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PRAYER STRATEGIES & INITIATIVES -
04/17/2001
...Finding New Ways To Connect In Prayer
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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I N T H I S U P D A T E
and for our prayers:
1. PASTOR PHIL'S PRAYER LETTER
2. A PRAYER FOR COMFORTABLE CHRISTIANS
3. TAKE 5: PRAY FOR A PASTOR
4. HERE'S HOPE: A SEMINARY TURNS TO PRAYER
5. PRAYER IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS
6. SAY A PRAYER ... FOR A PASTOR'S WIFE
7. 50 PASTORS ON WEB-TV
8. PRAYER MOVEMENT HITS JUVENILE FACILITY
9. BED AND PRAYERFAST
10. PRAY FOR THOSE IN AUTHORITY
11. INTRODUCING A PRAYER OF CONFESSION
12. FORTUNE 500 CEOs AND HENRY BLACKABY
13. PRAY. VOTE. PRAY HARDER!
14. BARNA: PRAYER: WORLD CLASS WEAPON
15. BALTIMORE, MD & SEATTLE, WA:
PRAYER
GATHERINGS SEEK HEALING FOR TWO CITIES
16. PRAYER MINISTRY TIPS FOR LEADERS
17. CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES NEED DAILY PRAYER
18. FOR THOSE WHO PRAY WITH EYES OPEN...
19. GREAT IDEA - WHAT DO YOU THINK?
20. VIRTUAL PRAYER FOR THE UNREACHED
21. A WAY TO PRAY FOR THE MEDIA
22. FREE PRAYER BOOK FOR
PASTORS
* Give us some FEEDBACK about this Update.....
*
HOW ABOUT YOU...YOUR PPG...YOUR CITY...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1. PASTOR PHIL'S PRAYER
LETTER
Your prayers of gratitude to the Lord on behalf of His blessings to the NPPN
are certainly welcome! He is building a team of dedicated disciples who
support this ministry:
-In prayer. Sheila Straka is leading a new but growing NPPN Prayer Team.
-On the web. Adam Shields and Chuck Straka are improving our tech
systems and making our www.nppn.org web site much more interactive (check out
the survey; make a comment; participant in our new forum).
-Behind the scenes. Pastor Joe LaCognata of the Palatine, IL PPG allows
his secretary, Terri Hallberg, to devote some of her paid time to NPPN
correspondence and Carol Karr helps out from her PC in South Elgin, IL.
Your prayers for my future are also appreciated:
-That I may finish well my work with Strategic Focus Cities. My role as
the Chicagoland Coordinator concludes this June 30th. May the pastors
and churches of the four Chicagoland Southern Baptist Associations continue to
be prayer-driven in their evangelism and church planting.
-For the Lord to provide the funding for me to continue my work of
linking the Body of Christ in Chicago while I also focus on developing the
NPPN. Up till now, the NPPN has been an unpaid, when-I-have-some-time,
volunteer position.
Giving thanks ~ Pastor Phil
___________________________________________>>>
2. A PRAYER FOR COMFORTABLE
CHRISTIANS
>From: "Terry J. Hallock" <watcong@galesburg.net>
"Lord, make me a witness today. Send the Holy
Spirit's tongues of fire upon me and then send me to the streets to share Your
name, Your love, Your Gospel and Your victory! I'm tired of being a
comfortable Christian. I want to be a radical believer! I'm tired of
being quietly religious. I ask to be made loud and bold for You! Make me a
witness Jesus. Make me a world changer. In Your holy name I pray. Amen and
Amen."
___________________________________________>>>
3. TAKE 5: PRAY FOR A PASTOR
>From: Keith Todd <ktodd@vci.net>
>By way of churchgrowthideas@yahoogroups.com
Hundreds of Pastors Leave Their Ministry Each Month
by Eric Tiansay
Groups seek to find out why so many clergy quit and provide help to dropouts
Former Nazarene pastor Michael Ross didn't know where to turn when he dropped
out after more than 20 years of ministry. Today, he's on a mission to find out
why so many pastors quit.
According to estimates by the Alban Institute in Washington, D.C., at least 17
percent of clergy suffer from stress or burnout, "The Charlotte
Observer" reported. About 1,400 ministers a year call a toll-free
hot line of the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC), which counsels ministers
through its LeaderCare program. Brooks Faulkner, a LeaderCare counselor,
estimates that nearly 100 SBC pastors leave their ministry every month.
Sunscape Ministries of Colorado, which serves clergy in crises, reported that
in all denominations nationwide, 1,600 ministers per month are terminated or
forced to resign their pulpit, "The Abilene Reporter-News" reported.
Although a sense of hurt is unavoidable for both pastor and congregation, it
is particularly traumatic for a minister who steps down, Ross said.
"I think evangelical pastors struggle the most when they leave the
ministry because they feel like the calling was for life," Ross told
"The Tennessean."
Ross runs the nonprofit Pastors Institute in Indianapolis, which is conducting
a nationwide study on the reasons disillusioned pastors leave the pulpit in
such alarming numbers. Ross is urging former ministers in 13 cities
to complete a confidential online questionnaire intended to explore their
motivation.
Besides the Pastors Institute, displaced pastors can also get help elsewhere.
Woundedshepherds.com is an online community for former pastors and their
families, featuring a chat room and message board and confidential prayer
requests. The Onesimus Project, a partnership between the Pastors Institute
and Grace Ministries, an independent congregation in Indianapolis, is a study
in how congregations can effectively minister to former pastors and
their families.
The Church of Refuge, a SBC program in Texas, offers terminated pastors and
their family a rent-free home for up to one year. Like the Pastors Institute,
another group -- sponsored by 12 denominations -- is also conducting a pastor
dropout study.
