A Co-ordinator's Role
Hi Pam,
I was wondering how to begin to co-ordinate a shield for my pastor. How would I approach potential prayers on behalf of the leader? Thanks Kristen
Great question Kristen...and thanks for asking!
Right now, I co-ordinate 8 prayer shields. In the newest ones that I've taken on, the Leader knows that I am overseeing it with the idea that within 3 - 6 months, we will identify someone on the prayer shield who could take over as Co-ordinator. Then I approach that person, ask them to pray about it...and if they say 'yes', then I will mentor them into the role. How do I do that? Well, remember, for at least 6 months they've been receiving email prayer requests and have been a part of a 'team' or a prayer shield. Now, I also begin to involve them in how to edit emails, gather all the input..and also stir the team up when needed. After a couple of months of the 'two' of us working side by side....I then send an email out to the 'team' ( after communicating to the Leader of course) that the new co-ordinator is...... So, there you go! Here's my top 3 things that I do as a co-ordinator:
1. I have reminder that pops up on my computer on the first of every month that says it's time to send out a prayer request to the Prayer Shields I co-ordinate. What that means is, I now send an email to the Leaders and tell them, that 'we' need to get something out to the Prayer Shield even if they've sent something out recently. I also encourage them to send thru any updates or answers to prayers, at that time. This way I am also teaching the Leaders to 'use' their prayer shields. For some this is a new experience and they are so used to being on their own. As a co-ordinator I feel part of my role is keeping the prayer shield activated, and the only way that happens if prayer needs are constantly fed - and prayer requests/updates/answers to prayer, feed prayer people!
2. The other thing I do, is send thru an email periodically to the Prayer Shields themselves, asking if anyone has been 'getting' anything in prayer that month, that they haven't sent thru for the Team to pray about. I find that usually produces some interesting interaction with the team and really stirs up prayer.
Another couple of ways I 'stir' up the prayer shield is to 1. when leader is traveling and sends me his/her itinerary, I will often check send a query thru to the Prayer shield on specific days from the itinerary and ask if anyone is picking up anything for that particular day. This has resulted in some awesome prayer! 2. If someone has sent something thru to me, from the Prayer Shield, I will often send it out to the whole team, to encourage them and see if anyone else has been 'picking up' anything similar. ... Remember, what a co-ordinator's role is to get the team to function as a team!
3. Editing: this is really an important quality! I edit what goes out and what comes in. If a leader's prayer request has alot of personal detail, including people's names - I will usually find a way to edit out anything I think could be 'too much information' or could come back to hurt them in any way. I want the Leader's I work with, to feel completely safe sending me thru exactly what they're feeling. They know that I will 'catch' anything that might leave them open to misunderstanding, or anything that they might 'regret' sending on a prayer email. So..editing is a big job. If you are ever unsure....feel free to contact me.
The other editing I do, is when 'words' come in. If something is too wordy, I'll edit it down to the 'meat'. Also, I may cut and paste, and create one email, if a number of words have through, rathe than pass on one at a time. Remember, everything we're doing is about the Leaders. If we send thru too many emails, or too long of emails, they often don't have time to read them all - our job is to make this easy for them - do-able if you would!
Now...below is an email/letter that I send out to those wanting to set up prayer shields and take on the role of co-ordinator ...and leave me out ( the middle man)! This is great because these are usually people that have a heart to see a leader get more intentional prayer coverage and feel they can set up the Prayer Shield on their own, with the knowledge that I've passed on to them. Read it..and if there are any more questions, please feel free to ask!
Prayer Shield – Co-Ordinators
For Co-Ordinators Only
* please note, any references to personal phone contact with a leader, is not the 'norm' on a prayer shield. I only bring it up for those that have personal contact because they are in the same city or church, as the Leader they are co-ordinating for. My personal experience is, that Co-ordinators who use their position to have personal contact with a leader, can often cause the leader to feel more pressured than blessed, to have a prayer shield - so use this sparingly. I chose to keep the majority of my contact with the local leaders, to emails.
