Dear Friend,
Who are those prayer people up front in the sanctuary after services you might ask? Well, they are part of our spiritual family who are committed to praying for one another. Whether you desire to receive Christ, ask for prayer for a friend or family member, or seek help for some struggle you are having, the opportunity will soon exist to share your concern following services with a prayer team member.
In the next few weeks, we will be reintroducing our prayer team ministry. Each Sunday following services, prayer team members will be available in the front of the church to meet and pray with those seeking prayer. Now I know some of you may think, I'm not going forward to ask for prayer; I can do that all by myself, and I don't need anyone's help. Yes, that is true, but the Word of God commends us to pray for one another, encourage one another, lift one another up, and bear one another's burdens, and how can we do these things if we don't know how and what to pray for?
It is a Christian's responsibility to pray for one another, and the New Testament makes that very clear. James commands us "to pray for one another," and such prayer is not limited for just the sick. Repeatedly, the Apostle Paul pleads, "Brothers, pray for us" (see also 1 Thess. 5:25; 2 Thess 3:1). His letters to the churches testify of his prayers for them (Eph. 1:15-23; 2 Thess. 3:1). Even Jesus Himself asked for the prayers of Peter, James, and John in the Garden of Gethsemane (Matt. 26:38, 40-41).
I hope we will get over what some may feel to be the awkwardness of asking for prayer, admitting our needs, and seeking help from someone in the family.
Of course, you don't have to come forward for prayer. You can pray right in the pews before and after services, and I am continually encouraged when I see you doing that. I am also encouraged when I see people laying hands on someone in the Family Ministry Center and praying because in the course of their conversation someone expressed a need for prayer. When needs are expressed, pray right then for those needs. Don't wait. "May I pray for you" is the response and do it right there wherever you happen to be. Too often we say we are going to pray and then for whatever reason our commitment is forgotten.
The way to encourage people to participate in our prayer ministry is for you to periodically come forward when you have a need. If no one ever takes advantage of the opportunity to ask for prayer in an environment where prayer should be a natural response to what has taken place in worship, we will miss the opportunity of experiencing the wonderful blessing that comes when others pray with us and for us.
Remember, the tragedy of our day is not unanswered prayer-but unoffered prayer.
Yours in faith and friendship,
Pastor Tom
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