Monday, March 23, 2009

Pastor of 1999 Shooting Preaches @ Pastor Fred Winters' CHurch

Al Meredith preached for martyred Pastor Fred Winters. In '99 a gunman killed 7 in Meredith's church

On March 8, 2009, a gunman walked into the First Baptist Church of Maryville, IL (in the St. Louis, MO area) and shot and killed Pastor Fred Winters as he was concluding his late Sunday morning sermon. The tragedy became a national and international story. When the shocked and grieving congregation looked for someone to preach the following Sunday, they secured Dr. Al Meredith, pastor of Wedgwood Baptist Church (www.wedgwoodbc.org) in Ft. Worth, TX. In 1999 a crazed gunman walked into Wedgwood Church and randomly shot and killed seven people. (Don Browning, the father of one of those victims, shares his unforgettable story regarding Sydney Browning in another on demand interview on www.haroldhendrick.com.) In this interview Pastor Meredith tells of the journey of his Wedgwood Church and offers comfort, guidance, and even warnings for the Maryville Congregation. He received much favorable press in St. Louis and around the country for his sensitive and wise counsel at Maryville. With his frequently being asked to make appearances in both local and national media, it is further interesting to hear of his ministry with the media. (We both observed how fair and sensitive the press had handled the Maryville tragedy.) Media people frequently ask him, “What can we do for you?” Pastor Al responds by saying, “You can let me pray for you!” And he does. Hear the very insightful, helpful and interesting comments Pastor Al Meredith offers to the Maryville Church for, not just surviving but, for overcoming. *** See Pastor Fred Winters quiet but powerful 5-minute video Why do we Exist presenting God’s Biblical plan of salvation at www.fbmaryvlle.org.

1. Don Browning…daughter Sydney murdered in Ft. Worth Wedgwood Church massacre...
(Media/Radio Interviews)

... a crazed gunman entered the building and interrupted a youth activity, a "Saw You at the Pole" prayer rally. He fired over 100 rounds from two different handguns, and exploded a homemade...

* Type keywords in "Search This Blog box" above

* Visit http://www.IBSA.org/prayer.php for more articles and resources
* To receive monthly updates on new postings, email phil@nppn.org
* Coaching? Teaching? Preaching? on prayer ... Contact Phil@nppn.org

Saturday, March 21, 2009

Church Prayer Lady Helps Start An Urban Church

.
Insights from Pastor Charles Lyons, Armitage Baptist Church, Chicago, IL

By divine direction, Paul was led to Philippi. “…We’re forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia…” “…They assayed to go into Bithynia; but the Spirit suffered them not…” “…Come over into Macedonia…”

Philippi is an expression of the first century Roman world. There is no one, true God, the source of absolute truth. There is no “grand metanarrative” that makes sense of reality. Philippi is an artist’s rendering of what a post-modern culture will look like. Luke calls Philippi “the chief city of that part of Macedonia.” This heathen city with a theater that probably seated 50,000 people, this city that virtually straddled the Egnatian Road, was a godless metropolis on an interstate. God has been all about penetrating the darkness ever since man’s fall. God doesn’t lead away from the fight but into the fight. In preparing His chosen people to take possession of the Promised Land, He told them He would lead them to the enemy. Jesus set His face toward Jerusalem. Paul does not happen to come to Philippi, God sends him.

No Church

There was no church in this city. I don’t mean a church of our breed, brand or stripe. I mean no church. Can we justify planting “our kind” of church in a community that has other vibrant New Testament churches, when there are so many unchurched or underchurched population centers? “Our kind” is not the standard. The New Testament church should be the standard. Aren’t these supposed to be the same? Before we get all high and mighty, let’s remember that the church at Corinth was called the church of God. I’m not holding it up as the be all end all model, you understand, but it did meet the apostolic bar.

Apparently, the city could not meet the minimum requirement of ten Jewish men to constitute a synagogue. The prevailing world view was pluralistic. Lacking any knowledge base of divine revelation, relativism ruled. Only a group of women gathered by the river, outside the city due to Roman prohibition, were to be found. (Oh, those zoning laws!) So, the upshot is this: Paul saw a man saying, “Come over to Macedonia…”When he got to Philippi, he found the man was a woman! Lydia, the travelling business woman, and her prayer group birthed the exemplary Philippian church. Luke says, “The Lord opened Lydia’s heart.” God was drawing these women to Himself. As we look over the stark, barren, spiritual Sahara that is the post-modern landscape, let’s remember God is working in advance of our working. In fact, God’s work holds the promise that our work will bear fruit.

Opposition

God allows relentless resistance to His gospel work. Expect it. Paul was never surprised at opposition. He never let it stop him. The demonized girl followed Paul and Silas around for what Luke calls “many days.” Paul finally has enough and commands the demon out in Jesus’ name. Historically we know that God uses opposition to advance His purposes and show His glory. Why do we think “something must be wrong, we must be out of God’s will” if we get a little opposition. God uses difficulty all the time. Remember it’s not just about overcoming opposition; it’s that God uses opposition to get the job done. It’s often a set-up for something supernatural.

Riled up business men, the crowd, the magistrates, all formed an opposition coalition. It’s noteworthy that they were not necessarily anti-message. They were stirred up because their lifestyles had been impacted.

Supernatural Display

Arrested, beaten and jailed, the apostle and his partner should have been filled with doubt and despair. This church planting effort is a bust! Anybody can see this. Paul and Silas see it as an opportunity to demonstrate true trust, real faith. Their prayers and songs ring off the stone prison walls. The earthquake changes everything. One moment they are thinking they’re powerless and stuck; the next they are winning the jailer to Jesus and holding a baptismal service. Do you think Lydia, friends, and ex-soothsayer are shouting and crying at this point? Let’s never forget that God shows up in His time and in His way.

God Saves

That’s right, God saves all who repent and believe. The jailer and his household are added to the nucleus of believers. From a disenfranchised, out of the city limits prayer group to shaking up city hall, God’s gospel changes lives. It is the power that changes everything. It is His power that planted churches in 1^st century heathen urban centers. It’s His power that continues planting churches in 21^st century post-modern cities.

* Type keywords in "Search This Blog box" above
* Visit http://www.IBSA.org/prayer.php for more articles and resources
* To receive monthly updates on new postings, email phil@nppn.org
* Coaching? Teaching? Preaching? on prayer ... Contact Phil@nppn.org

Thursday, March 19, 2009

Pray For Pastors' Wives

Pastors' wives called too, Beth Moore says

Posted on Mar 19, 2009 | by Erin Roach NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)--Ministers' wives can fall victim to the aggravations of ministry or they can take hold of freedom by realizing they are called to ministry themselves, Bible study author Beth Moore told a group of ministers' wives March 13-14 at Two Rivers Baptist Church in Nashville, Tenn.

Focusing on the Book of Galatians, Moore laid out six pairs of what she called "aggravations" and their "alternatives" associated with being the wife of a minister in today's church. A recent blog entry by her daughter called on people to sum up their lives in six words, so Moore was inspired to state each of her points in six words.

1. Aggravation: Ministry by default. Life-long misfit.

"If you see yourself as being in ministry by default, you will spend the rest of your life feeling like a misfit. I promise you that," Moore said. "We're shooting ourselves in the foot when we get it in our head that 'I wasn't the one called to this ministry. You were.'"

When they don't feel called, such women find themselves in misery. And when misery visits ministry, Moore said, a woman can repress those feelings or rebel -- or a combination of the two.

"Repression will make you sick, and rebellion will make you stupid," she said. "We can't act like we're not the ones who were called."

Alternative: Chosen by God. Have holy fit.

"God is not sorry He chose you," she told the approximately 1,200 women in attendance. "He has good taste. I am chosen by God. I have a holy fit."

2. Aggravation: Seek their approval. Become their slave.===>Click headline for complete article . .

SBC @ Prayer ~ Love. Give.

Pray

Loving the peoples of the hard places
Among the Sayang (name changed), there’s no running water. And the soil is too rocky to grow anything. So why do they stay? Because they heard something precious will be revealed to them. Learn the rest of the story at imb.org/dayofprayer and find resources to plan and give your church advance notice about 2009 Day of Prayer and Fasting for World Evangelization. This year’s focus is on the unreached peoples of the hard places. Many churches plan the event on Pentecost Sunday, May 31 this year.

Give

Living with Urgency: Sowing Together for Harvest
More than 250 million people in the United States and Canada do not know Christ. That's three out of four people! You can help North American Mission Board missionaries reach the lost in our own backyard through your offerings to the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering. National goal: $65 million.

Wednesday, March 18, 2009

Inner~View #59: Practical & Personal Insights on Solemn Assemblies

Phil Miglioratti interviewed Pastor Keeney Dickenson

Practical & Personal Insights on Solemn Assemblies

Keeney Dickenson is the founder and director of Prayeridigm Ministries. He is a pastor, writer, consultant and conference speaker with a passion for prayer and revival. Dickenson is a graduate of Wayland Baptist University and Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He has pastored churches in Missouri, New Mexico, and has served as senior pastor of First Baptist Church in Crockett, Texas since 2003. He and his wife D’Ann have two sons, Jarryn and Koby.

Phil ~ Keeney, most pastors have an interest in prayer and revival but you seem driven toward them. How did that develop in your life and ministry?

Keeney ~ My passion for prayer and revival grows out of a call from God which I received in college. Early in my ministry I became aware of my desperate dependence upon God. There has also been a constant awareness of the need for divine power to fulfill the mission of the church. I have spent the last twenty-five years of pastoral ministry seeking the heart of God in fulfilling His call to become an instrument of revival within the Body of Christ through the combination of pastoral ministry within the local church, the development of resources, and itinerant ministry across our nation. My burden for prayer and revival has intensified with the obvious increase of rampant prayerlessness and the tragic absence of genuine biblical revival.

Phil ~ What are your observations about the prayer life of the typical pastor? What do you recommend for those who want to grow closer to Christ in prayer?

Keeney ~ I have never met a pastor who is completely satisfied with his prayer life. Most of the pastors I have come in contact with, have expressed a deep need for more depth and consistency in the area of prayer. Personally, I have found that modeling my life of prayer after the life of prayer which Jesus lived to be the key. The two major focuses of Jesus’ life of prayer were: (1) intimacy, and (2) intercession. However, He seemed to invest the most priority time in intimacy with the Father, which overflowed in timely intercession. The majority of the pastor’s time of prayer can easily become consumed with intercession for church members, conflicts, issues, and ministries. I have found that passionately pursuing intimacy with the Father on a daily basis creates a powerful strategic overflow of intercession and ministry.

Phil ~ Your work came to my attention when a trusted colleague emailed me your work on Solemn Assemblies. . .

Keeney ~ “Blow the Trumpet in Zion” is something the Father prompted me to write as a practical sourcebook for pastors who long to lead their congregation toward the heart of God through the solemn assembly process.

• What is a Solemn Assembly? Its purpose? - The solemn assembly is a divinely-initiated process through which the local church is confronted with the awesome reality of corporate and individual sin against our holy God through an extensive time of prayer, which culminates in an extended worship service of specific corporate confession and repentance. The basic purpose of the solemn assembly is fivefold:

(1) To reconnect the people of God with the Word of God;

(2) To reorient the people of God to the ways of God;

(3) To redirect the people of God toward the will of God;

(4) To reawaken the people of God to the worship of God;

(5) To rejuvenate the people of God in the work of God.

• What would you say to a pastor who considers a solemn assembly too threatening for his congregation? - To simply schedule a solemn assembly service apart from a season of prayer, fasting and spiritual preparation could not only be threatening, but also detrimental in the life of a congregation. One of the reasons for this, is a blatant disorientation to the ways of God among His people. Sadly, we live in a day in which church life is driven by an excessive focus on innovation and technology. Therefore, in many cases, speaking in terms of the ways of God to a congregation can be like speaking a foreign language. This makes guiding the people toward a biblical understanding of the ways of God in the solemn assembly process of utmost necessity. The key for the pastor, is waiting patiently upon the timing and leadership of the Holy Spirit.

• Should a pastor expect his church to jump right into an extended time of reflection and repentance or should he build up to that point? - The beginning point for the pastor is to solemnly seek the face of God personally, and then lead his congregation through the overflow as the Holy Spirit directs him. Pastoral leadership is a major key to the solemn assembly process. It involves guiding the congregation through the recognition of specific corporate sins; preaching messages that focus on the nature of corporate sin and the necessity of corporate repentance; and bathing the entire process in an extended season of prayer and fasting.

• In your opinion, is it best for the pastor to facilitate the prayer meeting or is an outside leader less threatening to the members' sharing? - Each congregation is unique. However, it has been my experience that a pastor-led solemn assembly is most effective because of the continuity of preparation and follow-up involved in the process. On the other hand, an outside leader could possibly be more objective and less threatening in assisting the church through the initial phases of preparation as a spiritual guide or consultant. Also, unless properly utilized, outside leadership can create the perception that the solemn assembly is simply another isolated church event on the church calendar.

• Assuming a congregation experiences a genuine cleansing work of the Spirit, where does the pastor lead them from that point? - For me personally, I have found it very important to allow the perspective of the solemn assembly to saturate the life and ministry of our congregation. Examples of this would be: specific prayer focuses in the prayer meeting; celebrating the activity of God among us as a direct result of the solemn assembly process; and identifying areas of victory resulting through lifestyles of individual and corporate repentance which began in the solemn assembly process.

Phil ~ I've heard it said "Every church prays but not every church is a praying church." How does a pastor build his congregation into a house of prayer?

Keeney ~ Many churches refer to their “prayer ministry”. In most cases, this is confined to a small room, with limited participation by a small number of people who are frustrated with the majority of the congregation who have no desire to frequent that room with them. I realize there are rare occurrences in which this is not the case. However, I prefer to focus on developing a “ministry of prayer” which is woven into the fabric of the church, rather than a “prayer ministry” that is relegated to the fringe of congregational life. I recently led a regional seminar on this topic, and discovered at least 30 different ways in which we are doing this in our church. Due to space, I will offer a few examples:

• Enlisting an army of intercession on behalf of the pastor and spouse, and providing them with specific daily prayer focuses.
• Reclaiming the prayer meeting.
• Monthly church staff days of prayer.
• Periodic Sunday School prayer guides.
• Strategic prayer focuses in Sunday morning worship services which focus on revival, missions, evangelism, etc.
• Guiding members to write specific prayer cards for church events assuring guest leaders and participants of our intercession.
• Developing the mindset, that if you are a member of this church, you are expected to pray.
• Incorporating church staff and leadership accountability questions that emphasize the necessity of a consistent life of prayer.
• Challenging committees and ministry teams to devote their initial meeting solely to prayer, rather than simply praying a brief prayer as a prelude to a predictable horizontal focus of planning apart from the leadership of the Holy Spirit.
• Preaching messages that focus on the basics of prayer.
• Hosting annual prayer conferences, seminars, workshops, etc.

Phil ~ You speak on "The Weakly Prayer Meeting" ...

Keeney ~ One of our basic problems in the local church is what I call, programitis; we overestimate the power of programs and we underestimate the power of prayer. Therefore, I am convinced that the local church needs to either reclaim or rename their prayer meeting. Strategic biblical corporate prayer promotes strategic biblical private prayer. I have found that the average church member prays privately about the things they hear their leadership pray about publicly. In most cases this is limited to people who are sick, bereaved, and/or facing a crisis. About eighteen years ago, I began guiding the congregation I pastored to reclaim the prayer meeting by refocusing prayer toward intimacy with the Father, revival, missions and evangelism. Initially, models and resources were very limited. As the overflow of this process, we have developed a sourcebook entitled, “The Prayer Meeting First Aid Kit” which contains over 350 corporate prayer exercises that were developed in the local church setting. The Father has used this resource to give pastors practical assistance in moving away from the weakly prayer meeting.

Phil ~ How does a pastor begin to operate with a new "prayeridigm?"

Keeney ~ “Prayeridigm” is a term we have coined to describe the nature of our prayer ministry. It implies a new paradigm or understanding of prayer. I believe that the beginning point of this new understanding involves thinking in terms of a “life of prayer” as opposed to a “prayer life.” Pastors can view prayer as nothing more than a ministerial duty, and a means to an end. However, Jesus’ “prayeridigm” was to live and minister in the discipline and atmosphere of unceasing prayerfulness. Pastors tend to pray in the context of life and ministry, but Jesus lived and ministered in the context of prayer. For Jesus, prayerfulness centered on intimacy with the Father, which overflowed in timely intercession and powerful ministry.

Phil ~ Request based praying is reactive; focusing on current and immediate needs and problems. Proactive praying declares the glory of God across the globe. Help a pastor who wants to move into outward focused praying for lost people, for communities and even countries to hear the gospel.

Keeney ~ Again, I believe the beginning point is the Son of God and the Word of God. Begin by asking yourself, “What would Jesus pray?” Our goal is Christlikeness in all areas, especially prayer. In order to live as Jesus lived, we must pray as Jesus prayed. The prayers of Jesus were guided and shaped by the will and glory of the Father. I would also encourage pastors to study the prayers of people in the Bible such as Elijah (1 KIngs 18), Nehemiah (Nehemiah 1), Daniel (Daniel 9), Isaiah (Isaiah 64), Paul (Ephesians 1:15-21; 3:14-21), the Psalms, etc. Much of our praying is need-centered and self-centered. But the majority of the prayers in the Bible were God-centered and God-sized. Our goal should be to develop an army of global intercessors with a Father-focused vision of changing the world through prayer.

Phil ~ Keeney, please write a prayer you hope each reader will pray with you in agreement...

Keeney ~ Father, we stand in need of a fresh outpouring of Your Holy Spirit upon Your people! Please forgive us for treating prayer as one of many ministerial duties, when it is our spiritual lifeline. Oh Father, create within us a holy hunger and passion for intimacy with You. We are well acquainted with what we can do for You. However, we know that You work through those who wait on You! Oh, how we long to see what You can do through us. We agree with the Apostle Paul, that You are “able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to Your power that works in us.” Please deliver us from giving everything else the priority that prayer alone deserves. May we truly have ministries that originate in Your heart, and which You orchestrate by Your hand! Oh Father, please make anything less than this empty and repulsive to us. Please enable us to rediscover our identity as the house of prayer. Oh Lord, teach us to pray. This is the cry of our hearts, in the precious and powerful name of Jesus. Amen.

Monday, March 16, 2009

IBSA Prayer Coordiantor Interviews Available Online

Episode 12 - Prayer: Phil Miglioratti, Part 2

Download Episode 12

Prayer: Interview with Phil Miglioratti (National Pastors' Prayer Network), Part 2

National Pastors' Prayer Network

After you listen, please click on "COMMENTS" at the end of this message and let us know what you think!

Voyage Radio 2.0 is a free 15 minute podcast by David McLaughlin and is a production of Voyage Ministries, Inc.

All 12 Complimentary Prayer Studies Now Available

Pastors Today

All 12 Complimentary Prayer Studies Now Available

Pastor, I completely forgot to add the remaining four prayer studies last week. As I shared before, Rick Ezell uses their weekly prayer gathering to teach brief lessons on prayer.

Calling on God's Name Genesis 4:26
Make A Name for Yourself Genesis 11:4, 2 Samuel 7:18-29
What's In A Name? Exodus 2-3
For His Name's Sake Psalm 23:3 and Selected Scriptures
Praise His Name Psalm 138
He Is Lord Malachi 1:6-14
He is Personal Psalm 91
The Definitive God Exodus 20:1-3
Misusing God's Name Exodus 20:1
The God We Call Father Matthew 6:9
In the Name of Jesus John 14:13-14, 16:23-24
My Favorite Name Proverbs 22

They are now available on the page titled: The Power of Praying in God's Name, 12 Brief Studies of Prayer

Friday, March 13, 2009

1,900 Celebrate the Life of Slain Pastor Fred WInters

Widow of slain Ill. pastor points to 'celebration day'

Posted on Mar 13, 2009 | by Martin King MARYVILLE, Ill. (BP)--Cindy Winters, widow of slain Illinois pastor Fred Winters, told 1,900 people who attended his funeral that Sunday, March 8, was "celebration day" for her husband and that she refuses to harbor hatred.

"Fred and I talked so many times about how God is at work here in this church doing incredible things," she said during Winters' March 13 funeral at First Baptist Church in Maryville, Ill. "Nothing has changed. Our vision and purpose still remains the same."

Winters was fatally shot while preaching at the 1,500-member Southern Baptist church east of St. Louis.

Speaking for 20 minutes during a two-hour funeral service, Cindy Winters said, "I refuse to let Satan win. ... He's not going to steal my joy. He's not going to steal my passion. He's not going to steal my desire to spread God's Word. I'm not going to hate.

"And I will work to carry out the mission of this church and I know all of you will too," she said. "And I'm not going to survive this thing; I'm going to be a better person because of this thing."

She quoted one of her two daughters, ages 13 and 11 years, as saying, "I want to be just like my daddy. I hope the man who did this learns to love Jesus."

Winters refuted a note the man accused of the shooting left on his calendar labeling March 8 as "death day." She said, "Sunday was not death day, but celebration day -- the best day of Fred's life. On Sunday, my husband did not die, but got a promotion," as she pointed upward to heaven. Then, the words of the theme song from the television show "The Jeffersons" -- referring to "movin' on up" -- played throughout the church building as the congregation stood and applauded.

She told those in attendance in the 900-seat sanctuary and another 1,000 overflowing into the gymnasium as well as those viewing the service on the Internet a number of humorous stories about Winters that illustrated his reputation for being thrifty, athletic, intelligent and passionate about his ministry.

"Fred loved being a pastor. He had a pastor's heart. When you hurt, he hurt, and when you were happy he was happy. He never got tired of being your pastor," she told the First Baptist members attending the funeral.

Winters brother and father-in-law also spoke during the service, while three former staff members brought messages.

Bob Dickerson, pastor of First Baptist Church, Marion, Ill., who met Winters in seminary, held his Bible aloft and said, "If Fred were here, he would speak from the Word of God, so that's what I will do." Dickerson read from Genesis 50:20 quoting Joseph speaking to his brothers, "What you intended for harm, God intended for good to accomplish the saving of many lives."

"Fred was intense about sharing Christ. He wanted everybody to know Jesus, and good will come if 100 people, or 1,000 people or 10,000 people, will help others find God" because of what has happened, Dickerson said.

"Evil did not take Fred Winters life because he gave it to Christ many years ago. Evil did not stop the message that Jesus saves," Dickerson said.

Adam Cruse, pastor of First Baptist Church in Mt. Zion, Ill., another former staff member at First Baptist Maryville, said Winters "was always there for us. He was a rock for us. He cared for us. I know you are hurting and sad, but this is not a time of defeat or surrender because the mission that we shared with him is still our mission."

The service ended with a video Winters had made several months before his death answering the question, "Why do you exist?" as a way to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ. In the videotape, which had been on the church's website during the week, Winters gave the "A-B-Cs of salvation" and ended with an invitation to pray to accept Christ.

Following another presentation of the Gospel by First Baptist's minister of worship, Mark Jones, the service ended on what Jones called "a note of praise" as they sang "My Savior Lives."

Martin King is editor of the Illinois Baptist, newsjournal of the Illinois Baptist State Association.

Thursday, March 12, 2009

GPS - God's Plan for Sharing ... Start with God's Prayer Strategy

PRAYING: Every church praying for lost people

“First of all, then, I urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for everyone . . . This is good, and it pleases God our Savior, who wants everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” (1 Tim. 2:1, 3-4, HCSB).

What would happen if every Southern Baptist were to pray for lost people? Imagine the impact of our churches praying for every lost person. There would be a movement of God just as in the days of Acts when the Holy Spirit fell on the day of Pentecost.

Just Imagine!

Prayerwalking your community.
Continually discovering lost people for whom to pray.
Experiencing genuine changes in your church as it reaches lost people.
Every church member praying for North American missionaries to reach lost people.

Praying:

Here are some ideas to get your church praying for lost people in your community.

Prepare God’s people (your congregation) to faithfully pray. Here are some helpful resources.

Experienceing God – Henry Blackaby
How to Develop a Powerful Prayer Life – Greg Frizzell
Returning to Holiness – Greg Frizzell
Prayer 101 – Elaine Helms
Pray in Faith – T.W. Hunt
Kingdom Focus Praying – John Franklin
Cooperate – Role of Prayer in Spiritual Awakening
And the Place Was Shaken – John Franklin
If My People…Pray (How to Develop a Local Church Prayer Ministry) – Elaine Helms

Mobilize your church to prayer walk your community. Here are some helpful resources.

Taking Prayer to the Streets – NAMB
Prayer Walking Made Simple – Chris Schofield

Continually discover lost people in your community and examine their needs. Here are some helpful resources.

Mapping Center and Center for Missional Research, both found at http://www.namb.net/cmr
Witness to the World (Growing Disciples Series) – Claude King

Pray for the lost people in your community. Here are some helpful resources.

Personal Prayer:

Study Guide for Evangelism Prayer – Evelyn Christenson
Praying Your Friends to Christ – NAMB
How to Spend a Day in Prayer – Rick Shepherd

Partner prayer (triplets/small groups)

Pray for Your Family – NAMB
Prayer Triplets – NAMB

Prayer gatherings/sacred assembly

And the Place Was Shaken – John Franklin
Returning to Holiness – Greg Frizzell

Praise God continually.

Corporate praise
Celebrate baptisms
Answered prayer testimonies (live or video)
Prayer walk testimonies (live or video)

* Type keywords in "Search This Blog box" above

IBSA @ Prayer ~ Pastor's Study Gudie on Kingdom Praying

Subject: Kingdom Prayer

The Glenfield Baptist Church prayer study is now online.

You can either access it directly at http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http://kingdompray.blogspot.com

If you sign up to follow the blog, you'll be able to interact through comments at the bottom of each post.

We'll have a weekly study on Sunday and then daily prayer prompts as well. I've got Sunday's message online and should have Monday and Tuesday up shortly.

Pastor Jim Rahjten

* Type keywords in "Search This Blog box" above

Tuesday, March 10, 2009

IBSA @ Prayer ~ "We Covet Your Prayers Right Now"

Slain Pastor’s Church ‘Covets ... Prayers’

Adrienne S. Gaines

alt March 9, 2009 -- An Illinois pastor was killed Sunday when a gunman entered the church and opened fire during the first of three morning worship services.

The Rev. Fred Winters, pastor of First Baptist Church of Maryville, deflected the first of four bullets with his Bible, causing pages to fly "like confetti," witnesses told the Associated Press. After four shots, the man's .45-caliber handgun jammed, and he stabbed himself with a knife and injured two other church members when they tackled the man. One remains hospitalized, while the other has been treated and released.

The gunman, identified by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch as 27-year-old Terry Joe Sedlacek from Troy, Ill., is hospitalized and in police custody. In a previous Post-Dispatch report, Sedlacek claimed to have lyme disease, which he said was a cause of his mental illness.

Church members said they did not recognize the gunman.

Winters, 45, became senior pastor of First Baptist Church in 1987. Since then the church has grown from 32 members to more than 1,200. Winters was also an adjunct professor at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and a past president of the Illinois Baptist State Association. Winters is survived by his wife, Cindy, and their two daughters.

The Baptist association's current executive director, Nate Adams, said Winters was "a wonderful, gifted, leading pastor in Illinois, and a dear friend.

"Our great God is not surprised by this, or anything. That He allows evil and free will to have their way in tragedies like this is a mystery in many ways," Adams said in a statement Sunday. "But we know we can trust Him no matter what, and draw close to Him in any circumstances. Let's draw closer to Him and to one another during this terrible tragedy, and renew our faith and obedience to His purposes for however many days we have remaining to serve Him."

Leaders at First Baptist asked those "who believe in the power of prayer" to intercede for the congregation as they cope with the loss of their pastor.

"In this day, where uncertainty seems to abound creating an environment in which people are vulnerable in doing things they might not do otherwise, one thing is certain, we, as human beings need a foundation upon which we can live our lives," worship pastor Mark Jones said. "We at First Baptist Maryville, along with other Christian believers, share this conviction: that foundation is God's Word. In the pages of the Book we call the Bible, we find the pathway for peace, hope, and a quality of living life despite what circumstances we find ourselves in.

"To those who believe in the power of prayer, we covet your prayers right now."