1.Come as a servant to the leaders. Realize that they are not there to meet your needs and the prayer needs of your family. Although most leaders will be praying for their prayer partners, do not take advantage of them. They will appreciate that quality in you, since most people usually need or want something from them. Rarely are they on the receiving end. This is their time to have their needs met, so ask them what you can pray for them this week. If you are becoming a part of an already organized Prayer Shield, you should be getting weekly or bi-monthly updates as to the leader’s prayer needs.
2.*When/IF you talk with them by phone, please remember to be concise – state what the Lord has given you and release them to carry on with their day. A good idea is to ask if they are busy, or if it would be better to call another time. Another idea is to email what you felt the Lord give you. This way you keep your prayer concerns and ‘visiting’, separate. Not every phone call needs to be a ‘chat’. When I prayed for a number of city leaders, I touched base with them every week – the same day, same time – and kept it strictly to what I felt the Lord had given me for them that week. When I just want to build relationship with them, I call at another time, or arrange a coffee. ( This of course only works if the Coordinator is in the same location as the leader! I oversee prayer shields where the Leader lives in another nation or another province or another city - so personal contact is very limited and often confined to a phone call every few months.)
3.*Don’t be offended if they can’t talk to you in person. ( again, this only happens if you live close by.) They may or may not be able to come to the phone at the moment and may have their spouse relay prayer needs. That doesn’t mean they don’t care, or that they don’t appreciate you – it just means they were busy when you called. Remember, the most important thing is that you get their prayer needs!
4.Be careful not to overload them emotionally. If you receive a heavy warning from God for them, be sensitive as to whether they can handle hearing the warning without being overwhelmed. Try to discern if this is a warning to be passed on, OR if God is putting on you to intercede to prevent it & have the Team pray into it. I often tell my teams that we need to pray through warnings first...and then determine after prayer if they still need to be given. Leader's can get very discouraged if they are constantly given the 'negative' or 'warfare' words.
5.If you have a dream or vision, ask the Lord for the interpretation. It’s your job to interpret, not theirs. Most times if you have had the dream, you have the interpretation within you. If you are not sure what you are getting is from the Lord, then take more time to pray about it and again, submit it to the Team/Shield.
6.It may take time to build trust in the validity of the ministry of intercession. Be faithful in praying and the relationship will come. Don’t push intimacy or demand it because you are praying for them. There is no ‘price’ on intercession – it does not guarantee us a relationship with a leader. Often tho, as they see your heart, relationship comes and is its own reward.
7.Do not presume upon your relationship with Christian leaders. They will treasure you both as an intercessor and a person if you don’t tell personal details or flaunt the fact that you are their prayer partner/prayer shield. This is a confidential trust. You may also find others try to draw out details about a leader from you, when they know you are on their prayer shield. It’s often for your own protection to not let others know which leaders you are praying for!
8.Remember to PRAY FOR THE FAMILIES OF LEADERS also. This is critical as they also come under attack. When a leaders’ family is being attacked, it is effects the leader – so we must cover the family also. Remind the Prayer Shield monthly to be praying for the family. If possible, ask the Leader if there are any family issues or events coming up, that the Prayer Shield could be praying for.
9.The Lord may give you a specific ‘focus’. Don't assume that everyone on the Prayer Shield needs to praying for what you are feeling to focus on – you always want to make sure you are encouraging the biggest, broadest covering of the Leader and their family at all times. You can however, contact the Prayer Shield to see if any one else is 'sensing' the particular focus that you are or that someone else on the team has been picking up – this can often be the Lord trying to get our attention to cover an area that is in need or under attack.
10.Give a leader regular feedback on what you feel the Lord is telling you. ASK the Leader what they would like in regards to this. Once you know how much contact and input they want from you, you can send an email every month or more – or if you are connected personally to the one your praying for, you can give them a call*/email – if this is their preference. Some may want you to touch base every other week; others may feel to connect every week. Remember, this is not the *call/email where we are asking for their prayer needs, but the *call /email where we share anything specific we feel we are 'picking up'. Remember....Not everything needs to be shared – most needs only need to be lifted up in prayer – and don't overload them!. BUT..keep in touch on some kind of a regular basis, so that they know you are praying for them, and receiving their prayer requests. Cindy Jacobs suggests her prayer shield contact her every couple of months – it’s whatever works for the person you’re praying for! I chose to connect with my prayer shield every month and encourage my leaders who I co-ordinate for, to do the same. I find a prayer shield works best if you 'feed them'.
11.There are times when the ministers/leaders are especially needy – please be sensitive to that. Often the night before they minister, and the time directly after! The night before they minister is often when family members get harassed and distractions come against them.( Your job as Coorindator is to remind the Prayer Shield to be praying at this time. This is where having an ministry schedule of meetings comes in really handy.) Things break down, strife tries to enter, children can come under oppression or the leader’s sleep is broken or disturbed.
For those praying for a leader who is traveling and doing ministry elsewhere, please remember that most minister experience warfare for nearly two weeks after a prolonged trip. Again, your job as a coordinator is to remind the prayer shield to be praying at this time. (Often, the two weeks previous to a big event, more prayer is needed also. ) Sometimes it’s a physical attack, sometimes it’s financial. This often happens when they are exhausted and most in need of refreshing. Prayer Shields/partners should not stop praying for the leader until the Lord gives them a release that all is well on the home front. This will stop or lessen backlash. (I usually ask my prayer shields to remember the one month rule: two weeks before the Leader leaves for a particular trip and the two weeks after they get home. )
The main role of a coordinator is to be the 'hub' of the prayer shield. You take in information and you send it out, as effectively and efficiently as you can. You keep the prayer shield working, by sending out not only the prayer requests from the leader, but also by sending around to the team, words or impressions that other members have been getting, for discernment, prayer and input! It's a great job...bless you for considering this role!
Pam Dyck
Abbotsford BC
pam@rivercc.net
I was wondering how to begin to co-ordinate a shield for my pastor. How would I approach potential prayers on behalf of the leader? Thanks Kristen
Great question Kristen...and thanks for asking!
Right now, I co-ordinate 8 prayer shields. In the newest ones that I've taken on, the Leader knows that I am overseeing it with the idea that within 3 - 6 months, we will identify someone on the prayer shield who could take over as Co-ordinator. Then I approach that person, ask them to pray about it...and if they say 'yes', then I will mentor them into the role. How do I do that? Well, remember, for at least 6 months they've been receiving email prayer requests and have been a part of a 'team' or a prayer shield. Now, I also begin to involve them in how to edit emails, gather all the input..and also stir the team up when needed. After a couple of months of the 'two' of us working side by side....I then send an email out to the 'team' ( after communicating to the Leader of course) that the new co-ordinator is...... So, there you go! Here's my top 3 things that I do as a co-ordinator:
1. I have reminder that pops up on my computer on the first of every month that says it's time to send out a prayer request to the Prayer Shields I co-ordinate. What that means is, I now send an email to the Leaders and tell them, that 'we' need to get something out to the Prayer Shield even if they've sent something out recently. I also encourage them to send thru any updates or answers to prayers, at that time. This way I am also teaching the Leaders to 'use' their prayer shields. For some this is a new experience and they are so used to being on their own. As a co-ordinator I feel part of my role is keeping the prayer shield activated, and the only way that happens if prayer needs are constantly fed - and prayer requests/updates/answers to prayer, feed prayer people!
2. The other thing I do, is send thru an email periodically to the Prayer Shields themselves, asking if anyone has been 'getting' anything in prayer that month, that they haven't sent thru for the Team to pray about. I find that usually produces some interesting interaction with the team and really stirs up prayer.
Another couple of ways I 'stir' up the prayer shield is to 1. when leader is traveling and sends me his/her itinerary, I will often check send a query thru to the Prayer shield on specific days from the itinerary and ask if anyone is picking up anything for that particular day. This has resulted in some awesome prayer! 2. If someone has sent something thru to me, from the Prayer Shield, I will often send it out to the whole team, to encourage them and see if anyone else has been 'picking up' anything similar. ... Remember, what a co-ordinator's role is to get the team to function as a team!
3. Editing: this is really an important quality! I edit what goes out and what comes in. If a leader's prayer request has alot of personal detail, including people's names - I will usually find a way to edit out anything I think could be 'too much information' or could come back to hurt them in any way. I want the Leader's I work with, to feel completely safe sending me thru exactly what they're feeling. They know that I will 'catch' anything that might leave them open to misunderstanding, or anything that they might 'regret' sending on a prayer email. So..editing is a big job. If you are ever unsure....feel free to contact me.
The other editing I do, is when 'words' come in. If something is too wordy, I'll edit it down to the 'meat'. Also, I may cut and paste, and create one email, if a number of words have through, rathe than pass on one at a time. Remember, everything we're doing is about the Leaders. If we send thru too many emails, or too long of emails, they often don't have time to read them all - our job is to make this easy for them - do-able if you would!
Now...below is an email/letter that I send out to those wanting to set up prayer shields and take on the role of co-ordinator ...and leave me out ( the middle man)! This is great because these are usually people that have a heart to see a leader get more intentional prayer coverage and feel they can set up the Prayer Shield on their own, with the knowledge that I've passed on to them. Read it..and if there are any more questions, please feel free to ask!
Prayer Shield – Co-Ordinators
For Co-Ordinators Only
* please note, any references to personal phone contact with a leader, is not the 'norm' on a prayer shield. I only bring it up for those that have personal contact because they are in the same city or church, as the Leader they are co-ordinating for. My personal experience is, that Co-ordinators who use their position to have personal contact with a leader, can often cause the leader to feel more pressured than blessed, to have a prayer shield - so use this sparingly. I chose to keep the majority of my contact with the local leaders, to emails.
1.Come as a servant to the leaders. Realize that they are not there to meet your needs and the prayer needs of your family. Although most leaders will be praying for their prayer partners, do not take advantage of them. They will appreciate that quality in you, since most people usually need or want something from them. Rarely are they on the receiving end. This is their time to have their needs met, so ask them what you can pray for them this week. If you are becoming a part of an already organized Prayer Shield, you should be getting weekly or bi-monthly updates as to the leader’s prayer needs.
2.*When/IF you talk with them by phone, please remember to be concise – state what the Lord has given you and release them to carry on with their day. A good idea is to ask if they are busy, or if it would be better to call another time. Another idea is to email what you felt the Lord give you. This way you keep your prayer concerns and ‘visiting’, separate. Not every phone call needs to be a ‘chat’. When I prayed for a number of city leaders, I touched base with them every week – the same day, same time – and kept it strictly to what I felt the Lord had given me for them that week. When I just want to build relationship with them, I call at another time, or arrange a coffee. ( This of course only works if the Coordinator is in the same location as the leader! I oversee prayer shields where the Leader lives in another nation or another province or another city - so personal contact is very limited and often confined to a phone call every few months.)
3.*Don’t be offended if they can’t talk to you in person. ( again, this only happens if you live close by.) They may or may not be able to come to the phone at the moment and may have their spouse relay prayer needs. That doesn’t mean they don’t care, or that they don’t appreciate you – it just means they were busy when you called. Remember, the most important thing is that you get their prayer needs!
4.Be careful not to overload them emotionally. If you receive a heavy warning from God for them, be sensitive as to whether they can handle hearing the warning without being overwhelmed. Try to discern if this is a warning to be passed on, OR if God is putting on you to intercede to prevent it & have the Team pray into it. I often tell my teams that we need to pray through warnings first...and then determine after prayer if they still need to be given. Leader's can get very discouraged if they are constantly given the 'negative' or 'warfare' words.
