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Introduction
These guidelines are just what they say they are: guidelines. It
is up to you and your group to operate as often and for as long
as you find it comfortable to do so. We suggest at least 30 minutes
once a month – you can decide among yourselves. The main purpose
of Prayer Impact is to pray for your street, so this should be your
main concern.
The First Meeting
If you don’t already have a co-ordinator then choose one:
someone who will keep in touch with your church’s church co-ordinator
and church leader. Agree where and when to meet next.
You may know most or all of the people in your group so you may
have little or no trouble working as a group. If, however, there
are several people who do not know each other then the following
method has proved useful in getting people to know each other with
the minimum of embarrassment:
Form pairs (one group of three if you have an odd number!), preferably
pairing people who do not know each other. In turn each member of
the pair asks the other member a few questions about themselves,
for example:
- Which church do you attend?
- Tell me about your family
- What job do you do?
- Where do you work?
- What hopes do you have for Prayer Impact for (a) yourself (b)
your street?
- Do you know any individuals and/or families who have a special
need for prayer?
Take notes! Swap roles then - in turn - each member of the
pair introduces the other, with prompts and further detail as appropriate.
Subsequent Meetings
Bring any known needs to the group – do not give any more
details than strictly necessary and remember that anything discussed
in the group is confidential. Then pray!
Which homes should you pray for?
The homes in your street or, if it is a long street, a section
of your street. Keep a record of the house numbers so that the
homes you pray for are the same as the homes you deliver leaflets
to. And remember that other groups may be praying for adjacent
streets - we don’t want two groups delivering leaflets to
the same home!
Pray for:
- the Holy Spirit to guide the group
- the strengthening of marriage relationships
- salvation for everyone in your street
- blessings upon each person in your street
- individuals and families in need, physical and spiritual
- the strengthening of family relationships
- other relationships
- people moving into the street
You will no doubt find more topics, but keep in mind that it
is the people in your street that you are praying for - don’t
include a wider group. Pray in general terms for the people in
your street and in particular for those whose problems and concerns
you are aware of.
Publicity
1. House to House
After your first meeting deliver a leaflet explaining the purpose
of Prayer Impact to each of the homes you are praying for. Don’t
deliver to homes you are not praying for and remember that other
groups may be praying for home in adjacent streets.
When you receive prayer requests pray as appropriate and keep
the request forms - if you receive some feed-back make a note
on the back of the form, we hope to use experiences of answered
prayer in future publicity - but without mentioning any names
or locations. Don’t forget the importance of confidentiality.
2. The Web Site
We have created a web site (www.prayer-impact.org.uk) which will
display information about Prayer Impact and invite more Christians
to join in with Prayer. The web site may grow as people see a
need for more information and help.
3. Newsletters
We will produce “Prayer Impact Newsletters” which
will be distributed by members of each group to the homes they
are praying for.
4. Local Press
We will place advertisements in local papers informing people
of the Prayer Impact initiative.
All members of Prayer Impact groups will be invited to contribute
to these publicity activities.
Keep In Touch
The group’s Prayer Impact co-ordinator should keep in touch
with their church’s Prayer Impact co-ordinator to pass on
any concerns, particularly if they (and/or the group) feel that
they are getting out of their depth with any situation. It is
important to keep in mind that you are not working alone –
the Lord God and all the Christians in Petersfield are behind
you! Prayer Impact organisers will keep in touch with each group.
What happens if unusual or awkward prayer
requests are made?
The guiding principle is to connect rather than correct. For example
groups may be asked to pray for unmarried partners, pets or football
teams: focus on the positive aspect of them requesting prayer.
Ask God for developing relationships and subsequent opportunities
to discuss these issues. In other words foster a growing sense
of the normality of praying about everything.
Where members of Prayer Impact groups feel “out of their
depth” they should immediately contact their church leader(s)
for help and support.
Is Prayer Impact a Counselling Service?
No! Prayer Impact groups are not Counselling groups and members
should not invite unknown neighbours into their homes.
People with obvious pastoral needs, spiritual enquiries etc should
be referred to appropriate groups or individuals in the church.
What about confidentiality?
It is important to stress that confidentiality will be respected
- Prayer Impact is not in the business of spreading people’s
details around.
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