* Type keywords in "Search This Blog box" above

Monday, March 09, 2009

IBSA Family Loses Beloved Pastor to Gunshot

Posted on Mar 9, 2009 | by Staff MARYVILLE, Ill. (BP)--A Southern Baptist pastor was killed during a morning worship service March 8 by a gunman who reportedly suffered from mental illness caused by Lyme disease.

Fred Winters, 45, was preaching in the 8:15 a.m. service with about 150 people in attendance at the St. Louis-area First Baptist Church in Maryville, Ill., when the gunman, identified in media reports as 27-year-old Terry Joe Sedlacek, walked down the aisle, exchanged some words with the pastor and opened fire, shooting Winters four times in the chest.

When the gunman's .45-caliber semiautomatic weapon jammed, he drew a knife and slashed two church members as they wrestled him to the ground, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. The attacker stabbed himself in the neck, and he and one of the church members were in serious condition after surgery. The other injured church member was treated and released.

Winters, meanwhile, staggered about halfway down a church aisle before collapsing and dying of his injuries at a local hospital, the newspaper said. He is survived by his wife Cindy and daughters Alysia, 14, and Cassidy, 12.

"In this day, where uncertainty seems to abound, creating an environment in which people are vulnerable in doing things they might not do otherwise, one thing is certain, we, as human beings need a foundation upon which we can live our lives," a statement posted on the church's website said.

"We at First Baptist Maryville, along with other Christian believers, share this conviction: that foundation is God's Word. In the pages of the Book we call the Bible, we find the pathway for peace, hope, and a quality of living life despite what circumstances we find ourselves in," the statement, which also requested prayer, said.
===>Click headline for the complete article . . .

===>Facebook? Join the group Pray for First Baptist Maryville IL and the Fred Winters Family - Prayer.

* Type keywords in "Search This Blog box" above

IBSA Prayer Coordiantor Interviewed on Radio

Episode 11 - Prayer: Phil Miglioratti, Part 1

Download Episode 11

Prayer: Interview with Phil Miglioratti (National Pastors' Prayer Network),
Part 1

National Pastors' Prayer Network

Right click and choose "

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!

After you listen, please click on "COMMENTS" at the end of this message and let us know what you think!

Voyage Radio 2.0 is a free 15 minute podcast by David McLaughlin and is a production of Voyage Ministries, Inc.

Thursday, March 05, 2009

"I'll always remember 1961 ..."

>>>Note: Use this video clip to dramatically demonstrate how our society has changed but the Church hasn't ... and the reason why it is so important! Click headline to access the video clip - and many others!

"The Church and the Grocery Store"

This modern day fable takes a look at change and the local church. A challenge for all churches to meet the needs of their "customers."
Vol. 3 No. 6
Time: 2:06

To download for presentation, right-click on one of the links below and select "Save Target As," "Save File As" or "Download Linked File."

MPEG-1 | MPEG-4

* Type keywords in "Search This Blog box" above

SBC @ Prayer ~ Week of Prayer Video

During this Week of Prayer for North American Missions and the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering®, Dr. Geoff Hammond, president of your North American Mission Board, talks about the unprecedented mission opportunities in the midst of incredible challenges and how we can Live with Urgency.

Click to View/Download Video

(Available in high-quality formats for presentation in churches.)

What is "Prayer That Changes Churches?"

Prayer That Changes Churches

A Sunday Morning Focus . . .

We begin with a combined Sunday School gathering of adults and youth ... move into a worship service with a sermon on prayer ,,, and conclude with a brief luncheon for leaders.

Sunday School: Pastor Phil explains how to move reactive praying (based on problems and needs) to proactive praying (praying those problems toward the plans and purpose of God)
Sunday Service: Pastor Phil's message challenges the church to become a "place of prayer" that results in lives touched and transformed by Jesus Christ
Leadership Lunch: A brief (30 minutes) discussion with teachers, group leaders, committee members on how to implement life-transforming-prayer so that it:

Permeates every church member's life
Saturates every church ministry
Penetrates every community

Contact IBSA Prayer Coordinator Phil Miglioratti for more details @ phil@nppn.org

* Type keywords in "Search This Blog box" above

Wednesday, March 04, 2009

SBC @ Prayer ~ Pray WIth Your Eyes Open!

Fabric world map
Involve your children in praying for the world with this large 3' x 5' cloth map.

An activity sheet suggests some ways to use the map.

Standing in the Gap people group postcard set
Use this set of 34 postcards plus a brochure to pray for people groups of Central, Eastern and Southern Africa.

Tuesday, March 03, 2009

IBSA @ Prayer ~ An Evening of Acts 1:8 Prayeing

1^st Annual Acts 1:8 Missions Fair

Uptown Baptist Church

April 24-26, 2009

Purpose: To bring church-wide awareness to the Acts 1:8 paradigm of missions and to encourage Southern Baptists and their churches to embrace the Acts 1:8 Challenge to mobilize beyond the walls of their church.

