Dear Church Family,

Charles Spurgeon, known as “The Prince of Preachers,” pastored one of the largest churches of his day. From every vantage point, he was a successful pastor leading a successful church. Yet, when visitors came to his church in London, he would take them to a room in the basement where people were constantly interceding for the church. Spurgeon called it “the powerhouse of this church.”

Chad Bailey, pastor of The Rock Presbyterian Church, shared some Biblical insights on the practice of corporate prayer in the early church: “When we consider the pattern of the early church in the book of Acts, we find that emphasis on corporate congregational prayer clearly affirmed. In Acts 1:14, when the Holy Spirit came upon the apostles at Pentecost, it was while they were gathered in the Upper Room “devoting themselves to prayer.” The Spirit came during a prayer meeting. In Acts 2:42, as Luke summarizes the habitual practice of the post-Pentecostal church, he notes that they devoted “themselves to…the prayers.” In Acts 4, after Peter and John are released from prison for preaching Christ, they return to the church. Upon hearing the reports of the persecution, they all lifted their voices together in prayer. Likewise, when Peter was arrested in Acts 12, “earnest prayer was made for him by the church” (vs. 5), and when he was released, he found the church gathered and praying for him (vs. 12). The response of the church to crisis was a prayer meeting. In Acts 13, when Saul and Barnabas are sent as missionaries of the church in Antioch after a season of corporate prayer where they were set apart for the work. In Acts 14:23 when the elders are ordained in the churches of Lystra and Derbe, a season of prayer and fasting was held. Looking at Acts alone, it is clear that almost every major event in the book was accompanied by corporate prayer. The Spirit came upon the church as the people prayed. They faced down persecution at the prayer meeting. The Lord identified men for leadership at the prayer meeting.”

We have a lot of solid, important ministries here at IBC. I believe each one is necessary and effective for what they were created to accomplish for the Kingdom. That’s why we’re reaching new people in most areas. But none of these would go anywhere if it wasn’t for prayer. Prayer is the engine that moves the vehicles of ministry.

So I’m asking you to consider 2 opportunities where our Prayer Ministry is concerned:

Worship Prayer Warriors

This team rotates Sunday mornings to pray during the worship service. Pray for the service and the sermon. Pray for the lost who are present or watching. Pray for known needs. Anything. And how often they serve in the capacity depends on how many people are signed up to help.

Prayer Partners

This is a new emphasis of the Prayer Ministry that will begin Easter Sunday. It’s simple. It also works on a rotation basis, and volunteers will stand off to the side of the front of the sanctuary. At the end of each service, I will make attenders aware that these volunteers are available to pray with whoever would like on that day. And the prayer partners pray with whoever asks for it. That’s it. No counseling. No leading Bible study. Just praying with someone who needs it and asks for it. Could it get anymore Biblical and early church than that?

If you would like to get involved or are even interested and would like more information on these 2 prayer emphases or any others, contact the church office at 912-354-0548 or our Prayer Ministry coordinator, Patsy Parker, at 912-414-6131.

I hope you’ll seriously consider your involvement in IBC’s Prayer Ministry. The health and success of our church and every ministry of our church depends on it!

See you Sunday!

Pastor Lane

Dear Church Family,

Take some time to reflect on these powerful words from Ronnie Floyd:

I am convinced that we are making the Christian life a lot harder than God ever intended for it to be. Our enemy, Satan, has confused our intention, our direction, and our goal. We know that we ought to be winning in the Christian life, yet we are losing much of the time because we are making too hard.

I believe that the most important action you can take in the Christian life is to have a meaningful time with God daily. This action must be the heart of all that we do. It is the most basic of the basics. It is the one key fundamental that even the greatest Christian had better not fumble, or else defeat is inevitable.

Our enemy’s strategy is deliberate and deceiving. Satan wants to destroy us. He wants to get us out of God’s game plan. He wants us to think that living the Christian life is virtually impossible. He has gotten us involved in knowing more about Christianity instead of doing what we know. He has the church of Jesus Christ in disarray over pointless issues and many times in the weeds so much that no positive outcome for the advancement of God’s kingdom throughout the world occurs.

It is time to stop dumbing down to the devil’s level by saying that the Christian life is too hard. This wise and crafty schemer’s strategy is extremely focused. He wants to get followers of Christ involved in so many things that they will not make the time to have a meaningful time with God daily. Some of the things might even be good, but they are not essential.

The issue is not that the Christian life is too hard. The issue is that we are making to too hard. We have to understand that the only way to experience spiritual power, direction, and purpose is to have a meaningful time with God daily. The only way we are going to defeat the schemes of Satan is to have a meaningful time with God daily. The only way our families and our churches will function properly is for us to have a meaningful time with God daily.

How to Pray, p.35-36

See you Sunday!
Pastor Lane