National
Pastors'
Prayer
Network
S T R A T E G I C P R A Y E R:
I D E A S & I N I T I A T I V E S
06/07/2004
Click Here for Past Updates
...Finding New Ways To Connect In Prayer
2004 Year of Prayer for Pastors
http://www.prayingpastor.com
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I N T H I S U P D A T E ...and for our prayers:
* Pastor Phil's Prayer Letter
1. NEW ROLE - THE PRAYER COACH
2. 200 PRAYER PARTNERSHIPS
3. SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT BEFORE WE PRAY...
4. BUS TOUR - DRIVE-BY PRAYER
5. TWO PRAYER SITES RECEIVE MAJOR FACE-LIFT
6. "QUOTE; UNQUOTE"
7. MORE PRAYER ON SUNDAY MORNING!
8. PRAYING FOR OUR NATION
9. MOBILIZING MARKETPLACE PRAYER
10. SUMMERTIME PRAYER STRATEGY FOR PARENTS
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* PASTOR PHIL'S PRAYER LETTER
You may have heard by now of the changes at Pray! magazine ... A financial
crunch at NavPress and the magazine has resulted in the defunding of the Church
Prayer Leaders Network (formerly the National Association of Local Church Prayer
Leaders).
Jon Graf, founding and now former Editor of Pray!, and I are convinced the CPLN
is strategic in both its purpose and its timing. We are committed to doing all
we can to keep it alive and well.
Since Pray! was subsidizing the network, the membership fees were kept low so
that everyone or any sized congregation could join. This recent and unexpected
defunding has us scrambling for additional funding.
Will you help us?
Pray, first and foremost, for God's will to be fulfilled.
Become a member @ www.prayerledaer.com
Gift a friend or pastor
Include the CPLN website in future emessages
The CPLN (and www.prayingpastor.com) have a significant role to play in the
resourcing of prayer leaders and pastors. Your help will make a difference at
this critical time,
Pastor Phil
FOLLOW PASTOR PHIL'S
MINISTRY...
Track Activity ...
http://www.nppn.org/Schedule.htm
Pray Strategically ...
http://www.nppn.org/PrayerInc/Home%20Page%20PrayerInc.htm
Support Financially ...
http://www.nppn.org/Support%20Page.htm
___________________________________________>>>
1. NEW ROLE - THE PRAYER COACH
>From:
"DBJConner" <Calledtoserve@comcast.net>
--->NPPNote: As the Prayer Movement
matures, a new role is emerging; the Prayer Coach. While a consultant analyzes
and gives recommendations, the coach focuses on mentoring and training.
BUILDING A HOUSE OF PRAYER THROUGH A PRAYER COACH
Across the United States today, more and more pastors and church leaders are
responding to the sense of urgency for meaningful prayer times that their
members are wanting; which is all part of the Lords final preparations of His
Bride, the Church, before His return.
Pastors know it requires so much more than a one-time or one-weekend
effort (prayer conference or retreat) for a church to expand their prayer
ministry to what Jesus refers to in three Gospel accounts, a house of prayer.
Such an expansion requires someone to coordinate the effort (breadth and depth)
for the church; to come along side the pastor and church leadership to help in
transitioning to a church where prayer is the engine that drives the
church as Pastor Jim Cymbala describes his Brooklyn Tabernacle Church.
To fulfill Jesus mandate, some churches are responding by seeking the help of a
Prayer Coach, who works closely--for an extended time frame-- to
fulfill this spiritual goal of the Lord for His Church. The term Prayer Coach
means that this person will maintain an ongoing relationship with the church
(according to a mutually agreed time frame) rather than just serving as a
one-time guest speaker for a prayer event sponsored by the church. A successful
Prayer Coach will often utilize many of the same leadership practices that some
of Americas great Christian Athletic (football) Coaches (Tom Landry, Joe Gibbs,
Bobby Bowden, Tom Osborne, etc.) have used to build their championship team of
individual players. The role of both types of coaches is not to
run-the-ball themselves, but rather, to teach, train, test and motivate those
who do.
Just as most championship teams did not achieve their ultimate goal in
the first or second year, the Prayer Coach will need the following perspective
and practices in their development of a House of Prayer in a local church:
1. Vision: What does a HOP Look Like and Function Like?
*Is There A Difference Between A HOP and A Church That Prays?
2. Prayer Assessment: Involvement and Impact
*Where Are We Now?
*Where Do We Want To Be In: 6-12-18-24 Months?
*How Does The Lord Want Us To Get There?
3. Development of a HOP Game Plan
*What Visible Signs of Progress Should We Look For?
4. What Resources Are Needed To Implement The Game Plan?
*People-Finances-Materials
5. Implementation of Initial Steps of The Game Plan
*Accompanied By Consistent Coaching (Teaching, Training, Testing &
Motivating)
6. Continuous Support, Encouragement, and Affirmation of the Participants
*Accompanied By Various Avenues of Accountability
(Most Coaches Know That You Have To Inspect What You Expect)
7. Perseverance To Endure Various Obstacles That Arise Along The Way
*Accompanied By Numerous Opportunities For Participants To Pray
The Prayer Coach recognizes that building a house of prayer is a process--not
an event. Therefore, he or she must diligently maintain their own
spiritual-conditioning program (I Timothy 4:8), so they are equal to the task
the Lord has called them to within His Kingdoms economy. They also understand
the parallel between building a physical sports team and building a
spiritual house of prayer. Both are built gradually with lots of practice
and both are accomplished with a team focus and effort.
___________________________________________>>>
2. 200 PRAYER
PARTNERSHIPS
>From: Thaddeus Richards <thaddeus@matthew1820.net>
Do you know where can I find a prayer partner?
If you have asked or heard this question lately, the Matthew 18:20 Prayer Group
has an answer. Following Matthew 18:20 we pray in groups of two and three.
Please visit http://matthew1820.net
to post a prayer request or join one of over 200 active prayer groups.
Your brother in Christ, Thaddeus Richards
For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there I am in the midst
of them. (Matthew 18:20)
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3. SOMETHING TO THINK
ABOUT BEFORE WE PRAY...
>From: Doug Stringer <dougstr@attglobal.net>
Following is the opening paragraph of a manuscript I wrote on "The Ten
Commandments Made Simple" a couple of years ago and am updating it in
light of the renewed focus about them: "We live in a land of
paradoxes. In one part of a city a small group meets in a neighborhood
church to learn about the spiritual import of the pomegranates on
Aaron's robe while, in an elementary school across town, the Ten
Commandments are being removed from the wall where they have resided
since 1965. On the one hand we see the human tendency toward learning
more and more about less and less, on the other, the inclination to
casually discard what previous generations have held go be of
fundamental importance. Ask any Christian concerning the meaning of
WWJD, Biblical principles of financial prosperity, or the words to their
favorite contemporary Christian song and you are apt to receive a ready
reply. Ask most to name the Ten Commandments and you are unlikely to
get a correct response. Ask them to name them in order and you are less
likely still. In this generation the search for the significant is
supplanted by the glorification of the trivial. Jesus called it
"straining at the gnats and swallowing camels."
While it is sad that praying in public is being challenged, the Ten
Commandments and the Bible (the written Word of God) is increasingly
forbidden in public squares, the question remains to those of us who
profess a faith in Christ..."Do we even pray in private? Is the
Commandments of God and the Word of God written in our hearts?
Remember, it's what we do behind close doors that determines the power
of God...or lack of it in public.
Just a thought. Blessings, Doug Stringer
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4. BUS TOUR - DRIVE-BY PRAYER
--->NPPNote: This originally
took place on Valentine's Day but can be adapted to any national or local
holiday
BAY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT BUS TOUR
This is one bus ride you don't want to miss!!!!!!!
February 14th, 2003
Cost $12.00 Per Person / Breakfast & lunch included
8:00 (a.m.) Breakfast at Chik-Fil-A 11325 Causeway Blvd., Brandon
8:45 All aboard!
9:00 Bus departs
12:30 Lunch (provided)
2:00 Buses arrive back at Chick-Fil-A
This guided scenic tour is going to be both unique and interesting. We will be
visiting and praying over some significant historic sites in Tampa Bay.
God gives a formula for the transformation of Tampa Bay in 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 I will hear from heaven, and
will forgive their sin and heal their land."
God says "if My people who are called by My name."
He doesn't say "if the president, or the congress, or the supreme court, or the
governor, or the mayor or the educators of our institutions." He says "My
people who are called by My name." What an awesome
invitation!!
Let's do it! Let's go! Let's PRAY!
If we receive your registration and money for a group of 10 people or more the
cost drops to $10.00 per person. Grown-ups only please.
For more information call Jon Buckles at 813-299-5400
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5. TWO PRAYER SITES
RECEIVE MAJOR FACE-LIFT
The NPPN and the Church Prayer Leader Network
websites have undergone substantial face-lifts making it easier and quicker to
find the archived resources you are looking for.
www.nppn.org
Not Just Pastors; More Than Prayer
www.prayerleader.com
We Know What It's Like; We've Got What You need!
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6. "QUOTE; UNQUOTE"
Have you sensed that many think prayer is a minor
necessity, like something we are obligated to quickly toss up before dinner? God
did not tell us to study the Word without ceasing, worship without ceasing, or
attend church without ceasing. He said, "pray without ceasing." As you know...
praying without ceasing fully develops our relationship with Him, filling us
with abundant life.
Brenda Mayfield <info@brendamayfield.com>
___________________________________________>>>
7. MORE PRAYER ON SUNDAY MORNING!
"One of my favorite sermon features is what we call 'point and play,'
where we emphasize each point through music.
We always do a 'point and play' message at Easter and Christmas Eve.
For example, with one Easter sermon, we divided it into five sections one for
each point and then we had a song that went with each point. So each point had
an emotional punch as well as an intellectual punch."
Rick Warren
____________________________________________>>>
8. PRAYING FOR OUR
NATION
>From: Morning By Morning <MessiahMin@aol.com>
Thank you for the blessing of our godly heritage. O, Lord, pour out Your Holy
Spirit upon our land today. Sound the shofar in the Spirit throughout every city
and state and region in our nation. Open Your heavens above us and pour out upon
us Your conviction, humility, repentance, desperation, intensity, passion, and
intercession so that we might receive Your mercy, grace, forgiveness, love,
peace, joy, guidance, blessing, and anointing. "If My people who are called by
My name humble themselves, pray, seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways,
then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land" --
2 Chronicles 7.14. Let us hear Your call and let us obey Your Word throughout
our nation this day.
For ourselves and for our nation, we confess to You Lord, that we have not
always loved You with all our heart, all our soul, all our mind, and all our
strength. We have not always loved our neighbors as ourselves. We have not
always loved ourselves as You have called us to. We confess that as sin and
wrong, as we repent of it in every form this day. Forgive us for all the ways we
have not honored You and Your Word, the ways we have focused on ourselves and
not You, the ways we have agreed with the enemy and not You. Forgive us for all
the ways we have compromised our faith and appeased the enemy of our souls and
the flesh of our sinful nature, individually and as a nation. Forgive us for our
selfishness, pride, rebellion, arrogance, hardheartedness, hardheadedness,
disobedience and independence from You. Forgive us for our judgments,
criticisms, unforgiveness, bitterness, resentment, jealousies, and insecurities.
Forgive us for our complacency, lukewarmness, compromise, irresponsibility,
laziness, gluttony, faithlessness, and mediocrity. For ourselves and for our
nation, in our generation and in every generation, as far as Your grace will go,
we lay all this down at the foot of the Cross and under the Blood of Jesus. We
repent of these things and these ways of thinking and acting and living; and we
turn to You, asking for Your mercy and Your forgiveness. Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
"But He gives all the more grace; therefore it says, 'God opposes the proud, but
give grace to the humble.' Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil,
and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you.
Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
Lament and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned into mourning and your
joy into dejection. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will exalt you" --
James 4.6-10.
Yes, Lord. Today we humble ourselves before You and submit our lives and our
nation to You. We resist the devil and command him to flee in the name of Jesus.
We draw near to You in humility and repentance, cleansing our hands and
purifying our hearts as we receive Your mercy and forgiveness. We renounce our
false security, false humility, false peace, and false joy, so that we may
receive the true security and peace and joy that You desire us to have in Jesus
Christ our Lord. Redeem us and restore us to the fullness of our destiny that we
may fulfill the plans that You have for us in these last days. Restore us to our
heritage as You free us from the curses and restore us to the blessings of God
through our obedience to You. Redeem all that has been intended and used for
evil into good. Let Your Light shine through us as a beacon of Your Light to the
nations and empower us to fulfill our apostolic anointing and destiny as "one
nation under God" and ambassador of freedom and justice, sending Your Word, Your
Truth, and Your Light throughout the world. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.
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9. MOBILIZING MARKETPLACE PRAYER
>From: "Charles P. Daugherty Sr." <prayer@inav.net>
The Downtown Prayer Group
An Affiliate of Serve The City Resource Group (Cedar Rapids, IA)
(A Mission America Coalition Partner)
Purpose:
To Seek the face of God, turn to Him, so that He might heal the land and in
everything be glorified!
Verse:
II Chronicles 7:14 and My people who are called by My name humble themselves
and pray, and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear
from heaven, will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
Who are we:
We are believers in Christ whom God has placed in the Cedar Rapids downtown
area.
Our hope is that:
1. We would be able to practice nonjudgmental and unconditional love
toward one another.
2. Together we could provide a protected, confidential environment where both
failures and successes may be shared.
3. We would be committed to getting to know one another to care for each
other.
4. We could encourage each other to strive for excellence in the workplace as
a living witness of Christ.
5. We might share the good news of salvation in Jesus Christ as the Lord
creates opportunities from our obedience and petition.
6. We would pray specifically for others in the workplace to have the same
hope we have.
7. We would fulfill Matthew 22:39 to love your neighbor as you love yourself
Basic guidelines:
Networking groups (Rotary, Exchange Club, CBN) are fine but this is not one
of them...it is a place of prayer.
