November 2008

10.23.2008

ne Parson’s Opinion

The story goes that two men were talking about a problem. One says, “I guess we’ll have to pray about what is to be done!” The other fellow responds, “Oh, it’s down to praying, is it!” Ha!

This is one of those sad but true stories, at least among Baptists. We tend to think prayer is the last resort, yet prayer is to be our regular practice, and God is to be the first we consult when we face an issue.

Since I have been a Baptist, I have noticed this about us. We talk more about prayer than most anything else, yet we do very little actual praying. In all of the churches I have pastored, we have normally had just a few come to Prayer Meeting. ARBC does not skew these stats.

Now, if one of the means God uses to get His will accomplished on earth is prayer, and there is little praying, should any Christian be surprised when there is little supernatural activity?

I don’t know about you, but I hunger to see God do what only God can do, which is, change lives! I know of no better place for Him to show up than Denver. But we have to ask!

To that end, we are adding a variety of prayer groups to those already in existence. I hope God will burden you to pray with one or more groups, if your schedule will allow. I also trust more prayer groups will arise than what we presently have at ARBC.

What follows is a list of the groups we currently have available.

• Sunday mornings: Prayer Partners: Two or three people meet to pray during the morning worship service
• Monday evenings: Visitors are prayed for at the Ladies’ Bible Study
• Tuesday mornings: Specific needs are prayed for at the Ladies’ Bible Study; also, during Staff Meeting, we pray specifically for the upcoming election, among other things
• Every morning at 8:30: Staff meets to pray
• Wednesdays at 4:00 pm: Pastor Jim leads prayer for those who are sick (Prayer Room)
• Wednesdays 5:30: Joanna Troyansky leads prayer for missionary work (Prayer Room)
• Wednesdays at 6:15 pm: During Bible Study/Prayer Meeting, we pray for ourselves as a church body; Danny’s class prays for the people about whom they are studying.
• Wednesdays at 7:05 pm: Adult Choir members pray for needs
• Wednesdays at 8:00 pm: ARYA (ARBC Young Adults) pray for the women and children of Champa House during their Bible Study
• Weekly: Kathy Peterson leads prayer for people ministered to on Hungary mission trip
• As needed: Prayer Chain is always available

Remember James said, “You have not because you ask not!” So, I encourage you to ask!
See you on the Lord’s Day!

Posted by arbc at 09:59 PM