd Challenge” where all believing students are challenged to join in prayer for 30 minutes in their schools and campuses on Ascension Day 25 May. The challenge will be repeated on 2 June 2005. Adding to this youth will be challenged to join the 10 Days of prayer in Boiler Rooms where they can express themselves in vibrant and creative ways, interceding for their generation around the globe. A further challenge during the 10 Days of day and night prayer is to live the L-10-T lifestyle of prayer evangelism wherever they hang out. These 10 days will really be an opportunity for the youth to make a difference in their communities in their own unique ways.
Global Day of Repentance & Prayer
4 June 2006 - Towns and cities unite in repentance & prayer at stadiums, churches, market squares, etc. In "closed" countries Creative Christians will make a way to pray together. Many television, radio and Internet services around the world will broadcast these prayer gatherings.
Youth - On 4 June the Youth will be challenged to join with all generations around the globe in a Global Day of Repentance & Prayer in their respective communities. This year Viva Network will join in the Global Day of Prayer through their World Day of Prayer for Children at Risk. Where possible, these events must flow into a youth prayer event where young people can express themselves through prayer and worship in their own unique way, but it must not be a separate event.
90 Days of “Blessings”
“90 Days of Blessing” or Community outreach after 4 June 2006. Churches, communities and cities are encouraged to reach out to their neighbors and the community with acts of blessing and deeds of love. This will include practical help and support for the poor and needy, job creation, community development, literacy training, caring for the sick, etc. - being salt, light and hope for a broken and needy world.
Youth – Already on 3 June youth around the globe will be challenged to partake in a Global Day of Compassion, reaching out in their communities in any given way the Lord leads them. This is an opportunity to live what we are praying. After 4 June the youth globally will be challenged to live the principles of the PEACE-plan, partake in different compassion days and live the L-10-T lifestyle of prayer. Actually the challenge is to be Jesus’ hands and feet for the next 364 days of the year.
NB: Some communities will see their way open to get involved in the day of prayer on 4 June only, others will pray for ten days and be involved in the day of prayer and some others will feel ready to get involved in the whole threefold strategy. Do what ever is possible in your own community.
There is an amazing movement of prayer around the globe and for at least the next 5 years there will be a Global Day of Prayer on Pentecost Sunday. Here are the dates for the
Global Day of Repentance & Prayer events
YEAR 10 DAYS OF PRAYER GLOBAL DAY OF PRAYER 90 DAYS OF BLESSING
2006 25 May – 3 June 4 June – Pentecost Sunday 5 June – 2 September
2007 17 – 26 May 27 May – Pentecost Sunday 28 May –
25 August
2008 1 – 10 May 11 May – Pentecost Sunday 12 May – 9 August
2009 21 – 30 May 31 May – Pentecost Sunday 1 June – 30 August
2010 13 – 22 May 23 May – Pentecost Sunday 24 May – 21 August
How you can get involved
• Please register your town/city’s participation at www.globaldayofprayer.com
• Make this process known throughout your whole organisation and/or church network and encourage them to join in prayer.
• Contact key individuals and tell them about GDOP. Encourage them to consider making GDOP known in their constituencies. Even if you can take 10 minutes to forward this letter to 5 or 10 key people that you are in contact with, it will make a major difference.
• If you have a website, would you not consider putting a link on your home page to the Global Day of Prayer website www.globaldayofprayer.com?
• Visit the Global Day of Prayer website for more information. We have 10 Day guides available with suggestions on how to mobilise the 10 days of day and night prayer, prayer pointers for the 10 days and simple prayer guidelines. This is available in various languages. You will also find other helpful resources on the websites such as: a concise PowerPoint presentation and a number of sample documents on how to mobilise such a day of prayer in your community.
• Everyone is involved in a local congregation. Get your own local church involved. Ask your local church and/or denomination to put a link to the Global Day of Prayer website.
• When attending conferences, ask for an opportunity to tell about the Global Day of Prayer. An excellent video is available that will be of much help and is already available. E-mail your request to info@globaldayofprayer.com to order the video. People in the USA, Europe and other parts of the world with access to broadband internet can get access to and download these videos through the Global Day of Prayer website.
• If you have a prayer letter, newsletter or Christian magazine, consider an article on the Global Day of Prayer. If you have access to Christian radio or television, ask for an interview and make this known.
• If you have a story to tell about how your town or city is mobilizing for the Global Day of Prayer, send it to us. We will post many of them on the website so that others will be encouraged and learn from you.
• A Global day of prayer info CD with all the information is available and can be ordered at registration from info@globaldayofprayer.com
For More Information Please Contact
Global Day of Prayer
info@globaldayofprayer.com / www.globaldayofprayer.com Dawie Spangenberg – info@globaldayofprayer.com
Etienne Piek – youth@globaldayofprayer.com
Bob Bakke – rbakke@globaldayofprayer.com
Graham Power, John Robb, Dawie Spangenberg, Bob Bakke, Etienne Piek and Bennie Mostert
(On behalf of Global Day of Prayer)
13. TO CONTACT US
office@ipcprayer.org
Tel: +27 12 365 3213
Fax: +27 12 365 3214
February/March 2006
Newsletter of the International Prayer Council
“Globalising Prayer, Transforming our World”
IN THIS EDITION
1. The IPC Wants To
2. Please Tell Us
3. Great News!
4. Calendar
5. Websites Worth Visiting
6. From the GDOP Youth Office
7. Youth and Children's Prayer Networks
8. Global Day of Prayer for Lebanon
9. Global Day of Prayer for Burma 2006
10 International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church
11. Praying Through the Window 8
12. Global Day of Prayer 2006
13. To Contact Us
1. THE IPC WANTS TO
The International Prayer Council wants to CONNECT prayer leaders in every region of the WORLD in order to:
ÿ Help Develop mechanisms for continued relationships
ÿ Help Organize an annual Global Day of Prayer on Pentecost Sunday
ÿ Multiply - Spawn new international networks
ÿ Strengthen and help to develop regional prayer networks
ÿ Plan jointly a second World Prayer Assembly in 2009
ÿ Build relationships between prayer leaders
ÿ Celebrate the wonders of God together
2. PLEASE TELL US
The focus of Prayer Connections is to keep prayer leaders and regional liaisons informed on what is happening worldwide in the prayer movement. This newsletter wants to assist you to be informed about prayer events, but also wants to create a network where we can work together in reaching our goal of bringing in the harvest.
It is only possible to be of such help if we receive information on what is happening in your region. Please send the prayer news of your region and news of conferences and networking seminars to Nita van der Merwe office@ipcprayer.org.
3. GREAT NEWS!
1. The World Wide Day of Prayer for Children at Risk
The World Wide Day of Prayer for Children at Risk took place on 4 June 2005, involving hundreds of thousands of people in over 90 countries. Here are a few examples of prayer events that happened around the world:
A prayer march of 2,500 children for children at risk took place in the city of San Salvador, El Salvador 4 June 2005. In Cape Town a “Compassion Day” was held which included practical service to ministries for children at risk, and an afternoon of prayer for these children. The prayers of a group in Singapore, who focused their prayers on the cancellation of the poorest countries’ debts, were answered when $40 billion of debt had been cancelled by the G8 leaders! www.viva.org/wwdp Praise God for those that answered the call to pray and for children at risk across the world.
2. Five Encouraging Developments Worldwide
Often the best news doesn't make it into the newspapers. At the start of 2006, Joel News International lists a simple top-5 of what we consider the most encouraging developments at this moment. Looking at what God is doing worldwide, we see:
1. an unprecedented growth of the prayer movement world
-wide;
2. God's Spirit being poured out in many places, marked by
conversion and miracles;
3. many new partnerships and networks are being formed
on a city-, nation-and even continental level, linking prayer, saturation church planting and frontline missions;
4. more and more Christians, churches and ministries are engaging in a transformational process to bring godly change to their societies;
5. radically simple and innovative forms of church are springing up in many places, reaching the unreached.
Source: www.joelnews.org
Free 2-month trial subscription at www.joelnews.org or
www.subscribe.htm
3. 2006 Is First-Ever Swiss Year-Of-Prayer
Following an initiative by youth prayer movement 24-7prayer, churches in Switzerland committed to a first-ever year of non-stop prayer. "We have two major goals for this year," says prayer mobiliser Susanna Rychiger, who runs the Swiss 24-7 base in Thun. "First, we want to establish 24-7 long term in Switzerland. And second, we want to see a network of relationships built on community and prayer that will carry on into our future." Churches are praying together and praying for one another. www.ch06.ch
4. CALENDAR
DATE EVENT DETAILS
5 February 2006 Global Day to Pray for Lebanon www.Pray4Lebanon.blogspot.com
27 February to 1 March 2006 Heaven to Earth Intimacy and Warfare. Swanwick Prayer Conference www.worldprayer.org.uk
12 March 2006 Global Day of Prayer for Burma www.prayforburma.org
25 – 29 April
2006 Azusa Revival Centennial www.azusastreet100.net
25 May 30KD Challenge in schools and campuses www.globaldayofprayer.com
25 May –
3 June 2006 – 10 Days of Day and Night Prayer www.globaldayofprayer.com
25 May –
3 June 2006 10 Days of Prayer in Boiler Rooms www.globaldayofprayer.com
2 June 2006
30KD Challenge in schools and campuses www.globaldayofprayer.com
3 June 2006
Day of Compassion Outreaches in Communities and Kids Games www.globaldayofprayer.com
4 June 2006 GLOBAL DAY OF PRAYER
Focus on the World Day of Prayer for Children at Risk www.globaldayofprayer.com
4 June 2006
“90 Days of Blessing” or Community outreach start www.globaldayofprayer.com
5 June 2006 ff
Challenge the youth to live the PEACE principles as part of 90 Days of Blessings www.globaldayofprayer.com
20 – 24 Sept 2006 IPC Prayer Leader Summit www.ipcprayer.org
26 – 30 Sept
2006 Global Prayer Summit for Children in Malaysia tamilla_palmer@wvi.org
23 Sept –
22 Oct 2006 Muslim Prayer Focus www.30-days.net
Oct 2006 Pray Through the Window www.win1040.com
9 – 13 Oct 2006
Asian Summit On The 10/40 Window in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia www.win1040.com
www.worldprayer.org.uk
20 – 21 Oct 2006
South Asian Regional Prayer Conference, in Hyderabad. www.win1040.com
www.worldprayer.org.uk
23 – 24 Oct 2006 Consultation on Spiritual Strongholds in Hyderabad. www.win1040.com
www.worldprayer.org.uk
25 – 28 Oct 2006 Transform World Conference lena@nlfcambodia.org
14 Nov 2006 International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church www.idop.org www.worldevangelicalalliance.com
5. WEBSITES WORTH VISITING
Have a look at these great new websites!
www.islamlighthouse.com
www.capn.info
www.pcftn.org
www.svm2.net
www.cpnsa.co.za
www.ethne.net
www.extremeprayer.com
www.kidspray.org.au
6. FROM THE GDOP YOUTH OFFICE
In 2005, during the 10 Days of day and night prayer, preceding the Global Day of Prayer, even more young people participated by doing the 30 Second Kneel Down Challenge, praying together in Boiler Rooms and doing A Whole Night for the Whole World on the evening before Pentecost Sunday. And on the Day of Prayer itself younger faces could be seen at all the gatherings.
In 2006 we really want to build on this momentum and have therefore put out a strategy to involve even more young people. Our dream is to see a new generation of prayer warriors who will live transformation in their communities through a lifestyle of prayer.
We have also partnered with Viva Children’s Network and will mobilize young people to reach out to the youth in their communities with a Day of Compassion. On the Global Day of Prayer on 4 June 2006, Christians all over the globe will also focus their prayers on Viva’s Worldwide Day of Prayer for Children at Risk.
Herewith the strategy for 2006 as decided on by the GDOP planning team:
Step 1:
25 May 30KD Challenge in schools and campuses
10 Days of Prayer in Boiler Rooms start, as well as L-10-T Lifestyle of Prayer
Step 2:
25 May - 10 Days of Prayer in Boiler Rooms and L-10-T
3 June Lifestyle of Prayer
Step 3:
2 June 30KD Challenge in schools and campuses
Step 4:
3 June Day of Compassion outreaches in communities and Kids Games
Step 5:
4 June Join the GDOP event in your area/region. Organize a youth prayer event to flow spontaneously out of the GDOP event. Focus on the World Day of Prayer for Children at Risk
Step 6:
5 June ff Challenge the youth to live the PEACE-plan principles as part of the 90 Days of Blessing and continue Days of Compassion
A very informative website www.globaldayofprayer.com contains a youth link with all the needed information. Here you can also register your youth group’s participation for the 2006 process.
Our contact details at the Global Day of Prayer Office are be:
Tel: +27-21-856-3130
Fax: +27-21-856-1174
E-mail: etienne@globaldayofprayer.com
Website: www.globaldayofprayer.com
We urgently need your help, not only to involve the youth of your community, but to bring us into contact with more youth leaders from your nation and all over the globe. Please be so kind to register your youth group’s participation, but also to submit the names and contact details of more youth leaders to us.
Please reply to etienne@globaldayofprayer.com
7. YOUTH AND CHILDREN’S PRAYER NETWORKS
We are urgently looking for contacts with leaders of youth and children’s prayer networks all over the world. This will enable us to broaden the prayer network across generations in every single nation of the world, but it will also help us to involve youth and children in the many prayer initiatives throughout the globe e.g. Praying through the Window, GDOP, etc. Please help us to establish definite children’s and youth global networks in order to give more momentum to prayer amongst a generation passionately seeking the opportunity to change their destiny through prayer. Please send all information to: office@ipcprayer.com
8. GLOBAL DAY OF PRAYER FOR LEBANON
Lebanon has been, and is, going through many changes and a very difficult time politically.
After 30 years of its presence in Lebanon, the Syrian army left the country, being the answer to thousands of prayers. A result of this withdrawal, however, is that 18 different denominations are fighting for authority. This is in addition to the stress of the struggle between the Muslim Sunni and Shiite in Iraq that is affecting them as well in negative ways.
They say that every 20 years Lebanon goes through a war, but this time there is a difference. There is now a church in Lebanon willing to stand up against another war, and who is asking for all around the world to unite in prayer, praying for the peace of Lebanon. Lebanon is the only country in the Middle East that has a Christian President through its Constitution, the only country that has the freedom to worship, to evangelize, to build churches, and to teach and equip believers. It is because of these things that it is believed that Lebanon has a strategic place in the Middle East.
They have appointed Sunday, February, 5th 2006 to be a global day to pray for Lebanon and are asking the church all around the globe to stand with them on this day. The need is great and they believe that this day will shape the history of Lebanon forever.
Please click here for more information to log on the special web designed for this day: www.Pray4Lebanon.blogspot.com
9. GLOBAL DAY OF PRAYER FOR BURMA 2006
March 12th, 2006 is the Global Day of Prayer for Burma. It is a
special opportunity to unite for concerted prayer and action on behalf of those from Burma who have been oppressed.
Please visit www.prayforburma.org to download the Global Day of Prayer booklet. It contains the latest information and photos about the situation facing internally displaced people, personal testimonies and ways you can respond.
10. INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER FOR THE PERSECUTED CHURCH
According to organizers of IDOP -- the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church -- more than 200 million men, women and children in more than 60 countries face discrimination, persecution and even death for their Christian faith. The 2006 IDOP takes place on Sunday November 14th. Prayer has always been the strongest weapon used by the followers of Christ in all situations. This year, Christians in over 100 countries will join in prayer to strengthen those who are persecuted for their faith and to comfort those who are overcoming the great losses wrought by the Southeast Asian tsunami, Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, and the 7.6-magnitude earthquake in South Asia. The goals of IDOP are three-fold: increase awareness of the persecuted church worldwide, lead in prayer on behalf of the persecuted church, promote ongoing and appropriate action on behalf of the persecuted church. www.idop.org or www.worldevangelicalalliance.com
11. PRAYING THROUGH THE WINDOW 8
There are numerous Christians in the 10/40 Window who are being punished by tyrannical governments and terrorist groups because they refuse to deny that Jesus Christ is their Lord and personal Saviour. The purpose of mobilising massive numbers of Christians to pray for the Persecuted Church in the 10/40 Window, is to bring awareness of their inhumane suffering and raise up advocates who will hold democratic governments accountable to speak out and put an end to the international human rights violations and horrific crimes against humanity that occur on a daily basis. Daily prayer points can be found at www.win1040.com
Praying through the Window 8 will continue until Sept 2007.
12. GLOBAL DAY OF PRAYER 2006
On 15 May 2005 more than 200 million Christians in 156 nations united in a day of repentance and prayer for the world. Christians came together in large stadiums, open fields, market squares, churches and other public venues to pray. It was broadcast by hundreds of radio and TV stations around the world.
The Global Day of Prayer will be on 4 June 2006. Many prayer networks, Christian organisations and prayer leaders support this initiative. Christians all over the world are invited to take hands in a Global Day of Prayer. This initiative will continue for the next five years, until 2010. Every year on Pentecost Sunday there will be a Global Day of Prayer. The two key verses that are guiding our planning around the Global Day of Prayer, are 2 Chron.7:14 "If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land" and Hab.2:14 "For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea."
There is a simple threefold strategy:
1. 10 Days of day-and-night prayer from Ascension Day till the Saturday before Pentecost Sunday.
2. A global day of repentance & prayer on Pentecost Sunday
3. 90 Days of "community blessing"
10 Days of Day and Night Prayer
25 May – 3 June 2006 – Like the Early Church in Acts 1, we encourage all local congregations, communities, cities and regions to spend 10 days in prayer leading up to Pentecost Sunday, 4 June 2006. In all countries around the world Christians will be encouraged to spend these 10 days in Day-and-Night (24-7) prayer, asking God for a fresh outpouring of His Spirit, the salvation of the lost, the unreached and the healing of the nations.
Youth – Youth around the globe will be challenged to start the 10 Days of day and night prayer with an initiative called the “30Kd Challenge” where all believing students are challenged to join in prayer for 30 minutes in their schools and campuses on Ascension Day 25 May. The challenge will be repeated on 2 June 2005. Adding to this youth will be challenged to join the 10 Days of prayer in Boiler Rooms where they can express themselves in vibrant and creative ways, interceding for their generation around the globe. A further challenge during the 10 Days of day and night prayer is to live the L-10-T lifestyle of prayer evangelism wherever they hang out. These 10 days will really be an opportunity for the youth to make a difference in their communities in their own unique ways.
