2007-08 EFCC Prayer Ministry Priorities

Over the last several months I have given considerable thought and prayer to the direction our 2007-08 EFCC Prayer Ministry should take. The previous emphasis on the House of Prayer/Prayer Driven church, the 40-Day Love To Pray (LTP) devotional material and the Lighthouse of Prayer (LHOP) initiative has been well received. We will continue to highlight these areas.

In addition, for this coming year I believe the Lord is leading us to add three new emphases: Personal Intimacy with Christ; Prayer-Driven Homes, and A Prayer Shield for Our Pastoral Staff and Their Families. One new primary prayer resource, The Joy of Prayer, will be added which will strengthen all of these areas.

These are the seven initiatives which we will emphasize for the 2007-08 year. These are positioned in order of priority because our church is only as strong as the energy of our individual prayer lives and the spiritual vitality of our homes.

1.Intimacy With Christ: Prayer-Driven Lives
Frequently as I have watched leaders struggle with their ministries, burnout and often dropout, I have been reminded of Chuck Swindoll’s analysis and conclusion to this dilemma. “Pastors and parishioners alike have often confided in me, admitting that the ‘tyranny of the urgent’ is not a theoretical issue but a very real fact of life. It leaves them feeling strung out, impatient, occasionally resentful, and even more empty. The core issue is a lack of intimacy. That best identifies the problem - an absence of intimacy with the Almighty.”

As we move through this prayer ministry year, my personal focus and that of our EFCC Prayer Ministry will be on this “intimate relationship with Christ.”

2.The Spiritual Life of Our Church Homes: Prayer-Driven Homes
At the recent Church Prayer Leaders Network (CPLN) conference in Michigan, I was challenged in a new way with the importance of prayer in our families. My purpose for attending these annual conferences is not only to seek personal refreshment but also to seek the Lord’s direction for the coming year’s prayer ministry. While the “home” was not the theme of the conference, the Lord impressed upon me that we need to give much more attention to the importance of encouraging prayer in our church homes. Our home and our children are at the forefront of spiritual warfare. We need to educate and train fathers and families to give prayer leadership in their homes—Prayer-Driven Homes. In the coming year we will try to provide resources in this area.

3.Prayer for our Pastors and Their Families: Prayer-Covered Pastoral Staff and Their Families
In the past we have emphasized the importance of praying for the pastoral staff and their families and the following story underscores this. Years ago, Dr. Paul Walker, a very well respected Church of God pastor, was flying back to his home in Atlanta. He sat next to a woman who refused the flight meal, saying, “No thank you. I’m fasting.’”

Are you a Christian?” Dr. Walker asked the lady after the flight attendant moved on.

She replied, “No, I am a witch, and the covens in Atlanta are praying for the breakup of the marriages of some influential pastors.” She named several, including Paul Walker.

We need to cease complaining about our church and pastor, and instead persist and persevere in prayer for them.

4.House of Prayer/Prayer Driven Church
“My house shall be a house of prayer for all nations,” Jesus said, (Mark 11:17). This denotes more than a few people meeting to pray once a week, but rather that everything we do as a church must be initiated and driven by prayer. We will continue encouraging this emphasis.

5.Love To Pray-40 Day Devotional
Of all the prayer resources the Prayer Ministry has provided over the years, none has brought more teaching and encouragement than the LTP series.
Still more churches are to make this a major Fall emphasis. If your church hasn’t already conducted this 8-week devotional material please pray about using it in the coming months.

In the fall a children’s version of the LTP material will be released. We will keep you posted on its development.

6.The Joy of Prayer-40 Day Devotional
Al VanderGriend, the founder of the Lighthouse of Prayer ministry and author of 40 Days Love to Pray devotional series, has written another encouraging devotional series entitled The Joy of Prayer. I believe this series will be inspirational, uplifting and enriching your prayer life. It can be used with small groups, personal devotions, Sunday School classes or one-on-one mentoring. Watch for details later this fall.

7.The Lighthouse of Prayer Ministry
A “Lighthouse of Prayer” is a cluster of two or more believers banded together to pray for, care about, and share the blessings of Christ with those who live or work nearby.” This emphasis asks for five blessings, for five neighbours, for five minutes a day, for five days a week for five weeks.

I know of no more simple way to break the church out of what is often described as a “Christian ghetto” where very few people even know non-Christians, and thereby reach out into the world where they live.

Churches are encouraged to use this five-week emphasis twice a year until praying for neighbours or people within their sphere of influence becomes a lifestyle.

Please pray with us about these seven priorities for the coming year and ask the Lord how He would have you and your church involved.

by Dr. Arvid Olson