This place of prayer must be protected by all of us in order for it to have
longevity. Therefore, what is shared here, stays here. Complete
confidentiality is a must.
Do not share names or ways of identifying who we are praying for if it could
harm them.
What we are centered on - our doctrine The Apostles Creed
Our time together: (all times flexible)
25 minutes: Arrival and eating in their small groups.....while sharing
also.
15 minutes: Prayer in groups of 3 to 4
8 minutes: What has the Lord done?
6 minutes: Prayer together
What about women?
We will actively seek to pray in a group for women in the downtown area, know
that Serve The City has that as part of their mission plan for 2004.
The Apostles Creed
I believe in God the
Father, Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth:
And in Jesus Christ, his only begotten Son, our Lord:
Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary:
Suffered under Pontius Pilate; was crucified, dead and buried; He descended into
Hell:
The third day he rose again from the dead:
He ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty:
From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead:
I believe in the Holy Ghost:
I believe in the holy catholic church; the communion of saints:
The forgiveness of sins:
The resurrection of the body:
And the life everlasting. Amen
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10. SUMMERTIME PRAYER
STRATEGY FOR PARENTS
>From: "Lisa Sergent" <lisasergent@ibsa.org>
>In: Illinois Baptist Online 04/28/04 edition
While the children are away, the parents will pray
By Lisa Sergent, contributing editor, Illinois Baptist
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. | Youve just arrived home and the house is unusually quiet.
The house is also unusually clean. No, you havent just entered the Twilight
Zone; the kids have gone to camp!
Now that the kids are away do you jump for joy? Do you
cry because you miss them? Maybe a little of both, but one of the best things
you can do while they are away at camp is pray for them.
In her book, Legacy of Prayer: A Spiritual Trust Fund
for the Generations, Jennifer Kennedy Dean writes, Prayer is so effective that
when our children are away from us, we can continue to parent them through our
prayers. Our prayers are more powerful even than our presence.
Students attending Illinois Baptist State Association
camps will spend time growing closer to God and further developing the talents
he gave them. If you dont already pray daily for your child, now is a good time
to start. If you do pray daily for your child, while he is away at camp is a
good time to pray specifically for him as he takes part in a life-enriching
experience.
Some specific ways you can pray include:
1. Pray for him to strengthen his relationship with
God or come to know Him if he has not yet made that decision. All IBSA camps
have Bible study and quiet times for campers along with worship times. Pray for
your child to deepen his relationship with Christ through these experiences.
Each year kids who dont know Christ as their savior come to know him through an
experience at camp. Pray that your childs heart will be prepared to meet Christ
at camp.
2. Pray for her physical needs. Campers often have
hectic schedules. Each hour of the day is planned with activities. Pray your
child will have the stamina and energy she needs for each day. Dont forget to
pray for her health, too. All IBSA camps have a nurse screen each camper for
fevers and other ailments, but viruses do have incubation periods. Campers are
active and while no one plans for an injury to happen, accidents can come about.
3. Pray for him to be discerning as he listens for
Gods voice. How many times have you heard a missionary say, I felt God calling
me into missions while I was at camp? While God may not call your child to be a
missionary, he does have a message he wants him to hear.
4. Pray for her to have wisdom. Children who are away
from their parents at camp often feel a newfound sense of independence. Pray
your child will make wise choices while she is away.
5. Pray you will be the mother or father your child
needs you to be. During this brief empty nest experience ask God to show you
what you need to do to be the best the parent for your child. You may be
struggling over an issue with your child that only God can show you how to
handle. You should keep praying this prayer long after camp is over.
In Treasures of a Grandmothers Heart, Esther Burroughs
shares some tips on how grandparents can pray for their grandchildren. Her tips
are excellent for parents, too.
Burroughs recommends praying Jeremiah 29:11 in this
manner, For I know the plans I have for (your childs name) declares the Lord.
Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. (NIV)
Not only can you insert your childs name into this
verse, but others. She also recommends inserting their names into Bible passages
like Psalm 8.
Burroughs writes, God tells us Call to me and I will
answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know (Jeremiah
33:3 NIV). If God is willing to do even more than we know, things beyond what we
can even imagine or think, then we should be praying dailyeven hourlyfor our
children and grandchildren.
While your child is away, take advantage of the quiet
time to pray earnestly for him. Before you know it, hell return and the silence
in the house will be replaced with stories from camp.
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National Pastors' Prayer Network
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___Unless clearly identified as "Personal To _____" or "Confidential" all
information and comments sent to phil@nppn.org will be considered for use
in a future NPPN Update.
___Copyright 2004. However, permission is granted to freely redistribute to
those who will partner in praying for and sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ
with everyone in our nation and beyond.
___Opinions reflect the views of each author or respondent, not the NPPN or any
other person or organization