5.If you have a dream or vision, ask the Lord for the interpretation. It’s your job to interpret, not theirs. Most times if you have had the dream, you have the interpretation within you. If you are not sure what you are getting is from the Lord, then take more time to pray about it and again, submit it to the Team/Shield.
6.It may take time to build trust in the validity of the ministry of intercession. Be faithful in praying and the relationship will come. Don’t push intimacy or demand it because you are praying for them. There is no ‘price’ on intercession – it does not guarantee us a relationship with a leader. Often tho, as they see your heart, relationship comes and is its own reward.
7.Do not presume upon your relationship with Christian leaders. They will treasure you both as an intercessor and a person if you don’t tell personal details or flaunt the fact that you are their prayer partner/prayer shield. This is a confidential trust. You may also find others try to draw out details about a leader from you, when they know you are on their prayer shield. It’s often for your own protection to not let others know which leaders you are praying for!
8.Remember to PRAY FOR THE FAMILIES OF LEADERS also. This is critical as they also come under attack. When a leaders’ family is being attacked, it is effects the leader – so we must cover the family also. Remind the Prayer Shield monthly to be praying for the family. If possible, ask the Leader if there are any family issues or events coming up, that the Prayer Shield could be praying for.
9.The Lord may give you a specific ‘focus’. Don't assume that everyone on the Prayer Shield needs to praying for what you are feeling to focus on – you always want to make sure you are encouraging the biggest, broadest covering of the Leader and their family at all times. You can however, contact the Prayer Shield to see if any one else is 'sensing' the particular focus that you are or that someone else on the team has been picking up – this can often be the Lord trying to get our attention to cover an area that is in need or under attack.
10.Give a leader regular feedback on what you feel the Lord is telling you. ASK the Leader what they would like in regards to this. Once you know how much contact and input they want from you, you can send an email every month or more – or if you are connected personally to the one your praying for, you can give them a call*/email – if this is their preference. Some may want you to touch base every other week; others may feel to connect every week. Remember, this is not the *call/email where we are asking for their prayer needs, but the *call /email where we share anything specific we feel we are 'picking up'. Remember....Not everything needs to be shared – most needs only need to be lifted up in prayer – and don't overload them!. BUT..keep in touch on some kind of a regular basis, so that they know you are praying for them, and receiving their prayer requests. Cindy Jacobs suggests her prayer shield contact her every couple of months – it’s whatever works for the person you’re praying for! I chose to connect with my prayer shield every month and encourage my leaders who I co-ordinate for, to do the same. I find a prayer shield works best if you 'feed them'.
11.There are times when the ministers/leaders are especially needy – please be sensitive to that. Often the night before they minister, and the time directly after! The night before they minister is often when family members get harassed and distractions come against them.( Your job as Coorindator is to remind the Prayer Shield to be praying at this time. This is where having an ministry schedule of meetings comes in really handy.) Things break down, strife tries to enter, children can come under oppression or the leader’s sleep is broken or disturbed.
For those praying for a leader who is traveling and doing ministry elsewhere, please remember that most minister experience warfare for nearly two weeks after a prolonged trip. Again, your job as a coordinator is to remind the prayer shield to be praying at this time. (Often, the two weeks previous to a big event, more prayer is needed also. ) Sometimes it’s a physical attack, sometimes it’s financial. This often happens when they are exhausted and most in need of refreshing. Prayer Shields/partners should not stop praying for the leader until the Lord gives them a release that all is well on the home front. This will stop or lessen backlash. (I usually ask my prayer shields to remember the one month rule: two weeks before the Leader leaves for a particular trip and the two weeks after they get home. )
The main role of a coordinator is to be the 'hub' of the prayer shield. You take in information and you send it out, as effectively and efficiently as you can. You keep the prayer shield working, by sending out not only the prayer requests from the leader, but also by sending around to the team, words or impressions that other members have been getting, for discernment, prayer and input! It's a great job...bless you for considering this role!
Pam Dyck
Abbotsford BC
pam@rivercc.net
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