Calvin Synod Herald, 2013 (114. évfolyam, 3-12. szám)
2013-11-01 / 11-12. szám
CALVIN SYNOD HERALD 5 Plan of Action At the June 10, 2012 meeting the members of the Calvin Synod Conference Council established the Vision and Church Growth Committee. Committee members agreed that we should focus on revitalization and growth of our Hungarian Reformed congregations. Our committee’s name was changed to Church Revitalization and Growth. A plan of action and guideline was presented at the annual Calvin Synod meeting, in May of 2013, how to start a prayer group in each church and about the necessity and importance of mission and vision statement in our congregations. Calvin Synod approved the Plan of Action and that the congregations would proceed to start a prayer group and begin to develop their own mission and vision statement, if they do not have it yet, with the help and guidance of the members of the Church Revitalization and Growth Committee. Please find below the guideline for how to start and conduct a prayer group in your church. Guideline for starting and conducting a prayer group in your church In Acts 1:14 and 2:42 we find that the early church constantly joined together and devoted themselves to prayer. The enemy of Christ and His church seeks to have us lose interest in prayer. Why? If we pray persistently according to the will and leading of God then sooner or later we will get an answer. However, if we don’t pray and we are not persistent in prayer then we will see the consequence of it, too. Our churches should be known as a “house of prayer” for all people (Matthew 21:13). Therefore we need to start a prayer group in each church and listen to God where He wants to lead us. Everything rises and falls on prayer. It is the first and most important motivation and task for raising a prayer group in a church’s life. God is working behind the scenes and He can identify potential prayer group members. 1. The first step in creating and starting a prayer group is to find a leader, a facilitator for the group. It is mainly the pastor’s responsibility to find the best candidate to count on, trust and effectively work with in a small group setting. That candidate needs to be a committed and faithful follower of Jesus Christ and a church member in good and regular standing. 2. Start a prayer group. Announce it in the church, in the bulletin and invite church members to become part of a God given vision, basically to start a prayer ministry as a first step toward revitalization and church growth. Begin the prayer group small. Start with a dedicated few, the group will grow as others attend. 3. The prayer meeting can be held in the church or in a home or other available place conducive to prayer. The church building would be one of the best possible options for prayer meetings since everyone is familiar with the place. 4. Build trust and confidentiality in the prayer group. It means: a. We accept one another as we are. b. We do not give advice. c. We do not criticize how and what others pray about or share. d. We listen attentively when someone else is praying or speaking. e. We keep the prayer requests and topics in the group absolutely confidential. f. We share prayer requests from our own lives or about existing needs, not abstract ideas. g. We gather to pray. We are together to focus on the Lord in prayer and not to solve any problems or remove the crisis of pain. We need to be aware and believe that God is the One who answers our prayers. When we take these points seriously that is where true Christian fellowship and fruitful ministry begins. 5. Communication is very important between the leadership body (Consistory), the church and the prayer group, and vice versa. Report should be made periodically regarding the prayer ministry e.g. sharing great results, answered prayer requests, etc. 6. Experiencing any growth and revitalization in the church’s life is a long process therefore much patience and persistence is needed (Luke 18:1-8). As a group, and individually ask God to increase your commitment and zeal for prayer, and to keep you faithful to this great calling. Additionally, making and leading any changes in the life of a traditional congregation will be a slow, step by step process with many details and decisions. 7. It is essential for the group to have a common goal and purpose. In this case the common goal is ministry through prayer. A determined common purpose helps the participants to remain focused on their calling. 8. Prayer group meetings need to be regularly scheduled (once a week or at least once a month). One of the best times would be before the Sunday worship service or between the services, if there are two services on Sunday. Most prayer groups meet for half an hour or for an hour. Members of the Church Revitalization and Growth Committee are: Rev. Imre A. Bertalan Rt. Rev. Bela Poznan Mr. James D. Balias Rev. Viktor Toth Rt. Rev. Dr. Csaba Krasznai, Chair Praver bv John Calvin The Word Of God Grant, Almighty God, that as thou shinest on us by thy word, we may not be blind at midnight, nor wilfully seek darkness, and thus lull our minds asleep; but may we be roused daily by thy words, and may we stir up ourselves more and more to fear thy name and thus present ourselves and all our pursuits, as a sacrifice to thee, that thou mayest peaceably rule, and perpetually well in us, until thou gatherest us to thy celestial habitation, where there is reserved for us eternal rest and glory through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. John Calvin (1509-1564) as collected from his commentaries on the Minor Prophets, translated into English in 1846 by John Owen.
