Lubbock PRAYNow

Vol. 3 No. 11 November 2001

Are We Men of Issachar?

“This study (‘Fresh Encounter’) is giving me a renewed realization of the hour in which we live and an understanding of where the Lord's attention is focused. As a leader, I have a better insight into what His people should be doing in this hour!” – David Eppler. Can you imagine about a dozen pastors from different denominations gathering weekly to consider scriptures, pray and discuss the need for personal and congregational repentance, revival and returning to their first love of the Lord!?

The “Fresh Encounter” study has proven so insightful that we are planning to organize more short-term small groups of pastors to study it in January and February. The men of Issachar understood the times and knew what Israel should do (I Chronicles 12:32). Leaders, offering concerted effort to understand this hour in Lubbock’s history, are being blessed with wisdom.

Summit Rescheduling

We have tentatively rescheduled the Pastors Summit with Ted Haggard for 21-22 March at Plains Baptist Assembly in Floydada. Mark your calendars for this opportunity to gather with other pastors and consider the increasingly crucial assignment for the congregational shepherd to manage leading the local congregation while cooperating with the larger body of Christ in reaching the city. Insights shared at this gathering will shape future cooperation efforts.

Citywide Thanksgiving Service

Join with believers across the city on Tuesday, 7:00 to 8:30 p.m., at Indiana Avenue Baptist’s new campus for a time of corporate thanksgiving and praise. Richard Smith will lead worship with others from various congregations. Jackie White will bring a timely Word from the Lord. Enclosed with this newsletter you will find reproducible info for your congregation.

Pastors Prayer Meeting and Meal

Pastors, ministers, and ministry leaders will gather on the day before Thanksgiving at noon at the Metro Tower for prayers of thanksgiving and praise. We will also pray for one another personally. Family Coaching, directed by Pat Murden, will serve our meal in the conference room immediately following prayer. Stew, cornbread and desert are on the menu. Hebrews 3:12-13 tells us to “See to it, brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness.” (NIV) Come together Wednesday and encourage a fellow ministry leader and be encouraged to pursue God’s call on your life with integrity and courage.

Celebrating Christmas with Spouses & Pray Lubbock

Invite your spouse to join you for our December monthly prayer time! God’s Word says that our relationships with our spouses bear on the effectiveness of our prayers. Wednesday, 19 December, at noon on the 19^th floor of the Metro Tower will be the place to join with your helpmate and pray for the city. Following our prayer time, Pray Lubbock will treat you both to a free Christmas Banquet held at First Christian Church, 2323 Broadway. The meal will be catered by T and T Kitchen and Catering. We will be graced with special music and fellowship. Reservations are free, but we need to know that you are coming – you may RSVP by phone, Email or by signing up at the November prayer meeting.

“I’m going to have to hire a full time assistant just to keep up with all your requests to use the Conference Room for prayer!” chided the Metro Towers’ manager last week. What a confirmation that the Lord is establishing this high place in our city as a place consecrated for prayer! Last week alone, we had eight different groups here for prayer! We now have intercessors praying into 24/7 prayer over our city; we have monthly prayer by pastors, youth and university ministry leaders, schools and youth ministries. We are hosting men’s groups, congregations, sororities and fraternities, and ministry staff meetings. Some congregations are going to combine their staff Christmas party with prayer for the city as they dine and pray high above the city! Your group can pray here by contacting our office and scheduling a time.

Calling Lay Leaders

Richard Kelsheimer, a lay leader from St. Luke’s Methodist, has a heart to see increased unity among lay leaders of congregations across our city. In a gathering this month at the Metro Tower, several men came together to be encouraged about God’s work in our city and pray for an increased measure of our sanctification and God’s blessing. Richard will be leading congregational lay leaders through “Fresh Encounter” on Saturday mornings beginning in December. Lay leaders will assemble again at the Metro Tower on Thursday, 10 January at 8:00 p.m. Please invite your lay leaders to get networked with these Lubbock lay leaders.

Storm the Gates – PK 2002

“This will be a time for pastors and their appointed prayer leaders to come together, seek the face of God, and turn America’s churches into houses of prayer,” says Bill McCartney, founder of Promise Keepers. A national men’s prayer leaders’ luncheon will take place at Constitution Hall in Washington, DC on Thursday, 7 February 2002, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Registration information is available in the Pray Lubbock office.

“Removing Every Obstacle”

Texas Revival Network Conference

The Lord has called Alan Vincent, originally from England, to our country and our state. Alan and his wife minister to our country with insight for the aspects necessary in preparing for revival. This “Removing Every Obstacle” conference will take place at Church on the Rock on Sunday through Tuesday, 2-4 December 2001. Details and registration information for this conference can be obtained from Church on the Rock or the Pray Lubbock office.

We are praying about the possibility of organizing constant prayer over this city. Several different Christian entities have contacted our office about the Lord’s leading in this endeavor. Details are still being formulated, but we envision Christians from all over the city committing to 30-minute or one-hour time slots weekly in which they will pray for our city. If you have any input in this prayer initiative, please contact our office.

It will happen again on Saturday morning, 1 December, 9:00 – 10:30 a.m. at the Metro Tower’s 19^th floor. Last month, nearly 40 prayer leaders from about 25 congregations met together to get acquainted and be encouraged in their ministry of intercession in their local congregations.

This month, we will focus on communication between pastor and prayer leader. Resource leaders will be Pastor Gary Kirksey and prayer coordinator Lajean Williams of City View Christian Fellowship and Pastor Wendell Davis and prayer warrior Shirley Cleveland from Lyons Chapel Baptist Church. We will also spend time praying for one another and for our city. If you haven’t suggested a prayer leader from your congregation to participate in this network, please contact us with that information.

The next Concert of Praise, produced by Levi Ministries and hosted at Vandelia Church at 2002 60^th Street, will offer a Christmas outreach opportunity. On 8 December, at 7:00 p.m., an abbreviated Concert of Praise will be followed by participants assembling in small groups and going caroling to neighbors in Vandelia’s neighborhood. Carolers will be encouraged to offer to pray for any needs at the homes where they stop. Following the caroling, refreshments will be served back at Vandelia Church. Lighthouses of prayer, particularly in that area, are encouraged to come and lead groups to carol their neighbors.

We are encouraging citywide, unified, corporate prayer on behalf of the congregations of our city. Jesus called us “members of one another.” We should pray for one another’s congregations as we would pray for your own body’s liver, heart or degenerative disease -- as if our own life depends upon it, BECAUSE IT DOES! We cannot be a healthy Body of Christ unless every part of our body is healthy. Please pray! Here is a suggested list for the next few weeks: