IBSA Prayer Ministries: May 2009

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Radio Tribute to Fred Winters - Linked to 5 Minute Video 'Why Do You Exist?"

Harold Hendrick <hhhendrick@sbcglobal.net> wrote:

*Eight members of my larger family had warm and direct interaction with Pastor Fred Winters within two weeks of his being gunned down in his pulpit on Sunday Morning of March 8 of this year. My daughter and son-in-law, having begun attending that FBC of Maryville, IL, (just across the Mississippi a few minutes east of us here in the St. Louis area) had a delightful visit with Fred the last full Sunday of his life. You will be impacted by the radio conversation with his widow, Cindy Winters and her brother.

*A 60-second tribute to Fred Winters can also be heard that was aired several times on each of most of the 80-plus stations of www.bottradionetwork.com. The written description of that 60-second commentary provides a link to a five-minute powerful video statement by Fred Winters he entitled “Why do you exist?” Or you can find it now by clicking on www.youtube.com/v/AfUBY11DXHY&hl=en&fs=1. Notice the photograph of Fred’s wife, Cindy, in the photo at Fred’s left as he shares during the five minutes.===>Click headline to view a 3:58 tribute to Pastor Fred . . .

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* Coaching? Teaching? Preaching? on prayer ... Contact Phil@nppn.org

Monday, May 25, 2009

Prayer is more than ...

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Prayer is more than a ministry among ministries.

Prayer is a spiritual activity of every believer. Prayer is a ministry that fuels every other ministry. Evangelism is a human generated effort without prayer. Discipleship is merely Bible facts and trivial without prayer. Worship is merely singing songs about God unless they are sung and prayed at the same time. Stewardship is not much more than charity unless we are praying before, during and after our giving. Leadership is human ideas until captivated by the Spirit when our decision-making and goal-setting are birthed and based and bathed in prayer.

So, witness. Study the scriptures. Sing a new song! Give sacrificially. Set goals and make decisions. But when you do, pray. And when you pray, take time to seek first his kingdom (the mind of Christ, the Spirit's filling, the Father's heart), then, when you have prayed your best ... "Nevertheless, Lord, not our will but your will be done in our lives, families, and communities as it is in heaven..."

Prayer may be the one ministry that is truly a ministry to every ministry. Ignore it or marginalize it at your own peril.

Phil Miglioratti

IBSA Prayer Mnistries

Friday, May 22, 2009

Southwestern Baptist Theological SeminaryProfessor's Book is a De-Stressor

Pastor, Professor Relieves Stress by Laughing with Jesus

Mud Hen in a Peacock Parade [978-1-934749-47-0]

Does the daily news create knots of fear in your stomach? Do you dread the arrival of your 401k statement? Is the emotional environment at your job uneasy? The current economy and the uncertainty in many industries are creating overwhelming amounts of stress and anxiety. What could be better to combat these negative emotions than a bit of laughter? Dan R. Crawford has taken the expression, “Laughter is the best medicine,” and put it into practice. In his new book, Mud Hen in a Peacock Parade: A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Heaven, Dr. Crawford recounts many of the hilarious events that occurred during his numerous years around churchgoers.

In an endorsement of the book, Dr. Dennis “The Swan” Swanberg, America’s Minister of Encouragement, says, “Grab a cup of dark-roast coffee – doctor it up a tad – and find your favorite chair and consume some GREAT comedic commentaries on life provided by Dr. Mud Hen himself – Dr. Reverend ‘not so holy’ Professor Dan Crawford. Dan gives us ‘laughter’ with plenty of ‘life’ on it!”

Dan R. Crawford is senior professor of evangelism and missions, chair of prayer, emeritus, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Fort Worth, TX, and author/compiler of 17 books including, God’s Formula for Genuine Happiness and Giving Ourselves to Prayer. He and his wife, Joanne, are retired and living in Fort Worth.

Paperback ($14.95) copies of the book are available through online bookstores such as Amazon.com and Barnesandnoble.com. Hannibal Books also offers the book through 800-747-0738 and http://www.hannibalbooks.com. ISBN: 978-1-934749-47-0.

Thursday, May 21, 2009

IBSA @ Prayer ~ Lakeland: A House of Prayer

I just wanted you to know the continuing results of your ministry with us this past November are still returning great dividends. We have spent this past semester studying and praying on becoming a House of Prayer. Last night we launched our Upper Room Prayer Ministry Center and we are having members respond to take one hour out of their week to spend in the Prayer Center praying for the nations.

I have attached an outline of our guide (scroll down) for how to spend the time in the prayer center if you could use it for others who would like to launch prayer centers in their own churches.

Our Prayer Center is in the foyer of our Church Worship Center. No one can come to Lakeland without being immediately aware of the needs of the nations and God’s call on us to intercede for them. I believe God is doing a great work in our midst and last night as we prayed and consecrated our Prayer ministry there were many who would look at a map of our city or nation or world and weep quietly for the sheer size of the task and great sense of the lostness of our world.

I find myself longing to spend more and more time in the prayer center. This guide has really been a great god send to us and many of our members. I find that when I use the guide one hour is not near long enough and I never leave exhausted, only refreshed and encouraged to know God more.

Please join with us in prayer that God would continue to deepen our heart for intercession. At 52 years of age I am just now beginning to get a grasp of the joy of intercession. Thank you again for you prayer and your ministry to Lakeland.

Fixed On The Sovereign One

Pastor Phil Nelson
Lakeland Baptist Church
719 S. Giant City Road, Carbondale, Il 62902
618-529-4906 / Cell 618-201-9204
http://www.lakelandchurch.org/

Praying in the Upper Room

Isaiah 56:6-7 (NIV)
⁶And foreigners who bind themselves to the LORD to serve him, to love the name of the LORD, and to worship him, all who keep the Sabbath without desecrating it and who hold fast to my covenant-- ⁷these I will bring to my holy mountain and give them joy in my house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and sacrifices will be accepted on my altar; for my house will be called a house of prayer for all nations."

A Tour of the Upper Room Prayer Ministry

Step One: As you enter the Prayer Room ask God to meet with you in this place. Genesis 28:10-17; Exodus 3:1-6; Exodus 33:12-20

Step Two: Ask God to fill you with His Holy Spirit so His Spirit can pray through you to accomplish his purposes. Romans 8:26-27

Step Three: Go to The Cross. Read one of the Devotional thoughts in “Fifty Reasons Why Jesus Died” or “Voices of the Martyrs” to set your mind on what the Cross means to God and to you.

Sing or read through a Hymn about the Cross
Read some of the selected passages on the Cross; Isaiah 53; Ezekiel 16; Psalms 22; Psalms 88; Matt 27:32-66; Mark 15:21-41; Luke 23:26-49; John 19; II Corinthians 5:14-21; I Peter 3:18-22
Contemplate the Cross and what it means that Jesus God’s Son took your place. You are now free from the wrath of God forever because of the cross of Christ.
Take time to confess your sins and claim his cleansing. I John 1:9-10

Step Four: You are now ready to pray around the World. Set your heart to seek the Lord for the benefit of the nations who have yet to know. Ask for a heart of compassion for the lost as you pray.

Some prayers to consider as you pray for different people groups and nations.

Nehemiah’s Prayer in Nehemiah 1:4-11; Daniel 9:3-19

Step Five: Go to the Jerusalem Area and read over the biographies of missionaries in our area. Look over the maps and pray for the different areas as you are led. You may even want to touch the place on the map where you are praying. Think of those who live in these areas and let the Holy Spirit move you to pray with great tenderness and compassion

Step Six: Go to the Judea Area and read over the biographies and pray for the missionaries listed. Ask God to help you identify with them as you pray.

Refueling Station: Intercession is hard work and can be discouraging because of the spiritual warfare that takes place. If you need to be encouraged in your prayers you may want to go to the Promise Wall and read over some of the promises in prayer to find a refueling so you can pray with greater energy for the things God is directing you to pray for. You may even want to put some promises on the wall for others that you have found helpful that come directly from the Word of God.

For more refueling needs: Take a book on prayer form the table and read over a few pages or chapters. When you have found the joy in God to pray again take up where you left off.

Step Seven: Samaria Region: Pray for Laborers for the Harvest that God will send out more and more workers to reach the harvest before the end. Some selected Scriptures you may want to consider for this time are: Matt 9:35-38; II Peter 3:11-13; Revelation 7:9-10

Pray over the nation and think of the places you are praying over and let the Spirit of God lead you to pray prayers for those you will probably never meet. Bring your morning News paper to the Prayer Room when you pray.

Step Eight: The Uttermost Parts of the World: Go to the World Prayer map and read over the biographies of those who are missionaries we know and support by our prayers and our gifts.

Take the Progress of the Gospel by People Group and Line up the country you are praying for with the colored map and consider the needs of the gospel in each nation you are praying for.

Pray for the mission trips that are going out from our church to different areas of the world. Honduras this week with Roger and Mike Jessup

Step Nine: Prayer for the Persecuted Church. Take a good look at the map and consider where you most need to pray today. Read over one of the biographies in Voices of the Martyrs of Jesus Freaks Devotional Guide and take a moment and pray for those nations and people you know of who are persecuted.

Pray for our upcoming mission trip to Cuba in June and July as we go to minister to the persecuted Church there.

Step Ten: Go to the Evangelism Wall and pray for the names listed there that they may see the goodness of God and find their everlasting joy in Christ.

Step Eleven: Church Needs. Take a moment to thank God for his working in our Church. Ask him to continue to call out more laborers for the harvest and that he would supply whatever needs we have in order to do what he requires.

