Dear Friends in Christ,
“I do not cease to give thanks for you as I remember you in my prayers” (Ephesians 1:16).
In almost all of St. Paul’s New Testament letters, he begins with a standard Salutation and then launches into a Prayerful Doxology or a Prayer of Thanksgiving. Paul was wise to know that we should always begin in prayer.
Prayer is vital, and Vital Congregations are always Places of Prayer.
I was recently talking with a congregational leader about long, drawn-out, and difficult Church Council meetings. She shared, “Our meetings are always contentious and sometimes they drag on for 2 to 3 hours. This is not how I want to spend my evenings. My job is stressful enough”. I asked about the amount of time the Church Council devoted to Scripture and Prayer. The response, “With such a full agenda, there just isn’t time to add 1 more thing.” But what if that “1 more thing” (prayer) is just the thing this Church Council needs? Prayer is vital, and Vital Congregations are Places of Prayer.
Here are 5 questions to consider:
- Do all of your congregational meetings begin and end in prayer? Including the Trustees / Property Committee Meeting?
- Do you regularly pray for your pastor, deacon, and congregational leaders?
- Do you have a Prayer Team that meets regularly to pray for the joys and concerns of the congregation, community, and world?
- Do you have a Sunday morning Prayer Team that prays with the pastor and worship leaders?
- Do you promise people that you will pray for them and then follow through on that promise?
Prayer is vital, and Vital Congregations are always Places of Prayer.