Global Day of Repentance & Prayer
4 June 2006 - Towns and cities unite in repentance & prayer at stadiums, churches, market squares, etc. In "closed" countries Creative Christians will make a way to pray together. Many television, radio and Internet services around the world will broadcast these prayer gatherings.
Youth - On 4 June the Youth will be challenged to join with all generations around the globe in a Global Day of Repentance & Prayer in their respective communities. This year Viva Network will join in the Global Day of Prayer through their World Day of Prayer for Children at Risk. Where possible, these events must flow into a youth prayer event where young people can express themselves through prayer and worship in their own unique way, but it must not be a separate event.
90 Days of “Blessings”
“90 Days of Blessing” or Community outreach after 4 June 2006. Churches, communities and cities are encouraged to reach out to their neighbors and the community with acts of blessing and deeds of love. This will include practical help and support for the poor and needy, job creation, community development, literacy training, caring for the sick, etc. - being salt, light and hope for a broken and needy world.
Youth – Already on 3 June youth around the globe will be challenged to partake in a Global Day of Compassion, reaching out in their communities in any given way the Lord leads them. This is an opportunity to live what we are praying. After 4 June the youth globally will be challenged to live the principles of the PEACE-plan, partake in different compassion days and live the L-10-T lifestyle of prayer. Actually the challenge is to be Jesus’ hands and feet for the next 364 days of the year.
NB: Some communities will see their way open to get involved in the day of prayer on 4 June only, others will pray for ten days and be involved in the day of prayer and some others will feel ready to get involved in the whole threefold strategy. Do what ever is possible in your own community.
There is an amazing movement of prayer around the globe and for at least the next 5 years there will be a Global Day of Prayer on Pentecost Sunday. Here are the dates for the
Global Day of Repentance & Prayer events
YEAR 10 DAYS OF PRAYER GLOBAL DAY OF PRAYER 90 DAYS OF BLESSING
2006 25 May – 3 June 4 June – Pentecost Sunday 5 June – 2 September
2007 17 – 26 May 27 May – Pentecost Sunday 28 May –
25 August
2008 1 – 10 May 11 May – Pentecost Sunday 12 May – 9 August
2009 21 – 30 May 31 May – Pentecost Sunday 1 June – 30 August
2010 13 – 22 May 23 May – Pentecost Sunday 24 May – 21 August
How you can get involved
• Please register your town/city’s participation at www.globaldayofprayer.com
• Make this process known throughout your whole organisation and/or church network and encourage them to join in prayer.
• Contact key individuals and tell them about GDOP. Encourage them to consider making GDOP known in their constituencies. Even if you can take 10 minutes to forward this letter to 5 or 10 key people that you are in contact with, it will make a major difference.
• If you have a website, would you not consider putting a link on your home page to the Global Day of Prayer website www.globaldayofprayer.com?
• Visit the Global Day of Prayer website for more information. We have 10 Day guides available with suggestions on how to mobilise the 10 days of day and night prayer, prayer pointers for the 10 days and simple prayer guidelines. This is available in various languages. You will also find other helpful resources on the websites such as: a concise PowerPoint presentation and a number of sample documents on how to mobilise such a day of prayer in your community.
• Everyone is involved in a local congregation. Get your own local church involved. Ask your local church and/or denomination to put a link to the Global Day of Prayer website.
• When attending conferences, ask for an opportunity to tell about the Global Day of Prayer. An excellent video is available that will be of much help and is already available. E-mail your request to info@globaldayofprayer.com to order the video. People in the USA, Europe and other parts of the world with access to broadband internet can get access to and download these videos through the Global Day of Prayer website.
• If you have a prayer letter, newsletter or Christian magazine, consider an article on the Global Day of Prayer. If you have access to Christian radio or television, ask for an interview and make this known.
• If you have a story to tell about how your town or city is mobilizing for the Global Day of Prayer, send it to us. We will post many of them on the website so that others will be encouraged and learn from you.
• A Global day of prayer info CD with all the information is available and can be ordered at registration from info@globaldayofprayer.com
For More Information Please Contact
Global Day of Prayer
info@globaldayofprayer.com / www.globaldayofprayer.com Dawie Spangenberg – info@globaldayofprayer.com
Etienne Piek – youth@globaldayofprayer.com
Bob Bakke – rbakke@globaldayofprayer.com
Graham Power, John Robb, Dawie Spangenberg, Bob Bakke, Etienne Piek and Bennie Mostert
(On behalf of Global Day of Prayer)
13. TO CONTACT US
office@ipcprayer.org
Tel: +27 12 365 3213
Fax: +27 12 365 3214
Saturday, January 14, 2006
The Church Responded to the Katrina Disaster
The Church Responded to the Katrina Disaster
Guest Dolphus Weary of Mission Mississippi Wed Jan 11, 2006
When the hurricane hit, the Church was there, already mobilized to work together. Dr. Weary will update us on how racial reconciliation and justice are helping the Church respond to the Katrina disaster. Dolphus brought a stirring message at our last City Impact Roundtable.
Some have asked about the Narnia movie outreach efforts. We will give a brief update.
January 19 conference call details
To participate on this interactive call with others who care about reaching their cities with the Gospel, email info@cityreaching.com requesting the dial-in phone number. Time is reserved for question and answer during this one hour call at 11:00 a.m. Eastern time, 10 Central, 9 Mountain, 8 Pacific, etc.
A suimmary of Dr. Dolphus Weary's personal story follows:
“What did rural Mississippi have to offer a young black man in the 60s? He could stay in the system and live in poverty, he could join the civil rights movement and protest, or he could leave. “Someday I’m leaving Mississippi and I ain’t never comin’ back,” was Dolphus’ dream. He did leave and went to California where in 1969 he became one of the first black students ever to graduate from the all-white Los Angeles Baptist College with a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in Biology. In 1971, he received a Masters of Education Degree (M.R.E.) in religious education from Los Angeles Baptist Seminary and a Masters in Educational Administration (M. Ed) from the University of Southern Mississippi. In 1973 Dolphus was ordained to the ministry, and in 1997 he received a Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.) from Reformed Theological Seminary in Jackson, MS.
To add to these accomplishments, in 1990 Weary published a book entitled I Ain’t Comin’ Back, which tells his life story. He returned to Mississippi to work with Mendenhall Ministries, a multi-faceted Christian Community Development ministry, which then-President George Bush named as his 541st Daily Point of Light. Dolphus served with Mendenhall Ministries from 1971 through 1997.
Currently, Dr. Weary is the President of Mission Mississippi, a racial reconciliation movement that encourages unity in the body of Christ across racial and denominational lines. He serves as a member of the national boards of: ECFA (Evangelical Council), IVCF (InterVarsity Christian Fellowship), (WBOV) Wheaton College Board of Visitors, and World Vision. In addition, he serves on several boards of directors and advisory boards, including Belhaven College, the Central Mississippi Chapter of the American Red Cross, the Community Foundation of Greater Jackson, Junior League of Jackson, Mississippi Families for Kids (Chairman), the Mississippi Center for Non-Profits, the Mississippi Religious Leadership Conference, Piney Woods and the WAPT-TV 16 African American Advisory Board. A frequent speaker at various local and national conferences, Dolphus also has been featured in many renowned magazines and has been a featured writer in Daily Guideposts for the past nine years. Dolphus and his wife Rosie are the parents of three children: Danita, who lives in Natchez, MS; Ryan, who is a student at Belhaven College; and Reggie, who went home to be with the Lord in June of 2004.
•City Teams are coming to the National City Impact Roundtable April 3 - 5 in Cedar Rapdis, IA
The CIR is a unique learning community of national leaders interested in what God is doing in the cities and communities of North America. We are well aware of the competition for your time and energy in this busy info age.
Our aim is to be relevant and practical while providing an environment in which enduring, purposeful relationships can be formed. Experienced city reachers will share what God is doing in 4 city areas. CIR is interactive, not just listening to speakers.
For detailed informtion on th! e CIR program and registration form click the link below. Hotel information is available at www.cityreaching.com.
Please forward this invitation on to others, and consider bringing a group from your city.
- - - -
Iowa beckons ...Our CIR host, Charles Daugherty, suggests coming early or staying after the roundtable to take in some area attractions.
He particularly recommends the African American Historical Museum and Cultural Center of Iowa to gain a deeper understanding of! the African American heritage and contribution to our nation.! He and his wife are annual members.
Guest Dolphus Weary of Mission Mississippi Wed Jan 11, 2006
When the hurricane hit, the Church was there, already mobilized to work together. Dr. Weary will update us on how racial reconciliation and justice are helping the Church respond to the Katrina disaster. Dolphus brought a stirring message at our last City Impact Roundtable.
Some have asked about the Narnia movie outreach efforts. We will give a brief update.
January 19 conference call details
To participate on this interactive call with others who care about reaching their cities with the Gospel, email info@cityreaching.com requesting the dial-in phone number. Time is reserved for question and answer during this one hour call at 11:00 a.m. Eastern time, 10 Central, 9 Mountain, 8 Pacific, etc.
A suimmary of Dr. Dolphus Weary's personal story follows:
“What did rural Mississippi have to offer a young black man in the 60s? He could stay in the system and live in poverty, he could join the civil rights movement and protest, or he could leave. “Someday I’m leaving Mississippi and I ain’t never comin’ back,” was Dolphus’ dream. He did leave and went to California where in 1969 he became one of the first black students ever to graduate from the all-white Los Angeles Baptist College with a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in Biology. In 1971, he received a Masters of Education Degree (M.R.E.) in religious education from Los Angeles Baptist Seminary and a Masters in Educational Administration (M. Ed) from the University of Southern Mississippi. In 1973 Dolphus was ordained to the ministry, and in 1997 he received a Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.) from Reformed Theological Seminary in Jackson, MS.
To add to these accomplishments, in 1990 Weary published a book entitled I Ain’t Comin’ Back, which tells his life story. He returned to Mississippi to work with Mendenhall Ministries, a multi-faceted Christian Community Development ministry, which then-President George Bush named as his 541st Daily Point of Light. Dolphus served with Mendenhall Ministries from 1971 through 1997.
Currently, Dr. Weary is the President of Mission Mississippi, a racial reconciliation movement that encourages unity in the body of Christ across racial and denominational lines. He serves as a member of the national boards of: ECFA (Evangelical Council), IVCF (InterVarsity Christian Fellowship), (WBOV) Wheaton College Board of Visitors, and World Vision. In addition, he serves on several boards of directors and advisory boards, including Belhaven College, the Central Mississippi Chapter of the American Red Cross, the Community Foundation of Greater Jackson, Junior League of Jackson, Mississippi Families for Kids (Chairman), the Mississippi Center for Non-Profits, the Mississippi Religious Leadership Conference, Piney Woods and the WAPT-TV 16 African American Advisory Board. A frequent speaker at various local and national conferences, Dolphus also has been featured in many renowned magazines and has been a featured writer in Daily Guideposts for the past nine years. Dolphus and his wife Rosie are the parents of three children: Danita, who lives in Natchez, MS; Ryan, who is a student at Belhaven College; and Reggie, who went home to be with the Lord in June of 2004.
•City Teams are coming to the National City Impact Roundtable April 3 - 5 in Cedar Rapdis, IA
The CIR is a unique learning community of national leaders interested in what God is doing in the cities and communities of North America. We are well aware of the competition for your time and energy in this busy info age.
Our aim is to be relevant and practical while providing an environment in which enduring, purposeful relationships can be formed. Experienced city reachers will share what God is doing in 4 city areas. CIR is interactive, not just listening to speakers.
For detailed informtion on th! e CIR program and registration form click the link below. Hotel information is available at www.cityreaching.com.
Please forward this invitation on to others, and consider bringing a group from your city.
- - - -
Iowa beckons ...Our CIR host, Charles Daugherty, suggests coming early or staying after the roundtable to take in some area attractions.
He particularly recommends the African American Historical Museum and Cultural Center of Iowa to gain a deeper understanding of! the African American heritage and contribution to our nation.! He and his wife are annual members.
Monday, December 19, 2005
Happy New Year? Ask the Persecuted Church
TRIUMPH AND TRAGEDY
Review Of The Persecuted Church Worldwide In 2005
OPEN DOORS USA
Jerry Dykstra, Media Relations Coordinator
Phone: 616-915-4117
E-mail: JerryD@odusa.org
Web site: www.opendoorsusa.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
SANTA ANA, CA (ANS) -- As we celebrate the birth of our Lord this Christmas season and mark the end of another year, we need to pause and reflect on the status of our brothers and sisters who are being tortured, imprisoned and even killed for their faith in Jesus Christ.
In 2005 there was an increase in persecution of Christians in such countries as North Korea, Indonesia and Eritrea, to name just a few.
The estimated 400,000 Christians in North Korea faced daily persecution, including torture in prison camps. That is one of the reasons North Korea for the third year in a row topped Open Doors’ 2005 World Watch List of countries where persecution is most severe. As a result, Open Doors USA launched a Prayer Campaign for North Korea which is on-going (go to www.opendoors.org/3ypnk-us/ to sign up.)
In Indonesia, more Christians were killed and churches burned. Three Christian women – Dr. Rebekka Zakaria, Eti Pangesti and Ratna Bangun – were arrested for running a “Happy Sunday” program for children. Muslim fundamentalists protested that they were proselytizing Muslim children and as a result the three were convicted and sentenced to three years in prison. But even in prison, Rebekka organized a Sunday worship service in the courtyard and led two fellow inmates to Christ. Rebekka said: “It’s hard being here but I know I am pleasing God by doing His work.”
ERITREA PERSECUTION INCREASES
In the little eastern African country of Eritrea, 26 pastors and 1,700 evangelical church members are now imprisoned and some have been tortured by government military forces. That’s double the total imprisoned from a year ago. Some religious prisoners are being held in metal shipping containers without legal representation. Open Doors USA responded to the increased persecution there by launching an E-Petition Campaign for Eritrea, which urges Congress and the Department of State to work to put a stop to the persecution. To sign the petition, go to www.odusa.org/AdvocacyCampaign.
Also, in response to the Dec. 26, 2004 tsunami in Southeast Asia, Open Doors launched a $2 million relief campaign called “Wave of Hope” to support and strengthen partner churches in Indonesia, Sri Lanka and India. Over the past year Open Doors – which already was working with the Persecuted Church in the tsunami areas – brought hope in the midst of suffering by providing shelter, rebuilding churches, trauma counseling, funding livelihood projects and replacing lost Bibles and study materials. Open Doors was one of hundreds of Christian ministries reaching out in love to the tsunami victims. As a result, Christians impacted people of all faiths in their communities.
Open Doors also brought emergency aid to Pakistan, which suffered devastation from a huge earthquake this fall.
While there was tragedy and tears among members of the Persecuted Church around the world, there were also victories and rejoicing in how the Lord provided through His loving hands and the support of those who prayed for our brothers and sisters
CHANGING LIVES IN ETHIOPIA
For example, in Ethiopia, for 12 years, Kedija, a Muslim women, lived with severe back pain and unexplainably could not use her legs. She was entirely dependant on others. She gave away all her possessions to pay for healing from a witch doctor. She stayed with him for a year in his house, but there was no healing.
Her two teenage daughters offered themselves as wives to another witch doctor so he would be able to heal their mother. He said he could heal her for $250. But that didn’t work and the witch doctor skipped town.
As a last resort she sought out a Christian evangelist in another village. He rode into Kedija’s village on a bike provided by Open Doors to pray for her.
He explained that only God could heal her – through His son Jesus Christ. Kedija understood that and he prayed for her. Her eldest daughter left screaming…not liking the loud prayers. The evangelist ran after her and prayed for here. He cast a demon out of her. At the same time, Kedija started to scream uncontrollably. The evangelist cast the demon out of her, too, and she was healed…and able to walk.
There was so much attention drawn to her, that as she accepted Christ and was healed, her entire family and 38 others came to Christ. Kedija’s husband had built a mosque on their compound, but after his wife’s healing, he offered the building to be used as a church. They then had a water baptism where the 38 Muslim Background Believers were baptized along with 300 other believers
MINISTRY TO BELIEVERS CONTINUES
Also, Open Doors was able to send over 3 million Bibles and other study materials to China – among many other countries – where house church members thirst for the Word. All of these resources are designed to equip church leaders to stand firm against persecution and the widespread influence of cults and false teachings. Open Doors trained hundreds of pastors through its “Standing Strong Through the Storm” seminars.
This year Open Doors celebrated 50 years of supporting and strengthening persecuted Christians. From its humble beginning in 1955 when founder Brother Andrew made a daring trip behind the Iron Curtain to distribute Christian literature, Open Doors now works in 45 of the most dangerous countries in the world with a staff of 350.
“As we look back over the past year and the last 50 years, we rejoice at all the Lord has done through Open Doors and its ministry to Persecuted Christians around the world,” says Open Doors USA President Dr. Carl Moeller. “God has truly blessed this ministry.
“But there is more work that needs to be done. Persecution of God’s Church is on the rise and we must be ready. We need to be ready to go and to pray. We need to press on in 2006 – partnering together to support our brothers and sisters in Christ.”
An estimated 200 million Christians worldwide suffer interrogation, arrest and even death for their faith in Christ, with another 200 to 400 million facing discrimination and alienation. Open Doors, celebrating 50 years of service to persecuted Christians in 2005, serves and strengthens the Persecuted Church in the world's most difficult areas through Bible and Christian literature distribution, leadership training and assistance, Christian community development, prayer and presence ministry and advocacy on behalf of suffering believers. To partner with Open Doors, call toll free at 888-5-BIBLE-5 (524-2535) or go to our USA Web site at www.opendoorsusa.org. To request a complimentary six-month subscription to our monthly newsletter Frontline Faith, call 888-5-BIBLE-5 or register on-line.
(For more information or to set up an interview, contact Jerry Dykstra at 616-915-4117).
** You may republish this story with proper attribution.
ASSIST News Service is brought to you in part by Gospel for Asia. GFA's vision is to train, equip and send 100,000 native missionaries into the most unreached areas of Asia. By God's grace, more than 14,500 native missionaries are now serving and planting six churches every day! You can help sponsor a native missionary for less than a dollar a day. To learn more about GFA and their work among the Dalits (Untouchables) of India please go to their website at www.gfa.org or in North America call 1-800-WIN-ASIA.
