Take Your Prayer on the Road

[Take Your Prayer on the Road] Top 10 Resources for Church Planters | Young Mom Turned Evangelist | [View online] [ChristianityToday.org] [Donate] [Local Church Outreach Newsletter] Wednesday, December 14, 2016 Take Your Prayer on the Road Often when I think about prayer, I think about it in a decontextualized way. Let me explain. When I'm praying, my eyes are often closed, both literally and metaphorically. Where I'm praying doesn't matter. In some senses, this helps me to eliminate distractions and focus. But this leaves me disconnected from the particular place I find myself. So it is a helpful exercise to take my prayer on the road from time to time. To pray for my community as I'm physically walking through it. You might know it as a prayer walk. A. J. Swoboda writes about a powerful experience he had walking through a Portland mall days after a shooter's rampage. In [Praying with My Feet], he describes how his prayers became all the more visceral as walked the floors where it had happened. Keep reaching out, [Editor] [Jonathan Sprowl] Editor [CT's Christmas Gift Buying Guide] Meaningful gifts for your family and friends. Justice & Compassion [Praying with My Feet] How prayer walks connect me to the tragedy and joys of my neighborhood. A.J. Swoboda In December of 2012, just a short drive from our Portland home, a young man of about 20 sneaked into a mall wearing a hockey mask and carrying a rifle. He glanced over a crowd of holiday shoppers, then took aim and killed a hospice nurse and a vendor selling hats. Another young lady died later. Witnesses said that everyone dropped their bags and scattered in terror while the sound of Bing Crosby's voice echoed through the mall. Nobody ever turned off the Christmas music. Santa was there too—hearing the shots, he lay down with the elves and pretended to be dead. The young man ran down the hallways with his heavy gun, dropping unused bullets, and shooting at shoppers. He ran and hid in a service hallway. Sitting down, he put the gun under his chin, took a deep breath, and killed himself. [Click to continue] Church Planting [Today's Devotion] [Top 10 Resources for Church Planters] Essential tools for a hard calling. J.R. Briggs In recent years, we've witnessed a florescence in church planting. It's one of the areas in which the North American church is showing signs of life. As a result of the movement's vitality, people are being reached, discipled, equipped, and sent out as faithful witnesses to Christ in the world. While the momentum around church planting is clear and commendable, it is important to note that church planting is not for the faint of heart. I speak from experience when I say that church planting is wonderful, but it is difficult-really difficult. It is crucial for church planters to possess a strong sense of calling, ongoing support, and trustworthy resources. Here are some resources and support systems that will help you on the journey. [Click to continue] Culture & Politics [Christmas Eve Conversion] Two reasons I welcome the holiday-season worship attenders. Eric Reed A pastor-friend of mine calls them "Chreasters," those people who come to church only at Christmas and Easter. He is wistful about that sizeable segment of the congregation he sees only on Christmas Eve and maybe Good Friday. Why pull out all the stops for people who give only nodding recognition to the Almighty on the holiest of days? After you've done that a dozen or two years in a row to little visible effect, it is easy to become cynical about the value of your ministry to the holiday-only crowd. [Click to continue] Practical Training [Evangelistic and Newcomer Ministry] Communicate in a gentle but clear way with unchurched people. More from CT Pastors [Podcast: Keeping Your Christmas Sermons Fresh] 3 ways to proclaim the message of God coming to earth. Matt Woodleys [Advent: Waiting for Everything to Be As It Should] Including the church. Amy Jackson [Faith and the Brain] An interview with Dr. Andrew Newberg. Robert Crosby Related Free eNewsletters Each weekly issue equips you with the best wisdom and practical tools for church ministry. [Sign Up Now] Inspire life-changing community innovative training resources, Bible-based curriculum, and practical articles. [Sign Up Now] Local Mission [Serving Your City Starts Before Tragedy Strikes] How to mobilize your small groups to impact your city. Amber Day As Christians, our ultimate goal is to bring Jesus to the greatest number of lost people by making disciples. Often, in the world of small groups, we believe discipleship happens through Bible study, accountability, and prayer. We fret over picking the right studies, vetting our leaders, and having the right systems in place. But what if the most effective form of disciple-making and reaching the lost is through strategic small-group serving opportunities? [Click to continue] Outreach & Evangelism [Young Mom Turned Evangelist] Aimee Semple McPherson encourages us to be creative, compassionate, and courageous. I. K. Hadinger On a street corner in Ontario in 1915, a young woman jumped onto a chair, raised her arms to heaven, closed her eyes, and stood motionless for a time. The crowd around her grew, along with taunts, questions, and jeers. After a while, a man reached up to touch her arm, seeing if he could cause the "statue" to move. The young woman opened her brown eyes, glanced around her, and lept off the chair as she shouted, "People! Come follow me! Quick!" [Click to continue] [Local Church Outreach] Delivered via email to subscribers weekly. 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