Developing Your Prayer Team Murray and Carol Moerman

Prayer is the Battle  The stakes are eternal.  Our foe is cunning.  Human limitations are real.  God is all-powerful.  “Spiritual warfare” is not a poetic image.  There are real casualties in war.

Teambuilding Principles…  Ask God to raise up intercessors for you.  Make a list of people who... ask for prayer requests say they’ll pray for you ask if you’ve had answers to their prayers you know are people of prayer know and like you

Teambuilding Principles…  Personally invite them to join your intercession team Clarify and agree on mutual commitments Confidentiality Communication Frequency

Teambuilding Principles…  Meet team member needs for: Regular communication Hearing answers to prayer Your awareness of their special needs

Teambuilding Principles…  Pray for your intercessors  Personally “track with” intercessors to keep them active  Different means of contact are needed for different “levels” of intercessors

Personal Intercessor (I-1)  Knows you well.  Is not negatively motivated to be near you.  High trust level of both you and your spouse  Maintains confidence  Has more access to you than other intercessors  Knows the “deeper” areas of warfare

Prayer Group Intercessors (I-2)  6-10 people  Willing to meet with you as a couple – as able (weekly, monthly, when in town).  Distribute prayer lists for use between sessions.  Care for you, but probably don’t think of you daily.

Intercessors Outside Your Geographic Area (I-3)  Family and friends geographically distant  Could be located around the world.  Ideally total of 100 or more.  Communicate by newsletter or .  Lower level of awareness but larger volume of prayer

Intercessors Outside Your Geographic Area (I-3) Ask your I-3 friends if they would commit to praying:  a fixed day each week, or  a fixed day each month, or  the day they write their monthly support cheque, or  the day they receive your update or surface mail prayer letter

Disciplines to Sustain & Deepen Your Personal Prayer Life The challenges:  Not a “morning person”  Time pressures during the day.  You may not be an intercessor  Mental distractions when you pray The need:  Listening for God’s “to-do” list  Knowing our dependency  Coming afresh “heart- in-hand”

Disciplines to Sustain & Deepen Your Personal Prayer Life Survival Level:  Prayer with Spouse  Morning & evening  Monthly Prayer Group In Addition, choose one or more:  Hour a day  Day a month  Leadership Retreats  Will those you minister to/with rise above the level of your prayer life?  “I’ve seen what you can do. See now what I can do.” – the Almighty

Developing Prayer Ministries – Related to Corporate Worship:  Pre-service prayer  Sustained prayer through-out worship and preaching  Prayer for personal needs following (or during) worship

Developing Prayer Ministries – Related to Your Target Group:  Prayer Walks  Lighthouses  Top 10 Most Wanted List  Special teams for specific outreach events  Early morning, daily or weekly.  Half-nights, weekly or monthly.