ASSIST News Service is brought to you free of charge and is supported by friends like yourself. If you would like to make a donation (tax-deductible in the US) to help us continue this service around the world, you can do so by logging onto our website -- www.assistnews.net -- and making the donation by credit card or by sending a check to ASSIST, PO Box 609, Lake Forest, CA 92609-0609 USA .
Review Of The Persecuted Church Worldwide In 2005
OPEN DOORS USA
Jerry Dykstra, Media Relations Coordinator
Phone: 616-915-4117
E-mail: JerryD@odusa.org
Web site: www.opendoorsusa.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
SANTA ANA, CA (ANS) -- As we celebrate the birth of our Lord this Christmas season and mark the end of another year, we need to pause and reflect on the status of our brothers and sisters who are being tortured, imprisoned and even killed for their faith in Jesus Christ.
In 2005 there was an increase in persecution of Christians in such countries as North Korea, Indonesia and Eritrea, to name just a few.
The estimated 400,000 Christians in North Korea faced daily persecution, including torture in prison camps. That is one of the reasons North Korea for the third year in a row topped Open Doors’ 2005 World Watch List of countries where persecution is most severe. As a result, Open Doors USA launched a Prayer Campaign for North Korea which is on-going (go to www.opendoors.org/3ypnk-us/ to sign up.)
In Indonesia, more Christians were killed and churches burned. Three Christian women – Dr. Rebekka Zakaria, Eti Pangesti and Ratna Bangun – were arrested for running a “Happy Sunday” program for children. Muslim fundamentalists protested that they were proselytizing Muslim children and as a result the three were convicted and sentenced to three years in prison. But even in prison, Rebekka organized a Sunday worship service in the courtyard and led two fellow inmates to Christ. Rebekka said: “It’s hard being here but I know I am pleasing God by doing His work.”
ERITREA PERSECUTION INCREASES
In the little eastern African country of Eritrea, 26 pastors and 1,700 evangelical church members are now imprisoned and some have been tortured by government military forces. That’s double the total imprisoned from a year ago. Some religious prisoners are being held in metal shipping containers without legal representation. Open Doors USA responded to the increased persecution there by launching an E-Petition Campaign for Eritrea, which urges Congress and the Department of State to work to put a stop to the persecution. To sign the petition, go to www.odusa.org/AdvocacyCampaign.
Also, in response to the Dec. 26, 2004 tsunami in Southeast Asia, Open Doors launched a $2 million relief campaign called “Wave of Hope” to support and strengthen partner churches in Indonesia, Sri Lanka and India. Over the past year Open Doors – which already was working with the Persecuted Church in the tsunami areas – brought hope in the midst of suffering by providing shelter, rebuilding churches, trauma counseling, funding livelihood projects and replacing lost Bibles and study materials. Open Doors was one of hundreds of Christian ministries reaching out in love to the tsunami victims. As a result, Christians impacted people of all faiths in their communities.
Open Doors also brought emergency aid to Pakistan, which suffered devastation from a huge earthquake this fall.
While there was tragedy and tears among members of the Persecuted Church around the world, there were also victories and rejoicing in how the Lord provided through His loving hands and the support of those who prayed for our brothers and sisters
CHANGING LIVES IN ETHIOPIA
For example, in Ethiopia, for 12 years, Kedija, a Muslim women, lived with severe back pain and unexplainably could not use her legs. She was entirely dependant on others. She gave away all her possessions to pay for healing from a witch doctor. She stayed with him for a year in his house, but there was no healing.
Her two teenage daughters offered themselves as wives to another witch doctor so he would be able to heal their mother. He said he could heal her for $250. But that didn’t work and the witch doctor skipped town.
As a last resort she sought out a Christian evangelist in another village. He rode into Kedija’s village on a bike provided by Open Doors to pray for her.
He explained that only God could heal her – through His son Jesus Christ. Kedija understood that and he prayed for her. Her eldest daughter left screaming…not liking the loud prayers. The evangelist ran after her and prayed for here. He cast a demon out of her. At the same time, Kedija started to scream uncontrollably. The evangelist cast the demon out of her, too, and she was healed…and able to walk.
There was so much attention drawn to her, that as she accepted Christ and was healed, her entire family and 38 others came to Christ. Kedija’s husband had built a mosque on their compound, but after his wife’s healing, he offered the building to be used as a church. They then had a water baptism where the 38 Muslim Background Believers were baptized along with 300 other believers
MINISTRY TO BELIEVERS CONTINUES
Also, Open Doors was able to send over 3 million Bibles and other study materials to China – among many other countries – where house church members thirst for the Word. All of these resources are designed to equip church leaders to stand firm against persecution and the widespread influence of cults and false teachings. Open Doors trained hundreds of pastors through its “Standing Strong Through the Storm” seminars.
This year Open Doors celebrated 50 years of supporting and strengthening persecuted Christians. From its humble beginning in 1955 when founder Brother Andrew made a daring trip behind the Iron Curtain to distribute Christian literature, Open Doors now works in 45 of the most dangerous countries in the world with a staff of 350.
“As we look back over the past year and the last 50 years, we rejoice at all the Lord has done through Open Doors and its ministry to Persecuted Christians around the world,” says Open Doors USA President Dr. Carl Moeller. “God has truly blessed this ministry.
“But there is more work that needs to be done. Persecution of God’s Church is on the rise and we must be ready. We need to be ready to go and to pray. We need to press on in 2006 – partnering together to support our brothers and sisters in Christ.”
An estimated 200 million Christians worldwide suffer interrogation, arrest and even death for their faith in Christ, with another 200 to 400 million facing discrimination and alienation. Open Doors, celebrating 50 years of service to persecuted Christians in 2005, serves and strengthens the Persecuted Church in the world's most difficult areas through Bible and Christian literature distribution, leadership training and assistance, Christian community development, prayer and presence ministry and advocacy on behalf of suffering believers. To partner with Open Doors, call toll free at 888-5-BIBLE-5 (524-2535) or go to our USA Web site at www.opendoorsusa.org. To request a complimentary six-month subscription to our monthly newsletter Frontline Faith, call 888-5-BIBLE-5 or register on-line.
(For more information or to set up an interview, contact Jerry Dykstra at 616-915-4117).
** You may republish this story with proper attribution.
ASSIST News Service is brought to you in part by Gospel for Asia. GFA's vision is to train, equip and send 100,000 native missionaries into the most unreached areas of Asia. By God's grace, more than 14,500 native missionaries are now serving and planting six churches every day! You can help sponsor a native missionary for less than a dollar a day. To learn more about GFA and their work among the Dalits (Untouchables) of India please go to their website at www.gfa.org or in North America call 1-800-WIN-ASIA.
ASSIST News Service is brought to you free of charge and is supported by friends like yourself. If you would like to make a donation (tax-deductible in the US) to help us continue this service around the world, you can do so by logging onto our website -- www.assistnews.net -- and making the donation by credit card or by sending a check to ASSIST, PO Box 609, Lake Forest, CA 92609-0609 USA .
Sunday, December 11, 2005
Who Started Christmas ?
A Moment to Consider
Who Started Christmas ?
Author Unknown
A woman was Christmas shopping with her two children.
After many hours of walking down row after row of toys and
after hours of hearing both her children asking for everything
they saw on those many shelves, she finally made it to the
store elevator with her two children in hand.
She was feeling what so many of us feel during the holiday
season time of the year, getting that perfect gift for every
single person on our shopping list, overwhelming pressure to
go to every party, every housewarming, taste all the holiday
food and treats, making sure we don't forget anyone on our
card list, and the pressure of making sure we respond to
everyone who sent us a card.
Finally the elevator doors opened revealing a crowd in the car.
She pushed her way in and dragged her two kids and all her
bags of stuff in with her .
As the doors closed she couldn't take it anymore and blurted
out, "Whoever started this whole Christmas thing should be
found, strung up, and shot."
From the back of the car, a quiet calm voice responded,
"Don't worry, we've already crucified Him." The rest of the
trip down was so quiet you could have heard a pin drop.
Don't forget this year to keep the One who started this whole
Christmas thing in your every thought, deed, purchase, and
word. If we all would, just think how much better this world
would be.
Jesus is the reason for the season. Wise men still seek Him.
Who Started Christmas ?
Author Unknown
A woman was Christmas shopping with her two children.
After many hours of walking down row after row of toys and
after hours of hearing both her children asking for everything
they saw on those many shelves, she finally made it to the
store elevator with her two children in hand.
She was feeling what so many of us feel during the holiday
season time of the year, getting that perfect gift for every
single person on our shopping list, overwhelming pressure to
go to every party, every housewarming, taste all the holiday
food and treats, making sure we don't forget anyone on our
card list, and the pressure of making sure we respond to
everyone who sent us a card.
Finally the elevator doors opened revealing a crowd in the car.
She pushed her way in and dragged her two kids and all her
bags of stuff in with her .
As the doors closed she couldn't take it anymore and blurted
out, "Whoever started this whole Christmas thing should be
found, strung up, and shot."
From the back of the car, a quiet calm voice responded,
"Don't worry, we've already crucified Him." The rest of the
trip down was so quiet you could have heard a pin drop.
Don't forget this year to keep the One who started this whole
Christmas thing in your every thought, deed, purchase, and
word. If we all would, just think how much better this world
would be.
Jesus is the reason for the season. Wise men still seek Him.
Sunday, November 20, 2005
Update from New Orleans: Prayer & Pastors
Prayer Walking And Power Working In New Orleans
by Joe McKeever
First, I need to tell you about Wayne Jenkins. Wayne leads the Department
of Evangelism for the Louisiana Baptist Convention and he practices when
he preaches. Last night he walked through the French Quarter witnessing
and handing out leaflets telling people how to know Christ as Savior. He
met so many Spanish people, he pulled a stack of tracts in their language
out of his car and handed out a couple of hundred before the evening
ended.
Wayne is making our New Orleans area pastors a deal we shouldn't refuse.
The annual "Louisiana Evangelism Conference" is scheduled for the First
Baptist Church of LaFayette January 23 and 24, and Wayne wants to pay our
way. He says, "We are providing pastors and staff and spouses in the
hurricane affected areas with a $275 scholarship. This should provide two
nights lodging, your meals and gas." To get in on this, our ministers need
to sign up now since registration is limited and on a first come, first
served basis. You will want to FAX Wayne's office (318) 445 0055 or call
his administrative assistant (her name is Syd) at 1-800-622-6549. He needs
to know your name, your spouse's name, your church, address, phone, and
e-mail address. You will receive a voucher in January, so you may make
your own reservation and get yourself there. An incredible slate of
inspiring speakers has been lined up.
Wayne conceived the idea for the PRAYER WALK for New Orleans which we held
today, and he did all the work on it. All we had to do was show up...and
take a walk. Nearly 200 of us gathered at Williams Boulevard Baptist
Church this Saturday morning, including Dr. David and Patti Hankins from
our LBC office in Alexandria, and Rick Shepherd and his wife from the
Florida Baptist Convention office in Jacksonville, and a number of church
prayer teams from throughout Louisiana. About a dozen of our local
churches sent leaders to invite prayer walkers into their neighborhoods.
By the time we got underway at 10:05 am, everyone present was wearing a
black t-shirt with gold lettering, "Pray New Orleans," with a fleur de lis
on the front. Wayne provided tracts for us to hand out and miniature
notebooks to record impressions, prayer requests we picked up from people
we met, as well as experiences to remember.
We'll be having another prayer walk before long, and this time we'll get
into the needier sections of New Orleans. The mold count is so high and
the debris so widespread, we felt it would be unsafe to send people
walking those streets.
Most of my prayer time was in what Wayne calls PRAYER DRIVING. This is
when you cannot get out and walk, but must drive an area. They do this in
rural neighborhoods, he says, where you find perhaps one or two houses per
mile. And you do it in sections of our city like Bywater, where Grace
Baptist Church is located. That's where I drove after leaving Williams
Boulevard. Along the way, I "prayer drove" Celebration Church on Airline
and a couple of our mission churches. Grace Church was standing open with
all the air blowers running, as so many other homes and businesses were.
They gut the house as much as is required, then try to dry out the inside.
At any point over a several mile drive, I could have stopped and walked
inside stores and churches and homes, all with doors open and no one
around. I walked the block around Grace and prayed for the church and the
neighborhood, which has such a long way to come back. A few people seemed
to be working, but not many.
The streetcars are out of commission down town, the result of flooding. No
one knows when they can be repaired and returned to service. Medians (what
people here call "the neutral ground") are piled high with the junk from
inside homes, and debris lines streets, in many cases lying untouched
where Katrina dropped it over 11 weeks ago. Traffic lights work at perhaps
a fourth of the New Orleans intersections. At others, they've erected
portable stop signs and you hope other drivers stop. Sometimes they do,
sometimes they don't.
On the Lakefront, near our associational office, FEMA trailers and
construction campers have proliferated. An 18-wheeler belonging to some
construction company now hogs all the parking spaces for our associational
team. Driving along Lakeshore Drive down to West End, you were struck by
how much of the street has been washed away. Not a pretty sight on this
most beautiful of the streets of this city.
I will not belabor this point, but driving through New Orleans continues
to be the most depressing thing I have to do. Your spirit sags as you
observe residential streets untouched since the storm, with fallen trees,
collapsed stores, broken homes, a burned business, a looted grocery,
damaged roofs, busted windows, and ruined cars still sitting where they
were abandoned by owners fleeing the hurricane. Debris piles as large as
apartment buildings have been dumped on the neutral ground of West End
Boulevard. The newspaper says all the trash from Katrina amounts to 34
years of our normal garbage and trash.
Every week I see it. Visitors come to town to check out the needs, to talk
with pastors and other leaders on how they can go back home and mobilize
their people to come help. After no more than an hour of gawking at the
ruins of this city, they go into shock. It's the
deer-caught-in-the-headlights look, that says "I've never seen anything
like this" and "I don't have a clue what we can do about it." They go back
home; we have to stay.
And yet, we don't want to be anywhere else. Personally, I'm accepting a
few invitations to leave town and speak, but I can't wait to get back.
Nathan Cline and his bride are Carolinians and were new at our seminary
when the storm hit. They evacuated to Houston where his wife was able to
land a great job, and he's taking seminary classes on-line. But I hear
from him, and he's hurting to get back here. Think of that: he had been a
resident here for perhaps a month. But it's his city and he feels a need
to be here. Nathan says, "God knew when He led us to enroll at New Orleans
Seminary this hurricane was coming. His plans for us have not changed." We
know the feeling, young friend.
Metairie Baptist Church was having a block party today, to meet neighbors
and to bear witness. I went over from 1 to 3 pm and set up shop in their
parking lot to sketch people. It's not a big thing, but one way I can
affirm our churches for reaching out to their neighborhood and meet some
of their people.
Sunday morning, we shall meet perhaps the bravest man in the state. The
Viet Nam Baptist Church on the West Bank is welcoming their new pastor.
They've been searching for him for perhaps 2 years, and were all set to
welcome him the first of September, before Katrina interfered. To my utter
amazement and everyone's delight, even after the devastation of the
hurricane, he has still agreed to come. Sunday will be his first day, and
I will add my welcome to this courageous brother who comes to share our
suffering and to lend a hand.
OUR CHRISTMAS BANQUET for pastors and staff and spouses will be Monday
night, December 5, at 7 pm, at the First BAptist Church of Covington. We
will be the guests of the good people of that great church, and there will
be no charge. We do need our ministers to sign up so we can tell them how
many are coming. Our ministers should call the secretary at First Baptist
Church of Kenner 504/466 5381 and tell them to put your name on the list.
Pray for our churches. The healthy ones are struggling with issues of
declining membership with so many of their people taking jobs in other
cities. The pastors from St. Bernard Parish will meet next Tuesday to
begin to discuss what to do about their area where almost no one lives any
more and all the churches were put out of commission. A number of our
congregations are pastorless, the worst time possible to be without the
God-called leader. Pray for our churches, please.
-------------------------------------------------------------
[Comments? http://www.joemckeever.com/mt/archives/000196.html ]
-------------------------------------------------------------
by Joe McKeever
First, I need to tell you about Wayne Jenkins. Wayne leads the Department
of Evangelism for the Louisiana Baptist Convention and he practices when
he preaches. Last night he walked through the French Quarter witnessing
and handing out leaflets telling people how to know Christ as Savior. He
met so many Spanish people, he pulled a stack of tracts in their language
out of his car and handed out a couple of hundred before the evening
ended.
Wayne is making our New Orleans area pastors a deal we shouldn't refuse.
The annual "Louisiana Evangelism Conference" is scheduled for the First
Baptist Church of LaFayette January 23 and 24, and Wayne wants to pay our
way. He says, "We are providing pastors and staff and spouses in the
hurricane affected areas with a $275 scholarship. This should provide two
nights lodging, your meals and gas." To get in on this, our ministers need
to sign up now since registration is limited and on a first come, first
served basis. You will want to FAX Wayne's office (318) 445 0055 or call
his administrative assistant (her name is Syd) at 1-800-622-6549. He needs
to know your name, your spouse's name, your church, address, phone, and
e-mail address. You will receive a voucher in January, so you may make
your own reservation and get yourself there. An incredible slate of
inspiring speakers has been lined up.
Wayne conceived the idea for the PRAYER WALK for New Orleans which we held
today, and he did all the work on it. All we had to do was show up...and
take a walk. Nearly 200 of us gathered at Williams Boulevard Baptist
Church this Saturday morning, including Dr. David and Patti Hankins from
our LBC office in Alexandria, and Rick Shepherd and his wife from the
Florida Baptist Convention office in Jacksonville, and a number of church
prayer teams from throughout Louisiana. About a dozen of our local
churches sent leaders to invite prayer walkers into their neighborhoods.
By the time we got underway at 10:05 am, everyone present was wearing a
black t-shirt with gold lettering, "Pray New Orleans," with a fleur de lis
on the front. Wayne provided tracts for us to hand out and miniature
notebooks to record impressions, prayer requests we picked up from people
we met, as well as experiences to remember.
We'll be having another prayer walk before long, and this time we'll get
into the needier sections of New Orleans. The mold count is so high and
the debris so widespread, we felt it would be unsafe to send people
walking those streets.
Most of my prayer time was in what Wayne calls PRAYER DRIVING. This is
when you cannot get out and walk, but must drive an area. They do this in
rural neighborhoods, he says, where you find perhaps one or two houses per
mile. And you do it in sections of our city like Bywater, where Grace
Baptist Church is located. That's where I drove after leaving Williams
Boulevard. Along the way, I "prayer drove" Celebration Church on Airline
and a couple of our mission churches. Grace Church was standing open with
all the air blowers running, as so many other homes and businesses were.
They gut the house as much as is required, then try to dry out the inside.
At any point over a several mile drive, I could have stopped and walked
inside stores and churches and homes, all with doors open and no one
around. I walked the block around Grace and prayed for the church and the
neighborhood, which has such a long way to come back. A few people seemed
to be working, but not many.
The streetcars are out of commission down town, the result of flooding. No
one knows when they can be repaired and returned to service. Medians (what
people here call "the neutral ground") are piled high with the junk from
inside homes, and debris lines streets, in many cases lying untouched
where Katrina dropped it over 11 weeks ago. Traffic lights work at perhaps
a fourth of the New Orleans intersections. At others, they've erected
portable stop signs and you hope other drivers stop. Sometimes they do,
sometimes they don't.
On the Lakefront, near our associational office, FEMA trailers and
construction campers have proliferated. An 18-wheeler belonging to some
construction company now hogs all the parking spaces for our associational
team. Driving along Lakeshore Drive down to West End, you were struck by
how much of the street has been washed away. Not a pretty sight on this
most beautiful of the streets of this city.
I will not belabor this point, but driving through New Orleans continues
to be the most depressing thing I have to do. Your spirit sags as you
observe residential streets untouched since the storm, with fallen trees,
collapsed stores, broken homes, a burned business, a looted grocery,
damaged roofs, busted windows, and ruined cars still sitting where they
were abandoned by owners fleeing the hurricane. Debris piles as large as
apartment buildings have been dumped on the neutral ground of West End
Boulevard. The newspaper says all the trash from Katrina amounts to 34
years of our normal garbage and trash.
Every week I see it. Visitors come to town to check out the needs, to talk
with pastors and other leaders on how they can go back home and mobilize
their people to come help. After no more than an hour of gawking at the
ruins of this city, they go into shock. It's the
deer-caught-in-the-headlights look, that says "I've never seen anything
like this" and "I don't have a clue what we can do about it." They go back
home; we have to stay.
And yet, we don't want to be anywhere else. Personally, I'm accepting a
few invitations to leave town and speak, but I can't wait to get back.
Nathan Cline and his bride are Carolinians and were new at our seminary
when the storm hit. They evacuated to Houston where his wife was able to
land a great job, and he's taking seminary classes on-line. But I hear
from him, and he's hurting to get back here. Think of that: he had been a
resident here for perhaps a month. But it's his city and he feels a need
to be here. Nathan says, "God knew when He led us to enroll at New Orleans
Seminary this hurricane was coming. His plans for us have not changed." We
know the feeling, young friend.
Metairie Baptist Church was having a block party today, to meet neighbors
and to bear witness. I went over from 1 to 3 pm and set up shop in their
parking lot to sketch people. It's not a big thing, but one way I can
affirm our churches for reaching out to their neighborhood and meet some
of their people.
Sunday morning, we shall meet perhaps the bravest man in the state. The
Viet Nam Baptist Church on the West Bank is welcoming their new pastor.
They've been searching for him for perhaps 2 years, and were all set to
welcome him the first of September, before Katrina interfered. To my utter
amazement and everyone's delight, even after the devastation of the
hurricane, he has still agreed to come. Sunday will be his first day, and
I will add my welcome to this courageous brother who comes to share our
suffering and to lend a hand.
OUR CHRISTMAS BANQUET for pastors and staff and spouses will be Monday
night, December 5, at 7 pm, at the First BAptist Church of Covington. We
will be the guests of the good people of that great church, and there will
be no charge. We do need our ministers to sign up so we can tell them how
many are coming. Our ministers should call the secretary at First Baptist
Church of Kenner 504/466 5381 and tell them to put your name on the list.
Pray for our churches. The healthy ones are struggling with issues of
declining membership with so many of their people taking jobs in other
cities. The pastors from St. Bernard Parish will meet next Tuesday to
begin to discuss what to do about their area where almost no one lives any
more and all the churches were put out of commission. A number of our
congregations are pastorless, the worst time possible to be without the
God-called leader. Pray for our churches, please.
-------------------------------------------------------------
[Comments? http://www.joemckeever.com/mt/archives/000196.html ]
-------------------------------------------------------------
Friday, November 18, 2005
A Diagnostivc Tool to Assess The Prayer Life of Your Congregation
A DIAGNOSTIC TOOL
TO ASSESS THE PRAYER LIFE OF YOUR CONGREGATION
By Phil Miglioratti
*Church Prayer Leaders Network
http://www.prayerleader.com
*Praying Pastor
http://www.prayingpastor.com
*National Pastors’ Prayer Network
http://www.nppn.org
Our Purpose
It is our goal, that by properly utilizing this tool, the Holy Spirit will give you a clear sense of how successful you are in the quest to become a biblical House of Prayer.
The interactive process brings leadership and membership together in a vertical (prayer) and horizontal (prayer birthed discussions) conversation. This conversation is in itself a forward step in the prayer life of the congregation.
This is not a “scientific” survey capable of producing a computerized analysis nor is it like a contest in which the average rating of the judges determines the outcome. Each category and question is designed to expose the heart of the congregation for prayer and produce an accurate picture of how faithfully, practically and pervasively that desire is being expressed.
No congregation using this tool is in competition with any other. It is hoped that this tool will serve to increase the congregation’s appetite for prayer while causing leadership to reevaluate programs and seek the Lord of the Church for His changes toward a reformation in the congregation producing a transformation in the community.
Just like prayer, you can utilize as much or as little as you want from this tool. Simply by reading through it you will allow the Holy Spirit to sensitize you to new thoughts and ideas. By inviting others to read it will do the same for them. However, to receive full value, you are encouraged to include and involve the entire congregation over an extended period of time.
Our Process
•Begin in prayer, asking the Lord to prepare the hearts and minds of those who make the decision of how to implement this tool amongst your people.
•Make an appointment with the key leader(s) in your context, usually the Pastor. Make sure the Pastor is in public agreement as this is presented to any other board or committee or team that must decide on its use or steps of implementation.
•Employ a long-term strategy
.The leadership team prays together and commits to use the tool as a means of receiving wisdom and guidance from the Holy Spirit.
.The full leadership of the congregation hears first about the plan to asses the congregation’s prayer life, are expected to personally support the plan, and to proactively encourage participation from those in their area of ministry.
.The diagnostic tool will be one ingredient in an overall assessment.
.Introduce the diagnostic tool to the congregation only after the appropriate leadership (team, council, board) has met to pray through their commitment to both the process and the action steps that result.
.Introduce the diagnostic tool only after the congregation has heard a biblical call to become refreshed, renewed, revived as a House of Prayer for all people. This may be accomplished through any or several of these means:
-a series of messages/sermons on personal and corporate prayer
-a Prayer Conference (all-church) with a guest speaker
-a Workshop (all-ministry leaders) with someone to teach on prayer
-a Retreat with a guest to facilitate prayer and coach discussion
The guide, Come to the Lord’s Table by Claude King is an excellent resources for any of these activities. (Visit www.finalcommnad.org for details and ordering information)
.Set a start-date and a return-date to distribute and collect the completed worksheets If you mail the worksheets to the members at their home, please include one per adult and young person. Include a children’s worksheet if appropriate.
.Or, set aside a month when the worksheets are the focus of every church ministry and activity. Ever class & committee; council & choir; group & gathering.
Before initiating the assessment process, set a date for the leaders to meet to discuss and discern what the Spirit is saying through the feedback as well as a date when the leaders will meet with the members to present their findings, seek further response, and set action steps. This is most beneficial if experienced in an interactive format (roundtable discussion led by a facilitator from outside the congregation)
.At the report session, announce the date of a “Follow-Through” meeting to assess how well the congregation has implemented the ideas and inspirations of the diagnostic assessment (6 - 12 months).
.Several types of questions are employed in an effort to assist you to think honestly from different perspectives. Avoid answers that “make us look good” and simply give a descriptive response.
.The answers/responses are just the beginning. After completing a review of responses in a category, use the questions below to assist you in discerning what the Spirit is saying...
*”What?” - are our responses to the questions?
[Information]
*”So What?” - are the implications of what we have said?
[Application]
*”Now What?” - are we led to do again? Better? Differently?
[Implementation]
Diagnosing The Prayer Life of Our Congregation
Our History
What role did prayer play in the birthing / founding of your congregation?
At what point in your history has prayer been most visible? Powerful?
What was the context (circumstances, situations)?
Which persons have been champions for prayer?
How have we utilized prayer champions in the past?
When it comes to corporate prayer, have we been:
Fearful? Neutral? Supportive? Proactive?
Has the congregation been called to fasting and prayer (answer yes or no):
___Yes ___No
If so, what prompted the call to fast and pray?
We have seen a correlation between prayer and spiritual milestones
(check all that apply):
__ People responding to the Gospel
__ Increase in baptisms
__ Adults surrendering to ministry
__ Young people surrendering to ministry
__ Sending missionaries to other cities or nations
__ New congregations planted
__ Breakthroughs in healing (physical and/or emotional)
__ (other) ____________
Our reputation for prayer is (chose one):
__ We do not know how others view our prayer life
__ We are probably consider average; no special reputation for prayer
__ We are probably known as a church devoted to prayer
__ We are the church in our area someone would call to ask for prayer
Diagnosing The Prayer Life of Our Congregation
Our Theology
Agree or Disagree:
“The prayer life of our congregation and our members is more a
religious habit than an act of obedience.’
Agree or Disagree:
“Our practice of prayer is based more on the biblical
revelation of God’s character than daily trials and troubles.”
Agree or Disagree:
“The methods and styles of prayer we employ are informed more
by our culture and popular teaching than the scriptures.”
Our Vision
To what extent was our congregation’s Vision Statement birthed in prayer?
How is prayer present (or could be) in our Vision statement?
What evidence can you cite to prove this statement:
“We are dependent upon God for the success of our vision.”
Our Pastor
In the past twelve months, our Pastor (check all that apply)
__ Preached a sermon on prayer
__ Indicated a desire to increase and/or improve his prayer life
__ Called the congregation to fervent prayer
__ Taught a class or small group on prayer
__ Empowered others to lead or facilitate prayer
__ Participated or led an ongoing church prayer group
__ Promoted a prayer training experience
__ Distributed prayer resources for leaders and/or members
__ Read a new book on the subject of prayer
__ Has benefited from a Pastor’s Prayer Support Team
__ Identified and worked closely with intercessors
__ Participated in a Pastors’ Prayer Group
__ Attended a Prayer Retreat
__ Was involved in a community or city wide prayer initiative
__ Involved our church in National day of Prayer (or other events)
Diagnosing The Prayer Life of Our Congregation
Our Leaders
Do your leaders (staff, deacons/elders, council/board members):
(check all that apply)
__ Attend the congregational prayer meetings?
__ Express personal dependency upon prayer?
__ Limit prayer in their meetings to a brief “opening” & closing” prayer?
__ Provide financial support for prayer initiatives
__ Understand the relationship between prayer and evangelism
__ Participate in prayer training
__ Consider prayer to be the job of the Prayer Team or intercessors
__ Call the congregation to Solemn Assemblies
__ Rarely pray in public
Our Members
As to the prayer life of our church, our members are:
__ satisfied, __ curious, __ eager to learn, __ hungry for God
When it comes to changing the prayer patterns in our church, our members:
__ initiate new ideas, __ welcome change, __ tolerate, __ resist
What percentage of your church members do you estimate:
__ Participate in a prayer group or meeting? ____
__ Pray at home with their family on a regular basis? ____
__ Participate in some kind of prayer training? ____
__ Request prayer (written or verbally) ____
__ Pray for others who do not yet know Christ? ____
__ Pray for (immediately) others who express a joy or a need? ____
__ Have a prayer burden for another nation? ____
Our members experience prayer (list in order; most to least):
__ Privately at a specific time and place
__ Throughout their daily activities
__ When they face a trial or trouble
__ When someone else prays in a meeting or worship service
__ In a small group
__ (other) _________
Agree or Disagree:
“When we gather for corporate prayer, everyone participates verbally.”
Diagnosing The Prayer Life of Our Congregation
Our Worship Service(s)
When the congregation gathers for worship, our prayers are:
(check all that apply)
__ At a preset time in the service
__ Spontaneous
__ Conversational
__ Formal
__ Informal
__ An expression of ritual
__ ”Preachy”
__ List (needs) focused
__ Prewritten
When the congregation gathers for worship, our prayers are:
(check all that apply)
__ Prayed by “clergy” (ordained, staff)
__ Prayed by selected members (a few who rotate)
__ Prayed by selected members (many are considered)
__ Prayed by any member (anyone may volunteer)
__ Prayed by all members (pairs or small groupings; pray in unison)
__ Prayed by all members (prayer recited in unison)
When our congregation gathers for worship (check all that apply):
__ We sing songs that encourage prayer
__ We have banners reminding us of the power of prayer
__ We sing songs that address God; we sing our prayers
__ We weave praise and prayer together as we worship
Diagnosing The Prayer Life of Our Congregation
Our Prayer Meetings
(Any gathering devoted to prayer)
We meet for prayer __weekly, __monthly, __quarterly, __annually
Percent of our congregation who attend:
__ weekly
__ monthly
__ quarterly
__ annually
What special need or circumstance prompts an unscheduled gathering?
When we gather for prayer (check all that apply):
__ We are faith-filled __ We follow a routine
__ A few pray __ Everyone contributes
__ We span the globe __ We follow typical lists
__ Most prayers are need-based __ Many pray from scripture
__ We sense God’s presence __ We see prayers answered
The purpose of a prayer meeting (according to our reality):
__ To tell God what we need
__ To praise God and honor Christ first
__ To remind God of all who are sick or grieving
__ To listen for discernment and wisdom
__ To pray for our leaders; congregation and nation
Respond to this statement:
“Frankly, our prayer meetings are more boring than blessing...”
When we gather (check any that apply):
__ We invite the Holy Spirit to facilitate and guide our prayers
__ We ask for the mind of Christ so that our prayers echo Jesus’
__ We desire most to serve God by praising and blessing Him
Our pray focus (list in order; most to least):
__ Upward - Praise
__ Downward - Confession
__ Inward - Seeking God’s will (personal)
__ Outward - Neighbors & Nations
__ Backward - Thanking God for past blessings
__ Forward - Seeking God’s will (corporate)
Diagnosing The Prayer Life of Our Congregation
Our Small Groups
Prayer is a core value (list in order; most to least):
__ Sunday School Classes
__ Choir Rehearsal
__ Fellowship Groups
__ Study Groups
__ Committees
Small Group prayer (list in order; most to least):
__ The leader (chairperson, director, moderator, president) prays
__ The leader asks someone to pray
__ Everyone prays around the circle or table
__ Prayer is conversational; people pray as prompted
__ The leader prescribes a format or style
Small Group prayer (list in order; most to least):
__ The group has a protected time for prayer
__ -Prayers tend to be general
__ Prayers are based on stated requests of the members
__ Prayers are based on the group’s agenda
Our Age-Focus Ministries
Our ministries demonstrate a high value for prayer (list in order; most to least):
__ Children’s Ministry
__ Youth Ministry
__ Collegiate
__ Singles
__ Married Couples
__ Families
__ Seniors
__ Other _ _ _
Our ministries provide prayer training (list in order; most to least):
__ Children’s Ministry
__ Youth Ministry
__ Collegiate
__ Singles
__ Married Couples
__ Families
__ Seniors
__ Other _ _ _
Diagnosing The Prayer Life of Our Congregation
Our Evangelism Ministries, Special Events & Holidays
We organize prayer preceding evangelistic activities:
__ Always, __Sometimes, __Never
We schedule prayer during evangelistic activities:
__ Always, __Sometimes, __Never
We assign names of new contacts for prayer after evangelistic activities:
__ Always, __Sometimes, __Never
We ask for the opportunity to pray for people (check all that apply):
__ On our church website
__ In each Sunday’s bulletin
__ In the Church Newsletter
__ Through a “pew card”
__ A weekly verbal invitation
__ At a Prayer Table
__ In the Prayer Room
We challenge our members to pray for their neighbors & coworkers
(check all that apply):
__ In small groups (often called Lighthouses of Prayer)
__ In Sunday bulletins
__ In Sermons
__ With inserts and information (bulletin; newsletter)
Our Missions
In what ways are missionaries and missions supported by prayer?
__ Prayer partners as assigned from the congregation
__ Various classes and groups adopt a missionary
__ Our Missions Committee pray faithfully for our missionaries
__ Mission Conferences include focused prayer for global evangelism
__ We pray for missions and missionaries in Sunday services
__ Prayer requests from missionaries are posted or published
__ We offer Prayer Journeys to mission activity locations
__ Teaching mission support prayer is part of our discipleship training
Diagnosing The Prayer Life of Our Congregation
Our Equipping for Prayer
Throughout the year we offer (check all that apply):
__ Workshops on various prayer topics
__ Classes on the theology of prayer
__ Studies on biblical praying and pray-ers
__ Sunday sermon series on prayer
__ Prayer retreats
__ Financial assistance for leaders to attend prayer conferences
Training Resources (check all that apply):
__ Prayer resources are purchased and made available
__ Information on resources is posted in newsletters
(Pray! magazine, new book releases, websites, videos...)
__ Free resources for Prayer Ministry Leadership
__ Prayer materials are available in our library/resource center
__ Our congregation provides budget to purchase resources
Our Prayer Ministry Team
Our Prayer Ministry Team (check all that apply):
__ Requires completed training to participate
__ Has a designated leader or coordinator
__ Has two-way communication with the Pastor
__ Is diverse (male/female; young/old)
__ Promotes training to the members of the congregation
__ Utilizes insights from spiritual mapping
Our Prayer Ministry Team includes (check all that apply):
__ PrayerWallking
__ Prayer Room
__ Prayer Chain (phone)
__ Prayer Network (e-mail)
__ Prayer Shield (prayer for the Pastor)
__ Prayer Journeys
__ Prayer Drives
__ Prayer Display Table or Resource Center
__ Prayer Articles in Newsletters
__ Altar Prayer (ministry to those responding after the sermon)
__ Prayer Circle (prayer before the Worship service)
__ Prayer during the Worship service
__ Onsite prayer during outreach events
__ Healing Prayer (by appointment or after the service)
__ Prayer Vigils (hour-by-hour prayer; sign-up)
__ Day of Prayer (everyone praying at home/work with same focus)
Diagnosing The Prayer Life of Our Congregation
Our Prayer Partnerships
Our congregation (check all that apply)
__ Prays for other congregations by name
__ Participates in denominational prayer initiatives
__ Participates in community/regional prayer events
Using Acts 1:8, what per cent are your prayers focused upon:
__ Jerusalem (community; city)
__ Judea (region; nation)
__ Samaria (enemies; local issues of injustice)
__ Ends of the Earth (international; unreached people; 10/40 Window)
We participate in (check all that apply)
__ National Day of Prayer
__ See You At The Pole
__ Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church
__ Seek God for the City (spring/Lenten prayer initiative)
Our congregation (or a class or a small group) have adopted in prayer:
(check all that apply)
__ School
__ Park (gang activity; children & families)
__ Multi-Housing / Subdivision
__ Local Business (office building; strip mall)
__ Senior Center
__ (other) ____________
Our Congregation
Every congregation, large or small; independent or denominational; evangelical, charismatic, or liturgical, is unique. What areas of your congregation’s life have not been covered? How would you rate the place and prominence of prayer in those areas?
Our Conclusions
Based upon our responses and the witness of the Holy Spirit in this process:
__ We are best considered a Prayer Activity Church
(prayer is limited to traditional routines or rituals and events)
__ We are a Prayer Ministry Church
(several or many prayer teams, opportunities, services offered)
__ We are becoming a Prayer Strategy Church
Strategies are prayer-birthed, leading to...
Ministries that are prayer-based, resulting in...
Activities are all prayer-bathed
Diagnosing The Prayer Life of Our Congregation
Our Plans
List Action Plans (goals with deadlines and assignments) for:
The Pastor
Leadership
Worship Services
Small Groups (classes, groups, teams)
Age-Level & Need-Focused Ministries
Prayer Ministry
Members
Prayer Meeting(s)
Equipping / Resourcing / Communicating
Acts 1:8 Praying
Other areas...
TO ASSESS THE PRAYER LIFE OF YOUR CONGREGATION
By Phil Miglioratti
*Church Prayer Leaders Network
http://www.prayerleader.com
*Praying Pastor
http://www.prayingpastor.com
*National Pastors’ Prayer Network
http://www.nppn.org
Our Purpose
It is our goal, that by properly utilizing this tool, the Holy Spirit will give you a clear sense of how successful you are in the quest to become a biblical House of Prayer.
The interactive process brings leadership and membership together in a vertical (prayer) and horizontal (prayer birthed discussions) conversation. This conversation is in itself a forward step in the prayer life of the congregation.
This is not a “scientific” survey capable of producing a computerized analysis nor is it like a contest in which the average rating of the judges determines the outcome. Each category and question is designed to expose the heart of the congregation for prayer and produce an accurate picture of how faithfully, practically and pervasively that desire is being expressed.
No congregation using this tool is in competition with any other. It is hoped that this tool will serve to increase the congregation’s appetite for prayer while causing leadership to reevaluate programs and seek the Lord of the Church for His changes toward a reformation in the congregation producing a transformation in the community.
Just like prayer, you can utilize as much or as little as you want from this tool. Simply by reading through it you will allow the Holy Spirit to sensitize you to new thoughts and ideas. By inviting others to read it will do the same for them. However, to receive full value, you are encouraged to include and involve the entire congregation over an extended period of time.
Our Process
•Begin in prayer, asking the Lord to prepare the hearts and minds of those who make the decision of how to implement this tool amongst your people.
•Make an appointment with the key leader(s) in your context, usually the Pastor. Make sure the Pastor is in public agreement as this is presented to any other board or committee or team that must decide on its use or steps of implementation.
•Employ a long-term strategy
.The leadership team prays together and commits to use the tool as a means of receiving wisdom and guidance from the Holy Spirit.
.The full leadership of the congregation hears first about the plan to asses the congregation’s prayer life, are expected to personally support the plan, and to proactively encourage participation from those in their area of ministry.
.The diagnostic tool will be one ingredient in an overall assessment.
.Introduce the diagnostic tool to the congregation only after the appropriate leadership (team, council, board) has met to pray through their commitment to both the process and the action steps that result.
.Introduce the diagnostic tool only after the congregation has heard a biblical call to become refreshed, renewed, revived as a House of Prayer for all people. This may be accomplished through any or several of these means:
-a series of messages/sermons on personal and corporate prayer
-a Prayer Conference (all-church) with a guest speaker
-a Workshop (all-ministry leaders) with someone to teach on prayer
-a Retreat with a guest to facilitate prayer and coach discussion
The guide, Come to the Lord’s Table by Claude King is an excellent resources for any of these activities. (Visit www.finalcommnad.org for details and ordering information)
.Set a start-date and a return-date to distribute and collect the completed worksheets If you mail the worksheets to the members at their home, please include one per adult and young person. Include a children’s worksheet if appropriate.
.Or, set aside a month when the worksheets are the focus of every church ministry and activity. Ever class & committee; council & choir; group & gathering.
Before initiating the assessment process, set a date for the leaders to meet to discuss and discern what the Spirit is saying through the feedback as well as a date when the leaders will meet with the members to present their findings, seek further response, and set action steps. This is most beneficial if experienced in an interactive format (roundtable discussion led by a facilitator from outside the congregation)
.At the report session, announce the date of a “Follow-Through” meeting to assess how well the congregation has implemented the ideas and inspirations of the diagnostic assessment (6 - 12 months).
.Several types of questions are employed in an effort to assist you to think honestly from different perspectives. Avoid answers that “make us look good” and simply give a descriptive response.
.The answers/responses are just the beginning. After completing a review of responses in a category, use the questions below to assist you in discerning what the Spirit is saying...
*”What?” - are our responses to the questions?
[Information]
*”So What?” - are the implications of what we have said?
[Application]
*”Now What?” - are we led to do again? Better? Differently?
[Implementation]
Diagnosing The Prayer Life of Our Congregation
Our History
What role did prayer play in the birthing / founding of your congregation?
At what point in your history has prayer been most visible? Powerful?
What was the context (circumstances, situations)?
Which persons have been champions for prayer?
How have we utilized prayer champions in the past?
When it comes to corporate prayer, have we been:
Fearful? Neutral? Supportive? Proactive?
Has the congregation been called to fasting and prayer (answer yes or no):
___Yes ___No
If so, what prompted the call to fast and pray?
We have seen a correlation between prayer and spiritual milestones
(check all that apply):
__ People responding to the Gospel
__ Increase in baptisms
__ Adults surrendering to ministry
__ Young people surrendering to ministry
__ Sending missionaries to other cities or nations
__ New congregations planted
__ Breakthroughs in healing (physical and/or emotional)
__ (other) ____________
Our reputation for prayer is (chose one):
__ We do not know how others view our prayer life
__ We are probably consider average; no special reputation for prayer
__ We are probably known as a church devoted to prayer
__ We are the church in our area someone would call to ask for prayer
Diagnosing The Prayer Life of Our Congregation
Our Theology
Agree or Disagree:
“The prayer life of our congregation and our members is more a
religious habit than an act of obedience.’
Agree or Disagree:
“Our practice of prayer is based more on the biblical
revelation of God’s character than daily trials and troubles.”
Agree or Disagree:
“The methods and styles of prayer we employ are informed more
by our culture and popular teaching than the scriptures.”
Our Vision
To what extent was our congregation’s Vision Statement birthed in prayer?
How is prayer present (or could be) in our Vision statement?
What evidence can you cite to prove this statement:
“We are dependent upon God for the success of our vision.”
Our Pastor
In the past twelve months, our Pastor (check all that apply)
__ Preached a sermon on prayer
__ Indicated a desire to increase and/or improve his prayer life
__ Called the congregation to fervent prayer
__ Taught a class or small group on prayer
__ Empowered others to lead or facilitate prayer
__ Participated or led an ongoing church prayer group
__ Promoted a prayer training experience
__ Distributed prayer resources for leaders and/or members
__ Read a new book on the subject of prayer
__ Has benefited from a Pastor’s Prayer Support Team
__ Identified and worked closely with intercessors
__ Participated in a Pastors’ Prayer Group
__ Attended a Prayer Retreat
__ Was involved in a community or city wide prayer initiative
__ Involved our church in National day of Prayer (or other events)
Diagnosing The Prayer Life of Our Congregation
Our Leaders
Do your leaders (staff, deacons/elders, council/board members):
(check all that apply)
__ Attend the congregational prayer meetings?
__ Express personal dependency upon prayer?
__ Limit prayer in their meetings to a brief “opening” & closing” prayer?
__ Provide financial support for prayer initiatives
__ Understand the relationship between prayer and evangelism
__ Participate in prayer training
__ Consider prayer to be the job of the Prayer Team or intercessors
__ Call the congregation to Solemn Assemblies
__ Rarely pray in public
Our Members
As to the prayer life of our church, our members are:
__ satisfied, __ curious, __ eager to learn, __ hungry for God
When it comes to changing the prayer patterns in our church, our members:
__ initiate new ideas, __ welcome change, __ tolerate, __ resist
What percentage of your church members do you estimate:
__ Participate in a prayer group or meeting? ____
__ Pray at home with their family on a regular basis? ____
__ Participate in some kind of prayer training? ____
__ Request prayer (written or verbally) ____
__ Pray for others who do not yet know Christ? ____
__ Pray for (immediately) others who express a joy or a need? ____
__ Have a prayer burden for another nation? ____
Our members experience prayer (list in order; most to least):
__ Privately at a specific time and place
__ Throughout their daily activities
__ When they face a trial or trouble
__ When someone else prays in a meeting or worship service
__ In a small group
__ (other) _________
Agree or Disagree:
“When we gather for corporate prayer, everyone participates verbally.”
Diagnosing The Prayer Life of Our Congregation
Our Worship Service(s)
When the congregation gathers for worship, our prayers are:
(check all that apply)
__ At a preset time in the service
__ Spontaneous
__ Conversational
__ Formal
__ Informal
__ An expression of ritual
__ ”Preachy”
__ List (needs) focused
__ Prewritten
When the congregation gathers for worship, our prayers are:
(check all that apply)
__ Prayed by “clergy” (ordained, staff)
__ Prayed by selected members (a few who rotate)
__ Prayed by selected members (many are considered)
__ Prayed by any member (anyone may volunteer)
__ Prayed by all members (pairs or small groupings; pray in unison)
__ Prayed by all members (prayer recited in unison)
When our congregation gathers for worship (check all that apply):
__ We sing songs that encourage prayer
__ We have banners reminding us of the power of prayer
__ We sing songs that address God; we sing our prayers
__ We weave praise and prayer together as we worship
Diagnosing The Prayer Life of Our Congregation
Our Prayer Meetings
(Any gathering devoted to prayer)
We meet for prayer __weekly, __monthly, __quarterly, __annually
Percent of our congregation who attend:
__ weekly
__ monthly
__ quarterly
__ annually
What special need or circumstance prompts an unscheduled gathering?
When we gather for prayer (check all that apply):
__ We are faith-filled __ We follow a routine
__ A few pray __ Everyone contributes
__ We span the globe __ We follow typical lists
__ Most prayers are need-based __ Many pray from scripture
__ We sense God’s presence __ We see prayers answered
The purpose of a prayer meeting (according to our reality):
__ To tell God what we need
__ To praise God and honor Christ first
__ To remind God of all who are sick or grieving
__ To listen for discernment and wisdom
__ To pray for our leaders; congregation and nation
Respond to this statement:
“Frankly, our prayer meetings are more boring than blessing...”
When we gather (check any that apply):
__ We invite the Holy Spirit to facilitate and guide our prayers
__ We ask for the mind of Christ so that our prayers echo Jesus’
__ We desire most to serve God by praising and blessing Him
Our pray focus (list in order; most to least):
__ Upward - Praise
__ Downward - Confession
__ Inward - Seeking God’s will (personal)
__ Outward - Neighbors & Nations
__ Backward - Thanking God for past blessings
__ Forward - Seeking God’s will (corporate)
Diagnosing The Prayer Life of Our Congregation
Our Small Groups
Prayer is a core value (list in order; most to least):
__ Sunday School Classes
__ Choir Rehearsal
__ Fellowship Groups
__ Study Groups
__ Committees
Small Group prayer (list in order; most to least):
__ The leader (chairperson, director, moderator, president) prays
__ The leader asks someone to pray
__ Everyone prays around the circle or table
__ Prayer is conversational; people pray as prompted
__ The leader prescribes a format or style
Small Group prayer (list in order; most to least):
__ The group has a protected time for prayer
__ -Prayers tend to be general
__ Prayers are based on stated requests of the members
__ Prayers are based on the group’s agenda
Our Age-Focus Ministries
Our ministries demonstrate a high value for prayer (list in order; most to least):
__ Children’s Ministry
__ Youth Ministry
__ Collegiate
__ Singles
__ Married Couples
__ Families
__ Seniors
__ Other _ _ _
Our ministries provide prayer training (list in order; most to least):
__ Children’s Ministry
__ Youth Ministry
__ Collegiate
__ Singles
__ Married Couples
__ Families
__ Seniors
__ Other _ _ _
Diagnosing The Prayer Life of Our Congregation
Our Evangelism Ministries, Special Events & Holidays
We organize prayer preceding evangelistic activities:
__ Always, __Sometimes, __Never
We schedule prayer during evangelistic activities:
__ Always, __Sometimes, __Never
We assign names of new contacts for prayer after evangelistic activities:
__ Always, __Sometimes, __Never
We ask for the opportunity to pray for people (check all that apply):
__ On our church website
__ In each Sunday’s bulletin
__ In the Church Newsletter
__ Through a “pew card”
__ A weekly verbal invitation
__ At a Prayer Table
__ In the Prayer Room
We challenge our members to pray for their neighbors & coworkers
(check all that apply):
__ In small groups (often called Lighthouses of Prayer)
__ In Sunday bulletins
__ In Sermons
__ With inserts and information (bulletin; newsletter)
Our Missions
In what ways are missionaries and missions supported by prayer?
__ Prayer partners as assigned from the congregation
__ Various classes and groups adopt a missionary
__ Our Missions Committee pray faithfully for our missionaries
__ Mission Conferences include focused prayer for global evangelism
__ We pray for missions and missionaries in Sunday services
__ Prayer requests from missionaries are posted or published
__ We offer Prayer Journeys to mission activity locations
__ Teaching mission support prayer is part of our discipleship training
Diagnosing The Prayer Life of Our Congregation
Our Equipping for Prayer
Throughout the year we offer (check all that apply):
__ Workshops on various prayer topics
__ Classes on the theology of prayer
__ Studies on biblical praying and pray-ers
__ Sunday sermon series on prayer
__ Prayer retreats
__ Financial assistance for leaders to attend prayer conferences
Training Resources (check all that apply):
__ Prayer resources are purchased and made available
__ Information on resources is posted in newsletters
(Pray! magazine, new book releases, websites, videos...)
__ Free resources for Prayer Ministry Leadership
__ Prayer materials are available in our library/resource center
__ Our congregation provides budget to purchase resources
Our Prayer Ministry Team
Our Prayer Ministry Team (check all that apply):
__ Requires completed training to participate
__ Has a designated leader or coordinator
__ Has two-way communication with the Pastor
__ Is diverse (male/female; young/old)
__ Promotes training to the members of the congregation
__ Utilizes insights from spiritual mapping
Our Prayer Ministry Team includes (check all that apply):
__ PrayerWallking
__ Prayer Room
__ Prayer Chain (phone)
__ Prayer Network (e-mail)
__ Prayer Shield (prayer for the Pastor)
__ Prayer Journeys
__ Prayer Drives
__ Prayer Display Table or Resource Center
__ Prayer Articles in Newsletters
__ Altar Prayer (ministry to those responding after the sermon)
__ Prayer Circle (prayer before the Worship service)
__ Prayer during the Worship service
__ Onsite prayer during outreach events
__ Healing Prayer (by appointment or after the service)
__ Prayer Vigils (hour-by-hour prayer; sign-up)
__ Day of Prayer (everyone praying at home/work with same focus)
Diagnosing The Prayer Life of Our Congregation
Our Prayer Partnerships
Our congregation (check all that apply)
__ Prays for other congregations by name
__ Participates in denominational prayer initiatives
__ Participates in community/regional prayer events
Using Acts 1:8, what per cent are your prayers focused upon:
__ Jerusalem (community; city)
__ Judea (region; nation)
__ Samaria (enemies; local issues of injustice)
__ Ends of the Earth (international; unreached people; 10/40 Window)
We participate in (check all that apply)
__ National Day of Prayer
__ See You At The Pole
__ Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church
__ Seek God for the City (spring/Lenten prayer initiative)
Our congregation (or a class or a small group) have adopted in prayer:
(check all that apply)
__ School
__ Park (gang activity; children & families)
__ Multi-Housing / Subdivision
__ Local Business (office building; strip mall)
__ Senior Center
__ (other) ____________
Our Congregation
Every congregation, large or small; independent or denominational; evangelical, charismatic, or liturgical, is unique. What areas of your congregation’s life have not been covered? How would you rate the place and prominence of prayer in those areas?
Our Conclusions
Based upon our responses and the witness of the Holy Spirit in this process:
__ We are best considered a Prayer Activity Church
(prayer is limited to traditional routines or rituals and events)
__ We are a Prayer Ministry Church
(several or many prayer teams, opportunities, services offered)
__ We are becoming a Prayer Strategy Church
Strategies are prayer-birthed, leading to...
Ministries that are prayer-based, resulting in...
Activities are all prayer-bathed
Diagnosing The Prayer Life of Our Congregation
Our Plans
List Action Plans (goals with deadlines and assignments) for:
The Pastor
Leadership
Worship Services
Small Groups (classes, groups, teams)
Age-Level & Need-Focused Ministries
Prayer Ministry
Members
Prayer Meeting(s)
Equipping / Resourcing / Communicating
Acts 1:8 Praying
Other areas...
