Cultivating prayer

Around 12 years ago, the NSW District held a series of annual District-wide events, known as ‘The Gathering’. Organised by Pastor Fred Veerhuis and a team of District leaders, these explored ways to move forward with the work of Christ Jesus in NSW.

The NSW District Intercessory Prayer Team started as one outcome of these endeavours. Connecting mainly through email, this team dedicated itself to holding the District, its people and its needs, before the Lord.

When Fred retired in 2015, he handed the coordination of this team to me. This continued until the pandemic sent our ministries into survival mode.

In early 2022, I joined the New and Renewing Churches Prayer Group on Zoom. I received considerable encouragement and healing through this new partnership with other intercessors.

In mid-2022, a discussion with the District Bishop (Pastor Robert Bartholomaeus) led me to consider my District roles and my giftings. I felt God prompting me to step down from one of my District roles to invest time and energy into cultivating prayer ministry in the NSW & ACT District.

The District Bishop was overjoyed. He had just finished reading Anatomy of a Revived Church by Thom S Rainer. Rainer surveyed many churches that had almost closed, but the Lord had revived. While circumstances varied from church to church, there were seven key findings that were present in each case. His research showed that one key to the revival of all these churches was because they ‘committed to powerful prayer’. He writes:

I have yet to see a sustained church revitalisation that was not undergirded by a powerful movement of prayer. … We have seen churches turn around for a brief season with a new methodology or a new emphasis. We have seen some churches reverse their negative trends briefly with a new pastor or dynamic staff member. But we have yet to see a sustained church revitalisation that was not undergirded by a powerful movement of prayer (Rainer 2020, p.59).

This renewed focus on prayer in the District has become a highlight for me and my bishop. It’s amazing the new life that comes when we use our God-given spiritual gifts!

To help cultivate prayer, the list of email addresses for district intercessors has been refreshed. This continues to be used to share certain prayer needs that arise. Also, each month I collate prayer points from those in our District Prayer Calendar. These are then shared with pastors, congregations, ministry leaders and intercessors. This reminds us to pray and helps us to pray specifically. I continue to receive much positive feedback in this regard.

The next step is to cultivate the network between intercessors. We believe God has placed intercessors in every congregation and we want to encourage them by organising a District gathering of intercessor to pray together. We’re also exploring the best way for our district intercessors to stay connected and share insights and encouragement.

As we commit to powerful prayer, may God revitalise his church.

Pastor Darren Kupke is the Prayer Cultivator for the NSW & ACT District of the LCANZ.