Prayer First

Looking Back on the Power of Prayer for Revival

2006-10-23T11:45:00.000-07:00

At the blog Historia Ecclesiastica I came across this marvelous quote:

"I WISH I HAD PRAYED MORE": JOHN SUTCLIFF AND PRAYER
In 1842, on the fiftieth anniversary of the founding of the Baptist Missionary Society, the Baptist pastor and writer, F.A. Cox, reflecting on the origins of the Society, stated:“The primary cause of the missionary excitement in [William] Carey’s mind, and its diffusion among the Northamptonshire ministers [was] ... the meeting of the Association in 1784, at Nottingham, [when] it was resolved to set apart an hour on the first Monday evening of every month, “for extraordinary prayer for revival of religion, and for the extending of Christ’s kingdom in the world.” This suggestion proceeded from the venerable [John] Sutcliff. Its simplicity and appropriateness have since recommended it to universal adoption; and copious showers of blessing from on high have been poured forth upon the churches.” [History of the Baptist Missionary Society, From 1792 to 1842 (London: T. Ward & Co./G. & J. Dyer, 1842), 1:10-11].From the vantage point of the early 1840s, Cox saw the Prayer Call of 1784—proposed by John Sutcliff for adoption by the Northamptonshire Baptist Association and centred on the need to seek revival through prayer—as pivotal in that it focused the prayers of Calvinistic Baptist churches in the Association on the nations of the world. It thus prepared the way for the emergence of the Baptist Missionary Society and the sending of Carey to India. Yet he also notes that the “universal adoption” of the concert of prayer by churches beyond the ranks of the Calvinistic Baptist denomination had led to rich times of revival, when God poured forth upon these churches “copious showers of blessing.” Later historians would describe this period of blessing as the Second Evangelical Awakening (1790-1830). Some of them, like J. Edwin Orr and Paul E.G. Cook, would concur with Cox and rightly trace the human origins of this time of revival and spiritual awakening to the adoption of the concert of prayer by the Calvinistic Baptists in 1784 [J. Edwin Orr, The Eager Feet: Evangelical Awakenings 1790-1830 (Chicago: Moody Press, 1975), 95, 191-92, 199; Paul E. G. Cook, “The Forgotten Revival” in Preaching and Revival (London: The Westminster Conference, 1984), 92].However, in one area Cox’s statement in somewhat misleading. In describing John Sutcliff as “the venerable Sutcliff” he leaves the reader with an idyllic impression of the Baptist pastor. How sobering to find that this man, who was at the heart of a prayer movement that God used to bring so much spiritual blessing to His church, also struggled when it came to prayer. When Sutcliff lay dying in 1814 he said to Fuller: “I wish I had prayed more.” For some time Fuller ruminated on this statement by his dying friend. Eventually he came to the conviction that Sutcliff did not mean that he “wished he had prayed more frequently, but more spiritually.” Then Fuller elaborated on this interpretation by applying Sutcliff’s statement to his own life:“I wish I had prayer more for the influence of the Holy Spirit; I might have enjoyed more of the power of vital godliness. I wish I had prayed more for the assistance of the Holy Spirit, in studying and preaching my sermons; I might have seen more of the blessing of God attending my ministry. I wish I had prayed more for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit to attend the labours of our friends in India; I might have witnessed more of the effects of their efforts in the conversion of the heathen. [cited J. W. Morris, Memoirs of the Life and Writings of the Rev. Andrew Fuller (London, 1816), 443].
Posted by Michael A G Haykin on Monday, October 09, 2006 at 2:12 AM Permalink

And here is the call to prayer referred to in the quote above, also from the blog of Michael Haykin:

JOHN SUTCLIFF, "THE PRAYER CALL OF 1784"
Here is the document referred to in the previous blog, John Sutcliff’s “The Prayer Call of 1784.” It is an important text in that it was central to revival coming to the Calvinistic Baptist Churches in the UK during the late eighteenth century and early nineteenth century.Upon a motion being made to the ministers and messengers of the associate Baptist churches assembled at Nottingham, respecting meetings for prayer, to bewail the low estate of religion, and earnestly implore a revival of our churches, and of the general cause of our Redeemer, and for that end to wrestle with God for the effusion of his Holy Spirit, which alone can produce the blessed effect, it was unanimously RESOLVED, to recommend to all our churches and congregations, the spending of one hour in this important exercise, on the first Monday in every calendar month.We hereby solemnly exhort all the churches in our connection, to engage heartily and perseveringly in the prosecution of this plan. And as it may be well to endeavour to keep the same hour, as a token of our unity herein, it is supposed the following scheme may suit many congregations, viz. to meet on the first Monday evening in May, June, and July, from 8 to 9. In Aug. from 7 to 8. Sept. and Oct. from 6 to 7. Nov. Dec. Jan. and Feb. from 5 to 6. March, from 6 to 7; and April, from 7 to 8. Nevertheless if this hour, or even the particular evening, should not suit in particular places, we wish our brethren to fix on one more convenient to themselves.We hope also, that as many of our brethren who live at a distance from our places of worship may not be able to attend there, that as many as are conveniently situated in a village or neighbourhood, will unite in small societies at the same time. And if any single individual should be so situated as not to be able to attend to this duty in society with others, let him retire at the appointed hour, to unite the breath of prayer in private with those who are thus engaged in a more public manner.The grand object of prayer is to be that the Holy Spirit may be poured down on our ministers and churches, that sinners may be converted, the saints edified, the interest of religion revived, and the name of God glorified. At the same time, remember, we trust you will not confine your requests to your own societies [i.e. churches]; or to your own immediate connection [i.e. denomination]; let the whole interest of the Redeemer be affectionately remembered, and the spread of the gospel to the most distant parts of the habitable globe be the object of your most fervent requests. We shall rejoice if any other Christian societies of our own or other denominations will unite with us, and do now invite them most cordially to join heart and hand in the attempt.Who can tell what the consequences of such an united effort in prayer may be! Let us plead with God the many gracious promises of His Word, which relate to the future success of His gospel. He has said, “I will yet for this be enquired of by the House of Israel to do it for them, I will increase them with men like a flock.” Ezek. xxxvi.37. Surely we have love enough for Zion to set apart one hour at a time, twelve times in a year, to seek her welfare. Attached to John Ryland, Jr., The Nature, Evidences, and Advantages, of Humility (Circular Letter of the Northamptonshire Association, 1784), 12.
Posted by Michael A G Haykin on Monday, October 09, 2006 at 2:22 AM Permalink

Thoughts on "Sick, Strange Comfort"

2006-09-07T12:14:00.000-07:00

Tim Challies blogs about Joni Eareckson Tada's chapter in a forthcoming book, Suffering and the Sovereignty of God, from Crossway. Both Challies thoughts and the excerpts from Joni are worth the read. Check out Sick, Strange Comfort, here:

http://www.challies.com/archives/002071.php#comments

Tackling Disability

2006-09-01T07:42:00.000-07:00

You see on this page that the ministry of Joni and Friends is very important to us. That's because our eldest daughter, Anna, was born with a congenital disability.

The following URL will connect you with the inspirational and wonderful story of a friend of ours, Tyler Nelsen. Tyler's folks are friends from church, and his uncle Scotty is one of my close friends from the headquarters at BGC. You'll be blessed by the story and video, so take a moment to connect. All for the glory of God!

http://www.mchenrycountysports.com/articles/2006/08/31/fall_
sports/football/video/iq_13104728.txt

Something I've asked again and again

2006-08-24T11:52:00.000-07:00

John Armstrong, through the comment of a friend, posts today about something that has bothered me for years: Why are we so hesitant to really pray in our meetings? Why do we relegate prayer to 60 seconds to start the meeting and 30 seconds to close? Here is the post from Brother Armstrong's blog:

August 18, 2006
Why Do We Find Prayer So Unimportant to Our Meetings?
A friend wrote me today and shared the following account in his letter. His comments, and the question that he poses, are worth both worth consideration by anyone who professes love for Christ and his kingdom. Here is what my friend wrote:

"The other evening I opened our board meeting with a heartfelt prayer, something that I haven’t done in a while in a board meeting context. I have shared with the other board members the passion that God has been giving me for more prayer, and that we need to set aside as much time as we can and as often as we can to pray, so as to see the hand of God move in our lives, and in the lives of those we serve. Anyhow, as our evening ended (and on time) one of the executive staff members leaned over to our director as he was about to close in prayer and stated “Hey, just make sure you don’t pull one of those ‘preacher prayers’ like our friend over here, because it’s been a long night and I am ready to go.” He smiled as he looked over at me, and one other gentleman laughed, but I did not.
Why do I share this John? I am in so many Christian gatherings and board meetings and it seems that without fail we almost always tolerate real praying. Praying, in so many settings, seems like a bookend to a meeting or seminar, period."

Are we so dull spiritually that prayer, earnest and serious prayer, is something we can dispense with or leave to professional ministers? I fear the truth of an honest answer might well reveal the paucity of our true spirituality in far too many ministry settings. Next time your group meets ask the question: "What does prayer reveal about our trust in God alone?"
*******************************************

Recently I was very blessed to hear the testimony of a church in the iron range of Minnesota regarding their prayer life. I have had the privilege to have a small part in encouraging prayer there. The pastor reported that one evidence of renewed commitment to prayer is that when groups meet, they spend a great deal of time in prayer. This was sweet music to my ears.

Ben Patterson, who wrote the wonderful book Deepening Your Conversation with God, tells of introducing an hour of prayer into the Elder meetings of his church. These meetings tended to go long, into the night. His Elders were shocked -- our meetings are already too long, and you want to add an hour of worship and prayer? But, Patterson says, as soon as they began to open their meetings with an hour of worship and prayer, the meetings got SHORTER. Why? Time with God brings so many things into focus! Our priorities are not the same.

After all, whose wisdom will most greatly impact your next committee meeting? Yours, or God's?

Thank You to Gary Clark

2006-08-10T12:27:00.000-07:00

After two years of leadership of the Prayer First Advisors, Pastor Gary Clark recently stepped down. This group helps me stay on track, advises, and was crucial in the launch of our Prayer Champions ministry.

Thank you, Gary! You were in on the gathering at Fresno where we evaluated and dreamed of a greater ministry for Prayer First. You shepherded us through the planning and launch of both the Advisors and Prayer Champions, including excellent and inspiring Champions meetings in Denver (Henry Blackaby) and St. Paul (Dee Duke). You were a great help to me these two years, and I sincerely thank you.

Now Bryan Moak will step into the Chair role. He is Executive Pastor at Berean Baptist Church, Mansfield, OH. Bryan is a superb worship leader, whose gifts have touched thousands. But he is also an excellent ministry leader, and we look forward to his help the next time our Prayer First Advisors group meets, November 30-December 1.

the power of simply praying for people

2006-08-10T11:33:00.000-07:00

In July our family pointed the old Grand Caravan toward Warm Springs, GA, and our third time at this Joni and Friends Family Retreat and fifth JAF retreat overall. We noted, but didn't take a photo, of the van passing up the 150,000 mile marker on the odometer. Despite age and scarred beauty, the old car handled Monteagle Pass in Tennessee with ease, plus every other mountain climb, and didn't even flinch in the 96 degree heat with high humidity. We did add some oil!

For the third year I served as Retreat Pastor, speaking daily to the adults and helping provide an overall theme for the week. Under the thematic banner of Amazin' Adventure: In Search of the Saviour, I took up the theme verses from Jeremiah 29, plus additional messages of Christ the Treasure, Christ the Light of the World, and God's resources for Living in the Light. My wife and two of my daughters also served, while my eldest daughter enjoyed the fellowship with so many friends and peers in the world of disability.