Extreme Church Makeover - The Prayer Action Plan
Excerpt From Extreme Church Makeover, (c) 2005 by Neil Anderson and Charles Mylander.
Published by Regal Books, www.regalbooks.com. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Chapter 11 - The Prayer Action Plan
(Step 6 in the Setting Your Church Free Event)
The conclusion of the Setting Your Church Free event is summarized in the Prayer Action Plan. Hopefully, the group has now heard from God through His conviction and guidance as discerned by the leadership. The leadership is now in a better position to focus their prayers and make plans for action. From the patterns that have emerged, they should know what they need to confess and renounce. However, turning away from that which is sinful and unfruitful is not enough. In keeping with the spirit of repentance, the leadership also must announce their decisions, claim their resources in Christ and affirm the promises of God. The final step is to overcome strategically that which is wrong and advance that which is right.
In 1 and 2 Chronicles and the book of Psalms, the emphasis is upon God’s splendor rather than the splendor of nations, royalty or creation. The Lord is robed with splendor and majesty, and He calls us to worship Him in Spirit and in truth.
Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and glory are in his sanctuary. Ascribe to the Lord, O families of nations, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength. Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; bring an offering and come into his courts. Worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness; tremble before him, all the earth (Ps. 96:6-9, emphasis added).
God is calling the “families of nations” and “all the earth” to ascribe to the Lord the glory due His name. This is not for the nation of Israel alone, but for God’s people everywhere. God intended for Israel to serve as a magnet to draw others to Himself, and Christ commissioned the Church to take His message to all the nations.
Display of Splendor
It is God’s intent to display His splendor among all the nations by means of His people. To glorify God means to manifest His presence, and this can only happen in churches and in children of God who are living in a righteous relationship with Him. Perhaps this is why the seven churches of Revelation are pictured as lampstands. They hold the true light that gives light to everyone (see John 1:4,9). They radiate the splendor of God’s glory. “For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ” (2 Cor. 4:6). Liberated churches fulfill God’s eternal purposes of revealing His glory and displaying His splendor.
Surely you will summon nations you know not, and nations that do not know you will hasten to you, because of the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, for he has endowed you with splendor (Isa. 55:5, emphasis added).
Then will all your people be righteous and they will possess the land forever. They are the shoot I have planted, the work of my hands, for the display of my splendor (Isa. 60:21, emphasis added).
And provide for those who grieve in Zion—to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor (Isa. 61:3, emphasis added).
Some of this prophecy will be fulfilled when Christ comes again and gathers His people to Himself, but are we not called to glorify God in our bodies and in His Body, the Church? Where is the church that God has endowed with splendor? Where are the people who glorify God in their bodies? Could it not be your church? Could it not be your people? Don’t you want the presence of the Lord to be glorified in you and your church?
Jesus said, “Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven” (Matt. 5:16). Does the goal of displaying God’s splendor in your church and your community seem too high too reach in this adulterous generation in which we live? What is our witness if God isn’t glorified, if there is no change taking place for the better in our people, if church is little more than a social gathering of like-minded people? If there is no vision of God being glorified in your church, the people will perish.
Listen to the Lord of Splendor
The Lord Jesus gave some sharp commands to His churches in Revelation about their weaknesses, memories, corporate sins and evil attacks. Let’s review His commands before we consider our response:
• Ephesus Remember, repent
• Smyrna Be faithful
• Pergamum Repent
• Thyatira Hold on
• Sardis Wake up; strengthen what remains, remember, obey, repent
• Philadelphia Hold on
• Laodicea Be earnest, repent
The Prayer Action Plan is our response to these commands. It makes four declarations: “We renounce . . . ”; “We announce . . . ”; “We affirm . . . ”; and “We will . . . ” These declarations constitute our response to what our leaders have discerned from God’s guidance, as follows:
• We renounce is our response to Christ’s command, “Repent.”
• We announce is our response to Christ’s command, “Remember.”
• We affirm is our response to Christ’s command, “Hold on.”
• We will is our response to Christ’s command, “Obey.”
It is important that all the church leaders know what they are doing in the Prayer Action Plan. Let’s examine these four commands and our responses.
Repent and Renounce
Again and again, Jesus commands His churches to repent. No playing politics. No delays. No excuses. It is time to change and it is time to change now. Jesus wants decisive action. He shouts, “Stop! Don’t do that anymore! Change your attitude! Change your lifestyle!” He wants His churches to make a clean break with their personal and corporate sins.
What you have discerned does not require six committees bogged down for a year resulting in a two-inch-thick environmental impact report on your church. Jesus is talking about sin, which is offensive to Him and damaging to His people. He wants His churches to abandon their sinful ways right now.
We respond by renouncing that which displeases God. We plead guilty and openly admit that we are and have been wrong—but we do more. We repudiate, reject, disown and disavow any and all sin. We don’t rationalize or defend ourselves. We change our thinking and change our ways.
“We Renouce . . . “
“I renounce you, Satan, and all your works and all your ways” is one of the oldest declarations of the Church. It is in the Book of Common Prayer as part of the baptismal ritual, and many liturgical churches still use it. Just choosing to believe the truth is not enough if we are still holding on to past practices and beliefs. Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 4:1-2:
Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we received mercy, we do not lose heart, but we have renounced the things hidden because of shame, not walking in craftiness or adulterating the word of God, but by the manifestation of truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God (NASB).
What do churches renounce in the Setting Your Church Free process? The following is a representative list taken from various churches, again using their own wording:
• We renounce complacency and contentment.
• We renounce a critical and judgmental spirit.
• We renounce our passivity in spiritual disciplines.
• We renounce gossip and pettiness.
• We renounce moral failure.
• We renounce factions in the church that separate us from the love and unity of Christ.
• We renounce lukewarmness and weariness in doing the Lord’s work.
• We renounce our distrust of God’s chosen and faithful leaders.
• We renounce our sinful pride that keeps us from confessing our sins and receiving salvation and healing.
• We renounce our poor stewardship of time, talent and treasures.
• We renounce our selfish pride that says “We’re good enough.”
• We renounce our self-focus that produces apathy to the lost.
Although church leaders most often renounce corporate sins, many do not stop there. Some renounce Satan’s attacks, painful memories and weaknesses. The following are more examples:
• We renounce attacks of the devil in stimulating doubts and disagreements.
• We renounce ungodly values that the world imposes on our families.
• We renounce the spirit of darkness and heaviness that seeks to destroy our church.
• We renounce the spirit of fear that paralyzes open sharing, involvement, service and evangelism.
• We renounce attacks on leadership.
• We renounce any footholds gained by the evil one through past hurts and traumas.
• We renounce the spirit of criticism that divides rather than unites.
• We renounce Satan’s use of discouragement as a tool against us.
• We renounce a spirit of division and defeat.
• We renounce the “destroyer” spirit and all his attacks on our church and community.
Keeping the “repent and renounce” declaration in mind, let’s turn to the second response to Christ’s commands. He commands us to remember, and we respond by announcing the riches we have in Christ.
Remember and Announce
It is our fallen human nature to be absorbed in our problems instead of being conscious of Christ’s presence and power. We tend to be problem-centered instead of solution-centered. We must keep in mind who we are in Christ, what He has done on our behalf, and the spiritual power and authority we have to do His will. This is more than a mental exercise; it is a spiritual discipline. It is affirming every day our God-given riches in Christ. John Stott wrote:
So, in practice we should constantly be reminding ourselves who we are. We need to learn to talk to ourselves, and ask ourselves questions: “Don’t you know? Don’t you know the meaning of your conversion and baptism? Don’t you know that you have been united to Christ in His death and resurrection? Don’t you know that you have been enslaved to God and have committed yourself to His obedience? Don’t you know these things? Don’t you know who you are?” We must go on pressing ourselves with such questions, until we reply to ourselves: “Yes, I do know who I am, a new person in Christ, and by the grace of God I shall live accordingly.”1
We respond to Christ’s call to remember by announcing our resources in Christ, declaring them together. In so doing, we focus on our riches in Christ rather than on our poverty without Him. We recall our position in Christ rather than the pain from our past. We claim our resources in Christ, rather than relying on our own strength and resources. We proclaim the positive biblical opposite of what we renounced. To illustrate, let’s look at part of our former list, along with the positive biblical opposites. Again, these are actual declarations from real churches.
• We renounce complacency and contentment.
• We announce that in Christ we have vision, boldness, freedom and confidence.
• We renounce a critical and judgmental spirit.
• We announce that in Christ we have love and acceptance for one another.
• We renounce our passivity in spiritual disciplines.
• We announce that in Christ we have spiritual hunger for intimacy with God.
• We renounce gossip and pettiness.
• We announce that in Christ we have the Holy Spirit who brings unity.
• We renounce moral failure.
• We announce that in Christ we have moral fidelity.
• We renounce factions in the church that separate us from the love and unity of Christ.
• We announce that we are one in Christ Jesus.
With the renounce and announce pattern in mind, we are now ready to consider the third declaration. Jesus commands us to hold on, and we respond by saying, “We affirm.” What we announce focuses on our resources in Christ; what we affirm focuses on God’s promises. In the affirmations, we look for biblical and motivational truths that encourage us to use the riches we have in Christ.
Hold on and Affirm
Affirming the living truth of the gospel helps us to appropriate the promises of God. We hold on so we can hold up. When life is tough, we hold on to what Christ has given us so that we can hold up under the crushing burden of hard times. When life is easy, we must resist turning loose of our riches for the glitter of a cheap substitute. Whatever happens, hold on and keep standing firm in your faith!
Another closely related command from Christ is “Be earnest” (Rev. 3:19) or “Be zealous” (NASB). Motivated Christians are passionate as well as disciplined. They are obedient, steadfast in their faith, enthusiastic about Jesus, glowing with the Holy Spirit and sincere in worship. Hold on to what you know to be true and affirm what motivates you to use your God-given resources for Christ.
Let’s consider some of our declarations with the affirmation statement added:
• We renounce complacency and contentment.
• We announce that in Christ we have vision, boldness, freedom and confidence.
• We affirm that we are children of God and have all His resources (see John 1:12; Rom. 8:16-17; 2 Cor. 5:17; Gal. 3:26-29).
• We renounce a critical and judgmental spirit.
• We announce that in Christ we have love and acceptance for one another.
• We affirm that Christ brings unity and peace among us (see 1 Cor. 12:12-13; Eph. 4:3; Phil. 2:1-2).
• We renounce our passivity in spiritual disciplines.
• We announce that in Christ we have spiritual hunger for intimacy with God.
• We affirm that we were created for fellowship with God (see 1 John 1:3,7).
• We renounce gossip and pettiness.
• We announce that in Christ we have the Holy Spirit who brings unity.
• We affirm that Christ can teach us to bridle our tongues and show us how to resolve problems (see Matt. 18:15-17; Eph. 4:29; Jas. 1:26)
The announce and affirm declarations can be easily intertwined. We have found it helpful to keep the “we affirm” statements centered on the promises of Scripture. Here are a couple of examples:
• We renounce acting independently of God.
• We announce that in Christ we have God and all His resources.
• We affirm that we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us (see Phil. 4:13).
• We renounce our lack of commitment to and practice of spiritual disciplines.
• We announce that in Christ we have continual opportunity to commune with God.
• We affirm that Christ is knocking at our heart’s door, longing for intimacy with us (see Rev. 3:20).
The Will to Obey
With the first three declarations in mind—renounce, announce, affirm—we are ready for the fourth. Jesus does not give us orders and commands without expecting us to obey them.
A pastor asked his junior and senior high school youth to be aware of his vocabulary while he was preaching. He was asking for honest feedback because he did not want to use words that were out of date or that did not communicate his meaning. After listening for some time, the youth reported that “obey” was not a word in their regular vocabulary. Living under the grace of God doesn’t negate our need to obey.
The Prayer Action Plan calls for prayer plus action. In response to Christ’s call to obey, we respond that we will do what He desires. Notice that each of the declarations are connected. When you are completing the “we will” stage, start by looking back at what was renounced in the first declaration. In light of that renunciation, what does Jesus want us to do to obey Him?
What action can we take to counter the corporate sins or spiritual attacks that we have renounced?
Consider our examples once more with the fourth action step added:
• We renounce complacency and contentment.
• We announce that in Christ we have vision, boldness, freedom and confidence.
• We affirm that we are children of God and have all His resources.
• We will step out in faith from our comfort zone.
• We renounce a critical and judgmental spirit.
• We announce that in Christ we have love and acceptance for one another.
• We affirm that Christ brings unity and peace among us.
• We will accept our differences as strengths.
• We renounce our passivity in spiritual disciplines.
• We announce that in Christ we have spiritual hunger for intimacy with God.
• We affirm that we were created for fellowship with God.
• We will teach, preach and regularly practice the spiritual disciplines.
• We renounce gossip and pettiness.
• We announce that in Christ we have the Holy Spirit who brings unity.
• We affirm that Christ can bridle our tongues and show us how to resolve problems.
• We will speak the truth in love.
Step 6 of the Setting Your Church Free Procedure
The Prayer Action Plan (step 6) synthesizes the information gathered in the earlier steps and condenses them in a one-page format. The facilitator should place four large sheets of paper side by side on the wall. All of the previous sheets should be visible as well. On the first sheet, the facilitator should write “We renounce . . . ” On the next three sheets he or she should jot down in order “We announce . . . ”, “We affirm . . . ”, and “We will. . . ” The group is now ready to combine everything discerned so far in short, summary declarations.
The facilitator will next briefly review what the group is summarizing.
1. We will want to renounce the evil (attacks, corporate sins, conflicts, weaknesses). For example, “We renounce division among us.”
2. We will announce the positive biblical opposite of what we renounced, worded in terms of our resources in Christ. For example, “We announce that in Christ we have the unity of the Spirit.”
3. We will affirm in emotional language a scriptural promise or truth that encourages and motivates us in regard to the same item. For example, “We affirm that in the depths of our hearts we are all one in Christ Jesus” (see Gal. 3:26-28).
4. We will commit to an action step that we will take. For example, “We will talk to the right person in the right spirit when conflicts arise.”
The first item on the list should be worked out following the order of “We renounce,” “We announce,” “We affirm” and “We will.” The group can then go on to the next item, and so on.
The goal is to make the shortest list possible without leaving out any major weaknesses, sins and spiritual attacks that were discerned by the leadership. This list, along with the greatest strengths of the church, becomes the Prayer Action Plan. (See appendix B for an example.) The process should begin with group prayer, followed by quiet contemplation in which each individual asks for the Holy Spirit’s guidance, discernment, sense of unity and the right words for the Prayer Action Plan. Fatigue may be a factor by now, so the group should call upon God for divine energy and wisdom to make sense out of all the lists on the sheets.
Making Sense of It
By this time in the Setting Your Church Free day (or evening by now), the task of making a clear summary will seem challenging. Be encouraged. In our experience, every group has come up with an intelligible Prayer Action Plan. The facilitator and some key leaders may take the initiative in suggesting wording, yet it is important to seek mutual agreement for how to word the items.
This part of the process is extremely valuable to the participants, capturing on paper the sense of discovery as the group interacts with one another. Creating an environment for honest communication is a valuable experience for church leadership. Many are relieved that these issues are now out on the table. What is helpful is that the group neither argues nor problem solves, but simply comes to consensus. For one participant, this feature of the seminar was the most helpful:
My best memory from the hours the elders and pastors spent together was all the communication that finally took place. The people need an opportunity to communicate instead of gossip to share their feelings. It was difficult to talk about some issues, but they needed to be brought up! I believe a lot of people felt good about finally being able to share their feelings. I’ve always known how important communication is, but I really didn’t realize how important it is to set an environment for people to be able to talk. It is important to help people feel free to open up. I will try to be aware of this now!
The typical group will discard some suggestions and modify many others. What they state will fit the theology, concerns and style of their own church, because they, not the facilitator, will be discerning the declarations. Each list is unique, stated in a way that only the specific church and group of leaders can describe. Group participation enhances a sense of ownership and unity.
When the process lags, the facilitator may ask, “Is there any other major theme that we have not addressed?” or “What else do you see?” or “Do we have it?” It is not necessary to cover every item on the sheets from previous steps, but rather the major patterns that have emerged. There are usually five to eight items for each of the four declarations.
Binding and Loosing
When the declarations are finished, the group should stand and position themselves so that they can read the four sheets. They should then hold hands and pray the Prayer Action Plan aloud. This prayer is essential. All the authority of heaven stands behind church leaders who fully agree and unite in prayer about a matter that they discern in the presence of God.
When they declare it together, they are exercising the power of binding and loosing:
I [Jesus] will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven (Matt. 16:19, NASB).
Binding and loosing is not manipulating God or making up our minds about something whereby God must respond to us. The New International Version and most other modern translations of the Bible often have a footnote indicating an “alternative reading” of this passage that agrees with the New American Standard translation quoted above. Look carefully at the wording again: “Whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven” (emphasis added). The task of church leaders is to discern what has already been bound or loosed in heaven and then announce it on Earth. In the Prayer Action Plan, we bind by renouncing and loose by announcing. We never ask the Lord to capitulate to our will; we gladly surrender to His will.
The above verse in Matthew follows Peter’s declaration that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God (see Matt. 16:16). In response, Jesus promises, “I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it” (Matt. 16:18).
R. E. Nixon writes, “The gates suggest the picture of a fortress or prison which lock in the dead and lock out their rescuers. This would imply that the church is on the offensive, and its Master will plunder the domain of Satan.”2 Note the spiritual warfare reference in this passage and in Matthew 12:29. In the Prayer Action Plan, we renounce the efforts of the “gates of Hades” to hold people captive and hinder the building of Christ’s Church. We then announce our resources in Christ by which our Lord builds His Church.
Church Discipline
The same teaching is found in Matthew 18, but the context gives instructions for church discipline. The need for church discipline may surface during the Setting Your Church Free process. We are on safe biblical grounds using our God-given authority in Christ to bind and loose (renounce and announce) what we discern as Christ’s will for our local churches.
Authorized by Christ
Let’s consider what the Church is authorized by Christ to do.
