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"The Prayer-Driven Church "
Elvera, my wife, prayed a few weeks ago that God will again send someone new to our church who would like to worship with us. In the past nine months about ten people contacted us, wanting to know more about Adventists. Some came a few weeks and then disappeared. Some have remained and are integrating into our church family. Recently we noticed nobody was contacting us anymore. That's when Elvera prayed.
That very week Shirley Aarvig 's letter arrived. She asked for a ride to church from Eden Prairie . For two years she had been studying the Adventist Message and the time had come for her to do something about her newly found beliefs. Elvera picked her up one Sabbath morning and Mary Stauner drove her home after church. Shirley is receiving Bible studies from Elvera and has attended weekly for a month-a direct answer to prayer. Did you get that? A direct response to prayer!
Is God waiting for you and for me to pray more intentionally for Him to work in ways visible to us?
What might happen if you daily pray for three things? 1. For the Holy Spirit to fill your life and to fill our church. 2. For the ministries of our church to connect people to Christ . 3. For a list of names-people you want to see in the Kingdom of Heaven with you.
What direct response to YOUR prayers might occur if you daily and persistently pray for these three needs?
Our Sabbath School Classes, children through adults, are setting aside time each week to pray. When committees meet to plan the work of doing ministry, they set time aside to pray. Small groups that meet in homes and other places pray ( JULIETS , Sutherlands , etc.). Our online prayer warriors pray. Families pray in their homes. Single people pray. The church staff meets weekly on Wednesday mornings to pray.
Let's intentionally focus our prayers on the three items listed above. Let's intensify our prayers during the Ten Days of Operation Global Rain. God is waiting to respond.
1 Peter 4: 7 The end of the world is coming soon. Therefore, be earnest and disciplined in your prayers.
"Operation Global Rain" is a ten-day initiative for each Adventist congregation worldwide to join together in preparing and praying for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the church.
The date for Operation Global Rain will be 6.27.07 to 7.07.07!
You can learn more about this plan from the website: www.operationglobalrain.com. The Minnetonka Church is a registered participant of this plan.
Operation Global Rain Summary and Order of Events:
1. Ten Days: From June 27th to July 6th (Wednesday night to Friday night) our church family gathers together, reading together, or individually, the Bible passages contained in the brochure below. Meditate on them. Discuss them. Sing a song or two before going into prayer. Prayer can vary from individual, to group, silent or aloud.
2. Sabbath Culmination, July 7 th : Opportunity for dedication will occur during our worship services.
Leading up to this ten-day event we want to prepare our hearts for God's response to our prayers. Beginning right now, let's give special attention to the FIVE STEPS FOR GROWING YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS (previously called, seven priorities).
S -- Study God's Word Every Day
Get to Know God by letting Him talk to you personally through His Word. Read it, remember it and relate it to your life. Then live it by the power of the Holy Spirit.
T -- T alk to God Intimately Each Day in Prayer
Spending time in prayer will put you in touch with God, provide you with God's perspective, and produce a change of heart.
E -- Experience the Joy of Worship
Gather together on Sabbaths at the Minnetonka Church to focus on the holiness of God, humble yourself before Him, confess your sins, receive the assurance of being saved by God's grace through the cross of Jesus, return His tithe and bring Him an offering for the church budget, and praise Him for His wonderful works.
P - Participate in Fellowship with Other Christians
Be actively involved in church life, befriend someone who comes to church that you do not know and include that person in your friendship circle, start a small group in a home, be forgiving, speak only positively about others, and support our church and school.
S -- Share Jesus with Others
Be involved in some form of service/sharing in the community where God can use you to touch the lives of others in a way that will have them see Jesus in you. Have a list of people for whom you pray and work so that they will become followers of Jesus.
-- Pastor Ivan Blake
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