Also for the third year, Christa and I provided time daily for prayer ministry. An individual or couple could sign up for a time slot, and we would meet with them, listen, and pray. My point with this post is to remind you of the significant power of simply praying for people. By 'power' I don't mean power in the signs and wonders sense (though neither am I discounting that he is able to do amazing things). I mean it in the sense of the incredible impact and joy when we pray with people in need. This kind of prayer is often neglected: all too often we think of it as a clergyman's duty. Ridiculous! God has given to believers the privilege of coming to his throne of grace. All believers, not just pastors. And when we bring people in need before that throne, there is mercy and grace for their need, and there is delight in the love unleashed in doing so. Praying for folks who are hurting is a very practical means of showing the love of Christ. It is in the very doing a testimony of our faith in Christ and confidence in God's grace and help. Here is a very simple acronym I have often used to train Christians to pray for someone in need. I call it H*A*B*I*T prayer, as in "make it a habit to pray for others around you."

H -- Honor God. Begin with a simple sentence or two of praise and adortation to God for His glory. Thank him for saving you through the cross of Jesus Christ, and giving you the amazing privilege of entering his throne room to pray.

A -- Ask specifically. Bring the person's need to the throne of grace. It is critical that you listen carefully to what the person has said, so that you can pray for them specifically rather than generally. It is disappointing to pour your heart out to someone, then have them pray as if they didn't hear a single word you said.

B -- Bless. Ask God to bless them in ways other than just the specific item prayed earlier. If the person is not a Christian, pray for their spiritual life and awakening to God's grace through Jesus Christ. If you know them well and other aspects of their life, ask God's blessing. "Lord, I ask your blessing on Ted's wife and children as well. Give him wisdom in his business...etc." If you do not know them, simply ask God to pour his blessing into every aspect of life, especially their spiritual life in Jesus Christ.

I -- In Jesus' name. We come to God in prayer only because of Jesus Christ, who gave his life for us, and opened the way for us into the Holy of holies.

T -- Touch as appropriate. If it is appropriate, take the person's hand when you pray for them, or put a hand on their shoulder, whatever seems appropriate to the situation. Take care with this. We should be neither inappropriately "touchy feely" nor cold and "hands off" as if we might catch something.

More could be said on each of these. But that can be at another time. My point today is to ask you, "Do you seize on the opportunities God gives you to pray for those in need who surround you every day?" If you don't, you are missing out on a golden opportunity to communicate with God and communicate to others the love of God.

This year at Joni and Friends Retreat, we heard again reports of answered prayer from last year's prayer ministry. Praise God. He hears and answers prayer. We serve a risen Saviour.

Prayer Champions learn hard work doesn't work

2006-07-10T07:19:00.000-07:00

The following post is taken from an article written by the BGC's own Linda Pietrzak and published as a part of the recent 2006 BGC/Bethel University Fire & Reign Conference on June 27-July 1, 2006. Dee Duke lead an inspiring time of personal testimony and prayer... here is an account of the second annual Prayer Champions Day.

MORE than 100 people gathered in the Seminary Chapel Tuesday to be equipped as "prayer champions" to mobilize prayer in their churches. This second annual Prayer Champions Day, arranged by Prayer First director Dana Olson, featured Dee Duke, pastor of Jefferson Baptist Church in Jefferson, Ore. He told the audience about his journey into prioritized prayer that transformed his life and church during his 30 years as a pastor.

Duke told how God led him from his family business as a dairy farmer into the pastorate. But after a number of church splits and difficulties in ministry, he was ready to resign. It was then Duke received an invitation to a pastors prayer summit. Reluctantly, he attended. And God spoke to him very clearly, convicting him of his pride and self-sufficiency.

"I had the idea I could build the church if I just worked hard enough, if I could just find the right principles," he said. "As I sat there those four days and prayed with these other pastors, I became more and more convinced and convicted that for 13 years I had been a prayerless pastor." He returned home and confessed to the congregation his responsibility for their years of struggles as a church.

Throughout the seminar, Duke stressed the importance of making specific written prayer commitments, reviewing them daily and finding accountability partners. Duke also shared practical tips for "praying without your mind wandering" and gave some of his 21 motivating benefits of prayer, including unity, growth in love, knowledge of God, power in preaching and peace amid the pressures of life. (See April 2006 BGC•World in archives on BGC website.)

The seminar also featured Randy Swenson, pastor of First Baptist Church, in Cook, Minn., and members of the church's prayer commission. They shared how God moved them beyond a prayer "program" into a culture of authentic prayer that has born fruit in the church's outreach to the community, particularly among children and youth.

Attendees each received a copy of Duke's new book, Prayer Quest: Breaking Through to Your God-given Dreams and Destiny. Duke also extended an invitation to the annual three-day prayer seminar Jefferson Baptist hosts every January. Go to http://www.jeffersonbaptistchurch.org/ for more information. If you are interested in receiving information about serving as a "prayer champion" for your church, call Dana Olson at 1-800-323-4215 or email bigdana@aol.com.

A Great Day with Dee Duke

2006-07-06T07:41:00.000-07:00

Last week we had a great day with Dee Duke speaking at our Prayer Champions event in St. Paul. Dee has such a warm, down-to-earth way of communicating what he has learned about prayer. We gave out 116 copies of his book, Prayer Quest, free to those who registered for the day. For this post I'd like to share Dee's 12 items from chapter 9, Etiquette for Praying With Others. These would go a long way to helping dry, dull prayer meetings be more interactive and compelling.

A. Pray short prayers.

B. Pray loud enough for all to hear.

C. Don't go to sleep. (now that's a helpful suggestion!)

D. Work hard at agreeing.

E. Stay on one topic at a time.

F. Try to connect with the person who prayed before you.

G. Listen to you thoughts. --Dee actually takes notes while at prayer, hence...

H. Bring a notebook and write down ideas, thoughts, and prayers.

I. Pray silently as long as necessary, but press on to become a vocal participant.

J. Don't pray private prayer needs in larger groups.

K. Don't gossip or slander as you pray.

L. Don't preach as you pray.

Could it happen again?

2006-06-22T07:29:00.000-07:00

I have just come from a meeting I chaired of the executive committee of the Denominational Prayer Leaders Network. We were reminded that next year is the 150th anniversary of the Fulton Street Prayer Revival. You may recall the Christian business man Jeremiah Lanphier calling on those in the business world to join him for noontime prayer, and how the trickle of folks there in New York City grew into a vast river of prayer that swept the nation [see the story below]. This "laymen's prayer revival" will be commemorated in September of 2007 with a celebration in New York City, coordinated by Mac Pier of Concerts of Prayer Greater New York and Jonathan Brownson, prayer leader of the RCA denomination, and others. Our own DPLN will meet in Dallas next January and recall the prayer revival under the theme Kingdom Calling: Marketplace Prayer from Main Street to Wall Street.

This morning I simply want to ask, could it happen again? One of the great hopes of the group planning this 150th remembrance is that marketplace prayer groups will spring up all across our nation, and even around the world. There is a great emphasis today on living your faith in the marketplace. Already there are many groups, meeting over lunch in break rooms or conference rooms or nearby restaurants, opening their Bibles or bowing to pray together. What if this trickly also became a river of calling upon God?

Yes, it certainly could happen today! Why? Because God would graciously bring it about. If we try to make it happen with human effort, it will be short-lived. But if God moves, if His grace is truly behind it, nothing will stop it. And we can ask Him for it! "Lord, teach us to pray, move us to pray, make us desperate for you."

Circumstances of our time should cause us to be desperate for God. Denominations are in the news, determining to ordain openly homosexual pastors and bishops. Studies reveal that a huge percentage of evangelical young people are leaving the church after leaving home. And that perhaps half of the folks sitting in church on Sunday aren't truly born again. A war on terror is taking the lives of our brothers and sisters, sons and daughters, with a seemingly endless supply of terrorists willing to kill themselves for their cause, be it political or religious or both. A flood of pornography is leaving men without courage or will to be faithful husbands and fathers. And our culture is addicted to leisure and in love with money. The list is endless.

But God is Lord and King and Sovereign. He has his plans. Jesus Christ is Lord, and that will never be changed by the will of man. To the very end of the age, the proclamation of the gospel will bear fruit by the power of the Holy Spirit, in every tribe and language on earth. "This gospel must first be preached to all the nations (people groups), and then the end will come."

Christ is all! David Bryant reports that this message, which is the title of his outstanding book, was also being heralded in the church prior to Fulton Street, and that a vision for Christ's supremacy in fact fueled the laymen's prayer revival. David can document that; I simply believe it because the preaching and teaching of the glory of Christ would be God the Father's plan for revival and spiritual awakening.

So let us pray. Let us call upon the church to pray. To put Prayer First. Let's preach the glory of Christ and the wonder of the gospel of Christ. Be not dismayed (by the times and circumstances). God is not mocked (he is alive and well and reigning supremely). He holds history in the palm of his hand. His purposes will never be thwarted.

Here is a retelling of the Lanphier story by John Piper in a sermon:

Secular and religious conditions combined to bring about a crash. The third great panic in American history swept the giddy structure of speculative wealth away. Thousands of merchants were forced to the wall as banks failed, and railroads went into bankruptcy. Factories were shut down and vast numbers thrown out of employment. New York City alone having 30,000 idle men. In October 1857, the hearts of people were thoroughly weaned from speculation and uncertain gain, while hunger and despair stared them in the face.

On 1st July, 1857, a quiet and zealous business man named Jeremiah Lanphier took up an appointment as a City Missionary in down-town New York. Lanphier was appointed by the North Church of the Dutch Reformed denomination. This church was suffering from depletion of membership due to the removal of the population from the down-town to the better residential quarters, and the new City Missionary was engaged to make diligent visitation in the immediate neighbourhood with a view to enlisting church attendance among the floating population of the lower city. The Dutch Consistory felt that it had appointed an ideal layman for the task in hand, and so it was.

Burdened so by the need, Jeremiah Lanphier decided to invite others to join him in a noonday prayer-meeting, to be held on Wednesdays once a week. He therefore distributed a handbill:

HOW OFTEN SHALL I PRAY?
As often as the language of prayer is in my heart; as often as I see my need of help; as often as I feel the power of temptation; as often as I am made sensible of any spiritual declension or feel the aggression of a worldly spirit.
In prayer we leave the business of time for that of eternity, and intercourse with men for intercourse with God.
A day Prayer Meeting is held every Wednesday, from 12 to 1 o'clock, in the Consistory building in the rear of the North Dutch Church, corner of Fulton and William Streets (entrance from Fulton and Ann Streets).
This meeting is intended to give merchants, mechanics, clerks, strangers, and business men generally an opportunity to stop and call upon God amid the perplexities incident to their respective avocations. It will continue for one hour; but it is also designed for those who may find it inconvenient to remain more than five or ten minutes, as well as for those who can spare the whole hour.

Accordingly at twelve noon, 23rd September, 1857 the door was opened and the faithful Lanphier took his seat to await the response to his invitation …. Five minutes went by. No one appeared. The missionary paced the room in aconflict of fear and faith. Ten minutes elapsed. Still no one came. Fifteen minutes passed. Lanphier was yet alone. Twenty minutes; twenty-five; thirty; and then at 12.30 p.m., a step was heard on the stairs, and the first person appeared, then another, and another, and another, until six people were present and the prayer meeting began. On the following Wednesday, October 7th, there were forty intercessors.
Thus in the first week of October 1857, it was decided to hold a meeting daily instead of weekly.