Experts say pastors leave their pastorate for a variety of reasons, including
family pressure, needing more income, burnout, disillusionment, being forced
out, discouragement and feelings of unfulfillment.
Faulkner said national research from the 1980s and 1990s revealed that the
leading cause of pastor fallout was "the control and power factor."
"Who's in charge was one that kept surfacing," said Faulkner, who
has 35 years
experience counseling embittered pastors. "The second leading cause was
lack of unity in the congregation. There's a small, but powerful minority of
members, and there are factions in the congregation. Both have to do with
who's in charge."
Ross said the expectations on the pastor by today's churchgoer are much
different than a generation ago. "Churches are doing more marketing now,
there's more pressure to perform and entertain and succeed," Ross told
"The Tennessean." "Ministers can't be entertaining enough, so
they drop out."
Ross plans to take the findings of the survey and create programs to help
ex-pastors. Ross will also share his research with denomination leaders so
they can learn more about a pastor's career that went awry.
Rev. Peter Charles Bennett, The Issachar Project
PO Box 243286, Boynton Beach, FL, 33424-3286
Voicemail: 954-461-6256
___________________________________________>>>
4. HERE'S HOPE: A SEMINARY
TURNS TO PRAYER
>From: "Crosswalk.com" <newsletters@crosswalk.com>
>By Tammi Reed Ledbetter
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (BP)--"We can make all our grand plans and after we've
made them, say to God, 'Why don't you bless these plans?' The right approach
is to say, 'Lord, what is your plan? What is your will?'"
Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary President R. Philip Roberts offered
that challenge Feb. 27 after clearing to give as much time as possible to
prayer in the early weeks of his administration. He was joined by John
Franklin, prayer consultant of LifeWay Christian Resources; Bruce Schmidt,
prayer minister at First Baptist Church of Woodstock, Ga.; and Atlanta
businessman Steve Hylan. Roberts' pastor, Johnny Hunt of Woodstock, Ga.,
opened the morning in prayer via telephone hook-up as students, staff,
faculty, and guests met in the chapel at 7:30 a.m.
Hunt noted that God would honor Roberts' commitment to make prayer a priority.
Franklin drew from Psalm 103 to describe the "upward blessing" of
consecration, as participants focused on "The Face of God."
Praying in small groups throughout the room, Franklin urged them to
"bless the Lord for all his benefits." Spontaneous prayers were
offered as:
-- a student thanked God "for being our Father and calling us to be your
children."
-- a professor praised God for his holiness that exposes his (the prof's) own
unholiness.
-- a staff member acknowledged God as provider.
-- a student thanked God for being "a faithful Shepherd."
-- an alumnus praised God "whose love endures forever."
At the regular mid-morning chapel hour Schmidt developed an emphasis on
illumination through the examination of the "outward blessing,"
referring to Numbers 6:22-26. He described the concept of a blessing as a
sovereign act of God. "It is God doing for us what we cannot do for
ourselves and through us what we cannot do by ourselves."
The daylong prayer emphasis drew to a close during an afternoon session about
the "inward blessing" as Roberts drew from 1 Chronicles 4:10 to
describe a desire for expanded influence received from "the hand of
God." Specific prayer was offered for the mission of the seminary and the
resources required to accomplish that mission.
-----------
For today's complete News Summary from ReligionToday:
http://religiontoday.crosswalk.com/CurrentNewsSummary/
News from ReligionToday is Copyright © 2000
Crosswalk.com, Inc. and its Content Providers. All rights reserved.
___________________________________________>>>
5. PRAYER IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS
>From: "Keva Harrison" <kharrison@ccci.org>
Dr. Bright spoke with Bob Reccord, President of the North American Mission
Board of the Southern Baptist Convention about the SBC's projects reaching
public school students for Christ.
BB: Bob, it is critical that we as lighthouses help bring prayer back to our
public school campuses. I understand the North American Mission Board has
developed strategies to encourage young people to penetrate their campuses
with student-led prayer.
BR: I think there's a couple of ways we're doing that, Bill. One is we, like
many others across denominational lines, strongly participate in See You At
the Pole each fall where young people gather around the flagpoles at their
school campuses and pray to Jesus Christ, pray for the administration, the
faculty and fellow students.
Secondly, we have developed a ministry of prayerwalking for parents who have
off hours, maybe in the evening some time, encouraging their local church or
churches to gather together at the school campus and take a prayerwalk around
the campus praying for their own kids by name, the principal, the
administration, and the teachers. It has been really well received. The
parents feel like, rightfully, they are having active participation in the
lives of their kids in the school.
The third thing we're doing is we have developed a ministry called, Fish The
Planet. Jesus said, "If you follow me, I'll make you to become fishers of
men," which tells us, all of us, that if we are following Christ we'll be
fishing for men for Him, and if we're not fishing for men for Him, we're not
fully following Christ. So we're encouraging students to begin student led
evangelistic and prayer groups on their campus. They have the full right under
law to do that, and we divided into a four-week cycle.
The first week is called focus week and that's where students come together
and they talk about their lifestyle, application of principles for a Bible
study and have a prayer time for fellow non-Christian classmates.
The second week is called inspiration week and it is devoted to really
inspiring kids who are Christians and in the Bible study and evangelism club.
The third is called share week and that's usually where somebody comes in from
outside or it can be one of the students to give their testimony and an
opportunity to receive Christ.
The fourth week is called hook week, an opportunity to have a fully presented
sharing of the gospel and how to follow Christ if you make that commitment. It
goes in a cycle.
