Prayer
Followers of Jesus follow his example and pray. But prayer is a wonderful mystery that many times is filled with more questions than answers. In keeping with the first disciples, we find ourselves saying, "Lord, teach us to pray" (Luke 11:1).
This training page provides articles, handouts, and training videos on the topic of prayer. You can access training resources below or contact MinistryLift to discuss training options or resourcing ideas.
BLOG ARTICLES ON PRAYER
Simple Prayer - how to pray when your mind is distracted
9 Ways to Strengthen Prayer in Your Church - how to realize an ambition vision of prayer growth
5 Reasons to Go on a Prayer Retreat - when is the last time you retreated to pray?
Personal Handpicked Provision - the story of a mother helping her 12-year-old daughter listen to God
Listening for God's Voice - 5 common ways that people hear God's voice
Pray through Conflict - a central strategy for making conflict transformational
MINISTRYLIFT PODCAST ON PRAYER
Developing a Lifestyle of Prayer | Dr. Randy Wollf | 14:48 | Preview | Podcast (with a MinistryLift Membership)
This podcast explores how we can strengthen our prayer life by trying a different approach to prayer (Randy describes 14 different approaches), keeping track of answered prayers, understanding our worship languages, and living by faith.
PRAYER TRAINING
MinistryLift hosted an Equipping Conference in 2014 with a dedicated track on prayer. Dr. Alvin VanderGriend, author of several books on prayer including Love to Pray: A 40-Day Devotional for Deepening Your Prayer Life and Praying God's Heart: Prayers that Make a Difference, led three of the sessions. Nikki White, Prayer Coordinator for her church, also presented on how to strengthen your church's prayer ministry. MinistryLift members can access the unedited video recordings by clicking on the following workshop titles:
"Prayer is a Love Relationship with God" - Dr. Alvin VanderGriend
Prayer is intimacy with God that leads to fulfilment of his purposes. Learning to love to pray is not so much a matter of trying harder as it is a matter of delighting in God and participating in his love ventures in our world. You can learn to love to pray.
78 min | Oct 2014 | Watch the video | Handout
Something Always Happens When We Pray" - Dr. Alvin VanderGriend
God gives interceding believers great responsibility for what happens in the world. When we pray in the name of Jesus, the work of Christ gets done, because our prayers release his power and grace into the lives of those we pray for. Christ, who is at the Father's right hand, has promised to hear and answer our prayers so that he may bring glory to the Father.
75 min | Oct 2014 | Watch the video | Handout
"Becoming a Prayer-Devoted Church" - Dr. Alvin VanderGriend
Christ intended his church to be devoted to prayer. The early church, planted in his name and by his disciples, was devoted to prayer. Prayer kept the disciples connected to Christ and focused on his purposes. In this session you will learn how to develop increased devotion to prayer in your local church, what your church will gain by devotion to prayer, and what may hinder you in the process.
73 min | Oct 2014 | Watch the video | Handout
"Prayer Ministry in the Local Church" - Nikki White
As a "contextual charismatic", Nikki seeks to demystify the process of "hands-on" personal prayer ministry, integrating this practice into different cultural and ecclesiastical settings, and focusing upon the practical application of the spiritual gifts in everyday life. Her approach is based on an exegesis of the Great Commission, the model of the Lord's Prayer, relevant anecdotes, and common sense.
82 min | Oct 2014 | Watch the video | Updated handout (2023)
CONTACT MINISTRYLIFT
If you'd like to explore ways that MinistryLift can resource you in this area, please click here to start the conversation.
Dr. Randy Wollf is Associate Professor of Practical Theology and Leadership Studies at MB Seminary (part of ACTS Seminaries of Trinity Western University) and Director of MinistryLift. Randy has also served as a pastor, church planter, missionary, and church council moderator.