Will You Pray?

Over the past few weeks I have been spending some significant time burrowing in on the topic of prayer. That digging includes looking at key scriptures on prayer, reading a book on prayer, as well as watching video sessions of a conference that focused on prayer. It has been stimulating and stirring for me and I will admit that it has already challenged me deeply to pray more and pray differently. 
 
As I started studying for this series, I also realized that the timing worked out so well, in that the prayer focus lines up with our ministry year. Many people don’t realize that September is the “beginning” of the year for our various ministries. Last Wednesday night we kicked off the fall with some leadership training that focused on the idea that we are living in a different culture where the “old maps” of ministry don’t seem to be working so well.
 
In light of both fall starting and the prayer series beginning, can I challenge you to take some extra time and pray for GREFC? I would be thrilled if many would go to the throne and ask that God walk ahead of our church family this fall. 

Here are a few requests:

• Pray that God would stir people’s hearts to serve this fall. Pray that people would recognize that they are the hands and feet to serve the body and the kingdom and that they are given gifts and talents that God wants to use. We still have some significant holes in areas of ministry.
• Pray for the various leaders and ministry teachers that are beginning to prep for the start up. Pray that God would grant wisdom, creativity and energy as they begin to prepare.
• Pray for teachers, educators and parents as kids prepare to enter the schools and learning environments. We live in a world where Satan is looking to sow confusion, to cripple biblical values and biblical truth. Our teachers and students need protection.
• Pray that our church would grow deep in our relationships with each other. You may want to read John 17 where Jesus prays for the disciples and the future church to see the depth of unity that Jesus desires for our church.
• Pray for leadership of our church – elders, executive board and staff – they need wisdom to lead well and make wise spiritual decisions for our body of believers.
• Pray that we may be salt and light in our community and neighborhoods. Wouldn’t it be great if a spiritual awaking would take place in the hearts of those that live here and the surrounding community?

There could be many more requests, but let me give one more piece of information. We have turned the extra office/conference room into a prayer room (you may want to take a peek when you get a chance.) While we will use that as a small classroom on Wednesday nights, one of the goals that we have is to begin to staff that room after each of our services on Sunday mornings so people can have a quiet, calm space to be prayed for and over. We would like to have a man and woman available to pray with those who might desire to be prayed for on Sundays. 
 
Request cards are great, but personal prayer, when the Spirit is prompting one to be prayed for, is a profound gift. So I have one more request: do you view yourself as a prayer warrior, one that can be confidential and sensitive and comfortable to pray with people and their needs and if so, would you be willing to serve in this way on Sunday mornings? If that is you, sign up at the Welcome Center and we will be in contact with you.
 
So… how about praying for GREFC these next few weeks – staff and elders would deeply covet your prayers for our church family.
 
~Pastor Ken