There are some 56 thousand junior high and senior high campuses in America and
we're having a goal to penetrate all of those with at least one of these
fishing clubs. We're excited. We're seeing tremendous growth. Were seeing
phenomenal response as young people share with their peers how Christ is
changing their life and that is well within legal ramifications of the laws of
our land, gets around the whole Santa Fe versus Doe ruling of the Supreme
Court on prayers at football games. It has nothing to do with that and it's
absolutely within the boundaries in which the church is allowed to operate.
A special message from Dr. Bill Bright,
founder and president of Campus Crusade for Christ--
"Dear, dear friends, today we begin a forty-day
fast, beseeching our great God and Savior for national and world revival. It
may be the most important 40 days of the calendar. I encourage you to do a
forty-day fast with us, or at least a partial fast for the soul of America.
Its a matter of life and death for our country."
PrayUSA! 2001 in cooperation with PrayWORLD and Seek
God for the City encourage participation in 40 days of simultaneous prayer
with fasting for our nation and our world. You can download a free prayer
calendar from the U.S. Prayer Center <http://www.usprayercenter.org/> .
For more info on this go to www.fastingprayer.com
<http://www.fastingprayer.com>
Contents ©2000, Campus Crusade for Christ <http://www.ccci.org> .
___________________________________________>>>
6. SAY A PRAYER ... FOR A
PASTOR'S WIFE
>From: PastorsInPrayer@aol.com
March 3, 1992- As we were eating at a local cafeteria-
Marilyn described herself as a "Second Soprano." (I kept
what she wrote on a napkin.) It went something like this- "There's no
melody to stand out, very monotonous to most. Never soaring to a
soprano's breathtaking emotional height, nor reaching the amazing alto depths
of study and intellect- just filling in the gaps to cover their weaker
moments-so that harmony and balance can prevail." (Second soprano was the
part she sang for many years in a lady's trio.).
February 28, 2001-We wish to dedicate this
reflection to pastors' wives all across the land. Marilyn became a
pastor's wife at 18, the day we were married. She accepted this role
after much prayer, and as a part of marrying her preacher man. She has
always been one to work behind the scenes, exercising her gifts, including
helps and serving. In our first ministry she was Mom while I was away
four days a week in seminary. She served as church secretary (no pay)
and janitor (a few dollars a week), church organist (no pay) and all around
encourager and supporter of her husband's forgetfulness, impatience, overwork
and neglect of family. That went on for the first 11 years of ministry
in our small northwestern Ohio community.
In our last ministry of 23 years in the central city
of Ft Wayne, IN her role changed to overseeing the nursery (after we finally
found an organist). Then the Lord moved her to the door. What a door it
was, as people from all walks of life entered from the city streets. She
greeted them with a smile, and made a point of remembering to call them by
name the very next time.
The First Lady, as she is respectfully known in many
black congregations, is often one of the loneliest people in the church.
She may have no one to turn to, except the Lord. What
unsung heroines, these ladies who give their all. We could not make it
without them. They are the Lord's very special "angels" of
mercy and grace.
Fellow pastor, pray with and for your wife. You who
serve as "lay" workers pray for your pastor's wife. Then let
her know by word, letter, card how very much she means to your family
and your church.
Blessings- bob and marilyn - Pastors In Prayer
___________________________________________>>>
7. 50 PASTORS ON WEB-TV
>From: "bkeller" <bkeller@liveprayer.com>
My name is William Keller, and I am the founder of www.liveprayer.com <http://www.liveprayer.com>
. After 10 years in full-time ministry, I launched this website at noon
on August 30th, 1999 as the first non-adult website to literally broadcast
LIVE 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Our site is simple. I have over 50
pastors from various denominational backgrounds in the greater St. Petersburg
Florida area who come to our studios, sit in front our cameras, and pray for
people who have logged on from around the world. They don't preach,
don't teach, don't debate theology...just pray for people's needs. The
site is simply a place for people in their hour of need, to find a real live
Godly person that they can see and hear, pray for them and give them hope.
After just 15 months, we are already getting over 15,000 visitors a day
on the site, and sending out free Daily Devotional to over 500,000 email
accounts worldwide each morning. From those Devotionals, we receive app.
8,000 special prayer requests that my ministry team responds to in a personal
way each day. As you are aware, live streaming video eats up a lot of
bandwidth, however we make all of our ministry services available, including
the live video prayer, FREE of charge to whoever comes to our website.
Prayer is a universally accepted concept, and everyone gets to a place in
their life when they need more than the things of this world can offer. If you
have any suggestions that could help me get exposure for what we are
doing...helping people that are hurting and looking for answers in their life,
please contact me at bkeller@liveprayer.com
or 727-420-7005. I have included a link form an article that ran
recently in he St. Petersburg Times about our ministry:
http://www.sptimes.com/News/021500/Floridian/_Highway_to_Heaven.shtml
Prayers and blessings, Bill Keller
___________________________________________>>>
8. PRAYER MOVEMENT HITS
JUVENILE FACILITY
>From: "Van Mason" <getreal@rockport.heartland.net>
Dear Phil at NPPN:
This is Youth Evangelist Van Mason of Get-Real Ministries. I'm currently a
Chaplain at a juvenile facility in N.W. Missouri. The Holy Spirit
has initiated a prayer movement on our beautiful 79 acre campus. We have
planted a church on campus called " The Potter's Church ."
There are 175 young men ages 12-20. Every night at 9:30 P. M. we ( about
50 ) pray in unity for our families, staff, and fellow peers on each dorm.
This prayer movement has really caught on in the communities and churches in
our area. Our students are having angelic visitations, signs and wonders, (
miracles of hearing and sight restored ) parents being delivered from
alcoholism, fathers getting thrown in jail and starting to serve Jesus, blood
appearing on books about the Blood of Jesus. John 21:25 Somebody
Praise Him !!!