The Church has prayer authority. What we have discerned together about each issue in our Prayer Action Plan we can pray and announce with spiritual authority based on what Jesus said about two or more gathering in His name (see Matt. 18:18-20). The two or three do not decide amongst themselves what they believe or want. They collectively discern God’s will.
The Church has teaching authority. We have the God-given right and responsibility to teach and preach what we scripturally discern as Christ’s will for our church.
The Church has disciplinary authority. If we find that members, and especially leaders, of our church are living in defiance of clear scriptural teachings and we agree about our discernment of Christ’s direction for what we must do, He gives us the authority to take appropriate action within our church.
Church discipline is always a painful and touchy subject. Yet we dare not ignore what the Bible teaches. We are not to judge one another’s character, especially when we have not taken into account the plank in our own eyes (see Matt. 7:1-5). However, the Church must discipline those who are living in sin for their sake (see Matt. 18:15-17; 1 Cor. 5:3-13; 6:1-6; 1 Tim. 5:19-20). Discipline is not punishment for wrong done, nor is it retroactive. Discipline must be based on observed behavior by one or more witnesses, with the intention of helping the people live righteous lives in the future:
For they [fathers] disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but He [God] disciplines us for our good, so that we may share His holiness. All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness (Heb. 12:10-11, NASB).
If you ignore church discipline, you may suffer public scandal. Non-Christians use church sins as an excuse for rejecting Christ, and the media loves to exploit church scandals. Christian leaders falling prey to sexual abuse or financial fraud fuels the media fire. In addition, immature Christians often follow the example of fallen leaders in disobeying the Lord Jesus.
A Biblical View
For years, Neil taught biblical principles of church discipline in his seminary classes. As a denominational official, I have experienced my share of personal pain, not to mention the pain I have witnessed of others involved in disciplinary processes. Church leaders will feel the tension between protecting the church from scandal and confronting sin. The Catholic Church recently tried to do the former, but failed in the end. Secret sin on Earth is open scandal in heaven. Jesus said there is nothing concealed that will not be revealed. When Paul states that “those who continue in sin, rebuke in the presence of all, so that the rest also will be fearful of sinning” (1 Tim. 5:20, NASB), he was not being vindictive but was confronting sin in such a way so that people can have a way of resolving issues. When sin is tolerated or covered up, people can’t process the problem, and it becomes divisive in their homes and churches. The person confronted can repent, and others can forgive and learn from the experience.
Discipline is the proof of Christian love (see Heb. 12:5-11) and is essential for the health of the church. To pray passively, asking God to do what He has commanded church leadership and parents to do, is to fail in our responsibility as church leaders and as parents. The purpose of discipline is to carry out the ministry of reconciliation and to restore a Christian brother or sister caught in a sin (see Gal. 6:1). The goal is not to expose the sin, but to win back the offender and to enhance the purity of the church.
It is essential to base discipline upon prior instruction and observed behavior. If there is no standard, there is no sin. If reputable witnesses observe sinful behavior, there is no judgment taking place. The person is “caught in a sin” (see Gal. 6:1). Discipline is related to behavior, whereas judgment is related to character. When all attempts at reconciliation have failed, Scripture teaches a breaking off of fellowship, and the nature of the sin is to be told to the church (see Matt. 18:15-20; 1 Tim. 5:19-20).
Who decides when breaking this fellowship is required? Does knowledge on the part of the elders or church board constitute telling the church? A word to the wise: Always honor the procedures of your church’s polity in disciplinary matters. In a lawsuit-oriented society, following due process saves much grief. However, no church polity or lack of it can nullify the commands given to church leaders in Scripture. (In addition to the passages already cited, see 1 Thess. 5:14; 2 Thess. 3:14-15; Titus 3:9-11.)
Risking Lawsuits
Civil courts usually don’t hear cases involving internal church disputes, but they may if slander, libel, invasion of privacy or economic disaster are involved. Church discipline toward members living in defiance of Scripture raises some important questions: What is the basis of a lawsuit against a church in a discipline case? How can a church protect itself and still obey the commands of Jesus? What precautions can a church take to stay out of legal trouble? What are the limits of the law that everyone, including church leaders, must abide by?
The Bible tells us, “Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders” (Col. 4:5; also see 1 Thess. 4:12; 1 Tim. 3:7; 1 Pet. 3:16-17). People who win lawsuits against churches usually base their case on the violation of one or more sensitive legal issues, and we recommend that you confer with a Christian attorney for legal counsel. However, every church leader should be aware of the following three pitfalls:
1. Slander, libel or defamation of character is illegal. Slanderous statements are those that are untrue or that may be true but are intended to damage a person’s reputation. For the matter to be considered slander, it must be published to a third party. It is not slander or libel for the pastor, elders or the official board to confront a church member about sexual immorality or any overt sin. It is slander if they publish it to others in a way that damages the person’s reputation.
2. Invasion of privacy is illegal. This provision is difficult for churches because legitimate privacy rights are sometimes used as a cover for private sin. However, churches cannot legally take a private relationship and make it public in a harmful way. Church discipline by the pastor, elders or church board is not invasion of privacy if these standards are previously published and known by the offender. Any public censure or excommunication proceedings must use fairly general terms. All statements, written and oral, need to be prepared carefully and fall in line with Scripture and official church polity.
3. Inflicting a detrimental effect on a person’s economic status is illegal. One church took disciplinary action against a member who worked as an insurance salesman. Most of his customers were also members of the same church. The church leaders advised the people not to aid him in any way. Many of the church members dropped the insurance policies that they purchased from him, and his business declined dramatically. The man sued. The caution here is for churches not to go beyond the biblical limits of discipline. Dropping a person from membership and fellowship is legal; inflicting economic harm on that person is not.
For more information on the ministry of reconciliation, see our book Blessed Are the Peacemakers (Regal Books, 2002). This book lists the steps that can be taken to help believers be reconciled with God and each other.
Some Precautions
The following points describe what churches can do to protect themselves from a lawsuit:
1. A church can publish its standards of conduct and church discipline and communicate them to all members. The membership class is the ideal place to explain Scripture relating to church discipline. In a positive way, the leaders can explain why those in the church care so much about each other that they resolve conflict early and privately. Public discipline is a last resort that will be imposed only under the conditions stated in the church’s standards of conduct and church discipline. Disciplinary matters in the Church should never be settled in public courts (see 1 Cor. 6:1-11). Independent Christian mediation organizations often are helpful in resolving disputes between church members.
2. A church can communicate what steps of disciplinary action it may take and in what kinds of cases it will take that action (see 1 Cor. 5:1-5; 6:9-11; 2 Thess. 3:14-15; 1 Tim. 1:20; 2 Tim. 2:17-18; Rev. 2:14-16). All church staff members should be notified in writing in advance of their hiring that immediate dismissal is the consequence of sexual immorality, financial fraud or any scandalous sin. After making the basic knowledge known, it is better to act than to talk. In other words, do not make threats. The church must follow its stated polity and procedures explicitly and use due diligence. Counseling and restoration procedures should be part of the process so that the offender does not repeat the same sins in the next church.
3. A church needs to limit the number of people who are part of the process and give only general information to others. This is both gentle and wise (see Gal. 6:1; Eph. 5:15-16). Any communication with the offenders should explain the biblical basis for the actions taken and avoid anything that might be construed as slander. In most cases, it is wise to keep everything, including church minutes, out of print or in general terms. Written documents provide the kind of evidence attorneys will use in court.
Praying in Unity
Let’s return now to the Prayer Action Plan that the participants have just prayed through. In prayer, they bind what has been bound in heaven and loose what has been loosed in heaven. They have discerned Christ’s will for their church and responded in prayer.
A sense of accomplishment and joy is felt by the group as they join together in declaring their Prayer Action Plan to God. The sense of unity is what participants remember the most. One pastor wrote, “My best memory from the Setting Your Church Free seminar was the sense of unity with which everyone responded. Although each person had unique insights and comments, when it came to the big issues, there was unity and agreement, and a sense of working together.”
The Prayer Action Plan becomes a tangible way to submit to God and resist the devil on behalf of the whole church. “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (Jas. 4:7). One pastor commented, “I didn’t realize this was like a letter from Jesus. That would have added a lot of power to it!” It is helpful to think of your Prayer Action Plan as a letter from Jesus, or at the very least, think of it as your discernment of what Jesus would write in a letter to your church.
The process is eye-opening for many of the leaders. Most arrive for the event having only hazy ideas about their own corporate sins and attacks from the evil one. Now they are in unity about the actual spiritual health of their church and have a plan that calls for prayer plus action. One person wrote, “Since completing the Setting Your Church Free seminar, we have a concrete understanding of our strengths and weaknesses, areas where God is blessing and areas where the enemy has strongholds. We now have the ability to pray and work specifically to be completely free.”
Recall that each of the seven letters of Revelation contains the exhortation “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches” (Rev. 2:7,11,17,29; 3:6,13,22). Hearing with the intention of obeying is the proper idea of this passage. Little children often procrastinate or stall when their parents ask them to do something, to which the parent often responds, “Did you hear me?” The children have heard with their physical ears, but what the parent is really asking is “Are you going to obey me now?” Your heavenly Father is saying, “Did you hear Me? Are you willing to obey?” A strategy for putting the message of this book into action is the subject of our last chapter.
Notes
1. John Stott, Romans: God’s Good News for the World (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1994), p. 187.
2. R. E. Nixon, “Matthew,” The New Bible Commentary: Revised (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1970), p. 837.
- Show quoted text -
Published by Regal Books, www.regalbooks.com. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Chapter 11 - The Prayer Action Plan
(Step 6 in the Setting Your Church Free Event)
The conclusion of the Setting Your Church Free event is summarized in the Prayer Action Plan. Hopefully, the group has now heard from God through His conviction and guidance as discerned by the leadership. The leadership is now in a better position to focus their prayers and make plans for action. From the patterns that have emerged, they should know what they need to confess and renounce. However, turning away from that which is sinful and unfruitful is not enough. In keeping with the spirit of repentance, the leadership also must announce their decisions, claim their resources in Christ and affirm the promises of God. The final step is to overcome strategically that which is wrong and advance that which is right.
In 1 and 2 Chronicles and the book of Psalms, the emphasis is upon God’s splendor rather than the splendor of nations, royalty or creation. The Lord is robed with splendor and majesty, and He calls us to worship Him in Spirit and in truth.
Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and glory are in his sanctuary. Ascribe to the Lord, O families of nations, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength. Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; bring an offering and come into his courts. Worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness; tremble before him, all the earth (Ps. 96:6-9, emphasis added).
God is calling the “families of nations” and “all the earth” to ascribe to the Lord the glory due His name. This is not for the nation of Israel alone, but for God’s people everywhere. God intended for Israel to serve as a magnet to draw others to Himself, and Christ commissioned the Church to take His message to all the nations.
Display of Splendor
It is God’s intent to display His splendor among all the nations by means of His people. To glorify God means to manifest His presence, and this can only happen in churches and in children of God who are living in a righteous relationship with Him. Perhaps this is why the seven churches of Revelation are pictured as lampstands. They hold the true light that gives light to everyone (see John 1:4,9). They radiate the splendor of God’s glory. “For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ” (2 Cor. 4:6). Liberated churches fulfill God’s eternal purposes of revealing His glory and displaying His splendor.
Surely you will summon nations you know not, and nations that do not know you will hasten to you, because of the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, for he has endowed you with splendor (Isa. 55:5, emphasis added).
Then will all your people be righteous and they will possess the land forever. They are the shoot I have planted, the work of my hands, for the display of my splendor (Isa. 60:21, emphasis added).
And provide for those who grieve in Zion—to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor (Isa. 61:3, emphasis added).
Some of this prophecy will be fulfilled when Christ comes again and gathers His people to Himself, but are we not called to glorify God in our bodies and in His Body, the Church? Where is the church that God has endowed with splendor? Where are the people who glorify God in their bodies? Could it not be your church? Could it not be your people? Don’t you want the presence of the Lord to be glorified in you and your church?
Jesus said, “Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven” (Matt. 5:16). Does the goal of displaying God’s splendor in your church and your community seem too high too reach in this adulterous generation in which we live? What is our witness if God isn’t glorified, if there is no change taking place for the better in our people, if church is little more than a social gathering of like-minded people? If there is no vision of God being glorified in your church, the people will perish.
Listen to the Lord of Splendor
The Lord Jesus gave some sharp commands to His churches in Revelation about their weaknesses, memories, corporate sins and evil attacks. Let’s review His commands before we consider our response:
• Ephesus Remember, repent
• Smyrna Be faithful
• Pergamum Repent
• Thyatira Hold on
• Sardis Wake up; strengthen what remains, remember, obey, repent
• Philadelphia Hold on
• Laodicea Be earnest, repent
The Prayer Action Plan is our response to these commands. It makes four declarations: “We renounce . . . ”; “We announce . . . ”; “We affirm . . . ”; and “We will . . . ” These declarations constitute our response to what our leaders have discerned from God’s guidance, as follows:
• We renounce is our response to Christ’s command, “Repent.”
• We announce is our response to Christ’s command, “Remember.”
• We affirm is our response to Christ’s command, “Hold on.”
• We will is our response to Christ’s command, “Obey.”
It is important that all the church leaders know what they are doing in the Prayer Action Plan. Let’s examine these four commands and our responses.
Repent and Renounce
Again and again, Jesus commands His churches to repent. No playing politics. No delays. No excuses. It is time to change and it is time to change now. Jesus wants decisive action. He shouts, “Stop! Don’t do that anymore! Change your attitude! Change your lifestyle!” He wants His churches to make a clean break with their personal and corporate sins.
What you have discerned does not require six committees bogged down for a year resulting in a two-inch-thick environmental impact report on your church. Jesus is talking about sin, which is offensive to Him and damaging to His people. He wants His churches to abandon their sinful ways right now.
We respond by renouncing that which displeases God. We plead guilty and openly admit that we are and have been wrong—but we do more. We repudiate, reject, disown and disavow any and all sin. We don’t rationalize or defend ourselves. We change our thinking and change our ways.
“We Renouce . . . “
“I renounce you, Satan, and all your works and all your ways” is one of the oldest declarations of the Church. It is in the Book of Common Prayer as part of the baptismal ritual, and many liturgical churches still use it. Just choosing to believe the truth is not enough if we are still holding on to past practices and beliefs. Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 4:1-2:
Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we received mercy, we do not lose heart, but we have renounced the things hidden because of shame, not walking in craftiness or adulterating the word of God, but by the manifestation of truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God (NASB).
What do churches renounce in the Setting Your Church Free process? The following is a representative list taken from various churches, again using their own wording:
• We renounce complacency and contentment.
• We renounce a critical and judgmental spirit.
• We renounce our passivity in spiritual disciplines.
• We renounce gossip and pettiness.
• We renounce moral failure.
• We renounce factions in the church that separate us from the love and unity of Christ.
• We renounce lukewarmness and weariness in doing the Lord’s work.
• We renounce our distrust of God’s chosen and faithful leaders.
• We renounce our sinful pride that keeps us from confessing our sins and receiving salvation and healing.
• We renounce our poor stewardship of time, talent and treasures.
• We renounce our selfish pride that says “We’re good enough.”
• We renounce our self-focus that produces apathy to the lost.
Although church leaders most often renounce corporate sins, many do not stop there. Some renounce Satan’s attacks, painful memories and weaknesses. The following are more examples:
• We renounce attacks of the devil in stimulating doubts and disagreements.
• We renounce ungodly values that the world imposes on our families.
• We renounce the spirit of darkness and heaviness that seeks to destroy our church.
• We renounce the spirit of fear that paralyzes open sharing, involvement, service and evangelism.
• We renounce attacks on leadership.
• We renounce any footholds gained by the evil one through past hurts and traumas.
• We renounce the spirit of criticism that divides rather than unites.
• We renounce Satan’s use of discouragement as a tool against us.
• We renounce a spirit of division and defeat.
• We renounce the “destroyer” spirit and all his attacks on our church and community.
Keeping the “repent and renounce” declaration in mind, let’s turn to the second response to Christ’s commands. He commands us to remember, and we respond by announcing the riches we have in Christ.
Remember and Announce
It is our fallen human nature to be absorbed in our problems instead of being conscious of Christ’s presence and power. We tend to be problem-centered instead of solution-centered. We must keep in mind who we are in Christ, what He has done on our behalf, and the spiritual power and authority we have to do His will. This is more than a mental exercise; it is a spiritual discipline. It is affirming every day our God-given riches in Christ. John Stott wrote:
So, in practice we should constantly be reminding ourselves who we are. We need to learn to talk to ourselves, and ask ourselves questions: “Don’t you know? Don’t you know the meaning of your conversion and baptism? Don’t you know that you have been united to Christ in His death and resurrection? Don’t you know that you have been enslaved to God and have committed yourself to His obedience? Don’t you know these things? Don’t you know who you are?” We must go on pressing ourselves with such questions, until we reply to ourselves: “Yes, I do know who I am, a new person in Christ, and by the grace of God I shall live accordingly.”1
We respond to Christ’s call to remember by announcing our resources in Christ, declaring them together. In so doing, we focus on our riches in Christ rather than on our poverty without Him. We recall our position in Christ rather than the pain from our past. We claim our resources in Christ, rather than relying on our own strength and resources. We proclaim the positive biblical opposite of what we renounced. To illustrate, let’s look at part of our former list, along with the positive biblical opposites. Again, these are actual declarations from real churches.
• We renounce complacency and contentment.
• We announce that in Christ we have vision, boldness, freedom and confidence.
• We renounce a critical and judgmental spirit.
• We announce that in Christ we have love and acceptance for one another.
• We renounce our passivity in spiritual disciplines.
• We announce that in Christ we have spiritual hunger for intimacy with God.
• We renounce gossip and pettiness.
• We announce that in Christ we have the Holy Spirit who brings unity.
• We renounce moral failure.
• We announce that in Christ we have moral fidelity.
• We renounce factions in the church that separate us from the love and unity of Christ.
• We announce that we are one in Christ Jesus.
With the renounce and announce pattern in mind, we are now ready to consider the third declaration. Jesus commands us to hold on, and we respond by saying, “We affirm.” What we announce focuses on our resources in Christ; what we affirm focuses on God’s promises. In the affirmations, we look for biblical and motivational truths that encourage us to use the riches we have in Christ.
