A Prayer Ministry through New Lenses

by Curtis Warren, Conference Prayer Adovate Leader

"So I say to you, ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened."  -Luke 11: 9-10 

This is my humble prayer as I seek your will and way to lead in revising and expanding the prayer ministry for serving in the 21st century and beyond. "Lord, teach us to pray together without ceasing." I ask O Lord that you lift me up, show me the way, and give me the eyes of faith to follow where you lead in the spirit of Hebrews 11: 1  "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of thing not seen." Your word also says that faith without action is dead, so give me the passion for action to work diligently to accomplish our mission, In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

I celebrated my 80th birthday on January 28, 2010 and had convinced myself that this job was for someone younger and more capable. At the urging of close companions, I am stepping out on faith to make a start and in the words from a John Wesley hymn I respond knowing, "A charge to keep I have, a God to glorify, to serve the present age, my calling to fulfill. O' may it all my powers engage to do my master's will." Studying God's word, listening to his voice and 12 years of experience manning the prayer line I have this vision of the prayer ministry for the 21st century and beyond.

My vision of the prayer ministry must, as a minimum include in its focus these elements for sustained growth and longevity. The ministry should:

1. Be open to everyone' ministers, laypersons, young, old, men, women, boys, girls and all disciples of Christ.
2. Recruit from all persons comprising the body of Christ especially those involved in local church prayer groups and covenant prayer ministries.
3. Embrace, educate, and train disciples of Christ to prayer together without ceasing. (continually)
4. Seek the participation of the enormous body of called and committed disciples of Christ known as lay speakers in the United Methodist Church.
5. Foster, plan, and promote continual prayer 24 hours everyday by establishing Prayer Watches that pray for the warriors and those manning the prayer lines who are offering intercessory prayer in response to personal prayer requests.
6. Be up front and intentional in keeping prayer the number one priority in the personal spiritual life of all disciples of Christ.

To bring to reality the future vision we must begin where we are today. The minimum immediate need to offer intercessory prayer support Monday through Friday from 9am to 5pm is six volunteers for half-time operation. Ten additional volunteers are needed to staff operations at the minimum full-time level of one person per four-hour block. Ideally, to allow optimum flexibility, a total of 20 volunteers are desired to operate efficiently.

Recovery from past losses is the number one priority. Please respond to the four listed requests for the prayer center mission by selecting one or more as your personal commitment to the growth and development of the prayer ministry or state you personal commitment.

 Click here to print out a form to mail in.

• Man the prayer line at the Conference Center for a period of 1 to 4 hours, between the hours of 9am-5pm, Monday-Friday.
• Become a prayer partner with or for the active Prayer Center workers; names and phone numbers will be provided.
• Become a recruiter for the Prayer Ministry by personal encouragement of local church disciples of Christ.
• Become a home facilitator communicating by cards, letters, written prayer, poems, or email to those facing adversity and personal problems; name and requests will be supplied.