Archive for prayer requests

Encouraging Those Making Specific Prayer Requests

By Darryl Wilson · Comments (0)
Wednesday, April 29th, 2020
four women looking down

Relationships require trust and care. Sunday School and small groups are either built upon trusting, caring relationships or these groups become very superficial. Real relationships require more than words. Our actions speak louder than our words.

Prayer is an action that is critical for adding trust and care into our relationships with each other AND with our community. But, again, prayer is more than a promise. The promise of prayer builds trust and care when it is accompanied by two actions: praying and following up.

Prayer Requests

There are some small but important ways that we can encourage those who are making prayer requests that build care and trust in powerful ways. Consider these seven steps:

  • REQUEST: ask, How can I pray for you and your family?
  • LISTEN: listen carefully to what is shared (look them in the eye; listen beyond the words; ask clarification questions when needed)
  • WRITE: write down the request (this is more critical than you think: your memory is not as good as you think and it is a visual message to the requester about how important you believe their request is)
  • PRAY IN PERSON: ask, Do you have time for me to pray for you right now? (asking says you care about their schedule and the requests)
  • SEEK CONTACT INFO: if you don’t have contact information for the person (who might be a prospect, for instance), ask, Would you share your email, phone, or text number so I can follow up on the request in a few days?
  • PRAY ONGOING: promise to continue praying–and be faithful to do so
  • FOLLOW UP: follow up on the request in a few days (ideally in person or by phone–this makes it even more personal); contact to ask (for instance), How did your mother’s surgery go?

Prayer Really Matters

When our prayer requests with members, prospects, and the community include these seven steps, people will know several things about us:

  1. we believe in a God to whom we pray
  2. we actually believe prayer works
  3. we really care and believe prayer will help
  4. we are not just saying we will pray, we show it
  5. we don’t just care at the moment but continue to care for them as persons.

When our relationships include this kind of prayer requests and prayer, care and trust are built over time with everyone. We are drawn closer to God and to others. Our care will attract more people to our groups. Our world needs more prayer and care. Won’t you take time to ask someone how you can pray for them today?

Photo by Rosie Fraser on Unsplash

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Categories : 30 Days of Prayer
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3 Ways to Lead Your Group to Pray for Each Member

By Mark Miller · Comments (0)
Sunday, October 30th, 2016

prayerWHY IS THIS IMPORTANT? Paul wrote in Colossians 1:9: “For this reason also, since the day we heard this, we haven’t stopped praying for you.”  Every group needs a prayer strategy that encourages members to contact one another and to share special prayer concerns.

WHAT DO I DO? Here are three ways:

  1. Develop a Prayer Strategy. Three possible strategies:
    • A prayer chain. A member would contact the prayer coordinator.  The prayer coordinator would contact the first person in the chain and then the second person would contact the next person, and so on.
    • A prayer pyramid. A prayer pyramid is similar to a prayer chain. The prayer coordinator contacts the first two persons and they contact the two persons each, etc.
    • A prayer circle. The prayer coordinator enlists and maintains contact with prayer captains, who in turn enlist and maintain contact with other group members. Be sure that all group members are assigned to a prayer group.
  2. Use a Prayer Concerns Sheet. Pass it around at each group meeting. List specific concerns such as prayer for spiritual concerns, physical healing, family and friends, persons who are grieving.  Special needs and circumstances, unspoken prayer requests, other.  Email the list to each member following class.
  3. Text. Many groups use text messages to remind people to pray and to send updates on prayer requests.

A verse to remember: 1 John 5:14, “And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us.”

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Categories : 100 Small Changes, Sunday School
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