Think on this great quote: “God’s Work done in God’s Way will never lack God’s supply.” Ask the Father to give us whatever resources we need to finish the work He has called us to do here.

Step Twelve: Return to the Cross and consider what God is doing in this world to reach the nations who have yet to hear. You have prayed for laborers and now it is time for you to become an answer to your own prayer. Set your heart right with God as you prepare to leave this Upper Room of His presence and ask him to lead you to one person this week that needs to hear of Christ. Take a tract or a New Testament or a Bible with you and prayerfully consider God’s leading as you seek to give His Word to someone this next week.

Take a moment and rejoice in the goodness of God to you that He should call you to himself and allow you the privilege of spending this time with Him. Ask God to help you grow in this area of prayer that prayer will be your first response and not your last resort. Leave with a sense of his joy overflowing in your life and return here often.

Promises of Prayer: Genesis 25:21; I Samuel 1:27; II Kings 6:17; II Chronicles 7:13-16; Psalms 6:9; Psalms 39:12; Psalms 65:2; Psalms 66:19-20; Psalms 102:17; Psalms 141:2; Proverbs 15:8; Jeremiah 33:3; Matt 21:22; Mark 9:29; Luke 18:1-6; Philippians 4:6-7; Colossians 4:12; I Timothy 2:1-8; James 5:16-17; I Peter 3:12

===>Click here for a Day #1 Update!

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

SBC @ Prayer ~ Going Global

DAY OF PRAYER AND FASTING FOR WORLD EVANGELIZATION: MAY 31, 2009
The focus this year is ‘loving the peoples of the hard places.’

Free DVD and other resources. http://www.imb.org/main/pray/page.asp?StoryID=5448&LanguageID=1709

GLOBAL DAY OF PRAYER – May 31
Pray for the nations and global issues. http://www.globaldayofprayer.com/index.php

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

SBC @ Prayer ~ How to Pray for a Region-wide Event

On May 15-16, Henry & Richard Blackaby will be in San Diego for the Fresh Encounter Conference 2009. We ask you to keep in prayer the following requests as they relate to this event.

Click here for more information on the Fresh Encounter Conference.

As you come before the Lord in prayer, pray for cleansing and rebuilding of the church in this region as listed below:

Pray for humility and openness for all who attend to hear the voice of the Lord. Pray that God would move all obstacles that would keep His people from hearing from Him. Isaiah 57:14-15, 66:1-2 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” Rev. 2:11

Pray that believers would understand the true state of the church. The church has departed from the Lord. Rev. 2:4-5, 2:14-16, 3:1-3, 3:15-19

Pray for personal renewal for the leadership toward the mission of the church. “God works through leaders to call the people back to Himself.” Pray that leaders would be examples to others in the Body. 1 Peter 5:1-4, 2 Pet 3:9-12, 2 Tim 2:19-24

Pray that God would use His leaders to call the church to fulfill its mission. Eph. 4:11-13, Col 1:27-29, Acts 6:4

Pray that the Body would submit to the leaders God has given them – remembering them, imitating their faith, following sound doctrine, and exercising their gifts. Heb 13:7, 9, 14-17, 1 Tim 4:12-14, 1 Peter 4:10-11.

Pray that God would use the renewed church to reach the lost and rebuild our communities. Titus 2:11-15, 1 Tim 2:4, 2 Tim 2:25-26

In addition, please pray for the event itself:

For the speaker’s schedules and travel and God’s anointing on them.

For those planning the event, the event details, and technology used for the event.

For God to protect the communication and relationships of those leading and attending the event.

For God’s purposes to be fulfilled and the enemy’s purposes to be thwarted.

That God would guard the travel and schedules of all He wants to attend.

Tuesday, May 12, 2009

A Prayer-Care-Share Church

Chicago's diversity is his mission field

Chicago's diversity is his mission field
By Mickey Noah

CHICAGO (BP)--Michael Allen could have been the guy who comes to install or repair your computer. Originally, that was what he was trained to do.

Instead, his work today takes place in uptown Chicago, about a mile northeast of Wrigley Field's ivy-covered outfield fence. The church he serves as senior pastor, Uptown Baptist, is close to the corner of Sunnyside and Sheridan or "Blood Alley" -- famous locally for its unsolved murders, rapes, gangs and prostitution.

None of this deters Allen, who also has served as a North American Mission Board missionary the past three years.

"I like it here because it fits who I am, fits my journey and fits the vision that God has given me for my life," Allen said. "It allows me to be Jesus to so many different kinds of people."

It's hard to say what's more diverse in Allen's life -- his ministry or his congregation.