Within six months, ten thousand business men were gathering daily for prayer in New York, and within two years, a million converts were added to the American churches ….

Undoubtedly the greatest revival in New York's colourful history was sweeping the city, and it was of such an order to make the whole nation curious. There was no fanaticism, no hysteria, simply an incredible movement of the people to pray.

Is there a Jeremiah Lanphier among you?

http://www.desiringgod.org/library/sermons/82/010382.html

Prayer Champions June 27th

2006-06-14T13:54:00.000-07:00

On June 27th our Prayer First ministry is sponsoring a day for Prayer Champions. If you are currently trying to mobilize prayer in your church, or simply have a heart for prayer in your church, you are welcome to this event. You will receive a free copy of Dee Duke's book, Prayer Quest, and Dee will share his remarkable story and insights in two sessions. Please join us from 11:00 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Seminary Chapel of Bethel University. Cost for on-site registration is only $35, and that includes the free book! Here is an article I wrote briefly sharing Dee's story. It appeared this spring in the magazine, BGC World:

“What do you mean you’re leaving?”

By Dana Olson

When Dee Duke’s father took military retirement, he purchased a dairy farm in Washington. Dee’s high school graduation dream was to be the world’s greatest dairy farmer. Prior to settling down with his dad, he decided to enter Bible college.

There, the young Duke and his wife helped a pastor start a church in the small town of Jefferson, Ore. When he finished school, Duke, his wife and kids returned to the farm. It was his great love. He also became very active in his local church — so much so that the pastor wanted to make him his assistant. This sounded terrific to Duke, dairy farming and ministry together. But at the church business meeting the proposal was defeated.

Deeply disappointed, Duke poured himself into the farm. It seemed his future lay there. Then one day the telephone rang. It was Jefferson, Ore., calling. “We don’t know if you’ve heard, but things have not gone well here. The pastor left and we’re down to just a few people. We are planning to close the church, but we thought that before we did, we would call you. If you and your wife will come back to Jefferson, we’ll keep the church open and try to make a go of it.”

Whew. A tough decision. Duke loved that farm, and plans were in place for him to take it over. But there was a pull to use his ministry training. His father advised, “Perhaps if you don’t give this a try, you’ll always regret it.” So Duke and his family packed up and moved to Jefferson.

The ministry flourished. Jefferson Baptist Church grew to 50, then 75, 100 and more. The people responded, and God blessed the work.

Then there were setbacks. The church fell into a pattern of ups and downs, growing toward 200 attendees, then falling back to 100. The church remained viable, but the peaks and valleys were starting to take a toll. The breakthrough of that 200 barrier never seemed to come. Duke finally thought he had done all he could. He prepared a resignation letter.

Before he could submit it at the next board meeting, another letter arrived. It came from Joe Aldrich, then president of Multnomah School of the Bible, inviting Duke to join other pastors from the region at the first-ever “pastors prayer summit.”

No agenda, except four days of worship and prayer. No special speakers. No planning or strategy meetings. Just prayer. This seemed impossible to Duke. How could anyone pray for four days?

But the summit would be held at a camp on the gorgeous Oregon coast, and Duke thought how nice it would be to hike the coast before resigning. He would attend some of the prayer sessions and walk the coast when bored.

It never got boring. God touched that first summit with revival. Many pastors changed dramatically — Duke was one of them. He didn’t skip a session.

Before leaving the camp, he made a list of seven prayer goals for himself and his church:

Spend one uninterrupted hour per day praying by himself.
Spend one hour per day praying with at least one other person.
Pray for everyone in the church by name weekly.
Pray at least once per month with other pastors.
Preach on prayer for three months.
Plan four major church prayer events each year (always precede a major evangelistic thrust).
Identify their “farm” (20 miles in every direction from the church). Claim it and target prayer for it.

Duke returned to JBC and shared these seven items. The congregation began the journey to become a praying church. As they did, God confronted them about their lack of love. Known today as a praying church, they are also known as the loving church, because they have constantly searched for practical ways to show love to the community.

In a town of 2200 people, JBC has an attendance of well over 1000 people and has planted two daughter churches nearby, with a third starting in September. They have extensive missions work overseas. Many prayer ministries have developed, including targeted prayer teams, an official “church intercessors” group (commit to 100 hours of prayer for the year: 50 at home and 50 at church) and more than 40 prayer meetings per week.

Their motto: “Much prayer, much blessing; little prayer, little blessing; no prayer, no blessing.”

DANA OLSON IS DIRECTOR OF BGC PRAYER FIRST MINISTRIES.

He Rides Upon the Storm

2006-06-13T07:15:00.000-07:00

Both at home and in my office we are praying much for a friend whose twentysomething son died on Sunday night. Hearing the news made my hugs and kisses of my own three daughters much more significant. So today in our chapel I will lead a hymn from long ago. The poetry of William Cowper is deeply moving, reminding us of God's greatness, from the depths of trouble. I recall also the address of John Piper on Cowper, that he was often deeply depressed and unable to rest in God's grace in His life. So, it is even more remarkable that a poet in such a gloomy state could write with such confidence and faith in God's providence. May we also have a strong confidence in God's grace and power, so that in our worst and most troubling times we will hang on to God's glory and not give way to despair.

God Moves in a Mysterious Way by William Cowper

God moves in a mysterious way His wonders to perform;
He plants His footsteps in the sea And rides upon the storm.

Deep in unfathomable mines Of never failing skill
He treasures up His bright designs And works His sovereign will.

Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take; The clouds ye so much dread
Are big with mercy and shall break In blessings on your head.

Judge not the Lord by feeble sense, But trust Him for His grace;
Behind a frowning providence He hides a smiling face.

His purposes will ripen fast, Unfolding every hour;
The bud may have a bitter taste, But sweet will be the flower.

Blind unbelief is sure to err And scan His work in vain;
God is His own interpreter, And He will make it plain.

2006-06-12T06:44:00.000-07:00

This blog is devoted to prayer. Specifically, calling the church to the priority of prayer, putting Prayer First. The name comes from Paul's letter to Timothy, in which he wrote, "First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people..." (ESV)

My name is Dana. I serve as Director of Prayer First, the prayer mobilization ministry of the Baptist General Conference. I also serve on the executive committee of the National Prayer Committee (U.S.A.) and as chair of the Denominational Prayer Leaders Network. Most of my ministry is devoted to biblical preaching and teaching on the subjects of prayer, renewal, worship, and Paul's command to "be filled with the Spirit." Right now, much of my time and effort is going into the spiritual renewal focus called Fire & Reign, which has been embraced by 160+ churches so far, with more coming. Dr. Jerry Sheveland, my friend and the President of the BGC, wrote the workbook for Fire & Reign, and I was privileged to work on the call to fasting and prayer which is part of the focus. I also coordinate the effort to help each F & R church have a spiritual renewal weekend, with a guest Bible teacher. More on Fire & Reign can be found at www.bgcworld.org when you click on the appropriate box.

I have a wife of 23 years, Christa, and three daughters. Soon one of my daughters will leave the nest to attend a Christian university in Tennessee. My oldest daughter has a lifelong physical disability, and as a result we are very active in the family retreat ministry of Joni and Friends, the disability ministry of Joni Eareckson Tada. Joni is one of our family heroes. We highly recommend the family retreat ministry for any family dealing with disability. More on that subject can be found at www.joniandfriends.org when you click on family retreats.

I am inspired to try this blog by friends who are doing it. I don't know what I am doing. If I am messing up and you can help me, please let me know. Let this be our prayer for the church in America today:

Awake, O sleeper,
And arise from the dead,
And Christ will shine on you.