Friday Evening (April 24)

6:45 – 8:30 p.m. Concert of Prayer led by Phil Miglioratti, National Pastors' Prayer Network

8:30 – 9:30 p.m. Acts 1:8 Partner Exhibits (local association, state convention, NAMB, IMB)

Saturday (April 25)

8:30-9 a.m.	*Arrival - Fellowship - Praise and Worship*
9-10 a.m.	*Session 1:* Understanding the Acts 1:8 Challenge – Nate Adams, Executive Director, Illinois Baptist State Association
10-10:45 a.m.	*Session 2:* Understanding the Young Urban Professionals Ken Ellis, Team Leader, North American Mission Board
10:45-11 a.m.	*BREAK*
11-Noon	*Session 3:* Strategic Planning for Outreach Ken Ellis, NAMB
Noon-1 p.m.	*Lunch & Exhibits*
1-2 p.m.	*Session 4:* Go and Tell Greg Queen, Strategic Coordinator, West Africa International Mission Board
2-2:45 p.m.	*Session 5:* Send and Multiply Dr. Jay Noh, Director, Missional Leadership & Mobilization Chicago Metro Baptist Association
2:45-3 p.m.	*BREAK*
3-4 p.m.	*Session 6:* The Local Church and the Acts 1:8 Challenge Pastor Michael Allen

Sunday (April 26)

- Greg Queen, West Africa Strategic Coordinator, IMB, teaches Adult Bible Fellowship at 9 a.m.

- Acts 1:8 Challenge Message by Ken Ellis, NAMB Team Leader, at 10:30 a.m.

- Acts 1:8 Partner Exhibits continue following Worship Service

Registration Form

Please complete this form and return with a check or money order for $20 per person (includes lunch, snacks, and event materials) to:

Uptown Baptist Church

1011 W. Wilson Ave

Chicago, IL 60640

Name: ________________________ Spouse’s Name: ____________________

Current Address: __________________________________________________

Stateside or Alternate Address: _______________________________________

Phone: ______________ Fax: ______________ Email: ________________

Name of Church: _____________________ Title/Position: _____________

Country or region of service: _____________ People Group: ______________

Acts 1:8 Challenge Weekend:

____ I commit to pray daily for the missions fair and look forward to attending the event.

____ I cannot attend the missions fair but desire to financially support the event with the following amount enclosed (please circle one amount):

$20 $50 $100 $200 $________ other.

Make checks payable to Uptown Baptist Church and write “Acts 1:8” on the memo line. All gifts, with the exception of the registration fee, are tax deductible.

Thank you for your prayerful support.

* Type keywords in "Search This Blog box" above

SBC @ Prayer ~ Prayer Impacts Students

KALEO: Alabama ’09 Bathed in Prayer

The eighth KALEO event had an advantage over the previous seven, the daily prayers of believers lifting up KALEO before the Lord. God’s blessing was upon the event, not because of the planning, the attendance, or even those on the program, but because He answered the prayers that had been prayed.===>Click headline to read more . . .

* Type keywords in "Search This Blog box" above

Monday, March 02, 2009

Brief Lessons Help Focus Prayer Meetings

4 New Prayer Studies - # 5 - 8 Now Available

As I told you last week, Rick Ezell uses their weekly prayer gathering to teach brief lessons on prayer. Rick's latest series is based on Praying in God's Name. I have posted the four new studies in addition to the first four I posted last week.

Calling on God's Name - Gen. 4:26
Make A Name for Yourself - Gen. 11:4, 2 Samuel 7:18-29
What's In A Name? Ex. 2-3
For His Name's Sake - Psalm 23:3
Praise His Name - Psalm 138:1-3 (new)
He Is Lord - Mal. 1:6-14 (new)
He is Personal - Psalm 91 (new)
The Definitive God - Exodus 20:1-3 (new)

* Type keywords in "Search This Blog box" above

Monday, March 23, 2009

Saturday, March 21, 2009

Thursday, March 19, 2009

Wednesday, March 18, 2009

Monday, March 16, 2009

Friday, March 13, 2009

Thursday, March 12, 2009

Tuesday, March 10, 2009

Monday, March 09, 2009

Thursday, March 05, 2009

During this Week of Prayer for North American Missions and the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering®, Dr. Geoff Hammond, president of your North American Mission Board, talks about the unprecedented mission opportunities in the midst of incredible challenges and how we can Live with Urgency.

Click to View/Download Video (Available in high-quality formats for presentation in churches.)

Wednesday, March 04, 2009

Tuesday, March 03, 2009

KALEO: Alabama ’09 Bathed in Prayer

Monday, March 02, 2009

Blog Archive

Check This Out!

About Me

Click to View/Download Video

(Available in high-quality formats for presentation in churches.)