This is a GenerationX prayer initiative. Inspired by the Holy Spirit. Jesus is
coming down and visiting our students with power and authority. He said He
would " pour out His Spirit upon ALL flesh. Joel 2:28-29 " We
believe He is !! Matthew 18:19 states, Again I say to you, that if
two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done
for them by My Father in heaven. Unbelief is fleeing! It always does
where TRUE faith is present. Remember, " we walk by faith not sight.
" 2 Cor. 5:7 God is raising up worship leaders ( guitar
players and singers ) who will worship Him in spirit and in truth.
John 4:23-24 Young men who haven't played guitar ever.
Quickly !!
Prayers of faith and purity are what has always preceded any significant
move of the Holy Spirit. Jesus Christ is offering the " Kingdom of God
" one last time before He comes back for His Bride. ( Ephesians 5:26-27 )
All we have to do is reach UP and grab ahold of this Kingdom He is
offering us. Touching heaven changing earth. Remember, when God has a
purpose; He always FINDS a person. Please join us as we " Pray Thru The
9:30 P.M. Window " for GenerationX. Psalm 84:2 "
My soul longs, YES, even faints for the courts of the Lord: My heart and my
flesh cry out for the living God. " God's best to you
http://www.geocities.com/get-real-min/
___________________________________________>>>
9. BED AND PRAYERFAST
>From: "Vince DeMartino" <standbear@email.msn.com>
I saw the article in the United Prayer newsletter about pastors networked on
revival. I would like to get connected in. We have a group that meets twice a
month to stir revival and a Monday night intercession and prayer group. Our
hearts are hungry for the Lord to revive His church so she can be about the
business of spreading His life.
We are encouraging and praying for pastors and other leaders. One of our main
goals is to come along side tired and worn leaders to help revive them. Since
our daughters are grown, we have 3 empty bedrooms that we use to put up
pastors and leaders from around the States and the world. My wife , Vicky, and
I call in our 'Bed and Prayer'. We don't do breakfast very well, but we love
to pray for folks.
Attached is our mission statement so you can get a better feel for what we are
about. Feel free to pass our information to those the Lord leads you to. God
bless you in what you are doing.
Yours in Christ, Vince and Vicky DeMartino
4281 Avocado Ave, Yorba Linda, Ca 92886
714-777-2579
___________________________________________>>>
10. PRAY FOR THOSE IN
AUTHORITY
>From: Rose M. Opp <RoseOpp@pknet.org>
A Strategic Prayer Plan
Our Government:
God expects us to pray for our leaders! We are to pray that our leaders
will be capable people who fear God, trustworthy believers in Jesus Christ.
God answers the prayers of His people. In 2 Chronicles 7:14, God promises He
will heal our land if we "seek His face and turn from our wicked
ways." "Blessed is that nation whose God is the Lord."
(Psalm 33:12).
Pray for:
President of the United States: George Bush.
Vice President of the United States: Dick Cheney.
Secretary of State: Colin Powell.
Secretary of Defense: Donald Rumsfeld.
Secretary of the Treasury: Paul O'Neill.
Attorney General: John Ashcroft.
Secretary of the Interior: Gale Norton.
Secretary of Agriculture: Ann Veneman.
Secretary of Commerce: Don Evans.
Secretary of Labor: Elaine Chao.
Secretary of Transportation: Norman Mineta.
Secretary of Energy: Spencer Abraham.
Secretary of Education: Rod Paige.
Secretary of Veterans Affairs: Anthony Principi.
Secretary of Health and Human Services: Tommy Thompson.
Secretary of Housing and Urban Development: Mel Martinez.
Surgeon General: David Satcher.
Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Majority Leader of the U.S. Senate.
Minority Leaders of the Senate and House.
Cabinet Members.
Leaders of the White House Staff.
U.S. Senators, especially those from your state.
U.S. Representatives, especially those from your state.
Chaplains of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives.
U.S. Supreme Court.
All branches of the Armed Forces.
Governor of your state.
State Senators and representatives from your state.
Elected and top appointed leaders from your community:
Mayor, City and County officials, Judges,
Police and Fire departments.
Schools; teachers, administrators, and officials.
Issues for which to pray:
Wisdom and courage in decisions involving Christian issues
Government restraint in issues regarding Christian homes and families.
Wisdom regarding issues of education, prayer, etc.
The Church:
Your Pastor, Associate Pastors, Youth Leaders, Worship leaders.
Other church leaders for whom God leads you to pray:
Elders, deacons, church officers, secretaries, Sunday School
teachers, Bible study groups, nursery helpers, choir members, ushers.
Leaders of all Christian organizations:
Ask God to help to stand strong in their convictions, and to be bold in
their witness.
National events: Promise Keepers, National Day of Prayer, Concerts of Prayer,
etc.
Prisoners and Prison Ministries.
Evangelists, ministers and other leaders who speak to large audiences.
Television and radio ministers.
Those responsible for publishing of Christian materials,books,
magazines, etc.
Media:
Reflect Godly values in their coverage.
Be accurate and fair in their presentations.
Place a high value on truth and decency.
Your Family and families in general:
Blessings and prosperity.
Serve one another in love.
Be dedicated to each other.
The Fatherless:
Pray that God would burden your heart for a fatherless child.
Pray that God would lead your church to reach our to hurting children.
The Last, the Lost and the Least:
Pray for a burden for all people.
Pray that your church would become a lighthouse for the lost.
Pray that God would use you to reach the homeless, hungry and hurting.
Rose Opp, Promise Keepers
Strategic Prayer Manager
By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for
one another. John 13:35
Love is a magnet that draws believers together and unbelievers to
Christ.