When Allen is not preaching sermons and shepherding his multicultural flock of 180 at Uptown, he's leading a "Men's Fraternity" discipleship group for businessmen in downtown Chicago; overseeing a Monday night meal for up to 350 homeless men, women and children; directing a shelter for 50 women; managing a church staff of six; counseling; serving on the board of Pacific Garden Mission; and serving as moderator of the Baptist association of which Uptown is a member. And in his spare time, he and his wife Marla homeschool their four children.

"As pastor of Uptown, one day I can be in a suit and tie at a press conference with the mayor of Chicago and other movers and shakers, and later that day be on the street talking to somebody who just gave his girlfriend AIDS or to a drunk," Allen said.

"It's a powerful thing and an amazing thing," he said, getting choked up. "It's God at work changing people's lives, and I feel like a pawn on God's chess board. It's just remarkable to be His piece being moved into position wherever He wills, and being available wherever He wants you on that board."

The Uptown area of the Windy City, like the church Allen leads, is diverse by any measure: ethnically, economically, educationally, gender, age.

"There must be at least 80 or 90 languages spoken in the public schools here in Uptown, so it's a fun place," Allen said. "There's not a dull or boring day in ministry, in business, in school or in government because of that diversity.

"There are still so many more ethnic groups out there that are not represented in our church right now. We might have 10 or 15 different ethnic groups in church on a Sunday morning," he said. "But there is much more to be done and we're just beginning."

Born in Jamaica, Allen grew up in a Christian home and accepted Christ in a Nazarene church at age 9. After earning a computer electronics degree and working as a technician in south Florida, he was called to the ministry as a member of First Baptist Church in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., in 1989. Allen holds a Bible degree from Trinity College in Miami, Fla., and a master of divinity degree from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, Ill. He also has served on the staffs of Moody Church in Chicago and Sagemont Church, a Southern Baptist congregation in Houston.

Allen is one of more than 5,600 North American Missionaries supported by Southern Baptist gifts to the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering for North American Missions and the Cooperative Program.

Mickey Noah is a writer with the North American Mission Board. To learn more about the Annie Armstrong Offering, go to www.anniearmstrong.com; to learn more about the Cooperative Program, go to www.sbc.net/cp.

Friday, May 08, 2009

SBC @ Prayer ~Hunt, Litton, encourage 40 days of prayer

Posted on May 8, 2009 | by Staff LOUISVILLE, Ky. (BP)--A prayer guide to lead Southern Baptists in 40 days of prayer for the upcoming pastors' conference and annual meeting is now available at www.sbcpc.net.

Johnny Hunt, president of the Southern Baptist Convention, and Ed Litton, president of the Pastors' Conference, are calling on Southern Baptists to prepare spiritually for the Louisville meetings with 40 days of prayer, beginning May 12 and concluding June 20.

"We are asking all churches and prayer ministry leaders to encourage the use of this prayer guide," Hunt and Litton said in a written statement. "We also are asking that specific time be set aside each Monday for fasting and praying for a Great Commission resurgence in Southern Baptist life.

"We believe that, in these uncertain times, God's sure hand upon our convention is more needed now than ever," Hunt and Litton added. "Please join us and our churches as we seek the Lord for a genuine outpouring of revival upon Southern Baptists."

The 40-Day prayer guide, along with other information about the Pastors' Conference, is located under the "Pray" tab www.sbcpc.net. Information about the SBC annual meeting is available at www.sbcannualmeeting.net.

Compiled by Baptist Press staff.

Tuesday, May 05, 2009

Uncommon Prayer ~ Format for National Day of Prayer

Hey Phil,
I want to pray through this scripture tomorrow. Can you give me a call when you have the chance and we can talk it through? Here is the scripture. Blessings,...

“I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone—2 for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. 3 This is good, and pleases God our Savior, 4 who wants all men to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth..” 1 Timothy 2:1-4

Try this for a format ...

“I urge, then,
•Urgency - Let's ask the Lord for a spirit of desperation ... anticipation ... faith in the midst of a crisis (pray as one group)

first of all,
•Priority - Let's ask God to show us how to make prayer a priority in our personal lives, our families and ministries, our congregation [in threes: pray your prayer, then one of the other two pray for you to be strong to keep your commitment, then the next continues ...]

that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone—
2 for kings and all those in authority,
•Authority - Let's pray for 1) national leaders, 2) state and city leader, 3) community leaders, 4) congregational leaders [back in one group]

that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.
-Community - Let's pray for an end to violence ... for peace ... for economic blessings that draw people to faith in God ... for character to be taught in families and schools . . . [as one group]

3 This is good, and pleases God our Savior, 4 who wants all men to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth..”
-Eternity - Let's pray for lost people to find Christ; pray by name and need (a practical need that, as God answers, will then open them to their spiritual need) [with a partner]

Select a scripture or song to serve as a transition from one segment to the next. Make sure the passage or lyrics are on topic with the next segment . . .

IBSA Prayer Ministries