BOOKS ON PRAYER

Here are some books on prayer that I'd like to recommend to everyone. In fact, we are going to start using the first book as a resource for our One Accord Prayer groups.

1. Praying the Names of God--A Daily Guide--by Ann Spangler. This book details 26 names of God from the Old Testament, and provides 6 month's worth of devotions. Each week offers a deeper experience of God by leading you into a unique program of prayer and study.

• If you'd like to enhance your prayer time and include this resource in your devotions, I'd highly recommend that you get this book! It's at Mardels for approx. $13.00.

• By actually using the names of God in our devotional time, it will enhance our time of praise, and help us be more focused w/ our personal devotions.
  

2. The Power of a Praying Wife--by Stormie Omartian--This book gives you 30 different prayer requests that you can use when praying for your husband. The author makes 2 profound statements: "Lord, give my husband a new wife, and let it be ME" and then "It's hard to hold a grudge against someone when you're praying for them."

3. The Power of a Praying Parent--by Stormie Omartian--A similar book as above, except that each chapter gives you character traits or prayer requests for your children. An excellent resource, b/c the author gives you ideas of things to pray for that you may not have thought about.


If anyone has a book on prayer that they'd like to add to the list above, just let me know and I'll post the info.

ONE ACCORD PRAYER POLICY

The following are guidelines and policy for One Accord Prayer at SBC and have been developed to protect the integrity of this extremely important function at our church.

Prayer brings us right into the very throne room of the Most High God, and by faith, allows us direct access to the Power of God. Because of this, Satan would love to destroy this ministry! These guidelines and policy have been developed under the direct authority of our pastor, Dr. Dan Hill. Please read them carefully, and refer to them frequently.

1. One Accord Prayer is Spirit-directed prayer.

2. One Accord Prayer has 4 separate categories: Praise, Confession, Thanksgiving, and Intercession .

3. One Accord Prayer is praying one subject at a time and speaking in conversational language.

4. One Accord Prayer is making sure your prayer is brief, honest, and to the point. Your prayer should only be a few sentences. Good conversation is letting someone else have a chance.

5. When praying for church members on a rotating basis, the following guidelines should be followed when introducing an intercessory request on their behalf:

• Pray for the person as if they were sitting right there in the room w/ you.
  
• Do not pray for ANY problems or private concerns that they themselves have not published on the SBC Prayer Chain, or have specifically given you permission to pray for this need.
  
• Use the scripture verse provided in that section, and put their name into the verse~ praying for them scripturally.
  

6. One Accord Prayer is coming prepared with one personal intercession request. You introduce your request in prayer, giving just enough information so that the group knows how to pray, but not so much information that it clouds the real issue, and becomes a form of gossip.

Note: Intercessory requests about others should be carefully presented, so as not to cast others in a negative light. Example) “Lord, please help so-and-so stop drinking”---could instead be phrased “Lord please help so-and-so desire to live their life filled w/ the Spirit”.

7. One Accord Prayer means that the only thing you do during the one hour of prayer is PRAY. There is brief conversation only during the Praise scripture reading, and then to list the 4 intercessions for the church and members.

8. One Accord Prayer means confidentiality. “WHAT IS PRAYED IN THE GROUP, STAYS IN THE GROUP!” Please note the following:

In order to protect the integrity of the prayer group, and to protect the interpersonal relationships w/in the group, there must be strict adherence to this rule. Sharing personal prayer requests that come up during the prayer session w/ non-group members is gossip!

However, there may be times when a critical issue is raised during prayer that absolutely needs to be referred to other parties outside the group. If this is the case, the following procedure should be used:

• The leader should very carefully and prayerfully consider the necessity of involving someone outside the prayer group.
• No action should be taken until the group has first prayed for wisdom and guidance for a 2 week period.
• After this 2 week period of prayerful consideration, the leader should then encourage that group member to take the issue to the appropriate outside parties. If the group member is reluctant to involve an outside party, then the leader should get the permission of the member to talk about the subject w/ someone outside the group.
  

And finally~ The most important thing we can do to protect the integrity of this important ministry is to ~

PRAY ABOUT IT!

OVERVIEW OF ONE ACCORD PRAYER MINISTRY AT SBC

"Lord, teach us to pray"...

The One Accord Prayer Ministry at Southwood Bible Church began in the Fall of 2004 w/ just two women, and has grown to 4 separate groups presently meeting in homes or at the church.


A prayer format is used that has been adapted from "Mom's in Touch International". The one hour prayer time is divided into 4 categories:

1. Praise--praising God for who His character, His names, and who He is.
2. Confession--a time of silent confession
3. Thanksgiving--thanking God for answers to prayer, blessings, or things He's doing in our lives.
   
4. Intercession--personal requests, and then prayer for members of the church. We pray for all the members on a rotating basis, and send postcards to them to let them know that we prayed for them.
   

Using this organized format has absolutely revolutionized our prayer lives! Sad to say, but most of us weren't even praying by ourselves on a regular basis, much less praying w/ other believers. Those of us who have learned this "One Accord" prayer are now hooked, and won't miss a week w/out praying with our partner, or in our groups!

We'd love to have new people join us in prayer! Here are the groups that are presently meeting:

1. Pat's group--Wed. 1:30, her house
2. Joy, Erin and Kelley's group--Wed. 6:00pm in the Lighthouse Room
3. Connie's group--Thurs 9:00am, back foyer at church
4. Joy and Sally--Thurs 9:00am, Lighthouse Room

If you'd like to join us, either contact Joy, or just show up at one of the groups above!