___________________________________________>>>
11. INTRODUCING A PRAYER OF
CONFESSION
>From: "David R. Mains" <DavidM@helpingpastors.com>
Our guest "Soundbyte" is from Pastor Don Holmertz from Valley
Covenant Church in Stillman Valley, IL. He offers it as a possible way of
introducing a call for confessing of sins.
Another tragic school shooting, and the national blame game is stoked up once
again. Whose fault is it...cruel friends? Guns? Parents or students who didn't
take his threats seriously? Violent lyrics? As pointless as this discussion
might be, we waste just as
much time trying to justify our own rebellion against God and the Stealth-like
self-destructive habits we harbor. Let's bring our hearts to the Lord in
confession this morning.
Looking for a great preaching series? Visit:
http://www.sundaysolutions.com
___________________________________________>>>
12. FORTUNE 500 CEOs AND
HENRY BLACKABY
>From: Assistcomm@cs.com
>By Michael Ireland
According to Dr. Henry Blackaby, author of the best-selling "Experiencing
God" study series, which has now sold over 3 million copies, this is the
most biblically illiterate generation he's ever known in 40 years of ministry.
However, Blackaby, who has recently provided notes for the newly-published
"Experiencing the Word" Holman Christian Standard New Testament,
does see hope for American Christianity through his contact with the Christian
leaders of corporate America. Blackaby shared his insights into early 21st
century American Christianity at the recent National Religious Broadcasters
convention in Dallas, Texas.
Blackaby has been a pastor, missionary, college president, and member of the
executive staffs of the North American Missions Board, International Mission
Board, Southern Baptist Convention, and LifeWay Christian Resources. He is
known around the world for his emphasis on biblical revival and spiritual
awakening. He currently serves as president of Henry Blackaby Ministries.
Blackaby was privileged to be among those involved in the great Canadian
Awakening in Saskatchewan, Canada, in the early 1970s.
"My observation, after 40 years of ministry, is that this is the most
biblically-illiterate generation I've ever known," said Blackaby.
"God's people do not know the Scriptures," he said. "And
they're not guiding their lives by the Scripture -- they're guiding it by
psychology and sociology. And the world has conformed the people of God. God
intended that the people of God shape the world, and right now it's the other
way around. I would say 'Get back to the Word of God -- seriously.' You can't
spend 15 minutes a day in the word of God and make any difference at
all."
Blackaby sees hope for America in several areas. In recent months Blackaby
believes the greatest work of God is in corporate America among the CEOs of
the top Fortune 100 and Fortune 500 companies.
"I think it is the choice of God," he said. "The last great
awakening in America was in 1857 and 1858, and that was a layman's
businessman's revival in Manhattan, New York, where a lay preacher from a
Dutch Reformed Church began to ask businessmen to pray. Six came the first
night. But in six months, 30,000 businessmen in New York were praying every
lunch hour for a mighty move of God. That spread all across America,"
said Blackaby.
"In Portland, Oregon, the businesses agreed to shut down for two hours
over the lunch hour just so people could pray. Well, a million people came to
faith in Christ in one year. Ratio to population, if that happened today,
we'd be looking at 20 million people coming to faith in Christ in one year.
But it began in the business community with the businessmen -- churches did
get involved -- but it was primarily businesses," he said.
Blackaby said he is currently working with an associate reaching more than 60
CEOs of the Fortune 100 and Fortune 500 companies in America. "These are
the top businessmen, the movers and shakers," he said.
Asked if this was a departure for him, Blackaby replied: "No, because
(with) my dad being a businessman, and a godly businessman, I've always had a
heart towards the business community. But I've never seen the activity of God
this deeply in the business community as I do right now.
"When I talk to these CEOs, I tell them you've got to spend an unhurried
time with God -- do it in the morning. They said 'You don't understand how
busy we are.' I said 'You don't understand the nature of the God who wants to
meet you. Have you recently told God you don't have time?' I said 'I don't
know what time you have to get up, but you get up early enough to have an
unhurried time with God.' "
On a recent conference call among the tops CEOs, Blackaby said he was told by
one corporate leader, 'I took you seriously, and I'm getting up at 4 o'clock
in the morning. It's been the greatest time-saver I've ever known. Because
what God says to me in the early hours shapes the direction of my day; I know
what to do and what not to do.' He said 'I didn't realize that that meeting
with God was the greatest time-saver.' Then he said 'I led my first employee
to the Lord in my whole life because God gave me a direction and I began to
see Him at work.'
"I think God is calling the people of God back to His word. There is no
way we'll have revival without God's people returning to the word of God. I'm
excited about this translation," he said.
He added: "We stand one generation away from paganism. But somehow we've
got to get to the leaders. And the leaders in America are success-oriented.
They're personality-oriented. We've let the world shape the ministry too bad.
So staff goes to Disneyworld to find out how to do marketing. That's an
abomination to God."
Blackaby recalls an encounter with God when he was about nine or 10 years old,
"where He convinced me that He was God and I wasn't.
"From that day to this, I've never approached God in any other way than
that. I don't try to instruct God, I don't try to tell Him what I want Him to
do for me. He is God and I am not. And it has shaped everything I have done
and has created ahoy trembling when I open the Scripture. I'm so grateful that
God intercepted me and then kept me from a whole lot of things," Blackaby
said.
"I was very active in sports when I was a teenager -- I played basketball
against the Globetrotters and the House of David -- but I never got off
track."
___________________________________________>>>
13. PRAY. VOTE. PRAY HARDER!
>From: usapray@aol.com
>By: Gary Bergel
Have you been encountering Christians who think that
because the Lord has
seen fit to seat George W. Bush, a professing Christian, as the 43rd
President of these United States they can now relax in their prayer life? I
have, and I tell them what the Lord told me one morning, "Forget it!
