How to Get a Prayer Shield started.
Kristen...if you're out there...I'm sorry it's taken so long to answer your question...but here's something that may help.
If you are wanting to start a Prayer Shield for a leader -that's AWESOME! The more prayer coverage we can get for our leader's and pastor's ( and yes, those in market place ministry or are serving in any place of influence for the Kingdom), the better!
Now..my first suggestion would be to talk to the Leader/pastor that you are wanting to pray for. That may seem simplistic, but if they haven't asked for a prayer shield, or don't know what one is, you really need to talk to them. The idea behind a prayer shield is that you want to make sure it's meeting their needs - not just our desire to pray. I've seen prayer people who want to 'cover' a leader, but they do it 'their way'..and it doesn't work for the leader. If' we're going to be allowed the privilege of praying for a leader, let's at least make sure we're doing it in a way, that is meaningful to them.
After talking to them, and figuring out what they want, your next step is to either get a list of names from them that they are comfortable with, that are already praying for them. Usually out of that list, you are going to end up doing a bit of 'sorting'. I find that most leaders have been making do with a more 'generic' type of prayer. By that I am talking about having people either praying for them when there is a crisis, or praying for them in non-specific ways eg. 'pray for our finances...' when you are actually needing money for a specific debt or need. So..we want to start helping the leader's also figure out WHO they feel safe with, and would be comfortable asking to pray about deeper needs.
The other issue arises, do they WANT more intentional or specific prayer?? Some leaders just want a larger 'outer circle' of people praying general type prayers. They aren't wanting anything more personal...and if that's what they want and is what works for them, then to be frank, that's what you have to organize. Remember, the prayer shield is FOR them... so set up what works for them. Hopefully, it may evolve into something that can be more personal, but again it's what the Leader wants.
I will tell you from experience, that many leaders do want more prayer, but they have either been burned by prayer people in the past, or they can't believe that anyone would want to pray over details of their life - they feel unworthy. Both are barriers...and both can be healed...
I find that most leaders when they get a prayer shield set up for them, love it! They recognize that a prayer shield is quite a bit different to what they are used to thinking of prayer as: eg. a general request in the bulletin or a reminder email to say , 'keep the pastor in your prayers' or 'remember to pray for your leaders'. Once they understand that there are people who will and want to, pray for the needs of a leader - they love it! And the fruit of that kind of prayer, doesn't take long to show in their life, their family and their ministry.
The other key to find other prayer people who have a heart to pray . You probably know of people in your sphere of influence right now, that you can earmark as people who love to pray. Start paying attention to those ones and just keep a mental note - then when you are able to start organzing a prayer shield you may be able to contact some of them.
Another key, is to get names from the Leader....or from other intercessors - people they know, or have prayed with, that they can recommend. Your list of prayer people that can be a part of prayer shield should be growing if you're doing this.
Keep in mind that depending on the responsibilities of the one your setting a prayer shield up for, you don't need to have dozens of people involved. You can have a prayer shield with as little as three...or as many as 20.
I hope that answers your question....Keep 'em coming!
If you are wanting to start a Prayer Shield for a leader -that's AWESOME! The more prayer coverage we can get for our leader's and pastor's ( and yes, those in market place ministry or are serving in any place of influence for the Kingdom), the better!
Now..my first suggestion would be to talk to the Leader/pastor that you are wanting to pray for. That may seem simplistic, but if they haven't asked for a prayer shield, or don't know what one is, you really need to talk to them. The idea behind a prayer shield is that you want to make sure it's meeting their needs - not just our desire to pray. I've seen prayer people who want to 'cover' a leader, but they do it 'their way'..and it doesn't work for the leader. If' we're going to be allowed the privilege of praying for a leader, let's at least make sure we're doing it in a way, that is meaningful to them.
After talking to them, and figuring out what they want, your next step is to either get a list of names from them that they are comfortable with, that are already praying for them. Usually out of that list, you are going to end up doing a bit of 'sorting'. I find that most leaders have been making do with a more 'generic' type of prayer. By that I am talking about having people either praying for them when there is a crisis, or praying for them in non-specific ways eg. 'pray for our finances...' when you are actually needing money for a specific debt or need. So..we want to start helping the leader's also figure out WHO they feel safe with, and would be comfortable asking to pray about deeper needs.
The other issue arises, do they WANT more intentional or specific prayer?? Some leaders just want a larger 'outer circle' of people praying general type prayers. They aren't wanting anything more personal...and if that's what they want and is what works for them, then to be frank, that's what you have to organize. Remember, the prayer shield is FOR them... so set up what works for them. Hopefully, it may evolve into something that can be more personal, but again it's what the Leader wants.
I will tell you from experience, that many leaders do want more prayer, but they have either been burned by prayer people in the past, or they can't believe that anyone would want to pray over details of their life - they feel unworthy. Both are barriers...and both can be healed...
I find that most leaders when they get a prayer shield set up for them, love it! They recognize that a prayer shield is quite a bit different to what they are used to thinking of prayer as: eg. a general request in the bulletin or a reminder email to say , 'keep the pastor in your prayers' or 'remember to pray for your leaders'. Once they understand that there are people who will and want to, pray for the needs of a leader - they love it! And the fruit of that kind of prayer, doesn't take long to show in their life, their family and their ministry.
The other key to find other prayer people who have a heart to pray . You probably know of people in your sphere of influence right now, that you can earmark as people who love to pray. Start paying attention to those ones and just keep a mental note - then when you are able to start organzing a prayer shield you may be able to contact some of them.
Another key, is to get names from the Leader....or from other intercessors - people they know, or have prayed with, that they can recommend. Your list of prayer people that can be a part of prayer shield should be growing if you're doing this.
Keep in mind that depending on the responsibilities of the one your setting a prayer shield up for, you don't need to have dozens of people involved. You can have a prayer shield with as little as three...or as many as 20.
I hope that answers your question....Keep 'em coming!
Thank YOu Pam. YOur blogs are 'pearls'!Loaded with good stuff.
ReplyDeleteReally appreciating this resource.:)
Lynn