It reminds us that the harvest belongs to God and the mission is accomplished through His power, not our own. That is why the first principle of doing God's Business is prayer. Prayer is more than how we begin a meeting or close a worship service; it is also the foundation of evangelism. Before we ask God to bless our plans, we must seek His purpose. Before we go into our communities, we must first go into the presence of God.
We cannot convict hearts, change people's lives, or save souls; only God has the power to do that. Our responsibility is to pray, proclaim the Gospel, and rely on the power of the Holy Spirit to prepare hearts, open doors, and draw people to Jesus Christ. Prayer not only prepares the hearts of those we seek to reach, but it also transforms us, our churches, and our communities.
Prayer also helps us see others not as strangers, but as people whom God loves. As we pray consistently for those who do not know Christ, our hearts begin to reflect God’s love. We become more compassionate, more aware of the needs around us, and more willing to step out of our comfort zones.
A church focused on evangelism is a church that prays. Churches that make a lasting impact for God’s Kingdom do not just have better programs; they have people who seek God, pray for the lost, intercede for their communities, and ask the Holy Spirit to guide every ministry decision. Prayer transforms evangelism from an occasional ministry activity or report into the heartbeat of the church.
As we prepare to relaunch the six-week C-ME Grow series beginning with Prayer and Spiritual Renewal, I encourage every pastor, evangelism leader, missionary, and church member to make prayer the blueprint for evangelism. Every effective evangelistic ministry begins with God's design. Before we build ministries that reach others, we must first seek God, the Master Architect through prayer.
Build a Culture of Prayer
Prayer is not only a personal discipline; it is a ministry that every church can cultivate. The Word of God instructs us to pray continually in 1 Thessalonians 5:17 (NIV). This month, I encourage every local church to take one simple but transformational step: If your church does not have a prayer ministry, start one. If you already have one, strengthen it. Prayer should be more than the opening devotion before meetings or worship services. It should become the spiritual foundation of every ministry in the life of the church.
Every outreach ministry, Bible study, ministry meeting, mission project, and community event should begin with intentional prayer. Start your prayer ministry by creating a prayer team and a prayer list that includes people who do not know Christ, those facing difficult circumstances, your community, local schools, civic leaders, and upcoming outreach opportunities. Pray before every ministry initiative, food distributions, community service projects, Vacation Bible School, evangelism events, neighborhood outreach, mission trips, and other opportunities to share the Gospel.
Ask God to go before you, open doors, prepare hearts, and draw people to Jesus Christ. As your church develops a culture of prayer, you will discover that prayer not only changes people, it transforms churches and communities for the glory of God. I pray that you build a team of intercessors who are committed to praying faithfully for your church, pastor, leaders, community, and mission field.
Prayer ministries should not exist as isolated groups within the church; they should become the spiritual covering for every ministry of the church. Organize prayer walks through your neighborhood, establish prayer partners or prayer teams, adopt local schools in prayer, and encourage families to pray together for their neighbors and community leaders. Most importantly, ask God every day to provide opportunities to demonstrate His love and share the hope of the Gospel with someone who needs Him.
Prayer Challenge
This month, launch at least one new prayer initiative in your church. You can start by choosing one of the following:
· A weekly prayer call or prayer gathering
· A community prayer walk
· A prayer wall for requests and testimonies
· A neighborhood or school prayer ministry
· A "Five for Christ" prayer list, where members pray daily for five people who need Jesus
Remember, a praying church becomes a witnessing church. When God's people pray, God opens doors, prepares hearts, and empowers His Church to fulfill the Great Commission. When the Church prays, God prepares hearts. When God prepares hearts, people hear the Gospel. When people hear the Gospel, lives are transformed. That is how God's Kingdom grows. Being Open for God's Business begins long before we open the doors of our churches. It begins when we open our hearts to God in prayer. As we seek Him together, may He renew our passion for the lost, strengthen our witness, and empower us to fulfill the Great Commission. "Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain." Psalm 127:1 (NIV)
Closing Prayer
Father God, help us to seek You first before we try to serve You. Give us compassion for people who do not know Christ. Please make a way for the Gospel to reach others, give us strength through Your Holy Spirit, and guide us as we share Your love in our communities. Let our churches be places of prayer, hope, and real change for Your glory. In Jesus' name, Amen.