Don't
even entertain that notion." I will not forget where I was standing
the day
election matters were resolved and Jesus spoke to my heart: "Gary,
now you
and My people will need to pray harder than you have ever prayed before."
Why?" I asked, wanting clarification and
direction. These additional
thoughts entered my heart and mind: "Because I have used this
election as a
plumb line in My Church and in your nation [Amos 7:8], to test and judge and
correct, believer and non-believer, to remove the remaining gray middle
ground on many issues, to take away the ?ence' that so many of even My
people prefer to try to sit on, to remove the ground of compromise, to deal
with the lukewarm. [Rev 3:15-21] I have brought most everything into a
50/50
division. But this is so that what I approve, and those I approve, might be
made evident. [1 Cor 11:19; Rev 2:2; Deut 13:1-5] What is true and what is
false will now be even more clearly exhibited. I will exhibit My Way as
distinct from the carnal ways of men, myths and demons. The conflict and
contest will be great, but the harvest will be greater still. As some of
your believing youth have already professed, I am calling My people to serve
Me in life, or in death. Grace will be issued in the hour of need. I have
purposed and set Myself in triumph; the Atonement is finished and the battle
won¨¥ut it is not yet fully proclaimed and administrated. [Col 2:15] I have
ordained that My saints cooperate with Me through obedient service and
prevailing prayer."
Just what is prevailing prayer? I would point us all
to Wesley Duewel's
modern classic, "Mighty Prevailing Prayer." You might want to
secure a copy
and use it as a textbook this year (Order IFA item #B270, $11.95 + $3.50
shipping. Credit card orders call toll-free 1-800-872-7729, or order via
secure eBookstore www.ifabooks.com) It is a solid, proven study. I also
offer a rather raw start-up definition. I see prevailing prayer as
prayer
that doesn't quit. It is prayer persistently offered through people who
understand that they are not to give God any rest until He fulfills His word
and "makes Jerusalem a praise in the earth." This is a big order,
since the
"Jerusalem" fully referenced will ultimately be the "New
Jerusalem"
descending, and the new heaven and the new earth established. (Rev 21:8)
Christ the King and His Kingdom reign fully manifest! Prevailing prayer will
not let go of God until He answers¨÷ntil He settles, resolves, finishes or
initiates a Kingdom solution to an appointed matter. It is often coupled with
fasting.
Noah Webster, in his 1828 Dictionary of the English
Language, defines "to
prevail" and "prevailing" as "stretching or straining
forward; to advance; to
gain the advantage; to gain the victory; persuading and succeeding."
Interestingly (and prophetically?), he illustrates the use of the word in the
following sentences: "The love of money and the love of power are
the
prevailing passions of men." "Saints shall assist Thee with
prevailing
prayers."
I concur with evangelist E. Stanley Jones' assessment
that people, and
nations, often spend a lot of time finding out how not to do things, how not
to live. The wreckage and pain from living "not the way" often
propels people
toward God and, if introduced or revealed, to Christ and His Kingdom…is Way.
Have you noticed that the "barometric pressure" of pain in America
has been
on the rise? If you track the workings of the Holy Spirit across the U.S. you
will see that He is teaching followers of Jesus to stop wasting energy by
negatively carping about our decadent culture, but rather to pray and study
how to more effectively present Christ cross-culturally,
neighbor-to-neighbor. There is still a great expenditure of time and energy,
but it is pro-active, no longer wastefully re-active. It is Kingdom-of-God
minded, not kingdoms-of-this-world minded. It releases the mind of Christ and
the redemptive creativity of the Holy Spirit. It also promotes an attractive
demonstration of truth.
I like evangelist Leonard Sweet's statement:
"Truth is not a possession
you wield but a life you yield."
IFA's new eBookstore offers 175 titles and secure ordering:
http://www.ifabooks.com
Intercessors For America
PO Box 4477 Leesburg, VA 20177
Tel: 703-777-0003 Fax: 703-777-2324
___________________________________________>>>
14. BARNA: PRAYER: WORLD
CLASS WEAPON
>From: Marc van der Woude <MarcvanderWoude@XC.Org>
"It is not enough for the pastor to pray fervently,
nor is it sufficient for a leadership team
to pray ardently on behalf of the congregation.
Until the church owns prayer as a world class weapon
in the battle against evil
and cherishes prayer
as a means of intimate
and constant communication with God,
the turn-around efforts of a body are severely limited,
if not altogether doomed to failure." - George Barna
___________________________________________>>>
15. BALTIMORE, MD &
SEATTLE, WA:
PRAYER GATHERINGS SEEK HEALING FOR TWO CITIES
>From: charisma@strang.com
In an effort to bring healing to communities rocked by recent violent
deaths, religious leaders and law enforcement and judicial officials in two
cities in the Northeast and Northwest held separate prayer gatherings this
week.
More than 100 people, including judges, lawyers, police officers and
firefighters, converged yesterday for a prayer breakfast at Zion Church in
Baltimore, Md., "The Baltimore Sun" reported. Prayers were lifted up
for
the city's salvation after another police officer was killed Monday in the
line of duty.
"It is God's desire to bless the city of Baltimore," said Bart
Pierce
pastor of the Rock City Church, the "Sun" reported. "The
heavens can be
open over this city. And I believe that our prayers together here today can
make an impact and change what's going on." Pierce prayed: "God, we
ask
that You would bring peace to this city. Lord, as Jesus stood on the bow of
a boat and declared peace to the storm, we declare peace to this city."