Hold on and Affirm
Affirming the living truth of the gospel helps us to appropriate the promises of God. We hold on so we can hold up. When life is tough, we hold on to what Christ has given us so that we can hold up under the crushing burden of hard times. When life is easy, we must resist turning loose of our riches for the glitter of a cheap substitute. Whatever happens, hold on and keep standing firm in your faith!
Another closely related command from Christ is “Be earnest” (Rev. 3:19) or “Be zealous” (NASB). Motivated Christians are passionate as well as disciplined. They are obedient, steadfast in their faith, enthusiastic about Jesus, glowing with the Holy Spirit and sincere in worship. Hold on to what you know to be true and affirm what motivates you to use your God-given resources for Christ.
Let’s consider some of our declarations with the affirmation statement added:
• We renounce complacency and contentment.
• We announce that in Christ we have vision, boldness, freedom and confidence.
• We affirm that we are children of God and have all His resources (see John 1:12; Rom. 8:16-17; 2 Cor. 5:17; Gal. 3:26-29).
• We renounce a critical and judgmental spirit.
• We announce that in Christ we have love and acceptance for one another.
• We affirm that Christ brings unity and peace among us (see 1 Cor. 12:12-13; Eph. 4:3; Phil. 2:1-2).
• We renounce our passivity in spiritual disciplines.
• We announce that in Christ we have spiritual hunger for intimacy with God.
• We affirm that we were created for fellowship with God (see 1 John 1:3,7).
• We renounce gossip and pettiness.
• We announce that in Christ we have the Holy Spirit who brings unity.
• We affirm that Christ can teach us to bridle our tongues and show us how to resolve problems (see Matt. 18:15-17; Eph. 4:29; Jas. 1:26)
The announce and affirm declarations can be easily intertwined. We have found it helpful to keep the “we affirm” statements centered on the promises of Scripture. Here are a couple of examples:
• We renounce acting independently of God.
• We announce that in Christ we have God and all His resources.
• We affirm that we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us (see Phil. 4:13).
• We renounce our lack of commitment to and practice of spiritual disciplines.
• We announce that in Christ we have continual opportunity to commune with God.
• We affirm that Christ is knocking at our heart’s door, longing for intimacy with us (see Rev. 3:20).
The Will to Obey
With the first three declarations in mind—renounce, announce, affirm—we are ready for the fourth. Jesus does not give us orders and commands without expecting us to obey them.
A pastor asked his junior and senior high school youth to be aware of his vocabulary while he was preaching. He was asking for honest feedback because he did not want to use words that were out of date or that did not communicate his meaning. After listening for some time, the youth reported that “obey” was not a word in their regular vocabulary. Living under the grace of God doesn’t negate our need to obey.
The Prayer Action Plan calls for prayer plus action. In response to Christ’s call to obey, we respond that we will do what He desires. Notice that each of the declarations are connected. When you are completing the “we will” stage, start by looking back at what was renounced in the first declaration. In light of that renunciation, what does Jesus want us to do to obey Him?
What action can we take to counter the corporate sins or spiritual attacks that we have renounced?
Consider our examples once more with the fourth action step added:
• We renounce complacency and contentment.
• We announce that in Christ we have vision, boldness, freedom and confidence.
• We affirm that we are children of God and have all His resources.
• We will step out in faith from our comfort zone.
• We renounce a critical and judgmental spirit.
• We announce that in Christ we have love and acceptance for one another.
• We affirm that Christ brings unity and peace among us.
• We will accept our differences as strengths.
• We renounce our passivity in spiritual disciplines.
• We announce that in Christ we have spiritual hunger for intimacy with God.
• We affirm that we were created for fellowship with God.
• We will teach, preach and regularly practice the spiritual disciplines.
• We renounce gossip and pettiness.
• We announce that in Christ we have the Holy Spirit who brings unity.
• We affirm that Christ can bridle our tongues and show us how to resolve problems.
• We will speak the truth in love.
Step 6 of the Setting Your Church Free Procedure
The Prayer Action Plan (step 6) synthesizes the information gathered in the earlier steps and condenses them in a one-page format. The facilitator should place four large sheets of paper side by side on the wall. All of the previous sheets should be visible as well. On the first sheet, the facilitator should write “We renounce . . . ” On the next three sheets he or she should jot down in order “We announce . . . ”, “We affirm . . . ”, and “We will. . . ” The group is now ready to combine everything discerned so far in short, summary declarations.
The facilitator will next briefly review what the group is summarizing.
1. We will want to renounce the evil (attacks, corporate sins, conflicts, weaknesses). For example, “We renounce division among us.”
2. We will announce the positive biblical opposite of what we renounced, worded in terms of our resources in Christ. For example, “We announce that in Christ we have the unity of the Spirit.”
3. We will affirm in emotional language a scriptural promise or truth that encourages and motivates us in regard to the same item. For example, “We affirm that in the depths of our hearts we are all one in Christ Jesus” (see Gal. 3:26-28).
4. We will commit to an action step that we will take. For example, “We will talk to the right person in the right spirit when conflicts arise.”
The first item on the list should be worked out following the order of “We renounce,” “We announce,” “We affirm” and “We will.” The group can then go on to the next item, and so on.
The goal is to make the shortest list possible without leaving out any major weaknesses, sins and spiritual attacks that were discerned by the leadership. This list, along with the greatest strengths of the church, becomes the Prayer Action Plan. (See appendix B for an example.) The process should begin with group prayer, followed by quiet contemplation in which each individual asks for the Holy Spirit’s guidance, discernment, sense of unity and the right words for the Prayer Action Plan. Fatigue may be a factor by now, so the group should call upon God for divine energy and wisdom to make sense out of all the lists on the sheets.
Making Sense of It
By this time in the Setting Your Church Free day (or evening by now), the task of making a clear summary will seem challenging. Be encouraged. In our experience, every group has come up with an intelligible Prayer Action Plan. The facilitator and some key leaders may take the initiative in suggesting wording, yet it is important to seek mutual agreement for how to word the items.
This part of the process is extremely valuable to the participants, capturing on paper the sense of discovery as the group interacts with one another. Creating an environment for honest communication is a valuable experience for church leadership. Many are relieved that these issues are now out on the table. What is helpful is that the group neither argues nor problem solves, but simply comes to consensus. For one participant, this feature of the seminar was the most helpful:
My best memory from the hours the elders and pastors spent together was all the communication that finally took place. The people need an opportunity to communicate instead of gossip to share their feelings. It was difficult to talk about some issues, but they needed to be brought up! I believe a lot of people felt good about finally being able to share their feelings. I’ve always known how important communication is, but I really didn’t realize how important it is to set an environment for people to be able to talk. It is important to help people feel free to open up. I will try to be aware of this now!
The typical group will discard some suggestions and modify many others. What they state will fit the theology, concerns and style of their own church, because they, not the facilitator, will be discerning the declarations. Each list is unique, stated in a way that only the specific church and group of leaders can describe. Group participation enhances a sense of ownership and unity.
When the process lags, the facilitator may ask, “Is there any other major theme that we have not addressed?” or “What else do you see?” or “Do we have it?” It is not necessary to cover every item on the sheets from previous steps, but rather the major patterns that have emerged. There are usually five to eight items for each of the four declarations.
Binding and Loosing
When the declarations are finished, the group should stand and position themselves so that they can read the four sheets. They should then hold hands and pray the Prayer Action Plan aloud. This prayer is essential. All the authority of heaven stands behind church leaders who fully agree and unite in prayer about a matter that they discern in the presence of God.
When they declare it together, they are exercising the power of binding and loosing:
I [Jesus] will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven (Matt. 16:19, NASB).
Binding and loosing is not manipulating God or making up our minds about something whereby God must respond to us. The New International Version and most other modern translations of the Bible often have a footnote indicating an “alternative reading” of this passage that agrees with the New American Standard translation quoted above. Look carefully at the wording again: “Whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven” (emphasis added). The task of church leaders is to discern what has already been bound or loosed in heaven and then announce it on Earth. In the Prayer Action Plan, we bind by renouncing and loose by announcing. We never ask the Lord to capitulate to our will; we gladly surrender to His will.
The above verse in Matthew follows Peter’s declaration that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God (see Matt. 16:16). In response, Jesus promises, “I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it” (Matt. 16:18).
R. E. Nixon writes, “The gates suggest the picture of a fortress or prison which lock in the dead and lock out their rescuers. This would imply that the church is on the offensive, and its Master will plunder the domain of Satan.”2 Note the spiritual warfare reference in this passage and in Matthew 12:29. In the Prayer Action Plan, we renounce the efforts of the “gates of Hades” to hold people captive and hinder the building of Christ’s Church. We then announce our resources in Christ by which our Lord builds His Church.
Church Discipline
The same teaching is found in Matthew 18, but the context gives instructions for church discipline. The need for church discipline may surface during the Setting Your Church Free process. We are on safe biblical grounds using our God-given authority in Christ to bind and loose (renounce and announce) what we discern as Christ’s will for our local churches.
Authorized by Christ
Let’s consider what the Church is authorized by Christ to do.
The Church has prayer authority. What we have discerned together about each issue in our Prayer Action Plan we can pray and announce with spiritual authority based on what Jesus said about two or more gathering in His name (see Matt. 18:18-20). The two or three do not decide amongst themselves what they believe or want. They collectively discern God’s will.
The Church has teaching authority. We have the God-given right and responsibility to teach and preach what we scripturally discern as Christ’s will for our church.
The Church has disciplinary authority. If we find that members, and especially leaders, of our church are living in defiance of clear scriptural teachings and we agree about our discernment of Christ’s direction for what we must do, He gives us the authority to take appropriate action within our church.
Church discipline is always a painful and touchy subject. Yet we dare not ignore what the Bible teaches. We are not to judge one another’s character, especially when we have not taken into account the plank in our own eyes (see Matt. 7:1-5). However, the Church must discipline those who are living in sin for their sake (see Matt. 18:15-17; 1 Cor. 5:3-13; 6:1-6; 1 Tim. 5:19-20). Discipline is not punishment for wrong done, nor is it retroactive. Discipline must be based on observed behavior by one or more witnesses, with the intention of helping the people live righteous lives in the future:
For they [fathers] disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but He [God] disciplines us for our good, so that we may share His holiness. All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness (Heb. 12:10-11, NASB).
If you ignore church discipline, you may suffer public scandal. Non-Christians use church sins as an excuse for rejecting Christ, and the media loves to exploit church scandals. Christian leaders falling prey to sexual abuse or financial fraud fuels the media fire. In addition, immature Christians often follow the example of fallen leaders in disobeying the Lord Jesus.
A Biblical View
For years, Neil taught biblical principles of church discipline in his seminary classes. As a denominational official, I have experienced my share of personal pain, not to mention the pain I have witnessed of others involved in disciplinary processes. Church leaders will feel the tension between protecting the church from scandal and confronting sin. The Catholic Church recently tried to do the former, but failed in the end. Secret sin on Earth is open scandal in heaven. Jesus said there is nothing concealed that will not be revealed. When Paul states that “those who continue in sin, rebuke in the presence of all, so that the rest also will be fearful of sinning” (1 Tim. 5:20, NASB), he was not being vindictive but was confronting sin in such a way so that people can have a way of resolving issues. When sin is tolerated or covered up, people can’t process the problem, and it becomes divisive in their homes and churches. The person confronted can repent, and others can forgive and learn from the experience.
Discipline is the proof of Christian love (see Heb. 12:5-11) and is essential for the health of the church. To pray passively, asking God to do what He has commanded church leadership and parents to do, is to fail in our responsibility as church leaders and as parents. The purpose of discipline is to carry out the ministry of reconciliation and to restore a Christian brother or sister caught in a sin (see Gal. 6:1). The goal is not to expose the sin, but to win back the offender and to enhance the purity of the church.
It is essential to base discipline upon prior instruction and observed behavior. If there is no standard, there is no sin. If reputable witnesses observe sinful behavior, there is no judgment taking place. The person is “caught in a sin” (see Gal. 6:1). Discipline is related to behavior, whereas judgment is related to character. When all attempts at reconciliation have failed, Scripture teaches a breaking off of fellowship, and the nature of the sin is to be told to the church (see Matt. 18:15-20; 1 Tim. 5:19-20).
Who decides when breaking this fellowship is required? Does knowledge on the part of the elders or church board constitute telling the church? A word to the wise: Always honor the procedures of your church’s polity in disciplinary matters. In a lawsuit-oriented society, following due process saves much grief. However, no church polity or lack of it can nullify the commands given to church leaders in Scripture. (In addition to the passages already cited, see 1 Thess. 5:14; 2 Thess. 3:14-15; Titus 3:9-11.)
Risking Lawsuits
Civil courts usually don’t hear cases involving internal church disputes, but they may if slander, libel, invasion of privacy or economic disaster are involved. Church discipline toward members living in defiance of Scripture raises some important questions: What is the basis of a lawsuit against a church in a discipline case? How can a church protect itself and still obey the commands of Jesus? What precautions can a church take to stay out of legal trouble? What are the limits of the law that everyone, including church leaders, must abide by?
The Bible tells us, “Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders” (Col. 4:5; also see 1 Thess. 4:12; 1 Tim. 3:7; 1 Pet. 3:16-17). People who win lawsuits against churches usually base their case on the violation of one or more sensitive legal issues, and we recommend that you confer with a Christian attorney for legal counsel. However, every church leader should be aware of the following three pitfalls:
1. Slander, libel or defamation of character is illegal. Slanderous statements are those that are untrue or that may be true but are intended to damage a person’s reputation. For the matter to be considered slander, it must be published to a third party. It is not slander or libel for the pastor, elders or the official board to confront a church member about sexual immorality or any overt sin. It is slander if they publish it to others in a way that damages the person’s reputation.
2. Invasion of privacy is illegal. This provision is difficult for churches because legitimate privacy rights are sometimes used as a cover for private sin. However, churches cannot legally take a private relationship and make it public in a harmful way. Church discipline by the pastor, elders or church board is not invasion of privacy if these standards are previously published and known by the offender. Any public censure or excommunication proceedings must use fairly general terms. All statements, written and oral, need to be prepared carefully and fall in line with Scripture and official church polity.
3. Inflicting a detrimental effect on a person’s economic status is illegal. One church took disciplinary action against a member who worked as an insurance salesman. Most of his customers were also members of the same church. The church leaders advised the people not to aid him in any way. Many of the church members dropped the insurance policies that they purchased from him, and his business declined dramatically. The man sued. The caution here is for churches not to go beyond the biblical limits of discipline. Dropping a person from membership and fellowship is legal; inflicting economic harm on that person is not.
For more information on the ministry of reconciliation, see our book Blessed Are the Peacemakers (Regal Books, 2002). This book lists the steps that can be taken to help believers be reconciled with God and each other.
Some Precautions
The following points describe what churches can do to protect themselves from a lawsuit:
1. A church can publish its standards of conduct and church discipline and communicate them to all members. The membership class is the ideal place to explain Scripture relating to church discipline. In a positive way, the leaders can explain why those in the church care so much about each other that they resolve conflict early and privately. Public discipline is a last resort that will be imposed only under the conditions stated in the church’s standards of conduct and church discipline. Disciplinary matters in the Church should never be settled in public courts (see 1 Cor. 6:1-11). Independent Christian mediation organizations often are helpful in resolving disputes between church members.
2. A church can communicate what steps of disciplinary action it may take and in what kinds of cases it will take that action (see 1 Cor. 5:1-5; 6:9-11; 2 Thess. 3:14-15; 1 Tim. 1:20; 2 Tim. 2:17-18; Rev. 2:14-16). All church staff members should be notified in writing in advance of their hiring that immediate dismissal is the consequence of sexual immorality, financial fraud or any scandalous sin. After making the basic knowledge known, it is better to act than to talk. In other words, do not make threats. The church must follow its stated polity and procedures explicitly and use due diligence. Counseling and restoration procedures should be part of the process so that the offender does not repeat the same sins in the next church.
3. A church needs to limit the number of people who are part of the process and give only general information to others. This is both gentle and wise (see Gal. 6:1; Eph. 5:15-16). Any communication with the offenders should explain the biblical basis for the actions taken and avoid anything that might be construed as slander. In most cases, it is wise to keep everything, including church minutes, out of print or in general terms. Written documents provide the kind of evidence attorneys will use in court.
Praying in Unity
Let’s return now to the Prayer Action Plan that the participants have just prayed through. In prayer, they bind what has been bound in heaven and loose what has been loosed in heaven. They have discerned Christ’s will for their church and responded in prayer.
A sense of accomplishment and joy is felt by the group as they join together in declaring their Prayer Action Plan to God. The sense of unity is what participants remember the most. One pastor wrote, “My best memory from the Setting Your Church Free seminar was the sense of unity with which everyone responded. Although each person had unique insights and comments, when it came to the big issues, there was unity and agreement, and a sense of working together.”
The Prayer Action Plan becomes a tangible way to submit to God and resist the devil on behalf of the whole church. “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (Jas. 4:7). One pastor commented, “I didn’t realize this was like a letter from Jesus. That would have added a lot of power to it!” It is helpful to think of your Prayer Action Plan as a letter from Jesus, or at the very least, think of it as your discernment of what Jesus would write in a letter to your church.
The process is eye-opening for many of the leaders. Most arrive for the event having only hazy ideas about their own corporate sins and attacks from the evil one. Now they are in unity about the actual spiritual health of their church and have a plan that calls for prayer plus action. One person wrote, “Since completing the Setting Your Church Free seminar, we have a concrete understanding of our strengths and weaknesses, areas where God is blessing and areas where the enemy has strongholds. We now have the ability to pray and work specifically to be completely free.”
Recall that each of the seven letters of Revelation contains the exhortation “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches” (Rev. 2:7,11,17,29; 3:6,13,22). Hearing with the intention of obeying is the proper idea of this passage. Little children often procrastinate or stall when their parents ask them to do something, to which the parent often responds, “Did you hear me?” The children have heard with their physical ears, but what the parent is really asking is “Are you going to obey me now?” Your heavenly Father is saying, “Did you hear Me? Are you willing to obey?” A strategy for putting the message of this book into action is the subject of our last chapter.
Notes
1. John Stott, Romans: God’s Good News for the World (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1994), p. 187.
2. R. E. Nixon, “Matthew,” The New Bible Commentary: Revised (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1970), p. 837.
- Show quoted text -
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
