Most church leaders would say that prayer is an important to their ministry, but its fair to say that prayer is not the heartbeat of every congregation. It is tempting to begin relying on hard work, technology, or strategy rather than dependence upon God.
I'm convinced that most leaders don't do this intentionally. It's just that the pressure to produce results and the ever-present urge to do something can distract us from the true source of power in ministry.
We did go to prayer, and within a week God provided a solution that none of us had thought possible. I was humbled and reminded that prayer is the most practical thing we can do.
Here are some things you can do to elevate the place of prayer in your church.
Pray. ensure that your personal prayer life is vibrant. You can't lead others into an experience that you don't have.
Model Prayer. Make prayer a real, not ceremonial, part of your ministry. Let people see you praying at meetings, counseling sessions, and staff one-on-ones.
Teach Others How to Pray. Jesus did as much for his disciples. Teaching simple prayer techniques, preaching on prayer, or offering a small group on the practice of prayer will help others gain confidence in praying.
Pray Together. Bring back the weekly prayer meeting. Enlist a team to pray with you prior to church. Always, always, always include corporate prayer in your worship.
Celebrate Answers to Prayer. People need to hear (and share) testimonies of God's provision, healing, and help. Encourage people to report God's work in their lives, then highlight it during worship or publish it in your e-newsletter (with permission).
How does your church encourage the practice of prayer?