Meanwhile in Seattle, about 500 people gathered for a prayer vigil Sunday
at historic Pioneer Square -- site of a Mardi Gras celebration last month
where a 20-year-old man died. The prayer gathering was organized to
consecrate the spot where Kris Kime died, "The Seattle
Post-Intelligencer"
reported. "We have come to this desecrated ground to cleanse it,"
Anthony
Robinson, pastor of Plymouth Congregational Church, told the gathering.
Copyright 2001 Strang Communications Co.
___________________________________________>>>
16. PRAYER MINISTRY TIPS FOR
LEADERS
>From: "John Franklin" <jfrankl@lifeway.com>
Prayer Ministry Leadership Tips:
Why Most Prayer Groups Fall Apart
And How to Correct It
http://www.lifeway.com/discipleplus/prayldr.htm
___________________________________________>>>
17. CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES
NEED DAILY PRAYER
>From: usapray@aol.com
On average, 20 to 50 congressional committees or
sub-committees have been meeting Monday through Thursday of each week.
Twenty eight met yesterday; fifty are meeting today - they range from
Armed Services, Select Intelligence, Foreign Relations, Judiciary, Budget and
Appropriations, Education and Workforce, Science and Agriculture, Commerce,
Small Business and Transportation. IFA's recently published prayer guide
bookmark, which lists more than 120 "Top U.S. Officials" includes
the names of both the majority party chairman and the ranking minority party
member who head each congressional committee. You can download this
"Top Official" prayer guide from http://www.ifa-usapray.org, or you
can receive a free bookmark by requesting one from the IFA office. More
than 60,000 are now in circulation to help us fulfill the scriptural mandate
to pray for heads of state and "all in authority," for "good
government," and that "all might be saved and come to the knowledge
of the truth" -the expressed will of God as recorded in 1 Timothy
2:1-4. (1 John 5:14-16a)
Visit IFA's new eBookstore http://www.ifabooks.com
offering 175 titles and secure ordering.
To sign-up for this alert, contact usapray@aol.com,
call 1-800-USA-PRAY, or via Web site http://www.ifa-usapray.org
___________________________________________>>>
18. FOR THOSE WHO PRAY WITH
EYES OPEN...
>http://ChristianityToday.com/newsletter/
My 3-year-old daughter Hannah came home from Bible school and
announced that her new teacher was unusual. "He makes everyone
bow their heads and close their eyes when we pray, but then keeps
his eyes open." I asked Hannah how she would know that if her
eyes were closed. "I only close one eye at a time," she replied.
Malinda F. - Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina
From "Life In Our House," Christian
Parenting Today
Copyright (c) 2001, ChristianityToday.com, Christianity Today
International. All rights reserved.
___________________________________________>>>
19. GREAT IDEA - WHAT DO YOU THINK?
>From: John Atherton <john@resourcefoundation.org>
Just an idea for prayer summits. What if you had groups praying
for each
other ... for instance since Marin County, CA and Boise, ID are at the same
time ... what if they just prayed once each day for the other summit. It
would allow an outward focus and expand the vision beyond just that one
group...
John Atherton-Chattanooga, TN
___________________________________________>>>
20. VIRTUAL PRAYER FOR THE UNREACHED
>From: Doug <DLucas@TeamExpansion.org>
Every Thursday night at 10pm est, strategicnetwork.org and
livethecall.com have been combining chat rooms to hold a prayer meeting for
the unreached. A month ago they were praying for Turkey. Then, two weeks ago
they prayed for Afghanistan. Last week 20 people spent an hour praying for
India. Next came Kazakhstan and this week it might be Indonesia. Check out the
transcripts at: http://www.livethecall.com/index.html?a=relationships&b=chat
If you would like to participate in a prayer for a particular country or
people group, contact them at <livethecall@livethecall.com> or <nsm@strategicnetwork.org>
to let us know. (The chat rooms use Java technology; you must use a browser
able to run Java applets to use it.)
This issue of _Brigada Today_ is Copyrighted 2001. However, permission
is granted to freely redistribute these materials, including those available
through email autoresponders, provided that such redistribution is to those
who will help the Good News of Jesus Christ to reach the unreached.* To copy
or reproduce _Brigada Today_ for any other reason is illegal and is not
permitted. * When you quote or paraphrase material from Brigada, please
include this phrase: "For a free subscription to Brigada's weekly
missions publication, write <brigada-today-subscribe@yahoogroups.com> or
visit
Brigada on the web at www.brigada.org".
___________________________________________>>>
21. A WAY TO PRAY FOR THE MEDIA
>From: Lynn Wilford <tvcoach1@airmail.net>
An Urgent Call to Pray for the Journalists and Media in America.
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
This election and the subsequent difficulties related to it have birthed a
time
of great challenge, testing, and pressing. The call to pray for our
nation has never been stronger. From the voting polls to the courtrooms,
from the newsrooms to the counting rooms, there are conflicts, stress, and
confusion. In the church at large and in the Christian body, there is one
critical group that needs prayer right now - the journalism/media community.
The journalist community is our major conduit of information for the election
returns, and the way the news agencies report and communicate this information
will have both immediate and long-term impact on our nation. Just as we
have learned to pray for congress and for change in our cities, we need to
unite in prayer for the journalists across our nation. The hearts of the kings
are in the hands of the Lord.
Having worked in the news industry for the past fifteen years, I know how much
people in the news industry need prayer right ... Rather than complaints,
criticism, and curses, those of us in the industry need prayer, encouragement,
and support to do the best job possible.
The following prayer has been written to help people pray for our nation's
journalism community. It has been written to be distributed to individuals,
churches, prayer lists, pastors, intercessors, and, of course, the media.
Please feel free to distribute this to as many people as possible.
