Teaching your church to Pray through 21 Day of Prayer Campaigns

Charles H. Spurgeon in biography tells the story of when he was given a three-month trial preaching opportunity as a 19-year-old preacher at New Park Street Church in London, he decided that his first task was to teach his church of 80 people how to truly pray. Spurgeon said, “I can readily tell when a brother is praying, or when he is performing, or playing at prayer… Oh for a living groan!  One sigh of the soul has more power in it than half an hour’s recitation of pretty pious words!”

Pastor, are you leading your church to really pray?

A 21 Days of Prayer Campaign is an opportunity for you, as the Pastor to lead your church to a deeper level of prayer.

Why 21 Days?

The Prophet Daniel, who was deeply concerned over the spiritual condition of his people, prayed and fasted for 21 days (Daniel 10:1-3). There are certain seasons in our lives that we need to give focused attention to the spiritual needs of our family, church, and community. During the 21 Days of Prayer, you will teach your people how to truly pray to God privately and also how to petition Him publicly.

Privately and Corporately

You can teach your people how to start their day off with prayer through a 21 Days of Prayer Devotional Guide. In addition, this year we will be providing print copies or downloadable copies of our devotional guides entitled: 21 Dangerous Prayers, 21 Courageous Prayers and 21 Days of Prayer and Fasting.  Each of these has a resource page to help you plan a comprehensive campaign.

You can teach your people how to pray publicly in holding a series of prayer meetings. Some churches hold prayer meetings Monday through Friday at 6am-7am with a Saturday prayer meeting from 9am-10am. Other churches pick one morning a week and one evening a week for special corporate prayer meetings. Others will turn their regular meeting into focused times of guided prayer.

Here is a simple outline for a guided prayer session:

• • Worship: Two songs to get us God-focused
  • Devotional: Ten Minutes to get people’s hearts spurred on to pray
  • Prayer: Thirty minutes for individuals to pray alone or to pray in groups. Provide specific corporate prayer requests.
  • Commissioning Prayer: 3-5 minute pastoral prayer sending them out for the day
  • Worship: Send them out with a song on their lips and in their hearts.

This fall, we are challenging each Converge MidAmerica Pastor or church planter to lead their church through some form of a 21 Days of Prayer.  If you are planning a 21 Days of Prayer, please inform our office so that we can be praying for you and your church during the season.