Rejoicing in the New Move of God, Lynn Wilford Scarborough
- - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Prayer for the Media
By Lynn Wilford Scarborough - November 22, 2000
Dear Father in Heaven,
You have commanded us to pray for those in authority, and we know that all
authority comes from you. We thank you for the freedom of speech and for the
incredible media/journalism systems that have blessed our nation and our
world.
Therefore, we pray for all those people involved in media and journalism in
our
nation—that they may be used for your purposes and glory.
Dear Lord, we ask that you loosen the spirit of truth, revelation, knowledge,
and discernment over our country, our leaders, and especially those in the
media. We bind the spirits of confusion, deception, lies, error, influence,
personal gain, and manipulation over the journalism in our cities, states, and
nation. Help the journalists and media leaders to make decisions based
upon
truth and public good rather than being swayed by prejudice, greed, and fear.
Father, forgive us for not praying for the journalists who make important
daily
contributions to our lives and our world. Forgive us for cursing instead of
blessing, judging instead of listening, and complaining instead of encouraging
those who are fighting for truth and justice.
We thank you for the incredible personal sacrifices made by the journalists
who
serve our desire and demand for information. Strengthen those families and
bless
the spouses and children who lose their parents and partners to the demanding
'news biz' schedule.
Heavenly Father, by your great love and mercy, to the journalists:
Restore the first love of journalism and the desire to make the world a better
place. Open their minds, hearts, and spirits to the eternal perspective.
May the responsibility and importance of their role and service to our
communities, citizens, nation, and world be affirmed to them. In times of
crisis, may their energy be restored, their wisdom multiplied, and their
discernment and grace increased.
Give courage to those who are pure of heart and give humility to those who are
not. Give strength to those who fight to produce and tell those stories
that
many don't want to hear. Encourage those who are weary and who have been
punished for fighting for truth. Open the eyes of their hearts to see the love
and truth of Christ.
Father, Your word says that we reap what we sow, and, Lord, we turn to you and
ask that You will bless the journalists in our country so that Your truth will
be heard, Your will shall be done, and Thy Kingdom come.
___________________________________________>>>
22. FREE PRAYER BOOK FOR
PASTORS
>From: Chris Cooper <chris@mappingcenter.org>
Hi Phil,
Bruce Wilkinson has given us an opportunity to bless pastors throughout
America. He has donated 10,000 copies of his powerful little book, The
Prayer of Jabez, that we can give to our pastor-friends if they will simply
go to the Mapping Center's website and request one.
If you would like to help us give these books away...
--->NPPNote: Chris, we are honored to help you and
Bruce bless our NPPN pastors! I hope our PPG Leaders and Networkers
request copies for the pastors in their group or network (1 per church,
please) ... NPPN intercessors, please order a copy for your pastor ...
That every home might be reached for Christ,
Chris Cooper, Mapping Center for Evangelism and Church Growth
- - - - - - - - - - -
Dear Pastor:
Chances are, either you've already read The Prayer of Jabez and are enjoying
its blessings in your own life -- or several people have you told you about
how The Prayer of Jabez is transforming their own prayer lives. Not only
has this been the best selling Christian book, recently it was number 3 on
the New York Times best seller list.
The Prayer of Jabez, which sells in bookstores for $9.99, is in such great
demand that each month more than one million copies are being printed.
The
Christian Bookstores are selling them out as soon as they arrive.
The focus of this little 93 page book is based on the one sentence prayer
that God honored as described in 1st Chronicles 4, 9-10:
"And Jabez called on the God of Israel saying, 'Oh, that You would bless
me
indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, ant that
You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain.'"
After having prayed this prayer for more than 30 years, Dr. Wilkinson
explains why this is the prayer that "God loves to answer" He
tells stories
that are so remarkable that there is no logical explanation other than that
God orchestrated divine appointments.
Dr. Howard Hendricks, Distinguished Professor and Chairman for Christian
Leadership at Dallas Theological Seminary says,
"If you long to live your life the way it is meant to be lived in Christ,
The Prayer of Jabez is a must read. A small book, a life-changing
message!
Highly recommended!"
Many who have read this book are now buying it by the case and giving them
to their friends. Some pastors are giving them to every member of their
church.
Even the shipping is free to send your copy of The Prayer of Jabez to you.
Also, even if you already have your own copy of The Prayer of Jabez, you may
request another copy to give away. Dr. Wilkinson simply requests that
orders from pastors be limited to one per church.
Asking for your free copy is easy. Simply click on this hot link
www.mappingcenter.org/Jabez. You will be asked to fill in your shipping
information and answer a few other questions about your church. The
Mapping
Center is covering the mailing costs to send your book to you.
I pray that the Lord will bless you indeed, enlarge your territory, keep His
hand with you and keep you from evil,
Chris Cooper, Executive Director
Mapping Center for Evangelism & Church Growth
8615 Rosehill Rd., Suite 101 Lenexa, KS 66215
(913) 438-7301 Fax (913) 438-7303
Home Office (913) 277-0709 Wireless (913) 707-8506
email: chris@mappingcenter.org
web site www. mappingcenter.org
PS: We expect the 10,000 free books to go very quickly, so please don't
delay in requesting your copy.
___________________________________________>>>
FEEDBACK:
*HOW ABOUT YOU...YOUR
PPG...YOUR CITY...
Tell us how we can give praise
and thanks for what the Lord has done ---
Tell us how we can join you in
prayer for your region ---
As The Spirit Leads You:
-->Bring These Names & Needs To The Lord
-->Distribute Them To Intercessors
-->Photocopy For The Members Of Your PPG
=============================================================
Phil Miglioratti ~ National Pastors' Prayer Network / US
1130 Randville Drive, Palatine, IL 60074
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